Ascan drew the Calspelliver from his waist as he spoke. And in the blink of an eye, he charged toward Carter.

Clang! Clang!

Their swords moved too swiftly to follow with the naked eye.

I wanted to help Ascan, but I couldn’t recklessly interfere. A misstep might only end up hindering him instead.

Helplessly, I stood rooted in place and watched Ascan and Carter duel.

Though Ascan possessed exceptional swordsmanship, Carter was no less formidable—befitting the captain leading the First Knight Order.

That was when it happened.

The thugs following Carter began to locate me and appear one by one.

Seeing one of them aiming a rocket launcher toward Ascan, I shouted:

“Ascan, watch out!”

For some reason, Ascan was fighting using only the Calspelliver. He glanced at the rocket launcher, then seemingly resigned, summoned an unextinguishable flame.

The powerful flame engulfed several thugs who had arrived here. Thanks to it, the rocket launcher faded into the flames before it could fire.

Witnessing this, Carter scowled and said:

“Tch, no matter how skilled you are, you can’t stop all of us. Today is your last day!”

As Carter said, the longer we delayed here, the more disadvantageous it became for us. Ascan alone couldn’t handle every thug.

Ascan, seemingly aware of this fact, began pressing Carter even more aggressively than before, dodging his fierce attacks.

Carter leapt into the air and thrust his sword downward toward Ascan.

Ascan twisted his body to barely evade, then kicked Carter squarely in the abdomen. Finally, as Carter lost his balance, the Calspelliver touched his throat.

The breathlessly intense battle ended in Ascan’s victory.

Carter spoke with a voice choked with frustration:

“If you think this is the end, you’re sorely mistaken…!”

Squelch!

Without even listening to Carter’s final words, Ascan severed his neck. It was an action without the slightest hesitation.

But this was not the end. Masked thugs were steadily converging toward this location.

Ascan hastily grabbed my hand and began walking as he spoke:

“We must relocate.”

“But there’s nowhere to run…”

“Just follow me for now. I know at least one place that can serve as a temporary refuge.”

I nodded and followed where Ascan led. The situation was so urgent I didn’t even have time to ask where we were going.

Anywhere that could offer us temporary shelter was blessing enough.

Ascan, who had been leading the way, suddenly coughed softly.

“Cough… cough…”

Anyone watching would agree the duel with Carter was Ascan’s flawless victory. But seeing him cough, I sensed something was wrong—he seemed injured.

Worried, I chased after him and asked:

“Are you okay? Did you get hurt somewhere?”

Ascan subtly wiped the hand he’d used to cover his cough on his pants. Then, turning to me with an expression of nonchalance, he reassured me:

“No. I think I’ve just caught a mild cold.”

“A cold?”

Ascan’s body, capable of turning to steel, rarely suffered injuries and was nearly immune to ordinary illnesses.

It might be believable for anyone else—but for him to catch a cold? That felt utterly alien.

I stared at him with puzzled eyes, but the thugs chasing us left no room to continue the conversation.

Whoosh!

Ascan deflected an arrow flying toward me with the Calspelliver.

He summoned unextinguishable flames while glaring at the pursuing thugs with eyes burning with fury. Unlike before, only three flames appeared this time.

Still, the power of the unextinguishable flames was so overwhelming that the thugs trailing us were eliminated in an instant.

Ascan quickened his pace and said:

“Stay close to me. No matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”

Hearing that, I found myself faintly smiling despite myself. Though our lives were in danger, strangely, I didn’t entirely dislike this moment—running while holding his hand.

When I thought I was about to die by Carter’s hand moments ago, the first face that came to mind was Ascan’s.

If possible, when my time finally came, I wanted to close my eyes beside him.

If I were in the arms of the man I loved, even the most terrifying death might feel bearable.

I once heard love described as a kind of mental illness. Maybe that’s true. With Ascan beside me, nothing felt frightening anymore.

“You better not get hurt either. I won’t forgive you if you die before me.”

At my words, Ascan momentarily froze. Then he turned to me and smiled—a smile that somehow looked sorrowful.

Feeling an inexplicable, strange emotion, I tried to say something, but the timing slipped away again as more thugs appeared.

Drawing the Calspelliver, Ascan murmured in a low voice:

“Let’s first survive this crisis.”

Thanks to Ascan’s heroic efforts, we barely shook off the thugs and entered the most luxurious inn famously known in the Lazent Empire.

I’d vaguely expected we’d head toward some hidden, concealed space—but contrary to my assumption, we arrived at a completely open, public venue.

Though I couldn’t hide my surprised expression upon entering the lobby, I held my tongue—knowing he wouldn’t have come here without reason.

Ascan quietly addressed the clerk standing behind the counter:

“Give me the key to Room 1920.”

For some reason, upon hearing “Room 1920,” the clerk stared at us with a startled expression. Then, stammering slightly, he spoke:

“I-I’ve heard the rumors… are you the head of the Parusa Guild?”

I, too, had only learned during our escape from the Calua Empire that Ascan was the leader of Parusa Guild, a guild operating in the underworld.

Seeing the clerk question Ascan’s identity, it seemed clear there was some connection between Parusa Guild and this inn.

Ascan silently stared at the clerk. Though his expression remained neutral, an overwhelming aura of intimidation radiated from him.

“If you’ve heard the rumors, you should know private questions like this are forbidden when I ask for a key.”

“I’m sorry! This is the first time you’ve come in person—I made a mistake!”

The clerk immediately bowed his head in apology and handed Ascan a black key.

Taking the key, Ascan led me directly to the topmost floor of the inn. There, we found the room marked “1920.”

Upon entering the lavishly furnished room—clearly reserved for honored guests—I unleashed all the questions I hadn’t yet asked Ascan:

“Where is this place? Judging from what the clerk said, it seems connected to you. No—more importantly, how did you know I was in danger?”

“Ask one at a time. I’ll answer them all.”

First, Ascan seated me on the sofa. Then he retrieved a first aid kit from the room and began treating the wound on my arm.

When the stinging ointment touched the injury, I involuntarily let out a whimper.

“…Ouch.”

At my faint groan, Ascan’s brow furrowed. His expression looked even more pained than mine—any onlooker might have mistaken him for the injured one.

Having finished the first aid, Ascan answered my earlier questions:

“This is one of the business establishments acquired when Parusa Guild relocated its base. Guilds in the underworld typically generate revenue by overseeing multiple businesses. Normally, we’d start with gambling dens—but I wasn’t satisfied with our current lodging.”

The lodging we’d occupied until now was hastily chosen during our desperate escape from the Calua Empire, falling far short of this luxurious inn in many aspects.

I was surprised—I hadn’t realized Ascan cared about such details.

“So you planned to move our lodging here?”

“Yes. Preparation isn’t fully complete yet, so only this room is usable for now—but I intend to relocate our lodging soon. This place is safer, too.”

Our previous lodging wasn’t large, so we’d essentially rented out every room—accommodating myself, Ascan, Carlton, Zen, and the royal guards who accompanied us.

We knew it was a potential weakness, since the inn couldn’t accept other guests’ reservations. And with only us coming and going, it was even more conspicuous.

But lacking better alternatives, we had no choice but to stay there.

It seemed Ascan had been planning to resolve these issues by relocating us to a safer, more comfortable environment.

“You’re thorough. If we’d moved lodgings earlier, maybe our location wouldn’t have been exposed? I wonder where the leak came from.”

Though there were vulnerabilities, it seemed no one had noticed I was disguised as an agent.

I still couldn’t figure out who had recognized me and reported me to the Calua Empire.

Ascan spoke as if he had a suspicion:

“Recently, I noticed strange movements near our lodging and investigated. According to what I just learned, they were hired by the Dante Marquis family.”

“The Dante Marquis family…”

Naturally, Reiana’s face from the party came to mind.

She knew so much about me.

If someone had suspected my true identity, they might have attempted to negotiate—but they hadn’t.

Reporting me directly to the Calua Empire suggested either they were enticed by the bounty—or harbored a personal grudge against me.

Seeing me lost in thought, Ascan said:

“Your guess is likely correct. Further investigation will clarify things, but it seems to be the doing of Lady Crisha—or rather, Madame Dante, the Marquise.”

“Sigh, she keeps interfering in my affairs.”

“Indeed. She hurt you before, and now again…”

Ascan let his sentence trail off. But his eyes burned with deeper anger.

Come to think of it, I remembered shielding Ascan with my body when young Reiana used her Wind Ability against him during an academic festival in our childhood.

That incident left me covered in wounds—and nearly caused him to lose control.

It was an event from ten years ago, one I’d nearly forgotten—but apparently, Ascan still remembered it vividly.

In a voice grown even graver, Ascan continued:

“She will pay dearly for injuring you twice.”

“She must. But I’m worried about Zen, who stayed behind alone to protect me. Dekain’s subordinates—and many unrelated people—also seem to have been injured. I wonder how they’re faring…”

While Zen bought us time by stalling, fleeing was the best course of action available to me.

I wished I could’ve stayed with him instead of running away, but I knew hesitation would help no one—so I had no choice.

Seeing my concern for Zen, Ascan glanced at me with feigned displeasure, yet still offered gentle reassurance:

“Don’t worry. The forces dispatched from the Calua Empire committed slaughter within the Lazent Empire. The local soldiers won’t stand idly by. I alerted the authorities while coming to rescue you—the Lazent Imperial Court will act.”

“You’re right, but…”

Until I saw Zen safe with my own eyes, I couldn’t stop worrying.

Perhaps sensing my anxiety, Ascan gently stroked my head and comforted me:

“Their target was you. With you escaped and their forces scattered, he may not even be in danger anymore. And though few, Carlton and the royal guards I brought along have also mobilized. Let’s wait and see.”

“Alright. I just hope Zen is safe.”

Though Zen worried me most, I sincerely hoped none of the others had suffered serious injuries.

That was when—

Knock knock. Someone knocked on the door from outside.

Ascan instantly fixed a sharp gaze toward the door. He swiftly approached and asked in a low voice:

“Who is it?”

“It’s me, Carlton, sir.”

I’d worried the thugs might have tracked us here, but hearing Carlton’s voice put me at ease.

Ascan, likely thinking the same, verified it was Carlton and opened the door.

Carlton bowed respectfully toward Ascan and spoke:

“I’ve secured the safety of the person named Zen. As you instructed, I came immediately to report once confirmed. He’s currently receiving treatment for his injuries—you should be able to meet him by tomorrow.”

Hearing Carlton’s report, I exhaled a sigh of relief. Only now, assured of Zen’s safety, could I finally ease my mind.

Ascan glanced briefly at me, then told Carlton appreciatively:

“Good work. If things have settled somewhat, go rest. The Lazent Empire’s soldiers will handle the cleanup.”

“Understood. You rest as well, sir.”

Having delivered his report, Carlton vanished again—likely heading elsewhere.

Probably to avoid gathering in one place and risking exposure, each would spend tonight separately.

Ascan closed the door and entered, smiling faintly as he saw my relieved expression.

“Feeling better now?”

“Yeah. I’ve truly taken a load off my shoulders.”

Only now did I truly feel we’d passed through the danger.

Ascan looked at my bloodstained dress and said:

“Let’s wash up first. You won’t be able to sleep like that.”

Only then did I notice how filthy my dress had become, stained with blood from my wounds. In fact, beyond the blood, I was also covered in dust from all the running around.

“Right. You should wash up too. If we’re going to sleep…”

Suddenly, I trailed off without realizing it.

Come to think of it, tonight, Ascan and I would have to share the same space. We’d always been together, but this would be the first time sleeping together.

‘Oh…’

My mind spontaneously unfurled countless imagined scenarios.

Ascan always looked at me after kissing me, his eyes brimming with deep, lingering regret.

I wasn’t oblivious to his burning desire—but somehow, we’d never progressed beyond kissing.

‘Could it be tonight?’

Though the wound on my arm, freshly treated, weighed on my mind, if Ascan wanted it, I had no intention of refusing a heated night.

I pictured Ascan emerging from the shower, wrapped in a bathrobe. His black hair dripping with water, his moist eyes gazing at me with longing.

Imagining myself tangled with Ascan in bed, my face instantly flushed hot.

Ascan, seeing my face suddenly turn bright red, asked with concern:

“Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah.”

I answered awkwardly, swallowing hard.