Chapter 72 – Asven (3)


    [Trantor – Peptobismol]


    <strong>Chapter 72 – Asven (3)</strong>


    When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in bed.


    “Ugh.”


    A suppressed groan escaped from my barely parted lips.


    I stared nkly at the unfamiliar ceiling before slowly lowering my gaze.


    Diana was sitting in a chair beside a pleasantly crackling firece, and our eyes met.


    “……”


    For a moment, I thought it might be a dream, but I instinctively realized it wasn’t.


    This situation was definitely not a dream.


    Not a dream?


    Then what were all those scenes I just saw?


    Everything was confusing, and I was momentarily at a loss for words.


    However, it didn’t take long for me to ept the situation.


    ‘I survived.’


    I finally remembered.


    Yes, I definitely died.


    Right in front of Isabel’s eyes, I drew out the Dagger of Tranquility and plunged it precisely into my heart.


    And now I had opened my eyes.


    Simultaneously, I realized something.


    Ah, I seeded.


    Which means…


    ‘Finally….!’


    It’s gone.


    The system window that relentlessly forced me to die like a real viin was no longer in sight.


    I did it.


    Finally, finally, I did it!


    I slowly sat up.


    I looked down and examined my body.


    Despite not having washed properly for days, the clothes draped on me weren’t wet, dirty, or smelly.


    It seemed Diana had changed my clothes and carefully cleaned my body before I woke up.


    Leaning my head against the bed, I moved my arms slowly.


    My whole body felt light.


    It was as if I had undergone some kind of awakening, with my mana boiling up from my core.


    Suddenly, a question popped into my mind.


    How much time has passed since I died?


    When I slowly turned my head, I met Diana’s gaze again.


    Her softly curling, brilliantly white hair shone subtly.


    The firelight reflected in her blue eyes flickered.


    Even though I had regained consciousness, Diana didn’t even blink.


    She didn’t seem surprised at all.


    ‘She looks different now.’


    It was the first time I saw Diana in casual clothes instead of her knight’s attire.


    When she wore her knight’s uniform, I didn’t notice, but seeing her like this, Diana had a rather slender figure.


    With her narrow shoulders and waist, and curvaceous thighs, she looked entirely different from her usual self.


    I stared at Diana quietly and then chuckled.


    “You’ve had a hard time.”


    “It was nothing. How do you feel?”


    “Thanks to you.”


    Cough.


    I coughed as a gasp escaped me, and Diana quickly handed me a ss of water.


    I took a sip and continued speaking.


    “How long has it been since I died?”


    “It’s been about three weeks now.”


    “…What?”


    Three weeks, only?


    I couldn’t believe it and let out a hollowugh.


    But Diana, undeterred, exined the situation.


    “After you died, the Saintess kept your body in the mansion for quite a long time.”


    I wasn’t particrly surprised.


    That’s just how Isabel was.


    “She watched over you for quite a while but showed no signs of burying you.”


    As I expected, she took longer to give up than I thought.


    I listened silently as she continued speaking.


    “So I went to Winfred.”


    “Winfred?”


    “Yes, I sought help from Luna Winfred.”


    Ah, so that’s how it was.


    I started to grasp the situation.


    Using Luna to deal with Isabel—what a clever idea.


    I nodded in agreement.


    Diana’s report continued from there.


    From her interactions with the Princess to infiltrating the mansion to retrieve my body.


    After hearing everything, I let out augh.


    “…Then it must beplete chaos right now?”


    Diana didn’t respond to that.


    She just sat there, looking at me with a calm face.


    The meaning was clear.


    “You’ve been through a lot.”


    “I just did what needed to be done.”


    “No, you did great.”


    With the system neutralized, only one thing remained—the Holy Relic.


    And to get it, we’d have to kidnap Ludine.


    But how?


    She was already difficult to handle, and now she waspletely unhinged, acting as if she saw nothing around her.


    The entire Empire must be scouring the Eastern Continent, their eyes wide open, searching for Diana, who had fled with me.


    “Haa.”


    There was no immediate answer.


    We had to bide our time and slowly look for an opportunity.


    “So where are we?”


    “We’re in the Kingdom of Asven.”


    The Kingdom of Asven?


    That poor country at the eastern edge of the continent?


    “I thought there would be no better ce to hide.”


    Diana spoke calmly, with aposed tone as if she were inhaling and exhaling.


    “The Elixir?”


    Diana rummaged through her bag and handed it to me.


    When I reached inside, I felt the familiar texture of a ss bottle.


    I had made a generous amount of the Elixir when I first concocted it, and inside the bottle was just enough for onest use.


    I carefully ced the bottle back inside and stashed the bag in the corner.


    And then I said,


    “Thank you.”


    I meant it.


    [Trantor – Peptobismol]


    It was the first time sinceing to this world that I genuinely felt grateful to someone.


    At that moment, I felt a startling sensation on my wrist.


    Before I knew it, Diana had grabbed my wrist.


    My gaze slowly traveled upward.


    Finally, I could see Diana’s face clearly.


    She was still staring at me intently.


    Her blue eyes remained full of loyalty, unchanged.


    Yet her hand still gripped my wrist, as if she had something to say.


    Was she suppressing an impulse or did she have something important to tell me? Her lips moved repeatedly but no words came out.


    The grip of her hand on my wrist trembled slightly.


    “…Diana?”


    I called out to her, but there was no response.


    I was confused but didn’t show it. Seeing this human side of her for the first time was rather refreshing.


    Besides, it wasn’t unpleasant that Diana was holding onto me.


    What did she want to say?


    What could be so important that it made Diana, who had never lost herposure, unable to control herself?


    Tick tock.


    How many minutes had passed?


    In the serene silence, Diana finally spoke in a trembling voice.


    “I was…”


    Her words were cut off again.


    And then, her repressed voice drifted into the air.


    “I was afraid.”


    “I know.”


    “I know it was presumptuous, but I didn’t want to see you die with my own eyes.”


    Her voice was filled with indescribable emotions.


    I listened quietly to her words.


    “But I am a knight.”


    “Right.”


    “I am your loyal sword and servant.”


    “Yes.”


    Her voice, seemingly determined, burned with fervor.


    “What do you think of me?”


    Diana was still gazing at me.


    Her eyes, filled with loyalty, showed no hint of ulterior motive, yet today, they felt strange.


    It was clearly an impulse.


    A deep-seated desire she had long suppressed was beginning to surface in her heart.


    Diana lowered her head deeply.


    The tips of her ears, visible through her hair, were burning red.


    As if reproaching herself for not being able to control her emotions.


    Sudden embarrassment melted into the intense heat and disappeared.


    At the same time, a strange sense of euphoria welled up in her chest.


    Diana lifted her head again.


    She looked at me, her lips trembling as she struggled to contain her emotions.


    I wondered.


    What kind of answer was she hoping for when she asked that question?


    I smirked.


    “What do I think of you?”


    What do I think of Diana?


    My only trustworthyrade?


    Amon master-servant rtionship?


    I’m not sure.


    Rtionships are tooplex to be simply defined, and in this situation, where nothing can be promised easily, I would probably hold back my words again.


    “Do you really want to hear it?”


    “Yes, I want to hear it directly from your own mouth, master.”


    “This is difficult.”


    “Please.”


    Diana’s blue eyes flickered intensely.


    Her eyes, her voice, her lips—all conveyed a violent emotional upheaval.


    The wild emotions made me feel dizzy.


    If you ask me if I have feelings for her, the answer is yes.


    I’m not a machine; there’s no way I wouldn’t feel anything for such a devoted woman.


    But voicing those feelings is another matter entirely.


    And this is all so sudden.


    What happened while I was dead?


    I swallowed a sigh and spoke slowly.


    “You are the first thing in this world that I can call ‘mine.’”


    “Is that so?”


    “Yes.”


    The pounding of my heart filled the air.


    I swallowed deeply.


    An unusual light flickered in Diana’s pale blue eyes.


    Behind her surging emotions, a hungry beast’s eyes gleamed.


    A hot shimmer was mixed in her breath.


    It was like the cry of a starving beast.


    Countless emotions flickered across Diana’s face.


    Finally, she spoke in a voice that seemed deeply locked away.


    “May I touch you?”


    “What?”


    Diana’s face turned crimson, as if it was about to burst.


    Her words were broken, and her movements were jerky like a broken clockwork doll.


    “Is it not allowed?”


    “……”


    “You said it yourself… I am yours, am I not?”


    I let out a stunnedugh.


    Diana mirrored myugh.


    “Are you… disappointed?”


    Diana bowed her head once more.


    Everything about her was clumsy, but that made it all the more endearing.


    I had resolved not to get attached to anyone.


    Not to leave anything in this world that could hold me back.


    I had made that vow desperately, but it seemed it was impossible.


    I realized that the situation had already gone too far.


    “No.”


    I slowly approached her.


    I met her gaze.


    “How could I be?”


    My hand reached out slowly, and her silver hair slipped through my fingers.


    Diana’s lowered gaze lifted slowly.


    Her flushed face, her longshes, her softly curved lips.


    Everything I saw was so vivid.


    The sensation went beyond my limits, tickling my heart.


    “Please forgive me.”


    With those words, a soft sensation brushed against my lips.


    An inexplicable feeling pierced through my mind like a bolt of lightning.


    My thoughts came to aplete halt.


    It felt unreal.


    Just everything.


    All those sensations were so special.


    [TL/N: I told you guys, now it has started…]


    [Trantor – Peptobismol]