Don’t Be in Pain 2

+++

After the commotion, Doyun was summoned by Winny and admonished.

“Hey!”

“Yes…”

“What were you thinking?! I told you no training and to just rest! But not only training – what was that, setting yourself ablaze? Are you insane?! Well?!”

“…At least Lady Tiamat was present, enabling immediate treatment with no risks…”

“I said rest! If you want the Dragon Heart so badly, then rest first!”

“Yes…”

Doyun reluctantly nodded.

“Sheesh… Your teammates were so shocked, you know? Can’t you take it a bit easier for their sakes? Why are you so hellbent on training at the cost of your life?”

“Otherwise, I’ll die.”

“Huh?”

Stunned by his unexpected response, Winny fell silent.

“This is what I must do to slay the Dark Lord.”

Though Doyun stated it as simple fact, to others his words carried profound weight.

While the Alliance battled the Dark Lord forces, few truly contemplated ‘subjugating the Dark Lord’ itself.

Even heroes harbored no expectations of defeating the Dark Lord – merely fighting off invading enemies.

Yet Doyun considered the Dark Lord’s defeat as a given. The sheer gravitas of his mindset differed.

“…”

Dumbstruck by his reply, Winny fell deep into contemplation.

“…Sheesh.”

Emerging from her reverie, she left without another word, slamming the door shut.

Bam.

‘…Was she that upset?’

Bewildered by Winny’s abrupt departure, Doyun blinked dazedly.

Thanks to Tiamat, his treatment had concluded immediately after sustaining injuries. Surely Winny had not summoned him solely to admonish him, only to storm out like that.

Yet moments later, she re-entered.

“Win…”

“Drink this.”

She brusquely handed him a glass vial.

Though perplexed, Doyun activated his traits to inspect the item.

[Potion of Enduring Flames – Crafted by a Master Alchemist]

(Containing a faint vestige of the Sun’s essence via a Celestial’s blood medium. A Master Alchemist’s skill has greatly enhanced its efficacy. Upon consumption, it vastly bolsters fire resistance.)

“This is…”

“A potion that enhances fire resistance. Not an ephemeral philter, but a lasting potion. And no more antics at the guild, got it?”

Philters produced fleeting, one-time effects. Potions conferred permanent benefits, and were thus exponentially more valuable.

Moreover, it incorporated remnants of the fabled Sun essence the Alliance had tasked her with – likely mere dregs unworthy of that name, yet still priceless nonetheless.

Having it prepared in advance implied she began brewing it upon receiving news from the previous war.

As Doyun regarded her, the arms-crossed Winny averted her gaze slightly.

“Thank you.”

“…Take better care of yourself from now on.”

“Yes. I’ll utilize it well.”

Without hesitation, Doyun uncorked and downed it – potions inevitably dissipated over time, so promptly ingesting them was wise.

The scorching liquid flowed smoothly down his throat.

[Fire resistance has been greatly enhanced.]

Among the most frequently employed elements in warfare, enhanced fire resistance would undoubtedly prove invaluable in future battles.

“…How is it?”

“The system notification appeared right away. Truly excellent. My gratitude once more.”

“…I’ll add it to your debt.”

Watching her awkwardly avert her gaze as she spoke, Doyun smiled wryly.

+++

Returning to the guild, Doyun headed straight for Tia’s room.

Settling the tiny girl onto his lap, he gently stroked her crimson locks.

In response, Tia whipped her head left and right defiantly while facing away, as if protesting his touch. Yet she did not brush his caressing hand aside.

Smiling faintly, Doyun spoke.

“Sorry, Tia.”

“What for?”

Momentarily taken aback, his hand froze. Where had she picked up such words?

“I’m sorry for worrying you.”

Though Doyun had her address him as ‘big brother’, for now he used her preferred ‘Daddy’ while apologizing.

“Don’t know.”

“Don’t say tha-… Huh?”

“Don’t know!”

“…Is that so?”

Lowering his hand from her head, Doyun tickled Tia’s sides.

“Eeek!?”

“How about this, or this?”

“Heheh, huhuh, gogogogo!”

Not missing a beat, Doyun relentlessly tickled her squirming sides.

The formerly sullen Tia now rolled in his embrace, giggling unrestrainedly – a rosy sheen glistening on her brow.

After a good laugh together, the spent Tia finally turned and nestled into Doyun’s embrace.

Perhaps chasing away her pent-up emotions through shared mirth, she silently accepted his caressing strokes once more.

“…Daddy, don’t be in pain.”

“Yeah, yeah. Daddy was wrong. I’m sorry.”

Doyun muttered ruefully.

This war marked Tia’s combat debut. Having enlisted her aid, such traumatic shocks would only increase from here on.

An inevitability. Just as the 7-year-old orphaned elf Elohah became a peerless Guildmaster through hardship, so too did they all become scarred and inured.

The inescapable cruelty of war.

“I’ll make sure Daddy doesn’t hurt. I’ll be good.”

“Yeah. Daddy trusts our Tia.”

“Mmm!”

Unaware this wound would spur Tia’s growth, Doyun simply embraced her unsullied innocence a while longer.

After comforting her, he entrusted Tia to Tiamat before exiting into the hallway.

Closing the door behind him.

Creeak-

Taking a few steps, Doyun murmured softly.

“Luna.”

Turning around, a girl now stood in the previously empty corridor.

“You were the one who alerted them?”

Luna nodded silently.

“Why?”

“…”

In truth, Doyun knew. Like the others, she had likely worried for him.

‘She worried for me. But why?’

Still, he could not fathom her unconditional concern from the very day they met, always shadowing him.

‘And I too…’

Doyun himself harbored inexplicable feelings towards Luna – uncertain of their nature, only aware of an innate sense of reciprocal goodwill.

And perhaps Luna felt similarly perplexed.

“…”

Was she as bewildered as him?

Uncertain.

‘Hmm…’

The more one observed her, the more pensive one became.

Doyun continued down the hallway as Luna trailed behind, receding into shadows once more.

+++

Kwaaaang!

The iron training dummy burst apart, showering sparks.

The brilliant golden flames voraciously devoured even the shattered remnants, melting – no, obliterating them entirely. Truly an abnormal level of destructive power.

Yet the surrounding grass remained relatively unscathed.

‘As expected.’

Eventually, the raging flames wreathing Doyun’s sword simmered down.

“Hmm.”

Doyun grunted in satisfaction.

That iron training dummy contained imbued mana – crafted specially.

While the Sword Blaze’s core concept was the ‘incinerating’ will, Doyun’s innate anti-demon intent seemed to magnify its lethality against demons specifically into a distinct type of flame.

‘But I cannot manifest it on such a massive scale compared to before.’

Naturally paling in comparison to that transcendent state where mind and body vividly resonated with the ‘incineration’ sensation.

To wield devastation leveling entire battlefields like the previous war would require considerable training.

‘Still, acquiring this new weapon is encouraging. And the mana consumption is relatively modest.’

Unlike the one-strike killing method of traditional Manifest Swords, the Sword Blaze could persist as a thin conflagration sheathing one’s blade.

Not a matter of overall superiority, but optimized situational efficiency between the two forms.

One-strike lethality already sufficed via the Manifest Sword. Hence, the Sword Blaze’s attributes proved invaluable.

Clap clap clap clap-

Applause sounded from behind as Duke Noir and Heineken approached.

Turning, Doyun saw Lei accompanying them, mouth agape while his eyes remained transfixed by the brilliant golden embers still smoldering on the ground.

‘So… cool…!’

A blazing weapon – every man’s fantasy, yet seldom practical in actual combat due to inefficiency.

But to manifest it as sword ki? Moreover, as such a resplendent golden blaze!

A captivating spectacle befitting storybook heroes like Sir Enoch.

In his youthful infatuation, Lei remained utterly entranced by the Sword Blaze’s visual grandeur.

“You’ve grown further, I see. Congratulations.”

“Thank you.”

Sheathing his blade, Doyun approached them.

Even Lei, initially admiring with starry eyes, fidgeted uncomfortably before offering an awkward remark.

“…Congratulations, Apostle Han Doyun.”

“You brat! How many times must I say, address him as Senior!”

“Gah!”

Struck by Duke Noir’s staff, Lei yelped in pain.

Clicking his tongue in disapproval, Duke Noir could not fathom his disciple’s obliviousness towards his beloved teacher’s intent.

Duke Noir and Heineken had associated with Enoch even before he revealed his true identity.

Thus, Duke Noir insisted Lei address Doyun as ‘Senior’ – preserving a precious chance to call the legendary Sir Enoch an elder or younger brother in later years when his truth came to light.

‘Yet this fool remains blind to my intentions…’

His idiotic disciple vexed him immensely.

Observing this, a thought struck Heineken as he addressed Doyun.

“Actually Doyun, didn’t you mention having something to discuss with Lei before the Metropolis battle?”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Amidst the tumultuous events, he had forgotten.

“Something to discuss?”

Lei and Duke Noir looked perplexed.

“Lei, I hope you won’t take offense.”

“Pardon?”

“Would you be willing to learn some of my martial arts?”

“…Pardon?”

“Hmm?”

Lei furrowed his brows in confusion as Duke Noir and Heineken exchanged similarly befuddled glances.

Doyun telepathically explained to the latter two.

[I intend to instruct Lei in Heclaeus’s style.]

Their eyes flew wide open in shock.

And with blinding swiftness, Duke Noir’s staff lashed out.

Thwack!

“Gah!”

“You respond ‘Yes!’ you brat!!”

Lei cried out in pain.