Chapter 34

"Thank you for saving my little sister," The girl who introduced herself as Yae Sakura said as she bowed her head. "I would do anything to repay this gratitude."

"Anything?" Amane asked, pondering for a moment. "How about we discuss it in your room?" he suggested. Kiana and Theresa were shocked as it was the first time they saw Amane taking an initiative with a girl.

The pink-haired girl blushed but nodded and went inside her room, with Amane following her.

"Can I ask you for something?" Sakura said, feeling guilty about making a request despite him helping her sister.

"Sure," Amane replied with a nod.

"After this, please take responsibility and marry me," Sakura requested, bowing her head.

"Okay," Amane answered, but he looked at her strangely as he saw Sakura preparing to remove her yukata.

"Sakura," Amane said as he fixed her yukata for her. "You don't need to remove your clothes. Just show me the stigma on your back, and if I'm correct, it should be similar to Theresa's."

Sakura blushed, misunderstanding his meaning, and extended her hand in a marriage proposal. Now she couldn't take back her words and wished she could hide in a hole.

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Meanwhile, three girls were peeping at the interaction between Amane and Sakura.

"Amane's luck with girls is incredible," blushed Theresa, recalling how he shielded her during her fight with the fox-like Herrscher.

"I'm already used to it," Kiana deadpanned, observing Theresa's reaction and understanding it fully. "Aunt Theresa, I would support you. With your age, it's only natural for you to find a man," she honestly commented, making Theresa feel as if she was struck by an arrow.

"Does that mean we would become a true family?" Rin asked, getting excited upon hearing Sakura's proposal and Amane accepting it.

Theresa and Kiana glanced at each other and then at Rin. "Let me cook," Kiana said, asking Rin for the location of the kitchen.

"I didn't know she knows how to cook," Theresa muttered, watching Kiana head to the kitchen.

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Sakura lay on the bed, facing away from Amane, showing her back to him.

"I thought it would be similar to Theresa, but I was wrong. It looks like Sakura petals, just like your name – it's beautiful," Amane said as he gently touched her back.

Sakura blushed as she heard Amane's compliment and covered her face with a pillow. "Thank you," Sakura said.

"Can I activate the power of this mark?" Amane asked, and Sakura looked confused. "This mark was specially created for humans to fight the monsters roaming around the world. It is also a symbol of being chosen to become another Herrscher," Amane explained.

"Would I gain the strength to protect Rin if you activate it?" Sakura asked in a serious tone.

"Yes, you will," Amane answered. "But you need to train to control your strength."

"Please, do it," Sakura answered, and Amane activated her stigma. Fox-like ears that resembled bunny ears appeared on her head, and she felt stronger than ever before. "This feeling... it's warm, and I feel like I've become much stronger than before. Thank you, Amane-san, or should I call you Anata?" she asked, looking into his eyes.

"No need to rush our relationship; take your time to adjust," Amane answered as he patted her head. "I would like to bring you with me," he said with a firm expression, and Sakura began to think.

"I would like to join, no, please let us join your travel," Sakura answered firmly. Her father had planned to sacrifice her sister, whom he had abandoned when he realized she was physically weak. He always treated her as a burden and a disgrace to the family.

Suddenly, smoke was seen coming from the door, and Sakura quickly fixed her yukata. She and Amane ran to the living room to find the kitchen engulfed in flames.

"Why did I let her cook!" Theresa muttered, seeing the kitchen burning.

"Eh, who did you let cook?" Amane asked.

"Kiana," Theresa answered, looking at Sakura with an ashamed face.

Amane got surprised, knowing that Kiana wasn't skilled at cooking and didn't know how to use kitchen utensils.

Amane froze everything within a second as Kiana hurriedly got out of the kitchen. "I didn't know where the stove was, so I decided to set up a camping fire, but the flames spread so fast. When I tried to put it out with water, the flames got stronger," Kiana explained, scratching her head.

"Who would set a camping fire indoors with a bunch of flammable materials inside?" Theresa said, facepalming. "Right, it's Kiana," she added, not knowing how to face Sakura, who smiled wryly at the burned house.

"Let's retreat," Amane said, picking up Rin and putting her on his shoulder. He princess-carried Sakura and they all left, followed by Kiana carrying Theresa since she was faster than her.