“The path is rough here since this is an herb field. If you’re looking for the exit, shall I guide you?”
Aiden’s offer was pure goodwill in its truest form. Normally, when a stranger suddenly appears, it’s natural to be on guard or suspicious. But in this young man, there wasn’t even a speck of that. It was a helpless, harmless quality — as if he believed every single person in the world was his friend.
Luan watched those sparkling eyes for a moment and thought.
He’s kind. So kind it’s almost unsettling.
If you live long enough, you develop an eye for distinguishing people who pretend to be kind from those who genuinely are. Aiden was the latter. He was the type who had consideration for others woven into his very nature. It made Luan understand why, in the original story, God had loved Aiden so dearly.
God shows favoritism toward Aiden. That much is certain.
Well, that must be why — even while asking for Luanisiel Requies to be kept alive — God had still been unable to stop Aiden’s involvement. Whether there was a limit to how much favoritism could be shown, or whether loving them both equally had made it impossible to intervene with either.
Didn’t they say God can’t directly intervene in the system? Maybe things got tangled when they tried to.
If so, it made sense. The family’s abuse, a fate gone astray, a broken scenario.
In that case, the reason God had made a contract with him was clear. No matter how omnipotent the head office might be, it would still be difficult to personally handle every fine detail on the ground. So what if they had scouted an outside specialist to clean up a project gone to pieces?
“……Ha.”
The corners of Luan’s mouth lifted slightly. The reason God had dispatched him was now clear. It seemed he wasn’t a simple dispatch worker — he was the emergency task force leader. In that case, his mission was to safely guide Aiden’s growth as a key figure in this world, and to protect Luanisiel as well.
Then Aiden isn’t my enemy — he’s a VIP client I need to manage and protect.
With that shift in perspective, the fear disappeared. In its place, a burning drive to complete the project ignited within him. If he pulled it off, it was the jackpot!
“I would be grateful if you would. Brother.”
Luan nodded with a business smile. There was no reason to refuse. Even from a client management standpoint, building a rapport with him early on could only be beneficial.
The two walked side by side down the narrow path. Each time the wind blew, Aiden’s sunset-colored hair drifted warmly. That shade tinged with vermillion was mysterious and beautiful, as if a piece of the evening sky had been cut out and placed here.
Aiden walked ahead, personally clearing away the bushes so Luan wouldn’t get caught on any branches, and warned him to watch out for the protruding roots underfoot.
“There’s mud here, so it’s slippery. Be careful.”
“There’s a spiderweb. Just a moment, I’ll clear it.”
He was utterly devoted. Watching him, Luan grew certain. This one is a blue-chip stock that absolutely must be kept alive. If I nurture him well, he’ll become a reliable shield that can even hold the Emperor at bay later.
“Brother? Are you feeling unwell?”
When Luan went quiet, Aiden turned back with a worried look.
“No. I was just moved by how kind you are, Aiden.”
“Ahaha, not at all. It’s only natural for a child of God.”
Aiden scratched the back of his head, looking a little embarrassed. The sight of him flushing in the sunlight was straight out of a wholesome coming-of-age manga.
Good. At this level, the difficulty to win him over is ‘Easy.’ A hundred times easier to deal with than that twisted Emperor.
“Um, well……”
Aiden spoke up hesitantly.
“If it’s not too rude — you’re welcome to speak more casually with me. I look younger, after all.”
“Casually?”
“Yes! Calling me ‘Brother’ is fine too, but you can just talk to me the way you would a little brother. I never had an older brother, so I always wished I had someone like one.”
Aiden’s gaze was sincere. Asking someone he’d just met to treat him like a younger brother — it was a purity completely devoid of any wariness. At this rate he’d probably offer to be a guarantor too. If someone asked for his kidney, he’d smile and hand it over.
Luan thought it over for a moment, then nodded.
“Alright then. I’ll drop the formalities. Aiden.”
“Yes, hyung!”
Aiden’s face bloomed wide open. Luan inwardly cheered. Acquisition of the ‘hyung’ title — complete. This secures the upper hand in the relationship.
“This way. That building over there is the annex prayer room.”
Before he knew it, they had arrived at their destination. Since outsiders typically came to pray, Aiden had apparently picked up on the cue and guided him all the way to the prayer room. He escorted Luan right to the entrance.
“Thanks for showing me around. Got here comfortably thanks to you.”
“I’m glad I could help. I, um……”
Aiden hesitated for a moment, then asked with bright, clear eyes.
“Would it be alright if I asked your name? I forgot to ask earlier.”
Should I give my name? If he revealed ‘Empress Luanisiel,’ this boy would surely prostrate himself or become stiff around him. That would make natural ‘management’ difficult. For now, it was better to keep his identity vague and maintain a comfortable relationship.
“It’s Luan.”
“Luan hyung…… What a pretty name.”
“Yours too. Your name is as pretty as the color of your hair.”
Luan briefly extended a hand. Aiden noticed how dirt-covered his own hand was and panicked, hastily wiping it against the hem of his robe before carefully taking Luan’s hand.
“Nice to meet you, Luan hyung. I hope to see you again when you come to pray.”
“You will. I think I’ll be coming quite often.”
Luan let go of his hand, leaving a faint, lingering impression. He planned to use the weekly purification ritual as an excuse to come back each time and monitor the condition of this future holy knight.
“Then, may your prayers be peaceful!”
Aiden smiled brightly and bowed. It was just as he turned to head back to the herb field.
As Aiden turned away with a wave, the loose sleeve of his priest’s robe slipped down past his elbow. Luan’s gaze landed absently on the exposed wrist.
“……?”
Against the pale white wrist, dark and bluish marks were clearly visible. They were unmistakably bruises. And not just one kind — faded ones that looked old were mixed together with fresh reddish ones.
Bruises?
Luan’s eyes narrowed. But Aiden quickly tugged his sleeve back down and covered his arm. Then, as if nothing had happened at all, he waved brightly one more time and disappeared with quick, small steps.
Luan stood watching Aiden’s retreating figure and fell into thought for a moment. Did someone hit him? Or…… he’s such a clumsy type — maybe he bumped into something?
Working rough jobs in an herb field, that sort of thing could happen.
Luan decided for now to let it pass without reading too much into it. Even in his past life, when he’d worked part-time at a logistics warehouse, his legs had never been without bruises. If Aiden was still a trainee priest without any sacred power, he’d surely be stuck doing all the hard labor — it made sense he’d be sporting bruises regularly.
“It’s probably nothing.”
Luan shrugged and opened the prayer room door. A plush sofa and quiet stillness welcomed him.
“For now, I’ll sleep. I’ll start working on my network management in earnest starting next week.”
Luan threw himself onto the plush sofa. Of course, he did need to perform the purification ritual but…… the sofa here was far too comfortable. For now, catching up on his overdue nap was the top priority task.
