"Training?"

As expected of the protagonist of overlord, that level of diligence...

But looking at Lea, who stood daintily in front of him at this moment, Moen couldn't help but feel a strange sense of dissonance:

"At a time like this, she left you behind to immerse herself in training? Isn't that a bit... cold of her?"

Although his insertion into the story had caused shifts in the original trajectory, this particular scene wasn't in the book.

But wasn't this a prime opportunity for Ariel, the overlord protagonist, to show off and slap faces? Look, the poor and helpless childhood best friend, combined with a group of fierce antagonists, were all lined up. Everything was ready; Ariel just needed to step in and save the day, to deliver a spectacular "hero rescuing the damsel in distress" act and start slapping those arrogant faces one by one...

And yet, she's training?

If this plot were written that way, wouldn’t readers got mad and confused?

"Don't you dare talk badly about Ariel!"

Lea puffed up her adorable cheeks defensively, then lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers, and muttered softly:

"Ariel is doing all of this for me, so she’s working extra hard!"

"...Fine, just pretend I didn't say anything."

Since Lea didn't seem to mind, Moen naturally had no grounds to make judgments either.

Shrugging his shoulders, he looked at the girl in front of him. Reflecting silently on how he was still hated by the destined overlord protagonist, with his favorability score remaining in the negatives, he suddenly sighed:

"You and Ariel seem to have such a good relationship."

"Of course!"

Lea tilted her head back proudly, exposing her swan-like fair neck, and declared confidently:

"We're the closest childhood friends!"

"Is that so?"

Moen couldn't help but chuckle.

Though the scheming Ariel would begin her moves soon enough, right now, what radiated from Lea’s eyes was a kind of genuine, pure friendship between girls—so beautiful it almost moved him.

But with such a strong foundation of affection, their bond was like an impregnable iron wall. Even for someone as determined as the mythical Foolish Old Man wouldn’t move it.

"Still up for playing another piece?"

Suppressing the wandering thoughts he shouldn't be having, Moen smiled and asked.

"I..." Lea hesitated for a moment. "I think I’d like to rest a little first."

"Then come sit over here."

Moen patted the spot beside him on the bench and scooted over, generously leaving half of the seat vacant for her.

"Mm." Lea didn't refuse. She gently smoothed her skirt over her curvaceous hips with both hands and gracefully took a seat on the other end of the bench.

However, while she sat on the "other end," this wasn't exactly a large pathway-side bench, so the space between them was only about the width of one person.

Moen could still catch the hint of that pleasant, baby-like fragrance emanating from the girl beside him.

The winter sun filtered through the branches, weaving a net of golden light that enveloped the two of them.

At some point, the once highly cautious Lea no longer seemed wary of sitting on the same bench with him.

She even...

"Haven't been sleeping well recently?"

Moen noticed the slight fatigue around Lea’s eyes and asked curiously, "The list of names has already been finalized. Why are you still working so hard?"

"I'm not... really overexerting myself." Lea’s voice was soft as she whispered, "I've just been... a little nervous lately."

"I see..."

It must be because of their forthcoming journey to the Holy City.

Even with Ariel's help, the upcoming Sanctification Ceremony was still going to be one of the most important events of Lea's life. To feel stressed was entirely natural.

There was this faint air of pre-exam anxiety—although this ceremony was far more significant and challenging than any exam.

"And... and also..."

"Hmm?"

"Those who want to challenge me... are a little annoying."

In the gentle glow of the winter sunlight, Moen could see Lea puffing out her cheeks again, displaying a tiny, adorable pout of frustration.

It was a childish action—or rather, expression—that revealed her deepest unfiltered thoughts. Moen had only seen it a few times but found it irresistibly cute rather than immature.

She resembled a squirrel nibbling on an acorn, the kind of sight that made one want to poke her cheek just for the fun of it.

…No, no, better control himself. If he really reached out and did that, he’d undo all the cautious trust he’d built with her. Lea would undoubtedly throw up new walls—fortresses even—and glare at him as if he were some kind of pervert.

Suppressing the mischievous urge threatening to seep from his fingertips, Moen smiled and suggested,

"Why not take this chance to have a rest properly? With me here, no one will dare to bother you."

"..."

Lea suddenly turned her head to stare at Moen, her large, expressive eyes blinking. Deep within those bright pupils, small flickers of emotion rippled faintly.

"You’re not planning to sneakily... do anything to me while I sleep, are you?"

"What do you think?"

"Hmph."

Lea turned away huffily but made no further protest.

She slowly slipped off her white deerskin boots, revealing small, fair feet. The moment the chilly winter breeze kissed her toes, they instinctively curled, shrinking briefly before disappearing beneath her long skirt.

With her hands hugging her knees, Lea nestled herself into a compact ball on the bench. Her delicate face rested against her legs, and her loose strands of hair fell naturally, veiling her profile. She looked like a peaceful little creature curled up in the corner, bringing to mind the cozy sight of a tabby napping by a fireplace.

Returning to his earlier train of thought: Lea could now fully let her guard down and nap in his presence.

It really had been a month of gradual improvement.

Moen chuckled lightly and shifted his gaze elsewhere, leaning back against the bench's backrest and closing his eyes.

But he didn’t go to sleep, nor did he delve into the *Black Book* for cultivation. After all, he'd promised to keep an eye on her, and zoning out at such a time would indeed be inappropriate.

He simply rested his mind.

Since arriving in this world, moments like these—where he could intentionally allow time to slip by—were rare.

Yet, listening to the melting snow around them, the steady cadence of her soft breathing beside him, Moen didn’t feel like it was a waste at all.

After all, having a beauty by his side was the greatest balm for the soul and spirit.

In those moments, his heart gradually found its own tranquility.

...

Who knew how much time had passed? The faint hues of twilight began to paint the thinning blanket of snow as traces of sunset light filtered through.

The rustle of fabric shifting reached his ears.

Lea lifted her head from her perch on her knees, her dainty face adorned with hints of confusion and lingering drowsiness, stray hairs sticking to the corner of her mouth. Her gaze still carried a dreamy daze.

"Awake?"

Moen asked with a smile.

"How was your nap?"

"I..."

Blush quickly crept up Lea’s face. She hurriedly tucked her little feet back into her deerskin boots, rising and fumbling to smooth out the creases in her clothes and tidy her hair. Only when fully composed did she let out a soft sigh of relief:

"I didn’t do anything… strange just now, did I?"

"Something strange... Are you referring to the dream talk you mumbled earlier?"

"D-Dream talk?!"

Lea’s face turned pale, her eyes wide with alarm.

"W-What did I say?!"

"You said..."

Moen straightened his expression, mimicking her tone and teasing with an exaggerated seriousness:

"‘Oh, Moen… You’re so handsome, especially with that golden hair… It’s utterly irresistible…’"

"Wh-what?!"

Lea’s face instantly flushed red, all the way down to her neck.

She had said something that embarrassing in her sleep?! No way, how could that—while Moen *was* kind of handsome, but she’d never...

It was at that moment Lea caught sight of the glint of amusement in Moen's eyes.

Realization dawned, and she suddenly understood—Moen was messing with her.

"You’re so mean!"

Lea's eyes gathered some moisture, brimming with indignation. She scanned their surroundings for something to strike him with but couldn’t find anything suitable. In a flash of inspiration—or desperation—she pulled out her violin.

"You—how could you say something like that?!"

"Wait, wait! Lea, stop! Put it down, put it down!"

Seeing Lea prepare to actually use the instrument as a weapon, Moen looked genuinely horrified and quickly tried to calm her down:

"I was wrong! I was wrong! Please put the violin back where it belongs!"

"..."

"You can’t just smash it; what will you play if you break your violin?"

"Hmph..."

Hearing the reminder of her performance, Lea hesitated and begrudgingly lowered the violin. However, she still directed a fierce glare at Moen, muttering under her breath:

"You really are a bad person."

"..."

Moen's lips twitched. Sighing with relief, he silently noted to himself: teasing the future Saintess like this was not something to be taken lightly. Too easy to provoke a reaction.

Although... it was pretty cute.

"I’ll start playing now."

Lea took a deep breath, raising the violin again, her earlier frustrations smoothing out as serenity returned to her posture.

However, as she looked at Moen, having spent nearly a month with him, a tangle of emotions stirred within her heart.

This guy... always managed to coax her into doing things unbecoming of her pursuit of the "Saintess" ideal.

Sometimes, she couldn’t help but wonder if the Goddess herself might harbor disdain for this irreverent version of her someday.

But fortunately, this chapter was coming to a close.

Tomorrow, they'd depart for the Holy City. While they’d travel some distance together, once they arrived, their paths would diverge irrevocably.

He was the son of a Duke from the Leopard Empire.

She was a candidate for Saintess of the Life Church.

Their lives were like parallel lines—destined never to intersect again.

"Tomorrow, we leave for the Holy City. So, this will be my last performance for you, Mr. Employer." Lea’s voice was calm but carried a hint of something bittersweet.

"I know."

Moen straightened his posture, resuming his audience role with utmost seriousness. Wearing a warm smile, he added:

"Please, go ahead, my musician. I’ll listen as attentively as ever."

"Alright," Lea replied softly, smiling faintly as well. Then, she drew the bowstring.

The music swelled, tinged with her sincerest emotions and unparalleled technique. This melody was her farewell gift, imbued with her whole heart.

Perhaps it was the restful nap she’d just taken, Lea’s spirit had reached an unprecedented peak in this moment.

This time, she deliberately restrained all the holy light that might unintentionally radiate from her.

Yet, just by listening to this pure music, Moen's vision became brighter than ever before.

It was like an ocean, shimmering with glittering waves.

In this forest where only the two of them existed.

The notes, interwoven with the winter sun, with the white snow, with the gentle breeze, seemed to elevate Moen's very soul, guiding him toward an infinite brilliance.

And then, together with the sound of breaths and heartbeats, they quietly counted down to this "final" performance.