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Chapter 20
Dana climbed up the rugged mountain covered in dirt and moss.
Toward him.
In that moment, Edwin felt as though everything was moving in slow motion.
The surrounding air, even time itself, seemed to stop for Dana.
Her lovely movements etched themselves into his eyes at every instant.
Like a spotlight illuminating only the actor on a pitch-dark stage.
In his eyes, there was only Dana.
‘…Is this a dream?’
Dana threw herself into his arms.
And she hugged him with all her strength.
Soon, a soft warmth pressed against his chest.
It was Dana’s cheek.
“Edwin, are you okay?”
Dana lifted her head while holding onto Edwin’s waist.
Her wet blue eyes flew straight into him.
What do you mean, okay?
This warmth was far too intoxicating to judge the situation properly.
Edwin stared at her as if entranced and replied,
“…Yes, I’m fine.”
“Let me see.”
Dana’s hand stroked his face.
When the space between them opened because of that, Edwin felt a deep sense of loss.
He wrapped Dana’s waist tightly with his firm arms.
When he felt Dana’s body heat again, he was quite satisfied.
Dana, so busy worrying about Edwin’s safety, didn’t even realize she was trapped in his arms.
With a face that looked like she might cry, she shouted,
“What were you thinking, following them into such danger?!”
“……”
“I was worried sick! What if something had gone wrong…!”
“You were worried about me?”
“Of course!”
At her sincere answer, Edwin’s heart ached pleasantly.
He had never felt such fulfillment in his life.
A satisfied smile leaked out.
He pulled Dana closer against his chest.
Then he slowly stroked the back of her head.
Because of that, Dana couldn’t see his expression.
“Don’t worry. I’m fine.”
Just then, the knights who had dealt with the monster together came down from behind.
“What are you doing there, Captain—”
Before the sentence could finish, Edwin’s murderous glare pierced them.
The subordinates, upon spotting Dana, hurriedly shut their mouths.
Dana lifted her head again and asked,
“You said it was a high-level monster…! Weren’t you scared?”
At that, Edwin tossed the sword he was holding behind him.
The blade was still drenched with traces of the fraken.
Fortunately, Dana hadn’t noticed.
One quick-witted knight picked up the sword and hid it.
Lowering his eyes languidly, Edwin said,
“Ah, I was terrified.”
“……”
“……”
At the same time, silence fell.
They doubted their own hearing.
What the captain just said…?
This was the same captain who had been riding atop a monster and attacking it mercilessly just moments ago.
The captain known as the best swordsman, surpassing even the Imperial Palace knights.
Ugh! Someone retched at Edwin’s pretense.
And what was with that awkward acting?
Dana broke free from him with an expression full of anger.
Then she shouted at the Rune Knight Order behind her,
“How could you bring along a weak civilian?! What were you planning to do if something went wrong?!”
A weak… what?
The knights blinked, mouths agape.
At their unmoving reaction, Dana was dumbfounded.
“Edwin is different from you people! He can’t even fight, let alone deal with monsters…!”
“…Different, indeed.”
One knight scratched his head as he replied.
Every sparring session, he faces dozens of knights alone… it’s on a whole different level…
“That’s all you have to say?”
She’d heard they were a bunch of lunatics, but she hadn’t expected this much.
As Dana grew even angrier, the knights exchanged glances.
“Sorry…?”
“We… did wrong…?”
Dana shot them a glare.
“If Edwin had been hurt, I would’ve lodged a formal complaint—remember that!”
She walked back over to Edwin.
He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her.
The sight of her stepping up for him was intoxicating.
As Dana approached, he quickly composed his expression.
“Can you walk?”
At her question, Edwin replied weakly,
“I was really startled… I might be okay if someone comforts me.”
Dana hurriedly removed her gauntlets.
Then she stuck close to his side and patted his back.
Edwin didn’t miss the chance and wrapped an arm around Dana’s shoulders.
As Dana once again settled into his embrace, he smiled faintly.
“……”
“……”
The Rune Knight Order, having witnessed everything, felt their stomachs churn.
It was already the fourth knight who had started dry-heaving.
Regardless, Edwin asked Dana,
“Shall we head down now? I want to rest.”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
The two of them descended the mountain, pressed closely together.
Left behind were only Edwin’s sword and the helmet and gauntlets Dana had been wearing, lying forlornly in place.
Dana immediately went to see the imperial physician with Edwin.
“He was fighting a high-level monster just moments ago. Please examine him thoroughly.”
“What? How did that happen?”
“It seems the Rune Knight Order asked him.”
“Those crazy bastards!”
Even the doctor clicked his tongue, pitying Edwin.
“First, the patient needs to drink some water. I’m worried about dehydration.”
At that, Dana stepped out to get some water.
“Are there any serious injuries?”
“No.”
To begin with, he didn’t need any treatment.
As the imperial physician carefully examined Edwin’s body, his expression gradually stiffened.
Then he cautiously asked,
“…Um, this is just a light question, but…”
“Go ahead.”
“You’re a Magic Department official, right…? Your muscle structure and build look like a knight’s…”
And not just any knight.
Even at a glance, his powerful physique was enough to serve as the emperor’s guard immediately.
Edwin smiled gently, eyes curving.
“You’re an interesting person.”
I’m not joking, though……
But because of the vaguely oppressive aura he exuded, the physician could only laugh awkwardly.
Soon after, Dana returned with water.
Only then did the pressure surrounding Edwin dissipate.
Was it just my imagination? The physician tilted his head.
“The patient is fine. Still, he must have been quite startled, so it would be best for him to rest for a while.”
Only after hearing repeatedly that Edwin was fine did Dana finally relax.
“You heard him, right? Rest today. It’s simple work—I can handle it alone.”
Today, she had work gathering feedback from the knights about the potions, in case of any anomalies or side effects.
But since the potions’ safety had already been proven, hardly anyone came by.
It was just a matter of killing time during the scheduled hours.
Hmph, I don’t like that.
Edwin didn’t want to be separated from Dana for even a moment.
He placed a hand over his chest,
As if trying to calm his pounding heart.
“Senior, I was really scared.”
“Yeah, that’s why you should rest.”
“I think I’d be fine if someone stayed by my side to comfort me.”
Edwin’s face looked quite serious as he said it.
“If I’m alone, I think I’ll keep thinking about it.”
“……”
“When you soothed me earlier, I felt pretty reassured.”
At that final remark, Dana caved.
Edwin’s stability came first, after all.
“Alright. Then just sit next to me. I’ll handle the work.”
“Yes, I’ll go wash up.”
Come to think of it, there was dirt clinging to Edwin’s white shirt.
Dana nodded.
“Wash up quickly and let’s eat together.”
“Okay.”
As Edwin turned away, his face was filled with a broad smile.
Dana continued to watch him.
With his keen senses, Edwin could clearly feel Dana’s gaze on him.
He deliberately walked calmly to hide his excitement.
Seeing his somehow weak-looking steps, Dana let out a sigh.
‘He’s too kind for his own good.’
He must not have known how to refuse the knights’ request……
For some reason, Edwin seemed especially pitiful today.
