episode_0001

1.

Winter has ended.

The warmth of spring colors the colorless world with freshness.

A touch of blue blends into the ashen sky, and life emerges in the dull fields. Tiny buds sprout on dry trees.

“Hehe.”

Evan laughed with a youthful exuberance, like spring.

He carefully picked white flowers and made a flower ring.

His delicate hands, like those of a young girl, showed skill beyond just a few attempts.

“…Will she like it?”

Smiling mischievously, he got up from his seat and walked down to the field.

He entered the forest.

Animals awakened from their winter slumber scurried about.

A small squirrel climbed onto his shoulder.

Evan took out a peanut from his pocket and gave it to the squirrel. Gratefully, the squirrel rubbed its cheek against Evan’s cheek.

That’s when it happened.

“Kwaaah!!”

Startled by the scream echoing through the forest, the squirrel dropped the peanut it was munching on and darted away.

Evan chuckled awkwardly.

“She must be putting on another show.”

He headed toward the direction where the scream came from.

There was a girl.

A girl with short black hair.

She wore a leather armor and held an iron sword in her right hand.

Crimson blood flowed down the blue blade.

The girl wiped off the blood from the sword.

“Weren’t you taking a nap?”

Evan smiled and spoke to the girl.

“…This guy woke me up.”

Leuwen, the girl, pointed at the corpse of a monster lying on the ground. She had neatly bisected it.

Leuwen tidied her disheveled side hair and turned to Evan.

Despite winter being over, her expression remained cold like winter.

It seemed as if her emotions were frozen.

But Evan knew better. Leuwen wasn’t lacking in emotions; she just struggled to express them.

“Are you hungry?”

Leuwen nodded her head slightly.

“Let’s eat. I’ll prepare it right away. Can you gather some dry branches, Leuwen?”

Leuwen nodded once again and started picking up fallen branches around her.

Meanwhile, Evan began preparing the meal.

He took out ingredients from his bag.

Potatoes and some meat that looked barely edible.

“…I’ve gathered everything.”

As Leuwen collected the branches, Evan expressed his gratitude.

Evan chuckled and gently stroked Llewelyn’s head. Llewelyn’s cheeks slightly puffed up. It was a reaction that occurred when he was in a good mood. Instead of expressing emotions through facial expressions, he revealed them in this way. “Just wait a moment. I’ll make it soon.” “Okay.” Llewelyn sat on a stump, swinging his legs back and forth, and looked at the butterfly fluttering in front of his face with a vacant expression. Evan smiled affectionately at that lovely sight and lit a fire. He brought a stick to the branch. Fire: A low-level magic that any magician can use to create fire. Although it cannot kill with magic, it can be used effectively in this way. “Let’s eat!” They had a late lunch. The menu was stir-fried potatoes and meat. It was seasoned with salt and pepper, making it light and flavorful. “Is it delicious?” Llewelyn nodded. After a simple meal, they leaned against a tree and rested. The spring breeze blew pleasantly. It was a bit chilly, but refreshing and enjoyable. Evan gently pulled Llewelyn, who was leaning against his chest, closer to him. He then pressed his nose against Llewelyn’s forehead and sniffed. “…Don’t sniff me.” Llewelyn shook his head. Since he had defeated a monster and sweated, he would probably smell like sweat. “Why? I only smell a pleasant fragrance.” Shaking his head as if giving up, Llewelyn obediently offered his forehead. They held hands and played with their fingers. They wrestled playfully, flipping each other over. Then naturally, they interlocked their pinkies. Llewelyn looked back and… They lightly kissed while looking into each other’s eyes. These two are lovers. They met while living the life of adventurers. Fate began when Llewelyn saved Evan, who was fleeing from a monster. Due to Evan’s persistent courtship, Llewelyn surrendered, and now they form a party and solve quests together. “Oh, right. This.” Evan took out a flower ring from his pocket. “I found pretty dandelions in that field over there. I thought it would suit you well, so I made it.” Llewelyn’s golden eyes held the white dandelion ring. “Reach out your hand.” When Evan extended his hand, Llewelyn placed his hand on top of it. “Next time, I’ll prepare an even prettier ring than this.” He put the flower ring on Llewelyn’s fourth finger. “It suits you.”

Evan stroked Llewelyn’s palm with satisfaction. It was rough and calloused. The hand of a warrior. Llewelyn gently bit her lower lip. Her cheeks flushed lightly. Despite his gruffness, Evan secretly enjoyed events like this. The two young lovers spent a delightful time enjoying the refreshing spring. Evan tightly embraced Llewelyn. Blushing, she nestled deeper into his arms. May this moment last forever. The two of them prayed.

2.

“Lately, it seems that the number of monsters has increased significantly,” Evan exhaled tiredly on the way back to the village after completing the request. Recently, there had been a surge in requests to subdue monsters. While it was good news for adventurers who made a living from these requests, the increase in monsters was far from favorable. The number of villages under monster attacks had also risen, and more adventurers were getting injured or killed during the subjugation due to the monsters’ growing ferocity. “…Once we catch them all, it’ll be over.” “Llewelyn is strong.” “…You’re strong too.” “Thanks for saying that.” Although they worked together to complete requests, Llewelyn handled almost everything. With her skillful swordsmanship, she bravely defeated the monsters, no matter how dangerous they were, ultimately beheading them. On the other hand, what about Evan? Honestly, he could be called a porter. Despite being a magician, he couldn’t properly use magic. Even when casting low-level spells, they took a long time, and their power was truly weak. When it came to subduing monsters, it was safe to say that all Evan could do was cheer for Llewelyn. “I want to become stronger too,” Evan complained. He became a magician because magic seemed cool, but it seemed that becoming a magician wasn’t his destiny. He couldn’t even use low-level magic properly. “I’ll become strong,” Llewelyn said calmly. “I’ll protect you for a lifetime.” As a man, it was embarrassing to hear such words from a woman, but it still made him feel secure and happy. If they were lovers, they should complement each other’s weaknesses and join forces. “Then I’ll support Llewelyn for a lifetime?” Llewelyn nodded earnestly. Companions for life. They promised once again to be together forever. As soon as they arrived in the village, they headed to the Adventurers’ Union. “We’ve completed the request to subdue monsters. Here are the monster crystals.”

I defeated the demons and handed over the crystals that came out of their bodies to the guide. The guide examined the crystals and paid me a reward. It wasn’t a large sum, but I made a decent amount of money.

“What will be your next request?” I asked.

“I will receive it in two days,” the guide replied.

“Okay.”

There’s no need to rush since there are more requests coming from the alliance than from individual adventurers.

Should we eat something delicious at the inn today?

As I was checking my reward and preparing to leave the Adventurers’ Union, the guide called me.

“Wait a moment,” the guide said, summoning me.

“This is a letter for you from Luen,” the guide said.

“For Luen?” I asked.

“Yes, it was sent from their hometown.”

Luen’s hometown, right. It was a small countryside town at the southern end of the empire, if I remember correctly. We had planned to go there together someday.

“I’ll pass it on to Luen,” I said.

“Yes, please do.”

After receiving the letter from the guide, I left the Adventurers’ Union.

Luen was waiting outside, chasing butterflies with their eyes. Their half-opened mouth looked adorable.

“Did you wait long?” I asked.

Luen shook their head.

“Here,” I said, handing them the letter. “It’s from your hometown. It came to the Adventurers’ Union.”

Luen unfolded the letter and started reading it immediately.

“…”

They stared at the letter silently.

Luen’s expression while reading the letter was blank. It didn’t look like they were feeling good or bad about it.

“What does it say?” I asked, tilting my head slightly and offering the letter.

“…Nothing,” Luen replied.

They quickly folded the letter and put it in their pocket.

“…Just greetings.”

“Is that so?” I said.

“Let’s go eat. I’m hungry.”

Luen turned their body towards the inn.

For some reason, their footsteps seemed a bit hurried.

“Are you very hungry?” I asked, following right behind them.

With the reward we received today, we ordered an expensive meal for the first time in a while.

It was roasted pork leg, Luen’s favorite. We also ordered a few glasses of ale.

I’m not good with alcohol, but Luen enjoys it. They can handle it well.

“Cheers!” we said, clinking our glasses together, and had a pleasant dinner.

I chatted, and Luen listened attentively.

I hope this simple happiness could last forever.

But…

Nothing in this world lasts forever.

Everything has an end.

And that end always comes suddenly.