A cool night wind brushed against Fyar’s face, washing away the remains of sweat, dust, and dried blood clinging to his skin. Below, a thick layer of white clouds moved slowly like a sea of cotton.
Hasya’s giant owl flapped its wide wings silently. Its soft feathers sliced through the air, carrying the five of them gliding steadily at an altitude of thousands of feet.
Fyar held and looked at his adventure card. He rubbed the card’s surface with his thumb while his eyes narrowed to read the glowing text details there.
Fyar
Age: 26
Level: 46
Status: Active Hunter
Class: Hunter
Level up status: 8%
Requirement to reach level 50: Win a duel against an adventurer of the same level or higher
Can I already be categorized as special for leveling up this fast? Though I suppose this happened because of my situation... and again, the level 50 requirement... a duel? Just a duel, right? Not killing. It would be terrifying if it was killing ... Fyar muttered in his heart.
Illya, who sat beside Fyar, wore a worried expression. She tilted her head slightly, noticing Fyar seemed unhappy with his level increase. Fyar had been daydreaming for quite some time as if he were thinking about something. Illya gently touched Fyar’s sleeve.
"Fyar, are you okay? You’ve been daydreaming like that for a while... is that thing still haunting you, hmm?"
"That thing? Ah, my dream?" Fyar snapped out of his daze. He shook his head quickly until his black hair became slightly messy. "No, no, Illya."
"I’m just sort of amazed."
"Amazed?"
"Yeah, amazed," Fyar nodded quickly. His eyes widened, looking at Illya with an honest, enthusiastic expression. "Amazed that I’m already at this level even though just a few months ago I was level 0!"
"Hahahaha," Hasya, hearing that, laughed freely. He patted his own thigh while looking back. His face looked very cheerful. "You’re faster than me, Fyar, do you know that?!"
"It took me years just to get from 10 to 45."
"But you guys... wow, you’re really, really fast!"
He then turned toward Rasie, who was still smiling while looking at her adventure card. "It’s natural that my future wife is overjoyed like this... because this really is an anomaly."
"Future wife?" Zaefal covered his mouth with his right hand while turning toward Rasie with a shocked look.
"Future wife?!"
Rasie was startled. She snapped out of it and turned toward Hasya with ears glowing a deep red. "What are you saying, idiot, idiot, idiot!"
"Stop joking around!"
Hasya tilted his head with a mock innocent expression. "Eeeh, you held my hand and we danced, right?! Isn’t that already clear?"
Hasya turned toward Cyhas. "Right, Cyhas? You saw it yourself, didn’t you?"
Cyhas nodded enthusiastically. Her hair swayed as she agreed. "Yeah, yeah!"
"Ah, I saw it too earlier..." Fyar said. He then put on a thoughtful expression, placing his index finger on his chin. "Hmm, I even thought, oh, you guys were so romantic."
"Ah, I thought so too, Fyar. I thought that wasn’t Rasie," Illya added. She covered her mouth with her hand, hiding a playful smile.
"Huh? Clear what? That was just celebrating!"
"Agh, you guys, you guys are ruining the mood, ruining the mood!!" Rasie said in frustration. She ruffled her own red hair roughly, then turned her face away to the side, avoiding their gazes.
"In addition, Rasie..."
"I’m not kidding!!" Hasya said firmly. His expression turned serious in an instant. His eyes stared intensely at Rasie’s back. "After I saw you fight, I... I love you even more!!"
"Oh my goodness, a confession in the sky, completely out in the open?!" Cyhas put on an expression of disbelief. She held both her cheeks, her eyes sparkling as she watched the drama before her.
"Oh my, it’s already reached that point?!" Illya wore the same shocked expression while smiling widely. She gripped her own cloak tightly in excitement.
Zaefal and Fyar both gave Hasya a thumbs up and nodded in agreement.
"W-what?! W... what?! What is this," Rasie was lost for words. Her face and ears felt hot her heart beat incredibly fast.
"I-i-idiot!"
What is this?! Why is my heart racing, why is it beating so fast? And... why do I feel happy?! No, no, no!! Agh, calm yourself down, Rasie!!! Rasie muttered in her heart while clutching her thumping chest.
Rasie then turned slightly toward Hasya, who was smiling sweetly at her.
Am I falling for him? This fast? No, no, it’s impossible, you just met!! But... he’s strong, he’s... quite handsome... agh, what, what, what am I thinking?!!
But... he... he... isn’t bothered by my rough nature... he’s... a bit cool... he’s... maybe serious... he even told me... to be myself... he... helped me reach level 40... and... he is truly proud of me.. . Rasie muttered in her heart.
"What is it, Rasie, Rasie?" Hasya asked.
"You’re... not... joking?" Rasie asked with a low voice and a soft expression. She looked shyly at Hasya, her eyes no longer as sharp as usual, but soft and hopeful.
Fyar and Zaefal stared wide-eyed at each other while covering their mouths with their hands. Their eyes nearly popped out from the shock. They were extremely surprised to hear Rasie’s tone of voice and her body language.
"Zaefal, is that Rasie?"
"Illya, is that... Rasie?" Fyar asked.
Zaefal swallowed hard and gave a stiff nod.
"Rasie has a side like this?.." Cyhas muttered softly.
Meanwhile, Illya just smiled gently at Rasie as if she knew this side of her. "Good luck, Rasie..." Illya muttered softly.
Hasya’s pupils dilated. He seemed to forget what he was supposed to say as he saw Rasie’s expression. He was as if hypnotized by Rasie’s soft gaze. His face flushed slightly, and his heart pounded so hard he had to take a deep breath.
"My goodness, Rasie... you’re so beautiful..." he muttered softly.
Rasie waited patiently for Hasya’s answer while staring softly at him. She squeezed the edge of her clothes, waiting for certainty.
After Hasya composed himself, he shouted, "I’m serious!!!"
Rasie startled slightly at his shout. Her shoulders jerked for a moment in surprise.
"Rasieee, I... I like you, I really, truly love you!!!!"
"I love everything about you!! Your personality!"
"Your fierce smile! Your insults! Your anger, your foolish side! Your courage! Your honesty!"
"I want to carry your burdens! I want to share your weights with you! I want to help make your dreams come true!"
"I love you so much!! I want to go on adventures with you!"
"I want to build a small family with you!"
"I want you by my side until I die!!"
After shouting, Hasya caught his breath, panting. He looked back at Rasie and winked one of his eyes in his characteristic style.
Rasie’s pupils dilated; her lips trembled slightly. She stared at Hasya in disbelief for several seconds. A few tears leaked from the corners of her eyes, flowing slowly down her red cheeks.
After a few seconds of silence, Rasie fell quiet. She looked down at the owl’s feathers and began to sob, crying. Her shoulders shook gently.
Ah damn, did I embarrass her? Hasya was a bit worried. He leaned his face forward slightly closer to Rasie to check on her.
Rasie looked back at Hasya. She then smiled sincerely and widely
"You idiot!!"
She then grabbed Hasya’s collar roughly and kissed his lips.
Fyar and Zaefal looked like they were holding back their excitement.