By Zephyria 
“Are you listening?”
“Mmmph……”
At the slow, drawn-out sound, Kirendis realized Elian had lost his grip on consciousness.
“Haa……”
As soon as he realized that, a low sigh escaped him without his volition.
Kirendis quietly looked up at the sky and thought.
‘There are… so many stars.’
Countless stars twinkled around the brightly shining moon. Their appearance seemed to plead, ‘Look at me.’
Just like himself and the Rebel Army.
‘I must be one of those stars.’
Even at the closest distance to the moon, the fact remained that he couldn’t get any closer than a certain distance.
He thought it would be okay, though. But reality was different. The closest one didn’t matter.
The fact that countless stars were twinkling around the moon bothered him too much.
It wasn’t like he hadn’t known this fact.
‘Am I… anxious?’
It seemed to be because he couldn’t know Elian’s heart.
‘Still, I don’t regret it.’
The meeting with the Rebel Army was something Elian absolutely needed.
He wanted to let Elian, who walked a lonely path alone, know that there were so many people following in his footsteps.
For humans, knowing that there are people who support you can be a great source of strength.
‘Just like I was.’
Kirendis recalled the words of comfort Elian had given him in his childhood.
—Still… still, if you feel so overwhelmed that you want to cry, come to me. I’ll allow that much.
That one sentence had allowed him to move forward. Just thinking of Elian filled him with a sense of security.
So he wanted to let him know. That there were many people by his side and he wasn’t alone.
If it were up to him, he would have wanted to be all of those people himself, but he decided against it. Because Elian was on a path harder than anyone else, he thought the more supporters, the better.
‘It seems it was the right choice, right?’
Kirendis saw Elian talking so comfortably for the first time.
He was always on edge when surrounded by people.
Having seen the upright Elian, who seemed impenetrable even as a child, today felt particularly special.
‘It seems the alcohol made it a bit more effective.’
Kirendis smiled, feeling Elian’s warmth.
“Kirendis……”
Just then, Elian’s voice, which he thought was asleep, was heard. His voice was more slurred than before, suggesting his drunken rambling was about to begin.
‘Elian’s drunken rambling.’
He smiled, feeling a strange sense of anticipation, and replied.
“Yes. I’m right here.”
“I’m thirsty……”
“We’re almost there, so please wait just a little longer.”
“Okay… I understand.”
He tilted his head, surprised by the conversation that ended more cleanly than expected. But…
“Kirendis.”
“Yes.”
“I’m thirsty.”
As expected.
Kirendis chuckled and continued the conversation with Elian.
It was a typical, repetitive drunk-talking habit.
“Kirendis.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s go quickly.”
“Yes. I’ll go quickly.”
“Because I’m thirsty.”
“I know.”
“You know?”
“Yes. I know.”
“How do you know?”
“Elian told me.”
“I see… Let’s go quickly, Kirendis.”
Elian kept repeating the same thing until they arrived. It wasn’t bothersome at all; it was rather amusing.
‘I should have prepared a recording stone.’
It was a shame he couldn’t save this moment.
“Elian, I brought water.”
Upon arriving home, Kirendis immediately handed Elian the water. But he, slumped on the bed, showed no signs of getting up.
He considered waking him, but before he could, Elian sluggishly stirred and reached out his hand.
“Water……”
Still with his eyes closed, his hand was reaching in the wrong direction.
He found that sight so cute that he burst into laughter again.
“Here. Drink.”
“Mmmph……”
As he handed him the cup, Elian drank it down with gulps. Kirendis watched quietly as Elian emptied the cup, smiling.
“Haa. That was delicious.”
With a satisfied sound, the cup was handed over. Again, it was in the wrong direction, so Kirendis asked with a smile.
“Are you going to sleep now?”
“Yes. I’m going to sleep.”
Saying that, he collapsed, his cheek squashed against the mat. It was a sight he would never normally see, so he laughed out loud again.
“…Why are you laughing?”
This time, he seemed displeased, and a sulky voice emerged. Kirendis replied with a smile still on his face.
“Because you’re cute.”
It was a rather clever remark, but there was no reply. He felt a little disappointed. However, perhaps the reply was just a little delayed, as Elian opened his lips.
“I’ve never heard that before.”
“Everyone else must have just thought it.”
His tone was gentle, indicating he was truly very drunk. Normally, he would have been jumping around.
“I’ve heard I’m pretty many times, though.”
“You are pretty, too.”
“And scary.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Aren’t you scared of me, Kirendis?”
His eyes, as he asked, held a multitude of emotions.
Was he perhaps still concerned about people’s evaluations?
“Why would I be scared of Elian? Someone cute is cute no matter what they do.”
“Even if I act scary?”
“No matter what you do, you’re cute in my eyes.”
“That’s a relief.”
Elian closed his eyes, seemingly satisfied. But Kirendis’s heart grew complicated. It might have been a casual remark, but it filled him with anticipation.
‘What did he mean by ‘relief’?’
He wanted to ask. Whether his feelings had changed, and if so, to what extent.
‘And… other things too.’
Various questions surfaced in his mind.
Why did he live so fiercely?
Why did he take on the role of the villain?
Could he not… relax a little?
Things like that.
“Actually…”
As if reading Kirendis’s mind, Elian quietly began to speak with his eyes closed. It was about his inner thoughts that he hadn’t spoken until now.
“I didn’t know there would be someone who understood.”
“……”
“I thought it was unavoidable to be disliked since I made the decision myself.”
“……”
“But when someone actually understood, I was happy.”
“……”
“Thank you, Kirendis. For introducing me to good people.”
Kirendis’s eyes widened. He hadn’t expected to receive thanks.
“It was better than I thought. It felt like I rested without thinking about anything for the first time in a long while.”
Elian, who had only been running forward until now.
Hearing about his endless exploits in various media made it resonate even more.
‘Ah… really.’
His heart felt like it was overflowing. It felt like a flood was imminent.
Kirendis suppressed his overflowing heart and listened intently.
“You’re truly a gift. Just like you were when you were young.”
As he reminisced about the past, his heart began to pound. The drunk Elian was quietly stirring Kirendis’s heart.
‘I… a gift.’
His heart swelled. He felt like it would burst, so he clenched his fist tightly.
“You shine so brightly that just looking at you makes me feel good. You were such a tiny sparkle, when did you become such a big one?”
A languid and warm gaze poured onto Kirendis. It was Elian’s characteristic tenderness.
Kirendis watched him, listening to the loud, pounding beat of his heart.
“You’ve really… grown up well.”
Ah…
At that moment, an uncontrollable joy surged within Kirendis’s chest.
‘Finally…’
Finally, Elian had imprinted ‘Kirendis’ as a person in his mind, not just a child.
He had taken the first step.
‘My heart… feels like it’s going to burst.’
His heart began to beat so hard he didn’t know what to do. The overwhelming emotion and anticipation grew endlessly, beating fiercely.
“That’s cheating.”
Kirendis lowered his head, covering his face. It was a small step, but it made him so happy.
He felt like kissing the lips that were murmuring such sweet words.
But he held back.
He had only just stopped being seen as a child. That was all. He suppressed his emotions tightly.
Then, a slightly sulky voice followed.
“Cheating is your specialty.”
“Don’t say ridiculous things. Elian, you’re the expert at cheating.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. I was caught completely off guard.”
“That’s true.”
True about what?
He smiled innocently. His confident demeanor was simply adorable.
“I’m an expert at cheating. I’m pretty good at it.”
He didn’t know why he was proud, but Kirendis felt that Elian’s definition of cheating was slightly different from his own.
‘Should I leave him be because he’s cute?’
If he continued talking to him, he felt he might do something he shouldn’t. His feelings were growing too much to handle.
“Go to sleep now. You said you were sleepy.”
Kirendis said, covering Elian’s eyes. But he again pulled his hand down and continued speaking.
“I’m going to sleep, but…”
He trailed off, his upward gaze filled with hesitation.
Hesitation? What was he trying to say?
Whatever it was, he felt it would be dangerous.
As expected.
“Can you stay by my side until I fall asleep?”
Elian pleaded.
“……”
“……”
“……No.”
He almost agreed instantly, but he managed to hold back. Kirendis tried not to cross the line.
“It’s because I don’t want to be alone.”
But Elian pleaded again and continued.
“Today is a good day.”
A good day.
He knew that word held great meaning for Elian.
A day spent boisterously surrounded by good people. A day that might have been his first.
So perhaps today, he didn’t want to be alone.
“……Alright. I’ll stay by your side, so go to sleep quickly.”
How could he possibly refuse Elian?
At Kirendis’s declaration of surrender, Elian pulled him closer and said.
“Then, you lie down next to me too.”
“What?”
“Quickly.”
He pulled him in with a beautiful smile, so Kirendis had no choice but to lie down beside him. He could have resisted by exerting force, but he couldn’t.
To resist and refuse any longer would have meant his patience was at its limit.
“Stay like this until I fall asleep.”
“……”
Why was this person so lacking in a sense of crisis?
He wondered if he remembered the confession of love.
Kirendis sighed deeply, looking at Elian, who was smiling brightly. Yet, he was still beaming with joy.
“You look even prettier up close.”
Now he was openly seducing him.
Kirendis felt troubled.
“You were pretty when you were young, too.”
He mustered his last bit of patience and clenched his fist tightly. However, Elian, taking another step forward, stroked his face and continued.
“It’s so soft.”
“Elian.”
Kirendis clasped their hands together, stopping his movement.
‘I can’t anymore.’
He tried to hold back, but he couldn’t anymore. Still…
‘Just one last time.’
Kirendis squeezed out the last drop of his reason and warned in a low voice.
“If you keep this up, I won’t be able to hold back.”
“What?”
“I might cross the line.”
“Mmm…”
He seemed to be contemplating something. Kirendis tensed. It was the last chance he had given him. If he pushed him away now, he could endure it.
But…
“You can.”
Elian said with a radiant smile. A spring breeze swept through Kirendis’s heart and passed.
Where the warm wind swept, a small ember fell and began to grow.
“It’s okay for you to cross it anytime.”
Ah…
It was too much.
It was the limit.
“I warned you.”
“Yes.”
“Don’t regret it.”
“Yes.”
“Ah, really…”
Did he even know what it meant?
He couldn’t tell, but it was already too late. Kirendis kissed him without hesitation.
The heat began to overflow. Elian, lost in a daze, struggled to swallow the constant heat.
A soft tongue boldly explored his lips, swallowing him.
‘It feels… good.’
This was his first kiss in this world. He hadn’t been able to give his heart to anyone until now, so the familiar yet strange warmth felt welcome.
“Kirendis…”
As their lips parted for a moment, he quietly called his name, and Kirendis, with an anxious expression, kissed him again.
Kirendis’s kiss was rough, but he liked that too. The honest reactions and emotions conveyed directly were satisfying.
Having lived in a world where he always had to wear a mask, his honesty brought him a sense of stability.
He liked the warmth transmitted through their lips, and the heat felt from their bodies pressed together.
‘Is this okay?’
In his dazed consciousness, Elian thought. Nevertheless, his body and mind, which responded diligently, embraced Kirendis, merging with him.
Only the warmth he conveyed enveloped him pleasurably.
‘Ah… I don’t know.’
He couldn’t remember how this situation had come about. The sensations he was currently feeling were the only truth.
A desire not to push away, but to keep touching, more, more, more…
As if reading that desire, his clothes slowly began to fall away. Firm fingertips traced his waist, stimulating him.
Elian did not resist. Rather…
…….
…….
“Aaaah!!”
Elian woke up with a scream. The memory that surfaced in his mind abruptly cut off there.
“You’re… crazy…”
He must have been crazy. Alcohol was the enemy; he must have truly gone mad.
‘What happened from there? Did we…?’
Elian quietly lifted the blanket.
He thought he was naked, but thankfully, he was still wearing underwear. There were no major physical abnormalities.
Knowing how men could be intimate, he let out a sigh of relief.
But it was too early to be relieved. He had to consider the opposite scenario as well.
‘Please…’
With a trembling heart, Elian turned his head. Kirendis was still fast asleep.
His sleeping face was so beautiful. There was no humiliation, only radiance.
If he had done something unforgivable to this angelic child…
‘It won’t happen. It won’t.’
Elian’s hands trembled as he slightly lifted the blanket. Just then.
Grasp.
“Aack!!”
“Gotcha.”
A mischievous hand was caught.
His heart pounded from the shock, and his hair stood on end.
“What are you trying to steal like a stray cat?”
“When did I!”
Startled, Elian shouted back and lifted his head. Then, his eyes met Kirendis’s red eyes, which were curved in a pleasant smile.
‘Oh…’
Elian’s heart began to beat even faster. He was just smiling normally… no, a little more beautifully, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away.
“You’re still looking at me.”
Kirendis pointed out with a sly smile. Elian, startled, averted his gaze.
“Wh-what are you talking about? I wasn’t looking?!”
He tried to deny it, but it didn’t work on Kirendis. Instead, he deliberately pulled the blanket away, revealing his upper body.
“Aack!”
Elian screamed again and covered his face. His face instantly turned red, leaving him no choice.
“If you want to look, look boldly. It’s okay for Elian.”
“What’s okay! Take it off… I mean, cover it up immediately?!”
He couldn’t push the person away, so he quickly changed his words. But as he said it, it sounded strange.
Cover it… what was he covering?
As expected, Kirendis found Elian’s words amusing and burst into cheerful laughter.
“Ah, I’m going crazy. Are you perhaps upset about yesterday?”
“……”
Elian didn’t reply. Not because he had nothing to say, but because he lacked the courage to.
But as the saying goes, silence is consent, and Kirendis easily read Elian’s mind and said.
“That’s right. You’re upset because you kissed me.”
He seemed very happy. Kirendis could feel it even without seeing it. His voice was brimming with emotion.
What on earth was he thinking, committing such a crazy act?
Elian sighed deeply, cursing himself from last night, the cause of all this.
‘First, I need to confirm. Exactly how far did we go…’
And after confirming…?
He tried to organize his thoughts, but the more he did, the more confused he became.
“You don’t remember everything, do you?”
Flustered.*
His heart began to pound again as his thoughts were read. Kirendis had given him sufficient warning last night. It was Elian who said it was okay.
All responsibility lay with him.
“How could you forget something like that? It was my first time…”
Ah…
‘We did it.’
Elian was certain. Kirendis’s dejected voice was explaining the truth from last night.
What on earth had he done!
‘I’m trash.’
Elian was frustrated. He had done something unforgivable to Kirendis, who liked him.
To have thrown himself at someone without ever seriously considering it.
‘First, apologize… I have to apologize first.’
Elian fidgeted, his lips trembling. He had to apologize, but seeing Kirendis’s gloomy face, his lips wouldn’t move.
“You really… don’t remember?”
Kirendis asked first. Elian apologized softly, his heart heavy with guilt.
“Sorry…”
“How much do you remember?”
“…”
Elian trailed off. It was a bit embarrassing to say out loud. But now was the time to be brave.
“A kiss… up to that point?”
“Ah…”
His low sigh was filled with many emotions. Elian raised his head again and apologized.
“I’m really sorry. I was a bit… yesterday. It’s not that I want to pretend it didn’t happen, but I’m truly sorry you don’t remember…”
“That’s a relief.”
“…Huh?”
Elian stopped mid-sentence, his eyes widening.
A relief?
“I was worried you wouldn’t even remember the kiss.”
“Oh… really?”
Why is this kid so nice?
Elian, who had expected at least a little resentment, was a bit taken aback.
“You fainted right after kissing me yesterday, so you have no idea how flustered I was.”
“…”
“It was my first kiss, after all. It would be unfair if only I remembered it.”
“…”
“But I’m so relieved that Elian remembers it too.”
“…”
“Ah! This might sound like an excuse, but you know the responsibility lies with Elian, right? I really didn’t want to, but Elian seduced me. It was irresistible.”
“…”
“Elian. Are you listening?”
Elian was speechless at the torrent of words.
Should he consider this a relief, or should he be angry…
It was vexing that Kirendis spoke as if something more had happened, but that didn’t erase his own guilt.
‘I’ll just stay quiet.’
Still, it was a relief that it ended at the part he remembered.
But Kirendis’s words didn’t stop there.
“Then, please keep your promise now.”
“Huh? A pro… mise?”
Elian’s face turned pale again.
“Don’t tell me you don’t remember?”
What else could there be…?
Elian’s mind became complicated again.
“This is unbelievable. How could you forget? I was waiting, relying only on that promise.”
…Anxiety washed over him. What promise had he made!
“You said you’d do the rest today. That’s why I waited patiently.”
“What?!”
Elian’s eyes widened. Then, Kirendis said in a voice full of disappointment.
“It was truly my first time… I was already upset because Elian seemed so skilled, and now you don’t even remember the promise…”
His slumped posture was so pitiful. Feeling like he had truly done something terrible, Elian replied in a flustered voice.
“S-sorry. Did I say that too?”
“Yes… You even took off your clothes so casually, so I was really looking forward to it.”
“…”
He was so honest it was embarrassing. He couldn’t tell if kids these days were all like this, or if it was just Kirendis.
“So, I’ll let the kiss count.”
“…Huh?”
“I know. Elian doesn’t have feelings for me.”
His expression soured, as if even he found it bitter to say. But he forced a smile and continued.
“So, I’ll let the kiss count.”
“Oh…”
Elian didn’t know what to say. Should he thank him for letting it slide? Or say no?
“No. Elian said I was okay, so I’ll do it.”
“What?!”
Startled, Elian quickly pulled back. But he soon hit the wall.
Kirendis pulled Elian back towards the bed and said,
“Elian, you said I could cross the line.”
“I… I did say that…”
But not with this intention…
“So, I’m going to cross it.”
“What?”
“Because I have your permission.”
“W-wait… slurp!”
Before he could react, their lips met again. This time, he had to accept the soft tongue with a clear head.
Unlike last night, Kirendis’s kiss was gentle. It moved cautiously, as if to soothe the surprised Elian, and brushed against his palate.
‘This feeling…’
His body grew hot, and he started to feel excited. It seemed he preferred gentle kisses to rough ones.
He should push him away, he should say no, but he couldn’t. Kirendis’s kiss was too sweet to refuse.
The warmth of their contact, their skin, the saliva flowing between them felt sweet and ticklish.
“Hngg…”
He moaned, his eyelids fluttering, lost in pleasant pleasure. Kirendis then smiled and asked,
“You’re so beautiful.”
“…”
“Can I do it again?”
“…”
Elian didn’t answer. But he didn’t refuse either. It was his usual sign of affirmation.
Kirendis smiled happily and kissed his sweet lips once more.
A sweet morning was passing.
‘Is this… okay?’
Elian sat blankly, thinking. He hadn’t accepted Kirendis’s feelings, so was it okay to just engage in physical intimacy?
Since that day, Kirendis had been visiting frequently, kissing him as if it were his right. Elian, who had quickly regained his senses, tried to tell him to stop at first, but it didn’t work.
“No. I said it was okay, so I’ll do as I please.”
His confident declaration was so absurd.
The problem was that he himself couldn’t strongly push Kirendis away.
‘It feels good… What can I do?’
Elian blushed, lost in thought. He had held back for so long that his inner desires seemed to have been properly stimulated.
His reason screamed no, but his body craved the stimulation Kirendis provided.
How absurd was this.
‘I can’t even control my own body!’
It was ridiculous, but not entirely impossible.
‘I guess I’m weak to… kindness?’
He had said that a kind person was his ideal type half-jokingly. But seeing that he couldn’t push Kirendis away, he felt he might have instinctively spoken the truth.
A kind smile and gaze. Kirendis’s gentle touch, as if he cherished Elian too much.
Even now, with Kirendis gone, he couldn’t stop thinking about it, driving him mad.
“Ah, I’m going crazy. Really.”
At this point, he had to question if he liked him. But Elian’s current state was that he still wasn’t sure.
He enjoyed the kisses, but he couldn’t tell if it was because he was starved, or because it was Kirendis.
And if he really did start to like him, that would be an even bigger problem. Kirendis was the protagonist of this world, wasn’t he?
Therefore…
‘It won’t continue.’
Elian still believed it. He might not be able to escape the grand flow of this world.
So, it was useless to like him. He would likely fall in love with someone else.
‘Because… that’s the story.’
This world was based on the romance between Kirendis and the heroine. It meant the main genre was romance, and Elian was not the protagonist.
‘Therefore… Kirendis is a no.’
As he made that resolution, his confused heart seemed to calm down. Once he reached a conclusion, he felt he could distance himself.
“Elian.”
As soon as he made that decision, Kirendis appeared.
“Ah, no!”
“Yes?”
His resolve wasn’t firm yet, so the word of denial just blurted out.
“Ah, well…”
As soon as he saw Kirendis, his resolve wavered. How could he say no to that face?
He would surely be heartbroken.
“I’m not that shameless.”
“Huh?”
Kirendis chuckled and said.
“I won’t make Elian uncomfortable anymore.”
Did he know?
Elian’s heart became complicated again. But Kirendis continued without hesitation.
“Still, if I stop completely, Elian will be disappointed, so let’s do it about once a week.”
Kirendis’s absurd statement filled Elian with bewilderment.
Disappointed? Me?!
“Who’s disappointed?! I’m perfectly fine!”
“Really?”
“…”
Could he be fine? Could he be sure he wouldn’t miss it?
‘No.’
The answer was ‘I don’t think so.’
But his pride wouldn’t allow him to speak the truth.
“Of c-course!”
Although his voice trembled slightly, he felt it was enough. He thought he could hold onto his wavering heart by building this wall.
However, the world did not unfold according to Elian’s plan.
” Mwah. ”
“…!!”
Kirendis lightly kissed him and smiled. Elian, with eyes like a startled rabbit, covered his lips.
“This much isn’t a kiss, so it’s okay, right?”
Is it… okay?
“What do you mean okay?! Ah, no approaching you from now on! Stay more than 1 meter away!”
Elian shouted, creating distance. Even so, they were still on the bed.
“I was coming to tell you something about that anyway, but I almost forgot.”
“Tell me something?”
Elian tilted his head at his skill in changing the subject so quickly. He had completely forgotten his ‘no approaching’ declaration and was now listening to the new information.
“I made a new one.”
With a light ‘ta-da’ sound, a new bracelet appeared.
Elian then remembered the function of his own bracelet.
‘Come to think of it…’
Why hadn’t a wall appeared when he moved more than 1 meter away?
He knew that a wall would appear if they were more than 1 meter apart, but he hadn’t thought about Kirendis creating distance and disappearing.
He had just been kidnapped, so he had stayed put, accepting that he couldn’t escape.
‘Is this brainwashing?!’
It wasn’t at all, but Elian was horrified. He trembled, thinking how terrifying brainwashing was.
“This one has location tracking and a proper shield function. I’ve put magic power into it, so Elian can activate it if he wishes.”
Kirendis said as he gently swapped the bracelets. He didn’t mention the function of the previous bracelet.
Is he planning to gloss over this?
“That bracelet… wasn’t it supposed to prevent us from getting more than 1 meter apart?”
He asked with suspicious eyes, and Kirendis replied with a surprised look.
“Didn’t you know?”
“Huh?”
As Elian tilted his head, confused, Kirendis said.
“I thought you knew because you seemed unfazed.”
“What? A lie?!”
Wait, what was this all about?
“Ah, you didn’t know. Actually, the 1-meter distance limit was a lie. To be precise, it’s possible to go beyond 1 meter.”
“…”
“I thought you knew because you seemed so calm.”
“…”
“Were you that bothered by kissing me?”
“…”
Kirendis smiled happily. In contrast, Elian couldn’t smile at all. He had dug his own grave.
But at times like this, one had to remain calm.
“I knew too! I just said it because you were pretending not to know and trying to move past it!”
Elian declared, shamelessly denying it.
Kirendis gave him a suspicious look, but what could he do if Elian insisted?
He chuckled as if he had no choice and continued.
“Alright. You don’t have to glare at me like that.”
“Glare? When am I glaring?”
“You’re glaring right now. You were like a gentle puppy when you were drunk, but now you’re like a cat with its fur all puffed up.”
Kirendis said, playfully moving the corners of Elian’s eyes up and down.
He had a lot to say, but he didn’t want to bring up the events of that day again, so he kept his words brief.
“But aren’t you happy?”
“Happy about what?”
He said, still showing no intention of removing his hand from Elian’s face. Elian resigned himself and let him touch him.
“About being free now, Elian.”
“Huh?”
Come to think of it…
The bracelet with no distance limit. Although it had location tracking, he could escape whenever he wanted.
The bracelet could be removed by a mage after escaping.
“Why…?”
Yes. The problem was ‘Why did he give him freedom?’ After all, he was someone who wouldn’t let him go even if he didn’t try to escape.
“There’s someone I need to introduce you to one last time.”
Again…?
“Once you meet that person, Elian won’t be able to help himself.”
Wait, who could it be…
“Because that person has a reason why Elian must become king.”
New anxiety welled up.
‘Come to think of it, they said there was a leader.’
Elian recalled the information leaked by the Rebels last night. He couldn’t believe there was someone worse than Kirendis.
“Actually, that person is the one who planned all of this. I just found out by chance and joined in.”
So, a final boss of sorts?
Elian walked with Kirendis, his expression complicated. He thought Kirendis had planned everything, but it seemed there was a mastermind.
“Who on earth is it?”
He would see them soon, but he couldn’t suppress his curiosity.
Kirendis, the sole heir of the Duchy, and the Rebels active in various fields.
Who gathered such people? Was there anyone else who could appear here?
He searched his mind, but no one came to mind.
He wondered if he just couldn’t remember, but objectively speaking, there really was no one new who could appear.
“You’ll know when you meet them. I was surprised too.”
“You too?”
Someone who could surprise Kirendis.
Elian grew more and more anxious. But he couldn’t back down now.
‘Please let it be someone insignificant.’
The possibility was slim, but he prayed with that small wish.
As they walked, they arrived at an inn located in a secluded alley.
“This is the inn where the guys I met yesterday are staying. I chose it specially because it’s difficult for people to move around freely.”
As he said, the inn was indeed hard to find. It had a sign, but it was the kind of place only those who knew about it could find.
“Difficult to move around freely… Are they criminals?”
He asked nervously, and Kirendis smiled and explained.
“Of course not. You’ll see when you meet them.”
That was somewhat reassuring, but he couldn’t understand why Kirendis kept saying he’d know when he met them.
‘Is it someone I know?’
That seemed plausible, but why did he feel so anxious? He felt like he was about to meet someone he shouldn’t.
” Clink. ”
As they entered with great tension, they saw an old man sitting at the counter.
He merely glanced at them as a customer entered but took no other action.
Kirendis, as if familiar, gave a small nod and headed upstairs.
‘Is this the base?’
This place exuded an atmosphere where the Rebels would gather and plot great things.
Thinking so, even the old man at the counter seemed extraordinary.
Elian swallowed dryly and headed upstairs. As they went up, they reached the top floor.
Kirendis, standing at the door of the last of the three doors in the hallway, grasped the doorknob and said,
“Are you ready?”
As if reading Elian’s tense mind, Kirendis asked in a playful tone. Elian replied gruffly, feeling embarrassed.
“Do I need to be prepared for that?”
“For now?”
“Stop talking and just open it.”
“Yes.”
With a smile still on his face, Kirendis pulled the doorknob. Then, with a creaking sound, they heard voices chatting.
“Am I really okay? Is it alright to meet them like this?”
“Of course. You’re perfect.”
“Naturally. You’re perfect.”
“The leader is always cool, so it’s fine.”
Along with the voices of the Rebels, a youthful voice could be heard. It was the voice of a boy who hadn’t yet reached adulthood.
‘What is it? It sounds familiar.’
Elian tilted his head. It wasn’t a voice he heard often, but it was somehow familiar. Like someone he remembered because they were important, even if he’d only heard them a few times.
It was a completely different reaction from the Rebels, whom he hadn’t remembered until they spoke.
“Oh? Elian-nim!”
“They’ve arrived!”
“Elian-nim!”
Three people ran over, greeting him warmly. Lucian stood by the boy who had pulled down his hood, unmoving. It was as if to say his master was the boy beside him.
It felt as if they were looking at Kirendis and himself from a third-person perspective.
‘Lucian… serves him as master?’
One person came to mind. But Elian quickly shook his head.
‘Impossible. That child….’
However, Elian’s prediction was spot on.
Elian’s eyes widened. The boy who spotted him had run over quickly, his hood falling off.
A boy, a head shorter than him, with fluffy golden hair flying, leaped into his arms.
“Uncle!”
“Li…on?”
In his arms was the Second Prince, Lion.
“What are you doing here?!”
Elian exclaimed in shock.
“I’ve really wanted to see you.”
If one were to pick one of the most important characteristics of the Imperial Family, it would be this dazzling golden hair.
This was because the first Emperor, Bertian Arpen, had golden hair and golden eyes.
Lion was the only child born with the Imperial Family’s golden hair, inheriting the Imperial blood more strongly than anyone else.
Despite this, his influence was not as great as Marius’s, and he had withdrawn from the succession struggle because he had no interest in it.
‘Why is that child….’
Could it be that this Rebel Army was not created to make him king, but to make Lion king?
If so, the matter would be easier than he thought…
“I’m glad I created the Rebel Army for you, Uncle. To be able to see you this close!”
“……”
“I could only see you from afar until now, I’m so moved!”
“……”
“If you become king in the future, there will be more days we can see each other this closely, right?”
“……”
“Ah, what do I do? I’m so happy.”
“……”
Elian quietly listened to the babbling voice. The Second Prince Lion, whom he had met after a long time, was extremely excited.
He even felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he saw familiar traits in the boy.
“As expected, Captain. My feelings are the same as yours.”
“Prince Lion, you are our greatest understanding person.”
“I like talking with you, Captain.”
“Prince Lion’s words are always right.”
Elian couldn’t hide his astonishment at their statements, with Lucian joining in.
‘So the Captain is….’
Elian had thought ‘Captain’ referred to the leader commanding the Rebel Army. But listening to them, he felt something was amiss.
It was understandable, given…
“I’m glad I followed Prince Lion.”
“That’s right. We can see Elian-nim up close like this.”
“Right. We can have lots of fun conversations too.”
“Prince Lion is always right.”
Three followers of Elian and one follower of Lion. And the person who seemed to have drawn these four, no, five people including Kirendis, into the Rebel Army.
Rather than being the leader commanding the Rebel Army…
‘A fan club… president.’
Yes. He seemed less like the head of the Rebel Army and more like the president leading Elian’s fan club.
“……”
Elian looked at them with a bewildered expression and quietly turned his head. Kirendis then smiled and said,
“I was right, wasn’t I?”
The reason why he could become king.
Yes. As Kirendis said, if Lion was the leader here, things changed.
It was clear that others would misunderstand, just as Elian had misunderstood moments ago.
‘The Second Prince Lion Arpen aims for the throne.’
If so, he would inevitably become Marius’s target. His life would no longer be guaranteed.
Lion, who was born with the strong characteristics of the Imperial Family but was far from the throne due to his weak influence.
However, looking at the people here, that gap was somewhat bridged. He was emerging as a powerful new force. Moreover, Archduke Elian Eshton was also with him.
Although he was kidnapped, people who didn’t know that would surely think Archduke Eshton had sided with the Second Prince.
‘Ah, seriously!’
Elian sensed that things had become thoroughly complicated. Honestly, he didn’t care what happened to others.
But Lion was different. To Elian, Lion was…
‘Family.’
For some reason, the child who had doted on Elian since he was young.
Lion was the one who followed him with eyes devoid of fear, unique among the Imperial Family.
As he grew older, he became cautious, knowing it was a dangerous act for both Elian and himself, but he couldn’t hide his eyes full of goodwill.
That’s why Elian considered Lion family.
How could he turn away?
“Don’t you welcome me, Uncle?”
With eyes shining like that.
“First… shall we hear in detail why you plotted this?”
Unaware of his own burning insides, Lion drooped, filled with disappointment.
But being the optimist he was, he shouted with a bright face again.
“Yes! I’m confident!”
What on earth was he confident about?
Overwhelmed by bewilderment again, Elian looked back at Kirendis. Kirendis shrugged, making a gesture as if he didn’t know.
He didn’t know what kind of connection led the heir of a Duchy and the Second Prince to be together.
‘The Academy… perhaps?’
The only commonality between the two was the Academy. Besides, Lion had said he returned to the Imperial Palace after graduation and then left for his maternal relatives.
But if he had actually traveled the world gathering rebels…
‘Perhaps I was seeing him too much as a child.’
A child to be protected.
That’s what Lion was to Elian. He was born weak and delicate, not suited for the Imperial Family, Elian had thought.
But looking at him now, it seemed to have been a prejudice.
“Ahem.”
Lion took a step back and let out a cute, clearing cough.
There was not a shred of princely dignity in his demeanor, but in his infatuated eyes, it appeared as a perfectly controlled action.
A disguise to make them lower their guard and avoid the eyes of enemies…
“Since I was young, I’ve always thought that you, Uncle, are the one who should lead this country. But everyone else didn’t recognize your greatness. I was so sad and angry about that. You are the one who truly loves this country!”
“Indeed, indeed!”
“Well done!”
“As expected, Captain!”
…Even though he only said one sentence, useless voices mixed in from the side. Even Lucian stood by Lion’s side with a proud expression.
“So I pondered. How can I make your greatness known? Then I met Kirendis.”
Kirendis?
Suddenly, Kirendis’s name came up, and Elian turned his head. Kirendis added in a nonchalant tone,
“The Second Prince and I got along well.”
“That’s right. Kirendis knew well about your wonderful qualities. From then on, we started planning and acting in earnest.”
“Acting…?”
Elian’s voice trailed off, feeling uneasy, and Lion replied with a bright face.
“Yes! Until then, it was just like a club for people who liked Uncle.”
Only then did Elian understand why this group felt like a fan club rather than a Rebel Army. It was because they hadn’t gathered with the intention of rebelling in the first place.
But they became a Rebel Army…
“It was you!”
Elian grabbed Kirendis by the collar and shook him. It was a rather rough movement, but Kirendis, finding it so amusing, made excuses while laughing.
“I only offered a little opinion.”
An opinion… Why did that opinion have to be rebellion?
“That’s right. I agreed, and everyone here agreed.”
Lion smiled broadly and began to list the reasons for his agreement.
“It’s all advantages if Uncle becomes king, I wonder why we didn’t step up sooner.”
“Advantages…?”
Elian’s eyes flickered nervously, wondering what more nonsensical things he would say.
As expected. Lion and the three fools began to spout absurd reasons.
“First, if Uncle becomes king, we can see him freely without worrying about my brother Marius!”
Marius was on high alert, fearing that the Second Prince’s faction and Elian’s faction would combine and threaten him.
Because of that, Lion couldn’t meet Elian comfortably. He was talking about that now.
‘This is unbelievable.’
Such a trivial reason. Elian couldn’t hide his complicated feelings, wondering what to do with that child. Then, Gren shouted next.
“If Elian-nim becomes king, he will create a country with a strong military through his excellent leadership! This can be sufficiently predicted from the achievements he has shown so far!”
Gren laughed heartily after saying that. He seemed to think so based on his own experiences and his achievements in commanding the Imperial Guard.
‘That’s not because I’m great…’
Elian had much to say, but Cecilia followed up.
“If Elian-nim becomes king, the country will surely have a lot of money. Because you are so resourceful. If the country has a lot of money, my pockets will be full too, won’t they?”
She highly valued Elian’s talent as a merchant and his activities as Minister of Finance. As a result, she greatly anticipated her own selfish desires being abundantly fulfilled.
This part…
‘I have nothing to say.’
It was true that he made money well, so he had nothing to say on this point. The situation was not good.
At that moment, Haron followed up with the most absurd reason.
“The best part is that we can witness Elian-nim’s great deeds firsthand!”
“That’s right! That’s the best advantage.”
“Indeed. That’s why we are here.”
“Everyone’s thoughts are so wonderful.”
As soon as Haron’s shout ended, the rebels swarmed like moths, adding their words.
“……”
Elian looked at them with a hollow expression and turned his head towards Lucian.
Wasn’t he the only one who had sighed with Elian every time these fools said something nonsensical?
But…
“Prince Lion, your path is always right. We will be with you until the end.”
“Thank you, Lucian.”
“……”
Wrong. These people are wrong!
Elian fell into despair. But there was still a last hope. Wasn’t the protagonist… wasn’t the protagonist still left!
Perhaps he would think differently. Kirendis probably didn’t expect people to go this far astray either.
But…
“I’m glad we’re together.”
Kirendis agreed and smiled at Elian.
Elian had no one left to rely on.
‘It’s wrong. This country is doomed!’
Elian screamed. He saw no way out of this gathering of fools.
The people were fools, but their abilities were too high.
Especially the Second Prince Lion, who had gathered all these people, was the biggest problem.
“I’m glad everyone recognizes your greatness, Uncle. I must work hard too. Let’s keep trying, everyone.”
He skillfully gathered the rebels and fostered a sense of belonging. His natural actions, with a face that seemed to know nothing, were superb.
He handled people skillfully, in a different sense than Elian. At first, he was unsure, but now it was clear.
“How about we expand our operational areas a bit this time?”
“There are still many people who don’t know Elian-nim’s greatness.”
“It’s always fun to spread Elian-nim’s achievements.”
“Then shall we look for the eighth village?”
“Sounds good.”
“Okay.”
“I agree.”
“If it’s Prince Lion’s word…”
Were there really seven such villages…
Elian looked at Lion with complex eyes. The existence of seven such villages meant they were growing at a truly rapid pace.
After all, it had only been a year since the Rebel Army officially began its activities.
‘Lion…’
Elian realized an important fact he hadn’t noticed.
Although they looked light on the surface, their substance was entirely different. After all, it was a group moving with the goal of rebellion.
That fact pointed to one truth. That is…
‘He’s been hiding his power…’
Elian had told Lion something a long time ago.
It was meant to encourage the child, who was threatened with death just for being born with golden hair, not to despair but to move forward steadfastly.
‘Did that come back to me like this?’
The child was too intelligent. After hearing those words, he had realized many things and prepared thoroughly. To avoid notice, and…
‘To survive.’
Elian quietly recalled the past.
When Lion was born, the Imperial Family was thrown into chaos. This was because a child with golden hair had been born into the Imperial Family.
It was partly because there was no child with golden hair and golden eyes, but the biggest reason was Marius’s unstable position.
The Emperor and Empress were not just on bad terms; they were famously rivals, and Marius, consequently, did not receive the Emperor’s attention.
‘This is a good thing for me.’
Of course, it had nothing to do with Elian. At the time, Elian was attending the Academy and was only thinking of graduating quickly and entering politics.
The news of the child born then was merely an opportunity to distance himself from Marius’s faction.
Thus, Elian was able to move freely amidst the chaos and complete his preparations to enter politics.
As a result, he was able to attend the Imperial Family’s regular meetings immediately after graduation, and Jade was able to join the Knights Order.
It was around this time that the sharp gazes directed at Lion began to shift towards Elian.
‘Lion played a big role.’
Although he had never met him, Elian felt a slight fondness for Lion simply because things were progressing smoothly.
The Emperor’s only cherished child. Elian thought it would be easier to get permission because of that. The Emperor lent his strength to divert the gazes towards Elian.
Knowing this, Elian still threw himself into the fire. He steadfastly moved forward.
Two years passed, and amidst countless interests, he became the Captain of the Imperial Guard. He met Lion for the first time during the Captain’s investiture ceremony held then.
‘That child is the Second Prince?’
He remembered him because he stood out among the many people. For some reason, the child was looking at Elian with eyes that sparkled like his golden hair.
Although the reason was unknown, he thought the child, with his chubby cheeks and innocent, untainted eyes, was not suited for the Imperial Family.
“Co-Congratulations. Uncle.”
The child, who cautiously spoke with a small, hesitant voice, had rosy cheeks.
It was evident that he had been raised with the full love of his concubine mother and his Emperor father.
He seemed dangerous, a child who didn’t know how terrifying this place was, but Elian still thought he looked good.
That’s how pure the child’s eyes were. The eyes that asked for nothing and were full of goodwill were particularly memorable.
That must have been why.
He realized that the sparkling eyes were following him.
“Doesn’t it seem like the Second Prince… is following me?”
He asked Jade, unsure if it was a coincidence or if he was truly following him.
It was just a casual remark. But the reply was astonishing.
“It’s not a mistake. The Prince has wanted to see His Majesty since two years ago.”
“…Really?”
It was surprising news. He had been so preoccupied with too many things that he hadn’t noticed at all.
“……Why?”
“……I don’t know.”
Jade also seemed unaware of the reason.
However, once he came into view, the Second Prince kept appearing in his sight. As he began to notice, he naturally became interested.
‘What did I do to earn such eyes?’
Although he hadn’t noticed it until now, Lion would steal glances at Elian once a day and then leave. And it was with eyes sparkling with 100% pure goodwill.
“Uncle.”
The child was quick-witted and realized that Elian had started to pay attention to him. From then on, he cautiously approached and gave small gifts.
As one time became two, then three, and many more, they gradually started to talk.
It wasn’t bad. The short conversations in the bleak Imperial Palace brought him a little vitality.
Then, one day, the feared event occurred.
Marius’s forces, sensing danger, turned their attention to Lion.
“His Highness, the Second Prince, has been poisoned and is gravely ill.”
“…The mastermind?”
“It’s where you think it is.”
“…”
Elian immediately cut Lion off. His heart ached, as it was a disaster brought about by his own complacency.
‘I should have been more careful.’
Any further meetings were dangerous. The Imperial Palace was too treacherous to keep the child close, even for a small liking.
But the child didn’t seem to think so, and insisted on finding Elian to speak.
“Are you… avoiding me because I’ll become dangerous?”
“…”
Elian didn’t answer. He merely looked down at the child with the cold facade he always maintained.
Then, Lion continued, his voice trembling slightly.
“I… I’m fine. I want to be with you like before, Uncle. Is that not allowed?”
Perhaps he had felt much sorrow during that time, as tears began to fall from his round eyes. Elian couldn’t understand why the child wanted to see him, even after nearly dying.
But not knowing didn’t change the situation. He had to push him away.
Elian spoke with determined eyes.
“That’s a convenient thought.”
The child flinched at his cold tone. Transparent tears welled up in his eyes.
Elian continued speaking.
“Such thoughts are the most dangerous ones.”
“U-Uncle…”
As if seeing this side of him for the first time, the frightened eyes trembled slightly. That sight weighed heavily on him. Yet, he continued speaking calmly.
“You’d do well to remember. In the Imperial Family, comfort means death.”
“I… I…”
“Don’t take it lightly. Don’t get used to it. Death is always lurking by your side.”
“…”
Only then did Lion seem to understand, his face darkening. Even though he was young, he seemed to have grasped the fact that they could no longer be together.
‘We won’t meet again now.’
He felt a pang of concern for the child, who had approached him without any ulterior motives for the first time in the Imperial Family. Now that he had faced reality, there would be days of sadness and days of despair.
In a world where sharp blades rained down with the slightest lapse in vigilance, the child had to keep walking forward.
The path where blades might rain down, simply because he was born with the blood of the Imperial Family.
‘So…’
Perhaps this much was acceptable.
Elian placed his hand on the greatly disheartened Lion’s head and spoke kindly for the first and last time.
“Still, don’t give up. Everyone… lives like that.”
Having recalled all his memories, Elian regretted the past. It felt as though all this had happened because of those words.
“I didn’t mean for ‘don’t give up’ to mean this…”
“Uncle, do you remember?!”
As if hearing his quiet muttering, Lion exclaimed with delight and clung to him quickly.
“Of course. It was the last day I saw you up close.”
How could he not remember? After that day, Elian could only watch the child’s growth from afar.
Lion must have been in the same boat.
‘I didn’t know it would lead to this outcome.’
He was content to just watch, so when did he start making plans like this?
It was the result of complacent thinking.
“I’m so happy. I’ve been praying for the day I could meet you comfortably again since then.”
“…You have?”
How desperate must a child have been to even pray.
His heart ached thinking of the child who must have clasped his small hands in prayer every night.
“Still, what made me think you should become king wasn’t what you said back then.”
It wasn’t because of those words?
‘Then what was it?’
Elian hadn’t met Lion since that day. So there was nothing more to recall.
But Lion seemed to have other memories, and continued, recalling them.
“I don’t remember when, but I think it was when I snuck into your office because I missed you so much.”
“…”
When had he done such a bold thing again?
Elian was so bewildered he lost his words.
“You were talking with Sir Roustas, and I overheard.”
A conversation with Jade. His premonition was not good.
But even though he was young, his memory was clear, and he began to recite what Elian would have likely said at the time.
[The worst thing in the world is satisfaction. Especially for someone in a position like this. The moment I become satisfied, there will be no progress. Without progress, people will revert. Back to the lazy days. That’s human nature.]
“…”
Elian began looking for a hole to hide in again. He had no memory of this at all.
Why had his past self gone around saying such embarrassing things!
He must have been making excuses to Jade, but those words seemed to have resonated.
“Ah! Uncle, how far ahead were you thinking?”
Lion’s eyes sparkled as he was lost in the memory.
The look in his eyes was so overwhelming that Elian unconsciously took a step back. But Lion didn’t stop.
“From that day on, I worked really hard. I wanted to follow in your footsteps, so I entered the academy early.”
He thought it was because he was trying to avoid Marius’s gaze, but that wasn’t the case. He had no idea such a reason was hidden…
“I studied hard because I wanted to walk the path you walked. I studied so hard that I thought I had done enough. But when I looked up, you were running even further ahead. I was overwhelmed just trying to keep up. That’s when I realized it once more.”
Lion’s eyes turned to Elian. He looked at him with a relieved expression and continued speaking.
“Ah, someone like me can’t even follow in your footsteps. A king must be someone who knows no satisfaction. Someone like you is truly the one who should lead the country. So I…”
His gaze, up to that point, was warm yet serious. It was not the frivolous demeanor he had shown until now, but the look of someone who genuinely cared for the country.
“I must spread your will far and wide. I should just be a small source of strength by your side.”
He changed his tone lightly at the end and smiled. But Elian could feel it.
The child truly loved this country, and this was the conclusion he had reached through fierce thought and struggle.
‘This is why the Rebel Army has grown so quickly.’
Everyone had recognized Lion’s heart. They had come together, drawn by righteous thoughts and sincerity.
‘The King… might have to be that child.’
Lion wanted Elian to be king, but it was the opposite.
A child like that should be king. Elian was merely struggling to survive, but he genuinely cared for the country.
‘What should I do…’
It wouldn’t be easy to change the current situation. There were countless problems. He was concerned about the original plot progression, and about what Marius might be doing in the Imperial Palace, which had become his domain. And the biggest problem was…
‘No justification.’
Marius was the king now. By now, the coronation would have taken place, so it couldn’t be changed.
Therefore, to change the king, a justification was needed. Even the smallest one.
“Then, let’s have a celebration party now!”
“A celebration party?”
While lost in thought, Lion clung to Elian and said.
“To celebrate your official entry into the Rebel Army.”
“Who’s entering? I haven’t yet…”
“You said you had so much fun a few days ago? I want to have fun with you too. Can’t we?”
He saw a small puppy clinging to his arm, looking at him with pleading eyes. The moment he recognized that, Elian’s heart began to waver.
It had been a long time since he’d seen him, and it was hard to refuse when the child was so expectant.
‘If it’s just a meal…’
He offered a compromise, remembering the time he had made a terrible mistake after drinking.
Sensing his permission, Lion’s face lit up, and he pulled him along.
“You’ve permitted it, right? Let’s go quickly. Where should we go?”
“I’ll go find out quickly.”
“Me too.”
“Me too.”
“Me too!”
The Rebels cheered, and everyone rushed out to find a location. In an instant, only Lion, Kirendis, and three others were left in the room.
As the noisy tide receded, a subtle silence filled the room.
Lion was beaming with happiness, and Kirendis simply watched the two of them.
“…”
Then, as if making a decision, Kirendis linked arms with Elian on the opposite side, standing close.
“…”
“…”
He didn’t seem like he would explain his thoughts.
Elian had no choice but to cautiously open his mouth.
“Why are you doing that again?”
“Doing what?”
Kirendis tilted his head with a calm expression.
“Why are you suddenly clinging to me?”
Yes. Why were they suddenly linking arms when they were standing fine?
But Kirendis said confidently.
“Because Elian’s right arm might be lonely.”
It was an absurd reason, but Lion chimed in from beside him.
“That’s right. Making sure Uncle isn’t lonely is also part of our goal. You’re not lonely now, are you?”
What was all this…
“I’ve never been lonely.”
“Yes. We know. You don’t show it, so we’ll take care of it.”
“What?”
Elian was bewildered, but Kirendis nodded quietly and said.
“It’s reassuring that we agree on this point with the Prince.”
“Of course! Don’t worry, Kirendis. I’ll protect this side well.”
“I trust you.”
Trust what?
Elian was dumbfounded, but the two showed no signs of letting go. They held Elian’s arms tightly and forcibly moved him.
“Ah, really! I’m not running away, so let go!”
A small puppy on the left. A big puppy on the right.
He struggled to break free, but the two were steadfast. They even shouted defiantly.
“No.”
“We won’t.”
“…”
Something felt wrong, but he couldn’t figure out why.
The next morning.
“Ugh…”
Elian woke up with a groan. He hadn’t gotten hangovers even when drinking, so he thought he was just built that way, but that was not the case at all.
‘I drank too much.’
He lay still like a corpse, carefully sifting through yesterday’s memories. He checked meticulously to see if he had made any mistakes.
‘Still, I don’t think I made any mistakes.’
He had tried not to drink, but he couldn’t help it when it was right in front of him. Especially since he didn’t know when he’d be able to drink again.
Moreover, the Rebels had been enthusiastically egging him on, and Lion had said, “Are you not drinking because of me?” so he really couldn’t help it.
‘Really.’
Elian made excuses and turned his head.
Then, he saw a large dog with black fur sleeping soundly.
“…”
Elian maintained his composure with effort and turned his head to the opposite side. Then, he saw a small dog with golden fur sleeping in the same manner.
“…”
He turned his head back to the front. The situation he was in was that two dogs were sleeping, tightly hugging Elian’s arms as if they were stuffed animals.
‘Why… why are they still doing this!’
Elian shook his body to escape these clingy creatures. But they were holding on so tightly that he couldn’t budge.
He could understand Kirendis, being a swordsman, but Lion was truly unexpected. He looked so gentle, yet he was incredibly strong.
‘What did he eat to be this strong?!’
He had gone through quite a bit of trouble yesterday too, so Elian let out a sigh.
The two had arbitrarily decided on a ‘Celebration Party for Elian’s Entry into the Rebel Army,’ and they hadn’t let go of him the entire time.
Elian drank the alcohol, but they were completely unresponsive, as if they had drunk the same amount.
How persistent were they that they were still like this?
“Haa…”
He couldn’t figure out what the problem was. But now he needed water. His lips were parched from drinking too much.
He had to get rid of these clingy things and get up…
“These persistent things.”
Why were they so strong?
Elian struggled with all his might again. Fortunately, it was effective, and he managed to shake them off.
Seeing that they hadn’t woken up even after this, they must have consumed the alcohol dissolved in the air.
“Finally free… Ugh!”
The moment he felt relieved, something landed on Elian’s face.
His reflexes weren’t good, so he fell backward. However, he managed to catch the culprit who attacked him.
—Soft.
‘Soft?’
He felt a soft, yielding sensation. Elian tilted his head and removed the culprit. Then, a strange voice came from his hand.
“You’re as slow to act as Lion. Why are the youngsters of this generation so weak.”
A voice that clicked its tongue with an old man’s tone. Elian shook what he held in his hand with a bewildered expression.
“Aaaah! What are you doing! Stop it?!”
What Elian held in his hand was a ball of yellow fur.
Yes. It could only be described as a ball of yellow fur that he held. It even had eyes, a nose, and a mouth, and it spoke.
“Do you know who I am?! If you don’t let me down immediately, the heavens will rage!”
Although it was scolding him sternly, its small size, fitting in his palm, was not threatening.
“What… is this?”
Elian stretched the ball of fur. Then, its soft body stretched horizontally.
“Oh.”
Elian was convinced. This was no ordinary creature.
“Is it a summoned beast?”
This world had summoners. It was known to be a very rare profession, as the first Emperor was a summoner who had summoned the Gold Dragon.
Their bodies were different from those in this world, and it required immense magic power to maintain their form. So, he had heard that they maintained small, insignificant forms like this to reduce magic power consumption.
‘But where did it come from?’
Elian pondered, stretching the ball of yellow fur. Then, the voice, flailing, was heard again.
“You insolent creature! Do you think I’m made of clay! Let go of my hand! I said let go!”
The texture in his hand was very pleasant. Elian, without realizing it, became engrossed in this creature and kneaded it.
Despite being a ball of fur, it had such a dangerously cute appeal.
“Yes! Your name is now Mungchi.”
Elian arbitrarily gave it a name and shouted.
He had always wanted to raise a creature like this, so it seemed like a good thing. If it suddenly fell from the sky, wasn’t it a divine sign to take it in?
But he didn’t seem to think so, and shouted back angrily.
“What are you talking about! I have a wonderful name, Valterias…”
“No. You are Mungchi now. Ball of fur. I’ve decided.”
Elian jumped up and shook Mungchi around. The creature seemed a bit dizzy and began to whimper and sway.
Feeling he might have tormented it too much, he loosened his grip, and the impudent creature seized the opportunity, flying to Lion’s face.
“Lion! Wake up! That guy! He’s…”
It began to jump on Lion’s face and shout.
It felt soft, so it didn’t seem like it would have much impact.
“Ugh… Bar?”
Lion opened his eyes, groggy. He caught the ball of fur jumping on his face and carefully got up.
Unlike the rough Elian, his touch was gentle. The ball of fur seemed to realize that and began to whine and complain.
“That wicked fellow treated me harshly. Punish him quickly.”
“Hmm…?”
Still half-asleep and not grasping the situation, he tilted his head. Naturally, Elian was there.
“Huh?”
Then, as if realizing something, he looked back and forth between Mungchi and Elian, assessing the situation.
Once he had perfectly grasped the situation…
“Aaaah! B-Bar! I told you not to come out!”
He screamed, hiding the golden ball of fur under the blanket. But it was not a creature that could be hidden, so it rose above him and shouted.
I stroked his nape and lower back, telling him it was okay, to calm down, but it only grew more intense.
As I continued to receive his urgent breaths, Elian’s own breathing also began to grow rougher.
“Haa… haa…”
In the brief moment our lips parted, Elian lifted his head, breathing with a slightly flushed face. I was so out of breath I wondered if kissing was originally such an intense workout.
“Haa…”
Kirendis, catching his breath for a moment, suppressed something firmly and let his body collapse. The breath escaping his shoulders held complex emotions.
His feelings were so clear that I gently stroked the back of his head and said,
“…Are you okay?”
Kirendis flinched and stopped moving. Elian, not understanding why, continued to move his hand and said,
“Calm down…”
He was about to ask if he had calmed down. But he couldn’t bring himself to finish the sentence.
I felt something hot and hard growing in my lower body in real-time.
“…”
“…”
The two of them froze, their faces flushed red.
Uhmm, is it just me or is there really a missing chapter?
Because it suddenly jumped to the part where they were already intimate.
But the part was missing—the next day after Elian got drunk, there was even a piggyback ride.
I mean, what memory is he referring to?
Sorry, but there is a missing part between this and the previous chapter. If you could fix it please.
And Thank you so much for the translation
Fixed!