IYAMD: Episode 66

A brief touch. Their lips barely met before pulling apart.

Jaha almost closed his eyes instinctively, but Marsilia’s swift retreat startled him instead.

Closing his eyes? He was shocked at how accustomed he had become to such gestures from this man.

“Jaha, we’ll run to the valley. You are faster, but pace yourself, I might really ask you to carry me.”

Marsilia spoke in a playful tone, his back turned to Jaha.

“Can you even run?”

Jaha had no idea how fast Marsilia could move on a mountain path.

He knew little about warriors from the Western Continent and even less about those who wielded aura.

Could that massive body even run properly? The thought itself was worrying.

Noticing Jaha’s doubtful tone, Marsilia turned back with an incredulous look.

“What do you take me for?”

“An ordinary human.”

A slightly annoying and strange but ultimately ordinary person.

“I’ve trained my body just like you, only in a different way. Of course, I can run.”

With a dismissive snort, Marsilia leaped toward a tree before Jaha could reply.

Despite his large frame, he stepped on the thick trunk with ease, springing onto a branch.

Perched above, he motioned for Jaha to hurry up.

When Jaha followed him up, Marsilia kicked off the branch and leaped to another tree.

The tree cracked slightly under the force, but Marsilia didn’t look back.

Jaha, stepping onto a branch that sagged under his weight, used his qinggong to soar forward.

A grin tugged at his lips.

Marsilia was faster than expected—no, it was impressive.

He wasn’t using any special technique, just pure strength, agility, and precision.

Every time he pushed off, his fitted trousers stretched over his flexing thighs.

The thick muscles propelled him forward, and as his light tunic fluttered, his tense trapezius muscles were briefly exposed.

Watching him, Jaha glanced at his own lean arms.

Maybe it was time to rebuild his physique.

As a man, he couldn’t help but envy that kind of body.

Jaha was naturally slim, his muscles compact and wiry, but he still found himself drawn to Marsilia’s sheer physical presence.

Even though he knew that such a build didn’t suit a swordsman like him.

Even though he understood that he’d need a completely different bone structure to achieve it.

Still, the envy lingered.

He pursed his lips before exhaling sharply.

Ahead, Marsilia halted on a high branch, surveying the distance.

When Jaha landed beside him, Marsilia muttered in a hushed voice.

“The smell is unbearable.”

As they neared the valley, the metallic stench thickened, becoming nearly nauseating.

The valley wasn’t even in sight yet, and the air was already suffocating.

Along with the stench came a growing pressure, as if something was squeezing around them.

There was no doubt—something powerful lurked in the valley.

Licking his lips, Marsilia murmured,

“Should we keep going? What do you think?”

“We don’t have another choice. We should be cautious, but if we don’t go, we’ll never find out what’s there.”

Marsilia smiled at his answer.

His forehead smoothed as a bright, open grin spread across his face.

“You have a real knack for stating the obvious.”

Jaha shot him a flat look.

Then don’t ask.

Marsilia chuckled at his expression, his eyes narrowing in amusement.

He reached for Jaha, but Jaha leaned back, dodging his touch.

Tilting his upper body backward while keeping his footing on the branch, he startled Marsilia, who instinctively grabbed his arm.

“I thought you were falling.”

For a brief moment, concern flickered in those deep green eyes.

Seeing that, Jaha lost the will to bicker.

Sighing lightly, he gestured ahead.

“Let’s split up. You take that side, I’ll take this one. If something happens, at least one of us will make it out.”

“If things get dangerous, don’t hesitate—just turn back.”

“And what about you?”

Marsilia’s expression turned unreadable.

“Are you worried about me?”

“I asked first. What about you?”

Marsilia didn’t answer right away.

He lifted his gaze as if searching for the right words, then finally spoke.

“I don’t know.”

Jaha frowned, and Marsilia mirrored his expression with a small smirk.

“But I’d rather you be safe than me.”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

“If anything happens to you, I’ll stop it. So you should be the one to leave.”

Jaha noticed how he avoided saying “run away” and let out a short laugh.

“I have nowhere to go back to. If one of us has to live, it should be you.”

Marsilia studied him intently before extending a hand.

Jaha, almost instinctively, placed his own in Marsilia’s grasp—only to immediately regret it.

Marsilia pressed a kiss to the back of his hand.

Jaha’s face contorted in irritation, but before he could pull away, Marsilia planted more kisses along his knuckles.

Then, in a low voice, he murmured,

“Then let’s go back together. I’ll be the place you return to.”

It was undeniably touching words.

But for Jaha, it had the opposite effect.

A shiver ran up his spine, and he yanked his hand away, grumbling.

“How long are you planning to stand here? We have an hour to wrap this up.”

“Right. We’ll go back together.”

“Then pick up the pace. Let’s get this done quickly.”

“Of course.”

Marsilia smiled and leaped in the direction Jaha had indicated. Meanwhile, Jaha increased his pace, widening the distance between them as he ran in the opposite direction.

With his speed, it took him less than ten minutes to reach the valley.

Standing at the edge of the cliff, Jaha bit his lip as he took in the sight below.

Even from afar, he could see Marsilia crouched on a distant cliff, his profile stiff with shock.

Jaha glanced at him briefly before turning his gaze back to the valley below.

What in the world was that?

The massive creature occupied nearly half the valley, yet Jaha couldn’t even begin to guess what it was.

Its black body, tinged with a faint purple hue, was covered in lizard-like scales. Its long neck supported a head crowned with sharp horns that extended so far back they nearly concealed the back of its skull.

It was unlike anything he had ever seen.

The enormous creature appeared to be asleep, curled up with its massive wings draped over its body.

A slow, heavy breath escaped it.

A low rumble echoed as the air trembled in its throat.

A sinister black aura clung to its form, thick like mist.

Beneath the creature, the valley floor was littered with bones, piled like a graveyard.

Perhaps it was due to the distance, or maybe because the creature itself was too massive, but Jaha couldn’t gauge the size of the bones.

Still, he was certain—somewhere in that heap lay the remains of minotaurs and knights.

It had devoured everything in its path.

The ominous black energy pooled around it, seeping into the surroundings, filling the air with a foul stench.

Jaha instinctively covered his nose, unable to bear the acrid odor.

Sensing movement, he shifted his gaze toward Marsilia.

Marsilia, now further away, gestured at him—retreat.

His expression was grave.

Jaha nodded and immediately suppressed his presence, slipping away without a sound.

As he neared the fallen tree from earlier, he closed the distance between them and asked,

“What the hell is that?”

“A Dragon.”

Marsilia’s answer was quiet, his expression grim.

Then, he lifted his hand and slowly ran it down his face.

Jaha wanted to ask what that meant, but now wasn’t the time to press him.

After a brief silence, Marsilia ran a hand roughly through his hair and swore under his breath.

“Damn it.”

Jaha could see the frustration and helplessness written all over his face.

Marsilia was deep in thought, likely trying to figure out how to deal with the creature.

His green eyes flickered restlessly, and when Jaha looked more closely, he noticed his fingers trembling slightly where they rested against his jaw.

Without thinking, Jaha reached out.

Pulling Marsilia’s hand away from his face, he met his gaze.

“Let’s go back for now.”

He gave him a gentle tug.

Marsilia nodded, but he didn’t move.

Jaha looked up at him and asked,

“Want me to carry you?”

At that, Marsilia finally chuckled and shook his head.

“Maybe later.”

“It’s now or never.”

Just as Jaha was about to take off, Marsilia leaned his weight against his back.

“Then now.”

“It’s too late.”

Jaha pushed him away and turned to leave.

When their eyes met, Marsilia clicked his tongue and smirked.

“What a shame.”

Jaha placed a hand on his cheek, the firm skin warm beneath his palm.

“It’s fine.”

Marsilia’s eyes, which had been holding back a forced smile, slowly closed.

Feeling the weight pressing into his palm, Jaha whispered again,

“It’ll be okay.”

Marsilia exhaled deeply, his breath hot against Jaha’s hand.

Then, placing his own hand over Jaha’s, he let out a small, relieved smile.