Chapter 50: Affection

"I want to… talk… now…" Remia whispered while holding onto Alex's hand tightly.

Even without saying anything, her firm grasp told Alex that she wanted to speak about a sensitive matter. She indeed wanted to talk about the Fake Relationship that Dollar had openly talked about.

If not now, then when?

Alex nodded, "I am listening."

He gently held onto her hand while looking straight into Remia's green eyes.

Remia reciprocated his intense gaze. Both ended up staring into each other for an unknown amount of time. And then, Remia's eyes dropped.

In her mind, countless thoughts swirled. Once again, she returned to the past where she had left her home. She spent time with many new people and races, doing her best to become close with them.

Back then, she had been pretty talkative. Therefore, everyone knew about the gardener's kindness.

Even the person she had feelings for was well aware of her personality. He was also aware of her heart.

But, for obvious reasons, Remia always found it hard to talk with Elias Deathwill. Since it was her first love, she was like a little girl who could only agree with her beloved. Other than a few words, she wasn't able to speak much.

She hadn't conveyed her emotions well…

"I've been your target from the start. It was just a coincidence that I'd approached you first…" Remia said, "From that point to now, I have never felt any falsity from you. You never lied to me, and I became close with you before noticing it!"

After those words, Remia clutched Alex's hand with her two hands. She lifted her eyes and stared at him intensely. But this time, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes, tumbling down her cheeks as she spoke.

"I trust you wholeheartedly! Even though I shouldn't!" Remia uttered loudly, yet Alex heard how weak she was at this very moment.

A maelstrom of emotions circled within Remia's body as the past flashed in her mind.

So what if she hadn't sensed any falsity from Alex? It was the same with Elias Deathwill! His empty promises sounded so lovely and genuine that she didn't notice his true self at all. Her love made her stupid and blind.

Remia didn't know whether she developed an affection toward Alex too. After the hypocrite's kingdom events, Remia had distanced herself from everyone, scared that they would use her again.

She wanted her own strength and experience before engaging in the world's matters.

But that short time she had spent with Alex told her more than enough. She wasn't a person who liked to be alone. She was the opposite. Even her power was the same.

She had fought together with Alex, and only at that time, Remia felt like she was truly a strong woman! At that time, Remia believed she had progressed significantly!

And that was because she had her friend with her. At the same time, Remia believed that Alex had also progressed and that they both had a good time with each other.

"I trust you, Alex!" Remia bit her lips after shouting those words.

After Alex smiled faintly at her, Remia's legs grew weaker. She nearly fell, but Alex quickly seized the beauty into his arms. Trapped in his embrace, Remia wrapped her hands around him and lay down on his chest.

She pressed her ear onto him and listened to his heart.

Alex's heart kept beating faster. He was also growing emotional from her display of emotions and trust, making Remia's cheeks redder than it already was.

Alex lifted his hand and stroked Remia's green hair, "I will repeat it again so that you can hear it well." He brought his lips to Remia's ear and whispered, "I will never betray your feelings, Remia."

His heart skipped a beat. After that, Remia's worries crumbled as if Alex had planted dynamite in her heart!

Her tears stopped, and a dazzling smile spread on her lips, "If you betray those feelings, I will swear vengeance! And if I die, I will haunt you as a fairy ghost!"

"Having a cute ghost floating behind me does not sound that bad…" Alex jested.

"Alex!" But Remia didn't take that joke well.

She bumped her fist into his chest, then distanced herself from him. After wiping her tears, Remia lifted her eyes and looked at Alex.

She blinked her eyes and pouted, "So you could turn off that catman's disguise…"

"Ah… Well…" Alex scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Before him, he saw an important system message. That message was different because Alex understood Remia's feelings.

[Remia has developed an affection toward you.]

In Remia's system, it was a little different.

[You have become one of Alex's best friends!]

It was because Remia was still a little clueless about her feelings. Nonetheless, she took significant steps in a short time. Her strength grew, her poison skills worked well, and her level up rose significantly.

But she had progressed the best personality-wise. She didn't commit the same mistake, conveyed her feelings, and built a sweet relationship with her friend!

That relationship could only progress in one way!

Alex chuckled, "Only you can tell my real appearance except for those guys with much higher levels. I can't tell you how it works, though."

"Why?" Remia asked.

"Because it would sully the mood," Alex grinned.

Remia pouted again.

She still hovered her eyes on Alex, though. In his human appearance, which was his real form, Alex was handsome youth whose features matched Remia's preferences. She liked this side more than she should.

But more than anything, Alex's smile was way too disarming!

Remia trembled like a girl in love who couldn't withstand her feelings.

Since Remia had started to understand her feelings a little, her next question was as such, "Are we really that easy?"

"Huh?" Alex turned toward her with confused eyes.

Remia pouted, "Are girls from my world that easy for players?"

"Oh, you mean that guy's words," Alex nodded, understanding what his friend was talking about.

Remia crossed her arms and listened.

Alex just shrugged, "I think he doesn't really have anyone he loves. Well, I think he hadn't confessed to anyone, at least. It's not like we have to climb mountains to get a girlfriend in our world. Haha!"

Remia silently nodded.

Alex added, "It all depends on circumstances, right? And girls sometimes like to be unapproachable or make things harder for guys…" he sighed.

To his words, Remia just grinned. She agreed with his last words, then the duo continued their journey back to the Corrupted Forest.

An epic item had been waiting for them.

But as they had appeared on Dollar's death location, the items were gone!

Alex clicked his tongue.

From the side, Remia whispered, "I think some forest monsters must have snatched the item."

"So we have to go around the forest and find that thief?" Alex laughed as that didn't sound too bad.

Remia agreed with him.

"I also didn't have time to ask, but what did he do to you?" Alex said while taking out his Ice Breath.

A few monsters were already on the horizon.

Remia also called out to the forest, ready to intercept any monsters!

To his question, Remia collected her thoughts, then replied, "I saw a copper coin."

"Copper coin?" Alex tilted his head.

"Yes. He made me lock all my attention on the copper coin. Because of that, I missed my techniques. He played with my awareness while fighting you," Remia explained further.

Only now, Alex understood the villain's words.

"If I fought him alone, he would be able to draw my attention too…" Alex held his chin, thinking about the possible scenarios.

He imagined himself clashing swords with Dollar again. But this time, Dollar used that peculiar technique to draw Alex's attention away.

"Each time he did that, I would look away and expose myself… I would suffer too many blows, wouldn't I?" Alex inferred.

Remia nodded, "It also explains how he suddenly came out of nowhere. He has strange techniques… But now that we know about them, their effects should be weaker."

"How did you escape from his skill?" Alex asked.

Remia blushed, "I just made sure to look at your back… And then, I moved my eyes across your sword… After that, I was able to pinpoint the villain's location and hit him with my new technique."

Alex nodded while singing praises for Remia, "It should have taken a lot of willpower from you… You faced a new skill and managed to escape it during your first contact. Remia, it was all your work this time. You saved us."

It was commendable how this weak girl had escaped the villain's skill! Alex didn't hide his shock. And he once again commented on her growth.

"Thank you!" This time, Remia took all his words genuinely. She kept laughing, even before the army of the corrupted forest monsters!

The two-man party started and continued their rampage in the Corrupted Forest for the whole day!