What if the sealing formation suddenly pulls Helix in when he gets close?

What if the mana stones don’t work?

‘It will work.’

Her eyes trembled as she watched Helix’s back moving away.

Afraid his broad shoulders and long legs might turn back into a statue.

‘Will it work?’

Afraid his long silver hair and those gray eyes that subtly smiled at her might harden like glasswork.

Kuung.

A heavy sound resonated as the mana stone pillar touched the bottom of the sealing formation.

‘Is it working?’

Gulp.

She perked up her ears and focused her eyes.

Her palms were sweaty.

At that moment, Leah’s body swayed.

Woong woong woong…

As light burst up from the bottom of the sealing formation like an explosion, the light wrapped around the mana stone.

She could feel the vibration that started from the floor traveling along the walls and ceiling out of the cave.

“…Did it work? It worked, right?”

Leah asked Helix.

Her voice trembled without her realizing it.

She who had been calm even when talking about her own health now showed visible anxiety.

Helix couldn’t take his eyes off Leah.

His heart beat heavily.

“…Yes.”

“Then Helix, you won’t go in there, right?”

“…”

He looked at her and slowly nodded.

“Ugh…”

Leah sat down.

She felt dizzy as the tension suddenly released.

“The floor is cold.”

Helix sat beside her, spreading his cloak.

Leah quickly placed herself on the cloak and sighed while looking at the sealing formation.

“…It looks fine.”

“It seems to be working well.”

Bitterness spread across Helix’s face.

“Was I imprisoned for something that could have been solved like this?”

Leah glanced at him.

Not knowing what had happened or why he was imprisoned, it was awkward to offer words of comfort.

‘But I probably shouldn’t just stay quiet here.’

She struggled for a moment before speaking.

“Still, we don’t know how long the barrier will last with that. The capacity is different.”

“…Is that the difference?”

“Is that really all there is to it?”

Leah smiled playfully.

“Actually, I think even the person… no, even the dragon who made this didn’t know it could be done this way. I just had a genius breakthrough.”

Helix couldn’t help but smile.

“I’ll acknowledge that.”

“Hah. Whose apprentice is this brilliant? My hidden talent is scary.”

He poured cold water on Leah’s triumphant attitude.

“If you exercise more, you could make that talent bloom even further.”

“No wait. That’s not right.”

Helix finally laughed out loud at Leah shaking her head seriously.

‘Ah, the light…!’

Exposed defenseless to his smiling face, Leah stiffened and turned her head away.

“Ah, anyway. Isn’t it better when we think and act together?”

“Much better.”

“Right? If you hadn’t listened to your contractor, broke the contract and acted alone, it could have been terrible?”

When she pressured him with a look that said he should reflect, Helix nodded as if surrendering.

“You’re right, I have nothing to say.”

“Exactly. So from now on, Helix making decisions alone is forbidden.”

Helix caught himself as he was about to keep nodding unconsciously.

“…From now on?”

“For the entire contract period. You said you’d do as I say earlier, right?”

“That was.”

It was about following your method regarding the sealing formation.

But somehow the words wouldn’t come out.

He didn’t want to say no.

“…Alright.”

Helix said, “I’ll do as you say.”

Had these words ever felt so joyful without feeling dragged along?

As he mulled over his own words at this unfamiliar feeling, Leah spoke again.

“During the contract period, you’re also not allowed to abandon me and run off somewhere to sacrifice yourself.”

“I won’t abandon you and leave.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re saying you’ll tell me before you go?”

“That’s right.”

“Aiyoo.”

Leah wrinkled her nose and laughed.

“This contractor is really consistent.”

Helix slowly closed and opened his eyes.

Her every movement was so distinct and vivid.

Slightly shaking her head as if there was no helping it, wrinkling her nose, her lips drawing a playful arc, her blue eyes creasing as they sparkled at him…

Thump.

His heartbeat.

Thump. Thump.

Echoed in his ears like drums.

Even Leah’s chattering voice as she held up one finger sounded distant.

“…This won’t do. From now on… let’s have… time once a day.”

“Alright.”

Helix agreed gruffly.

Only his outward appearance seemed normal.

Half out of his mind, he nodded mechanically.

“Let’s do as you say.”

After answering, Helix belatedly asked.

“But… what is ‘time’?”

***

An emergency meeting was held in the palace overlooking the capital of Peiren.

The reason for this emergency disaster meeting attended by only three people – the King, the Minister, and the Crown Prince – was one thing. The unseasonable heavy snow in the north.

This year, anomalies in the north were unprecedentedly frequent.

Frequent monster appearances.

Heavy snow in early autumn.

All of these were unprecedented events.

“The anomalies are concentrated only in the Hel Mountains.”

At Crown Prince Patrick’s report, the Minister and King’s expressions grew serious.

The Hel Mountains, located at the northernmost point of the Kingdom of Peiren, were sacred mountains protecting the kingdom from the corrupted lands to the north.

What could it mean for such anomalies to occur consecutively in these Hel Mountains?

“I will go to the Hel Mountains myself.”

“You’ll go personally, Prince?”

“Yes.”

Prince Patrick’s eyes were serious.

“I plan to secretly investigate the cause of these anomalies while leading the monster subjugation force.”

The Prince added that if he personally went to subjugate monsters, it would improve public opinion and help calm the northern people’s minds.

The Minister agreed.

“The Prince is right. The nobility will only think you want to earn merit, they won’t expect you to be investigating.”

It was true.

While deceiving the pro-empire nobles’ eyes to investigate the border and anomalies, they could highlight Prince Patrick’s achievements and emphasize the royal family’s benevolence to appease public sentiment.

Though it seemed like a plan with only benefits, the King worried.

‘If the Prince were to be in danger…’

He was the only heir. Grand Duke Calosi could easily harm the Prince where there were no eyes watching.

After contemplating for a while, the King spoke.

“…However, for this plan to succeed, the escort must be thorough. We’ll need an elite special force small enough not to draw attention to the investigation.”

The Prince spoke as if he had been waiting.

“I have just the right person in mind.”

“The right person? Who would that be?”

***

Though Helkan was covered in unseasonable heavy snow, the Piert villa was peaceful except for the knights struggling to clear the snow.

Leah devoted herself to magic training every day.

‘But is this magic lessons or rehabilitation training?’

She thought while circling the Hel Mountains.

Could it be that Helix wants to train me as a combat mage?

Is that why he’s making me do both magic lessons and exercise in the Hel Mountains, running me through hardcore training?

“Huff huff.”

After walking one round along the mountain ridge, Leah asked while catching her breath.

“Helix, huff, be honest, tell me. This is combat mage, huff, training right?”

Helix handed her water and said curtly.

“It’s to build human-like stamina. As if I would expect combat from someone with your athletic ability.”

“Ouch, brutal truth…”

While helping the stumbling Leah up, he said offhandedly.

“Still, your stamina seems to be building. Your mana flow has gotten stronger too.”

“Then why can’t I cast magic?”

When she sighed, Helix said.

“No need to be hasty. When a flower bud ripens, it will bloom when it’s time. The right moment will come.”

“You think so? I guess you’re right?”

I shouldn’t be impatient.

Leah stretched her body and turned her head toward Helix.

“Anyway, today’s schedule is done right? Thanks for today too.”

“…Good work.”

A light closing greeting.

He tensed up.

Because of the praise time that always happened when the schedule ended.

“Helix, have I told you you’re handsome?”

“You have.”

“I have? Well hear it again. You’re the perfect example of a cold handsome man.”

“…”

“Is it just your looks? Earlier when you were worried I might be cold, you infused warm mana right? I can’t believe how considerate and sensitive you are.”

“…Mmm.”

Helix groaned.

“…Do we have to do this every day?”

“We agreed to, didn’t we?”

Why did he agree without properly listening back then?

Helix regretted it but it was too late.

“I seem to have made a mistake.”

“What are you saying? We still lack bonding between contractors.”

That was Leah’s claim.

As an effort to build trust and get to know each other, they should have praise time once a day.

She said if you keep praising someone, you’ll develop affection and get to know their good points better.

Of course, there was a hidden intention.

‘I finally caught this health lifeline, it’s troublesome if he keeps trying to sacrifice himself like this.’

His tendency to step forward without hesitation was also concerning.

He showed signs of not valuing himself, with self-sacrifice ingrained in him.

‘Then he’ll try to sacrifice himself again for similar things.’

How could she let go of her contractor and magic teacher so easily?

‘I need to bombard Helix with praise until he values himself.’

Leah was determined.

‘Build up his self-esteem, and help him socialize to fit in with the current world.’

So I can keep him as my contractor for a long time and milk the benefits!

“…”

Helix watched Leah making internal determinations.

She probably wouldn’t guess, but her ulterior motives were completely transparent to him.

‘She’s planning to stabilize my emotions to reduce sacrifices.’

But he pretended not to know.

Because even with such obvious intentions, he was grateful for her caring heart.

‘Still, I didn’t know it would be this embarrassing.’

He felt troubled every time Leah said “you’re handsome” with complete honesty.

“…Do people openly compliment appearances these days?”

“Not in social circles. But it’s fine between us. It’s praise time.”

It’s not fine.

It’s not fine at all!

Helix let out an internal scream while rubbing his face.

Embarrassing, awkward, wanting to run away.

Sometimes he felt it might be better if his whole body temporarily turned to stone.

While he was suffering, Leah looked up at him and spoke.