Fantasy Library.

Chapter 521 The Formal Engagement

Previously, neither Aize nor Yoshino Asatake had considered discussing their engagement.

Because it is not necessary.

Aize's attitude towards this sudden engagement was to wait and see, because at that time he still needed to get to the secret of Suiori, and the Asabu family was the way for him to get to the secret. In addition, Kurama Genjuro also asked him to accept it temporarily, so he naturally accepted it. He never thought that this engagement would be fulfilled.

Asagi Yoshino even considered her closeness with others as harming them, and worried that Aizawa would be hurt and encounter unnecessary trouble if she got too involved. Therefore, she always strongly rejected the approach of everyone, including Aizawa, and never thought of marrying Aizawa.

Aize knew Asagi Yoshino's attitude, and although Asagi Yoshino might not know Aize's attitude, she firmly rejected Aize, believing that the engagement should be dissolved no matter what.

But things are clearly different now than they were back then.

"Mr. Aize seems to really dislike this engagement, doesn't he?"

Asahi Yoshino said this in a low voice.

Although she was slow to react, she was not stupid. This was evident from Aize's attitude so far; he had no interest in the engagement whatsoever.

The same is true.

“I wouldn’t say I hate it, I just feel it’s dispensable.” Aize said frankly, “From the very beginning, I felt that this engagement came out very suddenly and abruptly, to the point that it didn’t feel real at all. Later, although I learned some of his plans from Mr. An Qing and the reasons why he unilaterally made this engagement, I have always felt that this engagement is just something in name only. Your purpose is not to fulfill it, but to achieve some other purpose through it.”

"How could such a marriage agreement possibly be fulfilled in the end?"

Therefore, although Aize reflected on his remarks yesterday, he did not think there was anything wrong with his attitude towards the engagement.

Things that exist for various reasons have changed their very nature, so how can they possibly be realized?

Chao Wu Anqing realized this problem, which is why she apologized to Aize yesterday and asked him to forget what she had said and to consider the marriage from his own perspective.

He wanted to make amends.

Because of his words and his purpose, the nature of the engagement changed to the point that Aize never considered it something that would actually be fulfilled, which undoubtedly hindered the progress between Aize and Asagi Yoshino.

That's why he said that.

"What is Dad really thinking?" Asagi Yoshino had always wanted to know the answer, so she said, "I also asked him why he insisted on making you stay by signing a marriage contract, but the reasons he gave always gave me the feeling that he was lying."

Asatake Yoshino wasn't unconvinced by Asatake Ansei, otherwise she wouldn't have temporarily acknowledged the existence of the marriage contract. As the saying goes, no one knows a father better than his daughter. How could Asatake Yoshino not realize that the reasons her father gave weren't the truth?
It can only be said that Yoshino Asatake knows her father quite well.

Unfortunately, Asahi Ansei never revealed the real reason.

“He’s worried about you.” Aize didn’t hide anything and said softly, “As a father, he has been able to watch you fight the curse alone for so long, fighting a lone battle. How could he not feel bad?”

Even if there's a reason for it, and knowing this isn't something you can just tell others, Mr. Anqing still hopes you can have someone you can rely on, right?

"He hopes you won't be alone anymore, and he hopes you'll have people by your side to support you."

Hitachi Mako is such a person, but her role is that of a protector and a supporter. She cannot get along with Asatake Yoshino on an equal footing, so Asatake Yoshino always looks so lonely, which makes people feel sorry for her.

But no one else can be a supportive partner for Yoshino Asatake, someone she can rely on.

Under these circumstances, Aize's appearance gave Asahi Ansei hope.

He is capable of drawing the divine sword and the Murasame, and not only is he a trustworthy person, but he can also fight alongside Yoshino Asatake. He is undoubtedly an excellent candidate.

In light of this, after some internal struggle and consideration, Asahi Yasuharu finally decided to be stubborn and willful this time.

"...Is that really how it is?"

After hearing what Aize said, Asagi Yoshino was not particularly surprised or taken aback. Instead, she pursed her lips as if she had expected it.

Have you already guessed it?

Aize looked at Yoshino Asagi.

"I just have a vague feeling about it." Asagi Yoshino lowered her eyes and said softly, "Ever since my mother passed away, my father has been giving me a very tender smile from time to time."

This made Yoshino Asagi realize that her father had always been worried about her and troubled by her affairs.

She was aware of this, but never thought of changing it.

Because she genuinely felt that she wasn't suited to get too close to others, lest she implicate or trouble them.

"Mr. Aize wants to break off the engagement because your father told you the truth about the engagement, making you feel like you were being used?"

Asatake Yoshino couldn't help but think that way.

“No, it doesn’t have to come to that.” Aize chuckled and said, “I really don’t care. The engagement was based on a certain purpose in the first place. Whether it continues or is dissolved directly is not something that is particularly surprising or noteworthy. So I brought it up as part of my suggestion at the time.”

"I really didn't expect Miss Asatake to be so unhappy."

Aize's honest words made Asagi Yoshino feel embarrassed again.

"I'm so sorry. It's understandable that you feel resistant to the engagement since we're the ones who arranged it. I knew that, yet I still did it..."

Asagi Yoshino apologized to Aizawa again.

"So didn't I say it wouldn't come to that?" Aize said with a wry smile. "I don't feel opposed to it, I just feel it's unrealistic."

After thinking it over, Aize decided to be more honest.

"I've never liked playing with others since I was little. I'm not interested in games or entertainment. Instead, I like playing with knives and guns. To others, I'm extremely aloof and an oddball."

“My family isn’t a wealthy one either; at least in my opinion, my background is very ordinary.”

"Aside from enjoying swordsmanship and having a fairly disciplined daily life, I am just a genuine ordinary person. I have absolutely no connection with the Asabu family, who are considered leaders of the Sui-ori clan and are among the most prestigious families in the area."

Aize shrugged and continued speaking.

"For someone like me to be engaged to the local princess simply because I pulled a knife stuck in a stone is unbelievable. It's like something out of a dream."

“I’ve already passed the stage of being prone to wishful thinking, so I’ve always felt that such a wonderful thing could not possibly fall into my lap out of thin air.”

"In other words, I simply don't believe that a girl as beautiful and well-born as you would marry a reclusive oddball like me."

Aize looked at Asagi Yoshino, smiled faintly, and said something.

"To put it more bluntly, I don't think I have anything that you would like, so I never had any expectations for this engagement from the beginning."

If you don't have expectations, you won't have any delusions.

If there are no delusions, then it is naturally easy to propose a termination.

In Aize's view, the engagement was bound to be dissolved sooner or later; it was just a matter of time.

In that case, to avoid unnecessary trouble, why not simply resolve it in advance? That would be beneficial for both sides.

It was with this attitude that I made my remarks yesterday.

“How could that be?” Asagi Yoshino finally understood Aize’s thoughts, but she couldn’t agree with them. She quickly said, “Mr. Aize is an outstanding person. He is not only strong, but also calm, composed and mature. He is many times better than me.”

"On the contrary, I've been the one holding you back, and I almost caused you to lose your life."

"There's absolutely no reason why you would want someone like me."

Asahi Yoshino's voice grew softer and softer, and her tone became increasingly dejected.

"The Asabu family is not as remarkable a family as you imagine, Mr. Aize. Even if they are somewhat special in Suizhi, they are just a local noble family from a remote rural area in other places."

"Even though they were the administrators of this land in the past, in modern times, the influence of the Chaowu family is limited to this small area. In the eyes of outsiders, they are probably no different from poor and backward villagers."

"You think too highly of us."

In a sense, this doesn't really count as self-deprecation.

Admittedly, the Asabu family holds a special position in Suiori, but even Suiori itself is seen by outsiders as a cursed and ominous place. So what good could the Asabu family, who receive special treatment in this land, be in their eyes?

Perhaps, in some people's eyes, the Chaowu family doesn't even qualify as a poor and backward village.

Yoshino Asagi was well aware of her own limitations, so she never felt that being born into the Asagi family was anything special.

On the contrary, they are a truly cursed race, an ominous race, a race that should not be received.

Asatake Yoshino would only feel inferior about this, not proud at all.

In contrast, Aize was able to face the evil god single-handedly and kill it instantly. He was both powerful and capable. Compared to himself, who could only safely exorcise the evil god with the help of Hitachi Mako, he was the true chosen one of heaven.

Asatake Yoshino would never feel that Aize was unworthy of her; she would only feel that she was unworthy of Aize.

This isn't just being dramatic; she genuinely feels that way.

Aize saw this, but still wanted to speak.

“But you’re beautiful, have a great figure, and are top-notch in every way. You’re way beyond my reach.” Aize smiled and said, “If a girl like you were in a big city or somewhere else, the line of people wanting to date you would probably stretch from this country all the way to Paris.”

"...Just because someone is good-looking, does that mean others feel they are not good enough for them?" Asagi Yoshino frowned and said, "I don't like that kind of view."

“But this is the most common phenomenon in society, a real phenomenon.” Aize said calmly, “People always have all sorts of emotions towards beautiful things. Some will greedily want to get their hands on them, some will be so envious and jealous that they go crazy, some will think that they can only be admired from afar and not touched, while others will want to destroy them, trample them under their feet, and thus satisfy their ugly desires.”

"If you are good-looking, that is an advantage, an strength, and you will be sought after and noticed by others."

"You say I think too highly of you, but I also want to say that you underestimate yourself."

Upon hearing this, Asahi Yoshino remained silent for a long time before finally saying something.

"Then, would Mr. Aize like someone like me?"

Upon hearing this, Aize was stunned by the expression on Asagi Yoshino's face.

"No, no! That's not what I meant!" Asagi Yoshino realized what she meant, her face flushed, and she hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean that kind of liking! It's just... time..."

Chao Wufang was so flustered that she couldn't even speak properly.

"I like it."

Aize's sudden remark left Yoshino Asatake frozen in place.

Looking at Yoshino Asagi like this, Aize smiled.

“At least, I really like Miss Asahi’s dancing. I think it’s a rare and precious beauty in this world.” Aize sincerely said, “Even though you can be stubborn and infuriatingly cold at times, I don’t dislike you.”

"Otherwise, I wouldn't have saved you when you were about to fall off the cliff, and I certainly wouldn't have accompanied you on your morning exercise."

Aize's candid words made Asagi Yoshino's face turn as red as an apple.

"Let's get back to the point." Aize coughed and said, "I've already told you my thoughts on the engagement. Now I want to know, what are your thoughts?"

"Me?" Asatake Yoshino's face was still red, but she spoke her mind, saying, "I know I'm a troublesome person. I always worry about too many things and then I mess everything up."

“In the past, I would have wanted to break off this engagement.”

"But now, I don't want to do that anymore."

This does not mean that Yoshino Asatake has acknowledged the relationship.

However, she really didn't want this relationship to end so abruptly.

"……Yeah?"

Aize murmured something, then suddenly laughed.

"In that case, why don't we try to get along?" Aize didn't look at Yoshino Asagi anymore, but looked ahead and said, "No matter how this relationship eventually develops, let's try to get along first."

"how do you feel?"

Asatake Yoshino naturally understood what Aize meant.

I just wanted to tell her that we should get to know each other as engaged couples and see if it works out.

"If...you don't mind..."

Asahi Yoshino blurted out those words without thinking.

"Then please take good care of me."

"I am the one, please give me your guidance."

The two looked at each other and both laughed.

From this moment on, the two officially became engaged.

They had no idea how the future would unfold.

However, both Aize and Yoshino Asagi harbored a certain expectation.

Looking forward to life in the future, and also looking forward to the unknown future.