Chapter 16: Her Proposal

Velma wasn’t looking at him. Instead, she gazed into the distance, a faint smile playing on her lips. He hesitated for a moment before finally asking:

"Is it because we’re from the same world?"

Velma chuckled softly and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she slowly turned to face him, meeting his gaze.

"Not exactly. Though... I’d admit that’s part of it, but it’s not the whole reason."

She paused, seemingly struggling to find the right words.

"It’s... actually because I feel safe around you."

Aaron tilted his head, an unmistakable look of disbelief crossing his face. However, Velma ignored his reaction and continued.

"I know I’m currently stronger than you are, but somehow, I feel like I could achieve my goals—and perhaps even surpass them—if I stayed by your side. When I’m with you, I feel as though anything is possible."

Aaron stared at her with an utterly unimpressed expression.

"Well... that’s probably because you’re a clumsy, cowardly, kind-hearted girl who, despite possessing an incredible Ability, is always terrified of getting into a real fight."

Velma let out a weary sigh.

"As much as I’d love to call that a lie, I can’t. You know me too well."

Aaron’s expression grew noticeably serious.

"How are you even going to survive the horrors of the Dungeon?"

Velma met his gaze, her expression hardening.

"The Dungeon is different. It’s the real version of the game we played back on Earth. I’ll survive. I’m sure of it."

Aaron regarded her in silence for several seconds.

’Oh, right. I’d almost forgotten she could be intimidating when she wanted to be.’

But the sternness in Velma’s expression gradually faded. She looked at Aaron with an expression that was both tender and hesitant. For a brief moment, she held his gaze before timidly averting her eyes.

"I... I want to activate the Couple Bond with you," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

Aaron blinked.

’Huh? The Couple Bond? Did I hear that right?’

"Did you just say—"

"Yes. The Couple Bond." Velma interrupted him, her voice firmer this time. There was a newfound determination in her eyes.

Aaron blinked again.

Then he swallowed hard.

He knew what the Couple Bond was.

No.

It wasn’t just him. Anyone who had played Zagadat’s Sorcery knew exactly what the Couple Bond entailed. It wasn’t something people activated on a whim. It required careful planning, thorough preparation, and absolute certainty from both parties.

After all, it was a decision that could change their lives forever.

So why would Velma want to do something so consequential at this point in their lives?

’Wait.’

Perhaps he was mistaken.

Maybe the Couple Bond worked differently in this world. Perhaps its restrictions weren’t as severe as he remembered. After all, he couldn’t access his System, so there was no way to verify the rules himself.

He might as well ask her.

"Is the Couple Bond different from how I remember it? Can it be undone in this world?"

Velma smiled.

"No, it can’t. In fact, I think the rules are even stricter than you remember."

Aaron’s face twitched.

’Then WHY would you even suggest it?!’

The Couple Bond was a universal skill available to every player on Earth. It allowed a gamer to bond with a chosen teammate, combining their stats and enabling a single player to wield the power of two.

It was an incredibly powerful skill.

Weaker players could borrow the strength of top-tier players, while already powerful players could become downright monstrous when their stats were combined.

Naturally, the Couple Bond was one of the most desirable skills in the game.

But it came with a terrible drawback.

Once a player bonded with someone, that bond became permanent. Neither party could choose another partner afterward. As a result, players took their time when selecting a partner. They searched for the strongest, most reliable, and most compatible teammate they could find.

Nobody in their right mind would form such a bond with just anyone.

And some top players like Velma preferred to prove their strength without relying on a partner at all.

So why would she suddenly want to form a Couple Bond?

And why him?

She knew perfectly well that he wasn’t the most competent or powerful Awakened around. Surely, she could find someone far more suitable. Yet she’d chosen him, fully aware of the consequences.

Aaron’s eyes widened slightly.

’Wait a minute. She said the rules were even stricter here.’

"Vel, what exactly do you mean by stricter?"

Velma’s smile widened.

"Unlike in the game, only true couples are allowed to form a Couple Bond. And the criteria for establishing one are a little different from what you remember."

Aaron raised an eyebrow.

"What criteria?"

Velma’s smile immediately froze.

For several seconds, she stared at him without saying a word. Then she briefly looked away before turning back to face him. She shifted a little closer to Aaron, gathering herself.

"Uhm... Since you asked, I suppose I should just tell you."

Aaron raised an eyebrow impatiently.

’Then just say it already!’

Velma took a small breath.

"The Couple Bond can only be formed between two people who qualify as a true couple. And by that, I mean two virgins. One male and one female."

She paused, allowing her words to sink in.

"Once the bond is formed, it can never be undone. Not even death can break it."

Aaron lowered his gaze and let out a quiet sigh.

’Damn it! Why would she suggest something this life-altering so early into our reincarnation?’

Back on Earth, forming a Couple Bond was relatively straightforward. A player simply sent an invitation to their chosen partner. If the other person accepted, the bond was established.

Even then, it wasn’t something to take lightly.

Once formed, the bond could only be broken if one of the players died in real life or deleted their account. The restrictions were already severe enough.

But in this world...

’Not even death can break the bond?’

That was an entirely different level of commitment.

And Velma was still far from finished.

She reached for one of Aarons calloused hands and held it tightly in her smooth soft palm. Aaron turned to her with a netural expression, silently wishing he also had an awakened body the gave soft palms.

Velma, seemingly unaware of his wandering thoughts, continued.

"And unlike in our world, the bond isn’t formed by simply accepting an invitation."

She hesitated a bit. Her cheeks grew redder, and her fingers tightened even more around his hand.

"Here, the Couple Bond is established when two Awakened virgins... take each other’s virginity."

Then She lowered her voice.

"So... we would have to do it with each other to form the bond."

Aaron stared at her expressionlessly.