I really didn't want to burn it.

Go back a few minutes.

On the Golden Deer, Li Ang once again deliberately "coincidentally" ran into Ritsuka on the deck.

It wouldn't be entirely accurate to say it was intentional; Li Ang originally wanted to stay in the room with Chloris, but unfortunately, she didn't agree.

Because Chloris has work to do.

Although Chloris, the goddess of flowers, is a marginal deity with little presence, it doesn't mean she has no responsibilities whatsoever.

When people offer sacrifices to Chloris in hopes that she will bring flowers, she is still expected to do so.

Chloris had a premonition that things would get increasingly busy during the rest of the trip, so she planned to clear out her work in advance.

As a result, Li Ang, who liked to "interfere" with her work, was disliked.

"Go outside, don't stand here and annoy me."

"Don't worry, I promise I won't touch you, I won't grope you, I won't kiss you," Li Ang replied. "I'll just stay here and read quietly. Even if I'm an eternally energetic, perpetually 20-year-old, I might only ever do that kind of thing!"

Although Li Ang made a good promise, his sly expression still revealed something.

Chloris squinted and asked, "What if I were to reach out to you first?"

"...Then I can only be brave and fearless, and burn myself out."

A man can't admit he's incapable, and satisfying his girlfriend is a man's most basic obligation.

This is Li Ang's consistent idea throughout his countless world travels.

"And then it went straight to dawn? I didn't work all night?"

"We can shorten the process. If you cooperate, you should be able to recover your energy to work by around 2 a.m...."

"go out."

Chloris stopped smiling and pointed to the door.

"Um... I was just kidding."

"Get out!"

And so, Li Ang was slunk out.

While wandering aimlessly on the deck, Li Ang saw Ritsuka, who had come to the lookout tower to enjoy the breeze.

So, Li Ang, who planned to play the role of a caring older brother and complete the task, took the initiative to go over.

"Gudako, why are you alone again?"

"Li Ang, don't call me that!"

Ritsuka's ahoge (cowlick) shook unhappily.

Li Ang teased, "Who told you to always be hugging an owl and making that 'coo coo' sound?"

"Hmph, I didn't do that!"

Although she was annoyed, Ritsuka still answered Li Ang's question.

"Little Gray seems to have something on its mind. It's standing motionless on the bed, its whole body glowing. Perhaps its goddess needs to see it."

Li Ang shrugged. "Her too? Looks like all goddesses are the same."

"also?"

"Ahem, it's nothing. Where's Mashu?"

"She was having a great time with Phil and Fufu, and I couldn't get a word in edgewise."

At this point, Ritsuka glared at Li Ang with displeasure, seemingly blaming him for his cat having stolen her junior classmate away.

"You're really pathetic. Why don't you summon a Heroic Spirit to chat with?"

Li Ang's relaxed expression turned serious.

Ritsuka's lips twitched, and she turned her head away embarrassedly.

"Li Ang, your attempt to change the subject was too clumsy..."

Li Ang laughed and said, "I can't help it, I don't know how to start the conversation. Guiding girls and helping them resolve their inner conflicts is not my forte. I'm better at simply hugging girls."

Ritsuka said disdainfully, "Scumbag, as expected, Mashu can't be left to you."

"But you do have worries, don't you?"

Leon stood next to Ritsuka and said to her, "You are a Master, but you have neither signed a contract with Drake and the others, nor summoned any new Servants, and you even keep your distance when talking to Servants. This is very abnormal."

Ritsuka couldn't respond and could only look at the shimmering waves.

After a long pause, Ritsuka finally asked, "Am I that obvious?"

"Because you were always nagging in my ear when we were in Qin, now that it's quiet, I'm not used to it."

Ritsuka's little nose twitched slightly, and she said in a sarcastic tone, "You've been flirting with Chloris the whole time..."

Li Ang immediately turned the tables, saying, "Even when I'm flirting, I can tell something's off about you."

"Cut~"

Ritsuka snorted defiantly.

"So, Ritsuka, what's wrong with you?" Li Ang asked softly.

"I'm just... scared."

Ritsuka sighed helplessly, "What if the Heroic Spirit I summon causes another problem..."

"Like Kanna Nobutoshi, a ghost who repeatedly dies?"

"No way! And who was that?!"

Ritsuka loudly complained.

"So what are you afraid of?" Li Ang turned his head and studied Ritsuka's profile. "You're not even afraid of ghosts, so what are you afraid of?"

"Then I'll summon your other ex-girlfriends, Li Ang."

"Want to see my chaotic battleground? Summon your people first."

Li Ang smiled gently, his smile brighter than the daytime sun.

"Li Ang, your skin is so thick it's despair-inducing, even armor-piercing bullets can't penetrate it."

Ritsuka rubbed her temples and said this.

Li Ang simply smiled and waited for Ritsuka's reply.

Ritsuka said with a melancholy expression, "Summoning His Majesty Ying Zheng was my own idea. Arch and the others opposed it. It was the result of my stubbornness."

"It's my fault. I let the previous singularity spiral out of control. If someone else had been the Master..."

“Then they would have been killed by Ying Zheng long ago,” Li Ang replied. “Ying Zheng has such a violent temper; not just anyone can be his master.”

"Hey?"

"Ying Zheng told me about you. He was very satisfied with you as a Master. If it were the Holy Grail War, he would help you win."

[Host, your best friend has never said that.]

Li Ang ignored the system pop-up window and focused only on Ritsuka's face.

"But……"

Ritsuka was about to say something, but Li Ang spoke first: "Let me tell you a secret, even if you don't summon Ying Zheng, I will."

"Is it?"

"I had already figured out how to summon Heroic Spirits, but you beat me to it."

Li Ang said casually.

【lie.】

"Of course, in that situation, summoning Ying Zheng would undoubtedly be the best solution. The reason I chose to cooperate with you is also because of him."

【lie.】

"Therefore, regardless of whether you are the master or not, the outcome for the Qin Dynasty will not be fundamentally different, because Ying Zheng will definitely appear."

【lie.】

“You should be glad that you are the current Master of Chaldea.” Leon gently brushed a strand of Ritsuka’s hair aside. “If Ying Zheng hadn’t been satisfied with you, he probably would have killed you first. In that case, humanity would have truly failed.”

It's still a lie.

[Conclusion: Host, you are a big liar.]

"Ritsuka, you must believe in your talent as a Master. You are the best Master!"

"So don't be afraid of any difficulties you encounter, face them with a smile! The best way to eliminate fear is to face it! Perseverance is the key to victory."

"Go for it! Otsuka... Ritsuka!"

Li Ang barely managed to keep from saying "Oli Gei" (a popular internet slang term for something cute).

But Ritsuka had clearly noticed, and she pouted and said, "Li Ang, you definitely copied that from someone."

Li Ang did not deny it, and he replied carelessly, "Because I'm bad with words~ I always have to borrow other people's famous quotes."

"As expected... you are definitely the most shameless person in the entire organization," Ritsuka retorted.

"I've lived for thousands of years, if I were more thin-skinned I would have died long ago."

Ritsuka suddenly grabbed Leon and asked, "If Chloris, DD, and my Mash fell into the river, who would you save first?"

"I'll throw you into the river, you little rascal."

Li Ang flicked Ritsuka's head.

Ritsuka's lips curled up, her kind and likable face beaming with a smile.

It was an extremely simple smile, not one of contempt or mischief, but simply a smile born of happiness.

"Li Ang, thank you."

Ritsuka released Li Ang.

"I'm glad you can get back on your feet."

Li Ang touched his nose, somewhat puzzled.

"Okay. See you tomorrow."

Ritsuka nodded vigorously.

She had just turned around to go back to her room to sleep when Li Ang stopped her.

The next second, Li Ang pulled her into his arms.

Ritsuka's smiling expression instantly turned into an "OmO" as she blushed and shouted out loud.

"Wait! This is moving too fast! If you dare to do anything reckless, be careful, Sister Chloris might tie you up with a boar in heat!"

The next second, Ritsuka heard a deafening noise behind her.

boom!

The deck of the Golden Hind was engulfed in a massive explosion, with wooden deck sections collapsing and railings being torn off and thrown into the sea.

The massive tremors nearly broke the bow of the Golden Hind, and the ship began to list outwards.

The seawater, flung into the sky by the explosion, fell back onto the surface, like a downpour, splashing onto the two people on the deck.

"Drake will definitely be angry."

Li Ang looked at the large hole in the cabin and said softly.

"Isn't that obvious? The Golden Deer is already damaged."

"No, the ship is fine, it can be repaired with magic. But the wine cabinet was smashed."

"..."

Ritsuka just wanted to be quiet; she didn't want to talk anymore.

It's exhausting to keep complaining.

Bah!