Chapter 25 …
Alexis looked down at the document detailing the mission he had been assigned as he slowly made his way toward his room.
Mission: Extermination of the Kerno Tribe.
Eliminate the rebels, but make it appear as though it was the doing of the Kerno tribe’s leader, and remove him as well.
The detailed instructions were written below.
The imperial family was wary of the rebels who opposed them. Most of the rebels were stationed near the borders, largely because they were fully supported by the leader of the Kerno tribe.
The Kerno leader possessed considerable wealth and had originally been a member of Eldras’s imperial bloodline. However, now the entire rebel faction was collectively referred to as the Kerno tribe—a name symbolizing that they regarded one another as brothers.
If the rebellion succeeded, the imperial throne could very well pass to the Kerno leader.
And although they were few in number, eliminating them was far from simple.
“I should see her before I leave.”
A gloomy feeling settled over him at the ominous thought that he might truly be gone for an entire month. If things went as planned, he wouldn’t be able to see Aselia for that long.
That was why he had deliberately taken her only when the other ranks were asleep or when they wouldn’t attract attention.
On his way to his own quarters, he instead headed to Aselia’s room.
The moment he arrived in Area A, his senses reacted on their own, chasing after Aselia’s scent. It was sweet and intoxicating—like the aroma of delicious food yet also like flowers, and strangely enough, even as a floral fragrance it felt as though it might taste sweet.
And every time that scent brushed against him, it felt as though it seeped into him, lifting his mood—like being injected with a hallucinogen and an aphrodisiac at once.
He knew the reason for it, but he hadn’t expected it to feel like this.
What was strange was that he had used such drugs several times before, yet they had never excited his body. At most, they had made him feel a little warm.
Beep.
He unlocked Aselia’s door with his card.
Inside, she stood damp, as if she had only just returned, drying her wet hair with a towel. Fortunately, she was in her male form.
“Ah, Alex…?”
Her sweet scent mingled faintly with the smell of blood.
“You hurt your neck.”
“Ah, I—I tripped.”
Aselia avoided his gaze as she spoke. Because it wasn’t the truth.
“Should we talk here, or go to my room?”
She hesitated for a moment before answering.
“Let’s go to your room.”
He took the towel from her hands and wrapped it around her head himself, almost as if shielding her face from others’ view.
The only ones he could somewhat trust here were the researchers. And if any higher ranks happened to wander by, they could very well be his enemies.
“Hold on tight.”
“Yes.”
He lifted Aselia into his arms and, without hesitation, used his magic to move swiftly.
The sudden speed frightened her. She let out a small gasp and instinctively clung tightly to his neck. It felt as though she would fall if she didn’t. The sensation was like riding in a speeding car with the door flung open. Though she trembled, she tried to pretend she wasn’t afraid.
But the place they arrived at wasn’t Alexis’s room.
“This is…”
“My room’s too suffocating.”
He continued using his magic, steadying himself with the comfort he drew from her presence while simultaneously sensing whether anyone was nearby. His second awakening was approaching; when he focused his magic, he could perceive living beings inside the building—almost like combining infrared vision with thermal detection, seeing movement even beyond walls.
After confirming that no one was around, he had brought her here.
“I’ve never been outside the lab before.”
They were in a forest near the research facility.
Even A-ranks were occasionally allowed sunlight—but only about thirty minutes a day, ordered to stand still in a designated area without a skylight.
Now, even though the sun had set, she was stepping on grass. Used to hard sand-packed ground or stone floors, the feel of grass beneath her feet made her heart flutter strangely.
“It smells like grass.”
“Because we’re standing on it.”
“And the forest—wow… I can hear birds.”
She smiled at the sound of birds she had never heard inside the lab. It was strange to hear them at night, but their soft chirping was beautiful.
“Give me your hand.”
He said it as though she might wander off without him.
With an excited expression, Aselia gently took his hand. His expressionless face still frightened her a little, making her heart pound. Perhaps because of that, she couldn’t quite grasp his hand properly.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought you meant to hold hands…”
“I did. But why are you holding it like that?”
Unsure whether she truly had permission, she had only grasped two of his fingers. Alexis stared at her silently.
“Hold all of it.”
“Ah, yes.”
Worried that he might be angry, she cautiously adjusted her grip. Her tense heartbeat thudded loudly in his ears.
“This feels nice.”
“I’m glad.”
She didn’t quite understand what he meant, but she answered politely. Each time she responded, her heart beat faster from anxiety. Yet Alexis smiled faintly, pleased by the way she behaved toward him.
“I’ll be busy for a month.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll come back every three days, though.”
“Oh… you’re going on a mission.”
“Yeah.”
He knew he would be away long-term, but traveling itself wasn’t difficult for him.
“I have to come back to report anyway.”
“Do you submit written reports?”
“No. Always verbal.”
She found that strange, recalling how reports had mostly been written in the past. Alexis smirked.
“The deputy director has to organize what I report.”
It was a lie. In truth, the deputy director was moving him secretly, behind the director’s back, in accordance with a pact with the imperial family. That was why he had to return every three days—to make it appear that he had been here all along.
Among the Z-ranks, Alexis was a completed product who showed no signs of collapse.
Only two awakened Z-ranks had shown no signs of instability: Felix Magnolia and Alexis.
Because of that, Alexis handled most of the tasks the busy young duke could not.
“You don’t look pleased.”
“I have to do twice the work.”
He expected the deputy director to distribute the workload somewhat during that month, but it would still increase.
“This is all for you.”
“Ah… yes. Thank you.”
She wasn’t sure what he meant, but since he seemed to be blaming it on her, she assumed that was the proper response.
“You know what I mean, right?”
“Um…”
She glanced at him cautiously and recalled their previous conversation.
“It’s because you said you’d take me with you, right?”
“Yeah. You remember.”
He assumed she reacted that way because she wanted to leave with him. Even to him, the laboratory was far from comfortable—though he had only begun caring about that because of her.
“Please come back safely.”
“Mm.”
If you really want to make her yours, make her submit at night. Then she’ll truly belong to you.
Suddenly, Alexis remembered Isabella, the deputy director’s words. He knew exactly what she had meant. But he had come here instead of taking her to his room because he didn’t want to rush things that way.
“Tell me to come back safely.”
“Huh? I— I already did… Please come back safely.”
She looked slightly flustered at being told to repeat herself. His expression darkened again.
“Not that.”
“Then what?”
His gaze lingered on her lips before he reached for the magnetic necklace around her neck and removed the band. In an instant, Aselia returned to her female form. Startled, she looked around, then back at him.
“Give me a kiss and tell me to come back safely.”
“Ah…”
As he leaned closer, fear overtook her. She instinctively pressed her hand against his chest to push him away.
“No… do it when I return. After the mission’s over.”
“…Yes.”
Seeing her trembling in fear killed his mood.
They walked together for a while longer before returning.
‘I like you, Calisten.’
“Ugh…!”
Calisten jolted awake.
He looked around his room. It was spotless, as if someone had cleaned it thoroughly. But the strange dream he had just had left his head throbbing, his heart pounding, and blood rushing to his lower body so fiercely he felt like dying from shame.
He squeezed his eyes shut.
But like an afterimage burned into his vision, the memory lingered.
Lustrous platinum hair. Mysterious violet eyes. A beautiful face and a clear, gentle voice.
‘Cal.’
“Damn it.”
He snapped his eyes open. Each time he closed them, it felt as though the sensations returned—the shameless acts he had committed while intoxicated by truth serum and hallucinogens, washing and touching Aselia’s body.
The warmth and softness beneath his hands.
“That was a dream.”
Even as he said it, he wasn’t certain it truly was.
