IYAMD: Episode 39

After a brief, awkward silence, the two returned to the tent. Time seemed to have passed, as those gathered around the bonfire had almost all disappeared. Only a few knights were standing guard in the camp, and the two quietly entered the tent, hand in hand, making sure not to draw attention.

“Can we sleep together tonight?”

Marsilia, who had let go of Jaha’s hand near the bed, gently brushed Jaha’s hair aside as he asked. Was it necessary for him to ask such a question when he was so close? Without realizing it, Jaha stepped back a few paces, his gaze involuntarily shifting to Marsilia’s lips.

“Do you not want to?”

Jaha understood that Marsilia was simply asking to sleep in the same bed. However, for some strange reason, he felt an overwhelming desire to refuse with his whole body. He bit down on his lip, and Marsilia smiled awkwardly, pulling Jaha’s lip from between his teeth with a finger.

“I don’t plan on doing anything.”

Jaha knew that already. He knew Marsilia’s kiss had been quite respectful, and if Jaha had truly said no, Marsilia wouldn’t push the issue. He also knew that the man was likely exhausted from the battles and needed rest. Yet, now that his mind was clear, the thought of having kissed him made Jaha feel like he might lose himself.

I kissed him… and I didn’t dislike it. Jaha desperately wanted to hide his face, not wanting to see Marsilia’s calm, smiling expression. The soft lighting from the fire made Marsilia’s face look affectionate, and Jaha hated it. Finally, he lowered his burning face, trying to hide it.

Marsilia moved the hair at the back of Jaha’s neck aside and gently kissed the exposed skin, which had surely turned red. When Jaha placed his hand there and stepped back, Marsilia just smiled softly and pointed at the bed.

“If you don’t want to, there’s no need. I’ll sleep on the floor, and you can take the bed.”

Jaha hesitated before sitting on the edge of the bed. As he moved his hands to untie his lace-up boots, Marsilia kneeled in front of him.

“You’re surprisingly not very good with your hands.”

Marsilia placed Jaha’s foot on his thigh and loosened the laces of his boots, slowly undoing them. After finishing one side, he moved to the other, his large hands delicately working on the laces. When Jaha had taken off his boots and climbed into the bed, Marsilia extinguished the candle as he had done the night before. In the ensuing darkness, both of them stopped moving.

It wasn’t until their eyes adjusted to the dark that Jaha moved first. He reached out and grabbed Marsilia’s arm, pulling him to the bed.

Jaha patted the space next to him. Marsilia grumbled, letting out a cough.

“I almost got nervous for a second.”

Marsilia lay down first, but when Jaha lay down beside him, he suddenly sat up. He had felt Marsilia’s muscular arm press against his neck.

“Can’t you let me use my arm as a pillow?”

Jaha jokingly moved Marsilia’s arm away and lay back down, only to feel Marsilia pressing in closely from behind, his voice soft and teasing.

“After a kiss, you won’t even let me be your pillow?”

Jaha instinctively swatted his hand away, and instead of an apology, Marsilia laughed.

“You were the same last time. You’re more violent than I thought.”

Marsilia murmured as he buried his face in Jaha’s hair, clinging to his back. Jaha shuddered at the hot breath on the back of his neck and desperately turned to the other side.

Marsilia wrapped his arms around Jaha’s waist and pulled him closer.

“Let go now. I won’t do anything else. Go to sleep. Sleep well, Jaha.”

Marsilia, exhausted, quickly fell asleep. As Jaha felt the warmth of his body on his back, he listened to the sound of his breathing and soon fell asleep himself, lulled by the heat.

At some point, he felt a strong arm around him, but in his sleepiness, he just let himself be pulled closer. Something soft and squishy touched his face as he turned. Every time he rubbed his cheek against it, he was drawn to the soft texture. He sighed deeply, enveloped in the warmth of Marsilia’s body, and soon drifted into a deep sleep.

…

When did it happen?

Jaha blinked as he looked at the white tunic shirt in front of him upon waking up. When had he stopped dreaming?

Ever since he was dragged to the palace by Marsilia, Jaha had been plagued by old dreams. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say he had suffered from them. Even now, the thought of it made him feel guilty, as though such a description were wrong.

As Jaha sighed and opened his mouth, a low voice came from above.

“You looked like you were sleeping so well, so why are you sighing the moment you wake up?”

Jaha looked up toward the source of the voice, and Marsilia’s face was so close. Without hesitation, Marsilia lowered his head and gently kissed Jaha’s forehead, asking, “Did you sleep well?”

I slept swell. Jaha nodded, and Marsilia closed his eyes, looking satisfied. It was still early, and no one had come to wake them. Jaha decided to close his eyes and get a little more rest.

For the weary man who would live fiercely again today…

…

After finishing his preparations, Marsilia turned to look at Jaha, who was following behind him.

“Go back to the tent, Sable. This is not your place.”

Jaha narrowed his eyes at his cold tone and muttered under his breath.

Why doesn’t he ask for help?

Marsilia focused his gaze on Jaha’s lips, seemingly struggling to understand. Jaha made an effort to enunciate each syllable clearly and repeated the same sentence.

After a moment of contemplation, Marsilia shook his head.

“It’s hard to understand if you drag it on. But I get the gist of it.”

He crossed his arms and scowled at Jaha.

“Still, let’s pretend I didn’t get it. Go back, Sable Dandelion. Your place is inside the tent.”

Marsilia left Jaha, who was glaring at him silently, and walked toward the gathered knights. Jaha clenched his fist in frustration, feeling a surge of anger.

Jaha wanted to repay the man in his heart for the debt he felt. After sleeping beside him and waking up, Jaha wanted to do something for him. With nothing else to give, he wanted to at least be helpful.

But that attitude… Jaha continued to glare at him until he disappeared from view. He thought he might get angry if Marsilia looked back, but Marsilia didn’t glance in his direction at all. Once Marsilia was out of sight, Jaha’s anger only intensified.

When Jaha climbed up the hill, Shasha followed with two knights. From the hill next to the camp, Jaha could clearly see the knights moving. Meanwhile, he noticed a cyclopean beast with a bull’s head approaching from the opposite side. Even with his experience fighting monsters across the western continent, Jaha found the size of these creatures enormous. It was a mystery how Marsilia wasn’t more seriously injured after fighting such creatures.

The knights seemed to have noticed the beasts as well, quickly forming ranks. In the center of the formation stood Marsilia, wearing white clothes. Unlike the knights armed with heavy armor, Marsilia was dressed in a light tunic, just like Jaha. No wonder he gets hurt. Jaha clicked his tongue quietly.

As one of the Minotaurs approached and saw the knights, it threw its axe. Green energy spread from Marsilia, forming a barrier in front of the knights, causing the axe to strike the barrier and create sparks.

Jaha bit his lip, watching their battle. Ready to rush in if necessary, he checked the sword at his waist.

Six Minotaurs were charging from a distance. As they closed the distance and swung their axes, the barrier Marsilia had created shattered, sending the first row of knights flying backward. Unable to hold back, Jaha leaped into the air toward them.

“Jaha!” Shasha called from behind, but Jaha kicked off the air and raced toward the Minotaurs. As the distance closed, Jaha drew his sword, and silver sword energy, as cold as moonlight, cut through the Minotaur’s horn.

The man who saw the horn fell with a thud, scowled and looked up. Twisting in mid-air, Jaha landed beside Marsilia, lifting his chin.

I’ll help.

Marsilia, radiating divine power, chuckled.

“Heh.”

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and expanded the area of his healing power while drawing his sword. Jaha had expected him to order a retreat immediately, but it seemed Marsilia realized the situation was dire.

In the meantime, two Minotaurs fell to the hooks thrown by the knights, and the ground shook with a deafening sound. Before the dust could settle, Jaha hurled his sword into the air toward the nearest Minotaur. As he focused his energy, eight silver swords appeared in the air.

Normally, there should have been twelve, but due to his incomplete control of his energy, the number was reduced. Jaha clicked his tongue and raised his hand toward the swords.

With a swift motion of his hand, the swords flew through the air, cutting toward the Minotaur.

Shink.

The thick hide of the Minotaur was severed with a chilling sound. The moment its blue blood splattered, a cheer erupted from the knights.