CH 74

The Black Mist vomited out the monsters once more, but the situation changed with Belters joining. 

Falden and Blenn were really strong, but—.

The strength of Belters was at a different level.

His swordsmanship seemed fast to the naked eye but felt slow.

Although it was slow, he smashed the monsters standing there to the floor as she followed the path in which he swung the sword. 

It was never loud.

Like a calm wave by the lake.

His movements were quiet in themselves. 

[So cool—]

For some reason, Dell burst into exclamations without being jealous.

[Whoa. That’s cool. That’s really cool. Nuna, should Dell also change the color to black? Then will I look cooler?]

With a smile, Serdel patted the boy’s head.

[Then, will Nuna fall in love with Dell at first sight?] 

His eyes sparkled. 

It was as cute as a little child saying, ‘I’m going to marry my mom when I grow up!’

‘I don’t think I can fall in love with you because you’re still too young?’

[Ey. If you wait a little bit, Dell will be an adult soon—]

Dell dug himself.

[Redan Hyung said Dell was the coolest today!]

Now, the boy jumped up and raised his head to the fullest, sticking out his chest.

It only looks very cute now that it looks like a baby. 

Wooooooo—.

He pretended to be howling.

[Today’s winner is Dell. Dell drove the darkness away! That’s really cool. Hehehe. I’ll have to brag about it to my cat subordinate later.]

The guy wags his tail wildly while coloring his cheeks red. 

“Are you crazy after working hard, rat?”

Redan, who approached, looked at Dell like that and started arguing.

[Candy, candy. Hyung-ah, give Dell candy.]

Dell jumped and opened his mouth wide.

“What do you want me to do? I don’t have candy. Why are you trying to eat all day? Your teeth are going to rot, you punk.” 

Even though they obviously couldn’t communicate, Redan quickly realized what he wanted and scolded him.

Dell’s tail drooped down.

“Don’t be a nuisance, go over there and play.”

[…Damn.] 

Dell turned around, stroking the swear words as much as he could.

He seemed upset.

Watching the boy move away for a while, he asked.

“Hey, are you okay?”

“I’m fine. How about brother?”

“…It’s fine. But, hey. I’m warning you.”

Redan, who was scratching his back head awkwardly, opened his eyes violently.

“Don’t do the same thing again like before. Why are you protecting me? What would you have done without that brat?”

He turned and stood up straight, holding Serdel’s shoulders tightly.

“Is it because you want to see me go crazy? I’m… Ugh.”

Redan bit the flesh in his mouth.

“When I saw my mother die like that— I almost died, but should I watch my little sister die to pieces as well, huh?”

His eyes glistened with anger.

Seeing that he put his mother in his mouth, which he would never usually bring out, she could tell he was very angry.

That’s why she was even angrier at herself. 

“….”

“Huh? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Then did I have to watch my one and only brother die  instead of me?”

Unbearable anger came out of her mouth.

“….”

“What? Why aren’t you answering me?”

He seemed to be speechless.

The closed mouth of Redan couldn’t open easily.

“What do you think I will do if Brother is seriously injured or something goes wrong while trying to protect me?”

“…..”

“Do you think I’ll live normally? Do you think I’m that harsh to you?”

The anger that filled his eyes slowly faded away.

On the other hand, Serdel’s eyes were more intense.

“Why don’t you think we feel the same way?”

Redan’s head gradually fell.

“You’ve always been like that, right, brother? Why do you only talk like that? I’ll be the one asking. Why can’t you say anything else?”

“….”

“If you don’t think of my feelings, don’t hurt me.”

“…I’m sorry.”

He raised his head again.

“And take your hands off my shoulders. Because it hurts.”

“…I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

Taking his hand off Serdel’s shoulder, he washed his face dry.

“So— Don’t get hurt. Because I was all wrong. Brother was all wrong. So—.”

His hands trembled.

He glanced over at Serdel’s shoulder, which he had just held tight, to see if she had any bruises.

The word ‘hurt’ made him trapped in the past again.

Into the memory of the moment, he startled his little sister with harsh comments while bruising her shoulder.

“I was all wrong, Serdel. I was just— I was just worried, but I didn’t expect it to sound like that— because I was wrong—” 

“…I was wrong too. So don’t get hurt too, brother.”

His hand, which had been rubbing his face like crazy, paused.

Serdel was grabbing his wrist before he knew it.

Her grip was tense.

Redan’s hand slid down, and he revealed his eyes full of pain.

“Don’t get hurt. Brother.”

“….”

“Don’t get hurt.”

“…Yeah.’

She hugged him. 

Patting his back with her small hand, Serdel sighed.

She felt so bad for his brother. 

His life was caught up in the past.

It was so pitiful.

*****

Blenn, who finished treatment for the wound, is almost here. 

Redan hesitated for a moment, glanced at him, then spoke up.

“About earlier… Thank you.”

It was very small. 

“Please continue…to take care of my younger sister.”

This time, in a smaller voice.

As he mumbled, he awkwardly patted Blenn on the shoulder.

As if he has worked hard. 

Then, he approached Dell, who was still scratching the tree with his back turned and gave him two candies.

Ah—.

The boy who ate it all opened his mouth again.

“Eat it, you punk.”

Looking at Serdel’s eyes, Redan put two more candies into his mouth.

“Brother, don’t feed him a lot of candy.”

“I didn’t feed him.”

“….”

“…Sorry, I won’t feed him.”

Dell glanced away from Redan and turned his head as if looking at a distant mountain.

The boy’s cheeks were convex with two candies.

Haa, shaking her head, Serdel turned her gaze to Blenn.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Are you okay, Lady?”

“Yeah. I’m okay. Thank you for earlier, Blenn.”

Even if Blenn had not jumped in, she would have been safe with the power of the pendant he gave her. 

But she didn’t put it in her mouth.

Instead—.

“It’s a bit harsh to say in this kind of situation, but it’s because I don’t think I can afford it any more than now.” 

“Please speak comfortably, Lady.”

“I know that you care about me well. I know it well, but there is still a line. If it is not followed, it will be difficult.”

Blenn’s face became darker.

“You were too rude to His Highness the Prince.”

No matter how much he’s treated in the imperial family, the Prince is the Prince.

Blenn, whose status is ambiguous, was not a match to treat him recklessly.

It’s crazy that Falden just moved on about it. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been alive by now.

So she had to fix it.

He’ll let him go once or twice, but he won’t let him go three times.

Because Blenn’s carefree attitude is poisonous not only to him but also to her.

“Don’t do that from now on.”

“…I apologize.”

“Okay. But thank you for thinking about me. I’m always grateful for your heart.”

Blenn smiled bitterly, following Serdel, and clenched his fists.

It’s like the words ‘thank you’ spit out one after another hit a wall.

His heart was throbbing.

He vowed to be her knight.

For a knight, it is very natural to protect their owner from danger.

It was sad to draw a line with words of thank you. 

For fear of revealing such impure feelings on his face, a pendant on Serdel’s neck came into his eyes as he tried to lower his head.

It looked very good on a white and slender neck.

At that moment, red eyes stuck in the hawk glinted.

Yeah. This must have protected her. 

Even if he didn’t jump in, she would have been safe.

Even after he gave it to her, his body bounced out first at that moment.

In case Serdel gets hurt.

He’s afraid something will go wrong to her. 

In fear.

He hadn’t thought of this.

“Blenn?”

Again, he lowered his head.

To hide complicated emotions.

He took a step back