So from just eight years old, Seiden learned how to staunch his own bleeding wounds and hide them from his father’s eyes. Therefore, such wounds couldn’t possibly hurt. Then why was he feeling this amazing pain where her soft flesh touched his wound? It was at that moment of wondering that  faint blue light leaked between their touching skin, and the terribly torn wound healed instantly. 

At that moment, something very sharp and aching settled on Seiden’s heart.

“It won’t hurt anymore now.”

Bellota quickly released Seiden’s hand and smiled after finishing her work. The girl’s pupils couldn’t find Seiden’s eyes exactly and were slightly off toward his earlobe. Nevertheless, Seiden froze while looking at that smile.

Then, and now, Seiden could be certain. That trivial moment was when he fell into this severe love.

* * *

Seiden never mentioned anything about his voice to this supposedly amazing healer.

Since puberty wasn’t something to be treated in the first place, even if he had shared such a ridiculous concern, there was nothing the healer could have done to resolve it. So he had no need to visit the temple anymore.

Nevertheless, Seiden visited the temple every day while staying in the village. With all sorts of intentional wounds on his arms, legs, body, and face. Going to find Bellota and silently presenting his wounded body became his most important daily routine.

Every time her holy power seeped into his body, an unfamiliar and dizzying pain settled on Seiden’s heart. Even while acknowledging that he was like a pervert for wanting to keep feeling that pain, Seiden couldn’t stop heading to the temple.

Though startled at first, after a full fortnight passed, Bellota came to resign herself. After some more time passed, Bellota reached the point of worrying when Seiden didn’t come.

After fifteen days, and then another fifteen days, the mercenary band did not leave the village where monsters were springing up like a fountain. This was thanks to a report of a high-rank monster sighting in the large mountain valley behind the village.

The blacksmith, who claimed to have been a monster hunter in his youth, spoke excitedly with spittle flying.

“It was an incredible monster! And one I’d never seen before! I was too shocked to look closely, but it didn’t have just two eyes. And its wings were like this…… Ah, it’s definitely a high-rank monster. I can guarantee it. If we catch that thing, it would be worth a year’s worth of hunting!”

The captain’s eyes bulged at those words. He declared that he would catch the beast by any means necessary, and naturally, the mercenary band’s stay in the village was extended indefinitely. Seiden also diligently visited the temple during this extended period. Half of the money he earned hunting monsters during the day went straight to the temple.

It wasn’t surprising that after making such substantial daily offerings, the temple people welcomed Seiden and even provided a separate room where Bellota could treat him. Thanks to this, Seiden came and went from the temple as if it were his own home, gathering information about Bellota from the priests and orphanage children.

Seiden learned that Bellota had been blind since birth and was left at this small temple before she was even one year old because of it. He also discovered that she had shown remarkable healing powers since childhood and was using that ability to contribute to the temple’s livelihood.

And how devout Bellota was, that her dream was to become a priest, and despite this, countless people admired her for her outstanding beauty and gentle personality. Seiden had to admit that he had hopelessly joined the ranks of those foolish men.

However, Seiden came to occupy the foremost position among these foolish men. This was thanks to catching a low-rank monster that had been lurking around children playing in the grass in front of the temple. It was natural that Bellota began treating Seiden with special favor after he saved the children from the monster.

“You’ve injured your arm again.”

Bellota chided him with concern while gently touching Seiden’s arm, which had been torn for the fifth time already. Hearing her scolding had become Seiden’s new pleasure. It was truly strange. He loved seeing that worried face. He couldn’t stop this foolish behavior because he was desperately fond of hearing that thin voice urging him not to get hurt anymore.

“My ability isn’t anything special, and it might not work on wounds that have been repeated so many times.”

Though Bellota spoke modestly, her skill was remarkable, and such minor wounds healed cleanly every time. If anything, Seiden wished Bellota’s skill was a bit less proficient, so that the wounds would take at least half a day to heal.

“Could this wound be from the veil?”

Bellota asked curiously as she traced Seiden’s wound. Seiden marveled at her ability to identify what had caused the injury just by touch. The wound on Seiden’s arm was indeed from the veil monster that they had regrettably failed to catch yesterday.

“Yes.”

When Seiden answered briefly, Bellota’s eyes immediately showed interest.

“The veil is a very dangerous monster. If you’re not careful, the wound might become cursed.”

Her expression quickly turned serious as she assessed Seiden’s wound.

Seiden already knew that Bellota had a great interest in monsters, curses caused by monsters, and their treatments. And that Bellota became uncharacteristically talkative when discussing monsters.

“Did you know that inside a veil’s belly pouch there’s a large pearl? That everyone wants to catch a veil because there’s a rumor that the pearl grants wishes?”

At her words, Seiden recalled the veil’s appearance. He seemed to remember a large pouch attached to its belly.

“But that pearl isn’t a wish-granting pearl. The magical power dwelling within it apparently helps bring peace to the mind. Isn’t that fascinating? Though perhaps it really does grant wishes after all.”

Bellota clearly didn’t realize that her eyes sparkling with interest when talking about such things were more precious than any pearl in a monster’s belly pouch. Nor did she know that Seiden deliberately chose new and rare monsters to wound himself with daily just to see that curious face and those eyes shining with interest.

Seiden enjoyed watching Bellota as she chattered on with a higher voice than usual. Unfortunately, the treatment ended while he was savoring that moment.

“Tomorrow, you must not come here injured like this.”

Bellota’s cheeks were slightly flushed as she said this. Seiden knew this was permission for tomorrow’s visit. And so, Seiden found unbearably pleasant the voice of Bellota permitting his visits. That someone was waiting for him.

“I’ll try my best.”

When Seiden answered briefly, relief showed in Bellota’s eyes. She would only give a faint smile even to the voice that the captain found so irritating he would writhe and curse about it.

“You must.”

As if firmly believing that Seiden would eventually keep that promise, even though several weeks had passed without him keeping it.

* * *

And so Seiden decided to keep that promise for the first time. He resolved to visit the temple without any wounds and ask Bellota to go out.

“Going to the temple again? You bastard, your intentions are impure.”

His colleagues criticized him after noticing why Seiden visited the temple every day, but without batting an eye, Seiden shouldered the veil’s hide and headed to the temple. He had hunted it at dawn as a gift for Bellota.

Unlike other young women who might want flowers or dolls, Seiden knew that what Bellota wanted was the carcass of this rare monster. Inside its belly pouch was the pearl that Bellota had been so curious about. His heart was already aching just imagining her surprised face when she would discover the pearl while examining the veil’s hide.

“That high-rank monster must have left the village. So there’s no reason to stay here any longer. The captain has also decided it’s meaningless to remain here anymore. You’ve cleared out all the monsters in this area. Hey, are you listening? We’re leaving this village in two days, so make sure you’re back by then!”

His colleague desperately called out to Seiden’s retreating back, but he neither turned around nor answered, simply continuing to walk.

But Seiden fell into deep contemplation at those words. He knew well that he couldn’t stay in this village forever. Mercenaries who hunt monsters never stayed in one village.

But if he left now, he didn’t know when he would return to this village. In his heart, he wanted to save money for about two years and formally propose to Bellota when she came of age, but he couldn’t be certain she would wait for him. Moreover, he didn’t want to make Bellota, who couldn’t see, suffer as the wife of a nameless mercenary.

For the first time, a petty regret grew in Seiden’s heart. Perhaps it would be better to reclaim the Blackwood family name. Though he didn’t even know if Bellota, who dreamed of becoming a priest, would accept his feelings.

But even so, there was nothing he could do. Only Bellota could stop this ever-growing pain.

Lost in various thoughts, Seiden’s footsteps only stopped when he discovered the temple had become a scene of chaos with smoke rising from it.

“Monster! A monster has appeared!”

People who had barely escaped outside were screaming at the top of their lungs. Their screams and children’s cries mixed together, echoing through the air. Seiden’s expression gradually hardened at the chaos.

“We need to go in and catch it!”

“Damn it, they’ve set fire to it, it’ll come out soon! Everyone needs to evacuate!”

“So you’re saying we should just let it escape like this?”

“It’s a high-rank monster! Who could catch such a ferocious beast? Why don’t you go in yourself!”

“The mercenaries! We need to call the mercenary band! Ah, look! There’s a mercenary!”

Someone spotted Seiden and ran to grab his clothes.