The Snake God with SSS Rank Evolution System

Adam sighed inwardly before turning toward Alice.

"Come on, don’t be like that."

He carefully reached out, intending to touch her shoulder, but Alice immediately slapped his hand away.

"Don’t touch me!"

She glared at him with her cheeks puffed up, looking so offended that Adam couldn’t help comparing her to a cat hissing at someone who had dared to approach it.

’She’s really acting like a cat right now.’

Of course, he wisely kept that thought to himself. Saying it aloud would probably earn him another kick.

Instead, Adam took a breath and spoke sincerely.

"Alice, listen. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I never intended to hide it from you forever. I just wanted to find the right opportunity to talk about it properly."

She remained silent, though her expression softened ever so slightly.

"And there’s something else I want you to understand." Adam met her eyes. "You don’t have to compare yourself to Lilith or Ignis. My relationship with each of you is different, and that doesn’t mean one of you is more important than another."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"I care about you, Alice. That’s why I’m sitting here trying to explain myself instead of brushing this off as if it doesn’t matter. I don’t want you to feel like you’re being left behind, and I certainly don’t want you to think that your feelings mean nothing to me."

Alice’s lips parted slightly.

For a moment, the indignation in her eyes wavered, replaced by something more vulnerable.

"...I understand that," she murmured.

She lowered her gaze, fiddling with her fingers.

"I know you’re not trying to hurt me, and I know you care about me. But..."

Her voice grew quieter.

"I’m still not ready to accept everything so easily."

Alice took a small breath before looking up at him again. Her violet eyes glimmered faintly in the firelight, and her cheeks were still tinged with pink.

"So, there’s something I want you to promise me."

"What is it?"

"Love me."

Hearing those sweet words made Adam’s heart beat fast.

Alice’s face turned even redder, but she stubbornly continued.

"Love me until you love me even more than those two! Make me someone you can’t stop thinking about! Someone you always want to be with!"

She clenched her hands, looking both embarrassed and determined.

"...Can you do that for me?"

Adam stared at her for a moment before a gentle smile appeared on his face.

"I’ll do my best."

"Your best isn’t good enough, idiot!"

Despite her protest, Alice’s expression had softened considerably.

Adam chuckled. "Then I’ll keep trying until you’re satisfied."

Alice stared at him, not quite ready to accept that he had hidden something from her. She could understand his hesitation, but thinking about it only made her more annoyed.

"Honestly, you’re such an idiot."

Before Adam could respond, Alice leaned toward him.

Her movements were hesitant at first, as though she might change her mind at any moment. But when she finally closed the distance between them, she pressed her lips against his.

Adam’s eyes widened slightly.

He hadn’t expected her to be so direct.

However, he didn’t pull away. Instead, he relaxed and accepted her kiss, allowing the moment to unfold naturally between them.

For a brief while, the world around them seemed to grow quiet. There was only the warmth of the campfire, the cool night breeze, and Alice sitting so close to him that he could feel the faint tremble in her body.

Eventually, Alice slowly pulled away.

Her face was bright red.

Adam looked at her in silence, momentarily at a loss for words. Then, almost without thinking, he raised his right hand and gently touched her cheek.

Her skin was soft beneath his fingertips.

As he looked into those beautiful violet eyes and took in her adorable, flushed face, his heart began beating faster.

’Damn. She’s really cute.’

Alice noticed him staring and immediately grew flustered.

"W-What are you looking at?!"

"Nothing."

"You’re obviously looking at something!"

"Can’t I look at my girlfriend?"

Alice blushed even more hearing those words.

Then she hurriedly looked away, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of red.

"...Idiot."

She hesitated before speaking again, this time in a much quieter voice.

"That was my first kiss, you know. So don’t you dare forget it, stupid."

Adam’s smile softened.

"I won’t."

He gently brushed his thumb against her cheek.

"I’ll treasure it. I promise."

Alice looked at him for another moment before a small, satisfied smile appeared on her face.

Unfortunately, their peaceful moment didn’t last long.

Both of them suddenly sensed someone nearby.

Adam turned his head and Alice did the same.

Standing a short distance away was Azrynn, who had apparently just emerged from the tent. She stood awkwardly with one hand resting near the entrance, looking between the two of them with wide eyes.

"..."

"..."

Azrynn felt that her timing was wrong.

"Um..."

Alice immediately sprang to her feet.

"W-Well! It’s getting late, so I’m going to sleep now!"

She didn’t even wait for Adam to respond before turning around and practically fleeing toward the tent.

"Don’t forget to get some rest yourself, okay?!"

With that, she disappeared inside.

Adam watched her go, unable to suppress the small smile on his face.

Then he slowly turned toward Azrynn.

The dark elf stood there, looking somewhat uncertain.

"...Did I interrupt something?"

Adam glanced at Azrynn and gave her a teasing smile.

"Well, you certainly interrupted something."

Azrynn’s eyes widened.

"I’m sorry! I didn’t know you two were having a romantic moment!"

"WE WEREN’T HAVING A ROMANTIC MOMENT!"

Alice’s flustered voice suddenly rang out from inside the tent behind Azrynn.

Adam couldn’t help chuckling at her reaction.

"Yeah, yeah. Don’t mind her. Go ahead and take care of whatever you came out here for, Azrynn."

Azrynn hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"R-Right. Excuse me, then."

She hurriedly walked away from the campsite, heading toward a more secluded spot to relieve herself.

As she went, she couldn’t help glancing back toward the tents.

’I really did ruin their moment, didn’t I?’

She felt a little guilty about interrupting them, especially after realizing how embarrassed Alice had been. Still, she hadn’t exactly planned to walk in on them. She had simply needed to use the bathroom.

With a small sigh, Azrynn continued walking.

However, after taking a few more steps, she suddenly stopped.

Something felt... wrong.

The atmosphere around her had changed.

Azrynn’s expression immediately grew serious. She slowly reached for the dagger strapped to her thigh, her fingers wrapping around its handle as she carefully scanned her surroundings.

"What is this feeling...?"

She couldn’t sense any presence nearby. There were no obvious traces of magic, no approaching footsteps, and no signs of an enemy hiding in the darkness.

Yet, something deep inside her instincts was warning her that she wasn’t alone.

"Is there an enemy nearby?"

Her gaze swept across the surrounding trees and patches of grass.

"I can’t sense anything, but my instincts are telling me otherwise."

Azrynn tightened her grip on her dagger.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed something moving in the darkness.

A tiny figure emerged from behind a nearby tree.

Azrynn’s eyes widened slightly.

It was a small creature resembling a beautiful woman, no taller than her forearm. Its delicate features were almost ethereal, and a pair of luminous wings extended from its back, scattering faint motes of light into the night.

’A fairy?’

Azrynn had never seen anything quite like it.

The tiny creature hovered in the air, looking at her with an expression of surprise. It examined Azrynn from head to toe, its gaze lingering on her dark skin and pointed ears.

Then, its expression changed.

"How strange..."

The creature tilted its head, as though struggling to understand what it was seeing.

"I thought your kind had already gone extinct."

Azrynn’s eyes narrowed.

The fairy continued speaking, seemingly unaware of the change in her expression.

"Why are there still Dark Elves here?"

The moment those words left its mouth, Azrynn’s expression turned cold.

Her fingers tightened around the dagger’s handle.

The faint warmth she had felt toward the little creature vanished, replaced by a sharp, unmistakable anger.

"...What did you just say?"