Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough

And if she herself isn't embarrassed, then he has nothing to be embarrassed about.

After all, who was just lying on top of him...? I don't know.

"Whatever you like, this is your territory anyway." Rhodes nodded slightly, clasped his hands together, and placed them in front of him.

But after he finished speaking, the scene fell into an awkward and naive silence.

Once things stop, both sides will remember Ivina's terrible actions...

Ivina herself was embarrassed, but to be honest, she really had nowhere else to sleep.

If she were to go to a completely new and unfamiliar environment alone, her inner panic and fear would fill her completely. Not to mention sleeping, her physical and mental health would probably suffer.

It's like... being afraid of being locked in a dark, sealed box.

Therefore, she really had no choice but to do this, which is why she ended up sitting here in such an awkward position.

"I...I...um." She tried to say something, but in the end, she didn't know what friends should talk about.

Moreover, she didn't know what Rod liked to talk about, what he liked to do, or what his hobbies were, so she eventually fell silent again.

Yes... thinking about it carefully, she seems to know absolutely nothing about her new friend.

But everyone knows that when both parties feel awkward and remain silent, the awkwardness only intensifies.

Therefore, at this moment, Rhodes broke the deadlock:

"Miss Ivina, since you're sleeping here tonight, why don't we chat for a while?"

"Hmm? Hmm, that works too. Let's just treat it as a bedtime story," Ivina said quickly, realizing what she meant.

"Telling short stories is a bit difficult for me. I'm not very good at telling short stories."

"What I'm about to say is actually quite heavy."

Ivina's one unbound eye secretly glanced at Rhodes:

"Hmph...then why don't I do it? I've heard quite a few stories, and since you're injured today, I'll reluctantly lend a hand."

"Huh?" Rod smiled inexplicably.

"Alright, go ahead."

Chapter 45 Lilith, filled with regret, will reclaim everything.

Ivina was telling her story, but in the room not far from them, the girl was still sitting alone on her bed.

Lilith curled up into a small ball, her hands clasped together, her rounded nails digging red marks into the flesh of her inner thighs, her lonely face revealing a look of desolation.

She is reviewing and recalling the mistakes she made.

Her ignorance, her ridiculousness about emotions, everything led to her mistake of ultimately being left alone in this world.

She failed to be the one to protect Rhodes, nor could she be the one to bring him joy and happiness.

Therefore, Rhodes is currently being cared for by Ivina, not by her.

Yes, her position was taken away.

Regret?

Maybe.

But more than anything, it was self-blame for my own incompetence.

If, if she could protect him, if she could do things well, would Rod like her a little more?

Does that mean she can naturally get close to him and become the one who takes care of him?

All fantasies are revealed at this moment.

That's strange, really strange... Why did she become like this?

“I miss the past so much.” Lilith’s lips murmured. “I miss the time when I was confident and looked down on the world.”

"At that time, even though I ignored Rod, he kept coming to me, trying to stir up trouble and deliberately get close to me."

Those cautious touches seemed so foolish to me, but ultimately, through persistent pleading and cajoling, I actually got used to his presence.

"I'm used to him helping me with things, and I'm used to him easily guessing what I want to say."

"Therefore, I am increasingly less likely to express my needs and increasingly unable to express my feelings... because I always feel that 'he will naturally understand what I mean'."

"It was precisely because of my ridiculousness that, in the end, I couldn't even utter those simple words on the altar. I even felt that it was okay not to say them, and I could say them later."

But what is the reality?

"That was my last chance."

"After he died, I felt remorse and regret, desperately trying to remember him and find a way to resurrect him... But what's the point?"

Exhausted, she collapsed onto the bed, her azure hair scattered everywhere.

Everything is different now.

Rhodes stopped revolving around her and even got seriously injured while helping other girls, while she seemed like an outsider, unable to fit in at all.

She could sense that Rhodes was drifting further and further away from her, and that she herself was losing more and more opportunities.

She had no chance to hesitate any longer. If she hesitated any longer, she wouldn't be able to continue being with Rhodes, let alone protect him or even understand what he wanted to do.

I've done terribly in this life. I tried my best to be better than in my previous life, but in the end, it was less effective than doing nothing at all in my previous life.

Sure enough, some people are just not suited to talking, right?

One word and everything fell apart.

Memories of various failures spread and diffused in her mind, also leading her to recall things much, much further back—

The God of Starlight was originally a deity who led believers to spread joy throughout the world.

This deity created peace and prosperity, and thus also created the world's largest imperial federation, where people live in joy and possess various divine characteristics.

She really shouldn't have inherited this divine position, but what could she do? Her master just happened to be the previous generation's "Star God".

Her master... her master...

In a slight daze, she seemed to recall the words the Star God had spoken to her a hundred years ago in the Sky Flower Garden—

One day, you too can lead people to live happily. So, at the very least, you need to make yourself happy first.

You must please yourself first before you can make others laugh with you.

tick tock...tick tock...

Lilith's eyes gradually cleared from their cloudiness.

"Yes, what am I doing..."

"Trapped in the past, there's no joy left..."

She suddenly stood up, recalling cherished memories and unlocking her long-dormant abilities.

All the techniques of pleasure that her master taught her, whether it be games, art, crafts, or nature, were things she had long considered to be for ignorant children.

A flicker of interest crossed her eyes. She rummaged through the cabinets in the room and finally found the place where she could store what she wanted to create—knitwear.

"Let's make a [talisman] that can protect others."

She sat down in the chair, her fingertips picking up the knitted yarn.

An expectation began to grow within me...

At least, whatever Rhodes thought, she hoped that this item, imbued with her love, could bring him a bit of good luck.

……

...

In Rhodes's room.

Ivina has already told most of the story.

"You've heard Phillips' song, haven't you?"

A goat runs on the soft grass, and two goats follow its footsteps on this dreamlike land.

Anyway, the song is said to have been written by fishermen from Phillips who saw a magical landscape and goats running in the middle of the sea.

Later, the fishermen perished at sea.

In their dire straits, the beautiful image of those goats etched in their minds guided them through the storm, helping them overcome their predicament, escape the terrifying waves, and finally return home safely.

"That's roughly the story. Well, the actual content is very, very long. If I really want to read it, I'll have to go to the library to get the book..."

“No need.” Rhodes shook his head.

Even though Ivina was just telling a very ordinary fairy tale, Rhodes fell into deep thought.

In this world, no legend comes from nowhere.

If those fishermen were indeed guided by the sheep in their minds, it is probably related to a divine race.

The [Sea-dwelling Species] are the race of the [Gods of the Deep Sea].

He had indeed had very little contact with this race... and he never expected that there was such a legendary bond among the Phillips.

Who knows if it might be a mission?

He didn't have time for that right now; the more important thing was to complete the task of bringing Ivina out.

"How about we go to the library together to read this story sometime? That way you won't have to bother reading it aloud."

Ivina's pupils contracted slightly, then flashed with a hint of joy:

"Ah...yes, is that so? Hmph, then I'll reluctantly keep you company. But I'm not very literate, so you're not allowed to scold me, okay?"

"?" Rhodes tilted his head.

"Not very literate?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

"..."