Capítulo 24: Asking the Middle Boss to Join My Party [P12]
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(3rd POV)
After Ariel freed all the elves from their shackles, she glanced towards the stage where Nero and Eilania were locked in combat.
"Gyaaaaa!"
"Ugaaaaah!
*Boom!*
*BANG*
She was astonished to see them effortlessly dispatching fifty men as if it were child's play. Her gaze then shifted to the auction owner, Mr. Tooth, who lay on the ground, his mouth gushing blood as his teeth scattered around him.
"Ugha! Mig.. Teethk!.." The man attempted to speak but struggled.
Nero, having defeated all Mr. Tooth's men, strolled towards the edge of the stage, casting a mocking smile at Mr. Tooth.
Witnessing the rage on his face, the toothless man retrieved an artifact from his pocket—a whistle made from bones.
*WHISTLE~!*
He blew it with all his might, summoning a massive black portal onto the stage. My heart sank as I beheld a grotesque monster resembling a demon emerge from its depths.
The the man who summoned the monstrous being laughed like a villain.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"ROAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!"
Despite the appearance of a powerful monster, my eyes darted towards Nero and Eilania, who faced it with a calm look.
"Nero! Get out—" Just as I was about to urge them to flee, thinking they stood no chance, my eyes widened at what unfolded next...
The elf-like woman standing beside him underwent a transformation, her black hair turning white as she emanated an overwhelming surge of mana energy.
Nero, too, began to channel mana into his sword, manifesting a brilliant blade of light.
SLASH ×2
They charged towards the monster, executing a synchronized X-shaped slash that dispatched it in seconds.
"....." My eyes widened as I looked at the scene with a dumbfound expression.
I then observed the auction boss kneeling on the ground, with his jaw agape. The disbelief and shock from witnessing his final trump card obliterated by the two unknown figures rendered him paralyzed with fear, as he saw them staring at him with a mischievous grin
'Did he just pee on himself?' I averted my gaze as his kneeling form became soaked with urine.
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(Nero)
After the conclusion of the auction event, the holy knights came into the underground to manage the aftermath. While Ariel detailed the events and provided a full account to the knights and Martha, who accompanied them, I, on the other hand was playing with the Ring that I took it from Mr. Tooth, stripping him of all his possessions, including gold, weapons, magic scrolls, artifacts, and goods.
I gazed upon the white-gold ring with a wide smile. The eighth legendary artifact, the [Ring], possessed the ability to resist 500% of any debuff and offered a purification buff effect for any abnormal debuffs such as poison, curses, etc.
Perched atop a building near the demolished auction house, Eilania stood beside me, observing as Ariel and the holy knights tended to the elves and apprehended those involved in the black market.
With the area now under lockdown, royal knights scoured the vicinity, apprehending any individuals involved in the illicit trade, all of whom faced imminent punishment.
[Heroine Quest: Help Ariel in rescuing her people!]
[Quest Complete. Result: SS]
[Rewards: Gold coins, ...]
Seeing the main quest is complete, I rose to my feet, preparing to leave. Since there was little left for us in this kingdom.
"Let's go," I said, turning around with Eilania.
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(3rd POV)
Martha, who was engaged in conversation with the elf Ariel, quickly turn her gaze towards a building, as she felt someone was staring at her. Unfortunately, the person she hoped to see had already left.
When she Rlreceiving a message from Nero through shadow magic regarding the black market and his request for her assistance in mobilizing the holy knights, Martha swiftly organized her forces and descended into the underground.
Using the map provided by Nero, which revealed the hidden black market they had sought for years, Martha's heart raced at the prospect of encountering Nero once more.
However, to her dismay, she found only Ariel, who had aided Nero during the attack on the auction house. Upon hearing Ariel's account of the events, Martha inquired about Nero.
"Sorry, but I don't know. After he helped me save my people, he and the black-haired woman disappeared into the shadows."
"I see... Did he say anything before he left?"
"Hmm... No, not really. The guy looked like he was on a hurry" Ariel responded, disappointment evident in her tone.
Though she had only encountered Nero for a day, Ariel felt a pang of disappointment at his departure before she could express her gratitude for rescuing her people. She was further surprised upon learning his true identity from Martha.
'It's a shame. If he were still here, I could have asked for his assistance in saving my kingdom, considering he is the Hero from the prophecy.'
Ariel began to envision what might have occurred had she been able to convince him to let her join his party.
["Sorry, but I am not interested."]
["Please! I just need your assistance. I promise I can be of great help in your ultimate quest after I save my kingdom!"]
["Still not interested. Look for someone else."]
["W-wait!... What if I offered you... my body. Would you agree?"]
Ariel face turn red from the imaginary conversation that she created in her mind
'What am I think!'
Although what she thought was just her imagination, it could have actually happen in reality.
*******
After Nero and Eilania left the city, they continued walking until they reached the top of a hill to the northwest. They both turned around, gazing back at the Kingdom of Terona from afar, captivated by the scene.
"...Eilan."
Eilania turned her head upon hearing him call her name.
"Yes?" She noticed him staring at her while still holding the white ring in his hand.
"Give me your left hand." She obediently extended her hand without questioning his intentions.
But her eyes widened as he slid the ring onto her ring finger. She quickly grasped the significance of his gesture, having observed a similar act while watching the mortal world from the tower. She remembered witnessing couples holding hands and smiling, with the male proposing to his beloved with a ring.
"N-Nero... Are you..." Eilania's cheeks flushed slightly as she looked at him, wondering if his actions held the same meaning as she suspected.
Nero smiled as he gently held her left hand. "Eilan, ever since we started our journey together, my feelings for you grew wider, to that point I can't hold myself." He spoke with a gentle tone, albeit tinged with embarrassment as he summoned his courage.
He chose to confess now due to her liking rate, which had increased to 88% after completing Ariel's quest. And since increasing the Liking rate of a Heroine gets harder the more it increases, he chose to push it more this time.
He has two main reasons for doing this; one was to help her increase her Exp graining when she kills monsters, and the second reason is because he can't wait any longer. Nero desired to initiate a serious relationship with her, to flirt with her openly, like a genuine couple.
Eilania, finally comprehending his words, remained silent as she continued to listen, her cheeks tinged with red.
Nero then took a deep breath and said with a serious tone. "Eilan, I wish to enter into a serious relationship with you. Will you please be my lover?"
"..... Huh?" Eilania's face reddened further at the mention of "lover," but then her expression changed into confusion.
'A lover? Not a wife?' She pondered.
While researching human relationships using her clairvoyance from the tower, Eilania had discovered two types of romantic bonds: marriage couples and unmarried couples.
She believed that couples dating and displaying affection were called lovers or boyfriend and girlfriend, while those who exchanged rings were referred to as husband and wife.
The reason why she came up with that conclusion is because she was only able to see and observe their interactions and relationships, but not able to hear what they say. Thus, she had expected Nero to propose marriage. While she was amenable to the idea, she remained slightly hesitant.
'If it's about being a lover, I believe I can accept. But to be a wife... I will require more time to prepare myself.'
Eilania regarded the role of a wife as a significant responsibility that she must approach with utmost seriousness.
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(Nero)
As I awaited her response, my heart pounded erratically. Was I too direct to ask her? or was it to early to asking her now. Nevertheless, it's already to late to back down now.
"So... You weren't asking me to be your wife?" Eilan inquired, her expression tinged with concern.
"What!? N-no! I mean... not exactly..." I stumbled over my words, biting my tongue lightly to steady myself.
I met Eilan's gaze as I explained,
"What I meant was that I would like us to deepen our understanding of each other and grow closer, like a real couples. Then... perhaps in the future... I hope we can be more than that... as husband and wife!" I said with a serious and loud voice. But my cheeks turned more red from embarrassment.
'This feels so cringe' I though.
Eilan's face flushed deeper as she looked down, considering my words. After a moment, she spoke softly.
"I-I see..."
Her eyes drifted to our intertwined hands, and then she raised her other hand, placing it atop ours.
"Then... I would like to give it a try... to be a couple with you," she said with a blush, meeting my gaze.
*STAB!*
I felt something pierce my heart. The scene before me resembled the confession scenes from the game when the hero confesses their feelings to the heroine. I must be the first and only player to witness such a beautiful POV scene in real life (3D)!
[Liking Rate: 90%!]
[Eilania's feelings for you have reached "Love Interest!"]
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Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder