episode_0028

Ian, who had been dazed, suddenly snapped back to reality. Then, he glared at the man standing next to Arina with murderous intent.

The succubus had said her master was the world’s strongest mage. Not only that, but he was also keeping Arina as a slave.

Did that mean this man was truly a mage stronger than Arina? It was baffling because, at a glance, he didn’t look like a mage at all.

Realistically, there was no chance of winning against a mage more powerful than Riel Frost, but Ian drew his sword anyway.

“Are you Arina’s master?”

For Daniel, this situation was nothing but bewildering, but with people watching, he couldn’t reveal the truth—so he kept up the act.

“Indeed. This woman is my property. So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t harbor any ill intentions.”

This was his standard script for warding off men who approached Arina, but right now, it was having the opposite effect.

“H-Hey, Daniel—no, Master. Wait a second…”

Arina pressed her temples. She had no idea where to even begin untangling this mess—it felt like her head was about to explode. Ian, however, had no mental bandwidth left to consider her feelings.

“Release Arina. Now.”

As Ian pressed his sword against Daniel’s neck, the latter’s eyes sharpened. Not only was it unforgivable for someone to point a blade at him, the heir of the Hight family, but Ian’s words made him seem like nothing more than a thug trying to claim Arina.

“Ian, you—!”

“That won’t be happening. Who do you think you are, coveting another man’s woman?”

“You took her by force, and you call her ‘your woman’?”

Just as Ian was about to swing his sword—

Clap!

Arina brought her hands together, and a fierce gust of wind erupted. Not only the involved parties and onlookers but even passersby momentarily lost their balance.

Arina, her hands still pressed together, flashed a beautiful smile and spoke in a clear voice.

“Let’s move this somewhere quieter.”

—

The five of them returned to the inn and sat around a round table. The first to speak was Arina, the central figure in this situation.

“What are you doing here, Ian Felix? You finished the dungeon and retired from adventuring—there’s no reason for you to be here.”

Her voice was cold. She wasn’t asking because she didn’t know; she had a rough idea and was pressing him for answers.

But Ian was just as uncomfortable. His voice was even icier than hers.

“I think I’m the one who should be asking questions here. Aren’t you going to explain this situation? What the hell is that slave crest?”

He was much calmer than he had been in the square. Though he spoke in a measured tone, the anger beneath it hadn’t subsided in the slightest.

“Right. I’d be confused too if I saw you with a slave crest. Sorry for not explaining first.”

Arina’s immediate apology rubbed Ian the wrong way.

The Arina he remembered wasn’t this gentle. She was a woman who rejected others’ approaches, sensitive and self-willed.

While this change might have been positive, every time he thought it was because of the man beside her, fury surged within him.

“First of all, I have a slave crest, but I’m not actually a slave. I just needed it to get through the checkpoint.”

“To get through the checkpoint? A slave crest? You let someone else own you for that? Who even is this guy? Can he be trusted?”

“Daniel’s like a younger brother to me. Of course he can be trusted.”

“I’d like to hear this too, Noona. What’s your relationship with this man?”

“We’re friends.”

At Arina’s simple clarification, Ian scoffed.

“Hah, friends. Didn’t know you’d call him that.”

It was a jab at how she’d once refused to call him a friend. After all the worry and searching, now that they’d finally met, nothing good came out of his mouth.

This wasn’t how he’d meant it to go. If Arina was hurt, he’d planned to heal her. If she was in danger, he’d protect her. If she was trembling, he’d stay by her side.

He’d come all this way to help her. But seeing her getting along so well with another man made it impossible.

How could someone who couldn’t even soothe his own heart help anyone else? Especially when he’d once said he’d never see her as a woman.

His words came out harsher than even he expected. Regret flooded in. Arina, momentarily startled, shot back with a sarcastic retort, visibly offended.

“Should I have introduced you as a clingy stalker who couldn’t get over being rejected and chased me all the way to another country?”

“What?! Who the hell ever confessed to you?!”

“You admitted you liked me back then. That’s practically a confession.”

“How the hell is that a confession?! Who’d ever—!”

A battle of glares ensued. Just as it seemed their staring contest would never end, Millen clapped her hands to lighten the mood.

“Alright, alright, everyone calm down.”

Arina, puzzled by Millen’s beaming smile, asked,

“Long time no see, Millen. You seem… in a good mood?”

“Hehe~ It has been a while.”

Millen was in a good mood.

Not only were Ian and Arina fighting, but it seemed Arina had found another man in the meantime. For Millen, this reunion was full of good news.

If this keeps up, who does Ian belong to? Me, of course.

Declaring herself the ultimate victor, Millen basked in silent triumph.

“So you’re Ian. Noona’s friend, huh? Sorry about earlier.”

“No, I misunderstood as well. My apologies.”

“Shouldn’t we focus on why we’re here? Now that the misunderstanding’s cleared up, care to explain?”

“After you left, the Hero’s party came to the village.”

Leaning back in his chair, Ian spoke gravely. What he was about to say included things Arina might not want to hear.

Arina had expected the Hero’s party to come after she left, so she quietly waited for him to continue.

“We talked. They asked where you were.”

“You talked to him? Why would you do something so reckless?!”

“Says the one who planned to face the Hero’s party alone.”

“You idiot!”

She’d pushed him away to keep him out of danger, and not only had he confronted the Hero, he’d chased her all the way here? She had the overwhelming urge to punch his stupid face.

Sensing the strange tension, Lirit poked Daniel’s side and whispered in his ear.

“You’d better step up if you don’t want to lose Noona.”

“What are you talking about?”

The man in question had no such thoughts.

“Calm down. Nothing happened. The real talk starts now.”

Ian pulled his hand away from Arina and slowly began his story.

Knowing she’d be furious, he kept his tone neutral, recounting what he’d heard as objectively as possible.

BANG!

A pale hand slammed the table.

“HOW DARE HE SPOUT THAT BULLSHIT!!!!!”

The rage filling the room was directed at someone not present—the worst enemy who’d ruined her life and shamelessly labeled her a lunatic.

No matter how much she exploded, the anger had nowhere to go. After calming slightly, Arina muttered under her breath and glared at Ian.

“Let’s say—just for argument’s sake—there’s the tiniest, most microscopic chance it’s true. What are you even here for, then? To drag me back to the kingdom if I really am insane?”

“……”

He had no answer. He’d thought about finding Arina, but he’d never reached a conclusion about what to do afterward.

He’d just moved because he couldn’t stay still. Because he’d wanted to see her. Now that he’d achieved his goal, he had no plan.

“You’re not here to fight the Hero’s party with me, are you? Even if you were a first-class adventurer—no, even a special-class—you’re not even in the same league as me.”

Ian knew the gap in their abilities too well to argue.

“I’m sorry you came all this way, but go back. There’s nothing for you to do here.”

Arina’s tone was colder than usual. But because the harshness came from a place of concern, no one pointed it out.

Amid the frigid atmosphere, Millen—the only one smiling—answered for them.

“Mhm. If that’s how you feel, we can’t help it. I wanted to help, but since there’s nothing we can do, it’s such a shame. Ian! Let’s go!”

If they parted ways here, the two of them wouldn’t meet again for years—maybe even a lifetime. That was more than enough time to make Ian hers.

Having quickly run the calculations, Millen tugged at Ian’s arm as he hesitated to leave. Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

“Who is it?”

“It’s Sinon, Young Master. You have a guest.”

“A guest? I wasn’t expecting anyone today. Who is it?”

“Lady Leona of the Hero’s party, she says.”