Noah’s heart churned like a storm deep within his chest. The anger and pain accumulated during the years of waiting for the woman threatened to burst forth.

The fact that she faced him with such an indifferent expression, having forgotten everything, pierced his heart sharply.

Noah felt hatred toward the woman. The pain of being left alone in a world where nothing existed since the moment she departed resurfaced.

Yet simultaneously, Noah felt relief. The woman existed in the world again. Just that alone made him feel like he had regained everything. Even if she didn’t remember, even if she lived as an ordinary human, he could breathe simply because she existed.

He waited and didn’t wait at the same time. He wanted and didn’t want simultaneously. He wished for her to suffer yet wanted to protect her. It was a terrible emotion that had festered for an extremely long time.

Even after such a long time had passed, Noah ultimately couldn’t let the woman go.

Thus, Noah remained by Rudis’s side. Whenever Rudis faced danger, Noah rescued her without hesitation. But at the same time, he hated her bitterly.

This woman who had not only abandoned him but also made him wait in emptiness. At such times, Noah would turn cold, bristling with sharp thorns.

But even those emotions vanished into nothingness. His anger and pain washed away like momentary illusions.

They disappeared completely, as though they had never existed in the first place. Simply because the woman wanted him.

Throughout his long wait, that was all he had ever desired.

The wind blew. Like the memory of the day he first met the woman. Noah realized once again. She was his deity and his love. His pain and his everything. Forever and always.

* * *

[Target setting failed due to distance. Please try again from a closer range.]

As the unfamiliar message disappeared like scattered dust, Rudis slowly opened her eyes. Sunlight filtering through the gap in the closed curtains gently colored the room.

Along with the soft touch of the familiar bed, the strange pressure weighing down her body had vanished, and her senses were awake with unusual clarity.

Rising from bed, Rudis slowly checked her condition. Especially between her legs.

What had been soaking wet was now clean and dry. She thought she could faintly smell fresh herbs.

‘Who cleaned me?’

Bewildered, Rudis felt her face to check. The fangs were gone. The pointed ears that had protruded from the crown of her head had disappeared without a trace.

‘Is it… really over?’

With trembling hands, Rudis picked up a mirror. The reflection showed nothing but an utterly ordinary human. Though her pink hair and eyes, seemingly impossible in the real world, remained unchanged.

As the tension released, a sigh of relief escaped her. Noah’s words about the final treatment had been true.

[Quest Name: Crossroads of Fate

Quest Description: Collect 4 pieces to restore the ‘Anonymous Gift.’

Red Moon Piece 1/1, Black Forest Piece 0/1, Silver Wind Piece 0/1, ɖœøɢʊ Piece 0/1

Reward: ???]

Upon habitually checking the system window, Rudis instantly flushed hot. Everything flashed clearly through her mind. The moments she shared with Noah. His cold touch and hot breath.

And moreover… in front of Xenon….

When the image of Xenon’s crumpled face suddenly came to mind, Rudis squeezed her eyes shut. Her heart pounded and her entire body burned. But it wasn’t simply due to embarrassment.

She had realized it. Everyone’s true feelings.

The moments she shared with Noah came vividly to mind. His touch, cold yet warm, the obsession and desire hidden within. And the question that continued endlessly.

“Do you want me?”

The question repeated countless times wasn’t a simple confirmation. It resembled an endless prayer. Asking her to want him.

Despite her breathless, labored nod that showed little sincerity, Noah seemed satisfied. As though willing to be deceived even if it were a lie.

Behind Xenon’s jokes and nonchalant attitude, true feelings were hidden. Since when? Xenon had liked her.

“Why not just stick with me instead?”

“Ah, of course that was a joke then. But now I’m serious, will you accept?”

Even words thrown out like jokes, looking back now, were sincere. Those words she had carelessly let slide had actually come from deep within Xenon’s heart.

When she recalled Xenon’s face that seemed to silently crumble when she said she would have a relationship with Noah, everything became clear. Such an expression couldn’t be imitated by anyone.

And Iska.

“Lady Rudis. We’re going to be family now. True family.”

“Aren’t you happy?”

The easiest to understand was Iska. Though Iska was the instigator of this mess, his actions didn’t stem from malice as others claimed. After becoming a beast-person, Rudis could vaguely understand their instincts and way of thinking.

Iska had simply followed his instincts.

Just like how she herself had been swept away by desires she couldn’t refuse despite knowing they were shameful. He had simply liked her purely. Only his method was wrong.

‘Everyone likes me!’

Rudis leaned back against the bed with complicated feelings. While wondering what kind of blessing this was, each emotion felt unusually heavy.

Just as she was contemplating what to do next, she heard the door quietly opening.

“You’re awake.”

At the familiar voice, Rudis turned her head. Xenon, who had opened the door and entered, lightly stroked Rudis’s hair.

“Are you in any pain?”

Rudis nodded while avoiding Xenon’s gaze. Her body felt surprisingly light, but her heart was the opposite. Especially facing Xenon was unbearably uncomfortable.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

Xenon asked while rolling up his sleeves. Seeing his readiness to make something immediately, Rudis hastily waved her hands, momentarily forgetting her embarrassment.

“Not at all!”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been lying down for a week?”

“A week?!”

Rudis was startled by Xenon’s words. Looking out the window, red autumn leaves were falling. That meant…

“What about the Harvest Festival?”

Already in the middle of autumn. Rudis asked Xenon in alarm.

“Harvest Festival?”

Xenon paused for a moment to look at Rudis. His expression showed puzzlement.

“It’s about a week away. Why…”

“I need to go home.”

Rudis abruptly rose from the bed. Hearing her resolute voice, Xenon asked with a bewildered look:

“Don’t tell me you’re planning to attend the Harvest Festival?”

“Of course.”

At Rudis’s answer, Xenon rubbed his forehead and sighed.

“You haven’t even properly recovered yet. Is there any need to push yourself like this? The Harvest Festival next year…”

His voice mixed worry and frustration. Xenon tried to persuade her calmly, but seeing Rudis moving busily, he swallowed his words. No matter what he said, she didn’t look like she would listen anyway.

Just then, the door opened quietly. Noah entered with a composed expression. In Noah’s hand was an overcoat.

“Let’s go together. I’ll escort you.”

Noah approached Rudis and draped the coat over her. Very naturally and skillfully, as though he had anticipated everything from the beginning. Seeing this, Xenon’s teeth ground together.

So that’s how it is? Now he’s being blatant.

Noah’s attitude was clearly different from before. What on earth had happened while he was away?

Previously, Noah had at least pretended to keep his distance, but now he was acting like the tongue in one’s mouth. Watching Noah, Xenon felt a sense of crisis. That guy had been famous as a crazy fanatic long ago. This wasn’t something to be careless about.

“I’m coming too!”