After a good morning’s meal, I began searching for an adventuring partner. I needed someone who could either draw away enemies from me or assist me with healing spells. Alias, either a tank or a healer.

The barbarians were a no go. They were walls of beef, which would have made them good tanks, however, their lack of clothing made them vulnerable to magic and poisoning attacks. Even worse, they proved to be physically stronger than me, which would have made them hard to control.

A fair girl was sitting in the corner of the room. She was one of Weeboy’s characters, a pink-haired girl in a blue school uniform. Her attire looked like what you would see in an anime, which, considering it was Weeboy, was no surprise.

“Hey,” I approached the girl, “My name is Axel and I’m looking for an adventuring partner.”

I raised my hand and waved. She looked at me and opened her mouth, but instead of speaking, she... she heavily breathed and... moaned?!

“Axel-sama?” she spoke with a trembling voice. “The most beautiful of men, the strongest, wisest, and sexiest of every male has such a beautiful name? Truly incredible!”

“What––”

“I have been observing you for a while, Axel-sama! Your deeds are most heroic and honorable! Ahh, to think I’d be blessed by your shining gaze... I’m truly the luckiest!”

It was a perplexing situation. On one hand, my dream of having my own fangirl seemed to have come true, but on the other, what was her deal?! We have never met; my only mark on this world is clearing a low-level dungeon and...

Wait, why would I care? For the first time in my life, I finally have someone be head over heels for me! Shit, what kind of loser would I be to not take advantage of a situation like this?

I brushed my hair aside and puffed out my chest. “Indeed, it is I! Axel, the finest of boys, the manliest of men, the... uh... the coolest of them all! Yup!”

The pink-haired could not contain her excitement anymore, and like a bomb going off, she jumped up from her chair and did a cute little hand wave while fangirling at the top of her lungs.

“Kyaah! No way, this is the most important moment of my life!”

“...uh... is it?”

“Yes! My name is Ying, and I’m your biggest fan! Ever since I’ve heard of you, I’ve been... I’ve been... truly obsessed,” she stared at me, continuing to breathe heavily.

A smile grew on my face. Then, a grin. Ying seemed freaky, but that was nothing I could not handle. Even if she had little combat prowess, her attitude made her a perfect wife candidate.

Not that I knew much about what qualities make for a good wife. But she seemed to like me, which already made her more preferable than most women I knew.

Maybe she was the special one. Maybe.

I sat down next to her. “Aight, listen up! I’m looking for a partner in crime, someone who could help me stay alive.”

“I could do that much better than anyone!” Ying locked her arms around mine, resting her head on my shoulder. “I would never let anyone hurt you, ever! Dare they even try to put a finger upon your perfect body, Axel-sama, and I will tear them into little bits!”

Her hair smelled like flowers. It was perfect, both in smell, color, and quality. There were no loose strains, she had no broken hair and not even an ounce of dirt on her head.

I knew I made it clear that these were red flags of inexperienced adventurers, but shit! How could anyone resist a girl like her?!

“So, Ying, let’s talk about your fee,” I said, hesitantly. After all, she was an adventurer. She was in it for the gains, much like everyone else. And considering her unique nature, I was ready to hear an obscene price.

But much like a fish with dynamite attached to its tail, my expectations were blown out of the water.

“Axel-sama... So long I get to look into your eyes every morning at wake and every night before sleep, I am satisfied for longer than eternity. My only request is... let me be by your side.”

My head turned cherry red from blushing. I fell silent. There were no words to describe how awkward I felt at that moment, not in a bad way though. Never have I ever heard anyone say something so romantic to me. For a moment, I was about to tear up.

“Excuse me, may I take your order?”

A waitress approached us from behind. Tiny wrinkles ran through her face. Her age must have been somewhere between 40 to 50.

Before answering, I wiped out the water from my eyes. “Uh, no, thanks. I already had breakfast.”

“Are you sure? You look thirsty.”

I raised my eye, but her expression clearly said it was not an insult. “Alright, well, maybe I could have some...”

Suddenly, Ying jumped onto the table and kicked herself toward the waitress. She flew through the air with the swiftness of a rabbit.

The waitress tried to step away, but Ying was too fast. She took out a large kitchen knife from under her skirt and aimed it at the waitress’s throat.

Time froze, or at least it felt like that. The blade of her weapon gently tapped against the waitress’s throat, marking her skin with the world’s smallest, most intricate cut. Any deeper and the woman would not survive. But Ying stopped the blade at almost the perfect time.

Her cotton candy pink eyes were now stained with wrath. Veins bulged out on her beautiful forehead. Her cute, almost intimate moans were swapped out by mad growling.

“You bitch!” She screamed like a banshee. “How dare you question Axel-sama? If he says no, that means no! You lowly fucking trash!”

She withdrew her weapon, spun it around in her hand, then hid it again under her skirt.

As if a different person, her stance relaxed, and she turned around with a bubbly smile.

“Axel-sama! Don’t you worry, the threat is gone!”

My whole body was frozen. I could not move from how shocked I was.

The waitress quickly grabbed her stuff and ran back into the kitchen’s safety.

I was left alone with Ying. Yet, I was not happy about it anymore. No more did I see her as some angel of love flying down from heaven to bring me joy.

What I saw was someone unhinged. Someone dangerous.