The tension between them had reached a boiling point—well, at least for Ciel, who now found herself inexplicably synced to the most aggravating idiot she'd ever met. One accidental link, one shared burst of power in the middle of combat, and now her sword felt sharper every time he was near. It was infuriating. It was humiliating. It was... kind of useful.
Their latest mission involved clearing a corrupted temple, where shadow beasts emerged from walls and floors, shifting their forms like nightmares. The team split up to cover more ground, but as usual, MC and Ciel ended up paired together, thanks to a suspicious roll of the dice (rigged, probably, by Iris or Lina depending on who wanted MC's attention less that day).
The two stalked through a hall of shattered glass and cursed relics, the air thick with tension and not just from the monsters. Ciel kept darting glances at him whenever he wasn't looking, as if checking for signs of some new annoying habit. He, on the other hand, was nervously humming a battle song he half-remembered from Jax, trying not to trip on anything deadly.
"You're walking weird," Ciel said suddenly, without looking at him.
"Sorry, I think this gear setup added weight to my left leg. Maybe I copied too many passive buffs again."
She rolled her eyes. "You copied a limp?"
"No, I copied a knight's armor proficiency. I think his legs were bulkier. Or maybe he was just weirdly built."
"You're weirdly built," she muttered, then immediately turned red. "I mean—you're built weirdly! Structurally. Like a malfunctioning golem."
"Thanks. I think."
A sudden growl echoed down the corridor. Without hesitation, Ciel lunged forward, slicing through the wall as a shadowy form lunged at them. MC backed her up instinctively, activating a copied magic shield. Their movements were perfectly timed, like they'd trained together for years—which they hadn't.
After the monster evaporated in a burst of black mist, Ciel paused, sword still raised.
"That was... weird," she muttered.
"Right? We actually coordinated."
"No, I mean... I felt your timing in my head. I knew when you were going to block."
MC blinked. "Whoa. Like telepathy?"
"No. Like... rhythm. Like dancing."
"So you're saying we're mentally ballroom dancing now?"
"Don't say it like that."
"Got it. Combat waltz?"
She punched his shoulder, lightly.
The system chimed again, silently in MC's head.
[Sync Level: 65% – Link Skill Progressing]Ciel Affection: 58% – Emotionally Defensive Passive Triggered: "Deny Everything"
Back at camp later, as they ate a quiet dinner, Ciel kept stealing glances across the fire. Lina and Iris were chatting, Luna was reading, Jax was passed out in a tree, and yet her attention kept drifting toward MC. He was carefully adjusting some settings on his gauntlet, muttering to himself about balance ratios and fusion fatigue.
"You… weren't terrible today," she said suddenly.
MC looked up. "Thanks! I think?"
"But it doesn't mean I like you. Or that we're compatible. Or that I need your stupid system."
"Of course not. You're a powerhouse of raw talent and knightly pride. I'm just an awkward system sponge with a questionable harem mechanic."
Ciel's jaw twitched. "That's… surprisingly self-aware of you."
He gave a small smile. "I'm learning. Slowly. Mostly because you hit me when I'm wrong."
Her cheeks flared again, and she turned away.
"Well, keep learning. Because if you ever do slow me down in battle, I'll break the link myself."
He grinned. "Deal."
They sat in silence for a while after that. Awkward, yes—but comfortable.Something unspoken passed between them.Something that wasn't quite affection.But maybe—just maybe—it wasn't denial anymore either.
END OF CHAPTER 69