The Hero's Streaming Life with the Saintess-Chapter 48: Hero, Brace Yourself♥

‘Ugh... saying “just go for it” is way easier said than done...’

“Wow! Hero, there are still flowers blooming—even in winter!”

Lyla skipped ahead toward a garden in bloom.

There were lots of people on the trail, but my eyes only followed Lyla.

‘...Should I say it now? No, too random...?’

My heart was beating a little too fast.

I’d survived countless crises, walked through battlefields with death breathing down my neck...

But saying “I love you” was somehow harder.

─ Tap!

Lyla came back and grabbed my hand.

“Hehe, they say there’s a teahouse over there where we can have tea!”

The light scent of her shampoo drifted off her swaying hair.

Her hand was soft—like a baby’s skin.

I just let her lead me quietly, still fidgeting with her hand in mine, toward the teahouse.

‘If I keep this up, nothing’s gonna happen...!’

I gripped her hand tight and stopped her in her tracks.

Lyla turned around in surprise to look at me.

“Uh, um...”

“Yes?”

“L-Lyla...! I, uh, that is...!”

But unfortunately... an intruder appeared.

“Unnie!”

Unnie...?

I looked in the direction of the voice and saw a group of women who looked like college students.

When I looked at Lyla, she tilted her head and shook it—seemed like she didn’t know them either.

“Excuse me... do we know you?”

“Ah! Sorry! Aren’t you two the ones who stream on Pajijik?”

“Uh...”

“Saintess and Hero!”

They were viewers.

Viewers. College girl viewers, no less, of our crazy-ass streams?

‘Wait—if people find out we’re here like this, isn’t that bad?’

I started to panic.

It’s not like we announced we were dating or anything...

But Lyla smoothly kept the conversation going with them.

“Really? Wow... I didn’t know places like this offered streamer lodgings.”

“We’re lucky, I guess~”

The girls were laughing and chatting among themselves like they were having a blast.

Then one of them looked at me.

“So... are you two dating?”

“Ah, n-no... We’re just colleagues... and happened to get a room here...”

I sounded like a total idiot, stumbling through the lamest excuse ever.

But even then, the girls just giggled.

“Why aren’t you two dating, though?”

What the hell kind of ambush question is that?

I tried to keep my face neutral and answered calmly.

“Still... wouldn’t that be weird? With viewers watching and all...”

They looked at each other and laughed again.

One of them waved her hand and said:

“C’mon~ That’s just that overly dramatic soap-opera-type content!”

“...Really?”

“Yep! Honestly, anyone who hated it when unnie first brought you on as a guest probably left already.”

Whew. That’s a relief.

At least that means some viewers are open-minded about it.

“Hehe... Hero, didn’t think you’d care about that kind of stuff.”

“Well... they are my viewers. Doing something behind their backs feels kinda wrong...”

“Wait, you didn’t know?”

“Huh?”

“There's an actual betting thread on the community site about when you and unnie will start dating.”

...What.

I’d heard of sketchy sites that do betting pools on streamer wins or losses.

Hell, some even bet on political elections.

But betting on when I’d start dating Lyla?

“Hero, you think we’re joking? You should look it up later on your phone!”

They wrapped up the conversation and wished us a nice trip before heading back into the {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} building.

I pulled out my phone and checked.

‘...Why is this real?’

They weren’t even betting if we’d date or not.

It was definitely happening—the only question was how long it’d take.

“Pfft... Hero, that’s pretty funny, huh?”

“W-What is?”

“Just... meeting viewers in a place like this. It’s kinda cool.”

Thank god.

If Lyla had found the idea of betting on our relationship upsetting...

I might’ve shattered right there and bitten my damn tongue off.

“Wow, this teahouse is gorgeous!”

It was lit with beautiful ambient lighting.

There was also an outdoor terrace where you could admire the scenery.

“They even serve cocktails? That’s unusual for a place like this.”

I’d expected a more formal vibe with people dressed up nicely.

But since everyone staying here were guests, most people were dressed casually—just like us.

‘Guess there are lots of folks dressed like us too.’

Our tea and cocktails arrived, and I decided to test the waters with Lyla a little.

“Lyla, have you ever thought about... marriage?”

“Hmm... There’s just one thing I’ve always thought about.”

“What’s that?”

“Hehe, it’s a secret~”

No way... She doesn’t already have someone she likes, right?

Or is she one of those people who never want to get married...?

My brain instantly jumped to the worst scenarios and spiraled.

“Hero?”

“Ah? Oh, nothing... Should we head back?”

“Yup~”

We reached the front of the building we had all to ourselves.

Lyla walked ahead and was about to open the door.

“Lyla!”

She turned around, surprised by my voice.

If I didn’t do it now... I might never get another chance.

“Do you have something to say?”

I walked straight up to her and took her left hand.

And with fingers trembling hard, I pulled the ring out from my pocket.

“Hero... this is...?”

Had I ever been this nervous in my entire life?

I tried to calm my trembling hands and slowly slipped the ring onto her ring finger.

“Lyla... I love you. I don’t think I can live without you.”

“...!”

“W-Will you... marry me?”

Idiot.

I didn’t even ask her to date me—just jumped straight to marriage...

I was so nervous I was stuttering, and my hands were still shaking.

“I-I mean... i-if that’s too soon, we can just start by dating and then maybe slowly—!”

Suddenly, Lyla lowered her head.

‘No way... No way... it can’t be, right? It’s not... right?’

If Lyla rejected me now...

I might seriously lose it and blow up the Earth or something.

“Um... Lyla?”

****

‘The Hero asked to go for a walk... how unusual.’

On the walk, we randomly ran into viewers.

And heard some funny betting rumors from them, too.

‘Hehe... it won’t take that long.’

Wasn’t that proof our viewers were rooting for the Hero and the Saintess to be together?

As streamers, it’s our duty to deliver what the audience wants.

I swear to the Goddess—there was no ulterior motive whatsoever.

“Wow! This teahouse is so pretty!”

Lyla, still strolling outside with Song Hun, started to feel something was... off.

The Hero was acting completely different from usual.

He looked like he had a lot on his mind, like something was really bothering him.

‘What’s wrong...?’

A little spark of anxiety bloomed in her chest.

Was there something he couldn’t say?

Maybe something strange happened recently...

‘Could it be that girl...!!!’

She almost frowned without realizing it—but just barely held herself back.

If that girl had tried something...

She’d just deal with it like she did back in the other world.

“What do you think about marriage?”

Out of nowhere, he asked what I thought about marriage.

The unease started creeping in again.

No choice.

Tonight, I have to mark him as mine. No question about it.

After the walk, we came back to the building.

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I took a careful, deep breath.

“Lyla!”

I turned around and looked at his face—he looked... determined.

I kept my expression neutral and asked casually.

“Do you have something to say?”

But then, the exact opposite of what I feared happened.

The Hero, with trembling hands, slid a ring onto my left ring finger.

“I love you. Will you marry me?”

The moment those words hit my ears—

My mind went completely blank.

“...”

I lowered my head.

The sound of wind blowing through the trees, the gentle flow of the garden stream, even the Hero’s breathing...

Everything went silent, like the world had stopped.

‘...’

Once I processed what just happened, my face started burning red.

And right after that—

Fanfare.

Loud trumpets rang out somewhere in my mind.

Fireworks exploded, golden flower petals rained down—the imaginary celebration had begun.

‘Did he... Did he just... for real...?’

I slowly lifted my head and looked at the Hero.

His face was flushed too.

But his eyes were still serious—there was no lie in them.

“Haa... Hero... I can’t hold back anymore.”

I grabbed his wrist—roughly.

****

Lyla suddenly grabbed my wrist and yanked me inside.

─ SLAM!

She shut the door hard and pinned me against it.

“L-Lyla...!?”

─ Smack... kiss... mmph...

She wrapped her arms around my neck and started kissing me, rough and deep.

My brain felt like it was gonna explode.

“Pahaah... Hero...”

“???”

“That was my answer... good enough for you?”

“???”

A thin trail of spit hung from her lips... then dropped onto her cleavage.

And as my eyes refused to look away, she grinned wickedly.

“Hero... does this mean we’re married now?”

Is it?

I don’t know.

My brain had completely shut down from how sudden it all was.

But I mean... if we’re gonna end up married anyway, she’s not exactly wrong...

─ GRAB!

Lyla grabbed my wrist again—rougher this time—and started dragging me somewhere.

“Do you have any idea... how long I’ve waited for this? You were way too late...”

“Lyla, I’m sorr—”

She pressed a finger to my lips, cutting me off before I could finish my lame apology.

Her eyes curved as she smiled sweetly.

“Hero... be prepared♥”

W-What?

Prepared for what...?