Does Himmel harbor feelings for Frieren?
Even without thinking, the answer was undoubtedly—
"Yes."
This was the matter-of-fact response the blue-haired hero gave after a long inner struggle.
After an almost imperceptible nod,
Himmel immediately focused his gaze on Agusheed again—
Anger, contempt, disdain, coldness...
None of these emotions he had expected to see existed on Agusheed's face.
Even the usual spine-chilling stare had disappeared.
From those calm and unperturbed gray eyes,
All Himmel could see was indifference...
As if—
Agusheed had never had any opinion about this matter from beginning to end.
And the hellish training imposed on him over the past half month
Was merely done casually because he was in a bad mood.
—This was just Himmel's speculation.
Before receiving Agusheed's response,
He could only try his best to guess the attitude this future father-in-law might hold.
"Hehe..."
The strongest Grand Demon stood up with a light laugh.
Without immediately giving the response Himmel anticipated—
He simply extended his slender index finger from the wide black robe covering his entire body,
Then with a condescending gesture, signaled for Himmel lying on the ground to follow his steps.
No disobedience.
Curious about Agusheed's attitude, Himmel had long since forgotten his fatigue.
But he didn't act too dramatically either.
Although various emotions mixed in his heart, the blue-haired hero still acted as usual—
Slowly getting up from the ground, patting the dust off his back,
Then looking at Agusheed's deliberately waiting figure, he followed without a word.
This walk was very long—
So long it went from valley to dense forest, then from dense forest to wilderness,
Until they reached the bench by the Heart Lake, where Agusheed finally stopped.
He sat down first, then looking at the restrained Himmel standing beside him,
The strongest Grand Demon lightly tapped the empty space beside him with his knuckle.
The meaning was self-evident.
Nervous?
Anxious?
Himmel himself couldn't say what his thoughts were at this moment...
After all, anyone seeing such strange sudden behavior from their future father-in-law
Would involuntarily panic inside.
But Himmel still sat down,
Straightening his back, barely a foot away from Agusheed.
This was the first time he had been so close to Agusheed—
So close he felt his heartbeat could be heard by Agusheed.
"Are you nervous?"
Gazing distantly at the heart-shaped lake that Flamme had quite loved in life,
Agusheed asked Himmel without turning his head.
He supported his head with one hand, leaning familiarly against the bench's backrest,
Then continued with a counter-question in an inexplicable light laugh.
"Nervous that I'll give you some bad response like 'stay away from my daughter,' 'you two aren't suitable,' 'you're not qualified yet'?"
Casual words that hit the bullseye completely.
Himmel lowered his head but didn't hide his thoughts.
"As you said, that's exactly what I'm most worried about right now..."
"Because ultimately, liking Frieren is just my one-sided feelings."
Worried...
One-sided feelings...
A very honest answer, so Himmel saw Agusheed turn his head.
"Do I look like those big villains in fairy tales who like to make things difficult for protagonists seeking love?"
Agusheed, who theoretically did have the potential to be a big villain, asked calmly.
Although he really wanted to answer from his heart,
Himmel's remaining rationality still prompted him to shake his head submissively.
"So do you think I would make things difficult for you like the big villains in fairy tales?"
Still shaking his head.
"So, are you still nervous now?"
"Not nervous anymore."
Although he said this, looking at Agusheed's oppressive gaze...
The nervousness and anxiety in Himmel's heart still wouldn't dissipate.
Agusheed didn't pay much attention to his reaction.
Regarding that lingering nervousness and anxiety,
He just remained as indifferent and calm as before, giving Himmel a clear answer for the first time:
"Regarding 'you liking Frieren and hoping for her response'—"
"I will not obstruct or interfere."
Won't obstruct...
Or interfere?!
Under Himmel's speechless gaze, Agusheed continued on his own:
"If you can make the inexperienced and naive Frieren fall in love with you..."
"Then what reason would I, as her father, have to stop it?"
An unexpected answer.
Completely outside Himmel's expectations—
He had already prepared a ten-thousand-word internal monologue draft,
Just to express his unwavering determination with sincerity and tenacity...
But—
What was this development?
Mr. Agusheed said... he wouldn't stop it?
In other words, he never opposed me liking Frieren from the beginning?
"Mr. Agusheed..."
"You... don't you mind that I'm human?"
After brief joy came long bitterness.
Himmel clearly knew—
A short-lived species falling in love with a long-lived species was destined to have no result.
His less-than-century lifespan was merely the blink of an eye to Frieren.
Falling in love with me...
That would be too cruel for Frieren.
Agusheed should understand this too—
If so, why would he give such a response?
Agusheed didn't directly answer Himmel's confusion.
He just turned his head and asked the blue-haired hero in a flat tone:
"Himmel..."
"Do you know my wife was also human?"
Although he had suspected it, hearing Agusheed personally confirm that the great mage Flamme was his wife...
Himmel couldn't help but feel somewhat dazed.
Watching the silent and surprised Himmel beside him, Agusheed didn't stop speaking.
"I can roughly guess your inner thoughts—"
"Short-lived species cannot love long-lived species while alive..."
"Is that what you think?"
Faced with Agusheed who had completely analyzed his inner thoughts with just a few words...
Himmel could only nod silently in response.
"Let me ask you—"
"According to your thoughts and plans, do you think Frieren will eventually fall in love with you?"
Agusheed's question was like his indifferent gaze,
Hitting the nail on the head, every word deadly,
Making Himmel unconsciously turn his head away and lower his voice.
"I think..."
"In the future, Frieren will definitely fall in love with me."
"But it will be after I die—"
This was the most certain answer Himmel had ever given in front of Agusheed,
And the quickest, clearest response.
Because Agusheed had already learned tens of thousands of future possibilities from the Hero of the South and Schlacht...
So he showed no emotion to this answer.
The strongest Grand Demon just straightened up, then slowly spoke to Himmel.
"Then do you think, when that time comes—"
"When Frieren slowly understands your feelings only after you die..."
"Will she have regrets?"
Frieren...
Will she have regrets?
This was a simple and clear answer that didn't even need a response.
So Himmel fell silent once again.
But Agusheed didn't stop. He didn't wait for Himmel's answer.
"I understand Frieren very well, at least more than you do now."
The old father slowly closed his eyes, letting out a helpless laugh in resignation.
"She's different from me. She's not someone who would abandon everything for love..."
"So she won't be persistent, nor will she make the same choice as me."
"In the future you envision, Frieren will definitely have regrets—"
Extremely dissatisfied with the future Himmel had chosen,
And unable to accept that his daughter ultimately couldn't achieve happiness, the strongest Grand Demon reached out,
Gently patting the blue-haired hero's shoulder.
"The reason I won't stop you from loving her now—"
"Is because she's not as oblivious as you imagine..."
"And I... don't want Frieren to have regrets."
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Powerstones?
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