Razen's voice was soft, almost fragile, as she asked, "So... you already have a fiancée, right? What now...?" Her eyes were unsteady, filled with a mix of vulnerability and uncertainty. She had always been strong and independent, but in this moment, she felt exposed, as if her heart had been laid bare.
Mixarnt, ever the carefree and straightforward one, tilted his head and grinned. "Hmmm. Nothing, then you'll be my girlfriend. Haha, I actually promised one of my fiancées that I'd get plenty of lovers, so I'm open to having plenty of lovers, hehe," he said casually, as if discussing the weather.
Razen's face flushed with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment. She found Mixarnt's nonchalant attitude both frustrating and oddly endearing. Before she could retort, he continued, his tone softening slightly.
"I haven't heard your answer to my confession, though. Then again, I won't force you. That's just how I feel—attracted to your strong personality."
Razen's eyes widened, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red. "Y-you just want a girlfriend with a big chest!" she snapped, her voice tinged with frustration.
She couldn't believe how casually he talked about having multiple lovers, yet deep down, she knew his words were genuine. Despite his playful demeanor, Mixarnt had always been honest with her. He was the first person who truly saw her for who she was—tomboyish, strong-willed, and unapologetically herself. He didn't care about societal expectations or what others thought of her. He liked her for who she is, and that was something she had never experienced before.
She looked down, her bangs hiding her striking red eyes as she struggled to process her emotions. Mixarnt's words echoed in her mind: "That's just how I feel—attracted to your strong personality."
It was the first time someone had ever appreciated her for who she was, flaws and all. Despite her rough exterior and delinquent-like demeanor, Mixarnt had seen through it all and confessed to her without hesitation. And even now, as she clung to him, he didn't push her away. Instead, he accepted her—quirks and all.
For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as Razen wrestled with her feelings. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked up at Mixarnt, her eyes filled with determination.
"You're... really annoying, you know that?" she muttered, her voice trembling slightly. "But... I guess I like that about you."
Mixarnt's grin widened, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "So, does that mean you'll be my girlfriend?" he teased, his tone playful, though his gaze was sincere.
Razen's face turned scarlet, and she quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes. "S-shut up... I didn't say that," she mumbled, though the lack of conviction in her voice betrayed her true feelings.
Mixarnt chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulders and pulling her closer. "You don't have to say it. I already know," he said, his voice soft but confident.
Razen's heart pounded in her chest, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a sense of peace. She leaned into Mixarnt, resting her head on his shoulder as they sat together beneath the tree. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in their own little bubble.
After their intimate moment under the tree, Mixarnt and Razen made their way back to the stronghold, both of them blushing furiously. Razen had fixed her chest back into its usual bandaged state, hiding her large bosom once more. Her arms were wrapped tightly around Mixarnt's, her grip firm but her face still red with embarrassment.
"Hey, I'm doing this because later everything will turn serious again once the second phase starts," Razen said, her tone a mix of annoyance and fluster. "Also... m-my chest... I don't want other men ogling at it, so I hid it back again. It's only for your eyes, got it!?" she added, her voice rising in frustration, though her face betrayed her true feelings.
Mixarnt chuckled, his grin widening. "Got it, got it," he said, his tone light but his eyes warm. He didn't mind Razen's tsundere attitude—in fact, he found it endearing.
As they approached the stronghold, Mitchel spotted them and couldn't resist teasing. "Oh good, the lovebirds finally—woah!" she started, but Razen quickly disentangled her arms from Mixarnt's and bolted away, her face burning with embarrassment. She even activated Red Blitz to speed up her escape, leaving behind a faint trail of red mana. Mitchel was left dumbfounded, but she couldn't help but sigh and shake her head. "Troublesome kids, all of them," she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
Turning to Mixarnt, Mitchel raised an eyebrow. "Something happened between you and Razen?" she asked, her tone teasing.
Mixarnt scratched the back of his head, his face turning slightly red as he looked away. "N-nothing, really," he said, though his mind was still swirling from what had happened earlier. Before they had returned to the stronghold, Razen had given him her first kiss—a steady, heartfelt kiss that had left him stunned. She had even placed his hand on her chest, saying something about how men liked doing that. Mixarnt, still innocent and not fully understanding the implications, had been utterly embarrassed. He hoped that someday he'd figure out what it all meant.
Trying to change the subject, Mixarnt asked, "How's the preparation going, by the way?"
Mitchel grinned, clearly amused by his flustered state, but she decided to let it go for now. "Well, Erenesto's group started putting up magical traps. They're spells that trigger if you step on them, activating either offensive magic or ailment magic," she explained.
Mixarnt nodded, his mind shifting back to the task at hand. "Good, that'll give us an edge," he said, his tone more serious now.
Just then, Rise ran up to them, his mischievous grin in full display. "Hey hey, Aaron is now set and ready, hehe," he said, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Mixarnt's grin widened, and the two shared a laugh that sent shivers down the spines of anyone who heard it. They looked like a pair of devils plotting something sinister.
Liva, who had approached Mitchel, couldn't help but comment. "T-those two are really alike, huh?" she said with an awkward laugh.
Mitchel sighed and shook her head. "Troublesome, the both of them," she said, though her tone was fond. She couldn't help but wonder what they had planned for Aaron, who was currently tied up and beaten, his arms chained with anti-magic restraints. The fact that they had even fed him earlier only added to the mystery.