In the end, thanks to Melika stopping Shien with all her might, Markray thankfully escaped the fate of being buried alive.

Of course, it wasnt like Shien seriously wanted bury him alive. He just wanted to be someone who followed through what he said, and was just planning to bury that spoiled young master with only is head sticking out of the ground. If he was lucky, hed be found the next day. If he wasnt lucky, hed end up becoming a midnight snack of some wandering demonic beast. It all depended on his personal fortune.

However, after Melika stopped him with all her might, Shien wasnt all that attached to the idea anyways, so he cheerfully abandoned his idea of burying Markray.

That said though, not burying him was one thing, but at the very least Markray could be hung up, right?

Thus

Lets allow our young master have a nice and peaceful night here, shall we?

Shien stood next to tree as he dusted his hands off in satisfaction and drank in his work.

Is that really fine?

It was instead Melika who looked at the scene before her and didnt know what she should say.

Taking a closer look, Markray was completely bound and hung upside down from the tree. He was like a caterpillar, hanging there.

The person himself hadnt woken either. He just hung his head with his expression frozen in pain. It was unknown if he was having a nightmare or just thinking that he was in a nightmare.

Dont worry, the surrounding area has already been scouted. There arent any real demonic beasts. If he ended eaten while hanging here, then that just proves that the gods also think he should be punished. Shien spoke without any care, Theres no need for you to worry about him making trouble for you tomorrow either. Hes the one who didnt learn his lesson and tried to get at you when you were alone. If Diere found out about this, then this time, hed probably end up loosing all five of his limbs.

Thus, when Markray wakes up, all he could do is stew in his anger wordlessly. Theres no way he would dare to make anything of it.

However, Shien himself will probably end up dated by that guy, huh?

Melika who didnt know what Shien was thinking tilted her head.

Five limbs? Melika spoke curiously, Isnt it supposed to be four limbs? Do humans have a fifth limb on their body somewhere?

Cough Shien couldnt speak for a moment.

Looking at Melikas cute and confused expression, Shien ended up shouting to himself.

(For such a pure girl to exist in this day and age. As expected of another world!)

If it was his previous life, hed end up with a woman capable to shooting back in vulgarities within minutes. The vulgarities uttered would probably overcome even him.

As he thought that, Shien couldnt resist patting Melikas thin and soft shoulder.

Please maintain that pure heart of yours forever, my dear miss elf.

Shien spoke with emotions.

Melika on the other hand started acting shy though.

I-Im not a miss, nor am I yours.

As Melika shyly spoke that, her face also started gaining a slight red hue.

That adorable look of hers made Shien once again yell out angel in his mind.

Speaking of, as an elf, Melikas beauty was definitely on a level that breaks the charts. Shes even slightly above even Vivian and Lumia. Its only Diere, who hides her face under her hood all day whos ranking is unknown in comparison.

In Shiens opinion, when it came to looks, even those superstar that were worshiped as goddesses in his previous world couldnt compare to Melika. Even in this world, within the scope of Shiens knowledge at least, the only one who could be considered on the same level as Melika was probably Leisha and Lasha.

The only one who could actually win against Melika would probably be just Nien, right?

But that didnt mean that Melika was no good. Rather, that goddess was just too unbelievable. Even someone as well read as Shien couldnt help but be stunned the first time he saw her. He didnt even know how long he had just stared at her dumbly before he finally got a bit used to it and could actually converse with her. That was just how high leveled that goddesss looks were.

Shien had considered it before. If this world really did have something called perfection, then Nien would definitely count.

As for Melika, her own beauty was amazing. Plus, it was completely bare without the need of makeup. It was enough to make Shien salivate a bit.

Cough, cough. It doesnt mean that hes lusting after her body, but rather Well, no need to explain, any gentleman would understand.

Unfortunately for him, ever since he joined the party, besides Vivian and Diere, Shiens own contact with Lumia and Melika were only at the level of brief acquaintances. Those two girls were seriously guarded against him all this time, so Shien hadnt had any developments when it came the two of them.

Plus, Shien had decided back when they went out on their first quest. They would part amicably when the time came, and he would not do anything unnecessary.

Thus

Alright, lets go back now. Shien suppressed any wild thoughts in his mind, relaxed his expression, shrugged, and spoke to Melika without a care, Lets leave this night as it is. Make sure to pay some attention from now on. Its been twice already, so make sure you dont end up alone again.

As he finished, Shien turned about to leave.

As she saw this unfold, Melika was stunned for a moment. She was rather surprised.

It was quite obvious that, to Melika, Shien being able to just let her go without a hitch was something that she never considered.

Truth be told, Melika was indeed still slightly guarded against Shien.

It couldnt be helped. As an elf, Melika knew full well that she would naturally attract the eyes of others from the start, and because of that, shed end up pestered by a number of troubles.

All elves basically had the same problems. Theyd constantly be coveted by others due to their looks, talents, and race. Plus, since elves were composed of females only, born from nature without men, they also put great importance on their own purity and self defense abilities. Thus, every single elf would generally be quite guarded against all men of the other races.

However, Melikas own caution towards Shien wasnt because of that.

It had been mentioned before, but the greater reason for Melikas guard against Shien was actually because she had felt a closeness to him.

Even though the other person was obviously a man. Plus, he was a complete stranger at that. As an elf who places great importance on her own purity, it should be impossible for her to feel close to him with their first meeting.

Generally, besides the gods who where basically their creators, elves wont naturally feel close to anyone.

If Shien knew about that, he would definitely end up muttering again.

That kind of easy conquest really is way too comon.

Really.

However, those were in fiction, not reality.

The reality is, if one ended up feeling something so strange all of a sudden, wouldnt it be frightening?

At the very least, Melika was frightened.

That was why Melika was so guarded against Shien and constantly kept her distance from him.

On the other hand, Shien himself also didnt fixate on Melika. After he saw through the fact that she was guarded agains t him, he also kept his own distance from her whenever it was reasonable to do so. That created an enormous divide between the twos relationship, and so, they really havent talked much at all.

If this continued on, it would definitely have ended up just as Shien said, where theyd part amicably, right?

As she thought that, Melika felt regretful.

No, rather, it should instead be called shame.

That was because as she thought of the time when they would party amicably, she herself ended up breathing a sigh of relief.

Even though the other side didnt do anything. He even helped her too.

At the very least-

U-um!

Melika shouted at Shiens retreating figure.

At least accept my reward as thanks!