Leah shuddered in embarrassment.

This court physician, whom she thought was just a stern doctor, now seemed like someone who could win first place in male flattery even if he was placed in her past life’s Korea.

‘So this is what they call the epic of flattery!’

Anyway, perhaps because of that effect, the children wouldn’t leave Leah’s side. She was both pleased and troubled by this.

“I don’t know how to play with children.”

“My lady, why don’t you show them some fire magic?”

“Fireball! We want to see Fireball!”

With this appropriate encouragement, Leah’s spirits lifted.

“Hmph. That’s not difficult at all.”

“Waaah!”

“You’re quite popular.”

The Master who came along watched this scene before turning his head.

Helix stood motionless beside him, watching Leah interact with the children.

“Guardian, have you ever considered that she might be the Dragon’s Holy Maiden?”

“…”

“The circumstances certainly suggest it. It’s suspicious that she became the first mage in several hundred years.”

“Circumstances, you say.”

“Yes. For a mage to appear with the current amount of mana in the world…”

Honestly, it was close to a miracle in terms of probability.

She consumed the mana of dragons, which were said to be long extinct, and when she happened to consume it, a guardian who could freely control mana discovered her, and because her body was too weak for mana to spread through her blood vessels, she was able to open the mana pathways.

All those coincidences miraculously aligned for Leah to become a mage.

“Was it really a coincidence?”

The Master pointed out.

“Dragonlord Azura disguised himself as an herb gatherer and led her to you, Guardian. Everything from her waking you up to becoming a mage could have been Azura’s scheme.”

Helix shook his head.

“If she were the Dragon’s Holy Maiden, she wouldn’t have nearly died from consuming dragon mana.”

The Master paused.

That was true. The Dragon’s Holy Maiden wouldn’t be unable to accept dragon mana.

“And the feeling too…”

“The feeling?”

“There’s absolutely no sense of suspicion or unease.”

Rather, it was the opposite.

When he looked into Leah’s blue eyes, any slight distrust or suspicion would dissolve instantly like sugar on the tongue.

The Master nodded. The guardian’s intuition was trustworthy.

“…Then I’ll withdraw my suspicions as well. I’ll proceed considering Lady Piert as your ally.”

The Master added.

“So, what do you think about coming to the capital?”

“The capital? You mean Peiren’s capital?”

“Yes.”

He continued while looking toward Leah and the children.

“The lady has become a dual-core mage, and those children will likely grow up to be magic wielders or mages. With people trying to create magical weapons… threats will surely reach out.”

“You mean people like Count Trow?”

“Whatever might be behind him, yes. If dragons weren’t extinct, wouldn’t they do the same?”

Helix remained silent. The Master carefully persuaded him.

“Our Dark Guild is well-versed in Peiren’s information. And the Piert Ducal Family can do anything in the capital.”

“…”

“If you come to the capital, we can work together to quickly investigate the dragons and help you regain your power, can’t we?”

***

Leah had no appetite these days.

“My goodness, you’re leaving pudding behind?”

Janet asked worriedly, surprised.

“My lady, is something troubling you? Are you still not feeling well?”

“I just can’t eat well.”

“But… my lady, you’re someone who would even eat ginseng pudding if it’s pudding!”

Remembering the taste, Janet shuddered.

“Janet, you’re still wearing a flower belt… I mean, you’re too young to understand that taste. It’s the taste of becoming healthy.”

“My lady, you’re only nineteen too?”

“My mental age is eighty-two?”

Janet gaped in disbelief.

“How could ginseng pudding taste good to an old lady’s palate? Helix also said it’s more delicious with lots of honey…”

Leah, who had been speaking excitedly, suddenly became gloomy.

Helix.

‘His heart lies elsewhere.’

She remembered the Master’s words. His tone suggested he knew Helix well.

‘Ordinary people live according to their emotions, but not the Guardian. His heart lies not in emotions but in his mission. Justice, fairness, protection… such things.’

‘His hammer of judgment spares neither friend nor disciple. He’s not someone who would abandon his mission due to sentiment.’

As she recalled the Master’s words, her chest felt tight.

‘I said I knew him too, but do I really?’

Had she been listening to Helix’s occasional mentions of the past as if they were just old tales?

‘I thought I was closest to Helix.’

While the Master spoke as if he had observed Helix for a long time during his active guardian days, she was just talking about honey-topped ginseng pudding.

The strangely down mood continued even while walking around Hel Mountain with Helix.

“Leah, why are you so listless?”

Helix asked worriedly to the wilting Leah.

“I’m originally a weak and listless person, you know.”

“No. You’re weak but always full of energy.”

“No I’m not? You’re the one who’s wrong about that?”

Though she snapped at him, he smiled gently.

“Now that’s more like the Leah I know.”

Leah stared up at the smiling Helix.

You say you know me, but why do I feel like I don’t know anything about you?

“…About the Master.”

“Ah, you mean Keron?”

Leah hesitated momentarily at the familiar way he used the name.

“Were you close?”

“Well. We’ve known each other for a long time.”

Helix’s eyes lowered slightly.

“Back then, it was dangerous to be close to him while acting as a guardian.”

“Ah. Because vengeful dragons might harm him?”

“Not just dragons, but some mages too. Among kings and lords…”

No way, what did our straightforward cheat key do wrong that made everyone so desperate to tear him apart? Leah’s eyes grew fierce.

“Honestly, weren’t they just blaming you for their own mistakes?”

“Maybe not.”

“What do you mean maybe not! I can tell just from hearing about it!”

Helix looked down at Leah with wide gray eyes, then spoke somewhat stiffly.

“…Leah, I think you overestimate me too much.”

It was a distant voice filled with regret.

A tired and empty voice typical of someone who had lived bearing duty and grudges.

Leah was momentarily speechless.

Because she didn’t know Helix’s past when he was actively serving as a guardian. Because she hadn’t seen it.

“…How long have you known the Master?”

“I’m not sure exactly. Even including the years I was imprisoned, it wouldn’t be a thousand years.”

What’s with these units of time?

Leah suddenly felt distant from Helix. Somehow, she felt like she had lost to the Master.

‘The scale of time they’ve known each other is completely different!’

It’s unfair.

She thought.

‘I would die without Helix.’

But it wasn’t the same for Helix.

She thought they had a special relationship, having made a contract and all, but she actually didn’t know much about him at all.

‘Compared to that, the Master…’

The Master who gave off an aura strangely similar to Helix.

He said he had known Helix for a long time that Leah couldn’t even imagine.

‘So of course he would know more about Helix. Of course, but…’

Leah bit her lip.

Why did it feel so disappointing even though it made sense?

“…Then, I guess Helix would be more comfortable with the Master? Since you have so much to talk about.”

“I suppose so.”

Helix agreed.

“He remembers the old times that people nowadays don’t know about.”

“…Sorry for being a person of the present then.”

Helix flinched at her sharp tone.

“L-Leah? What’s wrong?”

“You don’t know why I’m like this! Because you’re from the old times!”

Sharp words that didn’t make sense kept spilling out uncontrollably. Even though she knew this wasn’t right, Helix’s face was already bewildered by her words.

‘Ah, really! Why am I like this, seriously!’

Yet despite her inner thoughts, words kept bursting out. Leah shouted as she ran away.

“Go hang out with your old friend, ancestor!”

***

“…I really don’t understand why Leah suddenly acted like that.”

“Haha.”

The Master let out an awkward laugh.

“Did you come to consult about that?”

“No. I came because Leah said to go play with you.”

Even in this situation, Helix had dutifully come to meet his old friend as Leah had said.

The Master pressed his forehead.

“Guardian, I’m not sure whether to say you’re the same as ever or consistently…”

“Usually when people say such things to me, they mean I’m frustrating or lack tact.”

“…Why are you so perceptive at times like this?”

Helix made a bitter face.

“If I were truly perceptive, Leah wouldn’t have acted like that.”

He never thought he’d see the day when the guardian would look so pitiful.

Suppressing an internal sigh, the Master spoke.

“The lady seems to be feeling hurt.”

“Hurt?”

“Yes.”

“Isn’t she angry with me?”

“Well, she is angry, but… rather than being angry because you did something wrong or because she dislikes you, it’s more like an explosion of hurt feelings.”

Helix carefully considered the Master’s words.

“So I hurt Leah’s feelings.”

To others, it might have sounded emotionless and cold, but the Master, who had observed him for many years, was inwardly surprised.

‘He only used that tone when he overthrew a kingdom because of that crazy mage king back then?’

The Master, taken aback, was asked by Helix.

“Why would Leah feel hurt?”

“…You don’t know?”

“Would I ask if I knew?”

Well, though Helix had lived long and was somewhat versed in human psychology, his expertise was limited to specific areas.

Things like the minds of villains, the inner thoughts of those in power, the hearts of victims. Precisely the fields related to his duties as a guardian.

The Master couldn’t help but sigh.

“She must be jealous and hurt because of me.”

“Leah? Of you? Why?”

At that response, it was now the Master’s turn to feel hurt. He suppressed a sigh and explained.

“From what I hear, the lady has made a contract with you and has been close to you, hasn’t she? She probably thought she was closest to you.”

“That’s right.”

“But then suddenly I appear as an old acquaintance, talking about past stories she doesn’t know about… From the lady’s perspective, it might seem like you and I are closer, making her jealous and hurt.”

“So you’re saying Leah is jealous and hurt because she wants to be closest to me?”