Damn, that seductive smile is nonsense.

I gasped for breath, looking at Cahilern’s back, which was leading the way. Whether he knew I was shooting daggers at him or not, Cahilern kept striding ahead.

“If I knew it would be like this, I wouldn’t have let you lift me except for when I offered earlier!”

Did things have to turn out like this?

With Cahilern provocatively smiling, saying it’s okay to expect, I was eagerly anticipating what kind of place it would be to make such a face.

When the rows of maple trees emitting the scent of autumn lined the path, I eagerly anticipated the destination at the end of the road. Finally, when the vast sea spread out before my eyes with sunlight sparkling on the surface, I found myself glued to the window without realizing it.

If Cahilern hadn’t pulled me back by grabbing my waist, I might have fallen out the window. Just then, as we arrived at the picturesque white palace on the outskirts of the beautiful harbor city, Cahilern went outside before I could finish unpacking. The place he took me to upon arrival was the beginning of a forest path with vivid greenery even in autumn.

Thinking it might be a casual stroll, I followed him lightly, but not long after, I regretted my decision and swallowed the bitter water of remorse.

Although it seemed like a flat plain at the beginning, the forest became increasingly winding, and suddenly, a steep uphill path appeared, followed by a downhill path like a cliff.

Every time that happened, Cahilern held my hand, pulled me, and helped me, but it was still unavoidable to exert effort.

As I breathed heavily, Cahilern extended his back and sat down.

“Hop on.”

It was fascinating that Cahilern’s breathing didn’t even waver with a sound. However, facing the uphill path right in front of me, I gave up on being lifted by him. Even if it was Cahilern, it seemed not easy for him to carry me up this steep slope.

Then, silently crossing the forest, I couldn’t endure any longer and asked.

“Where on earth are we going?”

Suppressing the desire to grab Cahilern’s collar and shake him, I restrained myself.

“How much more do we have to go?”

Cahilern, who didn’t seem bothered by any breath, looked around grandiosely.

“It seems like we’re almost there.”

Cahilern, who gave a simple answer, once again turned his back to me in front of my weary legs.

And once he suggested, there was no room for refusal. But after coming this far, it was impossible to be lifted now. Shaking my head to refuse, I narrowed my eyes as he insisted on being lifted again.

“Your face is pale, just let me lift you.”

And again, for a while. I was now in a mood to want to hit Cahilern’s back, who had said we were almost there. Unable to endure any longer and waiting for him to ask me once more to be lifted, I finally shouted.

“I can’t go any further. Lift me up!”

Turning around quickly after my words, Cahilern smirked provocatively and, as if saying he had waited, offered his back.

“Hold on tight.”
Embracing Cahilern’s broad back and wrapping my arms around his neck, I finally sighed.

Cahilern’s movements almost became like running. It seemed that he had been slowing down his pace to match my steps. It was amazing how he skillfully avoided branches and bushes in the blink of an eye.

Finally, Cahilern stopped walking in front of a large stone monument. Standing incongruously in the middle of a wide field covered with wildflowers, the monument was much taller than Cahilern, and it was filled with unreadable characters.

“Where is this?”

I felt relieved as I wondered why he was making me go through this hardship. We came all the way here just to see this one monument?

However, at that moment, Cahilern placed his hand on the monument. Surprisingly, as if he had dipped his hand into water, ripples spread, and Cahilern’s hand went inside the monument.

“What, what is this?”

Surprised, I looked at Cahilern with widened eyes, and he pulled my hand that he was holding.

Being pulled along, I entered the monument while embracing one of Cahilern’s arms. Beyond tightly closed eyes, the light brightened as if there was no gravity.

“You can open your eyes now.”

At Cahilern’s words, I cautiously opened my eyes and was shocked by the completely changed scenery. Although the place spread out in front of me was very similar to the forest I had just struggled through, it gave off a completely different feeling.

White trees, blue leaves, black flowers emitting a golden aura, green sky, and a yellow pond. Small tree houses with red roofs were erected. At a glance, I could feel that this was another world.

“What is this place? Where are we?”

Perplexed, I asked, and Cahilern, casually looking around, answered.

“Fairy Forest. I struggled to find it.”

Fairy Forest? While blinking my eyes to understand the situation, Cahilern, holding my hand tightly, strode through the forest. I felt small spherical objects floating in the air, and they seemed to pause and watch us.

‘Is this the Fairy Forest? Then are those spherical things fairies?’