<strong>Chapter 3.3</strong>


    "He’s lying to you!" Although it really abhors being in the same ce with 0007, 5237 remains diligent in its efforts to keep its ignorant partner from stepping down the wrong path in life. "This is a BG world! Even if Nardred was rescued by the male lead in the original story, he will never fall in love with him! At most, he will only be grateful to Osmund as a victim is towards their saviour!"


    "...But even if Nardred is only extremely grateful, this plot cannot proceed down the original path anymore ah..." Sui Yuan nces at Osmund who is leading the way in front as he inquires 5237 in distress. "As the viin BOSS, Nardred is destined to sh with the male lead. But now said male lead is his saviour, how will Nardred be able to raise a hand against him?"


    "...Therefore, you must take the ’love bing hate bing a desire to kill’ route... One determined to destroy thend, while the other wishes to protect it. Two close friends eventually turning into sworn enemies...<i>peh</i>!" 5237 spits vehemently. "I just knew it! 0007 is not anything good, and the partner it chose also wouldn’t be all that different from it! You still want to believe him? I think he is simply ying a prank on you!"


    Sui Yuan’s gaze drops to his feet, not wanting to approve 5237’s words. Nheless, he feels that Zhao Xihe doesn’t genuinely want topensate him by assisting him with the storyline... But if he has no desire topensate, then what is his true purpose? It couldn’t be pulling a prank, right? How can someone be so bored as to do something like this when they should be focused on work?


    From the very beginning, the plot was already messed up, forcing Sui Yuan and 5237 to carefullye up with ways to rescue it. Still, what truly makes them feel so agitated is not how they should push the male and female lead together - since the male lead is Zhao Xihe, no one can force him to do what he doesn’t want - but how to handle the rtionship between the male lead and supporting male lead.


    "Don’t be too anxious. At worst, we will get another low score for this world, then I will help you throw him off in the next world!" 5237 tries its best tofort.


    "How will you do so?" Sui Yuan questions hesitantly. "I can’t possibly stay in the space between worlds forever. And if I go anywhere, he will simply follow behind..."


    "Even if he does that, I can still make it impossible for him to find you." 5237 grins confidently. "After all, not every world has only one supporting male lead!"


    As soon as he hears this, Sui Yuan’s drooping figure straightens in happiness.


    "Umm...excuse me. Does Emerald City lie in this direction?" A hesitant female voice interrupts the conversation between Sui Yuan and 5237. Looking over his shoulder, Sui Yuan see a female swordsman standing behind.


    Long, wavy, golden hair left to hang freely around her frame, jade green eyes shine with a friendly lustre, the dimples on her face is enough to make one’s good opinion of her rise. The youngdy’s attitude brims with energy and vitality. It is exactly this warm charm that seeded in chasing away the darkness in Nardred, and remains deep in his heart even after being turned into a ruthless being by the source of darkness.


    With just one nce, Sui Yuan is certain that this youngdy is the female lead, Aurora.


    The meeting between supporting male lead Nardred and Aurora had been destroyed due to a certain <i>someone’s</i> meddling, and it seems the encounter between the male and female lead has been moved ahead of schedule instead.


    When Sui Yuan is seizing Aurora up, the swordswoman’s gaze is firmly stuck on Osmund, who stopped and turned around as soon as he heard her question.


    Love at first sight. In the original text, female lead Aurora also fell in love at first sight with male lead Osmund, and takes the initiative to pursue him. She is a cordial and passionate woman with a frank disposition. If she likes someone, she is willing to endure arduous tasks and suffer hardship in the name of love. Having grown up in a small town, her greatest desire is to be a world-famous master swordswoman. Not long after her training journeymences, she rescues the viin BOSS Nardred, then proceeds to fall in love with the Holy Son of the Heavenly race, thus being drawn into the dispute happening across thend between the dark and light forces.


    Being the Holy Son, Osmund is honest, kind and gentle. He epts all living beings in this world, but doesn’t understand the fires of romance at all. As a person who treats everyone favourably no matter their nature or identity, he even pities Nardred after meeting him for the first time, certain that this ruthless BOSS was warped against his will. As Osmund is always gentle with Aurora when they first met, she falls deeper and deeper for him to the point of no return even after discovering that Osmund treats everyone the same way. Equally, drawn in by Aurora’s relentless pursuing and selfless sacrifices time and again, Osmund’s heart begins to soften, and willingly sinks into the ocean of love.


    ...Originally...this is how the story should unfold...


    Sui Yuan turns his head away slightly, filled with sorrow and regret.


    "You are correct. This is the road to Emerald City," Osmund replies with no trace of annoyance in his warm voice.


    Sui Yuan remains silent, standing off to the side and allowing both leads to interact. After all, he doesn’t know the female lead now, and ording to Nardred’s personality, he will be mistrustful of strangers. Thus, he opts to remain cold and distant, refusing to interact with Aurora.


    Osmund’s words snap Aurora out of her daze. Her fair cheeks flush pink, embarrassed at her discourtesy. Nheless, herrge, glittering eyes cannot help lingering on Osmund’s smiling face. "You...I mean, are the both of you heading to Emerald City too?"


    At this, Osmund pauses, then turn to address Sui Yuan, asking, "Do you want to go to Emerald City?"


    Unexpectedly drawn into the conversation, Sui Yuan stiffens for a second before shaking his head. "No, I want to go to Obsidian City."


    After a period of quiet reflection, Sui Yuan makes a firm decision - who cares! Ensuring his character keeps to the original plot is most important. He needs to leave for the darknds, swallow the source of darkness, then return to fight with the male lead! Presently, his first priority is to seek out the source of darkness.


    A frown creased Osmund’s brow as he understands what Sui Yuan is nning to do. "Obsidian City is located in the westernmost part of the continent, and beyond lies the forbidden darknds. You want to go there?"


    "Yes." Sui Yuan maintains his icy aloofness and nods, not nning on concealing his ns at all when the other already has a rough idea. "I have had enough of being humiliated my entire life! I want to be stronger!"


    The delicate elf’s jaw sets resolutely, golden eyes emitting a razor-sharp light, exuding unbending will. Osmund sighs softly. "This...there’s no need to be this way..."


    "Everyone has a path they need to walk," Sui Yuan interrupts coldly, wishing he can quickly shake this pig teammate off. "Even though you saved my life, and for that I am grateful, I will not renounce my ambition because of your ideas."


    "All right, Nardred." A hand drops on Sui Yuan’s shoulder, azure eyes soothing. "I understand your point, and I have no desire to impose my beliefs on you. I merely speak out of worry. The darknds are forbidden to everyone except the dark elves and is an extremely hostile ce. Once a person enters, there is little chance of returning alive..."


    "But only a ce like that will be able to make me stronger," Sticking firmly to the script, Sui Yuan says as he makes a supreme effort not to nce at the abandoned female lead.


    "I understand." Osmund nods slowly, a gentle smile on his lips. "Then I will apany you."


    Sui Yuan: "......!!!!"


    5237: "!!!!"


    "...You just said, the darknds are a dangerous ce," Sui Yuan speaks up after a stunned silence, attempting to prevent Zhao Xihe from derailing another plot yet again.


    Sure enough, he shouldn’t have believed him! (╯°□°）╯︵ ┻━┻


    "Due to it being dangerous, I cannot watch you leave on your own." Osmund’s gaze is as gentle as can be, but steel lurks beneath the surface. "I will not drag you down. Two people travelling together is always more secure than one."


    "For the same reasons, I will not agree with youing along." Sui Yuan shakes his head. "You saved me and I cannot continue encumbering you, consciously allowing you to face danger."


    "Umm...excuse me from interrupting!" The young woman’s voice cuts into their argument, drawing Sui Yuan and Osmund’s attention.


    Aurora raises a hand in the air, blinking her eyes in confusion. "The darknds you two are talking about...it can make one stronger, right? Therefore...will it be all right if I tag along?" A bright beam appears on her face. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Aurora, and I am currently on a self-training journey to aplish my quest of bing the best swordswoman in thend!"


    Sui Yuan & Osmund: "........."


    Seeing the two men’s non-reaction, Aurora lowers her hand, rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment, but not a trace of awkwardness can be detected. "Sorry, I know it’s rather rude of me, but I really want to take a look at the dangerous darknds ah! Surely my swordsmanship will improve there, right?"


    "It’s too dangerous, you will die," Sui Yuan refuses her coldly, even as he feels the overwhelming urge to kneel before the female lead and sob.


    Although in the original story Aurora fell in love with the male lead and pesters him until he allows her into his team, that doesn’t mean a future viin BOSS like him should be partying up with them! In addition, this journey is to help the future viin BOSS obtain a power that will <i>make</i> him a viin!


    ...Ha...haha...is this story about helping to mould a viin? Righteous folks having a hand in creating the viin BOSS?


    "Thank you for your reminder, but I have already made my resolve." Aurora’s eyes burn with determination, a self-assured grin on her face. "If one fears death, one certainly cannot walk down the path of being a great swordsman!"


    "Not fearing death and actively seeking it are two very different matters. You are currently doing thetter." Sui Yuan res at Aurora, hiding his raging emotions underneath a frosty fa?ade - this is another way to decrease the female lead’s good opinion of him.


    "I trust you two ah!" A hand is waved dismissively, tantly ignoring the hybrid elf’s warnings. "Comrades should fight together, isn’t that so? With three of us together, providing mutual assistance, the probability of surviving will naturally increase ten-fold!"


    "......I can’t be bothered with you. In any case, I will absolutely not agree." Scoffing disdainfully, Sui Yuan turns his re on Osmund. "You are forbidden from following!"


    Even before thest word falls from his lips, his slender figure disappears. Using the elf race’s supernatural speed and agility, he leaps up into the dense leaves above, silhouette vanishing in the span of two or three seconds.


    "Hey! You—!" Aurora shouts, but is a second too slow to prevent him from fleeing. Subconsciously turning to gauge Osmund’s reaction, her eyebrows raise at his light, helplessugh. What happens next causes her eyes to widen.


    Large, white wings emerge from his back. Nodding to Aurora in farewell, his wings unfold, lifting him into the air in a couple of beats. Nowfortably above the canopies, he flies after Sui Yuan.


    "...Heavenly race..." Aurora gasps in admiration. A heartbeatter, a steely glint enters her eyes as her mouth curves into a crafty smile. "Do you both think you can break away from me so easily? Such remarkablepanions...I definitely wouldn’t be able to chance upon people like them again!" One hand reaches up to wrap around the green beryl^[1] pendant around her neck.


    A whirlwind envelops her, lifting her up into the air. In a split-second, Aurora vanishes from her original ce, leaving behind a handful of falling leaves.


    <strong>Footnotes:</strong>


    [1] Something like this: