<CHAPTER 47>

It’s Because It’s You

At the thought that Aksion might have come to save her, Evelyn’s heart pounded wildly.

But it was still too early to feel relieved.

With the man breaking through the barrier and entering, the Lizard Man became even more agitated.

The monster emitted a sinister aura and began to laugh grotesquely.

[Will you play hide-and-seek with me too?]

“Why would I do something like that.”

As if displeased with his answer, the Lizard Man’s smile vanished instantly.

[Then you die.]

“Be careful, Aksion!”

Kwang—

The monster moved swiftly and closed the distance to him in an instant.

Dodging the indiscriminate attacks with ease, Aksion released killing intent, his red eyes gleaming ominously.

In the unpredictable clash, he drove a dagger with all his strength into the Lizard Man’s neck.

As the scales covering its body lost their sheen and its muscles began to stiffen, the monster glared at him as if it would kill him.

[Do you think you’ll live after this?]

“I think you’ll die first.”

As if chanting a trigger phrase, Aksion injected a massive amount of mana into the monster’s body.

[Kiieeek! Kraaak!]

The Lizard Man let out a grotesque scream and writhed in agony.

As if he had no intention of letting it go, Aksion’s red eyes grew cold.

Lifting one corner of his lips slightly, he spoke in a dry voice.

“It’s unfortunate it turned out this way.”

Aksion drove the dagger straight into the monster’s core.

[Guuek!]

The violent struggle gradually slowed, and the Lizard Man soon stopped moving.

Its life had been completely extinguished.

Aksion casually wiped the monster’s blood from his face.

Only then did Evelyn’s tension release, and she let out a rough breath.

As the eerie mana gradually faded, he approached her.

“Evelyn, are you okay?”

Kneeling on one knee, he checked her condition.

Though her body was still trembling, Evelyn slowly nodded.

“Yeah… I’m okay.”

But for some reason, the way Aksion looked at her felt different from usual.

There was something indescribable lingering in his red eyes.

“Then why are you crying?”

At his low voice, Evelyn touched her face.

Only then did she realize that tears were streaming down her cheeks.

As if something had broken inside her, the tears wouldn’t stop, and her green eyes trembled.

‘Why am I like this?’

Except for her childhood, she had never cried in front of others.

Feeling unfamiliar with herself, she simply blinked without even wiping her tears.

Aksion, who had been staring at her, hardened his expression and let out a heavy sigh.

“I’m sorry.”

“I came too late.”

Startled by his sudden apology, Evelyn looked up at him with wide eyes.

Why was he apologizing when he had done nothing wrong?

Feeling both frustrated and upset, she blurted out words she didn’t even mean.

“Hic… why are you apologizing, you idiot.”

And like a child, she burst into tears.

To be honest, she had been terrified.

She thought she would be eaten by the monster.

But the moment she saw Aksion enter the barrier, her entire body had trembled.

She had never felt so relieved to see him before.

Watching her cry uncontrollably, Aksion looked flustered.

After hesitating for a while, he raised his hand into the air.

Then he carefully wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks.

After some time passed, Evelyn gradually calmed down and slowly lifted her head.

Under the faint moonlight, she met his vivid red eyes.

“If not me, who else would protect you?”

Aksion’s low, deep voice reached her.

At his unusually serious tone, Evelyn’s green eyes wavered like ripples.

Was this the second time?

That it felt like time had stopped around them.

Thump—

Thump…

A strange feeling bloomed within her, like gentle waves forming on still water.

‘Why am I suddenly like this…?’

After staring into his crimson eyes, Evelyn quickly averted her gaze.

Only then did she realize how close they were, and her cheeks flushed.

An inexplicable silence flowed between them.

For some reason, she felt like she had to break it.

After hesitating, she finally spoke.

“Thank you for helping me, Aksion.”

Even if he had acted out of duty, gratitude was still gratitude.

If it hadn’t been for him, she didn’t even want to imagine what would have happened.

As she recalled the horrifying moment earlier, her shoulders trembled slightly.

After watching her for a moment, Aksion removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Then he leaned in slightly and brushed her loose hair behind her ear.

At her fiancé’s gentle actions, Evelyn found it hard to breathe.

Unaware of her feelings, Aksion spoke in an uncharacteristically soft voice.

“I helped you because it’s you.”

Not knowing how to respond, her green eyes wavered.

Aksion revealed his characteristic dimple with a faint smile.

Just as she stared blankly at it—

“Um… excuse me for interrupting.”

At the voice coming from nearby, Evelyn quickly turned her head.

The elite knights of Valentino had arrived, unable to hide their awkward expressions.

They averted their gazes and bowed their heads.

Realizing she had been seen clinging to her fiancé, Evelyn’s face flushed deeply.

Unlike her, Aksion didn’t seem to care and raised one eyebrow.

“What is it?”

“We need you to check the monster.”

The aide lowered his voice seriously.

Sensing something was wrong, Aksion nodded.

He helped Evelyn to her feet and instructed the knights to guard her.

“Stay here.”

“Aksion, wait.”

Evelyn grabbed his sleeve as he tried to leave.

As he raised an eyebrow, she added in a weak voice.

“I want to come too.”

He stared at her for a few seconds, then silently supported her instead of answering.

***

Aksion and his subordinates examined the remains of the Lizard Man with serious expressions.

‘What’s going on?’

While Evelyn observed him carefully, Aksion chanted a short spell.

A pale moonlight illuminated the monster’s corpse, and soon a mark appeared on its forehead.

A black rose emblem wrapped in a Möbius strip.

Though it was a symbol she had never seen before, Aksion’s expression instantly darkened.

“Aksion, what’s wrong?”

When Evelyn asked, he instead questioned her.

“How did you end up in this forest?”

At that, Evelyn bit the inside of her cheek.

There was a specific reason she had entered the forest.

Sensing the seriousness of the situation, she calmly explained.

“A young lady lost her necklace, so I came to help find it.”

“Where is that young lady now?”

Though his voice was gentle, his expression was cold.

Meeting his emotionless gaze, Evelyn looked flustered.

Come to think of it—

Where was Dahlia?