Even robbers who try to cover their tracks with shallow tricks deserve hanging, but these men seemed to be moving systematically under orders.

‘Before properly understanding the cause of the monster phenomenon, we discover a plot to hide crimes using monsters.’

It meant a major task was added while the main work had hit a wall.

Moreover, no matter how much they pressed, it seemed only that dead Scar really knew what was going on. The frustrated prince looked around at the subjugation force knights.

“What do you think they were aiming for with this?”

The subjugation force pondered.

Just who would use such capable men to massacre this remote rural village and try to escape by disguising it as monsters’ doing, and why?

“They clearly have something they don’t want traced. But we can’t know who’s behind it…”

“It seems impossible to get information from these men. Should we rather call the village chief and investigate what happened in the village?”

Prince Patrick who had been listening to the knights’ opinions turned his head.

“What does Lord Piert think… my lord?”

The prince’s eyes widened. Ruyan’s face had turned pale blue.

“My lord, are you unwell?”

Ruyan wiped his greatsword and stood up.

“My lord? Where are you going?”

“I can’t help but worry.”

“What do you mean?”

Ruyan spoke hurriedly.

“Leah is recuperating nearby, isn’t she? I need to check if she’s safe.”

“You’re going now because of that?”

The prince who was asking back and the other knights were dumbfounded. Ruyan started running, leaving his subjugation force companions behind.

The subjugation force members shouted at his figure disappearing like the wind.

“My lord? Lord Piert!”

“Someone catch that crazy sister-complex guy!”

***

Meanwhile at the Piert family villa, Leah was peacefully having early breakfast.

Helix who now commuted(?) to the lair with her was there too. While she ate honey yogurt, Helix sitting across from her spoke while cutting his soft omelet.

“After hearing what you said yesterday, I thought about what we’d need to teach the children.”

He said while putting a piece of his omelet on Leah’s plate.

“First, children need a healthy provider. Eat a bit more.”

He seemed to have changed tactics after nagging with worry that she ate too little and how would she ever get healthy.

“So I’ve officially become a provider?”

“Didn’t you say so yourself? This is the softest part, it’ll taste like egg pudding.”

How did he know I like pudding?

Leah scooped up the omelet he had served her.

Taking a big spoonful into her mouth, it was so soft. The more she chewed, the more the warm, fluffy feeling spread through her stomach, making her body feel awake.

“You’re right. It’s just how I like it.”

“I’m glad.”

“I usually can’t eat much breakfast but this is delicious. Helix, you really are the king of consideration.”

Helix was slightly flustered at the sudden praise.

“…Another praise session?”

“Yep.”

“…Why do you do that at random times?”

“Because Helix does praiseworthy things at random times?”

By that logic, you do surprising things at random times too. He inwardly shook his head and changed the subject.

“Anyway, about teaching the children. What if we had books suitable for children to learn magic?”

“Magic textbooks?”

Leah’s eyes lit up.

“That would be really great. But with the magic towers gone, are such books still around?”

“They are.”

Helix nodded.

“Dragons are experts on magic. The Dragon’s library should have beginner textbooks.”

“Dragon’s library? Where is that?”

“In the mountain behind us.”

Silence fell over the dining table for a moment.

“…Where did you say?”

“There’s a Dragon’s lair in the mountain behind us, isn’t there.”

Helix said nonchalantly.

“There’s a secret passage there that leads to the library.”

***

Deep beneath the Hel Mountains.

In the depths of Dragonlord Azura’s lair.

Leah and Helix arrived at the massive library located there.

Leah gaped at the towers of bookshelves stacked as high as dozens of floors.

“…How do we find books here?”

The height was so dizzying it was scary.

“Azura was a Dragon who controlled wind. She used to fly around.”

“Then what about us?”

Don’t tell me you can fly too, Helix.

Leah looked up at him with suspicious eyes.

“I’m permitted so it’s fine.”

“Permitted?”

“It means I can use the magic power cast on this library.”

Helix held out his hand.

“Hold on tight.”

“…I’ll kill you if you drop me.”

Leah timidly threatened as she took Helix’s outstretched hand.

“Tighter.”

“Why does that sound scary?”

Though complaining, Leah gripped his hand tighter, and after confirming this, he opened his lips.

[Basics of Magic.]

Suddenly their bodies shot upward as if riding an elevator with no floor or walls.

“Aaaaahhh!”

Leah clung to Helix.

“Mommy! Mommy!”

“L-Leah?”

Helix was bewildered.

To think she who didn’t even flinch while firing flame magic would be this scared.

“Leah, calm down. It’s alright.”

When he tried to let go of her hand to embrace her, Leah screamed.

“Don’t let go!”

She flailed her arms in terror.

“I didn’t expect you to be this scared.”

Muttering, Helix lifted Leah up.

“Eek!”

Suddenly being held in a princess carry position mid-air, Leah was completely disoriented.

Helix lowered his head.

“Put your arms around my neck.”

Following his low voice’s instruction, she clung to Helix’s neck.

Long hair cascaded over her cheeks. Through the silver hair falling like curtains blocking her view, Helix’s unique scent wafted over.

“…Are you still scared?”

His breath asking in almost a whisper tickled her forehead.

“N-no… yes I am.”

Seeing Leah try to act brave but quickly confess honestly, Helix chuckled softly. The trembling of his shoulders transmitted to her arms around his neck, making her grumble.

“Th-the ride is rough.”

“How about this then.”

He adjusted his grip on Leah, tightening his strong arms. She blinked, suddenly finding herself pressed against Helix’s chest.

“Um… huh?”

Did I just get played somehow?

“Are you scared? Should I hold you tighter?”

But his voice asking that was calm and caring.

Yet the heartbeat resonating through his broad chest sounded like drums.

Leah was confused about which aspect to point out.

Thump. Thump.

But why did hearing these drumbeats make her feel at ease?

She tightened her arms around Helix’s neck.

‘My lifeline.’

My lifeline. My contractor who would never drop me.

No matter the dizzying height and winds surrounding them, she felt safe now pressed against Helix. As certainty settled in, alertness gradually returned to Leah’s eyes.

Meanwhile, the library’s magic elevator continued soaring upward, weaving between bookshelves.

Whoosh.

The wind blowing stronger at higher altitudes ruffled their hair, and the distinctive smell of old books seeped into their noses.

“Wow…”

Only now did the majesty of this grand library enter her eyes.

Towers of books rising endlessly.

Ancient volumes decorated with gold leaf and jewels.

“Though I dislike Dragons.”

Helix said.

“I do like this library.”

“Yeah. It’s amazing.”

Leah was staring at the towers of books with an enchanted expression when she unconsciously looked down.

“Eek!”

She made a strange sound and tightened her arms around Helix’s neck.

“A-are we almost there?”

“Almost.”

Could have been further away. Helix looked at the top of the bookshelf with dissatisfaction.

A magic book glinted as if calling to them from a shelf near the ceiling.

“There it is. Basics of Magic.”

Leah brightened.

“So we found everything now?”

“How could that be?”

After pulling out the magic book, Helix adjusted his hold on her again.

[History of Magic.]

“Mommyyyyy!!!”

***

Leah returned to the villa completely exhausted, riding piggyback on Helix.

“My lady!”

The startled maids hurried to prepare bath water, and Janet rushed off to brew medicinal tea.

“My lady, you must be tired? Shall I prepare bath salts and oils?”

“I’d like to rest alone for now.”

Leah dismissed the maids and got into the tub. The tension melted away as she sank into the hot water.

“Oh god, I’m dying…”

The complaints came out naturally.

She had been clinging to Helix the whole time as he held her while riding the library’s magic elevator. Her whole body ached from being tense in various ways.

‘But it wasn’t all bad.’

Leah thought with a melting feeling.

‘I was really shocked at first but… it got kind of fun later. It was really amazing.’

Spinning between the bookshelves of the massive, beautiful tower-like library while feeling the book-scented wind was more exciting than expected.

‘But I won’t do it again. Unless my fear of heights goes away.’

Leah recalled what she had done while claiming to be scared. Clinging to Helix, wrapping her arms around his neck, burrowing into his chest while screaming…

“Ughhhh…”

She dunked her face in the bathwater. She felt like dying from embarrassment as more memories surfaced.

‘Shouldn’t things done in a panic state be kind of forgotten? Why are they becoming more vivid in my memory?’

She also remembered Helix’s embrace tightening each time she clung to him. Leah shook her head trying to stop her memories from running wild, then paused.

‘But why did Helix seem fine after all that trouble?’

Those strong arms that held her as she struggled, that broad back that carried her without wavering, showed no signs of fatigue at all.

‘Are guardians really that different from normal people?’

Was that level of exertion nothing to a guardian, so he had strangely abundant strength while holding and carrying Leah like that? Was that why his heart was beating so strongly…

Thump. Thump.

Remembering those drumbeat-like pulses made her own heart seem to beat faster for no reason.