Ch.159158. Birthday (3)

# 158. Birthday (3)

“Of course, back then, countless lives hung in the balance during those brief moments, mere seconds.”

Back then, that was just how things were.

A situation where if you relaxed for even a second, you couldn’t complain if you lost your life.

That’s how intense the wartime conditions were.

***

Dark storm clouds filled the sky.

Despite it being midday, those heavy clouds blocked out the sun’s bright light.

And beneath that sky, two suns were trying to devour each other.

Since neither side was overwhelmingly stronger, the battle had dragged on for a long time.

‘It’s been about a month now, hasn’t it…’

About a month.

A whole month had passed since this battle began.

It had started near the borders of the Babylon Kingdom, but now the battlefield had been pushed back to the Empire’s capital.

‘He’s ridiculously strong…’

This achievement could be attributed solely to Bael’s power.

Without Bael, it wouldn’t have been possible.

Of course, even with his overwhelming might, Bael wasn’t invincible.

The further Bael moved from the Babylon Kingdom, the more power he lost.

And the Empress of the Empire was well aware of this fact.

“Crawling all the way here… quite a reckless gamble, isn’t it?”

“Silence, woman.”

Bael, who knew this fact better than anyone, was growing increasingly impatient.

And because of that, he was pushing himself harder than usual.

Anyone could see how desperate he had become.

“Aren’t you pushing yourself too hard? You won’t be able to get past this point anyway.”

No matter how powerful Bael was, he couldn’t break through her barrier.

In that particular field, she was second to none.

“You seem to be mistaken. I am not alone here.”

“Neither am I.”

As Bael said, he wasn’t alone here.

Naturally, for a battle significant enough to require Bael’s participation, all the Executioners had joined the fight.

And as she said, many of the Empire’s strongest warriors were also participating in this battle.

“It seems our subordinates are evenly matched.”

“Do not place your inferior subordinates on the same level as my loyal servants.”

In reality, the powerful Executioners and Special Forces were marking each other one by one, and their skills were so similar that it was difficult to determine superiority.

Except for one group.

Bael looked at that group as he spoke.

“Can your eyes not see that?”

Agareus and Albert.

Those two were the second strongest in their respective armies, after her and Bael.

However, the difference in their abilities was quite significant.

Anyone could see that one side was being pushed back.

“Can you still say they’re evenly matched after seeing that?”

It wasn’t that Albert couldn’t fight.

He was doing his best within his capabilities and pushing himself to the limit to avoid being a burden to others.

And it was inevitable that he would be outmatched by Agareus.

Unlike Albert, who had just entered his mid-thirties, Agareus was a veteran among veterans who had protected the Babylon Kingdom alongside Bael for hundreds of years.

“It’s actually surprising he’s held out this long, but that’s all he can do.”

Albert’s body was covered in blood and wounds.

He was in a state where he could collapse at any moment, yet he was still standing, keeping his eyes on Agareus.

She was anxious watching Albert in such a precarious situation.

‘At this rate… he’ll really… die…’

Just as Albert was special to her, she was special to him.

He had always been by her side—a loyal servant and reliable comrade.

He was also a close friend and an attractive man.

He was the only star that had illuminated her darkened heart.

‘If Albert dies too, I…’

Of course, he wasn’t the only star.

When she was young, there had been several stars.

But those stars had fallen from the high sky as time passed.

That’s why she couldn’t accept his death.

She couldn’t bear the thought of losing the only star that could still illuminate her, just like those people from back then.

‘Please don’t be too late…’

Just as Albert was about to die at Agareus’s hands, she moved quickly.

Bael smiled contentedly at the sight, and she knew this was a trap set to kill her.

Nevertheless, she had no choice but to jump into that trap.

***

“Fortunately, after that, we managed to conclude the battle with support from the Persian Kingdom, but our losses were too great. The Emperor had died.”

She had been listening to my story with an unreadable expression, and only after I finished did she begin to speak.

“You must have loved her even back then, to go that far.”

“Well…”

“I’m certain of it.”

It was something I had always known, but hearing it directly from her lips made it feel different somehow.

“I would do the same in that situation.”

“Don’t do that this time.”

When I said this with a serious expression and voice, she was smiling contentedly for some reason.

Then she embraced me and continued the conversation.

“Then don’t act so recklessly. It hurts my heart every time I see that.”

“I’ll try…”

“Still, I’m glad you seem to be taking better care of yourself these days.”

As she said, lately I hadn’t pushed myself to the point where [Death-Defying Life] would activate—to the point where my life would be in danger.

Whether it was because I was thinking of her, or because there hadn’t been any need to, I wasn’t sure.

“Without you, I’d probably push myself too hard again.”

“That can’t be helped, I suppose. And anyway, I know you’ll stay healthy even if you overdo it. I’ll be satisfied as long as you’re in good shape when you’re with me.”

It was quite a modest wish.

So modest that I would lose face if I couldn’t grant it.

“And…”

After saying that, she suddenly brought her lips close to my ear.

Then she whispered words I never expected to hear.

“Today was… really good… so good I could get addicted…”

Along with those suggestive words, I felt her warm breath, and in my surprise, I unconsciously turned my head. She looked at me as if she found my reaction amusing.

“You’re so shy. This is what Albert used to do all the time.”

“I’m so embarrassed… I could die…”

“Your face is really red right now.”

“I… know.”

There was something I had newly realized recently.

“You’ve gotten quite used to this, haven’t you?”

“Not used to it, just learning by observation. Dating someone who’s good at these things has taught me a lot.”

She had definitely become much more comfortable with physical affection compared to the days when she could barely hold hands.

‘She’s even saying things like that now…’

Somehow, ending things like this made me feel like I had lost.

There was no need to win, but I wanted to.

So I acted just like she had earlier.

“I enjoyed it too…”

***

After that passionate day passed, the day of the school trip finally arrived.

While everyone was busy with preparations that morning, I, having finished my preparations early, spent that brief time before leaving the academy chatting with them.

“Um… have a good trip…”

For some reason, unlike yesterday, she couldn’t look me in the face.

Judging by her reddened cheeks, she must have been remembering yesterday’s events.

“Yeah, I’ll be back soon.”

“Did you… do it with her yesterday?”

Aelin asked in a voice so quiet that only I could hear.

I flicked her forehead…

-Thwack!-

…and answered her question.

“Don’t ask things like that, squirt.”

“Ow!! That hurts! Why are you hitting me?!”

“Focus on your own love life, you coward who can’t even confess.”

They had always had good chemistry, and they still did.

Yet despite that, neither of them had confessed first.

“I’m not scared!?”

“Then just do it~”

“Ugh… I hope you get trapped in a dungeon during your school trip.”

“Getting trapped in dungeons is my everyday life. You should focus on passing your graduation exam. If you don’t pass, you won’t even make it to high school.”

The entrance exam can only be taken after graduating from middle school, and if she fails this graduation exam, she’ll only have an elementary school diploma and won’t be able to take the high school entrance exam.

Of course, the middle school graduation exam is less important and therefore easier, so most students pass it.

“If I don’t pass, I’ll call you oppa.”

“Thankfully, that won’t happen.”

“Anyway, have a safe trip.”

“Try to come back injured if possible. That would be the best birthday present you could give me.”

“What did you say?”

I said goodbye to the grinning Aelin, the indifferent Riel, and her, who was seeing me off with her usual warm smile.

“I’ll be back soon.”