Even Old Maids Feel the Spring Breeze (3)
Despite the outrageous antics of his dimwitted subordinates, Yushin remained in a deep coma, completely unconscious.
Ardena approached and gently brushed back his hair, checking his complexion. His handsome face, straight nose, delicately feminine lips, and sun-bronzed skin still brimmed with vitality. As she meticulously examined every inch of him with her eyes and hands, a dark impulse suddenly stirred within her—she wanted to leave her mark on those lips.
Get a grip, Ardena. Yushin is our benefactor who saved our homeland and kin. How dare I indulge in such wicked thoughts while he's defenseless... Shame on you.
Meanwhile, Allen—who had appointed herself as his protector—had shamelessly toyed with his face multiple times, satisfying her every naughty whim. But Ardena was different. A massive obstacle called her conscience stood in the way of any bold moves. Even if Allen had zero scruples, Ardena found it utterly mortifying to lay hands on an unconscious patient. She might consider it if she got his permission first, but satisfying her desires on someone so vulnerable? Unthinkable.
"Hmm, all clear."
Ardena sighed in relief upon spotting the knot tying his pants. Good—no signs of it being undone. The high elf warrior captain had used her own unique knot to verify Yushin's chastity. Whether she knew her little sister had already stolen it or not, Ardena glared fiercely at the cat-like thieves eyeing her man, eyes wide with vigilance.
Just for a second... a quick kiss on the lips shouldn't be too bad, right? Yeah, lips are probably fine...
As Ardena leaned in cautiously, fixated on his lips, the noisy voices of Yushin's subordinates echoed from the hallway.
"We tossed all the chrysanthemums!"
"Who knew elves only use chrysanthemums at funerals?"
"The kingdom uses white roses for funerals... Come to think of it, I heard the east uses chrysanthemums too... Guess no white flowers at all, then."
Ardena swallowed hard, her first kiss to her beloved thwarted at the last moment. If only she'd hurried a little more... Lamenting her own indecisiveness, she backed away from the bed.
"What'd you do to my bro?"
Allen, back after dumping the chrysanthemums with Yushin's men, shot Ardena a sidelong glance. Ardena didn't respond. Her accusatory tone made her flinch inwardly, but she kept a poker face, pretending nothing had happened.
"The custom of offering chrysanthemums at funerals originated from the old kingdoms destroyed by the Demon King Army's invasion. We elves adopted it while reclaiming the Liberia Peninsula from demon rule."
Ileina, who had also returned after tossing the flowers with the group, dropped some excessive trivia, just like Allen. Though the Valua Kingdom and Liberia Elf Kingdom shared a border, their cultures differed vastly. Elves embraced human strengths while governing the demon-tainted peninsula, absorbing some demonic customs too. This clashed with Valua's human-centric rejection of anything demonic.
"When do you think Yushin will wake? Heard anything?"
Ileina asked. Ardena shook her head. The doctors weren't sure. Maybe tomorrow, maybe much longer. Ileina grumbled at the vague answer, "Even street quacks could say that!"
"Ardena, stay by his side and monitor him. Yushin Gilliard is our benefactor—and the one who fulfilled our long-cherished wish."
"Understood."
Allen gave a sour reaction to the exchange between Ileina and Ardena, then plopped down on the edge of Yushin's bed. Ignoring the long-eared chatter, she stared only at him. Her most precious person. Irreplaceable. Essential to her existence. Having scared off the doctors and nurses eyeing him with her intimidating presence, Allen curled up like an obedient pup, guarding him faithfully.
Bro, wake up soon. If you take too long, I might wear out first.
Allen's face fell as she buried it in his collar, inhaling his scent and feeling his warm skin. Still in her ronin beast form, she drooped her ears and tail, wilting at his prolonged sleep.
* * *
Trapped in a coma, Yushin found himself thrust into an unknown realm, immediately forced to battle a charging red swordsman. He swung his blade, chaining sword forms with thrusts and slashes. He remembered blacking out after clashing with Sabnack. So where the hell was he now, and what was this thing?
After what felt like ages, Yushin realized his body was left behind—only his intact soul had fallen into this dreamlike illusionary realm world.
"Gah!"
The red swordsman's slash tore through his upper body mercilessly. Darkness swallowed his vision. Death in the dream realm. But no worries—less than ten seconds later, he respawned, eyes snapping open as if nothing happened.
"What the hell are you? Why are we even fighting here?"
His 31st death. 32nd attempt. Yushin was locked in an endless duel with the red swordsman. No lightning—he wielded a plain longsword anyone could find. Without Karus or his dragon armor, lightning was impossible. So he relied purely on swordsmanship.
"You beat me with that pathetic skill...? Pathetic."
50th death. Midway through the 51st try, the silent red swordsman finally spoke, referring to herself as "I." A veil lifted from her face, revealing Sabnack. Or rather, a demon woman identical to her.
"Without that human knight's help, the elf captain's aid, and that lightning's intervention, you'd never have beaten me."
Sabnack—for now, that's what Yushin called her.
"So that's why I ended up here? For your stress relief?"
"Insolent. I didn't summon you—you wandered into my domain."
Sabnack shot back with a fierce glare. Same temper. No different from the real deal.
"Die."
Her sword pierced his heart, ending him. Darkness again. 52nd respawn.
"Useless without lightning."
"Item power's still power. Authority's power too, right?"
"Who said that crap?"
"Novel forums... Never mind."
She huffed at his slippery attitude.
"So why train me?"
"Train? You think this is training? I'm just killing you mercilessly. Venting. Yeah, your 'venting' idea."
"You said it wasn't earlier."
"Nosy bastard."
"Hey, sexist."
"Still yapping. Should've cut that cheeky tongue first."
"3rd try. 7th. 8th. 9th. 12th... You targeted my mouth a lot, huh?"
"No idea what you're on about. Imagination."
The red swordsman, in Sabnack's form, was as shameless as Yushin. Probably from all their fencing and banter.
"Rampage Flame never extinguishes until all life is eradicated."
"Chuunibyou much?"
"...Shut up before I rip your mouth again."
Ahem. Clearing her throat, she continued.
"Your final blow shattered the unbreakable Demon Core. More precisely, the one infused with the Maou's authority."
"...Yeah, I remember."
Yushin nodded, recalling that last strike. He'd inflicted a fatal wound on immortality-lost Sabnack, though a final mistake kept her alive—but barely.
"Half remains in Sabnack's body, the other in yours. A human hosting a Demon Core... Unprecedented. Bewildering."
"So who are you? If Sabnack's alive..."
"Rampage Flame. Third progeny of the great Maou."
"Like Tyranny? Same 'Pyo' family?"
"Shut your trap."
"Got it."
He clamped his mouth at her venomous snap. Scary, honestly. Maou's third child? Way above his paygrade. Real Sabnack would've gotten a "chuuni flare-up again" mutter, but this one was dead serious.
"When Sabnack wakes, she'll hunt you relentlessly. To reclaim her stolen Core and authority."
"Fight her again? Even without immortality, she's still Sabnack."
"Power and authority always come with responsibility and risk. Intended or not, the Core's imprinted on your soul—I'll be with you till death."
As she finished, Yushin shot up his hand like a student.
"So when can I return to reality? Wanna wake ASAP."
"When you beat me."
Land one hit, and she'd send him back. Firm tone. She had her angles. But with no other exit from this dream world, he'd play along.