Esper Harem in the Apocalypse

Chapter 1096: Victory

The portal fell quiet. The remaining monsters—scrawny D-ranks and a few limping C-ranks—scattered into the shadows, too terrified to even hiss. The heroes stood in stunned silence, their eyes glued to Rudy as he casually dusted off his sleeves.

One of the heroes clapped. Then another. Soon, the whole group was cheering, their voices shaky but relieved.

"You… you saved us!" someone shouted.

Rudy shrugged. "Don't mention it."

Before anyone could say more, Triss pushed through the crowd, her face pale. She stared at Rudy like she'd seen a ghost.

"What… what just happened?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Rudy looked up and shrugged. "Took care of the big guy. No big deal."

"No big deal?" Triss repeated, her voice rising. "That was a God-rank boss, Rudy! You took it down alone!"

"Yeah, well," Rudy said, scratching the back of his head. "It wasn't as tough as it looked."

"Not that hard?!" Triss hissed, her composure cracking. "That thing killed eight S-ranks in one hit!"

Triss stared at him, her mind racing. She'd seen him fight before, but this… this was something else. The way he moved, the power he'd unleashed—it was beyond anything she'd ever seen. And yet, she could tell he was holding back.

"Who… what are you?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Rudy's smirk faded, and for a moment, he looked almost serious. "Just a guy trying to have some fun," he said.

Triss didn't know how to respond. She wanted to press him, to demand answers, but the look in his eyes stopped her. There was something there—something she couldn't quite understand.

The heroes stepped out of the portal, their cheers mixed with quiet murmurs of grief. They had won, but the cost was heavy. Eight of their own were gone, and the victory felt bittersweet.

Rudy and Triss were the last to leave. The tension between them was obvious, almost awkward. They walked side by side without saying a word. Triss kept glancing at Rudy, her lips parting as if she wanted to speak, but she held back, waiting for him to break the silence.

He didn't.

Once outside, they found a quiet spot to sit, away from the others. For a while, they just sat there, the silence stretching between them.

Finally, Triss spoke, her voice nervous but firm. "So… you won the competition."

Rudy glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah, I guess I did."

The cheers of the other heroes fading into the background. He'd won the challenge. He'd won. But instead of the rush of excitement he'd expected, there was… nothing. Just a hollow feeling he couldn't shake.

Why? He'd proposed the competition in the first place to mess with Triss, to push her buttons, maybe even get closer to her. So why did it all feel so pointless now?

Triss stood a few feet away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her usual confidence was gone, replaced by a nervous tension that made her fidget with the edge of her sleeve. She kept glancing at him, waiting for him to say something—to gloat, to tease, anything.

But Rudy stayed quiet.

Finally, Triss broke the silence, her voice strained. "So… do you have a place in mind? For… you know."

Rudy blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "Huh?"

Triss's face flushed, but she forced herself to meet his eyes. "The reward. You won. I'm… keeping my word. You can… do what we agreed on."

Rudy stared at her, the words sinking in. This was what he'd wanted, right? To tease her, to see her flustered, to have a little fun. But now, looking at her—nervous, but trying so hard to act like she wasn't—he just felt…

Empty.

"Forget it," he muttered, turning away.

Triss frowned. "What?"

"I said forget it," Rudy repeated, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Not in the mood anymore."

Triss opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. She didn't understand. Neither did he.

'What's with him? His behaviour suddenly changed. He couldn't stop talking before, but now he isn't even holding a normal conversation. And… what did he just say? He is no longer interested in the reward after winning the challenge?

He is not interested in me? Me?! Did he just reject me?! How dare he… wait… why am I angry? Isn't it good that he isn't interested in the reward anymore? I mean… I was going to have sex with a stranger after losing a challenge.

Could it be that I was actually looking forward to the reward? I…'

Triss was confused even more.

She pondered for a while and ended with a soft sigh.

Triss shifted her weight, her fingers nervously brushing against the fabric of her jacket. "So… what are you doing for the rest of the night?"

Rudy tilted his head, studying her. There was a flicker in his eyes—something curious, almost calculating—as he leaned in slowly. Closer. Closer. Until their faces were a breath apart.

Triss didn't back away. Her pulse raced, but she held his gaze, the air between them crackling like a live wire.

Then, without warning, she closed the distance. Her lips met his—soft, tentative at first. Rudy froze, his eyes wide.

When he didn't pull back, Triss pressed deeper, her hands sliding up to grip the back of his neck. The kiss turned deep, hungry, her teeth grazing his lower lip. Heat flared between them as her fingers tangled in his hair as if daring him to break away.

Triss hesitated for a moment before stepping forward, her heart pounding in her chest. Rudy turned to face her as she rose on her toes, their lips meeting in a fleeting yet charged kiss. It was a brief embrace, a testament to their growing bond.

As they pulled apart, Triss felt a flush rise to her cheeks, her eyes darting away. Rudy noticed her shyness but smiled gently.

"I have something important I need to do," he said in a calm tone. His words carrying the weight of a promise. "But I will come back. I give you my word."

Triss nodded, her gaze fixed on the ground as she avoided his eyes. Rudy reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his touch reassuring. "Take care of yourself," he whispered before turning away.

With one final glance, Triss watched him fly off, her heart both soaring and aching.

"I think… I have fallen in love."