She prioritized protecting others over herself.
Scarlet, knowing how unreasonable the request was, hastily glanced over to gauge the atmosphere after making her request.
Yoon Si-woo grumbled silently as he watched Scarlet’s demeanor.
How could someone who knew that make such a request?
Last time, she had called him the only person who could share and understand her secret.
She had said he was the one and only special existence in this world.
To him, she was a special existence that no one else could replace.
Did she really have to make such a request when she knew that?
She was truly an unreasonable person.
How could you?
As he shot her a sideways glance filled with mixed feelings, she cautiously opened her mouth toward him.
“…I’m sorry. Did my request upset you?”
Her expression and tone were full of sincerity.
She seemed to feel deep guilt for making him feel this way due to her request.
Seeing her like that, Yoon Si-woo felt guilt in return.
In truth, she didn’t need to apologize.
He was the one acting childish.
The position of a squad leader shouldn’t be about prioritizing personal feelings.
He understood that it was right to do as she said.
“…That’s fine. You’re right. As a squad leader, it makes sense to do what you said.”
So, he could only respond that way.
Even though he said that, he couldn’t help but feel disappointed.
Understanding something and accepting it were two different things.
Suddenly, Yoon Si-woo thought he seemed like a child.
While she lowered herself to make such a request for others, he was letting his emotions sway him so easily.
Unlike her maturity, he felt like a child who couldn’t let go of his desires.
But what did that matter?
“Instead, please grant me one request.”
“Huh? What request?”
As he said that, Yoon Si-woo looked at Scarlet in front of him.
So precious, so incredibly precious.
It was something that he couldn’t possibly give up, no matter what he did.
Like a child throwing a tantrum in a supermarket over a toy despite their parents’ objections.
He reached out and firmly grasped both of her shoulders tightly enough to not let go.
If he had to give up her to become an adult, then he would rather remain a child for life.
With that thought, Yoon Si-woo realized for the first time that he could be this greedy.
Not caring much about money or honor, he hadn’t noticed until now.
He was a person who couldn’t bear not obtaining what he wanted.
Realizing this, Yoon Si-woo turned to the one he was tightly holding onto.
“…Even if you’re in danger, I’ll save everyone else first, so don’t push yourself like last time until I get to you. Whether you run away or do whatever, as long as you’re alive, I’ll find a way to save you. Got it?”
That was a vow, a declaration.
Her wish for him to prioritize others over himself.
His determination to never give her up, despite realizing how greedy he was.
Thinking back, he might have been a greedy person from the very start.
Yoon Si-woo recalled the day he first vowed to become stronger.
Back then, he wanted to become strong enough to protect everyone because he didn’t want her to get hurt.
Whether it was back then or now, the essence hadn’t changed.
So he reaffirmed his vow once more.
To become even stronger to achieve what he desired.
Someone might call him arrogant for this.
But Yoon Si-woo had confidence.
He would become stronger than anyone else.
No matter how arduous the path, he would never crumble.
As long as you could live smiling.
With that thought, Yoon Si-woo gripped Scarlet’s shoulders tightly.
“…Okay, I understand.”
But she simply smiled slightly in response to his serious feelings.
Feeling that her response was oddly playful, Yoon Si-woo couldn’t help but retort bluntly.
“…Don’t laugh. If you die when I’m not looking, I swear I won’t let it go. I’m not joking.”
“I understand,” she replied.
…This wasn’t casual talk.
He had spoken seriously, yet Scarlet only smiled.
It was a thought he didn’t want to imagine, but if that really happened, he would genuinely think about not letting her go.
As long as she thought about her own safety, that was all that mattered.
With that thought, Yoon Si-woo felt foolish for holding such a serious expression in front of Scarlet’s cheerful face and relaxed his tension, offering a shy smile in return.
Meanwhile, he noticed her gaze drifting down to his arm.
After staring intently at the arm that had been gripping her shoulder for a moment, she opened her mouth with a look that seemed to recall something.
“…Oh right. I heard you lost your limbs trying to save me?”
“Uh…? What do you mean?”
A sudden interrogation caused cold sweat to break out on his forehead.
He definitely hadn’t mentioned it before; how did she know?
Scarlet was the type to worry about others more than herself.
And he naturally fell into that category as well.
She was the one who had been so scared that she had almost taken her own life.
So there was no way she would like the fact that he had lost his limbs trying to save her.
He tried to play dumb, but she shook her head as if she knew everything.
“Don’t act dumb. Dwight told me everything. Haah, I appreciate you coming to save me, but don’t overdo it. What if it had been your neck instead of your limbs?”
…Dwight, that gossipy brat.
He thought he was a quiet guy, but he spilled everything to Scarlet.
Thanks to that, he was going to get an earful from her now.
Yoon Si-woo promised himself he would tell Dwight something one day and began to make excuses like someone caught red-handed.
“Uh, well… I was just really anxious back then.”
“…Either way, I heard that and felt both sorry and grateful. So I have something for you.”
“…Something for me?”
He had thought she would surely be angry, so he waited nervously, but Scarlet’s reaction was unexpected.
She said she had something for him, then grabbed a notepad nearby and started writing something on it with a pen before holding it out.
On the notepad, in clear handwriting, it read ‘Wish Ticket.’
In confusion, he mumbled with a dazed expression.
“…What’s this? A wish ticket?”
“Just what it says. If you use that to make a wish to me, I’ll grant you any request I can.”
He was taken aback and waved his hands in a panic.
“No! You don’t need to give me something like this. I didn’t help you in hopes of this!”
He helped her because he genuinely wanted to.
So receiving something like this felt like a burden to him.
But she sighed as if bothered and shook her head.
“…Every time you help me without any reward, I said to make any request to repay that debt, but you haven’t made any requests.”
…She always said that.
She would tell him to ask for whatever he wanted because she owed him.
He had been ignoring that for her sake, so she wouldn’t feel burdened.
Even so, she spoke with a serious expression as if she meant it.
“So I’m giving it to you. I want to repay my debt to you in some way. If you have it physically, it’ll remind you when you think of something you want to ask for.”
“No, still…”
“It’s done. I won’t accept returns. If you say you won’t use it, I’ll get angry, so keep that in mind.”
Seeing her speak with such a determined look made Yoon Si-woo’s head throb.
How much did she have to make him feel this flustered to feel satisfied?
After all, he was a young man in the prime of his life.
She was a girl so charming that any man would be tempted.
Yet, she was saying she’d grant any request.
That was a statement too dangerous for her to take lightly.
With that in mind, he decided to issue a warning.
“…What if I made an unreasonable request…”
But she didn’t seem to care about his warning.
“Hmm? That’s fine, right?”
“…What?”
“If the wish ticket doesn’t grant unreasonable requests, then it can’t be called a wish ticket. Isn’t that right?”
With an innocent expression, she continued.
Yoon Si-woo found that absurdly confusing.
“Every time I make unreasonable requests, you’ve always granted them. So it’s okay to make unreasonable requests. That’s exactly why you gave it to me. You want me to ask you for something.”
Did she know?
How much the words and actions she was currently saying were shaking the emotions of the person in front of her.
How much they stirred something hot that lay hidden deep within.
At that moment, her hand reached out and lightly grasped his hand.
That gentle touch felt dizzying enough to rattle his consciousness.
Was that the reason?
Even though he thought he shouldn’t, he found himself asking her.
“…Are you really okay with any request?”
“I’m fine.”
She replied.
“Because it’s you, Yoon Si-woo.”
With a smile full of trust that she could only show him.
“Uh…”
The mental fortitude he had honed as a swordsman was as fragile as a sandcastle before that smile.
When he regained his senses, there was only a small gap between them that seemed to fit only a few sheets of paper.
The scent emanating from her crimson hair tickled his nostrils.
Looking down slightly, he caught sight of her flawless white neck.
In a place where he could reach out and touch, there hung the forbidden fruit he had been yearning for.
If he bit into it, the sweet juice would pour forth and he would surely be left unable to think straight.
Yet, even though he should flee from this precarious situation at once.
“…What’s wrong? Do you want to ask for something?”
“…”
“…It’s okay. You don’t have to refuse. If it’s what you want, I’ll grant anything.”
The forbidden fruit was busy tempting him with innocent words that spurred on his desires.
Anything, anything.
That word ignited his impulses.
Did I even ask you what I wanted?
There was already something decided.
I want all of you.
Your smooth skin, and above all, your fresh, juicy flesh.
Even every drop of the sweet nectar you hold within.
The grip on the only connection he had with her tightened.
He could feel something hot bubbling inside him.
He tried to swallow it down, but the unswallowed sparks flowed out along his throat.
“Haah…”
His breath, hotter than ever, swirled around her ears.
Yet even that heat was just a faint warmth compared to the fire that was raging inside him.
He wanted to pour this flame out onto her right before him.
He wanted to draw her close and proclaim that he desired all of her.
He could clearly picture her reaction in his mind.
You, more than anyone, valued keeping your word.
If he told her he wanted it, she would be flustered but inevitably allow him all of her.
But really, is that what I want?
As he pondered, a shiver passed through his hand.
Looking down, he saw her, who had said she would grant him anything, trembling slightly like a frail bird.
Unlike what she had said, was she maybe nervous about his sudden actions?
Seeing her like that, he slowly pulled away from her.
If one day she allowed herself to him, he hoped she would tremble not in anxiety but in joy.
So for now, it was better to hold back.
If choosing what he wanted was his responsibility, then enduring it for that purpose was also his responsibility.
To quell the flames rising within him, Yoon Si-woo forced his eyes shut.
Even with his eyes closed, Scarlet’s smile kept flickering in front of him.
Then suddenly, anxiety struck him.
Was she doing this not only for him but also for others?
So, he quietly spoke to her.
“…Please don’t say things like that to anyone else, even by accident.”
“…Huh? Umm… But it’s not an accident. I really mean it, Yoon Si-woo, so it’s fine.”
“…Haah. Seriously, what should I do with you?”
With her answer, Yoon Si-woo sighed.
While someone was trying to extinguish the fire inside, someone else was carelessly throwing logs onto it while stating it would be fine if it was directed at him.
He was growing increasingly frustrated.
What should I do with you?
At this rate, he felt like he might accidentally cross a line, so Yoon Si-woo removed Scarlet’s hand that he had been holding.
She looked confused and asked.
“Uh, didn’t you have something you wanted to wish for?”
“…If it’s the wish ticket, I’ll use it later.”
“Why? If there’s a request, just make it now…”
Her clueless muttering made him give her a glare.
Then he sincerely advised her.
“…Today, I feel like I might not be able to hold back.”
“…Huh? Hold back from what…?”
…If you don’t know, just stay put.
After letting out a breath over her foolish appearance, Yoon Si-woo placed his hand on her forehead.
As expected, she was still a bit warm.
It seemed she needed to rest a little longer to fully recover, so he said to her.
“…It’s nothing. Scarlet, you still seem to have a slight fever. I think it’s best if you go back and rest.”
“But, you were just about to ask for something—”
“Scarlet.”
As she pouted and mumbled, Yoon Si-woo mustered all his strength to smile brightly.
“Go in and rest. While I’m saying this nicely.”
That would be good for both of us.
Sincerely.
“…Okay, okay.”
With that, she conceded and obediently returned to her room.
After confirming she had gone back, Yoon Si-woo let out a deep sigh and muttered inwardly.
How long has it been since he felt this drained?
He felt more exhausted than when he fought demonic beasts.
He plopped down into a chair at the dining table and spotted an empty bowl left behind from Scarlet’s meal.
“…I guess I should do the dishes.”
He picked up the empty bowl and brought it to the sink.
Before turning on the water, he carefully tucked away the wish ticket he received from Scarlet into his pocket, wary of it getting wet.
He thought about how valuable this wish ticket from a girl like Scarlet, granting any request, could be.
If sold at auction, it would surely have an astronomical value.
Back when he was at the academy, there were boys who seemed to have a crush on Scarlet.
Well, even if it came up for auction, he would somehow make sure to be the final bidder.
“…Sorry, Dwight, for what I said earlier. Thanks. I’ll treat you to a meal later.”
Yoon Si-woo expressed his apologies and gratitude to the benefactor who had created this precious opportunity for him before beginning the dishwashing.
Splashing cold water on his face, he thought.
Even with the icy cold water, the heat in his chest wouldn’t fade.
It seemed it would take a bit more time for this heat to settle down.
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