Lilith appeared like magic.
“Cheshire!”
Cheshire looked at her blankly.
He had to explain the situation, but I didn’t really need words.
“B, brother?”
Surprised, Lilith immediately found Theo, who was seriously injured and unconscious, and she ran over to help him.
She quickly raises her right wrist to look at it while sitting next to him with a nervous look.
A bracelet that she always wears.
Cheshire knew that whenever Lilith used her powers, she always checked that bracelet.
“Ah.”
Theo’s blood-covered wound, which the demon’s claws had cut, soon completely healed.
Although he couldn’t come to his senses, his complexion became noticeably calmer.
“….”
Cheshire was relieved.
And soon, he couldn’t take his eyes off Lilith. Because he saw the moment she used her powers.
It wasn’t a very big difference, but the face changed subtly.
And, most easily recognizable, the long hair.
‘She grew up…’
Cheshire’s hands trembled.
A dark and complicated feeling that can’t be expressed in words.
It was the first time he felt Primera’s power to burn a large amount of life force visibly.
The guilty conscience was painful and was tightening around his neck.
* * *
Theo was fatally wounded.
I could easily understand the seriousness of patients with internal injuries because I had always dedicated my abilities to healing.
With modern medical technology, it only takes a few seconds for a patient to have internal injuries that can be cured.
1year
However, those who were about to die made me have to burn my life force for almost a year.
‘It’s a relief. This was an injury that would have left him motionless and dead if it weren’t for me.’
I could barely sigh at Theo’s calm complexion.
“…Cheshire?”
At that time, I felt eyes on me and turned around.
I saw Cheshire reaching out to me in a daze.
For some reason, he tried to touch my hair, but then he bit his lip and turned his head away.
‘What is it? Ah.’
The long bangs made it a little hard for me to see.
And if I had grown for a year, I would have grown for six months at once. Cheshire would have been able to see the difference right away.
I hesitated and said,
“Hey, thank you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
However, Cheshire’s words came out of his mouth at the same time, and our voices were mingled together.
I tilted my head.
“What are you sorry about?”
“What are you thankful for?”
We spoke at the same time again.
Cheshire narrowed his eyebrows slightly.
“I, I’m grateful that you called me…. Honestly, I was a little worried. Maybe you really won’t call me.”
What if Cheshire doesn’t call me when not only his life is at stake but also Theo’s and others’ lives?
I had such worries.
Because even in the original work, Cheshire had a personality that could be cold-hearted despite his sincerity…
“Don’t say that.”
“Mhm?”
Cheshire, while turning his head, spoke with a distorted face, as if in pain.
“It’s because of me. I, made a wrong judgment. Because of my mistake, Brother ended up like this.”
“….”
“I said I wouldn’t put you in danger, and then I got angry and said I wouldn’t have to call you… But because I felt like Brother was going to die, I couldn’t think of anything. Only you.”
“Cheshire…”
“I know that it will be dangerous if you come here, and I know that you will have to use your abilities while burning your life force like this, and even though I know everything… .”
“….”
“Sorry. It’s because I’m stupid and bad at it. I feel stupid.”
“Cheshire, look at me.”
I grabbed Cheshire’s cheek and turned his head as he avoided my gaze.
Emotions that momentarily pass through red eyes.
Surprise, despair, relief, self-blame…
I could clearly feel how scared and anxious he must have been to see the injured Theo and bring him here.
“You might make a mistake. I don’t know why Brother Theo was hurt like this, but anything can happen on the battlefield.”
“…”
“It’s not your fault. Can you save the lives of all the people you fight together without getting hurt? Are you a God?”
“….”
“If that’s the case…The deaths of his friends wouldn’t have caused my Dad any pain.”
I was suddenly choked up.
Now, like my dad, he must take up the sword in earnest because of the many hardships he will face.
It was obvious that he would blame himself and suffer because of that.
“It would be so hard to think it was your fault every time. So don’t think like that. And anyway, Theo is safe, right?”
“…Mhm.”
Chesire’s jaw shook as if he were holding back his tears.
I hugged him quietly.
“I don’t want you to blame yourself for something like this…”
“….”
Cheshire’s trembling arms came up and hugged me, and we comforted each other for a while.
“Ah, wait! This is not the time!”
Look at my mind.
In a situation where every minute is urgent!
“Cheshire, Cheshire! Does everyone know that Theo was hurt this much?”
“…Mhm, everyone knows.”
Cheshire added with a sigh.
“After Brother suffered his injuries, the Holy Wizard, who was entrusted with casting the healing spell, found him. He told me that there was no hope…”
“Ugh, I see…”
This is the worst of the worst.
I know that Theo’s injuries were beyond repair with existing healing magic.
Since Theo has recovered just fine, everyone will be questioning it.
‘What should I do about this?’
I thought about it, then realized I had no time and shook my head.
“First, I need to take my time and think about what to do with Brother Theo. I shouldn’t be here, so I’ll take Theo back with me.”
“You?”
“Mhm. A person who should have died can’t return to the battlefield in good health.”
Cheshire was worried, but then nodded his head as if he agreed with what I said.
I approached Theo.
“Just tell Dad about this or that situation. Dad will figure it out somehow.”
“Mhm.”
Something came to mind as I was hurriedly arranging Theo’s clothes as he was unconscious.
“Ah! And Cheshire.”
I’ll have to think a little more about how to explain Theo’s condition, but…
We had to agree ahead of time on how we could get him from here to the Capital.
‘Let’s hide the movement magic formula. If it is revealed that I was the only one who knew about this useful magic, Master will be very criticized.’
I asked Cheshire for a favor.
“You know, before you come back, ask Dad to bribe this temple for you.”
“Temple?”
“Mhm. There is a warp gate in the temple. Because we can’t say we sent Brother to the Capital all of a sudden. There is a warp gate in the Magic Tower, so I think it would be okay to say it was opened there.”
“Okay.”
“Then I’ll go quickly.”
With Theo’s head lying in my lap, I looked at the bracelet, thinking about going back to Oscar’s house.
10hours
‘…? What’s going on with the cost-effectiveness of accompanying teleportation?’
When I traveled alone, it took 2 hours.
Isn’t it humanely necessary to make it 4 hours since there is one additional person?
“Ahem.”
I swallowed my resentment and looked at Cheshire.
“Cheshire.”
Before I knew it, he was standing up, putting his sword right at his waist, and preparing to return to the battlefield.
“You have to come back without getting hurt.”
Cheshire responded quietly to my greeting.
“…Yeah, I will.”
* * *
“Ah…”
As soon as I returned to Oscar’s house with Theo, I was surprised at the change in scenery.
A large piece of paper spread out in the middle of the neat living room.
A moving magic circle was drawn.
Next to it, there was even a map of the empire that was chaotically marked with a red pen…
‘No way, were you trying to follow me?’
It was a trace of Oscar’s efforts to draw a magic circle, knowing only that it was in the south but not knowing the exact coordinates.
‘No! He hasn’t already gone, right? Where is he?’
I looked around in a panic.
The fact that the Lord of the Wizard Tower suddenly appears in the middle of the battlefield is as absurd as Theo getting better.
It’s too suspicious to be the actions of Oscar, who lives alone in the Wizard Tower without any interest in other people’s affairs… .
He really can’t do it.
I was able to sneak away with Cheshire by telling him in advance, but Oscar really can’t do that.
“M, Master!”
Is he already gone?
As I anxiously called Oscar, he came out of the room at a hurried pace, putting on his coat, and then stopped abruptly.
“Wow, that’s a relief…”
I was about to speak but stopped.
Oscar froze and stared at me as if time had stopped.
He then slowly opened his palms and placed them on his chest, and for some reason he began to let out the breath that had been blocked.
“Haa, ha…”
His frozen expression gradually relaxed, as if the pain were subsiding.
“….”
Soon, Oscar slowly approached me and knelt down in front of me.
“M, Master?”
And then he hugged me tightly in his arms.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
His heart, which had not yet calmed down, was beating so hard that it seemed as if it would burst through his chest.
“You, this…”
“….”
“Really, I’m going to scold you…?”
The voice, the arms embracing me.
He was shaking like crazy.
‘I made you worry.’
A lot of that too.
I felt so sorry that I dug into Oscar’s arms.
“I’m sorry…”
“….”
It wasn’t enough to make him worry; I even caused an accident.
“I’m so sorry, Master.”
Because it’s better to get beaten quickly.
I said quickly.
“But I came here after doing something huge…”
When he took me out of his arms, he slowly looked at Theo, who I had been brought in with.
“Ha.”
He had no idea what was going on, but the sudden appearance of Theo must have been shocking enough.
“….”
Oscar suddenly pinched my cheek and pulled it.
“Ugh!”
“I can’t live, I! I can’t live!”
“Ah! aha! “Ugh!”
Fortunately, he let me go right away.
Oscar quickly calmed down, sat down, and swept his hair as I stroked my painful cheek.
“…That’s enough.”
“Yes?”
“It’s okay as long as you’re safe.”
The tone of disapproval in the mumbling shows affection and concern.
I got choked up, squeezed between Oscar’s legs and hugged him again.
“It’s ugly, really…”
He grumbled but hugged me again.
Lilith appeared like magic.
“Cheshire!”
Cheshire looked at her blankly.
He had to explain the situation, but I didn’t really need words.
“B, brother?”
Surprised, Lilith immediately found Theo, who was seriously injured and unconscious, and she ran over to help him.
She quickly raises her right wrist to look at it while sitting next to him with a nervous look.
A bracelet that she always wears.
Cheshire knew that whenever Lilith used her powers, she always checked that bracelet.
“Ah.”
Theo’s blood-covered wound, which the demon’s claws had cut, soon completely healed.
Although he couldn’t come to his senses, his complexion became noticeably calmer.
“….”
Cheshire was relieved.
And soon, he couldn’t take his eyes off Lilith. Because he saw the moment she used her powers.
It wasn’t a very big difference, but the face changed subtly.
And, most easily recognizable, the long hair.
‘She grew up…’
Cheshire’s hands trembled.
A dark and complicated feeling that can’t be expressed in words.
It was the first time he felt Primera’s power to burn a large amount of life force visibly.
The guilty conscience was painful and was tightening around his neck.
* * *
Theo was fatally wounded.
I could easily understand the seriousness of patients with internal injuries because I had always dedicated my abilities to healing.
With modern medical technology, it only takes a few seconds for a patient to have internal injuries that can be cured.
1year
However, those who were about to die made me have to burn my life force for almost a year.
‘It’s a relief. This was an injury that would have left him motionless and dead if it weren’t for me.’
I could barely sigh at Theo’s calm complexion.
“…Cheshire?”
At that time, I felt eyes on me and turned around.
I saw Cheshire reaching out to me in a daze.
For some reason, he tried to touch my hair, but then he bit his lip and turned his head away.
‘What is it? Ah.’
The long bangs made it a little hard for me to see.
And if I had grown for a year, I would have grown for six months at once. Cheshire would have been able to see the difference right away.
I hesitated and said,
“Hey, thank you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
However, Cheshire’s words came out of his mouth at the same time, and our voices were mingled together.
I tilted my head.
“What are you sorry about?”
“What are you thankful for?”
We spoke at the same time again.
Cheshire narrowed his eyebrows slightly.
“I, I’m grateful that you called me…. Honestly, I was a little worried. Maybe you really won’t call me.”
What if Cheshire doesn’t call me when not only his life is at stake but also Theo’s and others’ lives?
I had such worries.
Because even in the original work, Cheshire had a personality that could be cold-hearted despite his sincerity…
“Don’t say that.”
“Mhm?”
Cheshire, while turning his head, spoke with a distorted face, as if in pain.
“It’s because of me. I, made a wrong judgment. Because of my mistake, Brother ended up like this.”
“….”
“I said I wouldn’t put you in danger, and then I got angry and said I wouldn’t have to call you… But because I felt like Brother was going to die, I couldn’t think of anything. Only you.”
“Cheshire…”
“I know that it will be dangerous if you come here, and I know that you will have to use your abilities while burning your life force like this, and even though I know everything… .”
“….”
“Sorry. It’s because I’m stupid and bad at it. I feel stupid.”
“Cheshire, look at me.”
I grabbed Cheshire’s cheek and turned his head as he avoided my gaze.
Emotions that momentarily pass through red eyes.
Surprise, despair, relief, self-blame…
I could clearly feel how scared and anxious he must have been to see the injured Theo and bring him here.
“You might make a mistake. I don’t know why Brother Theo was hurt like this, but anything can happen on the battlefield.”
“…”
“It’s not your fault. Can you save the lives of all the people you fight together without getting hurt? Are you a God?”
“….”
“If that’s the case…The deaths of his friends wouldn’t have caused my Dad any pain.”
I was suddenly choked up.
Now, like my dad, he must take up the sword in earnest because of the many hardships he will face.
It was obvious that he would blame himself and suffer because of that.
“It would be so hard to think it was your fault every time. So don’t think like that. And anyway, Theo is safe, right?”
“…Mhm.”
Chesire’s jaw shook as if he were holding back his tears.
I hugged him quietly.
“I don’t want you to blame yourself for something like this…”
“….”
Cheshire’s trembling arms came up and hugged me, and we comforted each other for a while.
“Ah, wait! This is not the time!”
Look at my mind.
In a situation where every minute is urgent!
“Cheshire, Cheshire! Does everyone know that Theo was hurt this much?”
“…Mhm, everyone knows.”
Cheshire added with a sigh.
“After Brother suffered his injuries, the Holy Wizard, who was entrusted with casting the healing spell, found him. He told me that there was no hope…”
“Ugh, I see…”
This is the worst of the worst.
I know that Theo’s injuries were beyond repair with existing healing magic.
Since Theo has recovered just fine, everyone will be questioning it.
‘What should I do about this?’
I thought about it, then realized I had no time and shook my head.
“First, I need to take my time and think about what to do with Brother Theo. I shouldn’t be here, so I’ll take Theo back with me.”
“You?”
“Mhm. A person who should have died can’t return to the battlefield in good health.”
Cheshire was worried, but then nodded his head as if he agreed with what I said.
I approached Theo.
“Just tell Dad about this or that situation. Dad will figure it out somehow.”
“Mhm.”
Something came to mind as I was hurriedly arranging Theo’s clothes as he was unconscious.
“Ah! And Cheshire.”
I’ll have to think a little more about how to explain Theo’s condition, but…
We had to agree ahead of time on how we could get him from here to the Capital.
‘Let’s hide the movement magic formula. If it is revealed that I was the only one who knew about this useful magic, Master will be very criticized.’
I asked Cheshire for a favor.
“You know, before you come back, ask Dad to bribe this temple for you.”
“Temple?”
“Mhm. There is a warp gate in the temple. Because we can’t say we sent Brother to the Capital all of a sudden. There is a warp gate in the Magic Tower, so I think it would be okay to say it was opened there.”
“Okay.”
“Then I’ll go quickly.”
With Theo’s head lying in my lap, I looked at the bracelet, thinking about going back to Oscar’s house.
10hours
‘…? What’s going on with the cost-effectiveness of accompanying teleportation?’
When I traveled alone, it took 2 hours.
Isn’t it humanely necessary to make it 4 hours since there is one additional person?
“Ahem.”
I swallowed my resentment and looked at Cheshire.
“Cheshire.”
Before I knew it, he was standing up, putting his sword right at his waist, and preparing to return to the battlefield.
“You have to come back without getting hurt.”
Cheshire responded quietly to my greeting.
“…Yeah, I will.”
* * *
“Ah…”
As soon as I returned to Oscar’s house with Theo, I was surprised at the change in scenery.
A large piece of paper spread out in the middle of the neat living room.
A moving magic circle was drawn.
Next to it, there was even a map of the empire that was chaotically marked with a red pen…
‘No way, were you trying to follow me?’
It was a trace of Oscar’s efforts to draw a magic circle, knowing only that it was in the south but not knowing the exact coordinates.
‘No! He hasn’t already gone, right? Where is he?’
I looked around in a panic.
The fact that the Lord of the Wizard Tower suddenly appears in the middle of the battlefield is as absurd as Theo getting better.
It’s too suspicious to be the actions of Oscar, who lives alone in the Wizard Tower without any interest in other people’s affairs… .
He really can’t do it.
I was able to sneak away with Cheshire by telling him in advance, but Oscar really can’t do that.
“M, Master!”
Is he already gone?
As I anxiously called Oscar, he came out of the room at a hurried pace, putting on his coat, and then stopped abruptly.
“Wow, that’s a relief…”
I was about to speak but stopped.
Oscar froze and stared at me as if time had stopped.
He then slowly opened his palms and placed them on his chest, and for some reason he began to let out the breath that had been blocked.
“Haa, ha…”
His frozen expression gradually relaxed, as if the pain were subsiding.
“….”
Soon, Oscar slowly approached me and knelt down in front of me.
“M, Master?”
And then he hugged me tightly in his arms.
Thump, thump, thump, thump.
His heart, which had not yet calmed down, was beating so hard that it seemed as if it would burst through his chest.
“You, this…”
“….”
“Really, I’m going to scold you…?”
The voice, the arms embracing me.
He was shaking like crazy.
‘I made you worry.’
A lot of that too.
I felt so sorry that I dug into Oscar’s arms.
“I’m sorry…”
“….”
It wasn’t enough to make him worry; I even caused an accident.
“I’m so sorry, Master.”
Because it’s better to get beaten quickly.
I said quickly.
“But I came here after doing something huge…”
When he took me out of his arms, he slowly looked at Theo, who I had been brought in with.
“Ha.”
He had no idea what was going on, but the sudden appearance of Theo must have been shocking enough.
“….”
Oscar suddenly pinched my cheek and pulled it.
“Ugh!”
“I can’t live, I! I can’t live!”
“Ah! aha! “Ugh!”
Fortunately, he let me go right away.
Oscar quickly calmed down, sat down, and swept his hair as I stroked my painful cheek.
“…That’s enough.”
“Yes?”
“It’s okay as long as you’re safe.”
The tone of disapproval in the mumbling shows affection and concern.
I got choked up, squeezed between Oscar’s legs and hugged him again.
“It’s ugly, really…”
He grumbled but hugged me again.
