STM 194

The castle, which had been shrouded in darkness for a long time, was now illuminated in every corner with bright lights. It was a place that had transformed into something completely different in just two days. Even though it was early dawn and the sky was still dark, the place was bustling with people working to restore the castle.

”I didn’t order that.”

Startled, I flinched at the whisper right next to my ear. There was only one person who would do something like this. I glared at Tairok immediately.

How many times has this been already? He’s walking right next to me, so why is he whispering in my ear?

“Who said anything?”

“You said you were concerned that Rick is working overtime.”

Well, I was curious if he was being properly compensated for his labor…

“Pay attention to me too.”

Once again, I held my breath after being attacked by a sudden whisper. What was particularly disconcerting about this behavior was that a tingling sensation ran through my body just from the touch of his breath against my ear.

From a certain point, my body reacted like an automatic reflex just from touching him. It felt like something that couldn’t be controlled by reason, just like how inhaling dust makes you sneeze.

It was a funny analogy, but it was as if my body had changed to respond only to him. But isn’t this a bit strange? He smiled and asked as I frowned.

“What’s wrong?”

“When I touch Your Grace… No, it’s nothing.”

I couldn’t risk saying something that would make him happy again. I quickly shut my mouth, but Tairok immediately reacted to what I had started to say.

“Does your body get hot every time you touch me?”

“It’s not hot. I’m naturally a cold person.”

I denied it vehemently, but it didn’t work. Instead, he took it as an affirmation, and laughed.

“Why are you laughing?”

“I can’t help but be happy that you have no one but me.”

I couldn’t bring myself to deny it and just frowned. Why is he so certain? Is the fact that my body reacts sensitively to him the reason?

“Don’t worry. There’s nothing to be surprised about just because you get aroused only with me. It’s only natural between us.”

“No, I don’t only get aroused by the Grand Duke.”

I denied it out of habit, but it didn’t work. I frowned and found something else to nitpick.

“And we aren’t even married yet, so what is so natural?”

“We did something more important than that.”

“You mean the contract? Well, it is important, but…”

He smirked at my reply. His eyes even sparkled, giving the impression that he was teasing me.

There’s nothing but the contract, right? Or does Tubain consider sleeping together more important than marriage?

Then, suddenly, he grabbed my arm and brought his face close. Startled, I pulled my upper body back, but my body was the problem again. Heat slowly spread through my body. Is this just because I’m sexually frustrated?

“Lu, shall we?”

I jolted back to reality and stepped back immediately. I wanted to curse at him as well, but the bandage at his collar caught my eye. Furthermore, he had just returned from battle, so his clothes were stained with monster fluids, and his hair was a bit disheveled.

It was a recovery that was hard to believe for someone who had been on the brink of death just a few days ago, but it didn’t bring me complete joy. After all, as soon as he regained the strength to wield a sword, he set off to defeat monsters.

He had just made time to stop by the castle on purpose. Perhaps because my expression had changed, his playful gaze turned serious.

Pulling dirty tricks at the slightest chance!

“I’m busy enough as it is, so don’t talk nonsense.”

“My head is always full of that nonsense, so I can’t help it. Even when I’m slaying monsters, thinking of you makes my dick hard.”

I recoiled in disgust and hurriedly looked around. He smirked again as if my reaction was amusing.

“Anyone who hears this would be jealous of how close we are.”

“No, that won’t happen. I won’t let anyone hear it.”

“How do you intend to stop me?” The light in his golden eyes seemed to be asking that question. I looked him in the eye and endured his gaze.

“I only do it when no one is around. Because I want to be the only one hearing it.”

I absolutely didn’t want to say this. It gave me goosebumps just thinking about it, but I hated the thought of him strutting around about winning even more. And it was within my expectations that it would only backfire. Desire filled those golden eyes in an instant. I immediately put up a wall.

“Not now.”

He was disappointed, but there really wasn’t much time. After all, Grand Duke Montaine could awaken her immense power and reappear at any moment.

However, the problem right now was the countless monsters. Because of this, Tairok was busy fighting them off and had just returned to the castle for a brief moment. I grabbed his arm and hurriedly led the way.

“Now, hurry up.”

A hollow laugh came from beside me. Fortunately, however, I wasn’t the only one impatient here. Many people were busy repairing the castle that had been neglected for a long time due to the curse, and the castle’s owner was also walking around checking the situation until late at night.

Kun Erdette, the original Grand Duke who had just awakened from the curse. As I faced her, the first thing that caught my eye was her severed arm.

“Lord Salvation, you’ve arrived.”

She recognized us and bowed her head first. I quickly bowed my head back.

“Please speak comfortably, Lady Erdette.”

One might expect her to be shocked after waking up after such a long time and losing an arm. However, she immediately composed herself, sorted out the situation, and was leading this diligent operation.

Although they had been turned to stone for a long time, when they were freed from the curse, they all had aged.

Some had wrinkles on their faces, others had their hair half-covered in white, and the wounds of those whose limbs had been severed had healed. It was as if time, which had been stopped, suddenly sped up the moment they woke up.

Amidst such chaos, Erdette’s behavior was remarkable. She was the epitome of an unwavering leader who set an example. Perhaps that was why my demands fell on deaf ears.

“No, sir. How could I speak to you so casually? I am well aware that you feel burdened. I have ordered the people in the castle to refrain from excessive greetings.”

It was still overwhelming. At first, I was terrified because people would fall to the ground like a wave whenever I appeared.

They no longer bowed down now, but instead, everyone looked at me with eyes that seemed willing to give up even their own hearts.

“Tell them to pretend they don’t know him.”

Tairok intervened with a rare helpful remark, but immediately received a stern glare from Erdette.

“Countless people have come back to life with Salvation’s help. Even bowing down and thanking him for a lifetime wouldn’t be enough, so how can you say such foolish things? You have ascended to the position of Grand Duke, yet do you not realize that saying that disregards both Salvation and all the people of Kun whom you are supposed to protect?”

It was a strict voice that made me feel intimidated even though I wasn’t the one being scolded, but Tairok grinned and replied carelessly.

“Salvation said he doesn’t like that.”

Erdette turned her gaze towards me.

“We have been restraining greetings, but is there still something that displeases you?”

I absolutely couldn’t admit that I didn’t like it here. Because I was not a shameless person like Tairok.

“Um, no.”

Only then did Erdette nod and cast a menacing glare at Tairok. Sensing that the second round of the lecture was about to begin, I quickly intervened.

“I heard that you would guide us personally.”

“Yes, Salvation.”

Her attitude changed to polite in an instant. Do all aunts in the world have a switch specifically for immature nieces and nephews?

“I heard that you are looking for the place where the divine beast is. Please come this way.”

And so, she took the lead herself. I followed her and whispered to Tairok.

“How can you laugh while being scolded?”

I asked without much thought, but I couldn’t take the answer lightly.

“I even missed the scolding.”

…Ah. Come to think of it, I was like that too. Being scolded again was certainly a welcome thing, but at the same time, it was underpinned by sadness. It must be the remnants left by those long hardships of the past.

At least we could hear it again. Thanks to that, I was able to happily follow behind Erdette as she kept her nephew in check after being freed from the curse.

Tairok said that there was a huge underground space in Kun Castle just like Borhumi’s, and she knew it well, as expected.

However, that location was not directly below Kun Castle. It was just true that it started below Kun Castle.

When Erdette opened a secret door, a naturally formed underground cave appeared. It was not long after passing through a winding, narrow passage.

A dim light shone ahead. However, it didn’t feel artificial. It was just like sunlight. But isn’t this an underground cave? The question was resolved as I entered the open space at the end of the passageway.

Light was seeping in from one side of the jaw-droppingly high ceiling. Although the long slit was not wide, it had no trouble illuminating the central space.

And because of that light, I could see the green moss covering the ground in places. As its natural color caught the light and stood out like an emerald, I stood at the entrance and held in my admiration.

To think such a mysterious place exists. As I gazed in awe, I heard Erdette’s voice.

“This place used to be full of grass and trees.”

At those words, I belatedly noticed the withered, dead trees.

“It will soon be covered in green again.”

“Yes, because everything has returned. And the divine beast’s power, too.”

The power of the divine beast? Startled, I looked around the interior, only to realize that it was a metaphor, not the real divine beast. In the book I had consulted to gather information about Tubain, the crests of the four divine beast families appeared first.

The indomitable Montaine who burns evil,

Borhumi of Justice, who purifies evil with blue,

Sarne, the invincible shield that evil cannot overcome.

Kun of Annihilation.

The sentence describing Kun was the shortest, but it seemed to reveal its strength the most. However, perhaps because I had not seen the abilities of the Kun divine beast with my own eyes, the immense power to annihilate monsters did not immediately resonate.

Because it was so warm and dazzling. I reached out my hand and looked down at the light slipping through my fingers. Kun’s ability was light.

“Tairok, can you recognize the divine beast?”

Startled by Erdette’s question, I looked at Tairok. Unlike me, who was lost in admiration, he gazed at one spot with calm eyes before moving.

I hurried after him, but all I could see were rocks. However, where Tairok stopped and looked down, there was a slightly different rock.

It was about the size of my fist, so maybe I should call it a stone. It was round. It was clearly a stone, but it looked just like an egg.

And Tairok, who had been looking at it, murmured.

“It’s been sleeping for a long time.”