“Oops.”

The magician, whose purple eyes always sparkled intelligently, sighed briefly.

Her name was probably Jade Broen. She was a magician with such great skill that Benson couldn’t even dream of being her pair. How powerful her magic was.

He had once heard someone say with jealousy, ‘Jade Broen’s only weapon is fire,’ but Benson couldn’t understand why that was a problem at all.

Even if the wind didn’t whirl like blades, even if ice didn’t freeze and stab coldly, even if the warm energy of the earth couldn’t heal wounds, that magician just seemed perfect. A blinding strength even in darkness.

But was it because of that strength? She had just accidentally put too much power into her sword, causing the tip of the Commander’s bangs to crumble into ash.

The Commander, who always maintained an indifferent expression towards everyone, raised an eyebrow crookedly. It was a clear display of emotion. Of course, even while doing so, his sword was busily slicing through the monster’s hide.

“On purpose?”

The monster roared painfully and snapped its jaws fiercely, but the Commander who blocked it looked calm. The magician who was his pair was the same.

“As if I would… It was a mistake.”

“Making a mistake you’ve never made before, and on someone else’s hair at that.”

“I’m actually quite prone to mistakes.”

“Even a dog would laugh at that.”

Benson felt curious about the strange intimacy felt in their conversation.

Especially that magician, didn’t she usually speak formally to most people regardless of their position? What’s with that comfortable way of speaking?

The Commander’s white sword leapt into the air once again. At the same time, flames intensified with wind struck the large monster’s side roughly.

When the monster instinctively shrank to one side, the sword deeply penetrated between the scales on the opposite side. Along with it, the sound of flesh bursting could be heard from inside.

The monster howled and completely pulled its body out of the cave, swiftly swinging its tail. The sound of wind was like the cracking of a whip. That’s how incredibly fast it was.

But when the magician shouted something, the tip of that tail twisted strangely. It seemed she had momentarily stopped the flow of air.

Taking advantage of that opening, the knight moved out of the tail’s swinging path with no wasted motion.

I see. So that’s what a pair is like.

Benson nodded without realizing it.

The magician created an opening for attack, and the knight didn’t miss that chance to deliver a proper blow.

It was the same when defending. They thought as one body and moved as one body. No eye contact or gestures were needed. They simply interpreted each other like a book they had read many times before.

Although Benson’s experience wasn’t that great, he could immediately tell that such perfectly coordinated movements were truly rare.

Because the eyes of other knights, magicians, and mercenaries were also fixed on the two of them.

“Could I ever have a pair like that?”

When a young knight with only downy cheeks murmured as if entranced, the knight busily wielding a sword next to him clicked his tongue.

“Why would a magician, already few in number, pair with you who has nothing? You’d need to have skills like Sir Leon to have a magician pair without any background. Stop thinking useless thoughts and focus.”

Even though it wasn’t directed at him, Benson felt deflated for no reason.

But seeing those two, anyone would harbor such hope. That maybe someday I too could have a pair like that. No, that I wish I could have one.

He had caught his breath enough. Benson rubbed the bridge of his nose with the back of his hand and began slashing at the small monsters that were unnecessarily blocking that pair.

But was it because he had seen such a powerful knight? He kept repeating the Commander, Sir Leon’s movements in his head.

Small ones could be finished with just one downward slash, and blocking movements were simple and without waste.

He didn’t just use a longsword but also used the scabbard, and occasionally used another medium sword tied diagonally. How did he use both his left and right hands so appropriately?

Benson cut down monsters while imitating those movements as if practicing. Compared to the Commander, what he was dealing with seemed like mere crumbs, so it felt alright.

But there was something he had forgotten. They were actually in the middle of battle, and this was a monster habitat where one could lose their life.

Compared to Axel, Benson lacked arm strength. So even if he swung down with the same force, the degree of damage was different.

Axel could take the lives of small monsters in one breath with just that simple movement, but Benson only managed to wound them and make them collapse.

However, the young knight who was still immature and lacking in experience didn’t notice this. He was just happy that the movements he imitated by merely observing were somewhat similar.

“Good!”

It was also nice to be able to retrieve his arm cleanly, better than expected.

I should at least gain something like this. Benson thought as he chuckled inwardly.

It was extremely busy. The knights had no time to breathe as they knocked back charging monsters with their shields. The mercenaries helped the knights by firing arrows and throwing spears. The guild’s magician was busy deploying defensive magic. The soldiers frantically stabbed at the very weak ones with spears.

So they didn’t see the monster rising unsteadily behind Benson, bleeding. Nor did they see its long fingers with claws as sharp as daggers at the tips.

Only Axel, who had a momentary gap thanks to Jade’s help, noticed the situation.

The distance to Benson was more than dozens of steps. There wasn’t even time to request help from his pair magician. Jade was burning surrounding monsters with another spell….

A white light that burned through darkness split the space.

That light destroyed everything in its direct path as it grazed by.

The monster that was raising its claws behind Benson’s neck was literally cut in half. Even the dry tree on the side was cleanly cut, dropping branches in a shower.

Benson, who had been completely defenseless with his back exposed, jumped in surprise.

No, everyone who saw that light did. Jade even forgot about her surroundings and traced the path of that light with her eyes.

Damn it, what the hell was that? No matter how many times I see it, I just can’t… There was no spell. That wasn’t magic. But as powerful as magic….

“Wake up. Focus!”

Axel growled as he shouted. In the meantime, he was cutting off the tail of a monster that had penetrated the gap.

“Jade!”

Jade also snapped back to her senses and started chanting spells again.

The body of the huge monster now had no intact parts left. If they inflicted just a little more damage, a gap would be completely revealed to enter the soft flesh inside.

Then it would be over. They could end it without anyone getting hurt.

But that light kept coming to mind. For the third time already. That powerful beauty.

What on earth was that?

Although her mouth chanting spells had no time to rest, her head kept filling with distracting thoughts.

Axel, what kind of power are you hiding?

Dawn was breaking over the horizon. Jade blinked her hazy eyes. Everything looked blurry due to excessive fatigue.

But one thing was certain, there were no more monsters left in the cave.

Corpses of monsters formed concentric circles around people who were sprawled out lying down or sitting, exhausted. The largest monster had its neck half-severed and was crumbling like grains of soil.

She thought with a dazed mind. Last time it turned into water, this time it’s turning into soil.

Then a large hand came and covered her eyes. Too weak to remove it, she just leaned in, and a coolness enveloped the skin that held heat. Soon, a low voice was heard like a lullaby.

“Jade.”

“Yeah…”

“You worked hard.”

“You too.”

Something touched the back of her head with a thud. Probably Axel’s body. Considering the height difference, it would be around his chest. A languid yawn escaped.

“Just sleep.”

“Then how will we get back?”

Axel replied as if it were obvious.

“I’ll carry you on my back, of course.”

“Are you crazy?”

“Even if it’s a temporary pair, a pair is a pair. No one will think it strange if I take you back half-unconscious. To be honest, it’s surprising you haven’t passed out already.”

Her heated mind was perfectly persuaded by his words.

Yeah, well. What’s the problem? None at all. I’m on the verge of passing out right now. Monsters must have poured out the most through this passage. And there were only two magicians here during all that!

Her wobbling legs gradually began to lose strength.

But there was no need to worry. A thick arm gently tightened around her waist for support. As she leaned in completely, a low laughter transmitted as vibrations through his body.

There was a sound of something being torn, and then it felt like entering a blanket. It must have been his cloak. A deep red color like wine. A precious hue bestowed by the king to the Commander.

“I’m… dirty right now…”

Too much blood on me….

Jade couldn’t even be sure if she was uttering words properly. Sounds spilled out intermittently between her cracked lips.

“It’s fine.”

Soon he supported under her thighs and lifted her up. Jade rested her forehead on his nape, taking a perfectly comfortable position. A quick pulse could be felt throbbing beneath his skin.

“Sleepy…”

“Close your eyes and rest. It’s okay.”

“If that’s your wish, I guess I have no choice…”

Even without seeing, she knew the expression he would be wearing. The angle of his slightly crooked mouth. But surely containing a smile.

Jade exhaled a soft breath contentedly. The breath scattered at the man’s nape. A somewhat suppressed sound came from above.

“Sir Leon.”

“Don’t.”

“Then Axel.”

“What.”

“I’m granting your wish right now, aren’t I?”

“Well, thank you for that.”

“So you should grant my wish too.”

“What is it?”

Jade wrapped her arms around his neck like a child and straightened her waist. She whispered into his ear so that no one else could hear.

“Tell me what that light was.”

“……”

“I’m going to sleep now because I’m in a hurry, but you have to tell me first thing.”

“……”

“It’s a promise. Got it?”

A large hand pressed down on the back of her head. The moment her nose was buried in his nape, Jade tumbled into a deep sleep.