"I see... so that's what happened. Enri, I hope you can emerge from your grief." Inside Enri's small house, the girl spoke with Nfirea about everything that had taken place recently. Yet her gaze kept flickering, drifting toward the outside from time to time. The boy found it puzzling but could say nothing, only offering quiet comfort.
"Father and Mother were both killed. With only a younger sister left to rely on each other, Enri's life..." Nfirea's emotions were complicated. On one hand, he desperately wanted to say something—something about responsibility, about standing by her side.
But in his heart, there was already a figure that could never be erased.
Compared to that breathtaking girl who seemed like a divine maiden descended from the heavens, the weight Enri once held in his heart had suddenly diminished. This should have been the moment for him to step forward and express his resolve. Yet he could not betray his own feelings, and so he remained silent.
"Yes... but because my little sister is still here, I can't stay immersed in sorrow forever. I have to pull myself together." Gently wiping the tears from the corner of her eyes, Enri brightened when she mentioned her sister. No matter how many hardships they faced, as long as family remained by her side, they could—certainly could—live on.
"That's good, Enri. As long as you can stand back up, a new and better life will surely come."
When Nfirea spoke those words, the boy and girl—who in the original story were destined to become lovers—had already become strangers walking separate paths.
And the overwhelming majority of the reason was Chu Lian.
But could she truly be blamed?
She naturally possessed an inexplicable attraction toward women. After saving the blonde girl, she had shown her tenderness and care. Even if it had merely been Chu Lian's concern for a future subordinate, for Enri it had been the ultimate form of protection. It was only natural for her to fall. She was not the first, and she would not be the last.
If Chu Lian could not find the source of the charm that drew women to her, this situation would only continue. Even a casual joke, even the lightest touch, might lead to such consequences. Whether it was fate playing tricks or not, it was not necessarily a good thing for her.
Unless she were to never interact with women again—or deliberately adopt a cold, disgusted attitude toward them.
But was that possible?
In reality, she needed to maintain the image of a perfect goddess to complete her missions. A gentle, friendly star would always be more beloved than an aloof one.
Even within dungeon spaces, she would need to interact with various female characters to complete quests and obtain rewards. If she adopted such an attitude, leaving aside whether she could earn their favor, how would she accomplish her tasks?
Every dungeon had its own unique meaning. If she failed to complete one and could not obtain what she needed, it might completely disrupt some future plan.
In the end, it was a heaven‑bestowed ability that resembled a curse—one that prevented Chu Lian from ever walking alone or sacrificing herself with a shattering resolve.
Perhaps it was a peculiar form of protection granted by some great existence. Who could say?
As for boys, even if Chu Lian did not possess any special attraction toward men, her own natural charm was already exceedingly high. Every smile, every gesture, every word carried a unique allure.
By the principle of opposite attraction, even if she never sought attention, there would still be many men who admired her upon seeing her elegance. It was an instinctive pursuit of beauty inherent to all life. Chu Lian could not erase that.
For a boy of that age to harbor feelings after seeing a girl like a goddess—it was entirely normal. In fact, if he felt nothing at all, that would be strange.
So this burden should not fall on Chu Lian. Was it her fault for being too charming? Fortunately, she was still young, almost childlike in age. When she matured—both in body and mind—her attraction to others would become even more fatal.
Perhaps because each of them was lost in their own thoughts, the atmosphere grew somewhat awkward. The blond boy's eyes shifted beneath his bangs, and he suddenly remembered the goblins they had encountered at the entrance of Carne Village. Seizing the opportunity to break the tension, he asked, "By the way, what's the deal with those goblins?"
"That was an item given to me by Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, who saved me. After using it, the goblin squad that was summoned obeys my commands. So I had them handle many things, including patrolling in front of the village." Speaking of the goblins, Enri grew animated. Thanks to them, she was finally able to live in relative peace.
"I see. And what kind of person is this Ainz Ooal Gown?"
"Oh? I thought Nfirea would know who he is. After all..." Enri suddenly remembered the girl who had appeared before her and swallowed the rest of her words.
If Nfirea did not know, then Lady Deloris and Lord Ainz must not wish to reveal their identities. Saying more would only cause trouble.
"After all what?" Nfirea pressed, curiosity piqued.
"After all, Lord Ainz is an extremely powerful magic caster. I assumed he would be famous in a large city. I didn't expect you hadn't heard of him—that's rather strange." The first half of her explanation was improvised; the latter half reflected her genuine thoughts.
"A magic caster..." Thinking of that mysterious profession—and recalling Liliana and Momon's abilities—Nfirea quietly ruled them out. It seemed they were not the ones. Still, someone that powerful was certainly not someone he could afford to offend. He resolved to apologize to them later.
Just as they were about to continue, a soft voice called out. It reached Enri's ears clearly.
"Enri, come out."
"Ah—I just remembered I have something to do. Nfirea, you're here to gather herbs, right? I won't disturb you. Good luck." The moment she heard that voice, Enri's entire being lit up. She rose to her feet, lifted the hem of her skirt, and hurried out of the house.
"Enri..." He wanted to call after her, yet hesitated.
He did not know that this conversation would be their last. From now on, there would be no more such opportunities.
"Lady Deloris..." Following the voice that had called her, Enri ran halfway up the hillside.
Yet she saw no one.
She called out and turned in circles, searching her surroundings. There was still no sign of anyone. It was as if the voice had merely been an illusion—not the genuine summons of the girl she longed for.
"I must have imagined it. I suppose I've been missing her too much lately." With a disappointed sigh, the girl laughed at herself. To think she would go to such lengths for another girl—something she once would have considered impossible.
"Young lady, who are you thinking about?"
The gentle question suddenly sounded from behind her.
Turning around, she saw the girl in a white dress standing at the edge of the hillside. Like an orchid blooming in midair, her long hair swayed in the breeze, as if she were a figure drifting among the clouds, ready to depart at any moment.
"Lady Deloris..." Enri reached out, calling her name nervously, afraid she might vanish.
A soft little hand took hers. With a gentle pull, the girl drew her closer. Releasing her hand, she turned slightly and looked at Enri with a smile. "You've done well. In just a few days, you've completely transformed this village. It seems you truly have the potential to be a leader."
"That's only because of the horn Lord Ainz gave me. Without the goblin troops it summoned, the village wouldn't be this safe. We wouldn't have had the chance to train ourselves and work to protect the village." Enri shook her head. She knew she did not yet possess such ability. Everything she had achieved so far relied on what others had granted her. She was self-aware.
"Using the right item at the right time and making the proper arrangements isn't something just anyone can accomplish. It simply means you have that ability. You'll do even better in the future. Believe in yourself." Chu Lian smiled faintly. "Of course, even if you don't believe in yourself, you should at least believe in me, shouldn't you?"
"Yes, Lady Deloris." Without the hood concealing her face, the girl before her was even more exquisitely beautiful than she had imagined.
She had never thought such a face could exist in this world.
But that was good. The perfect Lady Deloris was the highest existence in her heart.
"Do you remember the statue I gave you? Keep it safe. If you ever encounter danger, it will allow me to come and save you. Believe me—it's more important than any gold or silver treasure." Her words startled Enri slightly before she nodded firmly. "Of course. If it's you, Lady Deloris, I've never once doubted you."
"That's good." Chu Lian nodded. Turning her back to Enri, she gazed at the distant sky. After a quiet moment, she asked, "Do you know the centaur girl?"
"Yes. Rania is the new subordinate you've taken in, isn't she?" Enri naturally remembered the centaur girl she had been riding earlier.
"Mm. Her tribe was conquered. They lost their home, and I happened to encounter and subdue them along the way. They have nowhere to settle here, so I thought of Carne Village." Her words made Enri pause, beginning to understand.
"You mean..."
"Yes. Arrange for them to settle in a part of Carne Village. While you provide them with shelter, they will protect you. On equal terms, they can also help with certain tasks. You may offer them food or clothing as compensation."
"Don't worry—they will not harbor any ill intent toward you. Under my orders, unless you attack first, they will not take the initiative to harm anyone. What you must do is help the villagers grow accustomed to living alongside them. They must not fear them. Can you manage that?"
Chu Lian's proposal left Enri silent for quite some time before she finally replied, "If the villagers can grow used to living with goblins, then they can certainly accept centaurs. I'll do my best to help everyone adapt as quickly as possible."
"Very good, Enri. As a reward for handling this matter well, I will grant you something this afternoon, after the centaur tribe enters Carne Village."
"That's something I should do. There's no need for a reward." What she truly desired as a reward was for the girl to stay with her a little longer. But she knew that was an impossible request.
"All right, it's time for lunch." Ignoring her refusal, Chu Lian turned around with a radiant smile, took the stunned girl's hand, and ran back toward the village...