Chapter 1 (Part 9)

Night was falling.

“It’s dangerous.”

“We should thoroughly investigate tomorrow.”

It was then.

Screech.

A sharp scream echoed.

Anthus set Yuliana down from his arms. Drawing his sword, the knights followed suit.

“Lia, stay behind me.”

Crack.

Thud!

The sound of breaking grew louder. A new type of monster appeared before their eyes.

Screech!

“Sylph said there were no monsters… Where did it come from?”

The grotesque creature approached, emitting a sound like grinding metal.

“It looks like a walking rotten corpse.”

“Fortunately, it’s slow…”

“Look at that!”

The monster’s body was covered in large and small boils that burst, oozing pus. The saliva dripping from its torn mouth sizzled and emitted a foul stench as it hit the ground.

“It seems to be emitting poison.”

“Everyone, take out your holy artifacts!”

Anthus and the knights took out artifacts imbued with holy power from their dimensional spaces.

“Attack!”

Screech!

As they attacked with the holy artifacts simultaneously, the monster let out a pained scream.

“Holy power works on monsters! Bring it on!”

Just when they thought they had defeated the monster with the holy artifacts, it happened.

“No…”

As the thick smoke cleared, the monster reappeared.

“This can’t be…”

“It should have taken some damage!”

The knights were stunned to see the monster unaffected by the holy power.

“Everyone, step back! Noum, return!”

Yuliana, standing behind Anthus, sent Noum away and summoned the fire spirit Ifrit.

“Help me, Ifrit.”

A tremendous flame began to surround Yuliana.

[Protecting my contractor is a given.]

Ifrit spoke as it approached the monster.

[Don’t just call me for battles. Call me often like Sylph, contractor Yuli.]

Yuliana soothed Ifrit, who was grumbling as soon as it appeared.

“Lia, are you summoning an intermediate fire spirit?”

“Stop calling me by my nickname, Duke. The fire spirit is summoned only for battles. It’s a very strong spirit… but I don’t know if my mana will last until it destroys that monster.”

Since it was a battle spirit, it required much more mana than other spirits.

Nodding at Yuliana’s words, Anthus spoke.

“Lia, may I attack first?”

“Yes. Ifrit, wait a moment.”

[Understood.]

Anthus leaped high into the air. The red aura surrounding his sword grew larger. He then plunged his sword into the monster with all his might.

The monster began to scream.

“Fortunately, the sword aura works.”

The monster’s body, cut and fallen by Anthus’s red sword aura, began to regenerate like slime.

“Regeneration like slime…”

“That poisonous gas… Even from a distance, the smell is overwhelming! Be careful, Duke!”

Anthus swung his sword again, sending out a series of powerful sword auras. The speed of his attacks outpaced the monster’s regeneration.

“I’ll try to kill it this way.”

Anthus intended to pulverize the monster with his sword aura, but the monster suddenly spewed saliva from its mouth.

The ground where the saliva landed began to melt rapidly.

“As expected, it’s poison… What a dreadful monster.”

Screech!

“Duke, it might be better to burn that monster.”

“Lia, it’s dangerous.”

“I didn’t give you permission to call me by my nickname, Duke!”

“I called you by your nickname in urgency.”

Yuliana glared slightly at Anthus for calling her by her nickname again and then asked Ifrit.

“Ifrit, can you burn that monster to death?”

[I’ll try.]

Ifrit approached the monster and engulfed it in flames. The monster’s blue flesh began to melt away. As it melted, it started to regenerate.

[To stop the regeneration and destroy it, I’ll need more mana, Yuli.]

“Alright. You can use all my mana.”

[Understood. I’ll make sure to burn it completely.]

As all of Yuliana’s mana flowed into Ifrit, its power increased.

The great fire began to consume the monster’s body. Gradually, the monster’s movements ceased.

Ifrit burned the monster to ashes.

[Yuli, when your mana returns, summon Noum.]

“Why?”

[Noum said he has something to tell you.]

“Alright. Thank you for helping in the fight, Ifrit.”

[Protecting you is my duty.]

“Yes, thank you… You can go back now.”

Due to the rapid mana depletion, Yuliana felt dizzy and staggered slightly.

“Lia!”

Anthus supported Yuliana’s waist and shoulders, letting her lean on him.

“Are you alright, Lia?”

“My mana… is very low.”

Yuliana fainted in Anthus’s arms.

“You did well, Lia.”

Anthus kissed Yuliana’s forehead and carried her.

The monster was more dreadful than expected. If there were more like it… The issue of the missing villagers was not something to be taken lightly.

“Find a place to rest immediately. Send a request for support to Seignior Faihan nearby. Tell the wizards of the Mage Tower that the Rockbellion family will provide magic stones, so send as many combat wizards as possible. Also, inform them that the Rockbellion family will cover the teleportation costs.”

“Understood.”

* * *

The knights, exploring the empty village houses, led Anthus to the cleanest-looking house.

“Duke, this house is the cleanest. You can use the room on the second floor. We’ve prepared the bedding.”

“Good job.”

“Duke, no one will go upstairs, so please rest well.”

Encouraged by the knights’ support, Anthus looked at the sleeping Yuliana in his arms with satisfaction and went up to the second-floor bedroom.

He opened the door and carefully laid Yuliana on the bed.

“Luda, I want lemon… tea…”

Seeing Yuliana mumbling in her sleep was so cute that Anthus couldn’t take his eyes off her.

“Is it alright if I keep watching you, Lia?”

He wanted to undress her to make her more comfortable, but unfortunately, there was no maid. So he only took off her shoes and laid her on the bed.

Anthus threw his dirty uniform and shirt onto a chair and sat next to Yuliana.

“Tonight might be the greatest challenge of my life.”

Seeing Yuliana sleeping with her eyes closed made Anthus’s heart beat wildly.

“Anthus Rockbellion. Get a grip.”

Anthus smiled as he covered the fidgeting Yuliana with a blanket. The thought of being able to see Yuliana’s sleeping face excited him.

“Your eyes are beautiful, your nose is beautiful, your lips are beautiful…”

Anthus gazed at Yuliana’s sleeping face. He lost track of time. He understood the feelings of lovers who wished time would stop.

“Lia, you must take responsibility for me.”

Just sitting by the bed and watching Yuliana sleep made him happy.

He finally understood what it meant to not feel sleepy even without sleep and to feel full even without eating.

* * *

‘I’m thirsty…’

As her consciousness gradually returned, Yuliana slowly opened her eyelids.

‘I definitely used up all my mana fighting the monster yesterday…’

Blinking repeatedly, Yuliana finally opened her eyes completely and sat up, looking around. Anthus was sitting in a chair by the bed.

“Did you sleep well, Lia?”

“Duke…”

“Lia. No, Lady Yuliana. Do you remember what happened yesterday?”

“I don’t remember anything after defeating the monster.”

“You fainted in my arms yesterday.”

“Thank you for taking care of me. But where are we? Were we in the same room, Duke?”

“This is a house in Luteons Village. And… there were reasons for us to be in the same room.”

Anthus spoke with his red eyes looking moist, as if he might cry any moment.

“There might be more of those horrific monsters we saw yesterday, and we don’t know their abilities, so I couldn’t leave you alone. That’s why we spent the night together. Of course, I stayed up all night watching over you to protect you.”

It was understandable that they stayed in the same room due to potential danger. However, what was most baffling to her now was his statement, “we spent the night together.”

“I understand everything you said, Duke. But… saying we spent the night together could cause a big misunderstanding if others heard it. Please choose your words carefully.”

“It’s not a misunderstanding. Lady Yuliana and I… spent the night together.”

Anthus, whose ears were turning red, spoke coyly. He looked like a new bride who had just spent her first night.

“Saying we spent the night…”

Yuliana sighed deeply, brushed back her fallen hair, and spoke to Anthus.

“Saying we spent the night together can cause a big misunderstanding.”

“I wouldn’t mind the misunderstanding.”

“Please don’t ruin my marriage prospects, Duke.”

“If your marriage prospects are ruined, I will take responsibility for you, Lia.”

Anthus approached Yuliana and caressed her cheek.

“Do you remember that I said I like you?”

“…I remember.”

“You can take your time to respond to my confession. Just know that my feelings are sincere, Lia.”

Yuliana, whose face was now fully red, pulled the blanket up and shouted.

“A confession is one thing, but I have not permitted you to call me by a nickname, Your Grace.”

“Oh dear, I keep forgetting. Since you didn’t stop me from calling you by a nickname yesterday, I thought it was allowed.”

“Seriously!”

“Because of me, your marriage prospects are blocked, and people misunderstand… I have no choice but to take responsibility.”

Anthus smiled mischievously, seizing the opportunity.

And Yuliana thought.

Does Anthus really like me? How much should I play along with him?

Yuliana looked at Anthus silently.