Escape

In the morning mist that thickly filled the village square, the ashes from yesterday’s bonfire still faintly emitted smoke.

The distance between the party members, which usually felt naturally close, felt strangely far today.

,Huhu… Good morning. The weather is so clear and refreshing.”

Aris stirred her black tea with an elegant smile, but her golden eyes sharply scanned the other party members, like a dragon eyeing its prey.

“Indeed… the spirits say so too.”

Sylvia replied, her voice as cold as air, unlike her usual cool tone. The leaves around her rustled, reflecting her tense emotions.

At one side of the table, Seraphin quietly recited a prayer. Dressed in pure white saintess robes, she struck a reverent pose, but her purple eyes, visible through her white hair, occasionally glanced this way, as if a desire hidden within her sacred prayer was faintly showing.

“Haru-nyang, did you sleep well-nyang? Here’s breakfast-nya!”

Nia slyly approached and handed over a plate, her black tail wagging energetically from side to side.

We sat around the table in front of the inn, but no one ate.

The table was full of freshly baked bread, fragrant soup, and fresh fruit, but everyone stared intently at their own plates, maintaining silence.

The breakfast, which would normally have been friendly and cheerful, was as tense as a battlefield before a war today.

“Come to think of it… what did everyone do last night?”

Aris broke the silence first, her voice as elegant as usual, but somehow sharp.

The air froze instantly.

“Well… the night air was quite nice. The spirits showed me many interesting things.”

Sylvia’s green eyes shone coldly.

“The holy light falling from the sky illuminated quite a lot.”

Seraphin interjected in a small voice, her eyes sparkling dangerously.

“My nose doesn’t lie-nyang.”

Nia’s sharp fangs were subtly revealed.

A moment of silence hung over the table.

“Since we’re on the subject…”

Aris put down her teacup, her golden eyes slowly scanning the other three, then turned towards me.

“You, have you made any plans after defeating the Demon King?”

Instantly, all eyes were fixed on me.

“My recommendation would be to tour the ends of the world. Huhu… you could even call it a honeymoon.”

“What are you saying… Haru is destined to become the King of the Forest.”

At Sylvia’s words, the surrounding spirits flickered uneasily.

“The destiny that the Goddess has determined cannot be defied. The Hero and the Saintess must…”

Seraphin interjected, clutching her bible tightly.

“Haru-nyang is Nia’s-nya! Other females, step aside-nyang!”

A prickly feline roar was mixed in Nia’s voice.

This is… a big problem.

At this rate, putting aside the Demon King, won’t I be quartered first?

The memories of last night crashed in like a wave.

Aris appeared as a golden dragon under the moonlight, her cold smile still vivid.

‘After defeating the Demon King… I won’t listen to any more excuses.’

The moment her golden eyes were as cold as frost under the moonlight, I realized how terrifying the obsession of a dragon who had lived for thousands of years could be.

I also remembered Sylvia running away like a rabbit in the forest, the long ears of the Elf Queen flushed bright red.

‘After defeating the Demon King… th-then you can do whatever you want, okay-yot!’

The pure confession of an elf who had lived for hundreds of years now sounded like a dangerous vow.

I also remembered the pure white wings Seraphin had spread out in front of the bonfire, the tears that had welled up in her purple eyes.

‘After defeating the Demon King… I definitely want to have the best happy ending. With the Hero.’

It was the Saintess’s pure wish, but I think I now know the obsession hidden within it. She will never give up.

And Nia, who had curled up like a cat on my chest and mumbled in her sleep.

‘If we defeat the Demon King… Haru-nyang and I will be a couple of thieves… no-nya… a couple of adventurers… we’ll live honestly-nya… ‘

Nia’s plaintive sleep talk.

And now, four gazes sharply intersected over the table.

The dragon’s greed, the elf’s obsession, the saintess’s madness, and the beast’s instinct glared at each other.

“That’s…”

“Actually, I was curious too. After defeating the Demon King… where will the Hero go?”

It was a pure question, but the meaning it contained was heavy.

Will I live forever as a treasure in the dragon’s lair?

Will I become a king in the elf’s forest and live with nature?

Will I have a sacred wedding in the Goddess’s cathedral?

Will I become the owner of a cat in the thief’s hideout?

The desires contained in each of their eyes were so clear. Everyone was dreaming of their own ending.

The black spire of the Demon King’s castle was waiting for us in the distance, but now, this moment was more frightening.

It’s time to leave now, but no one got up from their seat.

As if time had stopped, we were trapped in silence.

‘After defeating the Demon King… I’m returning home immediately.’

That was the plan all along. It was a simple and clear goal, but now even that simple goal felt distant.

Suddenly, things that had happened during past adventures flashed by.

They said they would lock me in the dragon’s lair, or hide me inside the World Tree where no one could find me, or that the wedding would be held in the cathedral of the Order and officiated by the Pope… or that I could live off the treasures they had collected for the rest of my life…

Words that the party members had thrown out like jokes.

At the time, they were just cute and lovely words.

Thinking about it now, the shadow of obsession was visible from the beginning.

‘If I say I’m defeating the Demon King and returning home… will they really understand?’

I imagined it in my head.

‘I miss my family. I have to go back to Earth…’

‘Family? I’ll become your new family.’

‘I want to remain as a colleague and friend…’

‘Friend? I’m sorry, but I can’t be satisfied with just being a colleague anymore.’

It would never work. I could tell just by looking at their eyes.

I can’t even bring up the idea of going back to the modern era.

They are smart, quick-witted, and, above all, too strong.

The worst-case scenario flashed through my mind.

‘If no one can have him… maybe it would be better to share him…’

‘First, I’ll hold onto him… and slowly persuade him…’

‘Before that, I must absolutely… prevent his return…’

A chill ran down my spine.

‘Am I really going to be quartered?’

Suddenly, I missed the modern era.

The days of turning on the air conditioner, watching Netflix, and drinking Pepsi Zero.

The time I spent watching game broadcasts on YouTube and binge-reading web novels.

Memories of the modern era flashed by.

‘Yes, I have to go back. I definitely will.’

But I must never let them find out about that thought.

The moment they find out, my life won’t be mine.

“Everyone…”

At my voice, the four gazes converged.

I could now recognize the madness hidden beneath them.

I can’t go to catch the Demon King like this.

I had to buy time first.

If I defeat the Demon King now… it’s all over.

No, it’s not the end, it’s the beginning.

The worst beginning.

“Aris.”

“Hm? What’s wrong?”

Aris looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Yesterday was really great.”

“Huhu… I’m honored that you say so.”

A smile spread across Aris’s face, hiding the joy of victory.

“Did you enjoy your time with me? When you climbed on top of me under the moonlight…”

“Wh-what did you say?”

Sylvia sharply interjected, her long ears twitching.

“Huhu… Haru was so happy on top of me. Even the moonlight was envious.”

Aris gave an elegant smile to the other party members.

“Wait a minute! Is that even something to brag about?”

Sylvia’s ears twitched.

“Y-you just gave him a ride in your dragon form!”

“Hmm? That’s strange. How would you know that? Our 모습 soaring under the moonlight… were you perhaps peeking?”

Aris’s eyes shone coldly.

Her voice lost its usual coldness and rose.

“Yesterday, Haru and I… became even closer.”

“You, what are you saying now?”

Aris’s pupils became long like a snake’s.

“Haru… Haru… freely fondled and violated my sensitive areas!”

“You?”

Aris turned to look at me, an icy chill lingering in her elegant voice.

“What is the meaning of this?”

“No, I’m talking about ears.”

Before my excuse could finish, Seraphin’s voice interjected.

“Wait a minute… what are you all talking about? Everyone seems to be ‘mistaken’ that they are close to the Hero.”

Seraphin carefully interjected.

“Last night, I discussed with the Hero how to hold our wedding. And, and about our first night too….”

“Oh ho? You’re saying quite interesting things. But coveting a dragon’s treasure… is not a wise choice.”

A cold smile formed on Aris’s lips.

“Everyone be quiet-nyang! Nia hugged Haru-nyang all night last night-nya! So everyone, just give up-nyang!”

Nia jumped onto the table, her black tail puffed up like a broom.

Golden magic began to blaze from Aris’s fingertips, the dragon’s anger materializing and vibrating the air.

Green spirits swirled around Sylvia, forest spirits gathering at the command of the angry queen.

Pure white energy and sacred lightning surrounded Seraphin behind her.

Nia’s claws scratched the table, leaving sharp marks. The image of a cute cat was nowhere to be seen, and the pressure of a wild beast was felt.

“I don’t think there’s a place for wildlife here.”

Sylvia’s cold voice cut through the square, her emerald eyes fixed on Nia.

“Kyaaak! The pointy-eared bitch called me wildlife-nyang?! Nia is Haru’s house cat-nya!”

Nia’s fur stood on end, anger clouding her golden eyes.

Aris slowly stood up.

“The world has changed a lot. Daring to raise your voice in front of a dragon like this.”

“You fat lizard, how dare you be so cocky-nya!”

“Oh dear, it seems like you’re in heat. It’s noisy, you see.”

“What would an old maid who’s been lonely guarding the library for thousands of years know-nyang!”

“Please calm down, everyone. The result has already been decided. The Hero and the Saintess are a destiny determined by the Goddess.”

“The lewd Saintess, get out-nyang! Is it all about big breasts-nya? You said you’d protect your chastity and talked about divine punishment, but now you’re talking about your first night-nya?”

“Wh-what did you say?! The union of the Hero and the Saintess is a sacred ritual!”

“I’m sorry, but Haru is already mine. From the moment we first met, he was my most precious treasure.”

“Where did you hide the pride of the dragon race and seduce a human? Your obsession, no, your madness, will only create a prison.”

“Do you want to test the dragon’s patience?”

Aris’s pupils split vertically like a snake’s.

“Besides, I don’t think a stalker elf who uses spirits to monitor Haru has any right to talk? I’m worried about the future of the forest under a queen like you.”

“The Saintess is the most suitable for the Hero. Above all, I’m the only human, right? There’s no need to suffer from the difference in lifespan, no need to summon spirits with strange ears, and no need to be swayed by wild instincts.”

“Lifespan? I’m researching magic that can share the lifespan of Haru and the dragon. There’s no need to match the short life of a human. The longer happiness is, the better. Eternity would be even better.”

“Here we go again, with your great research.”

Sylvia coldly interjected.

“Are you planning to trap Haru in that library forever? Under the guise of ‘research’?”

“Has your tongue gotten longer along with your ears? Haru will want it himself.”

“Nia understands Haru-nyang the best-nya! You’re all arrogant and selfish-nya!”

Everyone’s gazes intertwined, the animosity towards each other was visible.

Good, according to plan. Now they’ve started biting each other.

“Haru-nyang promised Nia-nya! To become adventurers together!”

“That’s a lie! The Hero definitely loves me!”

“Haru promised me eternity.”

“No! Haru likes me! My ears…”

I realized there was no turning back now, but this was my goal. The jealousy and suspicion towards each other began to explode.

When emotions run high, gaps appear. I have to seize the opportunity to escape in this chaos.