A small country called Akan joined hands with the demons.

They conducted inhumane experiments on humans, fairies, monsters, and elves without exception.

As if that wasn’t enough to do terrible things against humanity, Akan created a powerful army out of them, enhancing their strength.

The meaning was clear.

‘War.’

While everyone was immersed in the comfort of the peace treaty, they were secretly preparing for another war.

Kalia sighed softly, brushing away her disheveled hair in the strong wind. Her head felt hot, as if her brain was simmering in lukewarm water.

It had been just two years since the Empire’s war ended.

The Empire had achieved victory in the long war, but it hadn’t come without losses.

Orphaned children, cities turned into ruins, and soldiers who died or were injured. The war left significant repercussions for both the defeated and the victorious.

Akan, who wouldn’t hesitate to kill even the surviving citizens, would undoubtedly initiate a war. However, the Empire had a different story.

Many of its people had not yet forgotten the nightmares of the previous war. The imperial court poured considerable time and money into recovering from the damages. Prince Luismond, who worked tirelessly day and night, understood the pain of the people and aimed to restore the damages.

“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

As they walked back to the hotel in silence, Simon asked Kalia.

“Finding a way to bring down the Akan royal family while minimizing the damage.”

Simon chuckled, seemingly understanding her words.

In the early morning, as the dew settled, Simon suddenly spoke while ascending the riverbank, relying on the dim light.

“How about this?”

“Huh?”

“What if I invade Akan and wipe them out? If it’s a short battle, it could be over in a few days, and even if it’s a long one, we could conquer them in a month…”

An archmage who has crossed the line of enlightenment.

He was a young and vigorous archmage with magical power exceeding thirteen circles.

Perhaps, it might really be possible to sweep that place away with blood, sweat, and tears, just as he said…

“Well, it might be tough, but it doesn’t seem impossible. If we do well, we might end the war at the cost of losing an arm or a leg, losing eyesight, or becoming crippled. Well, if we make a mistake, we might die, but…”

Suddenly, what nonsense is he talking about? Kalia stared at him with furrowed brows.

With a crooked smile, Simon raised his lips and lightly kissed her sharply raised eye corner, murmuring.

“If I bring plenty of scrolls and potions, it should be better. And if things get rough, I can always escape with teleportation. Isn’t that right?”

“Simon.”

Even as she called out his name as if telling him to stop talking nonsense, Simon didn’t stop.

“If I end up with a few holes in my stomach or if I get mangled by a chimera, with one shoulder hanging loose and my skin slightly melting, we can just wait for me to recover. Kalia, you’ll still love me even if I’m hobbling, right?”

“Stop it. I don’t want to hear it.”

She glared at Simon with a cold, rigid expression.

Even though he was smiling, for some reason, Kalia felt as if she were being attacked.

To be more precise, it felt like being pushed into a corner.

Simon again gently closed his eyes, smiling, and asked, “Really? You don’t want to hear it?”

His voice was as soft and sweet as usual.

“Yes. I hate to hear it.”

Why on earth is Simon talking such nonsense?Feeling her mood suddenly spiraling, Kalia swiftly entered the annex of the hotel.

Simon leisurely followed behind her.

The two of them walked down the corridor without saying a word. Only the echo of their footsteps closely trailed behind them.

The hotel annex was quiet, and the corridor was still quite dark, relying on candlelight.

“But, Kalia.”

As they reached the front door, Simon’s hoarse voice was heard.

“I’ve always felt that way.”

It was right before opening the door.

Kalia turned around, still holding onto the doorknob, and looked at Simon. She slightly squinted her eyes, trying to read his expression, but it was futile.

“For the past seven years, every time you got injured, every time you charged into enemy lines alone, I felt that way.”

Taking a step back, his face was obscured by darkness. His exact expression couldn’t be seen. But beneath the shadows, there was a shimmer in his golden eyes that she had never seen before.

“Simon…?”

“With dozens of arrows lodged in your back, half of your wrist severed, and your abdomen pierced, every time I held you, embraced you, and cast healing magic, what do you think I felt, Kalia?”

“…”

“Please stay alive. Please be safe. Even if you become disabled in some way, even if you have to hobble and walk, it doesn’t matter. Just please wake up.”

Simon’s voice, filled with desperation, echoed hollowly through the corridor.

Simon slowly approached Kalia.

His previously indiscernible expression was revealed. His fully exposed face somehow looked wounded.

Kalia felt her heart sink.

It was Simon’s face that she had never known before.

His eyes, filled with turmoil, passed over her eyes, cheeks, and lips, then returned to his own eyes.

“At times… should I just let you heal? Wouldn’t you stay away from the frontline if you became disabled? If you lost your eyesight… you wouldn’t throw yourself into danger. Sometimes, I have thoughts like that.”

Kalia couldn’t say a word.

When she met his gaze, her heart just felt heavy.

She couldn’t even begin to imagine how he had been looking at her from behind.

As he approached, he grabbed Kalia’s hand and kissed each wound on her battered fingertips.

His tongue left its mark, sucking away the pain from the healed wounds.

His moist, warm, and affectionate tongue gently caressed the tips of her fingers.

“But maybe it’s because I’m incompetent. I couldn’t help it, no matter how hard I tried. Foolishly, I kept treating you, watching over you as you threw yourself into danger on the front lines… I kept repeating that.”

A soft, lingering sound.

“…And repeatin.”

His lips dug into the palm of her hand.

“Again… I repeated that.”

His lips, gradually moving upward, forcefully touched the pulsating flesh on the inside of her wrist. As it pulsated with life, Simon persistently pressed his lips against the throbbing veins as if it were something adorable.

The chilly air suddenly changed, embracing a subtle warmth.

His words pained her, yet his persistent lips irresistibly ignited a response within her.

Pushed by Simon’s approach, Kalia found herself leaning against the door without realizing it.

He lifted his eyelids, gazing directly at Kalia, as his shimmering golden eyes from the darkness seemed to devour her.

Like a predator sniffing its prey, Simon revealed it by sinking his teeth into her wrist.“Ah.”

A tingling pain spread from her wrist throughout her whole body.

It was a sensation closer to exhilaration than mere pain.

As if in response to her dscomfort, he gently kissed her, offering comfort, and approached her ear to whisper.

“So please… don’t get hurt, don’t try to handle everything alone, and don’t live as if there’s no tomorrow.”

As if exhaling the accumulated frustration, he released a brief sigh and rewarded himself by kissing her neck.

Softly, repeatedly.

Feeling the warmth of someone else’s lips brushing against her skin, Kalia sensed a thrilling tension.

“Now… it’s not like that anymore.”

Struggling to suppress a faint moan, Kalia managed to speak.

“Of course, it has to be that way. Now that you have to take responsibility for two, Kalia.”

Chuckling lightly, he pushed his hand and opened the door.

Through the slightly opening door, the two of them entered as if being pulled in.

“There are no injuries in the forest, right?”

“No. There aren’t.”

“Really?”

Despite her firm answer, Simon’s eyes glanced over as if still harboring doubts.

Approaching discreetly, he teasingly toyed with the edge of her shirt and spoke.

“Then let’s examine every nook and cranny.”

Without hesitation, his hand caused Kalia’s top to suddenly fall to the floor.

“Simon?”

Simon, whose eyes lit up warlike, pushed Kalia until the back of her knees hit the bed.

As she fell onto the bed, Simon climbed on top of her.

His fingertips smoothly traced along Kalia’s shoulder, glided down her side and near her elbow, gently caressing.

“There are bruises here and here. You have bruises even here.”

“…The bruise on my side doesn’t seem to be from the forest.”

“Didn’t you say you fell? You must have bruises on your knees too. There might be more severe injuries.”

Saying so, he kissed her bruised skin, placing his lips on the marks.

Passing over Kalia’s cheek, earlobe, and collarbone, he slowly kissed her shoulder, warningly speaking.

“I’m going to examine you every day from now on. If I see any significant injuries, I’ll really get angry. So, live with vigilance from now on, Kalia. Got it?”

“What? No, I’m not constantly getting into fights or anything…”

Annoyed by her murmuring words, Simon swiftly covered her mouth with his lips.

“Mmm.”

With wide eyes, Kalia let out a suppressed laugh in the overlapping situation.

Her lower lip was momentarily sucked into Simon’s mouth and then popped back out.

“Noisy. If thinking about how I worried about you all this time makes you feel better, you can keep doing that. You have the right to.”

Look at this shameless man.

Although it was outrageous, Kalia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

As he said, considering the times he had worried about her, she felt like letting it slide.

Kalia wrapped her arms around Simon’s neck, pulling him closer as he wandered around her neck, and spoke.

“Fine, do as you please, Simon.”

If by doing so, I can comfort the wounds you may have received, feel free to do as you please with me.

The dawn was deep, and their night didn’t end even as the next noon approached.