Chapter 69

Chapter 69

The departure was delayed because we shared each other’s warmth for several hours. The sky brightened long before we reached the village. Endymion could not sleep a wink, but he was not tired.

As soon as he stepped on the ground, he spoke.

“First, let’s have a meal, take a break, and then we’ll start again.”

I’m sure it was me who absorbed essence last night, but I couldn’t figure out why the one who looked so energized was him. He looked somewhat excited as he collected dry leaves and twigs, lit a fire, and took out the materials he bought from Sylphen. Sitting with my knees up, I looked at Endymion and exhaled a small breath.

“You look happy, Endymion.”

“Yes, this is very enjoyable. If you’re tired, why don’t you close your eyes for a while?”

“I’m not tired. I just wanted to know what you’re so happy about.”

He slightly grimaced when I said that. It wasn’t my intention, but it sounded sarcastic. Hurrying to add more words, Endymion met my eyes and smiled.

“It’s all enjoyable. To be with you, Miss Lily, and to be able to do this for you. It’s a pleasure to be needed by the person you love.”

“…You keep saying such things so casually. You weren’t that kind of person at first.”

When we first met, he kept a proper distance, but showed kindness as he did with others. After that, he kept having trysts near me. However, while showing that figure, he did not explicitly express that he was interested in me, but that changed after he discovered that I was a succubus.

“Yes. I was flustered because I didn’t know how to approach you. Normally, it was the other way around.”

Endymion, who put a pot filled with water on the fire, skillfully prepared the ingredients. The other way around seems to mean that there were a lot of people who approached him even if he just stayed still. Well, just from what I had seen before, I could count them on two hands.

“So, to get some attention, something like that, you did that… near me?”

“Because if I didn’t do that, Miss Lily wouldn’t even make eye contact with me.”

“No, don’t you think the method you used was a bit strange?”

“I knew that you hated it. But, well… If you started to avoid me again, I could do more just to get your attention on me somehow. You can hate me, but please don’t avoid me.”

“…Isn’t it obvious to avoid people you don’t like?”

He laughed softly at my blunt reply. It was uncomfortable to just sit still, so I tried to help with something, but he shook his hand. I crouched down a little more and said.

“Since when did Endymion want me… Um, did you like me?”

“You’re asking for the first time.”

“Because I didn’t really want to know before.”

“Then, do you want to know about it now?”

“It’s not good to answer questions with questions.”

Despite my rather pointed tone, Endymion continued to laugh. There were times when I was curious and there were times when I thought I didn’t know, but in the end, I got curious about the great reason why he did this. He stirred the ladle and blinked with a pensive look.

“Since when, hm. I don’t know exactly. I kept watching and looking at you, and my feelings grew.”

“…Why would you look at me like that?”

“Well. At first, I thought that you were simply shy, but that wasn’t the case. I found out that you were putting up a wall against everyone except for a few, but then… I realized that I was among the people who you built that wall against.”

“…….”

“It was useless to talk in a friendly way like Regulus, and it was impossible to approach you like a friend, so I thought a lot about what to do.”

“Why did you do that? Normally, if I draw the line like that, people won’t come any closer.”

Endymion cut the jerky into the pot and took a large loaf of bread from his bag. I just tapped my elbows with my fingers and watched him do it. The light blue eyes lost in thought immediately turned to me.

“Perhaps it was because you didn’t smile at me. And you also didn’t accept the scented candles as well.”

“What?”

“It seems so.”

Endymion threw out strange words and smiled brightly. What does he mean by scented castle? I said, stretching my leg forward.

“The scented candles in the knights library are good.”

“That’s a relief. Actually, I paid a lot of attention to those.”

I didn’t know what in the world he was talking about. In the end, he became interested in me after watching me. He hit a wall and fell in love with me? I don’t know if that person is weird or if I misunderstood. When my expression became strange, he added a comment.

“…From a certain point, whenever I thought about anything, you would just come to mind. Did you eat well, did you sleep well, did you have a lot of work today, who did you talk to?”

“Isn’t that what you asked out of politeness?”

“At first it was, but then I got really curious. And.”

Endymion looked at me and smiled vaguely. He looked like he had another reason, but he didn’t say anything anymore.

He then turned his head to pour the stew into a bowl and sliced the warmed bread into bite-size pieces. The stew was delicious.

In fact, I got worried a lot when I heard that I had to go to Terra alone with Endymion. It was because I thought that he would be clingy, say something strange, or do something burdensome. But he didn’t touch me more than necessary, and he paid attention even if I said only a word.

Even so, when I spoke first, he exchanged conversations as if he had been waiting for me. To be honest, he was a better companion than I initially thought.

After two more days like that, Endymion and I were able to stand in front of the tightly closed walls of Terra.

“The walls are so white.”

“Miss Lily, once you get inside, you better not touch anything. Because you said you feel pain when you touch holy power.”

“Yes. I can still feel the tingling in the air.”

It was unpleasant, but not unbearable. Five paladins clad in silver armor stood in front of the gate. Endymion pressed my hood deeply while taking out the letter he received from Damian.

I was back to normal now. Considering that Damian immediately recognized me when I changed my face, I didn’t feel the need to use magic. I followed Endymion, tucking my loose hair inward.

As we got closer, one of the guard paladins approached. Perhaps he had seen the letter in Endymion’s hand, he spoke in a calm voice.

“Please state your business.”

“I’ve come as a guest of High Priest Larsen.”

When Endymion handed over the letter, the paladin checked the contents lightly then soon ignored it. His gaze turned to me, but it was really short. The knights standing behind gave way, and Endymion and I went inside. I was a little stiffer than before.

“…….”

“Are you okay?”

“For now. Even the inside… is white.”

All the buildings and floors were all white. However, it was not strange that there were many trees and light-colored flowers densely packed along the edge of the road. The buildings were only white, but the roofs were covered with tents in colors that were easy on the eyes, such as gold, green, or brown, giving it a rather mysterious feeling.

It was just suffocating to me. The air was too heavy.

“Guests. There are many places you shouldn’t go to recklessly, so we’ll guide you. Please follow me.”

“Yes. Miss Lily, if you are having a hard time, please tell me.”

I smiled and nodded when I saw him talking with such force that he could break down even a wall. I was surprised that Endymion held my hand, but he smiled reassuringly and did not shake it off.

My skin tingled with every step that I took. It was as if I had been sitting in one place for a long time—my limbs were numb and I felt a little sick to my stomach. Endymion continued to check my condition and swallowed his breath anxiously.

“Your companion doesn’t look very well. Shall I guide you to a place to rest first?”

“It is because she is not used to traveling. I appreciate your consideration, but I must meet the High Priest as soon as possible.”

When the paladin suddenly stopped walking, Endymion held my hand tightly and gently but firmly refused. Even if I rested here, it would get worse, as nothing would help me get better, so I wanted to get the ring and go back quickly.

But at that moment, a strange chill hit my body, and I almost instinctively pushed Endymion away.

“Miss Lily!”

At the same time as Endymion staggered away from me, a golden circle formed under my feet. The wind swayed only from the inside, causing my hood to flip. I bit my lip and sat down at the pressure that was incomparably stronger than when I was just walking.

“Miss Lily, Miss Lily!”

A wall had formed around me. Endymion hit the transparent barrier with a distorted face, but there was no reaction. Sparks were flying all over my body.

“What a stupid devilkin. I wondered what she was thinking about getting in but I didn’t expect to get caught this easily.”

“…What kind of trick is this?”

“That’s what this side should say, knight of Ciel. Are you insane to dare to bring such a filthy creature into this sacred land?”

A sound came from afar. The paladin’s mocking voice, as well as Endymion’s cold voice, rang farther away. Filthy, he said. Was he talking about me? My shoulders and lips trembled. What mistake have I made, what have I done here?

“Filthy creature…? You really wanted to die. How dare you say something like that.”

“Tsk, you look like a pathetic bastard. For you to have been enraptured by that devilkin, have you no shame?!”

Along with a sharp cry, many presences came around. A sharp gaze like stabbing me with an awl, and those who frowned when their eyes met mine. Endymion came to my side as if to protect me and took out his sword.

Don’t worry. He said in a calm voice.

Then, a sharp thorn made of light flew from behind, and Endymion quickly cut it off. A golden haze rose from the paladins’ bodies. The barrier blocking me was getting cramped little by little.

I don’t know. I couldn’t figure out how this happened. Damian said that he would definitely explain the situation in advance. I didn’t expect to be attacked, even though I thought that the unfavorable stares would follow. My stomach was rumbling and I was nauseous.

Through my blurry vision, I saw Endymion swinging his sword.

I had never thought of attacking anyone with my will. I hated harming people. A lot of it was because of the anxiety that something irreversible could happen at any time because I couldn’t control my own strength.

I gripped the ground so hard that my fingernails tingled. As I tried to summon my magic, I felt stabbing pain, as though lightning had struck my whole body, and my stomach felt hot as if I had swallowed fire. But still, still.

“Endymion, get down!”

With my scream, Endymion immediately crouched down. The black spheres that appeared in the air hit the paladins who were attacking him.

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