Their romance storyline only begins on the second playthrough

At that moment, Rod stretched out his palm and said, "Can I pat your head again? Some people like to be patted, and some people don't."

"Huh...? Whatever, whatever you want." Ivina's ears turned a little red.

Rod placed his palm on her head and gently stroked it.

"If you want to participate, then participate. I'll go with you."

Yes.

Since Ivina is going to participate in this coming-of-age ceremony, and since Cecilia is going to ruin it...

So why not settle all old scores and new grievances at the coming-of-age ceremony?

At the coming-of-age ceremony, successfully get Ivina to bravely step onto the stage, kill the troublemaking witches, and uncover the unknown truth about Cecilia—the truth about why she wanted him to save Ivina.

"Really...? You knew there was danger..."

"It's nothing. I just need to kill them to increase my strength."

Ivina's words of emotion instantly caught in her throat.

Rhodes's words... are really not moving.

Can you stop always putting your own interests first, you jerk...

However, Cecilia was right after all.

He has a way of dealing with the problem as long as he makes the request.

Ivina's lips curved into a faint smile, but it quickly faded away.

But that's never the problem.

[I need to kill them to increase my strength.]

What if, at the moment the truth is revealed, she is no longer the one he is protecting, but rather "them"?

This is the real problem, isn't it...?

His choice, his choice—

“I’m telling you, what if I’m actually a really bad person? After all, you’re being so nice to me now because you want to take me away from the Duke’s mansion. You don’t even know me.”

Ivina asked this question in a light voice, but it carried a heavy burden of emotion.

Rod paused slightly and looked at the girl.

At this moment, the girl twisted her fingertips together shyly. Her disabled and bound left eye made her appear so fragile and pitiful.

He remained silent for a long while, his eyes fixed on Ivina:

"Are you stupid?"

"Huh?"

Rhodes extended his finger and flicked Ivina's forehead.

"What, what are you doing!"

I cannot answer that question right now.

"Why...?" Ivina asked sullenly, sounding a little unhappy.

"I will only answer your question after you have actually done something really bad and tried to kill me."

"Huh?"

"So you want to kill me? Otherwise, don't ask me this question."

In that instant, Ivina was speechless.

"Oh……"

"However, since you've chosen to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony, it means you've agreed to my goal, right?"

"After all, if you don't want to leave the Duke's mansion, you're unlikely to want to make any changes."

"Ah, yes... I guess so," Ivina nodded a couple of times, a little embarrassed.

After all, if she really admitted that she made the change just to be Rhodes' friend, wouldn't that make her seem cheap?

She stubbornly insisted:

"It's not because I want to be your friend that I'm changing! It's just that I wanted to change, and since I happened to become your friend, I thought I'd do a better job as well..."

“I understand. So starting tomorrow, I will begin to help you connect with people better, and help you successfully step onto the stage of your coming-of-age ceremony, and finally take you out.”

“Unnecessary thoughts…” Ivina turned her head away. “But thank you anyway.”

Rod laughed:

"Alright, you'll catch a cold if you sleep sitting there." He shifted his position and patted the empty space next to the bed. "Come on up and sleep."

"Huh?" Ivina froze, looking like a silly roe deer.

But then, suddenly, she realized what Rod had said—

Let's sleep together?

She was already a little uneasy because her attempt to kiss him had failed, so what was Rod trying to do now?

No, that's not a good idea...?

Friends would never sleep in the same bed, right?

However, the more she thought about it, the more her heart stirred with desire, and the hormones made her pale throat bob slightly.

This is almost an inevitable law in the world.

The more somber and friendless a person is, the stronger their essential physical desires become.

My body felt slightly warm, and my toes started to wiggle.

Can--

She managed to restrain herself and said coquettishly,

"Hey...! What do you think you're doing! Friends can't sleep in the same bed!"

"What are you thinking? I just need to go out and do some things, so I thought I'd let you sleep here."

"Huh...?"

"I broke through because I hunted that witch, and now I need to consolidate my aura."

"Ah, I see." Ivina awkwardly looked away.

"Holy crap, wait a minute! You've already reached the third level of advancement?" Ivina suddenly realized and cursed.

"Be civilized."

"...Oh. You've advanced three times?"

"It was just good luck. I didn't expect the energy provided by the demon I killed would be so high."

Ivina's mouth gaped open in shock.

"Just how high is your energy conversion efficiency? You were originally only at the second-level intermediate energy level, right? You only hunted down one witch and you've already reached the third level?"

Even if she's incredibly strong, the average person's absorption efficiency couldn't possibly reach the level of three advancements.

“You know quite a lot,” Rhodes chuckled. “You just have a bit more talent.”

Chapter 48 It's time for a reckoning, witches!

"In short, since we're going to give you socialization training, this is the first lesson."

"Come on, try to get close to me normally first, since I'm leaving soon anyway."

Rod patted the bed.

Ivina's face was blank; she sensed that something was amiss...

"oh oh."

But she still nodded in agreement.

Rod thought about it for a moment and suddenly felt a little strange.

By the way, speaking of which...

Why have all his injuries healed?

Are the doctors in the Duke's mansion really that skilled?

Never mind, it's not that important...

He continued to pat the empty bed next to him.

"Wait, wait a minute! I need to prepare myself mentally..." Ivina quickly waved her hand.

Rhodes looked puzzled:

"Are you thinking about something terrible? It's just a bed that someone else has slept in. What's there to be mentally prepared for?"

"Huh...?! No...no, that's not it! It's just that I've never been this close to anyone before..."

"That's why I need you to tackle this problem," Rhodes nodded.

"I know! I'll give it my all!"

Ivina gritted her teeth, her face burning hot, and simply took off the hair clip from her hair and threw it on the table before leaping into bed.

Like a maggot, it wriggled twice and then wrapped itself tightly in the blanket.

But... it was at this moment that she instantly felt the warmth and scent of Rhodes' body filling the bed.

The natural scent made her blush even more, and she quickly pulled her head out of the covers and took a couple of breaths of normal air.

Like a child, she lay upright with a small fingertip sticking out of the blanket, looking incredibly cute.

"I did it, hmph," Ivina said proudly.

"Mmm, that's great!"

"Hmph, that's for sure."