Linsley's rationality quickly took control, reminding him that in this god-forsaken world, trusting too easily could spell his downfall.
Meanwhile, Seraphina found herself drawn to Linsley.
The way his intense purple eyes locked onto hers, mixing captivation with vigilance, made her heart flutter—a sensation she hadn't felt in a long time. But as she began to lose herself in the moment, caution gripped her, pulling her back to reality.
She forced herself to regain her cool-headed composure, thinking, 'Could it be that the Outer God Association suspects me of being a magical girl? Is Linsley just a tool they're using to monitor my actions, to prevent me from using my magical girl transformation?'
The thought sent a chill down her spine, and the warmth she felt moments earlier was replaced by a steely resolve.
In a world where deception and manipulation were the norm, Seraphina knew she couldn't afford to let her guard down, not even for a moment.
Now wary of each other, both Linsley and Seraphina kept their true thoughts hidden behind polite smiles, each wondering if the person sitting across from them was truly who they appeared to be.
Linsley, with his doubts about Seraphina's intentions, and Seraphina, with her suspicions about Linsley's role in the Outer God Association's plans, couldn't help but sense that this arranged meeting was anything but coincidental.
Unbeknownst to either of them, the very person they were cautious of was the one they had already connected with in a different guise—a connection that would only grow more complicated as their paths continued to intertwine.
For now, Linsley and Seraphina remained cautiously guarded, each with good reason.
Seraphina couldn't deny that Linsley, the fiancé assigned to her by the Outer God Association, was undeniably handsome—his looks alone made them appear as a match made in heaven.
However, she quickly regained her composure and thought, 'He's as handsome as Linley, the Phantom Reaper. But beneath that handsome facade, there might be something far more sinister.'
'I can't afford to let my guard down. If he ever catches me in the middle of my magical girl transformation or even suspects me of being a magical girl, he could report me to the Outer God Association.'
'I don't know if he secretly supports the resistance or just wants to curry favor with the Outer God Association. If it's the latter, he would undoubtedly betray me to gain their favor.'
Seraphina was painfully aware of the benefits that outer god slaves could gain by reporting valuable information about magical girls and mecha drivers to the Outer God Association.
She had seen fellow magical girls and mecha drivers suffer after being caught mid-transformation and reported by those seeking to advance within the hierarchy of the Outer God's domain.
It was no wonder she was wary of Linsley, suspecting that this engagement might be a ploy by the Outer God Association to place a spy in her life to monitor her actions.
Seraphina took a seat opposite Linsley at the table, maintaining her calm demeanor.
A waiter soon brought their orders, but both Linsley and Seraphina only sipped their coffee in silence, neither making an effort to engage in conversation.
However, Seraphina knew this stalemate couldn't last. If they continued to sit in silence, the Outer God Association might begin to suspect something was amiss with both of them.
'I don't know if Linsley has a secret identity like I do, but if the Outer God Association starts to suspect us both, I'll be at a disadvantage. I know I have something to hide.'
'If Linsley has nothing to conceal and we're both investigated, I'll undoubtedly be the one exposed. I have no choice but to break the ice and act as if everything is normal, to avoid raising suspicions.'
With this in mind, Seraphina decided to break the silence. After taking a sip of her coffee, she asked, "So, what do you do as a hobby?"
Noticing that Seraphina was making an effort, Linsley decided not to continue giving her the cold shoulder. Despite his reservations about the engagement, which he suspected might be a conspiracy by the Outer God Association, he realized it was in his best interest to play along and not raise suspicions.
Linsley thought, 'Since Seraphina and I will be living together, it wouldn't be wise for us to be at odds. Even if I'm hesitant to embrace this engagement, it wouldn't hurt to friendzone her and make her my friend.'
'Anyway, I'll just think of her as a female housemate. If things ever get complicated, I still have my identity distortion ability as a last resort.'
With those thoughts in mind, Linsley responded, "Well, I like to play online games in my free time, especially MOBA games. I don't spend much time studying for the upcoming college entrance exam since I'm confident I'll ace it. My grades have always been excellent."
"So, if you don't mind, you'll often find me gaming on my computer."
Hearing Linsley's answer, Seraphina's eyes lit up with excitement. "Wait, you play MOBA games? Which one? And what role do you usually play? I mostly play as a mage, but I can also roam or take on the marksman role."
"What's your IGN? Since we'll be living together, we might as well team up and play together."