The outskirts of Hwangdo.
Thud, thud.
A small carriage speeding through the night.
“Wow, now that it’s night, I can finally breathe a little.”
“Shh, be quiet.”
The man with fingers on his lips quickly calms the boy.
He had the rare black hair and handsome face that were uncommon in the Empire.
The boy used the style of Caeran Hiss.
The man shared a similar vibe and appearance with Caeran Hiss, but unfortunately, neither was actually Caeran himself.
The man was the deputy guild master of Crow Pay.
A man known as Raikan.
And the boy had ordinary features with navy blue hair and round glasses.
He was the eldest son of the Haisman family and the brother of Nicolseta, who died entangled with a three-headed dog.
It was Maclead Haisman, the former chairman of the Claris Academy’s auxiliary magic department.
The two had three commonalities.
First, they belonged to the same guild, Crow Pay.
Second, they were relatively unknown due to not often being on the front lines.
Third, they were now fugitives, as Crow Pay and the Haisman family had been implicated in a crime involving the demons.
“Hey, where are we going?”
“Did I not tell you to be quiet?”
“We have nothing to lose anyway. Shouldn’t I know what’s going on if we’re going to dance our last dance?”
“…”
At Maclead’s words, Raikan opened his mouth with a still stern expression.
“We’re going to Seongyeok.”
“If we’re heading to the Seongyeok of Hwangdo, it should be inside the Royal Palace, right? Plus, it’s the opposite direction of where we’re going…”
“More accurately, it’s a place that used to be a Seongyeok.”
“…Huh?”
“What do you think is the first thing the Saint should do when she returns?”
“I don’t know. A party? A welcome ceremony or something?”
“…Do you not know that a Saint is supposed to be modest?”
“I was joking.”
Since the saint, Psyche, had left, the heart of Divine Grand Park located on the edge of Hwangdo began to lose its light.
“It won’t be long before it’s completely closed off.”
If this state continues… Hwangdo will no longer be able to utilize its eternal source of magic power like in the past.
Thus, Evenbaugh, known for its magic and industry, began to flourish in its place.
“Then I guess they’re trying to restore the Seongyeok quickly for the stability of the citizens, right?”
“……”
This time, realizing that Maclead understood correctly, Raikan maintained a moment of silence.
There were no more allies among humans.
If they were to find a way to survive, they would need to team up with demons once again.
“Tomorrow, the Saint will come here for an inspection. Our objective is…”
Just as he started to speak.
“Let’s kill the Saint, right?”
Maclead added as if he anticipated Raikan’s words.
*
In a warm bath filled with steam.
Splash! Splash!
The little fox, who had been quietly half-submerged in the tub, suddenly started flailing its legs.
“I’m sorry…! I’m sorry…”
Yeriel quickly took the fox out and embraced it against her chest, stroking its head and nape.
“You were uncomfortable, huh? I’m sorry. It must have felt bad, right…?”
Growl…
The little fox’s tiny paws grazed over Yeriel’s subtle curves.
Perhaps due to its velvet-like skin, the wet creature’s paws kept slipping down, tickling the center point of her curves.
Huh?
Swish, swish.
Even as it tried to reposition its paws, the baby fox only kept rubbing against her chest with its short legs…
“Good boy… You’re okay. I won’t scare you anymore.”
Of course, Yeriel didn’t even notice or care about that.
Because the little fox was just an animal.
But not knowing Yeriel’s feelings,
Yip!
The fox seemed to panic and started to squirm when held.
“Okay, okay, I’ll put you down! Just stay still for a second, it’s dangerous!”
After gently placing the fox down and covering it with a towel, Yeriel continued to wash her body.
‘Since the fox will be cold… I have to finish quickly…’
*
“Baby, is this okay…?”
Having rushed through her wash, Yeriel first dried the baby fox’s body with a warm towel.
Growl.
As she placed the fox on her lap and wiped it down, it let out a pleasant sound, seemingly feeling better.
“You’re a little gray all over, huh?”
Growl…
With a smile, as she stroked the soft fur, a man she had briefly forgotten about came to mind.
Yeah, Lev is a good boy.
Well done, well done.
When she stroked his head,
His sharp gaze seemed to draw a gentle curve,
Why, won’t you do more for me?
He had whispered playful words in her ear.
“Yeah… you’re just like him.”
Huh?
From Yeriel’s slightly squinted eyes as she looked at the fox on her lap, droplets began to fall.
“I miss you.”
.
.
.
Growl!
The fox’s cry urged her to finish up quickly.
At that sound, Yeriel returned to her senses.
“Ah…!”
Before she knew it, she found herself feeling sad again.
Now was the time to dry this little one’s body.
Yeriel wiped the little fox’s body with a dry towel one by one.
As she dried even its sleek face, the little fox seemed pleased, lifting its chin to help her.
“You’re smart, little one. Thank you…!”
Thinking she had finished the bath, fatigue suddenly washed over her.
After changing into her pajamas…
Thud, thud.
“No! It’s dangerous outside for you, baby.”
As the fox seemed to want to go outside, she tucked it into bed while pushing it away from the window.
And when Yeriel pretended to close her eyes, the fox sneakily tried to sneak over to the window.
“You’re a little troublemaker, aren’t you?”
Yip!
Seeing the flustered dark-eyed creature, Yeriel chuckled softly.
“Baby, you know, I had something to tell the Saint, but I couldn’t.”
Growl…
“Will you deliver it for me…?”
Why did she have to awaken as a demon, no, a Tarchangel?
This time, she had been lucky to defeat the Great Demon with her feelings for Lev and returned thanks to Aria, but what if such a situation arose again…
She might harm her precious people.
“What is happening to my body…?”
I’m scared.
That’s why she needed to tell the Saint as soon as possible to find a solution.
“I’m a little scared…”
Even if the solution is to be killed, she must do it.
‘But I don’t want to forget Lev…’
Thinking of forgetting Lev made her feel as if she were trapped in a pitch-black darkness.
Huh…
The baby fox, sensing Yeriel’s emotional change,
Turned its steps back from the window and began to poke her cheeks.
“Hmm…?”
Even in such a state, Yeriel found it too cute,
“Come here, little one.”
The timid creature would inch closer before she hugged it tightly once more.
Thump.
The warm little body conveyed warmth, as if to comfort her.
“I feel at ease with you…”
Growl…
“Are you not scared anymore?”
Growl!
Could it really understand her words?
Or perhaps, did it pity her so much that it was comforting her?
Either way didn’t matter.
Yeriel closed her eyes tight, clutching the baby fox, and let her thoughts pour out.
“Thank you… but I pretended to be strong, and yet it seems I couldn’t be. Isn’t it funny to you…?”
Huh?
The little one made a sound as if denying her words.
“Edwin and Selena are trying to cope somehow… And Lev even asked me to take care of Aria…”
“Instead, I’m the one who’s receiving help from Aria… Will I really be okay from now on…?”
Worry is a negative emotion, and once it starts, it tends to spiral out of control.
Thinking about Lev makes her sad,
Thinking of Aria, who had to end Lev’s life by her own hand, makes her feel guilty.
Then, when she thinks of how Aria saved her, it becomes hard to grasp her feelings,
And the thought of demons approaching her while in this chaos makes her feel a sense of fear.
“What would Lev do…?”
Huh.
In response to Yeriel’s questions, only the fox’s cries could be heard.
“I’m sorry…”
She realized she didn’t want to burden him anymore.
“Then if only once… just once, if I could say goodbye…”
Even if she had to shave off her own lifespan, even if she had to pay any price,
If she could just convey a brief message to him…
“It would truly be amazing…”
Yeriel felt as if she could move forward.
‘I’ve decided not to cry anymore…’
Again, she found herself expected to spend the night in tears.
“If I don’t have Lev… I guess I’d really be an idiot…”
.
.
.
-……
Not luxurious, but a neatly organized guest room.
A pleasant autumn night with a gentle breeze blowing.
-……
Even the sound of the baby fox’s cries could no longer be heard.
“I’m sorry, Lev… but I also miss you like crazy…”
Thus, with her head bowed, Yeriel wept for a long time.
.
.
.
-Heartbeat.
How much time had passed like this? After struggling with insomnia and unable to sleep properly, half-asleep and in a daze, Yeriel…
Felt the sensation of the thing she was holding change slightly.
“Baby…?”
The soft fur was gone, replaced by smooth skin, and she felt something firm extending into solid muscles.
Swish… swish.
What she was holding was certainly a person’s back, and perhaps the curve of their spine.
In an ordinary situation, most people would scream in fear at this spine-chilling encounter, but…
“……”
Yeriel didn’t feel the need to do so.
Heartbeat.
First, her olfactory senses picked up a familiar male scent mixed with the lavender bath soak from earlier,
Heartbeat.
A steady sound, akin to a heartbeat, resonated with her, comforting the space around her.
“Ah….”
Most importantly, her intuition kicked in.
A woman’s vague instinct regarding one man.
Yeriel carefully opened her eyes and slowly lifted her head.
And there, she found…
“Hello, Yeriel.”
A dream.
No, a man who hadn’t even come to her in dreams…
Was facing her.
