Propose on the Spot

The script told me very clearly: those Russians already intended to become villains.

So in my own script, another death ending appeared—【Euclid is shot dead by the Rossiya Empire.】

But I’ve got Ke Fei’er’s long white legs to hug, so why would I panic?

Because of Ke Fei’er’s presence, those three Russians didn’t dare do anything like “kill and loot” for the time being.

Their dancing stopped as well, and they slunk away.

By evening, the Britannia Empire’s people had also advanced their route to where we were.

According to the rules of exploring ruins in this borderless zone, unless those Russians could somehow teleport ahead of us, they were no longer allowed to step into the territory we had secured.

At this moment, as night fell, for the sake of habit and safety, Ke Fei’er and I decided to wait for Nilou to personally make a simple dinner for us.

Meanwhile, inside the makeshift tent I had helped set up, while I was spreading bedding and keeping wary of how Nilou’s “script developments” might escalate, it was no surprise that Ke Fei’er bent down and came in.

If anything was different, it was that she seemed a little nervous being alone with me.

You’re the protagonist—what are you nervous for?

If anyone should be nervous, it’s me, the villain.

“Want me to massage your legs?”

“Euclid.”

Ke Fei’er didn’t give me the chance to curry favor.

Instead, she sat properly across from me, though her movements were somewhat restrained.

Of course, those beautiful legs wouldn’t just “disappear.”

Knowing that, and out of respect both for the script and for Ke Fei’er, I didn’t immediately peek at the script to foresee her purpose for being alone with me.

I simply waited, as she fiddled shyly with her hands, cheeks faintly red under the unsteady glow of the magic stone lamp, before finally speaking.

“This morning’s so-called ‘dead end’—did you already know about it from the start?”

“……”

Silence meant yes.

Ke Fei’er and the others might think this place was a “goddess’s relic,” but in my eyes it was just a dungeon instance made for Ke Fei’er.

In any dungeon, there are always paths only the protagonist can take.

All I did was find it and let Ke Fei’er open it.

That’s just thigh-hugging. Why would I be embarrassed?

“Yes, I knew from the start.

When the Rossiya people called it a ‘dead end,’ I knew: I’d found it.

This is your trial, Ke Fei’er—your breakthrough.

How could I let someone else steal it?”

Hearing my words, Ke Fei’er stayed silent.

Suddenly, I realized what I had just said sounded suspiciously like “mind control.”

Damn it!

If Ke Fei’er misunderstood, I’d be finished.

I’m a villain—if I’m seen as trying to “control the protagonist,” I’d be lucky to die with my body intact!

I quickly corrected myself.

“Ah, of course I’m not forcing you.

But your father said as much before.

And as your priest, naturally I hope you’ll keep growing stronger.

I’ll use my ‘prophecies’ to support your trials.

I’ll always try to find ways for you to train, and I hope you won’t mind.”

Phew.

Since I’m just a villain doomed to endless deaths in the script, if I want to survive a world where anyone might kill me, I can only keep hugging Ke Fei’er’s thigh.

It’s fine for now, but what if one day the protagonist finds me as nagging and annoying as some grandma?

I had to prepare in advance.

I thought she’d be happy with all that thigh-hugging flattery, but her reaction was strange.

“Always!?”

“Yes!”

Isn’t that obvious?

If I left you for more than a hundred meters, I’d probably be beheaded on the spot!

Ke Fei’er tensed up all over, her hand fidgeting with her white hair.

“I’m not criticizing you.

It’s just… Charlatan, do you even know what ‘always’ means?”

Ke Fei’er, are you seriously testing me with elementary-level reading comprehension?

“Always” means forever!

It has a ceremonial ring to it.

When a man says “always” to a woman, it’s practically the setup for kneeling on one knee, pulling out a little box, and flashing a big diamond ring.

…

…

Crap. I screwed up!

My words must have made Ke Fei’er misunderstand!

I lifted my head to explain, but it was too late.

The magic stone lamp, running out of power, dimmed further.

In that faint light, Ke Fei’er’s blush deepened.

The tent was small, and we were sitting side by side on the bedding.

If I leaned just a little closer, I could smell her girlish fragrance—mixed with a faint trace of sweat from a day’s exploration.

I’d already felt how soft her body was before, back in that wardrobe.

At the time it was urgent and I couldn’t dwell on it.

But now, in this charged atmosphere…

I’m still a normal man, after all.

Ke Fei’er, maybe you should move a bit further away?

Of course, I didn’t dare say that.

If I did, wouldn’t it expose me as being ruled by lust?

But staying silent didn’t help either—Ke Fei’er wouldn’t wait.

After a moment’s silence, suddenly—!

She turned, leaning her face close to mine!

I’m a villain, about to be pushed down by the protagonist!

If that was all, it would be fine—it’d be her move, I’d just be the victim, the harem member.

But the problem is—I said something misleading first, causing this misunderstanding!

That makes it my fault.

A villain deceiving the protagonist into “pushing him down”?

That never ends well!

The dungeon’s not cleared, my redemption arc hasn’t even started, and I already ate the protagonist!?

I’d be a dead man walking!

“I wasn’t angry.

I was happy.

I wanted to thank you for today.

But now, it seems like you’re not expecting thanks, but… something else…”

Ke Fei’er was about to wall-slam me!

The protagonist, tricked by me, was about to…!

“So, Euclid, actually about that ‘official document’ from my father—I didn’t tear it up…”

Spare me, heroine!

I only wanted to hug your thigh!

Heaven knows what Ke Fei’er planned to do, but just then, Nilou’s voice came from outside the tent!

“Young Lady, Mr. Euclid, are you inside? Dinner is ready!”

“!”

Ke Fei’er jolted away from me like she’d been shocked.

After a moment of awkward eye contact, she coughed lightly and answered.

“Cough, cough… I’m coming, Nilou!”

She left, while I sat there relieved.

That script had been way too dangerous!

【Ke Fei’er wanted to bring up marriage with Euclid.】

If a villain devours the protagonist—how could I still live?

【But Nilou, who had been watching from outside, interrupted at the crucial moment.】

Grateful to Nilou for saving me, I left the tent too.

I didn’t think too much about what else the script had said.