“Helix, are you crying?”

Leah wouldn’t know.

How he felt watching over her unconscious form after rushing here at Karai’s call, learning of her mana going berserk.

Even being trapped in the sealing formation wasn’t this despairing.

Leah’s confident expression.

Her side profile when she acted oblivious after making mistakes or feeling embarrassed.

Her unique playful smile when complimenting him on being handsome.

Those blue eyes looking straight at him when speaking firmly.

When all of that disappeared.

His heart remained quiet as if it had forgotten how to beat.

It felt like being buried alive in deep mud.

To the point where he’d rather die protecting Leah now than feel that again.

“Leah.”

Helix’s delicate fingers brushed the back of Leah’s hand.

At his hesitant motion as if wanting to confirm something, Leah firmly grabbed his fingers.

“…Are you going to kill them all?”

“If you want.”

“I want that.”

Leah’s eyes sparkled blue.

“But do it without getting hurt. Can you?”

Undisguisable joy appeared on Helix’s face at Leah’s words.

Yes.

This is Leah.

His heart beat.

His contractor, Leah Piert.

He whispered.

“Whatever you want, Leah, anything.”

“When you say that, it makes me want to make you do even worse things.”

“I know you won’t.”

Helix, who had been smiling widely, turned his gaze to the spies. His elegant face became cold in an instant.

Step.

He moved away from Leah’s side.

“Ugh.”

Karai groaned as his shoulder was strongly gripped. Mana surged from the large hand.

“With this mana, protect Leah.”

“…Yes!”

Step.

With each step forward.

Mana swirled around Helix, and the air in the room rippled and changed.

The spies became unsettled.

“Wh-what is this?”

Helix lifted his lips.

“According to my contractor’s will.”

At that moment.

Mana went berserk in Leah’s bedroom.

***

The Imperial Palace of the Oken Empire in the east.

A black-haired man sitting alone in a luxurious study, basking in the sunlight pouring through the large window, opened his eyes.

“……”

His vivid golden eyes like melted gold slowly turned black. He clenched his fist.

BOOM!

The black-haired man slammed the desk.

The solid mahogany desk instantly turned to ash under his fingertips burning with rage. It was supreme fire magic that didn’t even need flames to be lit.

“How dare…!”

Golden flames flickered and disappeared in the man’s black eyes.

“Dare to chase me out of her own dream?”

This was the first time such a ridiculous thing had happened.

Interfering with the mind of a mage created by his mana was his inherent right. He had intended to warn that woman who became a mage using his mana without permission.

So he invaded the mage’s dream.

Appearing in dreams, displaying power differences, and subjugating humans who feared him was as easy as breathing. Sometimes there were stubborn ones but it didn’t matter. After being engulfed in flames while alive, even in a dream, no one remained sane.

They either went mad, died, or tried to lick his feet.

That woman should have been the same. He thought she would submit or go mad when frightened. If not, he didn’t care if she died.

‘But to escape on her own without submitting…’

That attitude of acting like the master of magic when she was just vermin who stole a bit of his mana. Moreover, she moved the dream’s foundation leaving him behind, eventually forcing him out of the dream. It was the height of impudence.

‘Having such a ridiculous dream with cookies as soldiers…’

His narrowed eyes as he ground his teeth.

‘…Does she act so bold because she has something to rely on?’

Besides his mana, he sensed other mana from the mage woman. It was alien and powerful mana, similar to the energy that awakened in the Hel Mountains.

Need to look into this.

The man slightly nodded and a subordinate who had been hiding appeared before him.

“There’s a target to investigate in the Kingdom of Peiren. Make preparations.”

The subordinate bowed deeply.

“I receive your command, Your Highness.”

***

Leah slept for another full day after the spies were eliminated.

When she woke up it was midnight. As she blinked in the darkness, there was a careful presence beside her along with the fresh scent of forest.

“…Helix?”

“Leah.”

He took her hand with relief. She naturally held on tight while asking.

“What happened?”

“Everything’s being resolved well.”

That was reassuring. Leah quickly sat up.

“The culprits? Is brother interrogating them?”

“Didn’t you tell me to kill them?”

“Ah.”

Oops. Back then she just wanted them dead.

Seeing her flustered, Helix said.

“Don’t worry. Karai found their evidence and letters so there won’t be any problems with the investigation.”

“That’s good. Having Karai cooperate brings unexpected benefits.”

“He seems useful having him around. Seems he’s been thoroughly impressed by you, Leah.”

Leah asked somewhat bewildered.

“By me?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Helix added in a slightly displeased voice.

“He’s desperate to pledge his loyalty to you.”

“I don’t think I did anything particularly deserving of that with Karai…”

“What are you saying?”

Disbelief dripped from his voice. Leah shrugged her shoulders.

“I just accepted him because I thought he’d be helpful in saving the children, right? And Helix made him take an oath with the magic tool to create a safety measure.”

“Even so, immediately recruiting someone who was a spy isn’t something just anyone can do. Didn’t you give him a chance to prove his abilities and loyalty by helping the children?”

Helix added softly.

“Moreover, since Karai feels empathy for the children’s similar circumstances, you who unhesitatingly saved the children must look like a goddess to him.”

Just going by his voice, it seemed like Helix was the one who saw Leah as a goddess, not Karai. Leah felt slightly embarrassed and wrinkled her nose while needlessly lifting her head.

“Hmph. Hearing Helix talk about it, I am pretty cool, aren’t I?”

“Very cool.”

It was a voice filled with sincerity.

Leah felt somewhat ticklish in her chest. She wanted to see Helix’s face as he spoke seriously, but also wanted to just keep hearing his voice in the darkness like this.

“Someday.”

Helix said.

“I’ll have to search the Dragon’s lair for defensive artifacts. Something light that you can wear too, Leah, that changes size to fit the body.”

“Does something like that exist?”

“I remember hearing about it before. They said it was an item passed down from ancient times.”

“Is it okay to give me something so precious?”

To her words, Helix rather questioned back in puzzlement.

“If I don’t give such things to you, who else would I give them to?”

Leah could only blink for a moment, unable to answer.

“Leah?”

Helix asked as he lowered his face closer.

Just then, perhaps the clouds had cleared, moonlight filled the room. At his face so close, she unconsciously swallowed.

“Your ears are red. Do you still have a fever?”

At his concerned voice, Leah quickly replied while hiding her ears with both hands.

“It’s because you’re cool.”

“Another compliment?”

“N-no? I meant the armor I’ll wear is cool, not Helix?”

***

“I knew this would happen.”

Prince Patrick meeting Ruyan clicked his tongue.

“Ruyan, you’re too hot-headed. Matters like assassination attempts shouldn’t be handled with emotions alone.”

Having nothing to say, Ruyan gulped down the wine placed before him. The prince added.

“What would you have done without that Helix fellow?”

Then he would have lost Leah to the spies’ hands. Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine, and Ruyan shuddered as he swallowed the wine.

“I suppose… I should keep that man by Leah’s side.”

Even as he spoke, his throat felt rough like swallowing sand.

“Well thought. I hear he was also very helpful in treating Lady Leah?”

“……”

“Apologize properly and treat him well. Connections with helpful people are precious. That’s why I accommodate you even when you’re being this prickly.”

“…You’re speaking only right words today?”

“You must be ready to listen.”

Prince Patrick speaking openly after a long while looked comfortable and relaxed. It must be proof that what he’s saying now is his honest thoughts without reserve.

“The subjugation force will stay here until your matter is resolved, so come find me whenever you need advice.”

“You’re really making a big deal about staying longer as a guest.”

“Isn’t that the essence of politics?”

The prince who had been grinning lazily wiped the smile from his face.

“The center of the northern anomalies seems to be around here. I’d like you to buy time using Lady Piert’s recuperation as an excuse.”

He was planning to stay at the villa until confirming Leah was alright anyway. Ruyan nodded and poured another glass.

It was late evening by the time they finished a bottle of wine.

Heading back to his room after parting with the prince, Ruyan hesitated for a moment before changing direction towards Helix’s room.

***

The plan to go to the Dragon’s lair to find protective gear for Leah once she recovered was postponed.

An unexpected visitor had arrived.

“I am Keron, Master of the capital’s Dark Guild.”

Dark Guild? Master?

Leah’s eyes widened at the appearance of such an unexpected figure. In contrast, Ruyan and Helix didn’t seem surprised.

“You came quickly considering the long journey.”

“How could I not rush when an old friend calls in a favor?”

Master Keron replied to Ruyan’s words while giving Helix a look.

“It’s been a while, Guardian. Thank you for returning our youngest.”

“It was possible because Lord Piert agreed.”

At Helix’s words, Leah turned to Ruyan.

“What did little brother do with Helix?”

“He said to let go of the assassin who tried to kill you disguised as a maid. Because the assassin was a half-elf.”

She couldn’t believe her ears.

“Half…elf?”

“Yes. He said their movements were similar to a half-elf he knew. So when we checked with the assassin, they were surprised and asked how we knew their identity. Apparently the half-elf Helix knows is their guild master.”

Ruyan sighed.