"And you have good relationships with the Witch and Weiser, so when it's not convenient for me to be involved, I'll rely on you to keep the team stable."

I fear my good relationship with the Witch may soon become a thing of the past... Sonia rested her chin on her right hand and said, "But Weiser could do that too, couldn't she? Who on the team doesn't get along with her? She's smart, humble, and listens to you. Doesn't that make her more suitable than me? Is there anything 'only I' am important for?"

"Well," Ash pondered, "for instance, you're very gentle and cute—"

Pfft!

The president of the Claw Club couldn't hold back her laughter. She tried to cover her mouth but failed, shaking with mirth. Ash also snapped back to reality, grinning sheepishly, "Are you purposely fishing for compliments?"

"Yes!" Sonia nodded confidently. "I just didn't expect to fish out a lie—honestly, after the Meteor Disaster, though many have complimented me, you're the first one outrageous enough to use 'gentle.'"

"If you say it's a lie, then it's a lie," Ash said looking at the sunset outside the window, grinding his teeth.

"Hehe." Sonia reached over the coffee table and gently scratched Ash's nose with her fingernail. "It's okay, I really like this lie of yours. If you try a bit harder, it could even become the truth."

"Why should I be the one trying hard..." Ash mumbled as he stood up. "Alright, I should continue looking for Void Realm materials."

"Wait."

Sonia grabbed his wrist, looking perplexed, "Didn't you come looking for me for a reason?"

"No, I really was just passing by."

Ash and Sonia stared at each other, black pupils meeting red irises. After a moment, the Village Girl let go and said, "Fine, but if you're hiding something from me or deceiving me, I'll get angry."

"By the way, when I was holding your wrist just now, I used the Sincerity Technique Spirit." She tilted her head gently and said, "You still have a chance to sit back down."

Ash sat back down helplessly, but became silent, lost in his troubles.

Sonia didn't rush him. She signaled the owner for two classic coffees, then placed her hands on the table, pursed her lips, and widened her eyes as she stared at him.

When the owner brought over two cups of coffee, Ash hesitantly took out a bag.

As Sonia reached for it, he didn't let go and said, "You can only open it after I leave."

"Then take it back," Sonia said. "If you're not going to sit here and watch me open it, then I don't want it."

"Why?" Ash asked with the tone of a cancer patient questioning the heavens.

"Because I'm the not-so-gentle Sword Maiden." Sonia's lips curled into a smile. "Will you give it or not?"

After a moment of silence, the Cult Leader gave up the struggle and despairingly let go. Sonia opened the bag to find a completely transparent outfit and a white two-piece swimsuit that was rather sexy, even including a straw hat.

She silently watched Ash, who began to ramble, "That's a Miracle, custom-made for you... but I didn't expect it to be a swimsuit, that's not what I meant... if you wear it in the Void Realm, you can get a Composite Miracle that reduces Magic Power consumption by 10%... I'm not saying you should wear it there! I mean... I actually didn't intend to give it, but felt awkward holding onto it... just pretend you never received this gift, I'm leaving—"

Just as Ash tried to bolt, his wrist was once again caught by the Sword Maiden. She gestured for him to sit down again. Her sharp gaze made Ash a bit uneasy, and then she calmly asked:

"Do you want to see?"

Ash instinctively turned his head to look around, as if the Sword Maiden was asking about another Fish-Slicing Dragon that had secretly sneaked into the shop.

"Do you want to see me wear it?" she asked again.

He was stupefied, encountering such a dilemma for the first time. Should he answer yes, it might be too straightforward; it might seem like he specifically got a swimsuit for the Sword Maiden to wear. Should he say no, he felt the Sword Maiden would despise him for his dishonesty.

After much thought, Ash came up with a compromise—

He nodded his head.

Then he saw the Sword Maiden raise her eyebrows, lean back slightly, and curve her lips into a smile.

"Hmm."

She hummed a soft and sticky tone that seemed both disdainful and proud. The laughter in her eyes spread to her cheeks, flushed with the warm light streaming in with the sunset.

She cradled her head with her left hand, looking sideways at the relaxed street outside. With her right hand on her chest, her thumb hooked into her collar, as if to create some ventilation, as if preparing to undress and change clothes.

"Do you think," Sonia asked softly, "there's a swimming pool around here?"

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