Chapter 44
“Ethan?”
Ethan lightly ignored my voice and strode forward with confident steps, cutting ahead of me.
Then, turning his back to me, he blocked my path with the sharp blade in his hand.
It almost seemed as if he were trying to stop me.
Just moments ago, he had spoken as if he would fight alongside me, but now, with him positioning himself behind me, I couldn’t understand his actions.
Sensing my stunned confusion, Ethan spoke without even glancing at me.
“Don’t use your magic recklessly, Yunice.”
“……”
Ethan’s cold warning made me freeze.
Telling a mage not to use magic was no different from ordering someone to lay down all their weapons.
It was that dangerous.
Yet, I understood why Ethan was giving such a warning, which meant there was nothing I could do here.
‘And on top of that, because you came toward me unnecessarily, I fell without even having a chance to act.’
‘Unnecessarily—’
The reason I was facing this dangerous situation was also because I had ruined Ethan’s plan for my own sake.
Even knowing that, the heavy, disappointed feeling in my chest wouldn’t go away…
‘No need to apologize. From now on, you’ll have to fight alongside me too.’
‘Relax. Here, you don’t have to worry about your magic exploding. Just use it however you want.’
Maybe it was because Ethan had spoken in a strangely gentle tone, which didn’t suit him, that his words lingered so deeply in my mind.
Even knowing that Ethan stepping forward was the most reliable option, I simply wanted to help without being a burden.
I bit my lip slightly, trying not to show it, feeling a little intimidated by his words.
Dark thoughts that had been creeping up since I put Ethan in danger yesterday began surfacing again.
‘I can’t do anything.’
Realizing my own helplessness was just as uncomfortable as being a burden to someone else.
I stood there, hesitant, unable to find words to respond to Ethan.
Noticing the unusual tension, Ethan slightly turned his head toward me and let out a low sigh.
Then, the sword that had been blocking me was withdrawn.
“You’re thinking pointless thoughts again.”
“……Huh?”
“Why does that mouth that usually teases so lightly go quiet at times like this?”
His voice seemed to scold me, yet it felt softer than usual.
I couldn’t find words to respond.
Ethan, apparently not interested in my answer, continued speaking without waiting.
“Who told you to tremble behind me?”
“……?”
“I said not to unleash your magic to the point I can’t handle it. So don’t just stand behind me—help properly.”
“Huh?”
Seeing me still blankly standing there, he let out his usual cynical smile.
“You weren’t planning to just watch from behind, were you? Your fiancé is struggling so hard to fight.”
“N-No, that’s not it… If I step in—”
I didn’t continue, afraid of being a burden to him.
Yet Ethan seemed to know what I was going to say and spoke confidently.
“If you step in, this will end faster.”
“……Really?”
“Of course. I brought the strongest mage in the tower; wouldn’t that help?”
“……”
“So hurry up and help. If we’re going to deal with the mage who caused this mess, we have to act fast.”
His curt voice shook me from my hesitation.
Though his tone was as cold as ever, I immediately understood his intent.
He was awkwardly trying to comfort me.
‘…What? Why are you acting soft instead of like a mad dog?’
Despite my suspicion at his softened attitude, I didn’t dislike it.
Perhaps realizing his own change, Ethan no longer looked at me.
His back, blocking my path, looked as steadfast as an unbreakable fortress.
Seeing him like that, all my solitary worries felt pointless.
“…This is the first time I’ve had such blunt comfort.”
I muttered to myself, feeling a faint sense of satisfaction.
“I didn’t mean to comfort you.”
“Heh. Embarrassed now, are we?”
“Seems like you’ve finally come to your senses, judging by the nonsense you’re saying.”
Ethan’s indifferent tone made me laugh out loud.
Once I realized what Ethan wanted, I pushed aside the dark thoughts gnawing at me—though not completely.
I had only set them aside temporarily.
Darkness didn’t suit me.
At least… it didn’t suit how others saw me.
I relaxed my expression and hurried to Ethan’s side, keeping my gaze on his back.
This time, Ethan didn’t push me behind him.
“All right! Don’t worry, I won’t make the stupid mistakes I did yesterday, Ethan!”
“Let’s see without expecting anything.”
Ethan replied with a genuinely nonchalant voice, showing no expectations at all.
“Kuuek!”
Then, dashing forward with incredible speed, Ethan sliced through a beast charging at us.
That was just the beginning.
“Kuuoo!”
Ethan’s sword imbued with magic, and my own spells began tearing through the beasts one by one.
It was truly like a war.
Without a word, Ethan and I destroyed the beasts blocking our paths.
Even as vivid red blood filled our sight, we could not stop our hands from striking.
“Yunice! Focus!”
“Huh? Huh? Ah, ah!”
Whenever I tried to ease my strength to catch my breath, another beast seized the opportunity to attack.
Reacting to Ethan’s urgent voice, I quickly fired a magic projectile to repel the beast.
Ethan, having just finished slicing through another beast, swiftly returned to my side and warned me with a cold glare.
“You keep getting in my way. I told you not to look around, Yunice.”
“Sorry, sorry! I don’t have monster-like stamina like you! What am I supposed to do if it’s exhausting!”
While I leaned on my knees to catch my breath, Ethan slashed through a beast approaching us.
Had he been farther away, I would have had to face it myself.
Thanks to Ethan staying close, I could breathe for even a brief moment.
“Phew… All right. Let’s keep at it.”
I noticed Ethan’s small consideration and positioned myself by his side.
Even amidst fierce battle, I knew he kept an eye on me.
I wanted not to be a burden, yet seeing him care made me feel slightly guilty.
“I think I’m a bit tired… it’s hard.”
But being tired was… just being tired!
I stopped pretending to be fine and wore an exhausted expression.
Still, I didn’t forget to attack the beasts approaching me with magic.
Watching me act differently from my words, Ethan chuckled softly.
“Is this the courage you barely have to fight? Huh?”
Even while struggling, his irritating voice pierced my ears.
‘Oh? You’re hitting my pride?’
I wiped away my earlier whining and glared at him.
Ethan shrugged, seemingly unbothered by my threat.
“We’ll see who collapses from exhaustion first.”
“Ho. If I fall, will my brave fiancée protect me?”
“Ha! Of course! Do you think I couldn’t manage that?! Just watch!”
I puffed up my chest, displaying false pride, and stepped confidently ahead of Ethan.
Even seeing me slightly unsteady, Ethan just moved closer, teasing: “Don’t overdo it, fiancée.”
Time passed as we continued to fight silently.
“Ha… haah… haah…”
We paused briefly to catch our breath after fending off the beasts.
Only now did I realize the battlefield had quieted. The fallen beasts lay in pools of red blood.
“Ethan! Watch behind you!”
…Except for one.
A single beast, the last survivor, was stalking Ethan from behind amidst the carnage.
It was a life-or-death moment.
If Ethan moved even a second too late, the beast’s sharp claws would pierce him.
‘…No!’
My mind went blank again.
It was a familiar feeling.
This feeling…
“Ethan! Dodge!”
It happened almost simultaneously.
The moment I shouted for Ethan to dodge and the beast lunged at him.
The beast reared its massive body to strike him.
“Ethan!”
I gathered blue magical energy urgently.
Unlike yesterday, Ethan reacted quickly to my movement, dodging slightly to the side.
Once I confirmed he had avoided it, I sent the blue magic toward the beast.
Fortunately, this time the magic did not go out of control and hit the target precisely.
“Kuooh!”
The beast shrieked in pain as it was sliced clean in two by the precise strike.
It happened just before its claws could pierce Ethan.
Swoosh—
Because the beast had fallen atop Ethan, its magic-infused red blood spilled over him.
“Ethan, are you okay?!”
I was overwhelmed just knowing he was safe.
“…Ugh.”
I ran to him joyfully and stood before him.
“Ethan, Ethan! Did you see? This time it worked!”
“….”
“I was worried I’d get scolded again, but thank goodness… Ethan?”
While happily talking, I suddenly noticed something odd about Ethan.
Despite my excited chatter, he frowned and kept his eyes closed.
Standing still with his eyes shut was odd, but more than that…
“Ethan, what’s wrong? Why is your magic so unstable?”
I worried something had happened to him as I examined him closely.
Then, I noticed it.
‘…Why is the mana crystal—’
The mana crystal hanging around Ethan’s neck glowed brightly.
Seeing its ominous red light, I finally understood the situation.
Ethan, drenched in the beast’s blood, with the crystal reacting to his unstable magic.
‘…No.’
I suddenly remembered something I had forgotten.
