As I glanced around at the gradually approaching presence, Ian disappeared without a sound.

He had suddenly appeared earlier, but where on earth did he hide now?

Thinking he might have climbed up a tree, I was about to lift my head slightly when I immediately drew my neck in.

“My lord, what on earth…”

It was now a very familiar voice to my ears. Turning my head towards where the voice came from, I saw Renart standing there.

“Vice Captain.”

“This is a werebear carcass, isn’t it? Don’t tell me you defeated this werebear alone?”

My thought process stuttered at the unexpected question. I had forgotten that the werebear carcass Ian had defeated was right in front of me.

Should I say that I defeated this?

“Ah, yes. Somehow…”

Renart placed his hand on his forehead and let out a long sigh.

“Why do you volunteer for such reckless acts?”

I was about to retort but then closed my mouth. There was no room for excuses. What I had done to meet Ian was even more reckless.

Not drawing my sword even when a monster appeared was beyond reckless; it was dangerous.

Why was I so desperately trying to meet Ian?

Even I couldn’t clearly understand the reason, but seeing Ian’s face made me realize.

That I just wanted to face you again.

‘I won’t run away anymore.’

As soon as I recalled those words, I felt the heaviness in one corner of my heart slowly dissipating. For now, that was enough.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m curious about who’s defeating monsters ahead of the subjugation team. Not just me, but everyone in the team will be curious. Rather than this, wouldn’t it be better to formally request the Captain to form a search party…”

“Some people might want to search even if it means giving up sleep like me. But there are surely knights who want to get proper rest when they’re not on night watch.”

“Can’t we just accept volunteers for the night search party?”

I firmly shook my head.

“If we form a separate night search party, those not in the search party will have to take night watch. Then the cycle for night watch will become shorter.”

I hadn’t intended to bring anyone else from the start, and knowing that the person with me in the ‘abandoned mountain’ was Ian, I had to avoid going out with others.

I should ask Ian first. Whether it’s okay to reveal himself to the subjugation team, or if he intends to keep his identity hidden until the end.

“So you’ll continue to go out alone?”

“Nothing has happened so far, and if only you could turn a blind eye, Vice Captain…”

As I glanced at Renart’s expression from the corner of my eye, I trailed off. Feeling embarrassed by my own words, I unconsciously rubbed the tip of my nose, and Renart sighed again.

“It’s dangerous, so don’t go out alone.”

“But forming a search party…”

“I’ll accompany you. It’s better than being alone, isn’t it?”

No, why is the conversation suddenly flowing that way?

I was supposed to meet Ian tomorrow night.

“Um, Vice Captain.”

“Yes, speak.”

“I don’t want to burden you as well. So I’ll try to restrain myself a bit from tomorrow.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

After answering briefly, I pointed towards the subjugation team’s camp. Realizing I meant to return, Renart tilted his head for a moment before turning around.

With a firm resolve to be more cautious not to get caught by Renart from tomorrow, I took a step.

*

“Vice Captain, the bushes over there seem to have been rustling for a while now.”

“Is that so? We should check it out.”

“I’ll follow you.”

Today was the day for the Guardian Knight Order to stand night watch. As I listened to their conversation, I looked outside the tent.

Renart, who seemed to have been patrolling mainly around my tent, was moving away in the opposite direction with two knights from the Guardian Knight Order.

Now was the opportunity. Taking advantage of the brief commotion among the knights remaining in the camp, I sneaked out of the camp.

‘I’ll wait near the camp tomorrow night.’

Recalling Ian’s words about waiting nearby, I lingered in a place a little distance from the camp.

It seems a bit later than yesterday, but he hasn’t gone already, has he?

“Klein?”

I called out in a very small voice, lest anyone hear. Then footsteps were heard from behind. When I turned around, I saw Ian standing under a large tree.

“Why do you have that expression?”

What expression do I have right now?

As I hurriedly touched my cheeks, a faint smile spread around Ian’s eyes. Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat and answered.

“I called out just in case, but I didn’t expect you to appear right away.”

“I was near you, senior.”

I quietly looked up at Ian, who had narrowed the distance in one breath. Today, his eyes were like a calm and cozy sea, not like the fierce waves of yesterday.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“As you can see, I’m fine.”

There was a lot I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak.

“It feels like it’s been a while since we talked like this. Although I did see you yesterday…”

“I want to apologize, albeit late.”

“For what?”

“The incident in the square.”

The incident in the square.

Strictly speaking, not much time had passed, but perhaps because we had left for the subjugation, it felt like a distant event.

“If it’s about that, I’ve already forgotten it, so you don’t need to feel sorry. Right now, I’m rather grateful to you…”

“To me?”

“You defeated monsters ahead of the subjugation team. And you specifically chose the difficult ones to deal with.”

“That’s…”

‘I… I’m no different from a monster. That’s why I can’t approach you, senior. Please don’t come any closer.’

I could guess that since the curse manifested, Ian had been reluctant to stand before anyone.

Yet, he still came all the way to the ‘abandoned mountain’ to defeat monsters.

“You were secretly worried because you were selected for the subjugation team but couldn’t come, right?”

“I…”

“If you’re okay with it, how about joining now? If everyone finds out that you’re the unidentified skilled person they consider a hero…”

“I didn’t come because I was worried about the subjugation team.”

“Then?”

Ian, who had taken a short breath, continued with a resolute face.

“I was simply worried about you, senior.”

Ian lowered his gaze to meet my eyes. It was just a common eye contact, but because of his direct gaze, my breathing kept going off track.

“You came because you were worried about me?”

“Your aura is still unstable, isn’t it?”

So, to sum up Ian’s words…

Did he try to prevent situations where I might have to use my aura?

He defeated all those monsters alone just for that reason?

“I also have something to tell you about that matter.”

“What do you have to tell me?”

“There’s someone around me who has been researching aura for a long time. I once asked that person about ways to stabilize aura.”

“There’s a way to stabilize aura?”

Ian, who nodded his head lightly, had a rather serious look in his eyes.

“It’s about accepting the stable aura of another Swordmaster.”

“That can stabilize an unstable aura?”

“It’s close to that researcher’s speculation, but it’s the only method we can try.”

“How do we do it?”

At my question, Ian’s Adam’s apple bulged and trembled. He seemed to hesitate for a moment before parting his lips.

“…It’s about transferring my aura to you through contact.”

“Contact?”

Ian answered while joining his palms together.

“They said it would be possible even with contact like this, where palms touch.”

“Then let’s try it.”

“If you feel any discomfort in your body, you must separate immediately.”

“Alright.”

I stretched out my palm in front of Ian. Then, Ian’s palm carefully touched mine.

At that moment when Ian gently closed his eyes, I saw a blue light flickering between our joined palms.

Ian’s aura was transmitted through our palms. Something warm flowed in and spread throughout my body.

Feeling this strange sensation, I briefly separated our palms, and Ian asked in an urgent voice.

“Are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

It didn’t feel like it was straining my body. I wasn’t sure if this method was effective, but it seemed like the rampaging aura had calmed down a bit.

“How’s your aura?”

“It seems a little more stable.”

“Really?”

I immediately drew my sword and manipulated the aura. As I lightly slashed the air, nausea suddenly surged. I quickly covered my mouth, but I didn’t vomit blood. Moreover, I didn’t feel dizzy.

“See? It seems to be working.”

“If this method really works, I should tell them to research it properly.”

“Can we try once more?”

“Of course.”

This time, Ian extended his palm towards me first. I pressed our palms together more deeply than before. Feeling that it wasn’t enough, I gently interlocked our fingers.

Ian seemed to flinch for a moment, but soon closed his eyes.

Ian’s aura, which had permeated my entire body, was gently blending inside me. I felt my lips loosening along with the languid relaxation sensation throughout my body.

“I think that’s enough.”

It seemed to have been transmitted much longer than before, so I slowly started to untangle our fingers. Just as I was about to separate our hands, suddenly, firm knuckles intertwined again.

As I unconsciously twitched my hand, an incredibly low voice settled.

“I don’t think it’s enough for me.”