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Unlike the earlier situation with Iris…
This time, Fang Li's declaration caused the previously chaotic and noisy room to fall into instant silence.
Everyone stared in shock.
"Y-you also have a fiancée?!" Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness all shouted in unison.
"Wonderful!"
Claire, on the other hand, was overjoyed, so much so that even Rain breathed a sigh of relief. Only Iris looked utterly crushed, her youthful yet impossibly cute little face showing an expression on the verge of tears, like she might break down any moment.
"I-Is that… true?" She spoke in a tiny voice, so soft it sparked everyone's sympathy all at once.
"L-Lady Iris…?" Darkness and Rain were at a loss, clearly distressed.
"You bastard! How dare you treat Lady Iris like this? You deserve to die a thousand deaths! And if you're not happy about it, then find a solution, damn it!" Claire, changing moods faster than flipping a page, immediately turned and blew up at Fang Li.
Meanwhile, Kazuma, Aqua, and Megumin were completely speechless.
"...I didn't expect this guy to be such a secretive bastard. If I'd known earlier he was already taken, I would've blown him up back then."
"...Fang Li really does give off a scumbag vibe. And I still owe him money. Is he planning to use that to blackmail me? What if he's targeting me, the super-excellent and beautiful Goddess, huh?"
"...This is annoying. No, this is really annoying."
The three of them were full of sharp remarks, each one laced with thorns. Among them, one in particular (cough, Aqua) had a delusional theory so ridiculous that Fang Li really wanted to tell her: You're overthinking it.
Ignoring all the noisy reactions around him, Fang Li simply reached into his clothing and pulled out a ring, still attached to a necklace he wore around his neck.
"Iris-sama's ring?!" Claire and Darkness's eyes began to gleam green.
Although their motivations differed, one staring at the ring with suspicious private motives, and the other out of loyal concern for her lady, they both had their eyes firmly locked on it.
The others looked on blankly, not quite understanding what Fang Li was planning to do.
Only Iris stared fixedly at the ring.
Fang Li, however, didn't look at her. Instead, he weighed the ring in his palm and spoke.
"I had my suspicions before… This ring must carry some special meaning. Now it's clear, this is something like a token of engagement, right?"
His words made Iris lower her head.
"Yes…" Iris replied softly. "It's the ring I've worn since I was little… According to Royal Family tradition, it can only be given to the person I'll spend the rest of my life with…"
That explained everything, why Iris's face had turned so red when she gave it to him… why Darkness reacted so strongly upon seeing it… and even why Claire had tried to snatch it for herself.
'Wait, what?'
Claire wanted to use it for herself?
Use it… herself?
For a brief moment, Fang Li felt as if he had realized something terrifying, and quickly forced himself to stop thinking down that line.
Still, one thing was certain.
From the moment they first met, even when she had no idea who Fang Li truly was, didn't know his face, his real name, or where he came from, Iris had already decided to treat him as her future fiancé.
Even though back then, Fang Li was just a thief, and his time knowing Iris hadn't even reached half a day.
That's why Fang Li believed,
"I think you've confused a life partner with someone you simply admire." Fang Li stated this clearly.
"Listen, Iris, you're still young, so you don't truly understand what love is. Maybe you're just feeling admiration because I acted in a way that matched your ideals, and because I defeated the Demon King's army, but admiration isn't something you should use to decide your future partner. Do you understand?"
That was Fang Li's belief.
After all, although Iris was quite mature for her age, she was still only twelve. Not to mention, they hadn't even spent half a day together. Under such circumstances, Fang Li's way of thinking was understandable.
Of course, Fang Li wasn't trying to invalidate Iris's feelings.
His past experiences had already taught him well: Feelings aren't something determined by time, nor can they be measured in truth or depth based solely on how long you've known someone.
As long as the emotion is real, then no matter how short the encounter, the feeling will eventually come when it's meant to.
Therefore, Fang Li wouldn't dismiss Iris's feelings just because of time, but he also wouldn't blindly accept them just because of that understanding.
Just as he said, Iris is still young. Mixing up admiration with love isn't impossible.
And Fang Li was never the type to beat around the bush.
No matter who he was dealing with, he always spoke plainly and directly, like a sword strike straight to the heart, just like his Mystic Eyes, one hit kill.
With that principle in mind, Fang Li needed to say everything clearly.
"So, if you can't convince me…" Fang Li held the ring out in front of Iris. "Then I'll have no choice but to return this ring to you."
As those words fell, the entire room fell silent.
In that moment, no matter how rowdy they usually were, or what feelings they had toward Iris, it all seemed irrelevant. Under the pressure of the atmosphere, everyone subconsciously held their breath, fell completely quiet.
Only Iris, her unease and nervousness vanished.
She looked straight at Fang Li.
In the next second, she seemed to summon her courage and softly spoke.
"Then… if I can prove how I feel, will you accept the ring?"
Hearing this, Fang Li raised a brow and smiled slightly.
"Sure," he said. "If you can prove it, I'll accept it."
The moment those words left his lips, Iris smiled. It was a bashful, yet determined smile.
"Chu…"
With the faintest of sounds, everyone in the room froze, mouths gaping.
Even Fang Li looked utterly stunned. Because Iris had suddenly leaned forward…
…And planted a shy but very real kiss on Fang Li's lips.
"I like you, Fang Li San…"
With her face completely red, Iris declared as the others remained frozen in shock:
"So, please become my fiancé. When I grow up, please marry me. That would make me really happy."
The clumsy but incredibly adorable little princess said that.
"Also… I don't mind if Fang Li San has other partners. If the bloodline of a powerful Hero could be passed down, it would be good for the kingdom, too. In the past, there have been Heroes who married others in addition to royal princesses. So please don't worry about that."
Leaving those words behind, Iris became so embarrassed she couldn't stay a second longer, and fled the room in a panic.
"L-Lady Iris?!"
Claire and Rain snapped out of it instantly and, without another thought, rushed after her.
Only Fang Li remained frozen there, under the stunned gazes of Kazuma, Aqua, Megumin, and Darkness.
Then, the four of them, without a trace of mercy, spoke in perfect unison:
"Lolicon…"
…
'Once this is over, I'm selling all four of these guys off immediately.'
(End Of This Chapter)