#205

Together with Kiyen, Cullen headed towards the injured section of the encampment.

Given the scale of the expedition, it wasn’t as if there weren’t doctors accompanying the mercenaries. The sole doctor from Dadin, whom Cullen knew, had a disciple who had apparently gained enough skill to become independent.

In addition, there was a pharmacist from Ulli’s territory, so they could treat minor wounds.

No one had died yet, but everyone clearly showed signs of exhaustion from the relentless battles. Those who had seemed full of energy when they joined Ulli were now receiving treatment with blank expressions.

Among them, the individuals Black had mentioned were gathered near the pharmacist. They were being bandaged, their shoulders dislocated or their limbs severely wounded by the sharp, long claws of the Arus. Black had called them ‘injured,’ but by human standards, they were critical wounds that could be fatal at any moment.

As Cullen and Kiyen entered, the atmosphere of the encampment instantly tensed. A greater hostility was directed towards Kiyen than when the Young Dragons had appeared. Rumors spread that Arus appeared whenever he showed up.

The mercenaries dared not say anything to Kiyen, but they clearly showed their aversion. The pharmacist treating them glanced nervously and approached Cullen.

“You’ve arrived, Cullen-nim.”

“Hello, Lata.”

“Are you injured anywhere? I am always grateful.”

As he spoke, Lata carefully examined Kiyen. Hesitantly, he closed his eyes tightly and said.

“I apologize, but if you are here for treatment, could only Cullen please come in? The patients are afraid of the Su-Suho-Dragon… they seem to be harmful to those who need rest.”

Lata’s voice was barely a whisper, as if he had gathered all his courage. As soon as he heard this, Cullen frowned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well…”

As Lata’s voice lowered, not hiding his displeasure, Lata barely opened his eyes and stammered. Kiyen, who had heard such a remark directly, looked at him with a blank expression. Perhaps intimidated by that very look, Lata hiccuped.

Then, someone stepped forward from beside him. It was Duncan, whom Cullen and Kiyen had rescued last time.

“If you don’t want treatment for something like that, tell them to die.”

Duncan interjected with his rough tone, spitting out the words. Cullen squinted at his unexpected action, but Duncan’s words seemed to resonate loudly, and the injured looked over. Duncan shouted.

“If your feelings are more important than your life, then do as you please!”

Murmurs arose at his words. Kiyen, who had been watching the process, broke the silence.

“I will wait here, so you go ahead. As long as you are within my sight, that is enough.”

“But…”

“It is better than wasting your time for a foolish reason.”

Kiyen stepped back calmly, as if it were fine. Lata’s face was pale, and Duncan scowled. Though reluctant, unable to waste any more time, Cullen eventually headed towards the injured.

“Thank you for last time.”

Duncan, walking away, belatedly blurted out his thanks. It had been more than a week ago, so he hadn’t expected it.

“If it were me, I would have left you to die.”

Duncan spoke as if he wasn’t expecting a reply. Cullen walked silently towards the patients and replied.

“It was not me who saved you, but Kiyen-nim. If he hadn’t saved you too, you would have died up there.”

“If that’s the case, I have nothing to say… Well, he is strong. Is that why you are with him?”

Although Duncan sided with Cullen, he spoke as if he, like others, avoided Kiyen.

“There are rumors that he is a Guardian Dragon. If he is the Guardian Dragon of a fallen Empire, he is a monster who has killed countless people. He even burned down entire mountain ranges… Aren’t you afraid to have such a dangerous person by your side?”

Cullen interrupted him, hearing him mutter as if to himself.

“Are you swayed by rumors even when you’ve seen it with your own eyes? The Demonic Beasts we’ve faced so far could not have been dealt with by humans alone.”

Moreover, these Demonic Beasts were ultimately summoned here by Iris and Zarkas, who are human. Setting aside the reasons they ended up on Dark Island or the battles of the gods, Kiyen and the Dragons were directly helping without being involved.

“For us humans, it is a matter of life and death, but for Dragons, Demonic Beasts are not a threat. I don’t expect you to be grateful to those who help with matters they don’t need to be involved in, but at least make an effort to judge for yourselves.”

Cullen spoke, looking around at Duncan and the other mercenaries, and then sat down in front of the injured. To those looking at him with subtle expressions, Cullen stated as a warning.

“What we are about to do is ultimately kill Demonic Beasts. If you act like this just because you’re in a bad mood… it would be better for you to turn back.”

At Cullen’s words, someone grumbled in dissatisfaction, but the campsite fell silent thereafter.

Watching the scene as darkness began to fall, Cullen suddenly felt a desire to go home. The thought, accompanied by fatigue, was unfamiliar even to him.

Did I have a home?

After losing his family, he had always wandered without a place to settle, and even when he was extremely tired, he had never thought of wanting to go home. Because he knew that if he returned, there would be nothing there but painful memories.

But now, above the sudden thought, Cullen recalled the cabin where the voices of the Young Dragons echoed, the brightly blooming Kiercharus Flowers, and the trees that had just begun to grow.

Finally, Kiyen, who had put shoes on him when he came out of his father’s barn, took his place. The moment his white face, looking up at him, flashed in his mind, Cullen realized belatedly that that moment had not been bad.

Even though it was a time when he couldn’t feel anything, it was undoubtedly a good memory.

After treating the injured, Cullen headed to where Kiyen was. Kiyen was leaning against a tree, waiting for him.

Our eyes met as he stared intently at my approach. I thought he resembled a cat, but lately, seeing him wait for me like this, he felt strangely like a dog.

“Are you alright?”

Kiyen, who disliked using his divine power, checked my condition as soon as I arrived. Seeing him examine me as if I were someone weak, Cullen quickly denied it.

“I’ve gotten used to it now. Lasano also said that using a lot of divine power doesn’t harm the body.”

“What would a High Priest who has only lived for 30 years know? He probably hasn’t treated as many people as you have.”

Kiyen denied it firmly. No matter how he thought about it, Lasano had healed far more people during the time they had been together, but Cullen smiled inwardly instead of correcting him. It was an unconscious action.

The reason he smiled.

“……Now.”

And Kiyen seemed to have not missed the fleeting moment he saw.

Kiyen, who had been talking to Cullen, slowly widened his eyes and his lips moved as if in disbelief. Seeing his reaction, Cullen realized that he had drawn a faint smile on his face.

“Did you smile at me?”

Even as he asked, Kiyen shook his head.

“That wouldn’t be possible. I haven’t done anything to make you happy…”

Muttering to himself, Kiyen leaned in to examine Cullen’s face closely.

Kiyen, who came close enough for his long eyelashes to touch, was visible as he examined me from various angles. A fragrant scent wafted gently, and I felt a churning in my stomach, as if our noses were about to brush.

“Did I see things that weren’t there, Cullen?”

Kiyen asked earnestly, as if seeking confirmation. My heart was beating fast, making it difficult to speak, but Cullen replied softly.

“I don’t know.”

At those words, Kiyen quickly pulled back. Even with my answer of “I don’t know,” his face was excited.

“I have something to show you. Can you spare some time?”

“Yes.”

Kiyen, who had cautiously asked for permission, smiled when he received the answer. Watching his face, which smiled white like a child’s, my heart beat faster. He habitually reached out his hand, then made an “Ah” sound and withdrew it. It was before Cullen could react.

Kiyen withdrew his white hand, clenched his fist slightly, then slowly began to walk. Beside Kiyen, who walked in step with me, Cullen gazed at his trembling hand. The words he had pondered earlier lingered in his mouth.

“You can touch me.”

However, he couldn’t be sure if it was a word spoken out of consideration for Kiyen, as a habit, or because he truly wanted it.

While he was contemplating this, Kiyen stopped walking. It was the central region, where plains stretched out, so where Kiyen stood, there were sparse silver grasses.

It wasn’t a particularly unusual landscape. Rather, perhaps because they were getting closer to the passage Ulli had mentioned, dry, cracked gray land occupied a larger area.

Kiyen, who stopped at the verge just before the silver grasses disappeared entirely, slowly bent down.

“I found this.”

Kiyen, who had bent his upper body and raised his head, met my eyes. His finger pointed to a single flower blooming on the dry land. On the parched ground, where no water seemed to flow, this one flower bloomed hidden among the silver grasses. Its round, silver petals fluttered.

“I don’t know the name of this flower either. I discovered it when I first surveyed this place. It’s like… it quietly resides here, even though it’s not a suitable environment for a flower to bloom.”

Kiyen smiled.

“It looks like you. I wanted to show you.”

Looking at his beautiful eyes, smiling with joy, Cullen was momentarily speechless.

“You, who always stayed by my side no matter the situation, came to mind. Often, the past you shared also came to mind. Even though it must have hurt, the fact that you endured and are now in front of me also felt like you.”

Kiyen carefully removed his finger and gazed at the flower. Cullen also stared at it.

“When I see something beautiful, I think of you, Cullen.”

His soft voice echoed.

“Your feelings, which I didn’t realize before, keep reaching me. Your laughter as you ran to show me the Kiercharus Flowers, you who tried to pick flowers and show them to me, you who tried to do anything for me…”

Kiyen’s voice gradually faded at the end. He wore a slightly pained expression, as if lost in thought.

“I didn’t know what your intentions were when you gave me flowers, so I didn’t accept them. I got angry, seeing only the result without understanding the meaning of your actions. I’m sorry.”

Cullen hadn’t expected Kiyen to remember and mention that incident. His chest felt heavy, and Cullen’s lips moved. He had to say something, but it felt as if Kiyen’s emotions were filling him completely, making it difficult to breathe.

“I don’t know if you’ll like this, but…”

His voice, clumsy yet sincere, echoed gently.

“Even if you don’t like it much, if it’s something you like, I want to do anything for you.”