Theo asked Fyat with a baffled face,
"Becoming my woman. What does that mean?"
Fyat tilted her head, puzzled.
"You're asking what I mean, Theo Lyn Waldeurk? Wasn't fighting a duel with me about winning me over as your woman?"
"That's not it. I fought you because you were blocking my way while I was on a mission for the Order,"
Theo replied, then turned his head away because Fyat's gaze was odd.
After a moment, Fyat burst into loud laughter.
"Ah, hahaha~ You really do have a cute side, Theo Lyn Waldeurk. Even a man like you gets shy."
Clap, clap, clap─
Fyat was slapping her thigh as she laughed, the first time she laughed this much.
Tears formed under her eyes, which curved like crescent moons.
Theo asked the lead researcher,
"...Did you by any chance use any drugs on her?"
He hoped for it.
Fyat, like Siena, was an elf.
That means once they set their mind on something, they go headfirst into it without caring about what others think.
However, the lead researcher disappointed Theo.
"No...? No, Theo. We haven't used any drugs, including anesthetics, yet."
At that, Theo frowned and glared at the lead researcher.
The researcher was startled by his fierce look.
"Eek!"
The terrified researcher hid behind Taylor.
Taylor laughed and said to Theo,
"Hahaha. I'm jealous of you. To be courted by an elf woman, who are famously beautiful. You really are something, Theo."
"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Branch Head."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"I'm not joking. I truly am envious. Fyat is especially beautiful among elves, who are known for their beauty. Many powerful figures on the continent risked their lives, betting on duels with her, and for good reason."
Theo remained silent.
He still looked at Fyat, who was laughing.
"I have a question."
"Ask away. A wife-to-be should answer her man's questions promptly."
"Why bring up marriage now, after all this time of silence?"
Fyat, looking shy, turned her gaze away and said,
"Because... I didn't want to hurt your feelings."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Think about it. What man would want to marry a woman with a crippled leg? Right, researchers?"
The researchers nodded almost reflexively.
Though each had their own thoughts, they were scared of Fyat.
In their eyes, she looked like a killing machine.
Fyat continued,
"But now it's different. After talking with the researchers, I'm confident I'll be able to walk on two legs again."
"Thanks for caring, but I can't take you as my wife,"
Theo said.
Fyat narrowed her eyes.
"Why? Don't tell me you dislike me."
Her murmuring was somewhat lonely.
Theo racked his brain.
'I need to come up with a rejection that won't hurt Fyat's feelings as much as possible.'
Fyat was one of the best assets he could utilize, especially now that she had acquired the artifact [Eater].
He couldn't let her slip through his fingers.
"I have a fiancée. Our families are bound by a pact, so it's not easy for me to break it off."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Oh, is that what this is about?"
Fyat asked, appearing unbothered.
"I don't mind not being the first. All I want is to stay by your side. Besides, isn't it common for human nobles to have concubines?"
Theo couldn't argue with that, so he remained quiet and thought of another excuse.
Regardless, Fyat went on.
"Of course, marriage between humans and elves isn't common. We belong to different races, live in different environments... There are many differences. Above all, I think the biggest barrier is that our perceptions of time are different."
Theo nodded.
'She's listing reasons why it won't work herself. Great, I'll take that.'
"You're well aware, Fyat. I share your view. Humans live up to 100 years at most. For elves, who live a thousand years, that's just a moment. That's why it's difficult for us. After I die, you'd be left alone for a long time."
"I know. That's why I want to have children as soon as possible."
"?"
Theo's expression, usually calm, broke.
He looked at Fyat in surprise.
By now, the researchers were deeply engrossed in their conversation.
"Wow... Are all female elves like this? Impressive."
"I agree, lead researcher. They're on a completely different level compared to humans."
"How long do half-elves live?"
"There's not enough data for precise statistics, but it's known to be around 500 years."
It was only after Theo's sharp glance that the researchers fell silent again.
Fyat said,
"After you leave this world, Theo Lyn Waldeurk, I plan to live on, reminiscing about you through our child who resembles you. Hmm... I'd prefer the first to be a son. No, I'll just keep having children until I get a son."
Seeing her determined stance, Theo gave up on persuading her.
'I have no choice. Nothing I say is going to work right now.'
Persuasion only works when the other party is willing to listen.
Right now, Fyat didn't seem interested in hearing what Theo had to say.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})'I should leave a good impression as I wrap this up.'
After gathering his thoughts, Theo spoke,
"Right now, it's difficult for me to take you as my wife. There's a big problem."
Fyat responded in a dejected voice,
"Why? I don't need a nice house or fancy food. I would be okay even in a barren desert, as long as I could be by your side, Theo Lyn Waldeurk. Do you... dislike me?"
"That's not the issue. It's definitely not that I dislike you."
Fyat's expression noticeably brightened.
Theo continued,
"The problem is my current state of mind."
"Is something bothering you? Tell me. Whatever it is, I want to help."
"Right now, I want to focus solely on getting rid of [Turning White]. I'm not very talented. I'm the type who tries to chase after several rabbits and ends up catching none."
"After [Turning White] is gone, then..."
"Then, I will welcome you as my wife with a smile. Help me. I need you, Fyat."
Fyat was silent for a moment.
Then, she nodded,
"I understand, Theo Lyn Waldeurk. I'll erase everything related to [Turning White] from the continent."
Theo patted Fyat's shoulder,
"Thank you, Fyat."
"Anything that stands between you and me, I'll eliminate it all,"
Fyat declared with determination.
"Researchers! Fix the leg now. We don't have time!"
"Yes, yes!" responded the lead researcher, rushing over to Fyat, followed by the other researchers.
Theo looked down at Fyat with a faint smile,
"Take it easy, Fyat. It's not a simple surgery, but a transplant of a new leg. Trying to speed up by 10 minutes could end up delaying it by 10 years."
"I don't want to wait long. Excitement is fleeting. I want to cut through [Turning White] before this feeling fades."
Then, the lead researcher said,
"Sorry to interrupt, but... is it okay to administer the anesthesia now?"
"Go ahead," Theo answered.
Fyat calmly closed her eyes, the corners of her mouth naturally rising.
Thus, Fyat's [prosthetic body] transplant surgery began.
After coming out of [The Hilté]'s basement, I headed to the Hero Department to meet Sonya.
After returning from the Order, I was told there was something to be shown and asked to visit.
Sonya's room is next to the principal's office.
When I knocked on Sonya's door, I heard a clatter from inside, and then the door opened.
"Ah, welcome, Theo! I've been waiting for you...!"
Sonya greeted me with a nervous smile.
"I came because you said you had something to show me, Sonya. May I come in?"
"Of, of course. Come in!"
I entered the room.
"Just wait a moment! I'll bring it right away,"
Sonya said and dashed to a corner.
'Hmm, maybe I'll look around for a bit.'
As I was looking around,
─Child, I feel a tremendous magical power nearby.
Nay spoke to me.
─Is it the principal?
─No, it's a type of magic I've never felt in my life. Ah, over there. To the left.
Following Nay's guidance to the left, I saw a large chair covered with a cloth.
'...A person?'
Something that looked like a girl's silhouette was sitting on the chair.
