Larry naturally had no intention of taking Mika’s advice. But as a “good man” burdened by guilt for deceiving his fiancée, the final say wasn’t his to make.

His “fiancée,” Alicia, had already abandoned all concern for brotherly loyalty. Desperate to reclaim her black card, she readily agreed to Mika’s request. Soon, the trio set off for the Danka Kingdom.

Traveling via Alicia’s flying broomstick was out of the question. Clearly designed for cosplay—not practical transport—it could barely carry one person, let alone three on a long journey. “All I need is an owl or phoenix,” Alicia had declared, “and I’ll be a grand sorceress!” Larry doubted it, but since she’d paid for it herself, he kept his thoughts to himself.

Flying tools drained too much mana for long trips. Months earlier, they’d trekked on foot to mimic an RPG hero’s quest. Now, time was critical: Alicia craved her black card back; Larry longed to escape the terrifying women around him. They hitched a ride with a caravan bound for Danka.

One thing they hadn’t considered? The awkwardness of squeezing three people into a single dragon-drawn carriage.

Mika watched Larry and Alicia in silence. The “engaged couple” froze, utterly clueless about how fiancés should act.

Suddenly, Alicia felt a large hand engulf hers. She glanced down, then up—straight into Larry’s eyes.

*...*

Her gaze demanded: *Is holding hands really enough?*

His eyes shot back: *You claimed to be my fiancée. Time to earn it!*

*Haven’t I done enough for you?!* her widened eyes screamed.

*This mess is YOUR fault—thanks to that useless black card!* his stare retorted.

*You yanked me away and got my card stolen!*

*And WHO exactly drew those monsters to us?!*

Where their glares clashed, sparks flew like lightning.

Beside them, Mika slumped. *No chance. I’ve already lost.*

They communicated without words—a bond she’d never shared with him. Only that scoundrel Aelis could rival it. *Why does a jerk like him have such an amazing sister?*

As Mika spiraled, Larry and Alicia’s silent war ended. Larry smirked victoriously. He held all of Alicia’s invested funds. She’d obey—or lose everything.

Alicia shot him a venomous glare before turning to Mika, who’d been spacing out. “Mika? Mika?”

“Huh? Alicia, what is it?” Mika blinked, dazed.

“Tell me about your journey,” Alicia said sweetly. “I missed the adventure due to personal matters. I’d love to hear your perspective.”

Her smile was pure, her motive calculated: steer the conversation, never let Mika lead.

“Why not ask Larry?” Mika frowned. “I joined midway.”

*For you, silly!* Alicia sighed inwardly. *How awkward would it be if we chatted while you sat there alone?*

Aloud, she demurred: “Larry’s version is his own. I want to hear yours.”

Mika caught on. *She’s checking if he cheated.* She shot Larry a reassuring look—*Don’t worry*—then launched into a vivid tale.

Surprisingly gripping, her story overflowed with romantic tension and… cringey praise for Larry. She painted him as fiercely loyal, unmoved by surrounding beauties. Aelis, meanwhile, became the team’s chaotic villain—though Alicia’s feelings forced Mika to grant him minor redeeming moments.

Alicia’s fists clenched on her knees, her smile rigid. Larry bit back laughter, face contorted with glee.

*You fool!* he thought. *She’s the one handing out “nice guy cards”! Shouldn’t you snap? Curse this heartbreaker?!*

“Alicia, see now?” Larry squeezed her hand, barely containing his grin. “My loyalty’s undeniable. But your brother? Tsk tsk.”

“Hah,” Alicia gritted through her teeth. “Must’ve been *so* hard for you.”

“For you?” Larry gazed tenderly. “I’d endure far worse.”

Alicia’s smile hardened into a mask. Dark energy pooled silently within her.

*Just wait, Larry.*

“Rest stop!” the caravan master’s shout cut through the tension. “Time to cook!”

The carriage halted.

Alicia had endured until mealtime. Her moment had come.

*Heh.*

She chuckled softly. Larry paled, recalling Mika’s culinary apocalypse.

No mercy. “Mika,” Alicia chirped, “let’s cook for Larry together.”

“I’m… not great at cooking,” Mika admitted, scratching her head.

*Not “not great.” Your food is alchemy-grade poison!*

Mika possessed a terrifying gift: even normal ingredients transformed into stomach-churning horrors under her hands. As Aelis, Alicia had once used Mika’s “dishes” as non-lethal toxins. Mika, taste-blind and stubborn, insisted practice would fix it. The only change? Choosing between “sour death” or “spicy death.”

Larry, her unwilling taste-tester, had suffered endlessly. In his past life, he’d adore anime girls who couldn’t cook. Reality? He craved a homemaker. Only Aelis’s intervention had spared him.

Now, Alicia tore open that seal.

*Laugh it up, Larry. Welcome to hell.*