Even setting aside his personality, Vermouth was already a tremendous asset in his current state. It was more efficient to do other things than mess with him. That’s why Ian ran wild like a crazy person elsewhere.
“Stand up!”
If there was a fallen soldier, he healed them and made them stand. He did have area healing abilities, being a Saint and all. However, contact was necessary to restore the source of their power. For example, things like a mage’s mana or a swordsman’s sword energy.
You might ask what difference there was between that and healing the body, but that’s how it was. To borrow gaming terminology, HP could be healed without contact, but MP couldn’t.
“You can still fight!”
“P-please, stop. I want to rest.”
The soldier shed hot tears, but Ian didn’t show mercy. After getting up for the seventh time, the soldier writhed in agony before charging at the monster, screaming in rage.
“Aaaaaaaagh!”
Even if it was hard, it was all to protect their own world, so he believed they’d understand.
“Next!”
He treated people like objects on a conveyor belt. To be honest, it wasn’t a sight befitting a Saint. The more he acted like this, the more Vermouth liked Ian.
He really was a guy with an extraordinary way of thinking.
“I’ve never seen a Saint as unique as you.”
“Just cursing me?”
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way. The Saintess who was in my previous unit had a weak heart, so she cried while healing injured soldiers. She was also distressed when sending them back to the battlefield. But that’s not efficient at all.”
Vermouth blinked slowly. His long eyelashes fluttering looked like the wingbeats of a butterfly.
“I support your methods.”
Do you know the moment when a person truly falls in love? He’d never seen it before, but watching Vermouth, he seemed to understand. A light fondness was gradually deepening. No way—he’s falling for this selfish behavior of all things?
Goosebumps ran down his spine at the sight of Vermouth smiling with fox-like curved eyes. That bastard—will he really let me go back gracefully when I leave? He began to have doubts.
Ian moved his creaking body while worrying about the approaching future. And in the meantime, Vermouth evolved from a guard to a stalker. Unlike the time when he simply stuck around and protected him, he now wanted to read Ian’s thoughts at every moment.
If they were apart even for a moment, he asked about what had happened in the meantime. If he didn’t answer, he’d kill people around him to find out. Vermouth’s love became obsession.
“Stalker bastard.”
“What does that mean?”
“That you’re fighting well.”
“A compliment, then.”
Vermouth smiled prettily while looking at Ian. He looked beautiful, but that bastard was poison. If he stayed with him, he wouldn’t be able to return to his original world. Once that conviction set in, Ian began hiding his true feelings from Vermouth more often. Because of this, Vermouth went even crazier, but there was no other way.
He missed his hyung.
After their parents passed away, they were the only family left in the world. He couldn’t leave his hyung alone. Because he knew that while he looked strong on the outside, he actually had a tender heart.
‘I have to go back.’
To meet his hyung again, Ian could do anything. Thus, after a whole five years, he succeeded in cutting off the Demon King’s head.
“Finally!”
He’d accomplished something no previous Saintess or Saint had ever done.
The day Vermouth returned carrying the Demon King’s head, Ian unconsciously clasped both hands over his chest. It was to suppress his wildly beating heart.
He could go back now!
They’d accomplished the great feat of killing the Demon King, but not everything was resolved yet. By killing him, they’d stopped the demons from gathering, but there was more after that.
‘Still, the people living here should be able to handle that part on their own.’
There were a total of four Greater Demons under the Demon King. They’d killed half of them, but let half escape. It was possible because those demons had no loyalty. It didn’t seem necessary for him to be there to resolve that.
Ian had fulfilled the duty given to him by the goddess, Regnasia.
Upon confirming the Demon King’s death, the Emperor immediately held a celebration party. Ian planned to participate up to this point. It was to show Vermouth that he didn’t have any thoughts of returning to his original world yet.
Ian tried his best to remain calm as he dealt with those offering congratulations. He even drank wine, which he normally didn’t drink. He couldn’t let his guard down until the magic circle that opened the passage to Earth was fully operational.
He had to pretend to enjoy the banquet as nonchalantly as possible. Just as he finished the wine and picked up a champagne glass, Vermouth suddenly knelt before him.
His chest churned with an ominous feeling.
“What are you doing?”
“Ian-nim.”
This scene—I’ve seen it somewhere many times before. No way? It can’t be. No matter how crazy Vermouth was, this was a victory celebration party. There were hundreds of eyes watching, so he believed he wouldn’t do something like that here.
And that belief was shattered in less than a few seconds.
With a serious face, Vermouth took out a small box from his breast. When he carefully opened the high-quality purple velvet box, inside was a ring with a large diamond.
‘No way, right?’
He wanted to ask right away, but he held back, afraid that if he did, his imagination would become reality. No! Holding back isn’t the problem! It’s already reality now! Ian tried to pull his body back in shock. However, a powerful force held him in place.
‘Crazy bastard!’
Vermouth was keeping Ian pinned to this spot. With a calm face, he called out to Ian again.
“Ian-nim. Won’t you become my companion?”
Vermouth, this bastard. Not even a confession—he’s starting with a proposal. Even though same-sex marriage was possible in this other world, Ian wasn’t into men. No, even if he were to marry a man, he had no intention of doing it with Vermouth.
Ian almost struck Vermouth with the hand he’d unconsciously raised. If only he weren’t the strongest in this other world, he really would have hit him.
“I refuse.”
“Why?”
Are you asking because you don’t know? Ian asked with his eyes.
“Aren’t I a decent groom candidate?”
Vermouth was confident.
‘You have a shitty personality.’
So what if his abilities were amazing? Ian had no confidence he could handle Vermouth. However, interpreting that hesitation somehow, Vermouth began calmly listing his merits.
“I’m young and handsome. I haven’t seen anyone more handsome than me yet. And I have a good body. Haven’t you seen it occasionally?”
He’d seen it quite often, actually. But he hadn’t wanted to see it on purpose. Why did he throw off his top and train every dawn? And why were those demons always so desperate to strip Vermouth?
“Don’t say things that can be misunderstood.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed.
“Haven’t you also touched me?”
“That was!”
I touched you to heal your wounds, you son of a bitch. He barely held back the curse that was about to burst out. Today, he had to get through everything nicely.
“That’s not all. I’m strong, overflowing with talent, and possess many lands.”
It wasn’t wrong, but still.
“So please marry me.”
“…Do you like me?”
“I love you.”
Vermouth looked extremely confident. Well, even considering he was crazy, he was an overqualified spouse candidate.
“How much?”
“I love you enough to cut off the Demon King’s head.”
Ah, he killed the Demon King for me? That love sure is great. When he looked at Vermouth with eyes now narrowed to threads, he smiled gently.
Right, still, since he received a proposal, he should answer sincerely. This might be the last time, after all.
“I refuse.”
“Why?”
“Lord Vermouth isn’t my type.”
At those words, Vermouth tilted his head with a puzzled expression. This was probably the first time he’d heard such words. But listen up!
“Then what kind of person is your type?”
“A kind person.”
“Ian-nim, I am a Holy Knight. The basic virtues of a Holy Knight include compassion.”
Watching him blather on without even wetting his lips with spit was exasperating. What compassionate person tears others apart and kills them just because they don’t like them?
“A kinder person.”
“Oh my. Then I’ll try to become a kinder person.”
“No, it’s impossible.”
“It’s not impossible.”
Even at Ian’s words, Vermouth insisted. Then he frowned and asked.
“Do you perhaps want to return to your original world?”
He hit the nail on the head.
“I see. That was it.”
Vermouth said calmly.
“Ian-nim, you want to return to your homeland. That’s why you rejected my proposal.”
No, even if I weren’t going back, I would’ve rejected your proposal. But he didn’t bother to say that out loud. Why pour oil on a fire?
“That won’t do.”
Vermouth said firmly.
