This couldn’t be done alone. Yet she said she was the only one of the “human” race still alive, and there were no signs of other people around.

Was this technology a legacy of the “human” race?

When Regan asked about this, Haniel hesitated and trailed off.

It was made by humans, but system? Status window?

Giving explanations that seemed like riddles to Regan.

And regarding keeping a fire burning.

Regan had hardly seen Haniel approaching what she called a “hearth,” a strangely shaped furnace.

To keep a fire from going out, someone would need to stay nearby at all times, carefully tending to the remaining firewood and protecting the embers.

When asked about this, she again mentioned things like “coal” and “hard oak.”

“Coal lasts easily a week once you put it in, and a piece of hard oak lasts about 3 days…”

Yet the fuel in question was nowhere to be seen around, and its duration was beyond Regan’s common sense. If such things were discovered in Soleil, they would have brought about tremendous change.

In any case, the exterior of this house was too intricate and beautiful to have been built by Haniel alone, the crops growing abnormally large to the size of small trees, and all the various devices differed in many ways from those of the outside world.

More magical than magic itself.

Yes, almost as if…

“It’s like being in another world.”

“What did you say?”

“…Nothing, nothing at all.”

What matters is that all these things allow Haniel to fully maintain her life here by herself.

To live abundantly even when isolated from society and the world.

A territory in the middle of the Nightmare Forest. Despite the obvious presence of extremely dangerous rifts scattered here and there, Haniel’s territory was just peaceful and safe, as if unaware of such dangers.

This land full of vitality itself seemed to want to become Haniel’s “home.”

Wishing for its owner to live a safe and peaceful life…

‘Did such a life ever exist?’

At least not for Regan.

That’s why Regan would occasionally pause to rest while moving his body to relieve the heat of his mating season, and quietly gaze at Haniel’s territory, lost in thought.

Looking at the land that felt so peaceful, unrelated to the dynamic troubles of the outside world…

And then waiting in his heart, while denying it to himself, for her to pass by and offer a greeting.

Because it made him feel as if he had one foot in this life.

As if he were spending the time he had always deeply yearned for with his perfect match in the perfect place.

Perhaps all of this might be a mirage.

In fact, the heat of his mating season had been lasting so long that he was beginning to wonder if even that night with her a few days ago had really happened.

“Since we’re talking about the orchard… here, take this.”

Thud!

Breaking his reverie, an orange ball rolled into his view, and Regan quickly grabbed it.

“This is…”

“I picked it up on the way… well, not exactly. I just picked this orange earlier.”

It was a glossy orange-colored orange. What was unusual was that it was as big as a human head. It was large enough to give someone a concussion if it fell from a tree onto a person below.

Could there have been space in her front pocket for such a large fruit? Haniel, who handed over the “orange” from who knows where, said:

“So… I read somewhere that oranges are good for immunity and blood pressure regulation… And the fruits I grow have several times better effects, you know.”

“Effects?”

“Yes. Anyway, I said I’d help you first, right? You should eat things like this from time to time.”

Scratching the back of her neck, Haniel smiled awkwardly at the silent Regan.

“…”

Yes, this kind of thing. This kind of goodwill is what bewilders Regan.

To hide the corner of his mouth twisting anxiously, Regan lifted the orange to smell it.

With his nose against the orange, it should be filled with a fresh fruit scent, but instead, what filled his nostrils was the scent of skin he hadn’t fully tasted a few days ago.

It felt as if the hair on the back of his neck was standing on end.

“So, were you working out your body here today, too? Are you feeling better now?”

Haniel casually asked, not noticing Regan’s persistent gaze.

This clearing at the edge of the field is where Regan’s training ground is located.

Since staying at Haniel’s house, Regan had asked for her permission to set up a temporary training ground and had been spending most of his time around here.

‘He said he physically exhausts himself to relieve the heat of his mating season.’

She hadn’t yet asked exactly what method he used, not wanting to burden him, but seeing him return home exhausted every time, it must be extremely arduous training.

In any case, he always spent time at the training ground from early morning until mealtime, and Haniel, worried that her constitution or that d*mn smell might disturb him, would only greet him briefly from a distance.

Of course, today she had come all the way here while lost in thought.

Haniel glanced at the clearing behind Regan.

Cold sweat ran down her back.

“…What on earth are you doing to my land?”

There wasn’t anything special placed here originally… but the clearing had changed almost beyond recognition, like ruins.

The ground was dug up in a mess, impossible to guess what tools had been used.

The scarecrow Regan had temporarily set up in the middle was tattered as if from a nightmare, and the weeds that had been around were uprooted and scattered.

‘It’s literally a mess.’

It probably wouldn’t look like this even if several wild beasts were let loose here.

Is this how a mating season is calmed down?

At a loss for words at the scene that was even more chaotic than expected, she aimlessly scanned the clearing and suddenly discovered a sword lying on the ground.

A wooden sword that seemed to have been hastily carved for use. It was a somewhat unexpected item. Since he was a man who could transform into an animal, she had assumed he would fight only in animal form.

‘So he fights with a sword too. That’s why he needed the scarecrow.’

But what about those bloodstains?

As soon as Haniel saw the dried reddish bloodstains on the ground, she turned her head toward Regan.

“!”

Looking closely, Regan’s flushed face had scratches and blood traces that hadn’t been completely wiped away.

Haniel slid her gaze along where the bloodstains continued.

“Oh no…”

Arms covered in wounds with scabs barely formed.

Judging by the spacing and size, they looked like self-inflicted wounds, whether Regan had lost control or couldn’t endure.

It was a sight that made her heart sink. Just as Haniel unconsciously reached out to touch his arm, Regan quickly backed away.

“Don’t touch me.”

His voice was completely rigid.

Realizing her mistake, Haniel slightly withdrew her hand and said:

“Sorry for touching. But the wounds look quite deep, shouldn’t they be treated?”

“These are nothing. You don’t need to worry about…”

“What? How can I not worry?”

She sighed and continued.

“Look, Regan. Is there really nothing more I can do to help?”

“If there’s anything I can do, I’ll help you with anything.”

Haniel had made such an offer to Regan, extending her hand. That she would help with anything.

But although Regan had spoken as if he would fully utilize her help at that moment, all he ultimately asked for was to stay at her house.

‘Is this really okay?’

It might be easier on her mind to make a new potion for him.

Not knowing about the characteristics of the races here or the Hume race, Haniel felt as if she had taken on a burden and said:

“No matter how I look at it, your condition doesn’t seem to be improving. If that’s the case, rather…”

Hup. Haniel, who was speaking, suddenly pressed her lips together.

“…Rather?”

Regan’s brow furrowed. Haniel bit the inside of her cheek so hard it might burst.

What? Rather what!

‘Has my mouth gone crazy!’

Rather, if it hurts that much, was she going to offer herself? Is that all she can think about?

Instead of blaming the status window that encouraged s*x, it seemed more appropriate to blame her rotten head that was renting out space to millions of l*stful demons.

As if the scenes from her dreams were unfolding again, Haniel’s face grew hot.

When she stopped speaking, Regan stared at her silently with his characteristic gaze that made his intentions impossible to guess, then slightly raised his head.

And… Haniel clearly saw it.

The man’s well-shaped nose slightly contorting as if smelling something in the air…

Regan was smelling the scent of excitement emanating from her.