"What? Not saying anything? Are you really scared?"
Seeing Chang Yuan's silence, Elysia immediately teased him.
Chang Yuan just glanced at her and didn't say much.
He believed he could succeed. Even the hardest iron could melt eventually.
"Fine, fine, you're so boring. Can't you give me some kind of reaction?"
"What kind of reaction do you want? Fear? Excitement?"
"Hmm, I can understand fear, but why excitement?"
Elysia was puzzled.
What did excitement have to do with what she had said earlier?
Wait, is not being able to find a girlfriend something to be excited about? Wait—does Chang Yuan like boys?
In an instant, Elysia thought of a possibility and narrowed her eyes at Chang Yuan.
"Are you excited because you like boys?"
"...?"
"I don't like boys! Don't spread rumors!"
Hearing Elysia's words, Chang Yuan almost lost his composure.
What nonsense! He wasn't from some certain regions—how could he like boys?
"Hehe~? Who knows? Maybe you do like boys. After all these years of traveling, I've never seen you stare at any girl for too long."
With her hands behind her back, Elysia walked ahead of Chang Yuan as she spoke.
But she didn't notice that Chang Yuan's gaze had always been on her.
You say I've never stared at any girl for too long, but have you considered that all my attention has been on you?
"Yeah, I haven't stared at any other girls. Maybe I just haven't met one I like yet?"
"You're so picky. After all these years, you still haven't found someone you like. I was looking forward to calling someone 'sister-in-law'~?"
"...Heh."
Hearing this response, Chang Yuan felt a pang of bitterness.
But it was expected. If it were so easy to win the heart of the Herrscher of Human, then in the original story, many would have had the patience to try.
But even so, he had to try. Even if he failed, at least he had been brave.
One year later...
"It's getting dark, and we still haven't found a hotel."
"No choice. This city's security is too good. There aren't any hotels that don't require ID."
Hearing Elysia's words, Chang Yuan shrugged helplessly.
But then he noticed a 24-hour self-service library ahead.
"Hey, how about we spend the night in the library? It's better than sleeping on the street."
"I guess that's the only option. Let's go."
Elysia nodded in agreement.
After inserting a coin, the library door automatically opened.
Since it wasn't too late, Elysia picked up a book to read.
Chang Yuan, on the other hand, connected his phone to the library's Wi-Fi. After all, buying a phone didn't require an ID.
Once connected, he searched for nearby hot springs, thinking they could at least take a bath there.
He found one and noted its location, planning to take Elysia there later.
But just then, a man's scream echoed through the library.
"No! Stay away! You're the Pink Demon!"
"Huh? I'm not! You must have the wrong person."
"No way! That iconic pink hair—you're definitely the Pink Demon! Get away from me!"
"I'm really not! I'm just here to read."
Hearing Elysia's voice and the man's accusations, Chang Yuan's instincts kicked in.
Library, man, Pink Demon, misunderstanding Elysia.
Wait, does that mean we're about to meet Sakura?
"Elysia, forget about him. Let's go to the hot spring first, then come back and sleep here after reading."
"Hmm, okay. But I'm really not the Pink Demon."
Elysia was a bit annoyed by the nickname.
She was so cute—why call her the Pink Demon? Why not Pink Fairy? That's much cuter.
But Elysia didn't dwell on it for too long.
She picked up her backpack and followed Chang Yuan out.
Only after Elysia left did the man believe she wasn't the Pink Demon.
He let out a sigh of relief.
But as he relaxed, he didn't notice a pink figure appearing behind him.
"**, you used fraudulent information to steal materials from Fire Moth. My name is Sakura. Please, rest in peace."
Without giving the man a chance to react, the pink figure swung her blade, and a cold flash of light followed.
The man collapsed instantly. But to avoid scaring others, the pink figure looked around to make sure no one was nearby.
After cleaning up the blood and tying up the man's neck, she left him in a hidden corner where he wouldn't be immediately noticed.
Before leaving, she placed a forget-me-not flower beside him—a signature she left at every scene.
Meanwhile, soaking in a private hot spring, Chang Yuan was frustrated.
Damn this hot spring! Why isn't there a mixed-gender bath? This is so unfair!
But thinking that Elysia was in the hot spring next door, Chang Yuan calmed down.
In a way, this still counted as bathing together.
Just then, the door to his hot spring opened, and the hot spring owner, wearing a bathrobe, walked in.
"Sir, would you like some special services?"
"..."
What an insult. A downright insult.
For a moment, Chang Yuan's brain short-circuited.
Wait, are we in the Far East? Is this a hot spring side quest?
As a normal man, Chang Yuan had to admit—he was tempted.
But then he resolutely turned away. Not because of anything else, but because Elysia was next door, and he was a pure-hearted warrior. He wasn't going to indulge in such things.
"Tch, really don't want any, handsome? I promise you'll be dreaming about it. Or are you scared of your little girlfriend?"
As she spoke, the owner moved closer to Chang Yuan.