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It was supposed to be just a usual day for the great 'businessman' Sampo Koski. He was already scamming- no, getting profit off of a recent decently rich overworlder after selling him an intergalactic universal printer.
That is, until they called the silvermane guards upon him as he was forced to escape and ran away towards the snowy plains to hide. And he was doing so well hiding under the snow even though it's very cold. Until 3 weird looking people had accidentally found him, and almost stepped on him. He thought they were with the silvermane guards at first, but it seems they are outsiders the same as him as he's secretly felt relieved.
With his businessman smile, he played the part of the clueless dumb idiot as usual to lower their guards. Since the pink haired girl and the black haired guy in green kept staring daggers at him. They really seems suspicious of him as they kept having that unbelievable face whenever they hear his explanations. Which to be honest, he won't blame them since he was indeed pretty suspicious.
But couldn't they just make their way off and let him be ?. Their stares are pretty judgmental. Well, except for the girl with the grayish hair. She actually seemed kinda nice?.... To be honest, he secretly thought that she was kinda cute since she didn't gave him any weird angry stares. Instead she seems kinda curious of him, as she's the only one who seemed to care about him being buried in the snow unlike the others. And pretty naive too at that, since he's pretty self aware enough to not trust himself if he were someone else.
But oh well, he gotta leave since the silvermane guards will probably be here anytime soon. Tis a shame, but he must leave his newfound friends to handle the guards *fake sniffs*.
And with that, he dipped when no one's looking. He had a talent for letting people's guard's down as he could practically go off anytime anywhere unnoticed.
........
He didn't know why he did it, but it's been days after he somehow saved the 3 outsiders plus that one silvermane princess and brought them to the underground world.
Well, currently he's making bucks after collecting the bet from people who thought that the robots will win against that Dan Heng guy.
Ahhh yes, sweet sweet money. Profitable money. It's the only thing that he loves more than himself. Money is the pinnacle of all things-
GAHH!!!
Oh no.... How did these guys found him???. He made sure that he ran as fast as he could to escape their gazes. But..... Are they like hunter dogs??.
*sniffs* They're so cruel, he only tried his best to repay them and save some friends in need. It's not his fault that they couldn't withstand his poisonous gas bombs and also fainted 😔. They didn't even acknowledge that he practically carried them all by himself back to the underworld.
Look, he even brought them all to the great Doctor, the one and only ex-orphanage caretaker, the ultimate secret leader of the Wildfires, his number one regular in buying medical items, the beautiful big sister Natasha !. Couldn't they be anymore grateful that he didn't gave them some wacky Dr. Vache's medicine or left them to die on the wild ??. *Hiks*, it really pained his heart that his good will isn't accepted.
Well, the pink haired girl and the man in green didn't appreciate him, but.... Again, only the gray haired girl said thanks to him. She seems very genuine and appreciates his help very much, as whenever she looked at him in the eyes, there was no malice held there. Only amusement mostly.
He could even feel the admiration and gratefulness emanating from her.
Oh wow, he felt touched truly. There's actually someone as pure and stupidly naive- ahem, kind hearted enough to see past his actions and appreciate his efforts !. Oh how kind of her, this so called 'trailblazer' or so what they called themselves.
What was her name again??.
Stelle if he recall ?. Well, he's never good with remembering people's names or faces since he only cared for their money, but he mentally noted to himself that this Stelle girl is surely one he should remember. So that he could make sure that she could be put into the list of future people that he could scam- ahem, profit off legally of course !.
........
Somehow, sometime had passed again. And.... *gulps*, he didn't know why, but this Stelle girl had been very persistent in chasing and finding him around !.
He didn't know whether she intentionally did it or not, but every time they met, she was rather very bold ??? Kinda sassy maybe ?. But still, her words held no malice towards him. Though he doesn't get it, but every time she patrolled and helped the others in the underworld with those friends of hers, she somehow noticed him spying on them.
How??? He made sure to conceal his presence every time. But she always noticed wherever he's hiding and even waved at his way while smiling ?. Crap, he was supposed to be a spy for Natasha and Oleg. He's supposed to report anything that happens to them whether good or bad to the leader of the Wildfires. So of course he couldn't let that girl see him again.
That's why Sampo decided to yet again, dipped his way out and abandon his duty for a while to con - ahem, do other businesses as a reputable businessman as usual.
........
Old habits die hard huh?.
As the great minded reputable number 1 businessman in Belobog, None other than Sampo Koski, couldn't understand it.
Why, why is she so persistent in meeting him whenever she can???. Gasp, Was she a stalker perhaps??. Did the handsome Sampo Koski even managed to found himself a secret admirer?!.
This Stelle girl had jumpscared him multiple times due to how she seemingly could find him in random occasions in the underground world.
He even went to the deep mines to trick her into getting to do his biddings and find the mining equipments from Peak the lazy miner that he needs to rent to others.
Well, he intentionally did it to make sure she's busy and be annoyed with him. Like hitting two birds with one stone, making sure she's off his tail, while he also made profit since he could just show her a random treasure map that he found on the mine as her payment.
Hey, he didn't know that the map was actually real !. If he had known he would have found that treasure for himself. But thanks to that treasure hunting success, Miss Stelle over here was even more excited to see him more than ever. Expecting more treasures even though her friends disdained her life choices or the way she genuinely spoke to him.
........
Oh no.... This is really not good
:;((•﹏•๑)));: !
After a long time of spying the group of outsiders under Natasha's and Oleg's commands, having noted and reported their each and every move, secretly observing them from the moment they set foot on the snowy plains to the moment they defeated the supreme guardian and opened up the passage way between the overground and underworld of Belobog, the great number 1 Sampo Koski couldn't help but feel like his resolve is beginning to sway.
Why ?. Because this gray haired girl, Miss Stelle, is just.... Hehe, what to say, She's too... Cute ?. Or cool looking ?.
She's definitely wasn't the text book definition of cute, as she's more of a sporty looking coolish girl as she is pretty tall for a woman, although shorter than him. And her face usually looked like as if they were tired all the time, pretty much done with life. Yet her unexpected bold and sassy attitude is not accommodating to her looks.
He had seen her fight off some vagrants and robots easily as she was indeed pretty strong. Though on the other hand, he had also seen how she... Explored.
He had seen her pry through the trash cans of belobog, just like a stinking racoon, even seemingly making stories about the trash cans and dumpsters as if they were telenovelas.
But strangely he didn't find her weird or that disgusting anymore. As she was indeed a real treasure hunter connoisseur just like him. So he knew that kind of feeling in adventuring to dangerous disgusting places just for money. Though, he surely couldn't get why the face that she made whenever she opened random junk called trash cans, was just pure joy and satisfaction.
Over time, Sampo Koski didn't know why he felt this way. But, whenever this Stelle girl came to find him, chat up with him, and even laughed at his jokes or reply enthusiasticly or jokingly to the way he's speaking without getting offended by his fake smile and nature, he couldn't help but felt a sense of happiness and appreciation from within his heart.
Strange. He definitely has tricked many people with his charizzma, smooth talk, his very handsome, charming, and well endowed physique, and of course his silver tongue. But even then, he couldn't help but feel as if he's falling somewhere whenever he spoke with her.
Oh no.... Was he, is he?! There's no way he's catching feelings to a weirdo, cute looking but smelly, dumpster diver loving raccoon, is he ?!.
No no no no, Sampo Koski must always kept his words, but he mustn't be swayed by feeble emotions. Especially romantic feelings and the like. It's not great for business.
But how could he resist to not fall and be suspicious of such feelings ?. When this gray haired girl, managed to successfully tricked him into a date. She out of all people, managed to bag him, the master of all cons and tricks, without even threatening him like the others did.
She even gave him a nice warm candle lit underground meal without him having to trick her into paying or scamming her. She.....even bought him a small gift, a rustic rose looking pendant that seems to be worth a lot of shields. Look, she even ordered some wine for the both of them to eat with the meal !.
Really, all of this is out of her own volition. He didn't have a say in anything.
Wait....This Miss over here, is she perhaps secretly a philanderer??. Though it doesn't seem like it. As she seems to be too.... Uh, what's the word? Inexperienced to be one.
He doesn't even realize that he got tricked into a date until the server of the restaurant told him that the set of menu that they're having was of course available and reserved only for couples.
To be honest, Sampo doesn't understand what she sees in him. Many people really hated him due to his actions and personality, as many just couldn't get to hold themselves in trying to give him a punch or a kick towards his face whenever they see his pathetic ass.
Ah.....could it be? that she only went for his looks ?!.
Well, there's no other way than that right ?.
Because except other than his great outwardly appearance and muscles, he made sure to try his best to make his businessman personality come off as dramatic and annoyingly convincing as possible to anyone. He purposely did it as some kind of a defense mechanism so that he couldn't let others get close to himself while stimutaniously convincing them to buy his stuff.
Well, let's say he's truly a mysterious man with a mysterious past. One that is spanning baggage across planets and galaxies. But of course he won't tell it to anyone, even to you readers. Cause that would be major spoilers, and he might get sued by the big company up above the realm due to breach of contract due to leaking his own past.
Though really, trying to know his backstory for free ? Of course not, you have to pay up big money !. He's indeed very pricy you know ~.
But look, in all honesty, the girl eating the set of deep fried rock crab in front of him may look like a greasy, unlady-like, unhinged goblin. Eating with her bare hands and even making a mess on her face like a lucky warp trotter. But the great Sampo Koski was a gentleman, as he pulled out a handkerchief to help her wipe out the excess grease on her face.
"My my, Miss I think you really need to mind more of your image in public. Especially when you're with a reputable businessman like me, hoho. But hey, the renowned Sampo Koski will only give you great advices. As for I will not make you feel burdened or pressured, for that is your own choice my friend :D !." Sampo
She only flinched and blinked confusedly onto his eyes as he wiped her face. But she let him be as she felt that his moves are gentle enough. As her face intinctly leaned to the side, on his hand that was still wiping her cheek, she closed her eyes and smiled while laughing a little at him.
"Hehe~ thank you Sampo~." Stelle
Sampo Koski freezed for a moment. He felt like he's questioning his entire history and being as a business con man after seeing such a pure display of adorableness.
Ugh!- no, he can't do this. It felt like a great knife stabbed his conscience multiple times after realizing how many times he did her dirty by his not so good actions. Such a good looking smile that's usually covered in a face that is tired with life !
｡：ﾟ(｡ﾉω＼｡)ﾟ･｡.~
It truly must be a shame for her to waste that smile on him when she could show it to others more deserving of her feelings.
Sampo inwardly sighs, although he's truly flattered that she even went out of her way to get him into a diner date, he must cut things up thoroughly before it gets any further. As he knows that if anything past the guise of friendship happens between them, then those two otherworldly weirdos that's always by her side will really kick his ass for good.
"Sooooooo, care to explain what do you want with inviting this great Sampo Koski on a fine, seemingly *exquisite* dinner date, hmm, Miss Stelle?." Sampo
"Hmm? So this is considered a date?. Oh, I just wanted to give you a treat. Eat together with you." Stelle
"Hoo, but with me specifically?. Say, I am touched, but why didn't you go out with your friends to eat together instead of getting to eat here with me?." Sampo
"Oh.... That. Please don't tell them, but I wanted to be alone and explore by myself for a while. But don't get me wrong, I want to meet you by myself." Stelle
"I find my encounters with you very exciting and fun, even though you like to suddenly run away after failing to scam me." Stelle
"Urp!!!. My friend, please don't say such slandering words. That is not what I meant to do. I assure you that this great Sampo Koski, wouldn't try to do any harm to the likes of you. Meaning things including this so called 'scamming' 😅." Sampo
"Hehehe, you don't need to cover up your true intentions. I already figured out from long ago what kind of scummy person you truly are. You are quite pathetic honestly with how much you run away when danger hits you. Kinda cowardly too, leaving your allies behind and didn't help them with anything much. Especially when others find out you had successfully scammed them out of their money with your illegal business dealings." Stelle
..... This, he felt as if blood had slowly come out of his mouth as he felt her words stab him greatly.
Has she been hanging out too much with Seele??. Otherwise, how could she disregard his entire existence and say those things as if he's not here?!.
"🥲 um, miss? Do you forget that I'm still directly in front of you ?." Sampo
"*sniffs* your words are truly harsh my friend. You couldn't be more cruel to a soft hearted kind citizen of Belobog like me 🤧." Sampo
"Ah, but I'm only saying the truth and facts though ?. March 7th always said that telling the truth about your feelings is the best way to convey what you mean." Stelle
"Ahah, well.... It certainly is not a bad thing, but... " Sampo
"Oh ! And just like what you told us in the past," Stelle
"I say what I mean, and I mean what I say." Stelle
"So by that logic, I can safely say that I truly enjoy being with you even though you're pretty annoying sometimes." Stelle
"Because, I think I really really like you, Sampo Koski :D !." Stelle
"(°0°)!!!!!" Sampo
No no no, there's no way she literally said that out of the blue straight to his face. With no shame, and a smile so pure- nope. There must be an ulterior motive that he hasn't seen behind that smile. This, it's probably a prank of revenge towards everything that he has done towards her and her friends. This is a joke, right?. Where's the cameramen filming his reaction?!.
But what ulterior motive is there to see and guess, when she suddenly, quite literally, lifted and grabbed one of his hands towards her face, and gave the back of his hand a proper kiss as if she's kissing the frog from the princess and the frog.
"(〃ﾟOﾟ〃)!!! " Sampo
Not good not good not good,
ABORT MISSION!
THIS WASN'T WHAT HE EXPECTED TO HAPPEN AT ALL!
He's supposed to be the one doing advances onto someone to persuade them. Not the other way around, not like this !. Oh goodness by the aeons, why is his heart beating so fast?!. It's just polite gesture of pleasantry that gentlemens like to use to a lady.
But he's not a lady, and the one who's kissing his hand was a woman. A seemingly serious one at that, as she eyed him worriedly, probably confused as to why he air banged his head multiple times after the act that she did.
"Ah, um, uh, i-im sorry if you're offended with it. I learned that kissing the hand of someone that you like is a direct way to properly convey your feelings, as kissing their lips would be too intimate for a first timer." Stelle
"I... Didn't know that you would react like this, I'm truly sorry. Um, I could try to wipe your hand clean if you want to." Stelle.
...
.....
......
EVEN THOUGH YOU COULD WIPE IT CLEAN, THAT'S NOT THE MAIN PROBLEM !.
IT'S THE FACT THAT YOU DID IT TO HIM THAT WON'T GO AWAY !.
AND WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LEARN ABOUT THIS STUFF?! WHERE DID YOU LEARN IT ? AND WHO TAUGHT YOU ABOUT ROMANCE-
Asdfghjklllahdhdkdlasjhdhcncnffuckahajdkdkdl-
Phew, hoo, Calm down Sampo Koski. You're better than this, breathe in and out as good as you can. It's not the first time someone confessed their love or try to seduce you. You've been travelling to multiple planets and universes occasionally thanks to the power of your dearest Aeon and the help of your faction. You're supposed to be a seasoned veteran in emotional manipulation. I mean, you're basically the underground middle man in Belobog.
You're a handsome hunk piece of meat, a plus amongst men. It's not your first time being with a woman, you're a respectable perfectly healthy adult man. Not a teenager in puberty.
"Ah ah ah, Oh aeons, miss, I don't know that you felt this way after all this time we've been together. To say that I'm touched and elated by your forwardness was definitely not a lie. " Sampo
"Say, what did you like about me ?. Sampo Koski is interested in what others see in him, especially people who are as bold as you." Sampo
"Heheh, are you truly sure about this ?. What you're feeling that is." Sampo
Yes, calm down. Although his heart beat is still beating very fast as he won't lie that he has some secret expectations, he still wanted to get the answers out of her mouth fast.
"Oh, i don't really know why I like you myself, but it just kinda happened." Stelle
"Ano, how come you don't know a single thing that you like about me???." Sampo
"I don't know, I didn't know I could even get this far with my feelings*shrugs*." Stelle
Wow, this girl over here is more unbelievable than himself. He truly couldn't believe that a human let alone a woman like her exists.
"Uh Miss, could you please at least think of one thing that you liked about me?." Sampo
She contemplated for a moment as Sampo could see that she truly didn't think this through. How.... Reckless to say the least.
"Hmm, let me think. Other than your face, I think I like your body type very much." Stelle
Oh? His body?. He didn't know that she wants him that way.
"Especially your chest and biceps. I want to be thoroughly squished in between th-" Stelle
"*flustered, clearly embarrassed as he panics* AH AH AH! Please don't continue that as we're currently still in public. As bold as you are, there might be children around you see hehe, hahaha......" Sampo
"Um, alright that was pretty shallow if I must say, but what about other likeable attributes of me other than that??." Sampo
"Hmm, I couldn't think of anything else really." Stelle
...... No, really?? Is she really that shallow?!.
"Ah, no wait. I think I know some more." Stelle
"Um, I like hearing your goofy voice. Even though you made everyone including me annoyed whenever your tongue moves. Yet I can't help but wanting to hear more of what nonsense will you made about your so called 'businesses'. I think it's pretty entertaining." Stelle
"Oh huh? You like my voice and the way I speak??. Okay that's a first time I've ever heard it." Sampo
"And.... I said that I figured what kind of person you are earlier. The fact that you secretly like to help people in need in the background secretly without accepting any spotlight, or the fact that you at least never lie and always kept your words to me, I think it's the bare minimum to be acceptable enough in my criteria for bad guys like you." Stelle
Um, he felt conflicted about what she said. He's not exactly a bad guy you know?. He even helped everyone in secret to achieve victory. Why do her words seems to contradict what she previously said earlier??.
"You always try to wear the mask of a fool. I know you may have tricked us and got me and my friends into trouble multiple times, but I don't know why I couldn't truly be mad at you." Stelle
"I also don't know why, but I get this feeling of happiness and excitement whenever I see you. I got happier whenever I got the chance to stay close and be with you for long periods of time even though my friends said that my brain must have been wrong or sick in the head, and that I must get checked." Stelle
.... Okay, ouch, her friends are really mean to him :").
"Sometimes I even dreamt of you in my sleep, and always thought of you whenever I went to explore Belobog. I can't seem to get my mind off of you, as I tried my best to get you out of my head as my friends said that it's for the best." Stelle
He had no comment on that statement.
"But then I also asked someone on the astral express about my feelings for you. And they said that what I felt was probably a crush, a romantic feeling of love." Stelle
"And after I studied much about love within novels and from watching others, and seeing dramas, I could finally conclude that what I felt for you, was indeed something close to 'love and like'." Stelle
"That's why..... What I meant to say is, I think I'm really in love with you-" Stelle
"Ap pap pap ap pap! Say no more my dear Miss Stelle, your deep profound feelings had already reached my heart. No need to say it directly again. *whispers, else my heart will literally explode*" Sampo
"My my, apologies if I'm being rude to cut off your speech. But there's no need to say such an embarrassing thing out loud. As you even made me felt the same way-" Sampo
Hold up, wait a minute, this was supposed to be the part where he rejects her and go on with their lives. But what did he just said??. What? He felt the same towards her??. How the hell did that slip up past his mouth-
How did he even came to the conclusion that he also naturally liked this girl in front of him??.
No no no, this was not supposed to happen. In the end both of them must part ways at some point because of their different paths and factions. Look, although he's a native of this planet, he's not even staying in Belobog for long just like her and her friends.
Plus, they both have only known each other for months at most since the first time they met above the Belobog grounds. So is she really that fast in catching feelings for him ?. Was his charizzma just too strong for even a hero like her to handle ?!.
He couldn't help but kinda feel some sense of achievement with himself as he managed to woo over the interstellar hero even though he didn't try to do anything in particular to gain her affection.
Wait!!!!! Damn, his feelings in his mind got carried away again. He needs to reject her fast before she got her hopes up again-
"*suddenly grabs both of Sampo's hands, as she got closer towards his face* Really?. Did you really meant what you said about your feelings ?."
"That you felt the same way about me? Really?."
"O-oh what?? um, yes?!-"
Wait no! Don't say yes damn it!. You were supposed to reject her politely, not give in !.
But.... But..., how could he not immediately gave in when she was mere inches away from his face, looking at him very expectanly with stars in her eyes that seems to be filled with immense hope that he'll say yes.
He.... To such an adorable looking face, he couldn't directly say no immediately. He could only see the image of a cute raccoon watching him over expectanly as if it wanted to receive treats from him. Such adorableness, his faint heart really couldn't take it.
Especially when she suddenly hugged him close and tightly as she let out a 'Yay!~' due to his answer towards her question of affirmation.
He sighed in resignation. Hahhhh fine, he will indulge her. For now that is, since he wasn't sure that what she's feelings towards him will stay genuine like this for a long time or not. She will probably not like him anymore in the future when their paths clashes. Perhaps they might even become enemies instead of suspiciously close friends like this.
But hey, for now, Sampo Koski will let himself be hugged, as he will also hug her back. He wrapped his arms around the back of her waist as he thought that it's only the appropriate gesture to her romantic feelings towards him. Look, she's hugging him as if he's a giant teddy bear, he definitely knew that the onlookers on the street could see how red his face was from blushing.
Oh what to do..... Honestly whenever he's with her, he couldn't really say no to anything that she wants of him even though he could made the option to decline her anyways. He could always run away and dipped himself out if things goes South. But he hopes that it won't be, at least for the both of them.
"Ah! Wait, I forgot that I had made a promise with March 7th and Dan Heng at the Astral express earlier this morning. I need to go help fix and prepare one of the rooms there, so I need to go back now."
She quickly let go of her hug, leaving him empty handed as he now could truly feel the emptiness that was filled with her body warmth before. He felt dissapointed with it.
Ah.... She really gonna left him just like that? After what she had done to his poor heart in the span of minutes ?. After the whole ordeal of confessing their so called attraction towards another ?. Man.... What a bummer honestly. If she's gonna left him just like that, then he was sure that she's colder than sitting at the frozen benches of Belobog.
Since Sampo couldn't see his own expression, it was clear that he doesn't want to be left alone again and be abandoned by her. He seemed like a dejected dog who lost his favorite toy.
Hehe, he acts tough but is actually this soft. He acts like a fool but was actually a smart guy who pretend to masquerade others. Heh, but it's alright. She likes him enough anyways even though he sometimes asks for a beating.
So, just like how they do it in the romance novels that March 7th gave her, she wanted to try it once, especially with someone whom she truly likes.
Without warning, she cupped his face with both her hands, and pulled his face towards her as she leaned in for a kiss. A very sweet yet short one. As she shut her eyes while his were wide open as he stared at her due to sheer shock.
"Hehehe, thank you for accepting my feelings. But I have to go back for now, see you soon later. I promise I'll immediately contact you once things are done. Or maybe you could just visit me on the astral express via the teleportation device that I gave you in the past."
"Call me if you need anything else from me alright?. After all, I learned that couples needed to help each other out when the other is in time of need. Especially you who always seemed to be short on money."
"So bye bye for now!."
She said as she gradually ran away towards the underground rail way that connects to the entrance of Belobog city, where the teleporting device coordinates towards the Astral express is located.
Meanwhile, the dumbfounded Sampo Koski still stood stiffly on his ground. Seemingly not being able to comprehend what just happened for some time.
And when his brain finally processed it, he immediately crouched on the ground as he covered his face with both of his hands. His ears are definitely very red, he could even hear a passing child questioning their mother why a grown man like him is crouching on the ground while whispering intangible nonsense.
Hah.....
Hahahaha, ehehehe, Hahahaha!.
Ahhhhhhh fine fine, he admits that he lost. He will give up his will to fight just for her. Sweet, sassy, raccoon looking adorable Stelle.... If she won't let him go, then mark his words, he will also do the same and be an even more annoying person in her life, sticking close to her like glue even if she doesn't want him to.
Yeah... Just like Natasha said, he needs to at least try doing something first to like it instead of running away first hand when it comes to the unknown. Especially with this adorable looking raccoon, who has seemingly stolen his heart even though he didn't even know she could even pry it open with her tiny claws in the first place. Alright then, if that's what you want. Then see you later, my dear Sweetheart.
.........
What Sampo didn't know, he was worried about them going separate ways for nothing. As somehow, Stelle managed to abduct him into becoming a honorary member of the Astral Express. As he was now free to roam back and forth between the train or Belobog, with his own personified room in the train that Stelle personally designed. And eventually, both of them went on adventures together sticking to each other like glue. Much to Dan Heng's and March 7th's dissapointment and dismay.