Chapter 163: The Expressions

That morning, Leva was shaking the sack containing the silver chunks, making a rattling sound.

"We can buy a lot of things for our tribe, Eric!" Leva smiled.

"Well, we won't be able to carry much, Leva." Eric, who was arranging things, answered. "In the end, we can only wait for the traveling merchant at our house."

Leva snorted. "What a way to ruin the mood... Ouch!" The red-haired girl rubbed the bruise that still adorned her cheek. "Shit. Among the other wounds, this bruise is the most troublesome. The healing progress is slow."

The bruises are still clearly visible. Perhaps Ivan's fist was special, causing more damage than usual. In that case, the impact given during the match should also be more, right? Maybe Leva should have fainted from the blow.

Or is this a trait?

There was a knock on the front door, and Leva rose from her chair. "Let me."

"Good morning, Leva." Brie smiled outside as soon as Leva opened the door. Then, that woman, who was actually a man, looked inside. "Good morning, Eric."

"Ah, good morning, Brianna," Eric replied, smiling back.

With a blank expression almost like Kat's, Leva moved the door, intending to close it. However, Brie hastily pushed it back.

"Hey, I just wanted to say goodbye to you!" Brie inadvertently let out a manly voice, and she immediately covered her mouth.

Sighing, Leva shifted to make way for Brie.

"Well, you guys are really going home now, huh?" Brie looked at the two bags of goods that Eric had prepared.

"So, what's your business coming here?" Leva sounded even more annoyed.

You still can't accept that your crush has become of the same gender as you, Leva?

Instead of answering, Brie sat on the chair and looked at Eric. My two colonists immediately exchanged glances at that.

Ah, Brie wants to have a one-on-one talk with Leva. So, I ordered Eric to leave the place.

After Eric's footsteps were gone, Brie leaned back and looked up. "Do you really have to go back to your tribe, Leva? The situation here has changed a lot. Everything is so much better. And I'm sure the people here will accept you again, especially after your change in nature."

"Of course, I will return to my tribe now. It's my damn home." Leva answered in a firm tone.

Great answer, Leva.

A small laugh escaped Brie's mouth. "But, you have to admit, this place must have a strong bond in your heart, right?"

Leva replied with an even louder laugh. "My ties to this place are in the past. My family here is also gone. And to be honest, when I look at this location and its people again, I feel nothing."

Brie rose from her chair. Her teary eyes stared intently at Leva's face. "But I'm here."

Leva was silent for a moment, then looked back at her friend. "Sorry."

Brie's eyes widened. Her tears slowly fell. A small laugh escaped her mouth again. "I see. Turns out I mean nothing to you."

"Oh, come on." Leva's tone began to rise. "Fuck it. Don't use that card... Ah, if you think I don't care about me, I don't care. I want to go home, and you can't change that."

Brie had opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly she froze and looked confused.

Ah, looks like Red is asking her to stop.

Clenching her hands together, Brie stepped back, shaking her head. Then, she turned and ran out of the house.

"You've really changed, Bryan." Leva took a deep breath when the woman was finally out of sight.

As she was about to close the door, Leva froze. Her eyes narrowed at the group of several men in the distance. They were all from Acornhull, led by Ivan, whose right hand was bandaged and tied to two wooden planks...

Holy shit. The big tall man was carrying a bucket of flowers!

Leva's chin dropped when she saw Ivan's bright smile.

"Reject him, you must still be respectful! Reject him, you must still be respectful! Reject him, you must still be respectful!" I shouted those words in Leva's ear. It was very likely that Leva would be brought to Acornhull if she accepted this. Of course, I don't want that to happen.

Leva still didn't move when Ivan finally knelt before her. Meanwhile, the other seven men lined up behind the fighter from Acornhull. This immediately attracted the attention of the people around there.

"P-lease, accept my love, Leva!" Ivan spoke in such a fast tone. "I-I fell in love with you after that fight! Y-you are an amazing woman. No one has ever beaten me before!"

It was strange to see this tough-looking man be so nervous like that.

Then, one of Ivan's followers took three steps forward.

"We, as the subordinates of lord Ivan, ask Ms. Leva's humility to accept this expression of love from our leader!" He bowed.

"We beg you very much!" Ivan's other followers also bowed.

Is this an okay way to express love to a girl? I do not think so. It's very cringeworthy.

Leva's eyes focused on the bouquet of flowers Ivan was still holding. Her body then slightly shuddered. "Rose, huh?"

Ivan examined the bouquet of red flowers for a moment, glared at it wide, then simply tossed it aside. "S-sorry, I reminded you of Dex."

Slowly, Leva's mouth formed a faint smile. "Stand up, Ivan."

"Okay! Ivan stands up!" Ivan got up with a quick movement, but it was clear his body looked very stiff.

"First of all. I thank you for all this. I feel very honored."

Hmm? Why do I see veins popping out of your neck, Leva?

"However, right now, I can't have a relationship with another man." Leva continued her words.

Wait, if she refuses, won't there be tension between my colony and the Acornhull tribe?

"Is it because I brought roses!? I can bring you another flower, Leva!"

Leva shook her head. "Not because of that, Ivan...."

"There's someone in your heart, Leva?"

Leva sighed. Her expression turned sad, though her mouth was still smiling. "Well, you could say so."

Brie? I do not think so. Looks like Leva still can't move on from Pif.

Ivan froze with his mouth agape, while Leva just stood there while maintaining a smile.

And that's when I saw Acornhull's guardian spirit appear behind Ivan's men.

"Hey, can you make sure that there's no tension caused by this rejection!?" I asked the brown figure, who immediately gave a thumbs up.

"Boss?" One of Ivan's men patted the big tall man, who was still frozen.

"I-I see. I-I'm still not good enough for you." The voice that came out of Ivan's mouth sounded so hoarse.

I cringed hard. The tears that came out of Ivan's eyes were like a waterfall. I'm also sure Leva is holding herself back from cringing.

"Well then, goodbye, beautiful." Ivan sighed, then walked limply away from Leva. His men also cried and tried to cheer him up.

"Goodbye, Ivan." Leva gulped. "Again, I'm sorry."

Once Ivan's group was far enough away, my female colonist walked back into the house and closed the door.

What a bizarre scene.