_{[ !!!!!! ]}
You're absolutely right! Ah, sorry. I've made my promise to protect you— so I will resist the whiskers and little feet to assure your safety.

_{[ he's made a sacrifice already for you.
with that, he treads more cautiously, still approaching the flames and keeping keeping his sword ready. ]}

—it isn't one of those, "haha! I have defeated the boss— but then you haven't" sort of scenarios, is it?