Frilian: This Demon Isn't So Cold

"Am I being looked down upon by you?" Carlos raised an eyebrow.

"There are some, but they're a big plus for me." Sylvia was glad she didn't have to talk to Carlos face-to-face, because this actually gave her more courage. "Actually, the reason I like you is also related to what happened to my mother."

Even though Carlos hadn't said he wanted to hear it, Sylvia continued talking on her own.

"I remember that day very clearly. It was a moonless night, and the wind, which should have been cold, was unusually hot. The surroundings were completely illuminated by the firelight, but I would rather not see so clearly..."

"Because I saw with my own eyes my mother being stabbed through the chest by a disgusting guy, and my father was standing right next to her, but he did nothing, or rather, he couldn't do anything. If the knights hadn't arrived the next moment, I wouldn't even have a chance to be alive now."

Sylvia's mood became somber as she reminisced, and her voice grew low.

"Although I survived, from that moment on I was determined to become stronger. But I soon discovered that people's talents are limited. I don't have the talent to be a warrior, and my talent as a mage is only average. But I am still very grateful to my father for this. Without his help, I would not have met my master and you. But I still can't forgive his weakness."

"After that, I met you." Sylvia eased her grip on Carlos's cheek. "You're very strong, probably the strongest man I've ever met."

"I don't know why either, but after spending some time with you, I finally realized that I was completely immersed in my crush on you."

"You know what happened next." Sylvia buried her head in Carlos's neck. "Dad was asked to come and see if we could leave you there, but I messed it up."

"I still don't understand," Frillian commented after listening, "but I think I sensed a bit of your emotion."

—Only a little?

Carlos didn't dare to speak.

However, after listening to Sylvia's words, he roughly understood that the action he took to eliminate the demons and monsters on the day he first arrived in [Tiyua] was the opportunity that made Sylvia notice him.

What happened next was his problem.

Carlos suddenly realized a fact: what seemed like trivial matters to him might be major events that could stir up a storm in Sylvia's heart.

The kindness he showed in order to maintain his own emotions became a fatal temptation for Sylvia.

"Huh? Why are you all suddenly not talking?" Frillie asked, a little confused after realizing no one was paying attention to her.

Sylvia rolled her eyes at her, annoyed. "I was still getting into the mood to confess to him again, and it's all your fault! You ruined the atmosphere with your first words! The first time was one thing, but the second time was just too much!"

"Is it okay to say something like that so directly?" Carlos couldn't quite understand; Sylvia seemed to be getting bolder and bolder.

"Because you just said you were moving closer to a true demon, didn't you?" Sylvia replied without hesitation. "I was afraid you wouldn't understand the emotions I wanted to convey, so I had to say it directly. How was it? Did you feel my love?"

Before Carlos could react, Frilian, who was standing next to him, trembled.

"That's so cheesy."

"Ms. Frillian, I've had enough of you." Sylvia turned to look at her. "Shut up!"

Frillie's little head drooped silently.

How terrifying! How could someone who was once so adorable turn out like this?

Frillie's knowledge has expanded.

Carlos smiled and then adjusted his position slightly to make Sylvia more comfortable on his back.

"You don't need to confess to me anymore. There are still less than three years left. Tell me again when that time comes."

Sylvia smiled, nodded gently, and said "Okay."

Although their responses were almost identical to those during their last confession, both of them knew that the underlying meaning was completely different.

……

Lion pig meat is very delicious.

Carlos had once heard a saying that the finest ingredients often require only the simplest cooking methods, and now this was proven true with the lion pig.

Simply pan-frying it and sprinkling it with seasonings made the elves quite happy, and Seria even commented "not bad," which was quite a compliment.

Unfortunately, this kind of ingredient is rare and hard to come by, and three of them were wasted by Frilian.

After enjoying the delicious lion pig, Frillie regretted it when she thought about it again.

"Why didn't I use other magic back then!" she said, tears welling in her eyes, as she took a bite of meat.

Several people sat around a campfire, with chunks of meat being magically cut in the center.

"Just be more careful next time."

Carlos also thought the lion-pig meat was too delicious. If he encountered it again next time, he would not stand idly by like he did today, but would treat them well so that they could go to heaven in peace and with dignity.

"There's always a next time..." While she said that, Frillie was still shaken by today's battle. "Have you often experienced battles like this before?"

"Actually, it's alright. I have quite a few spells to save my life, so as long as I get away before my magic runs out, I won't be in danger," Carlos replied casually.

"I see... It seems to be an experience I couldn't have imagined."

Although Carlos spoke of it lightly, Frilian believed that the danger involved was no less than what she had encountered today. Moreover, Carlos had been hiding in the shadows watching over their safety, and she had a companion to rely on.

With that thought, Frilian immediately elevated Carlos's strength to a new level in her mind.

"It's all in the past." Carlos didn't mention that he only ran away when he was being ganged up on; otherwise, he was the one chasing after others.

"And me? How did I do today?" Sylvia sat to his left, the two of them very close, only a fist's distance apart.

"Very good. You didn't shout or yell and remained calm throughout. That's quite good combat discipline."

Upon hearing Carlos's praise, Sylvia's face immediately lit up with a smile. Then, she tilted her upper body slightly to the right, and a small head with a long ponytail appeared in Carlos's field of vision.

It's a perfect spot to comfortably stroke with your hand.

Carlos didn't dare to move.

Then, Sylvia pinched his thigh.

With a sigh, Carlos covered it with his palm.

"Well done," he praised, rubbing his hair.

Below her palm, Sylvia was happily squinting, completely oblivious to the fact that Vlame and Seria were watching from the opposite side.