I Love You (1)

The war had come to an end.

Total casualties came to roughly four thousand. Among them, about four hundred additional deaths meant that of the eight thousand men conscripted for the war, nearly thirty percent had perished, and another ten percent had been wounded so badly they would carry lasting disabilities. The remaining ten percent had suffered only light injuries and would soon be fit to return to the ranks.

A casualty rate of almost fifty percent.

The assault by Dreamer had inflicted catastrophic damage, but had I not cut him down when I did, the losses would have been far worse — and we would never have been able to launch the counterattack that followed.

"Successor. Are you quite all right?"

"I'm sorry?"

"Your color looks terrible... Perhaps you should rest for a short while before heading back?"

Do I really look that bad...?

Truthfully, it was probably because I hadn't slept.

"Haha... I'm just a little short on sleep, that's all."

As I scratched my cheek sheepishly, Deus and Benedict stepped up beside me.

"Is it because Lady Alice has not yet awakened?"

...Right.

That was, in fact, one of the reasons I looked so worn down in front of them. I hadn't been eating properly either, continually channeling an unfamiliar authority through my body and pouring it into her.

Thanks to that, though, my proficiency with the authority had grown tremendously.

Once, when the healers requested reinforcements, I went to help them — partly to raise my proficiency in the Authority of Life as well. The life authority I wielded was on an entirely different tier from the healing power the healers possessed, and the moment I arrived they welcomed my aid with tears of gratitude.

And yet my life authority could not properly reattach torn flesh.

When I used the Authority of Purification to treat the infections caused by wounds inflicted with the demons' contaminated weapons, the results had been spectacular. But reknitting the wounds themselves was beyond it.

After lightning and wind, whose proficiency had climbed through battle, purification was now my most practiced authority of all. That alone told me exactly how many times I had used it on her.

Anyway, I nodded up and down at Deus.

"Haha... you got me."

"She will wake. You are using your authority for her day and night, Successor. She will... she will open her eyes."

Benedict picked up where Deus left off.

"Successor, you really cannot go on looking like this. What would the Lord think if he saw you in this state..."

...

Still, what was I supposed to do? It was my decision that left Alice unable to wake up.

I gave them a smile, promised I would, and stepped out of the command tent. In one more day, we would return to the Cumul Territory.

It would have been nice if Alice woke up before then...

I quickened my pace and slipped into my own tent. Inside it were my simple tableware and washing kit, and a cot — the very cot where, before the final battle, Alice and I had promised each other we would make it back alive.

She was lying on it.

I had meant to move her to the cot in her own tent, but with the excuse that I needed to tend to her with my authority at a moment's notice, I had brought her into mine.

There she lay on the cot, still unable to open her eyes, dressed in a shirt and simple trousers. Despite lying there day after day, her appearance never seemed to change at all.

Like a sleeping princess in the forest.

Though I suppose the sleeping princess got to wake to a prince's kiss. Her beauty was breathtaking at a single glance — and that was precisely why her fate was its mirror opposite. The word beauty and misfortune in equal measure rose to my lips on its own.

Her life was supposed to have been one of misery. With looks like these, demon and human alike would covet her, one and all.

I wanted to protect her so that she could finally live with her heart at ease... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and this was what had become of it all.

I put the gloomy thoughts aside and turned to the work in front of me. Taking Alice's hand, I slowly breathed the Authority of Purification into her.

A cool, pleasant energy flowed through her hand. After about two hours of channeling, her condition had clearly improved. I had ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finally driven out the last of the Mind Control's effects — every trace of that foul, clinging dark energy had vanished without a remainder.

"Haah... haah..."

Of course, thanks to that, sweat was pouring off me like rain. Using the authority demanded considerable focus.

But it didn't matter. Not if it meant she would open her eyes sooner.

It wasn't so much physical exhaustion as... the same mental fatigue you feel after two days of gaming without a wink of sleep.

As I caught my breath and wiped the sweat from my face, still holding Alice's hand —

Her fingertips... moved. Just slightly.

'.....!!!'

The moment I realized she had moved, I kept pouring the authority into her, even as the mental fatigue had already reached a vicious pitch. Fingertips moving meant the Mind Control's effects had fully faded.

And so I switched — not the Authority of Purification, but the Authority of Life. It had been nearly two days since she lost consciousness; she would surely have no strength left in her body. She might not even have the strength to rise. That was why I made the choice.

A pale green light — no longer the pure white of purification — flowed from my hands and wrapped around her whole body.

"Please...! Wake up...! Alice..."

Perhaps my desperate plea reached her — Alice's eyelids began to tremble, little by little. The sign that comes just before waking.

With the sign, something cried out along every vein in my body. A pain like being pierced by needles, throbbing and sharp. I clenched my teeth and bore it as I channeled the authority — and Alice's blue pupils... turned toward me.

"Al...ice!"

"H... Hyun... Hyun...?"

"Wait...? Let me make you a little more comfortable...!"

The very instant I tried to pour in more authority — the pain grew worse, tightening and intensifying.

I tried to ignore it and push on, but no more authority would come out. Still... I had been able to see Alice with her eyes open. So maybe it was all right...?

My strength gave out entirely; my legs buckled and I sank to the floor. I couldn't even lift my head — my whole body was already soaked through with sweat.

I needed to tell the commanders that Alice had opened her eyes. But my legs wouldn't move.

And then I felt a hand gently stroking the head I had bowed.

"You've worked so hard... Why do you push yourself so much..."

At that gentle voice, so clearly meant for me — like a child, tears welled up in my eyes.

And... even without any strength left, my head lifted slowly of its own accord, and I found myself gazing up into soft blue eyes — eyes that, at some point, had risen and were looking down at me.

"Why are you crying...? A Successor, crying like a baby? Really?"

...If it means you're safe, call me a crybaby — call me an idiot, I don't care...

More than that, there was something I wanted — needed — to say to Alice.

"I'm sorry... Alice..."

At my words, Alice tilted her head.

"Why? Why are you sorry, Hyun?"

I took both her hands in mine.

"...Because it was... my decision...! If I had gone in your place...! Then you... you never would have had to suffer like...!"

Before I could even finish, Alice pressed her lips over mine, as if to seal my mouth shut. Unable to resist, I felt her lips against mine and closed my eyes.

"Mwah...!"

When Alice finally drew back, I found I had lost my words entirely.

"What-ifs are useless. It already happened. And you dealt with what happened magnificently, didn't you? So as far as I'm concerned, that's enough."

"Then what good does that do...? You collapsed...!"

Alice's face broke into a bright, beaming smile.

"Well then, I also have something I feel sorry to you for. So let's call it even."

"Uh...?"

When I just stared at her, dumbfounded, she gave a soft little laugh — pufu — and continued.

"Don't you remember? When I was under that spell, I drew a real blade and swung it at you with everything I had."

"Oh."

Mind control. Its effects had handed control of Alice's body to Dantalion. And in the middle of it, she'd been forced to point a sword at me — let's see which of us kills the other, it had said. I had barely managed to parry the blade swinging at me full force.

Noticing that I remembered, Alice gripped both my hands tightly and spoke.

"If things had gone even slightly wrong, I would have killed my own lover with these hands. If you hadn't been able to withstand my blade... I would have broken inside."

"....."

"So really, those words are mine to say, not yours."

"But the one who caused it all was...!"

"Shh! So let's just pretend it never happened. From the next battle on, we just get better and be prepared. That's all."

I nodded at her words and answered.

"Okay..."

"This is the man who commanded the battlefield while giving orders to his crows, who brazenly challenged a demon of the ranks and struck without hesitation. That's our Hyun."

...?

"And yet here he is in front of me, crying and blaming himself for everything, like a little kid."

That's an insult, isn't it? Right?

As if she'd read my mind, Alice burst into laughter and went on.

"Sounded like an insult? It was. Hyun, you need a scolding. The Lord is human, isn't he? Then the Successor is human too — how could he never make a mistake?"

"No ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠creature alive never makes mistakes. So don't dwell on it too much. Your girlfriend woke up, didn't she?"

At that, I nodded.

"Then first things first — you should be hugging me. What do you think I'm going to feel, watching you hold my hand while sweating like rain and apologizing over and over?"

Probably... that I was worried?

"Exactly. Of course I'd worry. My man woke me up while sweating like rain right in front of me."

What the — did I just say that out loud? No, I didn't...

Was she turning into a mind reader now?

"One look at you and I can tell — you haven't eaten a thing, and you wore yourself to the bone trying to save me, haven't you?"

...?

Wait, was she actually awake the whole time?

Or was she some sage greater than the Azure Dragon? Or then how on earth did she know?

Alice flicked her finger against my forehead with a sharp little rap.

"Ow!"

"Knowing your personality, that's more than likely. The type who hates being a burden, and gives everything he has to fulfill his duty."

"That's who you've been all the time I've known you — that's the real you. That's why I'm telling you: stop shouldering every single blame yourself. People need to learn to blame someone else once in a while!"

"Understood? Being too honest just wears you down. When it gets hard, lean on me, or rest. You're allowed to."

At her words I nodded and nodded again, answering that I understood.

"Now come on. Look at these dark circles under your eyes. You've ruined that handsome face of yours."

"But...! I still have to check on your condition...!"

"Shh! Listen to your noona. You need to sleep. You're going straight to the healing tent once I've seen you asleep. So sleep."

Unable to argue with her iron will, I nodded and quietly closed my eyes. Before long, sleep claimed me at last.

Perhaps because I had barely slept at all, when I opened my eyes the tent was already flooded with midday light. I must have slept more than ten hours.

And there beside the cot, just like me, Alice had pillowed her head on her arm and was dozing away.

When I felt someone lift the tent flap and step inside, I turned my gaze toward the entrance. It was one of the healers. She said she'd come to check on my condition — no doubt Alice had asked her to, right after having her own body examined.

"I'll just do a quick examination~"

The healer raised a pale green glow from both hands and lightly touched my head, then closed her eyes as if scanning my body for anything wrong. Before long the light faded and she spoke.

"No illness or anything unusual — but your mana circuits are slightly damaged. You must have pushed yourself hard... At this level, it would have been quite painful..."

So that's what that tearing pain in my mana circuits was.

Wait — I could use mana...?

"I'll prescribe you a painkiller and a booster to strengthen the circuits a little. Take them and see how you go, and if it gets any worse, go see the family physician."

"Ah... yes. Thank you."

"You're exhausted and sleep-deprived on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠top of it, so your body is run down. Once you return, you absolutely must rest."

"Yes..."

"Then I'll be off."

Whether it was a doctor in the real world or a healer in this one...

The worried nagging that came from caring for a patient was exactly the same.

Just as I reached out to lift Alice — sleeping uncomfortably on her arm — onto the cot, the healer stopped mid-step and added,

"Ah, right. Commander Alice's body is completely fine now. If you're worried, please hold back from casting magic on her. All right?"

"Yes..."

"Then I'll be off."

With a bright smile, the healer turned and walked right out of the tent. Still — if she could say that much, then Alice's body really must be fully recovered.

Perhaps the movement had woken her; at some point Alice's eyes were open, and she stretched. She must have been quite stiff, because the stretch was a long one.

"Mmmmh..."

She was wearing nothing but a shirt, with her uniform jacket draped over her shoulders. Because of that, her figure was on blatant display. Alice's chest pressed against the shirt, the buttons on the verge of bursting — crying out to be spared.

But as she returned to an upright position, the buttons were granted a stay of execution.

Naturally, that was when I made the decision to look away. If anyone asked what it mattered, she was my girlfriend, wasn't she... well, I'd have to plead that we hadn't actually gone any further than kissing yet.

Honestly, even without this, Alice's figure was so devastating that when she deliberately teased me I could barely look at her straight. With her like this, I honestly had no idea where to put my eyes.

"Hmm?"

Alice noticed me turning my head away, face burning, and made a puzzled sound. Then she looked down at herself and discovered the buttons one flick away from bursting.

"Ahh. Hyun."

At the sound of her voice, I turned my head back — and Alice had a hand resting on her chest, smiling at me with a perfectly innocent face.

"Want to touch?"

No — what on earth are you saying?

My face was already red enough... but now I could feel heat rising as if I had a fever.

"M... me...?"

"Yes. You, Hyun. This is a part no one gets to touch except you and me, you know?"

"...!!!"

Her aggression knew no bounds.

"Didn't I tell you from the start? The first time would be after we both made it back alive?"

"...I... I thought that was just your way of saying come back alive...!"

"I meant every word of it."

No, isn't this a little too forward?

"B... but... not here...!"

"Really? Okay, I understand. Then I get to pick the time and place myself, don't I?"

"You're actually planning to...?"

When I asked, half in disbelief, Alice nodded.

"Mm. The moment I opened my eyes, I knew exactly how much you love me."

"....."

"Where else would you find someone who pushes his mana circuits to the point of tearing just to wake me up?"

Judging by how well she already knew my condition, the healer must have paid her a separate visit while I was asleep.

"Th... that's only because I didn't even know if I had any mana left..."

"Huh? Seriously?"

I nodded vigorously, making my answer unmistakable.

"So you didn't even know if you could use mana, and you still pushed yourself that hard to wake me?"

"....."

Did it actually work out like that?

"Hyun."

"Yeah?"

"Noona doesn't think she can hold back anymore."

"Wh... wha?! Hold back? Hold back on what?!"

My voice shot up in a panic. But she had already placed her index finger over my lips.

"Shh. Quiet. People will hear... So... don't you want to? With you, noona would be happy anytime, anywhere..."

The scent of peach drifting from her had grown so much stronger. She had pressed herself closer to me.

"No, I mean... that's... um...!"

Alice puffed out her cheeks slightly.

"Why are you making the girl say everything? You're an adult now. You know exactly what this means."

...I do know. I've known since I was fifteen.

But knowing something in your head and...

actually experiencing it are not the same thing...!

"If you really don't want to, I won't push."

With those words, she began to pull back the distance between us. Naturally, the scent of peach faded along with it.

Right.

Alice had gone this far for me...

I took a deep breath to steady myself, and then I opened my mouth.

"Alice."

"Mm...?"

"Can you lean your ear in?"

"My ear...?"

"Yeah."

Alice tilted her head, curious at what I was doing, but then brushed her hair back behind her ear and brought it to me. Having made up my mind, I began to whisper into it.

"...Ugh!!"

The moment my whisper reached her, Alice's face flushed crimson in an instant. Then, covering her burning cheeks with her hands, she managed,

"You... pervert..."

Going by that reaction, Alice could be bold on the attack, but when it came to this, she had no defenses at all.

"So? What's your answer?"

Though her hands were still covering her scarlet face, Alice gave a small nod — up and down — that to anyone watching could only mean yes.

"Okay thennn..."

Really, Alice could be so cute like this.

Alice, red to her ears, and I cuddled and nuzzled together, savoring the hard-won peace that had finally found us. Of course, until it was time to part and prepare for the return march, we were free to enjoy a little time that belonged to no one else in the world.