When I looked at Ruvlian, he too had a face that hadn’t expected this situation. Meaning I hadn’t felt it wrong. The moment I reached that fact, I examined the dug hole with an absurd expression. There was no sacred relic, and white powder was sparkling between the gray soil. I didn’t even feel suppressed power.
It was futile. Should I have stolen all the sacred relics after all? Whether it was the aftermath of the sealing or because hundreds of millions of years had passed, I couldn’t know the reason the sacred relic had shattered into pieces.
Get a grip. Finding out the reason doesn’t help the current situation. What I need to think of now is the answer to how I’ll seal the Demon God going forward. I set aside searching for the cause and pondered deeply about the sealing.
[Um, Sihyeon?]
My head rang sharply. When I naturally frowned, my body spun half a circle. Ruvlian, who had been holding my shoulder from behind, was in front. He cupped my cheek. Blue eyes holding as much warmth as his warm hands were full of worry.
“It’s because the god is talking to me.”
“I know. But I’m still upset.”
The hand that had been caressing my cheek moved up. Affection was thickly smeared on the touch gently stroking down my hair. He seemed to be the one suffering.
My toes curled at the ticklish sensation. The thoughts that had filled my head until just now met the wave called Ruvlian and were swept away. It wasn’t the time for this, but perhaps because I’d confessed my feelings, I couldn’t get a hold of myself.
[Um, Sihyeon? There’s a god here…]
However, I couldn’t ignore the god asserting their existence with a troubled voice. Especially since the god usually hadn’t interrupted in the middle of talking with Ruvlian this much, I needed to get a grip even more. At this rate, I’d barely find a method only after the day broke. Though because this world had no sun, I wouldn’t even be able to grasp how much time had passed.
“Ruvlian, stop.”
I stopped Ruvlian from kissing my brow that I’d unconsciously furrowed due to the god’s voice ringing in my head. Perhaps noticing my firm will, he rubbed his lips on my forehead once more and then pulled me into an embrace. Then after burying his face in my neck, he just quietly looked up at me.
‘Speak.’
[I only heard from the Lord God after Sihyeon went to the first world. You see, sacred relics are originally sacred objects containing part of the Lord God’s power, right?]
‘I know.’
I knew what kind of thing sacred relics were. How could I not know when I was a Hero in name and even handled divine power?
[When the Lord God’s believers attempted to seal the Demon God in the primordial world, sacred relics were used. Though they didn’t reach a complete seal because the Demon God rampaged in the middle, they did use the sacred relics.]
‘So the Lord God’s power dwelling in the sacred relics disappeared?’
[Yes. Only two of them. The power dwelling in the remaining three was taken back by the Lord God when leaving the first world afterward.]
In short, it meant I’d suffered for nothing.
Of course, I had to go to the world hundreds of millions of years ago to find out the sealing method and sealing formation. But it meant there was no need to coat the sacred relics with mana or search for them like this now.
[Hehe.]
‘What are you laughing at?’
[…Huk huk?]
The sound of rolling eyes came, then that was the following words. It was absurd. When I told them not to laugh, they’re going “huk huk.”
Since I didn’t give any answer, the sound of rolling eyes came again. The sign of reading the mood was evident. But this time was worth it. Why are you telling me this only now?
‘The solution.’
When I spoke first to the god who was still only reading the mood, I felt rustling hair and soft skin around my neck. Also something soft that seemed to be eyelashes tickling me gently.
[Of course there is one! The Lord God said they’d bestow new sacred relics. You can use those.]
Anyone watching would think they’d been waiting only for this day to say these words. The god who rattled off words in rapid fire opened a portal. The portal that opened as space shifted contained a color uniformly difficult to describe.
“Did you finish talking?”
Ruvlian, who confirmed the opened portal, asked.
I quietly stared at him looking up at me with an eye smile while leaning his face diagonally on my shoulder. I understood Park Sichan’s words that I’d lightly passed over at the time. Those words that sometimes, just really just sometimes, one’s lover looks lovely.
I detached Ruvlian from me and then grabbed both his cheeks. His bent upper body straightened and his lips stuck out like a carp’s.
As if surprised by my sudden action, his eyelids were pushed up. Thanks to that, eyes reminiscent of a summer sea were fully revealed. Then not long after, they were slightly hidden again by playfully folded eyelids.
[Sihyeon, aren’t you going?]
The portal that had distinct energy was fading. I lightly pressed my lips against the round lips that were pushed out and then separated them before answering.
‘Going.’
When I removed my hands from the warm cheeks, coldness clung to my palms as if it had been waiting for this moment. Even though my hands had withdrawn, Ruvlian couldn’t move a muscle as if under a binding spell. The skin that had been white until just moments ago had become reddish. I thought he’d be somewhat used to it by now, but it seemed not.
I stretched out my arm and grasped the wrist of Ruvlian standing blankly. As my hand with coldness completely smeared on it touched him, perhaps coming to his senses, Ruvlian moved his head. His eyes were still somehow dazed.
“Let’s go back.”
“Together?”
The focus gradually became clear. It seemed he’d finally completely come to his senses.
“Together.”
I pronounced it forcefully, containing affirmation. Then a smile bloomed on his splendid face like finely embroidering flowers of various colors. For a moment, I tightly closed my eyes and opened them at the illusion that light was shining from his face.
Watching me like that, Ruvlian let out a low laugh. Looking at him who forcibly held me so I couldn’t turn my eyes anywhere, I thought. It couldn’t not be an appearance the god molded beautifully with all their might. That face at least is the god’s masterpiece.
“Good, together.”
The voice seemed to be a masterpiece too. Personality too… in a different sense it’s a masterpiece. While thinking thoughts that would have made Montrio first take me to Deadrian if he’d heard, I entered the portal with Ruvlian. My vision swayed and my insides churned. The sensations that wouldn’t be strange even if I vomited soon disappeared when the scene in my eyes returned to normal.
A neatly organized room. The sofa and bookshelves that were there earlier. The Master of the Magic Tower’s room, that is, Ruvlian’s room. After confirming I’d returned and turning my head, Ruvlian, though he’d been fine for a while, was whining and pretending to be in pain. He doesn’t miss opportunities.
When I tried to detach him as he draped his arms around my shoulders and waist and rubbed his face on my head, he clung even more. That movement looked like asking if I really had to get away.
“I need to check the sacred relics.”
“Mm. We can do it a little later.”
He wheedled me with a gently cute voice. The weight I’d been feeling on my head disappeared and my vision filled with his face. He blinked slowly, and his golden eyelashes swaying with it and blue eyes that repeatedly disappeared and appeared stole my gaze.
Ruvlian utilized his face too well. To the point I had no choice but to fall for it.
“Ruvlian.”
But not this time. I had to finish the sealing quickly.
“I want to finish the sealing quickly.”
In order to draw a future ‘together’ with Ruvlian.
“Won’t you cooperate?”
Ruvlian, who had been staring through me, nodded shyly. Seeing his face as if he’d received a marriage proposal, it seemed he’d grasped the meaning of my words wanting to finish the sealing quickly, that is, my inner intention of wanting to live in the same world together.
The problem was the hands still on my waist and shoulders despite that. The draped arms had no intention of letting go. I tapped the white hand grasping my waist with my index finger.
“Let go, then.”
“Mmm. As expected, just a little—”
“Ruvlian.”
“Ye-es…”
The smile that had been shimmering at the corners of his mouth disappeared and drooped downward. His eyebrows also drooped greatly, but I moved my steps pretending not to see this. Because I knew myself who would give in to his sullen face if I wasn’t careful.
After tacitly allowing up to interlocking fingers, I approached the black desk full of documents. In the middle of that desk were five objects presumed to be sacred relics. Seeing the suppressed power, they were definitely sacred relics.
[Those are the sacred relics the Lord God bestowed. Since they were made recently, the effect will be certain too.]
‘Really?’
[Yes. Among humans, old sacred relics are valuable, but gods are different. If they’re old, the power they contained often fades. So the most recently made ones are most valuable.]
The god poured out all the stories they wanted to tell, from how great the Lord God’s power was to how difficult it was to make sacred relics. I was listening just in case, but there wasn’t really anything helpful in the current situation.
“Sihyeon.”
“Why?”
“What should I do now?”
Ruvlian, who hadn’t given the sacred relics a single glance of interest, asked with an eye smile. I thought he’d stick to me saying wasn’t it done since I’d finished checking the sacred relics, but it was unexpected. It didn’t seem like he was plotting anything either. It felt like he was purely curious.
He’s not usually like this. Suddenly becoming anxious, I narrowed my eyes, and Ruvlian grinned and put on a good-natured face. While making eyes that clearly knew my thoughts.
“Honey.”
“…”
“Honey, I’m so upset when you suspect your husband.”
A voice full of playful laughter thoroughly wets my ears. I reached out and gently rubbed his eye area as if tracing over his curved eyes. Then he gently closed his eyes and tilted his head slightly while making a pleased sound.
“Why are you suddenly touching me? Did honey’s husband look cute?”
“…Just. So you really asked without any particular meaning?”
“Yes. I also want to finish the sealing quickly now.”
The end of his words was neatly finished. Smoothly, as his eyelids lifted and I met his blue eyes, my breath caught. It felt like my lungs were filling with affection. Affection vivid enough to be engraved in my mind stickily bound me.
Ruvlian looked at me unable to move and then kissed me. Then he made a voice sweeter and softer than usual.
“So please tell me. What should I do?”
To be together with you for a long time.
