~Chapter 105~
“Rena, what exactly do you mean by ‘inconvenient’?”
Instead of answering, I led Calix closer to the dragon. I reached out my hand—then Calix grabbed it from behind.
“Rena, don’t.”
I turned. His face was tight with worry.
“Did you forget what happened last time you touched it?”
“But if I don’t touch it, I can’t do anything.”
“I’ll do it instead.”
“How would you…?”
It sounded ridiculous, but I understood his desperate heart. I patted the back of his hand.
“It’s okay. I have to do it anyway.”
“…But…”
He hesitated, then frowned and continued.
“You still haven’t told me what that ‘inconvenience’ is. You don’t really know what will happen, do you?”
“You’re right. Everything I’m guessing is just a theory. It might happen.”
I admitted it calmly.
“Then…”
“But if I don’t try, I’ll never know.”
He shut his mouth. He seemed out of arguments. I looked at him with sympathy.
After a long moment, Calix spoke.
“Then… Rena. Let me do it with you.”
“With me?”
My eyes widened.
“I can’t sense magic anyway. Even if I touch it, nothing will happen to me. To me, the dragon is just a giant rock. But… I still want to do it with you.”
He sounded so earnest that I had to agree. I smiled faintly and nodded.
“…Okay. Let’s do it together.”
At that, relief softened his face.
“Then, right away…”
I tried to turn back to the dragon, but he stopped me again.
“Before we start, I have something to say.”
He said just that—and fell silent for a long time. I saw his throat work. His eyes even looked a little red. I waited quietly.
He moved his lips a few times before words finally came out, low and rough.
“Rena, I—I…”
“Yes.”
“I…”
He tried to act composed, but it didn’t work. His face twisted, and with his head bowed, he said in a trembling voice:
“If necessary, I’ll give you my heart…”
“…”
“So…”
For a second, I thought he’d changed his mind and was going to tell me not to do it.
But that wasn’t it.
As if he had decided something, he took a deep breath and lifted his gaze. He met my eyes straight on and a small smile tugged at his lips. It felt like time stopped.
He exhaled softly and smiled.
“But you love me, so you’ll say you don’t need my heart. Right?”
That gentle question made my throat tighten.
“…Yes.”
I nodded—again and again. He smiled wider, sure of me now.
And in a firm, steady voice, he said:
“So if you want to live with me, then succeed. Make sure you won’t need my heart.”
My lips trembled, but I had to answer out loud.
“…Yes. I will.”
I gripped his hand so tightly it almost hurt.
“Yes. I will. I’ll succeed.”
His eyes curved warmly.
I meant to stay composed, but the moment our eyes met, I couldn’t help myself—I threw myself into his arms.
He caught me easily, like always. His embrace was warm and steady. I hugged his neck and pressed close, and finally said the thought I’d been keeping to myself:
“I want our wedding in spring.”
“…!”
“So think about it—what flowers should we use for the bouquet?”
He chuckled and hugged me closer. Then, whispering at my ear:
“Problem is… I already chose.”
“Huh?”
My tears vanished at once.
“You already chose?”
I forgot everything for a second and pulled back. He looked right at me, mischief all over his face.
“What did you pick?”
I shook his arm, but he was firm.
“…Not telling.”
“Hey, why!”
“I’ll tell you when it’s time.”
“When?”
“…On the wedding day?”
“Hey!”
I yelled without meaning to. He laughed and tapped my nose. The fact that I cared about the bouquet made him happy.
“Focus, my lady. That’s not what’s important right now.”
“Ugh…”
I grumbled and rubbed my nose. I peeked up; our eyes met. He smiled sweetly—clearly not going to tell me.
Fine. I would give up for now.
‘Tch.’
But there were plenty of ways to tease him while he was off guard. I slipped a hand onto his shoulder.
Before he could react, I rose on tiptoe and kissed his lips.
A small pop as our lips parted. His eyes shifted to me, unmoving, stunned. I cupped his cheeks and kissed him again.
This kiss lasted a little longer. He came to his senses and wrapped an arm around my waist—
‘Not yet.’
I pulled away with another soft smack and dropped back to my heels.
He looked like a kid whose candy had been stolen. I raised a finger and declared:
“I’ll finish the rest after we’re done.”
“…”
He clearly wasn’t satisfied, but he obeyed.
I stood and took in his face carefully, to remember it no matter what happened—tracing it in my mind, adding color, engraving him into me.
When I was sure, I closed my eyes.
I turned, opened them, and the dragon’s dark hide filled my vision. I was so close I couldn’t see the whole thing, just an enormous piece of it—maybe a leg, or lower.
Calix came to my side and took my hand. We faced the dragon together, our fingers tightly interlaced.
Up close, it felt like I was being pulled in—into the dragon.
I remembered how, last time, I’d felt an impulsive tug toward it. This was the same.
It felt like the dragon was calling me. Like the world itself whispered in my ear—
This is a current you cannot resist.
I nodded, as if bewitched.
Yes. This is a current I cannot resist.
[The sinner has come.]
‘Uh…?’
Providence.
The next moment, my palm touched.
And then—
Calix and Rena placed their hands on the dragon at the same time.
In the next instant—
The moment Calix touched, Rena collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. He caught her. Her eyes were closed—as if asleep.
“Rena…?”
Thump, thump—his heart pounded. Rena’s heart, in contrast, had stopped.
“Rena…?”
Why was his heart racing, when hers was not?
“…”
Sound wouldn’t form when he opened his mouth.
“Rena?”
…
…
“Rena…!”
His desperate cry echoed through the cavern.
Everything was black.
Black, dark, pitch-black—every color in the world had died.
Then, all at once, my vision brightened.
“I” opened my eyes.
I saw a familiar ceiling—my own home’s ceiling.
I turned my head; beyond the window, the sea. The deep blue water glittered with sunlight.
I smiled.
It was the same familiar view as always.
‘Huh…?’
A strange discomfort flicked through my head.
Was this… really familiar?
“…”
But I forgot that feeling at once. Today was an important day.
I finished getting ready and left the house to go see the village festival.
It was the last day of the festival.
“I” was hiding in the forest behind the village with Calix. Everyone was flushed with drink; no one would notice we were gone.
Calix made small orbs of light floating around us, so we could see each other’s faces clearly.
They glowed beautifully in the dark woods. In response, I made delicate blossoms bloom in the air.
We chatted about the festival and giggled. When the laughter faded, we looked into each other’s eyes.
Soon, his touch came—familiar and gentle. He stroked my hair; I played with his cheek. Our gazes met. And then, finally, our lips met too.
A long time passed before we parted.
“…What are you doing tomorrow?”
“I’m going to see ■■■■■.”
“Again?”
Calix frowned. Lately he’d been unhappy that my visits to ■■■■■ meant less time with him.
“Can’t you stay with me?”
“But I promised to go give thanks for this festival.”
I pointed at the light orbs drifting around us.
“They’re the one who gave these to us.”
