episode_0019

Yuria had always vehemently detested my involvement with anyone else. For instance, just because she saw me chatting with the maid who was cleaning the windows, she came to interrogate me for the entire night. I happened to hear about it from the butler once, and the situation was roughly like this:

“Where is Sir Ian? Oh, um… I’ve been searching the mansion all day to find Sir Ian… He wouldn’t be hiding in a wardrobe, so there’s no need to open it…”

“Butler, right now I only want to hear about the master.”

“That, that’s what I’m saying. Today, Sir Ian is currently having a conversation with Lady Rachel in the study. However, Yuria, no matter how much you want to see your master’s face, this kind of—”

Yuria’s eyes turned red.

“…Wait, are they alone?”

“Well, yes. Of course, normally when it’s not at a scheduled time, Lady Rachel is quite reluctant to have anyone else enter the study. She usually only admits people approved by herself.”

“…It seems that right now, who the master is with, where they are, and what they are doing is more important than a maid serving the master.”

-“…Didn’t everyone call themselves by their own name in front of Ian Gongja every day?”

-“That’s because it’s Ian.

By the way, let’s take a look at the wound that happened last time, it’s like my daughter, so I need to get some medicine….”

-“Let’s postpone that for later.

I need to go to the place where Ian and Rachel are meeting right now.”

As her cold, sunken eyes met mine, no words were spoken.

…Could it be that she’s going through a rebellious phase with her daughter?

There was much more to deal with regarding Ian.

For example, just today,

-“Hmm, this looks like it might be good. Yuriya, come here and try this.”

-“…You know I only know everything you like, right?”

The problem that started from wondering if even Yuriya, by any chance, would not eat something that has a good texture and swallow, just like herself.

Either take it as a sign that she is being looked after as well as her level of obsession, or…

“Is there really no need for the maid outfit? I heard the master prepared a lot, but… Well, then casual wear it is.”

“…I thought I couldn’t go wearing the maid outfit to the meeting I had to reluctantly attend. As expected, the master always takes care of me from behind, pretending not to notice… How considerate.”

“…”

Just wanted to give Yuria something that would make her look pretty, didn’t need to attach detailed explanations to it. No, please, even if it’s just a coincidence.

Each time, the increasing fondness has now reached the brink of ‘affection.’

…..

And so, back to the present.

Yuria came close enough for Ian to see, hesitating with her hand raised, looking at me.

Her expression still resembled a frozen, emotionless ice, but the tightly clenched fists on either side and her narrowed eyes. Definitely, when she’s truly angry, which is rare, you can see the reddish hair that usually isn’t visible from her forehead down to her shoulders, meaning she’s really upset.

Mistakes could lead to being forever confined in a room, with limbs severed and blood endlessly drained from the body. Or perhaps, it might be called “bloodletting” instead of confinement…?

“Engaging in quite vulgar conversation between the two of you… didn’t you have a good time?”

“No… Yuria.”

“More than me, more than me…! Is it the Ice Palace Mistress who has captured your heart…?”

…”

This is messed up.

Rachel’s gaze from the side feels piercing, as if she finds it unbelievable.

Is everything ruined now…?

Considering there’s been no change in affection. While it doesn’t seem like my limbs will be severed right here and now, leaving things as they are gives me a strong sense that my head will be in danger when a big wave hits later on.

“…Yuria.”

“Are you going to answer?”

“…I was worried. Not because I doubt you… but because I cherish you the most.”

…”

As Yuria sealed her lips, the woman’s expression was shrouded in shadow.

At that moment, I realized.

Today, I’ve truly screwed up.

In such a cold and disdainful situation, why would she say that? Not only did she provoke Yuria, who was already so angry that she couldn’t even strangle me right away, but she further fueled her anger?

“…I-is that so?”

However, contrary to the expectation of losing a limb, Yuria spoke with a melting voice.

Was my eyesight deceiving me, or were her hair and even her pink color fading into a lighter shade?

“Then, Master.”

“Yes?”

“I, I would appreciate an honest answer.”

“About what?”

Carefully, she wrapped her arms around my neck and narrowed the distance, silently staring at me.

Yuria’s G-cup breasts pressed gently against my chest like jealousy pockets, offering a soft sensation like marshmallows. You know, naturally large breasts often appear as an “I” shape when viewed from above.

“Do you… like my embrace?”

“Of course, if it’s from Yuria.”

“Then… more than Lady Bingungju?”

(Note: The translation is adapted to maintain the context and tone of the original Korean webnovel while ensuring natural English expression and readability.)

Carefully inhaling the scent emanating from my neck, Yuria glanced up at me with slightly flushed eyes when I hesitated to respond.

Ah.

My thoughts momentarily halted, freezing in place.

“That… is a mother’s embrace, Yuria.”

“…Then please don’t say it.”

As she seemed on the verge of trembling while clenching her fists, I raised my arms in surrender.

“I love hugging you the most, Yuria.”

Her eyes softened slightly, and a small smile emerged.

‘Huh?’

Am I… alive?

“Master, may I hold you for a moment…?”

“Sure, anytime. I’ll try to accommodate whenever Yuria wants.”

“Uh, heh… snuggle, snug.”

As Yuria pressed her lips against my neck, a sense of relief washed over me. Despite the amount of blood she had taken today, compared to the value of a life…

“I am, I am the best… Hah. The best, yes. As someone who should rightfully bear the title of protecting you by your side. Somehow, today feels even more impressive, Master.”

“…”

“Even while being with that woman, you must have missed my embrace, right?”

“No, if I were to say those words myself…”

“Oh, but it’s okay not to be mindful of me next time. After all, the genuine embrace from my beloved master will forever belong to me.”

Yuria, unable to take her eyes off my face, buried her face in my arms as is.

As if all this were familiar, I, as Yuria pressed her lips against mine, without a word, instinctively wrapped my arms around her waist and shoulders, burying my face on her shoulder.

*gulp*

“Ah, ugh, mm.”

My throat, filled with emotion, trembled.

“…We agreed to only do this at night. On designated nights.”

“But isn’t it night now…? Everyone else has finished their evening meal. So, it’s nighttime.”

“I haven’t eaten yet.”

“The evening meal… is canceled.”

“…”

“You may partake of me.”

Repeating it once more in case there was any misunderstanding is quite charming.

With a seductive smile, Yuria briefly overlapped her pink lips before subtly revealing the maid uniform’s neckline.

However, there are too many spectators here… If possible, I’d prefer a place where only the two of us can be. It should be a location without anyone else. If the master wishes, I can reveal myself anywhere, but… as it’s the first time for the spy, I’d like to have a separate room and preferably make some creaking noises on the bed.

Today, his bright red ears and the echoing voice seemed particularly embarrassed.

…

-Thud.

The handle of the glass shattered.

“Ian. I didn’t hire a maid for such impure intimacy with you… just.”

A cold wind blew from the end of the corridor.

The thief who was making a fuss in front of him…? No, it was just a maid, a mere cat, looking at him sharply.

As frost began to form behind Rachel, the magic intensified.

At this rate, it seemed like a showdown between the strongest character from Episode 1 and the next final boss was about to unfold.

Moreover, this is the point where the protagonist’s narrative begins in Episode 1.

Suddenly, not with the protagonist, but with his younger sister.

And not just one, but two girls below the protagonist.

Amidst an immense surge of magical energy, three demons appeared. Their black hair and violet eyes revealed their forced aggregation due to hasty magic, resulting in the presence of corrupt mana within their bodies. One crucial fact was that it wasn’t an instant to behold this; each had noticed a beat too late. They were on the brink of exploding right before their eyes.

A failed demon transformation potion, infused with overwhelming magic, briefly inhabited the bodies of nearby subordinates like parasites. “A new demon? No, this is…” As those words were spoken, a deafening explosion erupted from the center. Black flames, normally unseen, surged toward their faces as Rachel’s expression froze in place. She undoubtedly possessed the strength to freeze herself at the moment she leaped here to self-destruct, but unfortunately, her magic hadn’t gathered properly. Ian, aware that this was likely a side effect of his own spell, moved. “…Now…it’s too late.” There was no way to avoid this. He couldn’t even deploy a barrier to mitigate the damage.

At that moment, the reflected lantern reignited the nightmare she had tucked away in a corner of her mind.

-It’s all your fault.

-…You’re perfect prey for the devil.

-Those who only follow the tailcoats of fanatical zealots, witness a real demon once!

The unwelcome residue of the demon, magic, her own inadequacy, despair, voices, and fear. In the end, her face was reflected in the mirror, alone with her blood splattered on it.

But before she could suppress the nightmares, the demon burst forth, sending body parts flying around.

“I’m… dying….!”

Only then did she feel the change in her body and realized she needed to put up some kind of defense.

-Thud.

Ian forcibly pushed her body into the corridor.

Subsequently, she felt disorientation, a slight pain as if glass shards were tearing her skin, and a dizzying sight.

Amidst such confusion,

“Ugh?!”

A groan that should never have been heard reached her ears, and Rachel finally regained consciousness.

“…Ian?”

“……..My lady?”

The maid, who had hastily unfolded her barrier, now knelt with a vacant expression, gazing at her master. From the shoulders to the back and even below the chin, severe magical infection, protruding white bones – it seemed that his arm was at least broken, torn by the devil’s thorns, resulting in serious injuries all over his body. In an attempt to save Rachel at all costs, he had incurred these wounds.

He was dying. At this rate, within minutes? No, perhaps within seconds.

It was a fatal injury, regardless of mana or nonsense, whether he was trained or not.

Realizing this, she shook her head in denial of reality.

“…Ian. Ian, no… my… child. Why, why… did you… do that?”

The words barely escaped her lips.

She couldn’t fathom the severity of the injury, which nearly rendered her brain incapable of sustaining life.

Why? Wasn’t his body already sickly?

Even though his recovery was a miracle.

She couldn’t bear to comfort the young one throwing a tantrum, like a mother who hadn’t been able to give in once.

Now, should I really be giving my precious time to such a lowly person…?

Why do you always give everything away like a sucker?

Just until a moment ago, you didn’t even bother with the maid beside you… right? You even bid farewell to yourself.

The expression that was the last to show dissatisfaction.

Neither anger nor resentment nor anything else.

With that kind of smile.

What should I say to myself?

“…”

-Chuckle.

Soon after, a demon’s voice echoed in the banquet hall.

Gradually, the sound of footsteps and footsteps that no human could make continued to strike the ears one after another.

Injecting the ‘demon for humans’ into oneself, something that would never have happened in the original work after the explosion of Magi just now.

As the news spread around, and as Magi’s presence was immediately sent, the lesser demons who were supposed to be contracted began to gather.

Roughly 500 demons combined from the attendees at the banquet hall.

“…….”

However, Rachel is unaware of this situation.

Only a few hundred demons suddenly attacked. That’s all.

But what’s important is.

Injured. Ian, and in mortal danger.

Normally, she would never have spoken of it due to her temperament. At least, not the Ice Palace’s Lady Rachel.

But this time.

“I will save Ian. Maid, I won’t mention anything else. If you go to my study, there will be a vial of red potion stored next to the table. Sprinkle it on Ian’s body.”

Lady Rachel muttered as she rose from her collapsed state, resolute.

Strong.

This is not a request but a command.

Whether joining forces with them immediately, killing all the demons herself, or having one of them come up with a way to save him.

Yuria’s mind quickly raced to figure that out.

It might be better for her to swiftly bring the potion instead.

If she couldn’t even protect her master’s body at such a critical moment, then she might as well kill herself later.

One must be cautious in saving her master. Yuria, now coldly determined, did not want to see her master’s corpse so soon.

Without further objection, Yuria leaped towards her study.

“…Has she gone.”

Checked the posture.

Magic has returned. Somehow, intensified emotions have been swirling around my chest since earlier. If it were an ordinary battle, I wouldn’t have fought with such rage that it sent shivers down my spine.

But now, the opponent is not even human.

No need for weapons.

Might as well want to crush the enemies into pieces myself.

The opponent is a different league from the demons I’ve been facing until now.

If it’s a few hundred in number, even the commander would have gathered all his knights.

“Sigh….”

If my past self saw me now, they would have called me foolish.

Yeah. It’s a rusty sword. Not maintained, old.

So, it’s disadvantageous.

However.

“I absolutely. Absolutely must distinguish between when to endure and when not to.”

It’s always been your old saying, Ian,

Of course, the situation is different now.

Now, it’s about clearing up and surviving the harsh lessons of the past. The potion I ordered the maid to make is one of the most luxurious elixirs, containing 30% elixir, which is hard to come by even among potions made once in a lifetime. It’s something I bought with the intention of giving it to him even back then.

“Hoo hoo hoo,”

A faint chuckle escapes.

100 demons… 200 demons… The view from the window is not of the vast sky, but of the wings of the demons filling it.

If only he were in his prime…

“I’ll probably lose. Definitely.”

But he must win.

No, he has to win.

At least to make a face Ian would be proud of, even in sacrifice.

He can’t just die in a place like this.