A rare opportunity. Let's review the methods for curing deafness and auditory hallucinations.

First, disperse three Perception Glyphs into the cochlea, behind the ears, and at the temples.
After identifying the location of the lesion, you can... ugh, why is everything so healthy?

Right, right.
He definitely just wants to go shopping for supplies in the market. Rea-rea-really, he should choose his words more carefully.

I said,
"...Is it to buy ingredients for potions? Or to run an errand for Grey?"
"? The day after tomorrow, there's a harvest festival celebration in the town. I wanted to go with you to look around. I've never been before. Emily says there will be a second-hand book market, free apple cider, and a dance in the barn."

Mhm, mhm, that's what I thought.
Just looking for stories from each other's childhoods in old book piles, sharing a cup of warm apple cider, and finally dancing a simple social dance together to the sound of an accordion—it's all very ordinary and commonplace.
Dammit! Don't imagine it in such detail!

Right, right.
Isn't there often that kind of plot?
You think someone is inviting you alone to their house for the night and get all nervous, only to arrive and find out it's a party with lots of people.

"Mary and Grey will obviously be going too, right?"

When Mary was mentioned, Adam's expression became somewhat downcast and guilty.

He said,
"Mary hasn't recovered from the incident at the church yet. Many of her friends and colleagues died, and she herself was nearly killed. As for Mr. Wilson... I only intended to invite you."

...Can't brush this off anymore.
This looks exactly like that. No, there must be some reason. I must be reading too much into this.

I rolled out of bed, found a chair in the corner of the room, moved it in front of Adam, and sat upright on it. Seeing my posture, Adam also straightened up.

I bowed my head slightly to Adam and said,
"Because I intend to ask an impolite question, it will be quite presumptuous... So, I apologize in advance."
"Oh, oh... I'll do my best to answer."

I bit my lip, gathered my courage, looked directly at Adam, and said,
"Do you, by any chance, harbor feelings for me that go beyond those of a friend and contractor?"
"Yes. I admire you."

He said it without hesitation, this guy.
And here I always thought you were an upright, good person.
What about Mary? Didn't you two like each other? She's so vulnerable right now! You scum straying from the path of pure love...!
Wait. Come to think of it, the meaning of a lot of things seems to have changed.
The way he often stared at me with that intense gaze...
The conversation we had after he lost to Grey...
And his behavior during the Stargazing Ritual...
This guy has had his eye on me for a super long time. The thing with Mary was completely my own misunderstanding.
...Well then, what he's doing now is completely justified and quite brave. Though the timing is a bit odd.

I'll show the magnanimity befitting a hero and gently but firmly reject him properly.
"I'm very sorry. I cannot agree to your request."

Adam smiled a lonely smile and said,
"It's fine. I understand. You already have someone in your heart, after all."
Hold on right there, what are you talking about?
"You mean...?"
"Mr. Wilson, of course. Didn't you..."

That setting still exists?! I had completely forgotten about it! You have a really good memory; I'm jealous!
Not good... Adam, you sentimental guy! Usually so cold, but when you get sentimental, you're like a weapon of mass destruction!
I didn't think much of it before, but you bringing it up again at this moment is making me picture some truly horrifying scenes!

Sigh. Calm down. This is a problem of my own making. There's no need to keep lying at this point.
"Grey and I aren't in that kind of relationship. We are very good friends. I wanted to see him to settle some old business, that's all. That's not the reason I'm refusing you."
"Then, why did the contract you originally prepared require a kiss to complete? Wasn't that for him?"
There was a landmine hidden here too.
"No, there were many complicated reasons... Basically, unique contracts are very rare. You use what you have; I didn't have a choice. And I never intended to form a contract with Grey again in the first place."

Adam visibly brightened up. Don't do that. No, it's not that you can't be happy...
Ahh, this is annoying.

Adam said,
"So, are you willing to tell me the specific reasons? Of course, this is just a request."
Ugh, because I'm still essentially male, because I'm in a hurry to kill someone and don't have time for romance, because I'm going to die in a year. Are these things I can say?
If I directly snapped, "None of your business, get lost!" Adam would definitely leave.
Using "I'm an elf, you're human, there's a lifespan issue!" as an excuse would probably work too.
But I understand the feelings of a lovelorn youth, and I can't bear to do that. Sincerity is precious; I should try to respond in kind.

"Let me think... There are basically two reasons."
"First, the timing isn't right. The threat of Necross isn't resolved yet. It's really not the time for romance."
"Then, more importantly, we don't know each other well enough."
"I know you run a potion shop, live with your sister and mother, are learning magic from Grey, and are a quiet but upright and brave young man. That's it—all things you can learn from a short conversation."
"I know nothing about your hobbies, your past, your deeper personality, your desires."
"On the other hand, there are many things I haven't told you. I think your understanding of me is also superficial."
"Ultimately, we've only known each other for about a week."
"Even if we became lovers with such a careless attitude, we'd definitely get annoyed with each other over various unexpected frictions and end up in a relationship worse than friends... I think that would be really bad."

I glossed over the important parts—like turning "I actually plan to kill your mentor, didn't expect that, did you? Hehe" into "frictions"—but for the most part, I was sincere.

"I see."

After listening seriously to my answer, Adam shifted his gaze to the floor, lost in thought alone.

After about a minute, he looked up and said,
"I'd like to tell you my thoughts on the matter."
"Please do."
"When I was little, demons invaded the town with monsters. My father died then."
"Ever since, I've been a bit anxious, always afraid that my seemingly peaceful life would be shattered again by unreasonable malice. I often have nightmares because of it."
"But Sylvia, during the time since I met you, I've been able to sleep soundly every night."

I was speechless for a moment, then laughed.
"In this past week, you've encountered more danger and malice than in the past ten years combined, haven't you?"
"Yeah, I find it strange too. Just thinking that you're nearby makes me feel at ease."
"Sylvia, putting aside the Star God's prophecy and death, you will leave this town sooner or later to do what you must, right?"
"I'm going to the mines soon. In the rest of my life, I might seek out more trouble or have more trouble find me. I'll encounter many bad things."
"But if I can stay with you a bit longer, get to know you a bit more, and understand myself a bit better too... perhaps I'll be able to accept them calmly."

What a self-centered speech, just venting his own confusion and weaknesses. That's not very likable, you know.
But... ah, well, I am a hero after all.

"...Honestly. Let me make this clear first: nothing will progress between you and me."
Adam wore a "Ouch, why add another stab?" expression. I'm indirectly agreeing, you dummy.

"But as a friend, I'd be happy to go to the festival with you."