Ascan had fainted for only a short time, yet it felt as if he had dreamt for an eternity.

But he could not remain asleep any longer. From afar, he heard Tanashia Brellof calling out to him desperately.

—Ascan! Ascaaan!

Her tearful voice jolted him fully awake.

It was none other than Tanashia Brellof, crying out as she searched for him.

—I told you not to worry, that I’d return soon. Hic, Ascan, come out quickly. I’m so scared.

Ascan forced his heavy eyelids open.

Slowly raising his weary body, he looked upon Tanashia’s face—and felt an indescribable surge of longing.

While unconscious, all memories returned: meeting Tanashia, living as a slave in House Brellof.

He had denied it when he knew nothing, but it was true—he had been whipped by her. Back then, he hated her as much as the researchers in the human weapon laboratory…

But somehow, his feelings had changed.

Like clothes slowly soaking in drizzle, her presence seeped into him unnoticed—he couldn’t pinpoint exactly when it began.

Was it the day she unexpectedly asked for his name?

Or perhaps when she unilaterally ordered him to become her attendant?

By the time he realized it, his feelings for her had grown beyond repair.

Unconsciously, he kept chasing her with his eyes. He began craving to stay by her side forever.

He had never yearned for anyone this intensely before.

To his life, which he once believed would be spent alone, she was nothing short of salvation.

If his final moment ever came, hers would be the only name he’d wish to call.

‘…Tanashia.’

He once thought, having lost his memories, that he knew nothing of love—but he was wrong. He understood perfectly what love felt like.

Ten years ago, as Andro forcibly dragged him away, he thought and thought again:

No matter what, he had to return.

He could not die. He had to survive and return to Tanashia.

Even if he died, he wished to remain beside her as a spirit.

He wanted to be with her—always.

Ascan gently caressed Tanashia’s tear-streaked face. Even as he looked at her, his chest tightened with emotion.

Regaining his memories, he vividly recalled the young girl Tanashia once was. Yet time had passed, and she had become dazzlingly beautiful.

He hadn’t realized before, but every mature detail of her now moved him deeply.

The yearning he felt for Tanashia while being dragged forcibly to Karua Empire ten years ago still lingered in his heart.

Though the laboratory forcibly erased his memories, that longing never vanished—it remained, impossible to fill with anything else.

Ascan didn’t even know what it was, yet he always felt as if he had lost something precious.

‘Now I understand.’

Why he loved herb tea so much.

Why no other woman ever caught his eye.

Why he disliked skin-to-skin contact with anyone.

All because of Tanashia.

Even without memories, Tanashia had always been part of Ascan’s life.

“How could I not recognize you when I saw you again, Miss?”

From the very first moment their eyes met in the Arwen Empire laboratory, she was special.

He couldn’t explain it any other way. Her glistening blue eyes, brimming with tender emotion, stirred his heart uncontrollably.

It was unthinkable for the ever-cold Ascan.

When she injured her leg, when she suddenly cried after drinking herb tea—he felt emotions utterly unlike himself.

Ascan was never this soft toward anyone. He tried his hardest to hide it, yet he was always weak before Tanashia.

That unfamiliar emotion frightened him so much he even wanted to distance himself from her…

Even without memories, his heart had never stopped loving her. He hadn’t realized it, but since reuniting, he’d been unknowingly happy.

Tanashia looked up at him with disbelief and asked,

“Could it be… your memories have returned?”

“Yes.”

“Really? You remember everything from ten years ago?”

“Yes. Every single detail, without exception.”

Tanashia beamed with joy. Though their hearts had already connected, sharing past memories too was an incomparable blessing.

“It feels strange to be called ‘Miss’ by you after so long.”

Hearing that, Ascan’s eyes—previously shimmering with longing—softened warmly, filled with gentle laughter.

“Tanashia. If you prefer I call you by name, then I shall.”

Seeing him immediately change his address, Tanashia laughed helplessly.

“It’s amazing. It feels like both the past you and the present you are here together.”

“I didn’t know when I lost my memories, but both were me. Whether in the past or now, I am a man destined to fall for you.”

Having lost and regained his memories, he now understood.

Not for a single moment had Ascan ever stopped loving Tanashia.

Even if he lost his memories again, it would be no different. He was certain he’d fall in love with her the moment he saw her.

He didn’t want to call it fate. To him, Tanashia wasn’t etched in his mind—but embedded in his heart, impossible to erase.

Ascan gazed at her face as if memorizing every feature. His fingertips tracing her eyes, nose, lips were as careful as handling something fragile.

“Tell me you like me.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yes.”

“You’re demanding a confession out of nowhere?”

“I want to hear it.”

At Ascan’s request, Tanashia scratched her cheek. She glanced around briefly, then whispered softly, her face flushed red.

“I love you, Ascan.”

At those words, an unmistakable, deep smile bloomed across Ascan’s face.

Ten years ago, he was dragged away to Karua Empire without ever hearing Tanashia’s heart.

When he lost his memories, he didn’t realize how difficult it had been to win her affection—he thought she’d always been kind.

It felt as if he’d finally received the answer to the confession he’d made back then.

Ascan stared at her with a look of overwhelming adoration, then suddenly pulled her into a tight embrace. Holding her firmly against him, leaving no space to escape, he murmured softly,

“I love you.”

She was more precious to him than his own life.

There was nothing in this world he cherished more than Tanashia.

Nothing else made him ache with such desperate longing.

That simple phrase, “I love you,” carried countless emotions. It was the only word capable of expressing his overflowing heart.

“Tanashia, I love you so deeply.”

“Me too. I’m so relieved you’re safe.”

Hearing that, Ascan’s eyes clenched shut, overwhelmed.

He realized anew—it wasn’t just his own desperate yearning. Tanashia looked at him with the same heart.

He felt as if he possessed the entire world. The place beside her—the one he desired most—was truly his.

Just as Ascan buried his face in Tanashia’s neck, savoring profound happiness…

“Ahem. Ahem.”

Someone cleared their throat.

Ascan glanced up and saw Zen standing awkwardly. Beside him stood Dekain, glaring disapprovingly.

Previously, when they met again in Lazent Empire, Ascan hadn’t recognized Dekain—but now, with memories restored, everything came rushing back.

Though much time had passed, it displeased him that Dekain still hovered near Tanashia.

Ascan composed himself and loosened his arms around Tanashia. Despite the warmth of emotion, the current situation was far from ideal.

“Come to think of it, why are you here? Did you follow me to Karua Empire?”

Tanashia didn’t deny it. There was no point pretending now.

“I couldn’t just stand by while you went somewhere dangerous.”

“What if you got hurt?”

Ascan frowned slightly. He had many questions—how she’d located him—but now, they needed to leave urgently.

He grasped Tanashia’s hand and pulled her along, speaking in a low voice.

“Let’s get out of here first. The children buried under the rubble will soon wake up.”

“What? What do you mean?”

Ascan was an exception—he could steel his body—but for ordinary people, surviving inside a collapsed building was nearly impossible.

Tanashia’s suspicion wasn’t wrong, but Ascan answered confidently.

“Most likely, they’re not dead. The study, where the mansion-collapsing device was installed, was specifically designed to minimize damage.”

Originally, the system required someone inside the study to activate the collapse.

Naturally, the safety of the person operating the device had to be considered.

From the very beginning, the study was the most carefully engineered space—ensuring that even if the mansion collapsed, its occupant wouldn’t be crushed to death.

Ascan’s survival wasn’t mere luck.

Everything was done to buy time until Carlton returned.

Though brief, the explanation was understood by all present: the superhumans inside the mansion might soon awaken.

Having achieved their goal of rescuing Ascan, there was no reason to linger.

They hurriedly climbed out of the rubble and began moving—when suddenly:

“Ugh.”

Ascan’s sharp ears caught someone groaning in pain.

Buried under debris, the face was invisible—but he recognized the voice immediately.

It was Bill.

Ascan glanced toward the sound, then turned away. The mansion’s collapse would soon draw crowds.

For Tanashia’s safety, retreating now was the wisest choice.

As they escaped the ruined mansion, riders approaching from afar came into view.

At first, everyone tensed, thinking they were Karua Empire soldiers—but then they saw Carlton leading the group on horseback.

“Commander!”

Spotting Ascan, Carlton hastily dismounted. He scanned him for injuries and spoke again.

“Are you alright? There’s blood—you’re hurt?”

Ascan recalled hitting his head during the collapse. Until now he hadn’t noticed, but touching the back of his head, he found blood.

Tanashia, belatedly noticing his wound, gasped in alarm.

“Ascan, you’re hurt?”

She didn’t know his condition had changed—naturally, she was shocked.

Normally, he could steel his body and avoid injury entirely.

Ascan reassured her with a dismissive expression.

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

After calming Tanashia, he turned to Carlton and spoke again.

“Good work.”

“It was nothing, sir. You endured alone—that was the hard part.”

Ascan silently patted Carlton’s shoulder. Then, stepping past him, he approached those who had ridden here.

They weren’t merely Adel Trading Company mercenaries. Though not wearing knight uniforms—and unnoticed by others—Ascan knew their true identities.

They were the 7th Knight Order of Karua Empire.

When Ascan served as Royal Guard Commander, he once rescued the 7th Knight Order from peril.

In gratitude for saving their lives, they had sworn: whenever Ascan called, they would come running to aid him.

Though now he was practically a traitor, he had preemptively contacted them through Adel Trading Company, preparing for emergencies.

He hadn’t been certain they’d honor their promise—but seeing them here proved their loyalty.

“You truly kept your promise.”

At Ascan’s words, a middle-aged man with a bushy beard stepped forward and replied.

“Of course. Though our paths have diverged, a promise remains a promise.”

This middle-aged man was Teddy, Commander of the 7th Knight Order.

Ascan chuckled softly. He despised Karua Empire—but within it existed men like Teddy, who upheld honor.

He recalled Tanashia’s words when she tried to dissuade him from destroying the world:

—Isn’t it too generalized to condemn all in power? Among them are those who, even if capable of human weapon experiments, would never attempt them.

She was right.

The world couldn’t be viewed in black and white.

He hated Karua Empire—but he didn’t hate men like Teddy.

Ascan spoke.

“You needn’t risk danger personally, Commander. Since you’ve come this far today, let us settle our debt.”

Teddy nodded silently.

Without their past promise, there’d be no reason for traitor Ascan and 7th Knight Order Commander Teddy to stand together.

As Teddy quietly turned to retrace his steps, he spoke without facing them.

“Since it feels like settling a debt empty-handed, let me tell you this: troops are mobilizing toward this location after news of the mansion’s collapse. You should hurry.”

Ascan had anticipated it, but Teddy’s warning confirmed Karua Empire soldiers would soon arrive.

Ascan turned, pondering their escape—then, unexpectedly, he saw Tanashia smiling calmly at him.

Before speaking, she removed her cloak—revealing the newly developed K40 and numerous bombs strapped to her back.

Seeing Ascan’s astonished expression, Tanashia spoke.

“Now it’s my turn to step forward.”