“I’m serious too. More than ever.”

His ashy eyes still held a sensual heat.

“I want to talk about the relic.”

The moment Rishi brought up the topic, the heat that dominated his eyes disappeared. He narrowed his eyes slightly in embarrassment.

“Do we have to talk about that now?”

“If we had talked sooner, there wouldn’t be a need to talk now, Kei. But you’ve been avoiding it all along.”

“I haven’t been avoiding it. I’ve been busy with various things. Incredibly busy.”
“Oh, so you covered your eyes and nose and slept here with the unicorns?”

“…Yes. Sleeping with the unicorns is a very important matter.”

“Do you know what I want to say?”

Kei turned his gaze away.

“I don’t know.”

“It’s hard to understand. I’m not trying to tell you something bad, so why are you avoiding it? Shouldn’t you rather welcome it with open arms?”

“If you’re talking about kissing you…”

Rishi turned away again as Kei stretched out his arms.

“I can handle the relic, Kei. I am a relic mage, remember?”

As Rishi stubbornly spoke, Kei seemed to give up on turning the conversation any further and nodded.

“Yes. A person who can handle relics is called a relic mage.”

“In history books, there were many relic mages a long time ago. Nationally certified relic mages.”

“That’s right. But now, there aren’t any. Well, there might be a few, but there’s no one revealing themselves and actively working.”

As magic disappeared, relic mages were also disappearing. As the name of science began to fly, phenomena that couldn’t be explained scientifically were gradually losing their power.

“I can be your strength.”

“Even now, you are my strength, Rishi. Just having you by my side…”

Rishi shook his head.

“No, Kei. Don’t think of me as a decorative item to admire by your side.”

“I’ve never thought of you that way.”

“Include me in your plans.”

“My plan is to live happily with you for the rest of my life. Of course, I have to include you.”

Rishi narrowed his eyes and glared at Kei.

“Stop beating around the bush, Kei. I know you are making many plans for the werewolves.”

Kei had gathered information about the werewolves secretly. Whenever he heard about werewolves, he rushed there himself, and if he heard about werewolves living as slaves somewhere, he made plans to rescue them.

Rishi knew that Kei’s big goal was to secure land where werewolves could live without worry.

And that land was the wasteland in the south of the continent, known as the Land of Beasts.

Also.

‘You won’t fail.’

In his past life, Kei failed to obtain that land.

A long time ago, the Land of Beasts, known as the last place where werewolves reached while fleeing from the extermination policy, was a place very dangerous for ordinary people to visit.

Kei spoke in a soft tone.

“You also have many plans. Among them, there might be something for me. That’s enough for me, Rishi.”

“I thought that was enough too. But now I know I can handle relics. This will be a great power for our plans. Take me wherever you go. Let me do what you want to do. I’ll help you.”

“That can’t happen, Rishi. It’s dangerous.”

“That I’m dangerous means it’s dangerous for you too.”
“I’m fine. I’m used to it. I have confidence I won’t die.”

“Me too.”

Kei nodded.

“No, you’re not. Have you ever been to a battlefield?”

Of course, he hadn’t.

But he had seen it.

Among the many images that flashed by after death, there were scenes of the battlefield.

People screaming with severed arms and legs, young children searching for their mothers, people crying while holding their children’s corpses.

Those tragic scenes vividly came to mind.

“It’s much more dangerous than you think. I don’t know what will happen, and I can’t protect you every moment.”

“I don’t intend to be protected by you, Kei.”

“Don’t say that, Rishi. If we go to such a place, I’ll naturally be worried only about you. That makes it dangerous for both you and me.”

“I’m a relic mage.”

Kei sighed and shook his head.

“Rishi, relic mages are not omnipotent. Relic mages die when they die. No, once people know you’re a relic mage, the enemies will try to kill you first.”

“Just don’t get caught. Use it secretly from a distance. And… the relics you haven’t reported to the Holy Kingdom. If you figure out their uses and use them properly, this city will prosper even more. Every land you get your hands on will become more developed than other cities.”

“Stop thinking about using relics, Rishi. I won’t let you use relics.”

“Why not? If you have the power, it’s good to use it well, isn’t it?”

“I won’t let you use relics because I won’t let you.”

“Why? If I have the power, isn’t it good to use it well?”

“We don’t know much about the power needed to use relics, what happens when relics are used frequently. If there’s any problem with your body…”

“No problem will arise. Look at me now. I’m perfectly fine.”

“But you weren’t fine the moment you used it. You couldn’t wake up for several days.”

Rishi felt frustrated.

Why was he insisting so much?

Kei was choosing a difficult path.

A path that turned all the countries on the continent, including the Holy Kingdom, into enemies.

At such a time, even a small piece of power should be cherished.

However, the power Rishi had was not a small one.

The power to handle relics.

It would be a tremendous help on the path Kei was trying to take. Perhaps it would smooth out the difficult path and make it easy to walk. Yet Kei’s attitude, rejecting this good opportunity, was incomprehensible.

“Weren’t we married to use each other?”

So he said something that didn’t need to be said.

“Use me, Kei. Just like how I’m using you.”