Its night.

After Shien finished his usual daily activity with Diere, he headed out the baths with dew still clinging to him and a refreshed look as he got ready to head back to his room.

Shien got called out to in the middle though.

Are you getting ready to rest now?

Vivian came from the other side as she said that. She seemed to have been waiting for Shien.

Vivian? Shien stopped for a moment before he smiled and moved forward to meet her, What is it? You need me for something?

I suppose. Vivian didnt deny it. As she showed her usual gentle smile, she glanced toward the direction of the baths and spoke with a grin, Why didnt you come out with Diere?

Shiens smile froze on his face at those words.

Seeing his reaction, Vivian showed a rare teasing expression, You cant have believed that I wouldnt find out, right?

In response to those words, Shiens first thought was very simple.

Shit. Im done for.

However, while its unknown if Vivian saw through that thought of his, she started laughing out loud.

Dont worry, Im not here to give you a hard time or anything. Nor am I here to make you take responsibility. Vivian spoke teasingly, For Diere, this is unquestionably a good thing. Seeing her like this, not only do I not feel worries, but rather, I feel a lot more relaxed.

I-is that so? Shien laughed dryly, You trust me that much huh?

Of course. Vivian answered without hesitation, After all, youre the Hero. No matter how unreliable you might act, I believe that your heart is one of justice.

Vivian spoke those words without a hint of embarrassment or suspicion.

Shien really didnt know how to respond to that.

This isnt something like a nice guy flag, is it?

That was the only thing Shien was thinking.

However, it seems like Vivian didnt mean it that way. Instead, she continued to show Shien the same gentle smile as always.

Before we knew it, its already been about a month since weve met, huh?

Vivian suddenly changed topics.

It seems so. Shien scratched his head and shrugged, It does feel like time passed pretty quickly. But when it comes down to it, a month isnt really all that long either.

Yeah. Vivian continued just like before, replying without a hint of hesitation while smiling, You know, in the beginning, no one in the party, me included, really planned to make any deep bonds with you. We just intended to treat you like all the other newbies that weve brought up in the past, thats all.

Shien fell silent.

Truth be told, wasnt he the exact same?

When he met Vivians party at the start, he even considered the party to be a source of troubles, so he didnt want to get close to them at all.

At the time, both sides made the agreement to just part amicably. None of them never imagined that things would end up developing to this point.

Even Vivian was the same at the start. Although she was gentle and warm toward Shien, thats just how Vivians personality is.

The Vivian from back then only treated Shien like a newbie that Leili asked her to look after. At most, she just hoped to help him as much as she could, encourage his growth, and in the future, have him leave the party and go independent. She never considered keeping him in the party.

Who would have thought though that Shiens origins would be so out of ordinary, making it so that Vivian could not leave him on his own. While this is happening, they also slowly got used to the situation as they got to know each other, and things eventually developed to the way they are now.

It wasnt just Vivian either.

Everyone in the party has already accepted you, you know. Vivian spoke, gratified, If it was before, I really wouldnt have believed that everyone could act so unguarded against someone of the opposite gender.

Remember, due to Vivians partys special circumstances, theyve had a lot of troubles from men in the past.

Given all that, other than Vivian who have maintained her heart and attitude from start to end, the rest of them had long since put up a wall in their hearts against those of the opposite gender.

In the beginning, werent Diere, Lumia and Melika so guarded against Shien that they didnt even dare to speak to him?

Now though, that situation had completely changed.

Diere obviously doesnt bear talking about, but Melika seems to have slowly changed her attitude toward you as well. Have you noticed? Mr. Shien?

Vivian spoke such teasing words at Shien like shes having fun.

Shien just felt embarrassed though.

Theres no way that he wouldnt have noticed Melikas change in attitude.

That girl might not be obvious about it, not being nearly as direct and bold as Diere, but her gazes at Shien have slowly become hotter and hotter. Her attitude was completely different from how it was before. Its just that she didnt dare to make contact with Shien out of her own initiative due to her own embarrassment and nervousness. Plus, every time she end up meeting eyes with Shien, shed end up overreacting and blushing up a storm, so shed run away anytime that Shien tries to find her as well. Thus, nothing really could be done.

Truth be told, Shien really doesnt know just whats up with that girl.

No, it doesnt mean that Shien couldnt notice Melikas change in attitude toward him.

The fact that Melika likes him is already very obvious. Shien isnt one of those dense protagonists from the novels after all, so he naturally noticed.

Only, Shien just doesnt understand why the girl in question suddenly had such a change in attitude toward him.

Its no like he had that much contact with Melika, right?

At most is that he helped her out once before with the young master Markray.

It was just the once though. Could that really be enough to get the girl of what is reputed to be the most beautiful, pure, kind, and holy elven race to fall for him?

Isnt that a bit far-fetched?

Shien at least thinks its pretty strange, so he doesnt know what to do about it at all. Thus, he just went with the flow.

Thus, Shien simply spread his hands helplessly and spoke, Thats just Diere and Melika though. Isnt Lumia the same as always?

True enough, while Dier and Melika both completely changed their attitude toward Shein, its the shy beastman girl who still keeps Shein at a distance.

Lumias just shy is all. Vivian naturally knew the situation with everyone in her party, so she just smiled, If you try and get to know her, youll find that that child is actually quite adorable you know.

Perhaps. Shien spoke without much thought, What Im afraid of is that shell end up running away the moment I try to approach her.

How would you know if you dont try? Vivian was actually egging him on, Give it a try. Shes the only one left after all.

What do you mean by the only one left? Shien didnt know if he should laugh or cry at that.

The way shes putting it, why does it sound like shes encouraging him to conquer Lumia?

Isnt that a betrayal or something?

Didnt she even say before that the goal behind creating the party being to protect those girls? Whys she trying to push them into a pit?

No, wait. Why does he have to be the pit?

Its not like hes harming them or anything!

Shien suddenly realized that.

Alright, enough playing around for now.

Seeing the complicated look on Shiens face, Vivian finally stopped joking around.

Actually, the main reason I came to find you is to give this to you.

As she said that, Vivian handed a certain item to Shien.