After sweeping away the obsessive fans with a whirlwind and sending them flying far away, the Magic Tower briefly found peace.

“Tower Master… how far did you send those people flying?”

“To the Oken Empire.”

The Magic Tower administrator’s jaw dropped at Leah’s response.

“I’m kidding. I only sent them about three days’ journey from here.”

The administrator wiped his brow in relief.

“Phew. At least you didn’t k*ll them.”

He seemed worried because many of the obsessive fans were nobles from the Kingdom of Peiren. She chuckled softly.

“They probably wish they were dead by now.”

“Pardon?”

“I sent them to an area bordering the Piert Ducal territory.”

“…Doesn’t the young master train there during summer?”

“That’s right.”

The administrator touched his forehead.

While it had seemed she was being lenient, she had actually handed them over to Ruyan, who was most suitable for dealing with such matters.

“Don’t worry too much. My younger brother has matured a lot lately, hasn’t he? He won’t k*ll them. Probably.”

“Yes, p-r-o-b-a-b-l-y so…”

The obsessive fans might be wailing that death would be better than their current situation. He swallowed a sigh. Both the Tower Master before him and Swordmaster Ruyan were the type to boldly ask, “What? Why? Isn’t this merciful enough?”

‘Considering the poisoning incident, they are indeed being merciful…’

But why did that make it even more frightening? The administrator shuddered and shook his head. Good grief, I don’t even know anymore. With a resigned expression, he shuffled away.

***

Leah and Helix headed to the treasure vault to find the spirit.

The moment they opened the vault, both were speechless. The entire chamber was bathed in red light.

“All this light… is coming from that necklace?”

Leah shook her head, half in amazement, half in disbelief.

Helix approached the ruby necklace that continued to emit light, his face stern. A small spirit trembled beside the necklace, looking up at him.

“It-it’s not my fault.”

He silently pointed at the glimmering ruby necklace in response to the spirit’s words.

“No, it’s not normally like that. It wasn’t like that when you came to the vault before. You saw it yourself, didn’t you?”

“I clearly asked for people to like mages.”

Helix spoke coldly.

“You promised in Archmage Ander’s name.”

“It really isn’t my fault!”

The spirit cried out indignantly.

“I only activate the magic! The power that fulfills the magic depends on how much the person loves their partner—it’s accomplished through the power of that love!”

“…So.”

Leah interjected.

“This happened because Helix loves me too much?”

The spirit nodded vigorously.

“Then of course the magic would be powerful. You should have explained the activation conditions from the beginning.”

Leah said with a bright smile.

“So take it back.”

“…What? The love wish?”

“If you don’t take it back, I’ll change the records about Archmage Ander.”

She continued, still smiling.

“I’ll write that he created a spirit that doesn’t explain things properly and refuses to take responsibility when problems arise. That he caused such problems and had his Archmage title revoked posthumously.”

The love spirit’s mouth fell open.

Helix clicked his tongue softly beside her.

“Oh my. Tower Master, was there such a sad incident? How unfortunate.”

His performance was as unconvincing as reading from a book.

The spirit’s red eyes trembled like an earthquake. It realized that these lovers were only soft as pudding toward each other.

‘Threatening a spirit with the reputation of the mage who created it!’

It was no different from telling a human, “Do your parents know you’re doing this?”

“…That’s unfair!”

Leah didn’t budge.

“Yes. So take it back.”

***

The spirit pleaded that completely reversing an already granted wish was difficult.

Leah negotiated with the spirit, alternating between coaxing and scolding, and they agreed to modify the wish slightly.

“So we’re changing it so people like mages just a little bit?”

“Yes. Make it a small goodwill, not reaching the level of love or obsession.”

The spirit nodded with a sigh.

“Magic of that level should last about ten years.”

With sunken cheeks, it looked at Leah and Helix.

“Enjoy your beautiful love, and let’s not meet again…”

“We won’t be seeing each other again.”

Helix said, taking Leah’s hand.

The spirit shook its head at the couple who were rubbing salt in its wounds until the very end. The necklace sparkled, and the spirit vanished.

“We really won’t see it again, right?”

“No, we won’t.”

Helix gently rubbed her hand in his, speaking with determination. Leah smiled.

“Then from now on, we should do many good deeds in the Magic Tower’s name and grow stronger. So that even after the goodwill disappears in ten years, people will respect the Magic Tower and mages.”

“You can accomplish anything, Leah.”

Her heart fluttered anew at his gaze full of trust. She looked up at him.

“I’m sure I’ll do well, but it’s hard to do alone.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It would be perfect if a reliable and handsome lover could help at times like this.”

“Well.”

Helix smiled and cupped Leah’s cheek.

“Isn’t such a lover right beside you?”

“That’s true. I guess I have no choice but to work with my lover, right?”

She beamed brightly with her face in his large hand.

Unable to resist, he showered her face with small kisses. She giggled at the ticklish sensation and wrapped her arms around his neck.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For knocking out Baron Durford’s corn.”

He almost snorted, forgetting the mood for a moment.

“Corn…? You mean smashing his teeth?”

“Yes. You turned him into a proper toothless wonder. Was that intentional?”

So she had noticed.

Helix said, looking slightly embarrassed:

“When I remembered how he tried to poison you, I couldn’t help it.”

“Right. That guy did that to me, yet his face was all shiny from eating well?”

“Exactly. I wanted to break more parts of him.”

But he had restrained himself, considering Leah’s image and that of the Magic Tower. His eyes grew cold.

‘At best, he’ll only survive a few more years.’

There was no dental treatment in the Kingdom of Peiren. Baron Durford was destined to wither away, unable to chew, suffering from weakened digestion and malnutrition.

“Leah.”

Helix embraced her.

“Seeing those criminals made me realize how difficult it must have been for you.”

He whispered.

“Thank you for coming to me without being intimidated or hurt by such lunatics.”

“…But I was hurt.”

Leah squirmed as she spoke.

“I was hurt, but Helix healed me completely.”

“…I should have hit him more.”

Thinking of how she had burned with fever while now safely in his arms made his blood run cold. Helix spoke softly.

“I think I understand why you cared so much about the mages’ reputation. You must have experienced so much in social circles.”

One-sided affection, insults from those who couldn’t claim her as their own, malicious criticism. Having experienced such things, she would naturally be sensitive about the reputation of the Magic Tower and mages.

“…It’s not just that.”

Leah said quietly.

“You don’t need to put on a brave face. It must have been difficult.”

“Um… I wasn’t going to mention this.”

Her face reddened.

Embarrassed, she spoke in a voice as small as a mosquito’s.

“Actually, I wanted to improve the mages’ reputation for Helix’s sake.”

“For me?”

Helix was surprised.

“Helix, do you remember how bitterly you smiled when talking about mages being discriminated against?”

“……”

His large hands carefully gripped her shoulders and pulled her away from him. He wanted to see her face. Leah continued, blushing deeply.

“And when the mage children went out with ice bars and had them taken by local hooligans, you were incredibly angry.”

“……”

At Helix’s silence, she glanced at him nervously. Her voice grew even smaller.

“Are you disappointed in me?”

Leah hesitated before continuing.

“Because I’m not as good a person as you?”

But what can I do when you’re my biggest concern? As she added this small excuse, Helix felt his heart might burst.

He had thought he was protecting the Magic Tower, the hatchlings, and the world for Leah. But Leah had also been changing her surroundings for him.

“…Leah, it’s the opposite.”

This aspect of her made him insanely happy.

He recalled what the ducal family members had told him after establishing the Magic Tower.

‘Our Leah knows how to receive and give love.’

‘She showed us the joy of living as a family when we were bound by noble customs. As long as Leah is happy, that’s what matters.’

He thought he understood what they meant.

But he had been wrong. Leah loved him far more than he had imagined.

‘…Do I deserve to receive such a big heart?’

He was afraid. He was so happy that he feared this moment might burst like a bubble. Helix whispered in a tight voice.

“I should become a better person, even for your sake.”

“No.”

She shook her head.

“I think the current Helix is already wonderful. You don’t need to become a better person.”

Leah wrapped her arms around him.

“Just stay by my side.”

By your side. Like this.

Helix carefully lowered his face to hers. He gently rubbed her upper lip with his and nibbled on her soft lower lip.

Leah closed her eyes at the slowly initiated kiss.

She trembled like she’d been struck by electricity from the mana transferred through his tongue. Leah clung to Helix desperately.

Deep in her stomach, in her heart, fire mana and wind mana swirled together, responding to each other.

She held him tightly. She always felt this way when such overwhelming mana poured into her. The feeling of drifting far away from the world, of falling endlessly.

And in that floating sensation, Helix always held her and pulled her back to his side.

Even if she was sometimes surprised by the strange and powerful force within her, he would always hold her. He would always remain by her side, unchanging.

“It feels so good…”

Helix feels so good. His touch grew urgent at her soft voice. Heat and mana flowed from each of his fingers, and unable to bear it, she gently bit his lip. A low laugh escaped from his mouth at her petulant gesture, but even that laugh was dry, without any composure.

“My Leah.”

He called to her.

“My Tower Master. My Dragonlord.”

With eyes that could drip honey, Helix kissed her above her eyebrows.

“My blue flame.”

Was the emotion his urgent, dry voice was suppressing desire or possessiveness? He repeated like making a wish. Forever, he wanted to see her eyes shining from the closest place.

Me too. She embraced Helix. He whispered in her ear.

“Will you marry me?”