Irina pulled over a chair and sat down not far from the bed, hugging her Staff in her arms, wearing an expression that clearly said, “I’m waiting for your explanation.”
“All right, stop looking at me like that.”
Leo waved his hand.
“What’s up? It’s the middle of the night.”
“I just wanted to talk.”
Irina’s mood had settled somewhat.
She hugged her Staff, her chin resting on its head.
“Today… felt like a dream.”
“It did.”
Leo nodded.
“With the Magic Surge and that showdown between Summoners—it was pretty thrilling.”
“I don’t mean that.”
Irina shook her head, her voice dropping lower.
“I mean, meeting you.”
She lifted her head, her amber eyes looking straight at Leo.
“Do you know? Before I met you, I was always so scared.”
“I came to this world alone, knowing no one, worrying every day that I might die in the very next moment.”
“And I’m not like you—a Summoner who doesn’t have to fight on the front lines myself… Though in the end, my Profession was one I chose myself from the start.”
“But back then, I just thought it was a dream. Thought I’d been gaming too long, even my dreams were filled with [Domain of Divine Authority].”
“Even the Facial Customization for my character was exactly like the one in my game, so in a daze, I picked three Professions,
And then, in a daze, I realized this wasn’t a dream—it was real…”
There was a hint of lingering fear in Irina’s tone.
“I can’t believe it. I just pulled two all-nighters grinding games, then blinked—and the whole world had changed.”
Leo listened quietly.
He understood that feeling.
“What a coincidence. Same for me.”
He spoke up.
“But mine was simpler. I skipped over the Profession and Facial Customization part altogether.”
Irina was caught off guard by his dry remark, and let out a soft giggle.
“So, I’m really glad I met you.”
She gazed at Leo, her eyes earnest.
“Having someone who understands what I’m saying, who gets my references… it feels like I’ve found my own people in a foreign land.”
“Fellow townsfolk meeting in a far-off place, eyes brimming with tears, huh? I get it. Honestly, it’s the same for me.”
Leo spread his hands.
The atmosphere in the room grew subtly charged.
After a moment of silence, Irina suddenly spoke.
“Leo.”
“Yeah?”
“Can I… hug you?”
She asked in a tiny, uncertain voice.
Leo froze for a moment.
He looked at the girl in front of him—ash-brown hair, delicate features, and those clear eyes tinged with a silent plea.
“Sure.”
He nodded.
Irina immediately got up, hurried to the bedside, and opened her arms to gently hug him.
Her body was soft, carrying a faint, pleasant scent.
Leo could feel her trembling ever so slightly.
This embrace felt more like a search for comfort and reassurance.
A long while passed before Irina muttered against his chest.
“Being fellow townsfolk really is a huge plus.”
“And you… this body of yours is pretty handsome, too.”
Leo raised an eyebrow.
“My old body was handsome too, thanks.”
Irina burst out laughing in his arms, her shoulders shaking.
“Is that so? That means you’re handsome inside and out—good for you.”
She lifted her head; her cheeks were close to Leo’s, her breath brushing past.
“So…”
Her voice turned a little fuzzy, her gaze growing hazy.
“If it’s you, doing more… is fine, too?”
Her invitation was as straightforward as it could be.
Leo stared at her face, so close, suddenly at a loss for words.
—Isn’t this moving a bit too fast?
Sure, we’re all adults, and we know each other’s backgrounds as fellow townsfolk, but… this is a bit too direct, right?
He wasn’t exactly a gentleman, but still, shouldn’t this kind of thing be mutual, and come about naturally?
But… hmm… uh… sss…
He was still caught in an intense internal struggle when, off to the side, Alice suddenly tilted her head, her cool and unperturbed voice ringing out in curiosity:
“Master, what does ‘threesome’ mean?”
Leo: “……”
Irina: “……”
The air froze again.
Leo’s face instantly turned crimson.
He whipped his head around to glare at Alice.
“I told you not to go poking around in my thoughts!”
“Reporting, Master, I cannot actively interfere with the flow of information in our mental link.”
Alice replied, face full of innocence.
Her meaning was clear—it wasn’t her fault for seeing it, it was just that he was thinking too loudly.
“Pfft…”
Irina was stunned at first, then couldn’t help but burst into laughter, turning entirely red.
She let go of Leo, pointed at him, half shy, half annoyed.
“Leo! You really are a pervert! What the heck were you thinking?”
“Pretending to be all reserved, when you’ve already gone that far in your mind!”
But even as she scolded, her eyes held little real anger.
“But still…”
Her tone shifted, mumbling under her breath.
“Even if it’s like that… I guess it doesn’t really matter anymore.”
Leo felt his brain about to short-circuit.
Before he could retort, Irina suddenly leaned in, tiptoed, and kissed him right on the lips.
This kiss was nothing like Alice’s.
It was tinged with a girl’s shyness, a hint of reckless determination, and a touch of urgency.
When the kiss ended, Irina gazed at him, panting softly, her amber eyes seemingly aflame.
“Leo, listen up!”
“As long as we can survive in this godforsaken place, I’m marrying no one but you from now on!”
“Deal with it!”
Rather than a confession, her words were more like a declaration—a declaration binding her future utterly to his.
Seeing her like this, all the lingering doubts in Leo’s heart vanished.
He sighed.
“I was just thinking, shouldn’t there be a bit more atmosphere for something like this?”
He reached out, gently caressing Irina’s burning cheek.
“But, since you’ve said so much already…”
“Then, let’s just do it.”
Since we’re fellow townsfolk, what’s there left to say?
With that, Leo lowered his head and kissed her back.
This time, he didn’t hesitate.
The kiss was no longer tentative.
The candlelight in the room flickered, drawing out the shadows of all three of them.
Irina’s Staff fell to the floor with a clatter.
She stretched out her arms, hugging Leo tightly in return, responding passionately.
Her heart was beating wildly, and she felt as if she were drunk, her whole body floating.
So this is what peace of mind feels like.
To find someone you can trust and rely on completely—so this is happiness.
No one knew how much time had passed before their lips parted.
Leo scooped Irina up and gently laid her on the bed.
He looked down at the girl below him, her gaze hazy, her cheeks flushed, and smiled.
“So then, welcome to Blackwood Town, my… Main Character.”
Irina smiled back, reaching up to hook her arms around his neck.
“Likewise, my… Villain.”
Alice watched the scene quietly from the side, a hint of curiosity flickering in her icy blue eyes.
A moment later, she slowly moved closer as well.
The moonlight outside the window seemed especially bright tonight.