That evening, Leon fulfilled his promise to take Olivia out for dinner and a movie. As they spent time together, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was interacting with a completely different person-Olivia in real life was so unlike her in-game persona, Marlene.
It was hard to tell which version was her true self. Yet both versions shared one key trait: they were equally unpredictable. There was always something hidden beneath the surface of her actions, something Leon couldn’t quite put his finger on.
Yet, despite that mystery, Olivia was easy to talk to, open, and able to blend seamlessly into any conversation. That made it surprisingly easy for them to grow closer and communicate well throughout the evening.
They didn’t discuss anything too deep or serious, mostly chatting casually about Olivia’s life outside the game. She revealed that, besides gaming, she was a competitive swimmer, trained in martial arts, and even worked as a brand ambassador for a popular clothing line.
It was a mix of everyday life and glimpses into her world, which, like her, was far from ordinary.
The movie they watched was a sci-fi space adventure, and surprisingly, Olivia seemed to know quite a lot about space.
“What do you think? Interesting, right?” she asked.
“Super interesting, the best movie I’ve ever seen,” Leon replied.
Olivia playfully squeezed his arm, giving him a light pinch. “Alright, I’ll take that as a serious answer.”
As they walked out of the theater, with Olivia clinging to Leon’s arm, it was impossible for them not to draw attention. Olivia was strikingly beautiful, with a figure most men would dream of, and she was walking very close to him-very close.
“I don’t get this close to just anyone,” she teased. “You’d better treasure this moment for the rest of your life.”
Leon glanced at his phone briefly before putting it away.
“Don’t check your phone for messages from someone else when you’re with me,” she said, her voice carrying a playful edge.
“You said I should remember this moment forever, right? I’m making sure to mark today’s date.”
Olivia giggled and pulled Leon out of the cinema with a quickened pace. “That’s a pretty clever answer. I didn’t see that coming.”
“Thanks. People don’t usually call me smart. Mostly, they just say I’m a hard worker.” “Well, if you’re not smart, at least being hardworking is a good choice for you,” she teased.
“Thanks. I know people who think they’re smart, like you, usually don’t admit anyone else is.”
Olivia responded with nothing more than a giggle.
Olivia once again insisted that Leon accept her offer to use the beast contract slot she had offered him. After successfully building affinity with a Demon Beast-a flaming horse, no less -Leon knew he couldn’t pass up the opportunity.
Still, there was the lingering concern: What if Olivia asked for something in return that Leon couldn’t fulfill?
But she reassured him over and over that she had no intention of trapping him. At one point, she even playfully pressured him, saying,
“We’ve been through so much together!” She patted the back of his hand, adding, “Do you still not trust me? Can’t you see the sincerity in my eyes?”
“No… I don’t see it,” Leon replied bluntly.
“You’re so mean,” she sighed dramatically.
She continued, “I’ve told you before, this is something incredibly valuable for a Beast Master. You need to understand how important this is. So just take it, while we still have this chance in Hell.”
Olivia smiled at him, her expression so elegant and sweet that for a moment, Leon found himself distracted.
She really is enchanting, he thought. Olivia possessed a grace that was hard to match. But then his mind drifted to Freya. Freya was cheerful, pure, and undeniably sharp. Both women were elegant and intelligent in their own way.
But the girl before him now? Olivia was a mystery wrapped in charm.
“I can tell you’re starting to fall under my spell, aren’t you?” Olivia teased.
“I’m captivated by your overconfidence,” Leon shot back.
She giggled. “I don’t always flirt with guys, you know.”
“Does that mean I’m insignificant because you’re being so blunt about it with me?”
“More like you’re so tough that I have to try harder,” she replied with a playful wink.
“I think we’re close enough for… well, the standard of being friends?” he suggested, raising an eyebrow.
“Well, we could always explore more than friendship,” she said, giggling again, clearly enjoying the playful back-and-forth.
She continued, her tone serious but playful. “So, the offer-take it.”
Leon finally nodded, accepting her offer. “Yes… I’ll take the deal.”
After all, Olivia had explained that he could perform the contract on his own without needing her to be present. She would simply give him a token to use for forming the contract, meaning she wouldn’t have any knowledge about the specific Beast he chose to bond with.
“Good… yeah… I won,” she said with a cheerful expression.
They continued chatting as they finished their dinner, shifting the conversation to the movie they had watched. Olivia enthusiastically explained how much she admired the producer and all the films he had created, going into detail about her favorite works.
“Next time, let’s watch another film from this producer, okay?” she suggested.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Leon agreed.
After dinner, Olivia stood up and smiled before sliding into the seat next to Leon. He
wondered what she was about to do.
Without a word, she pulled him closer by the shoulder, positioning herself comfortably as she leaned into his chest, their cheeks lightly touching.
“Show me a sweet smile,” she remarked, lifting her phone and snapping a few photos.
She checked the results, but seemed unsatisfied, taking more shots while adjusting Leon’s
face to get a better angle, occasionally nudging him to smile more.
“More smile, please…” she said playfully. “There, that’s better.”
After snapping several photos, she seemed satisfied and quickly posted one to her social media account. Turning the screen toward Leon, she revealed the caption:
“Had an unforgettable movie and dinner with my new friend tonight. Do you recognize the handsome guy with me?”
She flashed him a teasing smile, clearly enjoying his reaction as she showed him the post.
“You surely put me in harm’s way by posting that photo. Your fans are probably going to
come after me,” Leon said with a sigh.
“That’s good! Your reputation will skyrocket. You should be thanking me,” Olivia teased.
“Thanks, I’ll be ready to ignore even more hate comments.”
“You’re used to getting insults by now, aren’t you?” she laughed.
After dinner, they headed back together since Olivia was staying at the same hotel. Leon drove them in his Northstar EV, and he made sure to walk her to her hotel room door.
Just before she opened the door, Olivia leaned in and kissed Leon on the cheek again, this time lingering for a moment as they stood face-to-face.
“Thanks for tonight,” she said softly.
“I had a good time. You’re welcome,” he replied with a smile. She then opened the door and
stepped inside.
A while later, Leon entered his hotel room and found Lily sitting in the living room, staring at him with a cold expression. She raised her phone, showing him Olivia’s post from earlier.
“You follow her social media account?” he asked.
“No, I just wanted to check.”
Leon headed toward the kitchen.
“You’re probably dying to read the comments about you, right?” she teased.
“How’s the ratio, good and bad?” he asked over his shoulder.
“About 90%.”
“Good?”
“Bad.”