A Reward Worth More Than Treasure
"But I think... only such a gift is worthy of my naturally beautiful senior sister." Leon smiled. The gentleness in his words made Maya fall.
For a mont, the cave seed to beco unusually quiet.
The faint glow of spiritual crystals embedded in the stone walls painted the surroundings in soft silver light. Dust motes drifted lazily through the air while the distant sound of dripping water echoed from deeper within the cave.
Maya simply stared at him.
Her heart trembled.
That smile.
Those eyes.
That sincere tone.
It was unfair.
Completely unfair.
Leon always looked calm and relaxed, but every now and then he would say sothing that struck directly at the defenses she had spent years building.
"Junior Brother..."
Her voice ca out softer than intended.
Leon tilted his head slightly.
"Hm?"
Maya imdiately looked away.
Nothing.
She suddenly didn’t know what to say.
Inside her heart, emotions surged like waves.
Ah... Damn it...
Was this what being moved felt like?
Ever since her Teacher passed away, she had carried everything alone.
She was respected.
Admired.
Feared.
But very few people truly cared about her.
Yet Leon...
This troubleso junior brother kept appearing whenever her heart started becoming cold.
He clearly knew she couldn’t resist this.
Yet he kept doing it anyway.
"Why are you looking at like that?" Leon asked with a chuckle.
Maya bit her lip lightly.
"Because you’re troubleso."
"That’s not a complint."
"It wasn’t ant to be."
"Then I’m hurt."
"You don’t look hurt."
"I hide it well."
Maya couldn’t help laughing.
The heavy emotions in her chest eased slightly.
After standing there for a long mont, she finally exhaled.
"Alright then..."
The words left her lips quietly.
Leon blinked.
Maya looked away.
Her cheeks carried a faint blush.
"I’ll accept it."
The mont she spoke those words, she felt a strange sense of happiness.
This wasn’t simply a treasure.
It was the first gift Leon had ever given her.
That alone made it special.
When she returned to Holy Water Division, she could place the Starheart Sapling outside her residence.
Every morning she would see it.
Every day she would rember this mont.
The thought alone made her smile.
"Haha, that’s right!"
Leon finally relaxed.
"See? Accepting gifts isn’t that difficult."
"Only because you’re impossible to argue with."
"I’ll take that as praise."
"You shouldn’t."
Leon carefully handed the Starheart Sapling to her.
His movents were surprisingly gentle.
As though he feared damaging the precious roots.
Maya accepted it carefully.
Her hands cradled the sapling with extre caution.
The tiny leaves shimred faintly.
A gentle life force flowed from the plant.
She couldn’t help admiring it.
"What a beautiful little thing."
"Not as beautiful as its new owner."
Maya imdiately shot him a glare.
"Leon."
"Yes?"
"Stop talking."
"No."
"You really are impossible."
Despite her words, the corners of her lips lifted.
She carefully stored the sapling away.
Her movents were ticulous.
It was obvious how much she valued the gift.
When she finished, she looked up.
Her gaze t Leon’s.
For a brief mont, neither spoke.
A warm feeling spread through her heart.
She knew how Leon treated Selena and Rias.
Those two had always been precious to him.
Now...
For the first ti...
She felt as though she occupied a special place in his heart as well.
The realization made her strangely happy.
A trace of craftiness suddenly appeared in her eyes.
A playful side rarely seen by others erged.
Leon narrowed his eyes.
That expression looked dangerous.
"What are you planning?"
"Nothing."
"I don’t believe that."
"You never believe ."
"Because you’re smiling suspiciously."
Maya laughed softly.
Then—
Before Leon could react—
She suddenly stepped forward.
Rising onto her toes.
Her blue hair swayed lightly.
A faint fragrance drifted through the air.
And then—
A quick kiss landed on his cheek.
Soft.
Gentle.
Gone almost instantly.
Leon froze.
For a mont, his mind went completely blank.
He simply stood there, staring ahead as if his thoughts had stopped moving.
anwhile, Maya finally realized what she had just done.
The courage that had appeared out of nowhere vanished instantly.
Her beautiful face turned crimson.
"Oh no..."
Her heart skipped a beat.
What was she thinking?
How could she actually kiss him?
Embarrassnt flooded her entire body.
Without daring to look at Leon again, she turned around and ran.
"Oh... This, this, this, sneak attack..."
Leon finally recovered from his shock and stood there in disbelief.
His hand slowly moved toward his cheek.
The place where she had kissed him still felt warm.
anwhile Maya had already retreated several ters away.
After running far away, Maya blushed and turned around to smile gently at Leon.
"Take it as your reward for giving the Starheart Sapling."
The smile on her face was radiant.
Leon stared blankly.
Then looked at the ground.
Then at the cave ceiling.
Then back at Maya.
A long silence followed.
Finally—
"Oh... I understand what generous reward. Senior Sister, wait for ... I’ll go find a few more seedlings for more rewards like this"
Maya almost choked.
"You shaless man!"
Leon looked completely serious.
"I’m only speaking logically."
"There is nothing logical about that!"
"I receive rewards. I beco motivated."
"You call that motivation?"
"Absolutely."
Maya covered her face.
She suddenly regretted everything.
Not because she disliked it.
That was the problem.
She liked it too much.
Now Leon knew.
And once Leon knew sothing—
He never stopped teasing her.
Her heart beat faster.
She could still rember the brief contact.
The warmth.
The courage she sohow found in that mont.
The more she thought about it, the more embarrassed she beca.
At the sa ti...
A tiny part of her didn’t regret it at all.
In fact...
That part secretly wanted to experience that feeling again.
Realizing her own thoughts, Maya imdiately shook her head.
No.
Absolutely not.
Dangerous thoughts.
Very dangerous thoughts.
Maya shook her head to get rid of the thoughts in her mind.
"Junior Brother, sothing’s wrong with you."
Leon looked innocent.
"?"
"Yes, you."
"What did I do?"
"You know exactly what you did."
"I really don’t."
"Sothing’s wrong with you, right?"
Leon smiled aningfully.
Maya imdiately denied it.
"You’re the one who’s wrong."
Leon nodded thoughtfully.
Then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Senior Sister, I’ve figured it out."
Maya imdiately beca alert.
That tone never led to anything good.
"What?"
Leon suddenly rubbed his cheek where Maya had kissed him.
A thoughtful look appeared on his face.
After a few seconds, he nodded seriously.
"Senior Sister, after thinking about it carefully."
Maya imdiately had a bad feeling.
"Thought about what?"
Leon looked at her with complete sincerity.
"I think I’m at a disadvantage."
Maya stared at him.
"What are you talking about now?"
"You kissed and ran away."
"W-Who ran away?" Maya’s face instantly reddened.
"You did."
"I did not!"
"You absolutely did."
Leon pointed at the spot where she had been standing monts ago.
"You were over there. Now you’re all the way over here. That’s called running away."
Maya was instantly speechless.
Leon continued before she could recover.
"Besides, I gave you a Starheart Sapling. Such a precious treasure, and all I got was a sneak attack on the cheek."
"That’s called a reward!"
"Exactly."
Leon nodded approvingly.
"Which is why I’ve been thinking very carefully."
Maya suddenly beca nervous.
"Thinking about what?"
Leon smiled.
"A reward should go both ways."
"What does that even an?"
Leon continued with a completely serious expression.
"I’ve always believed in fairness. If soone gives, soone should return the favor. Otherwise, the balance of the world is disturbed."
"That’s nonsense."
"No, it’s a very profound principle."
Maya rolled her eyes.
His smile widened.
"You rewarded once."
"So?"
"So naturally..."
Leon took a step forward.
"I have to kiss you back."
Maya’s beautiful eyes widened instantly.
"Leon!"
"What?"
"You shaless man!"
"I think I’m being very fair."
"There is nothing fair about this!"
"Senior Sister, you started it."
"I-I was thanking you!"
"Good. Then I’ll thank you too."
The more he spoke, the more convinced he sounded.
As though his argunt genuinely made sense.
Maya stared at him.
Maya’s face beca completely red.
This bastard.
He had already figured out her feelings and was becoming more outrageous by the minute.
Then at the cave wall.
Then back at him.
"You made that up on the spot."
"No."
"You absolutely did."
"I am a very honest person."
"That’s the biggest lie you’ve told all day."
Leon grinned.
Then he started walking forward.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
Maya imdiately backed away.
"You, you, you... don’t co over."
Her voice trembled.
Partly from panic.
Partly from anticipation she absolutely refused to acknowledge.
Leon continued approaching.
One step.
Then another.
Maya retreated instinctively.
Before she realized it—
Her back touched the stone wall.
No more escape routes.
Leon stopped in front of her.
Close enough for her to see every detail of his face.
Close enough to hear his breathing.
Her heartbeat beca chaotic.
The cave suddenly felt much warr than before.
She looked up.
Their eyes t.
The teasing smile disappeared from Leon’s face.
For a brief mont, everything beca quiet.
Maya’s heart raced.
Part of her wanted to run.
Another part wanted ti to stop.
Leon revealed an evil smile as he looked at his little senior sister whose heart was beating faster and her face was red. He slowly lowered his head.
At this mont.
[Ding... You have given Maya a ginseng fruit seedling, triggering a critical hit.]
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