But it was also hard to abandon the expectation that she might see similar affection messages above the heads of other members when they returned.

At this point, she didn’t know whether the 2% increase in McClain’s affection was large or small, or whether the 12% affection score was high enough to reconsider pursuing a romantic ending.

If someone with higher affection than McClain appeared, could she really change the male lead? Could she let this man escape in his own way?

Feeling uneasy, Natalie glanced at McClain. Sensing her gaze, he spoke in a subdued voice:

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll definitely find a way to escape from here too. I’ll do my best to help you.”

His unusually gentle consolation gave her a strange sense of guilt.

She could decide what to do after checking the affection of others.

With that in mind, when she returned to the members who had finished preparations and were waiting to depart, Natalie’s eyes widened once again.

She discovered enormous numbers proudly displaying themselves above the members’ heads.

Natalie’s gaze first went to Orlando.

Or more precisely, to the brilliantly sparkling affection score above his head.

Orlando’s a؃tion: 54%

Orlando Blythe. The man who had shown her the most friendly attitude since she joined the expedition and tried to help her in every way possible.

Accordingly, his affection had reached well over half at 54%. This was incomparably higher than McClain’s mere 12%, which had only increased by 2%.

Natalie’s lips curled up in satisfaction.

“Welcome back, Pereira. We’ve perfectly completed the departure preparations.”

Sensing her gaze on him, Orlando spoke with a refreshing smile.

She had always thought he was noticeably handsome, but now he looked positively radiant.

His golden hair, vigorously curling above his forehead, made his already lovable impression even softer and sweeter.

With perfectly arched, thick eyebrows and blue eyes that shone magnificently like pure sapphires.

His appearance reminded her of an elven prince from a famous fantasy movie she had seen long ago.

Though his appearance was closer to Prince Charming from Cinderella than the black-haired northern grand dukes that was trending in romance fantasy male leads these days, what did that matter?

She even felt it would be a sin not to include such beauty as a male lead candidate.

“You’ve worked hard, Lieutenant Orlando. We’ve received plenty of medicinal herbs, so it seems we’re ready to depart.”

“I told you to just call me Orlando.”

“Ah, I forgot. I’ll be careful from now on, Orlando.”

As she responded to Orlando with a pleased smile, the affection score above his head seemed to sparkle, and a message clearly indicating a change in the score was overlaid.

Orlando Blythe’s a؃tion has incڣڒ৶ed by 5%.

Orlando’s a؃tion: 54% ▶ 59%

Oh, does affection increase this easily? At this rate, she would soon reach 100% and beyond!

While trying not to show her excessive joy, Munash’s voice caught her attention.

“I should have gone with you. Next time, I’ll go together.”

“No, I want to go with Pereira too.”

“Yes, please do. Munash, Muki.”

Turning her head, Natalie looked at Munash and Muki’s affection scores in turn and was even more surprised.

Munash Pagabe Umsamati’s a؃tion has incڣڒ৶ed by 3%.

Munash’s a؃tion: 56% ▶ 59%

Muki Pagabe Umsamati’s a؃tion has incڣڒ৶ed by 6%.

Muki’s a؃tion: 57% ▶ 63%

She had expected high scores to some extent, but they were far higher than anticipated.

The system even revealed the full names of Munash and Muki brothers, whom she’d never heard before. It was truly a marvelous message.

While trying to be careful not to inadvertently reveal that she knew their full names, she found it difficult to hide her increasingly abundant feelings.

In truth, the brothers’ first impressions had been so intense that she’d never once considered them as potential romantic interests.

Though both had consistently shown interest in her, they were so casual in their manner, and communication wasn’t perfect, so she thought there was no room for emotional progress.

But after confirming their high affection scores, she couldn’t help seeing them differently now.

Their bulging muscles, which might have seemed excessive, now appeared to be the result of diligent training, and their darker skin compared to other members seemed to exude an exotic charm.

Even her first impression of them as “barbarian warriors” had somehow been revised to “warriors with wild charm.”

As she stood there unable to control her rising smile, McClain’s inexplicably sharp command rang out.

“If preparations are complete, we’ll depart immediately. Everyone to your positions.”

By the time she finally came to her senses and moved toward the carriage, the taciturn Jorel Hato was sitting in the driver’s seat instead of Bertel, who had driven on the first day.

“I’ll be driving the carriage today, Pereira. Bertel has already departed for the next stopover. I’ll be in your care until we arrive.”

“I’ll be in your care as well, Sir Hato.”

While bowing politely, Natalie’s gaze was completely focused on checking the affection score above Jorel Hato’s head.

“You can just call me Jorel.”

“I will, Jorel.”

Jorel Hato’s a؃tion has incڣڒ৶ed by 6%.

Jorel’s a؃tion: 52% ▶ 58%

Surprisingly, even Jorel, with whom she had barely exchanged a few words, had recorded quite a high affection score.

The increase rate was even comparable to Muki’s high percentage.

At this point, Orlando, Munash, the Muki brothers, and Jorel Hato could all be considered male lead candidates without any issue.

She hadn’t confirmed Bertel’s affection yet, but she didn’t think it would be lower than McClain’s.

“Depart!”

In the rattling carriage, Natalie was too busy making all sorts of hopeful plans to even try hiding her rising smile.

She didn’t even notice McClain occasionally passing by the carriage and peering in with a puzzled expression, nor did she realize that the motion sickness that had tormented her so much on the first day had completely disappeared.

After half a day, when they finally arrived at the intermediate stopover, Bertel, who had departed earlier, greeted them at the entrance to the territory.

And when she finally checked above Bertel’s head, Natalie couldn’t close her mouth, which had fallen open in surprise.

Bertel’s a؃tion: 68%

“My goodness!”

Bertel showed the highest affection score of anyone Natalie had checked so far.

Hearing her inadvertent exclamation, Bertel asked with a puzzled voice:

“Why… what is it, Pereira…?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I just thought you must have worked hard, leaving early and taking care of business.”

Though she hurriedly composed her expression, it was difficult to completely hide her surprised look.

“Ah, it was nothing… Just my duty. It’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Bertel scratched the back of his head with an embarrassed smile at her words. The tips of his ears seemed to turn slightly red as they were exposed.

Simultaneously, the affection message floating above his head updated to a new one.

Natalie pretended to smile shyly and covered her gaping mouth with both hands after confirming the changed content.

Bertel Vale’s a؃tion has incڣڒ৶ed by 8%.

Bertel’s a؃tion: 68% ▶ 76%

This man’s affection increase was even larger than anyone else’s.

And that was just from a few empty compliments that were mere pleasantries.

At this rate, it seemed possible to raise Bertel’s affection toward her to 100% even before the expedition ended.

It was a moment that rendered all the plans she’d been calculating throughout the day instantly meaningless.

So should she target Bertel first?

They say once you know something, you see it differently than before.

Bertel’s beauty, which she hadn’t noticed due to lack of interest, suddenly caught her eye.

His brown hair, which she had thought merely ordinary, gleamed enticingly in the sunlight, and beneath his straight eyebrows, his gray eyes—looking thoughtful and intelligent—sparkled.

Gray eyes? It seemed like wise characters often had gray eyes.

Now that she thought about it, he appeared to be a careful and serious type.

Just look at those contemplative eyes.

With his thick eyelashes and mouth that, though firmly set, somehow gave a soft impression.

The more she examined him, the more perfect he seemed.

He wasn’t the type whose beauty immediately caught the eye like McClain or Orlando, but rather someone whose trustworthiness increased the more you looked at him.

Thinking about it now, she also appreciated how he had shown only subtle kindness despite having such high affection, without making it obvious. Surely he had acted cautiously so she wouldn’t feel burdened.

He was clearly the type to quietly consider others without making a show of it.

Perhaps her admiring gaze had lingered on Bertel too long.

Someone’s irritable voice interrupted, breaking the eye contact between her and Bertel.

“Bertel! What are you doing standing around! Guide them to the lodgings immediately!”

The voice, somehow filled with anger, belonged to McClain as usual.

Why has that man been so on edge since we departed?

Is he dissatisfied with what he received from the village headman?

Unfortunately, Natalie, who had contributed to his irritability, failed to grasp the cause of his mood change.