What should I do if the hero is resurrected in the Monster Girl Encyclopedia?

Chapter 139 The Despicable Me
Early morning, in Orpheus's room.

Good morning, Orpheus.

Mirad's voice was soft, with a slight morning hoarseness.

He reached out and skillfully straightened the girl's slightly disheveled collar, his fingertips brushing against the slight wrinkles in the fabric.

The latter stood there with an unchanging expression, as she had done countless times before, letting his rough fingertips smooth out every uneven spot on her collar.

He had done this countless times in the past six months. Every morning, at the victory banquets after defeating the crown prince, when she appeared before him expressionlessly, dressed in disheveled and unkempt clothes.

She always seemed to have trouble dressing herself. And Mirad gradually got used to it as an essential part of their daily interactions with this princess in distress.

"...Alright. We're going to the palace to receive our medals today...Are you nervous?"

In the past, when Milady straightened Orpheus's clothes, Orpheus would calmly stare straight ahead, his expression indifferent, seemingly lost in thought.

But today, she raised her little face and carefully examined Mirand's face, which made Mirand feel a little uncomfortable.

"Alright, we're going to the palace to receive our medals today... Are you nervous?"

Luo Gen crossed his arms and leaned against the door, mimicking Mirad's voice from before, and interjected with a mocking laugh, "...I don't know if our noble princess is nervous in this kind of situation, but I'm so nervous my legs are shaking."

"Didn't I practice with you many times before?"

Mirad smiled and said, "Just don't be so nervous that you can't even walk properly, and no one will laugh at you... If you're really nervous, just do as we agreed before, don't say anything, keep a straight face and act like a cool and aloof expert."

"Wow, that's different,"

Luo Gen's face immediately fell.
"If I don't speak up and pretend to be an expert in front of Orpheus, I'll just look stupid. Besides, everyone knows what kind of person I am, so there's no point in pretending."

Although Loran didn't say it explicitly, Mirad knew that Loran had come to urge him to speed up his actions.

After all, no one knew why Orpheus had gotten up so late today, and they all assumed that the girl had overslept, which was unusual for her. However, when Mirad pushed the door open, Orpheus was already dressed and sitting in front of the bed... although her clothes were still crooked, with the collar turned up, the belt loose, and the tie not even tied, making her look like she had fought with an unseen beast in the room.

"I'm not nervous."

Orpheus shook his head, his gaze still fixed on Mirad's face.

"...let's go."

She strode out of the room, leaving Mirad and Loran looking at each other in bewilderment. Soon, the sound of Ophie's steady footsteps echoed down the corridor.

As the footsteps faded into the distance, Luo Gen's playful smile gradually disappeared. She gently closed the door, and when she turned around, her eyes became exceptionally serious.

"When do you plan to confess your feelings? After the medal ceremony, as we discussed before?"

Luo Gen lowered her eyes, her voice very low, as if afraid of being overheard, "Are you planning to use the plan I told you about? Take her to a place with unique memories, look her into her eyes, and while your words don't need to be fancy, you need to make that girl understand your intentions..."

She suddenly stopped and looked up to look directly into Mirad's eyes.

"Hey buddy, are you nervous?"

"Kind of."

Mirad looked at his fingers that had just brushed against Orpheus's collar; they were now trembling slightly, uncontrollably.

From the moment he saw Orpheus, he feigned composure. Those actions of straightening his collar and smoothing out wrinkles, which he had done countless times before, felt exceptionally hot to the touch today. His habitual gestures became the best disguise to conceal the turmoil within him.

Noticing his trembling fingertips, Luo Gen smiled knowingly. She patted Mirard's shoulder firmly, her tone resolute.
"It will work. Don't be so nervous. You're one of the main characters today, the absolute focus of the stage. I bet Orpheus is already head over heels for you. I could tell from the look she gave you just now! In times like these, you have to trust a girl's intuition... She definitely cares about you more than you think!"

Otherwise, given that princess's arrogance and aloofness, how could she only allow you to be within earshot of her breath to take care of her? How could she clearly remember and call your name amidst the chaos of battle and the clamor of the banquet? How could her icy expression only soften slightly when facing you?

Only someone as dense as you, buddy, wouldn't notice the change in her attitude towards you... nor my feelings for you. The inner monologue almost burst from her throat; she really wanted to say it all, to give him a good scolding, and to let this clueless man know the consequences of flirting without caring... Luo Gen watched him take a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart; the clamor of the celebration outside the window seemed like the sounds of another world.

What if she refuses?

Mirad suddenly asked, his voice carrying an unease he himself was unaware of.

A nameless anger, mixed with immense bitterness, suddenly surged up.

"Dude, why are you being so hesitant on the front lines? If you got rejected, just keep pursuing her, it's no big deal... Show the same tenacity and stamina you had when you were beheading the crown prince! Believe in your charm!"

Luo Gen took a step forward, closing the distance between them. She could smell the reassuring, refreshing scent emanating from Mirad... and also the faint, lingering fragrance of Orpheus that permeated the room.

"Luo Gen, what are you doing..."

Mirand's confused words were left unsaid.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched at this moment.

Loren cupped his face in her hands, her fingertips feeling the warmth and slight tension of his skin. Outside the window, the cheers of the crowd and the explosions of magical fireworks became distant and indistinct, serving as background noise. The revelry had actually lasted all night, the noise never ceasing; it was a wonder Orpheus could sleep in such an environment.

...She had a sleepless night.

It has to be now, and it can only be now.

He belonged to that princess, to that glorious future that everyone was watching.

Before she completely lost all her courage.

Luo Gen closed her eyes, stood on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to his.

When lips touch, they convey each other's softness and warmth.

Mirad's body stiffened, and he awkwardly placed his hand on her shoulder.

Luo Geng knew he wanted to push her away but was also worried about getting hurt, but she couldn't help it; she was just that despicable and shameless. Just before her best friend was about to confess to the girl he secretly loved, she took advantage of his vulnerability and their last moment alone together to steal his first kiss.

"..."

This wasn't exactly a great first experience; it was just a simple, rough… even somewhat chaotic kiss. There was no skill involved, only a torrent of emotions searching for an outlet.

…Their teeth even accidentally bumped together, making a soft, embarrassing sound. Their noses were pressed together forcefully, and because they hadn't controlled the force well, the tips of their noses were now a ridiculously pitiful red.

After a few breathless seconds, Luo Gen abruptly stepped back. The lips weren't hot, but she felt as if she were being burned. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, making her eardrums buzz.

"This is... a custom from my hometown."

She spoke almost immediately, weaving a clumsy and ridiculous lie that even she herself didn't believe.

"Girls use this method to bless boys who are about to confess their feelings, making their words sweeter... or something like that."

It's utterly ridiculous to try and cover it up afterward, doing something but then being too ashamed to admit it. Is that the end of your courage?!

……Yes.

Luo Ran kept her head down, letting her bangs and bangs cover her burning cheeks and possibly red-rimmed eyes. She dared not look at Mirad's expression at that moment.

Mirad's voice sounded a little hoarse, "Ah, um... I see. Thank you for your blessing... Loran."

"...No need to thank me, after all, we're good brothers."

(End of this chapter)