Chapter 141: Throbbing Hearts

Alice was getting more and more flabbergasted by the second, hearing all the crazy stuff that happened in the forest.

Her four friends were sitting around her like she was a bride about to be married off, all talking at once.

It was confusing, but more than that, it was terrifying.

Alice felt like her head was spinning.

Getting kidnapped and slowly being replaced in the party until the very last one fell?

It sounded like the plot of a fantasy movie or game. Well... it is a game, but now that she was living in that reality, it was all terrifying for her.

"A-and Kaisen-kun saved us all?"

She asked in a small voice. She couldn't even say her lover's name without stammering, feeling too much shame and guilt.

She had accused him of trying to mess with a depressed girl, but it was actually those shape-shifters who replaced Elfie and sowed seeds of doubt among the party members.

And it had worked.

'Because I'm a fool to not trust my Honey Bun.'

"Yeah, that's right. Apparently, Kaisen somehow figured out those women weren't who they seemed to be, and his suspicion was spot on."

Lloyd said, nodding his head.

'D-did he really understand it wasn't me who was sleeping near him?'

Another wave of blush crept across her face, thinking he found out the truth because of her. Her delusional thinking was running pretty high right now.

'Wait a minute. Did he... did he sleep with the fake Alice?'

A sickening thought suddenly engulfed her, but she quickly shook her head.

'S-so what? Doesn't a man capable of feats like this deserve to have multiple... mhmm...'

She didn't finish her sentence because, in the distance, she saw him walking towards them.

Slow and steady, like a lone warrior approaching the cowering citizens after defeating the monster that had been terrorizing them.

Her heart was pounding so hard watching him sauntering sassily towards her.

'Don't be delusional, Alice. He's just coming to get his party members, not just you... Hell, he might even be angry with you.'

"Oh, the hero has returned... drum rolls, please..."

Lloyd said, mimicking the actions of a band person. Sable joined in, drumming her hands on her lap.

They had forgotten about someone. Alice's eyes widened when she heard the familiar voice.

Scenes of Alwyn kidnapping her flooded her mind, and her body began to shake in fear.

But then she felt a strong hand on hers, pressing her palm.

She looked up to see her beloved Honey Bun beside her, squeezing her hand in reassurance.

He wasn't looking at her but at the cross a few meters away. Feeling his hot and strong hand gave her strength.

'I missed this... I missed us.'

Alice thought, but she could only think that as she wasn't sure when he would leave her again.

She took a deep breath and calmed herself down.

She was going to make this right. She would make this right. That was a vow she made to herself.

"I know a valuable piece of information. If you let me go, I can tell you about the boss's secret!"

?!

Kaisen and the others raised their eyebrows and looked at each other.

He knew the boss monster's secret? What the hell did that mean? Every bit of information was valuable when fighting against anything in this world.

And when it came to boss monsters, the need for information was even greater.

Unlike in a game, you couldn't die repeatedly and come back with better knowledge of the boss's move sets.

"Yeah, I know you guys need to hear this. This is extremely valuable, and I learned it while fighting the boss herself."

Alwyn continued, desperately hoping some of his words would get through to them.

"He fought the monster? Impossible!"

Maximus said, shaking his head.

A discussion erupted among the group, and finally, it was decided that Kaisen himself would be the one to approach Alwyn and ask him.

None of the others wanted to be anywhere near him, especially Alice and Elfie.

After a minute, Kaisen squatted near Alwyn, who was still held on the cross by the black wax for some reasons.

"Alrighty, let's hear what you have to say, shall we?"

Kaisen said, a smirk playing on his lips.