A magical stone ring was just slipped onto my finger. It seems that my happiness at receiving an unexpected gift from Orland was noticeable.

“Uh, rather than liking the ring, I like the feeling of my father’s mind thinking about me. I felt loved.”

It was a sense of satisfaction that I did not feel in my previous life.

It felt like the hole in my heart, which had never been filled no matter how much I tried, was being filled.

Was I thirsty for affection without knowing it?

Suddenly, I had such a thought, but Askan in front of my eyes came to mind.

Askan was a little like the old me. Should I call him a loner who has no one to hold his hand even if he reaches out?

I was different in the past.

I used to go to bed alone every night, and I woke up alone. Living itself was so fierce that I had no leisure to socialize with people.

Because I had been alone since I left the orphanage, when I dragged my tired body home, the cold air without human warmth greeted me.

I suddenly remembered the loneliness of being completely empty at that time.

I wonder if Askan will feel that way if I’m not there?

He had a tougher childhood than I did. Because I read in a novel about how horrific his life in the laboratory was, I knew well.

Suddenly, I wanted to make Askan feel something good as much as the sense of fulfillment I just felt.

“Do you want anything?”

At my sudden question, Askan looked at me with a curious look.

I had no excuse to beat around the bush, so I used the ring a little while ago as an excuse.

“I feel good because I received a gift. I want to buy you something if you want it too.”

I thought he would like it, but Askan had an indifferent face. Instead, he quietly stared at the ring on my finger.

“Do you really have nothing you want?”

“Really, there’s nothing? Think carefully, there must be at least one thing.”

Even to my words, Askan’s gaze was only toward the ring.

What? Does he want a magical stone ring?

If Askan wanted, I could make a weapon with a newly developed magical stone.

It seemed good to develop one just for Askan, not the existing weapon.

Without knowing it, I was looking at him with an expectant look, but for some reason, Askan smiled bitterly while looking at my face.

“Don’t abuse such words. A greedy someone might want to exploit your kindness.”

It was an unexpected answer.

I only said this to Askan. Sayings like I will give anything as a gift or I want to buy you something.

Then, does he feel greedy?

But I was stuck there. I originally said that I would give anything, but I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t say it.

“What’s so difficult about it? Just say if you want something.”

It was like solving a puzzle.

For some reason, Askan’s lips loosened at my words.

“Will you really give me anything?”

“That’s what I said.”

Askan hesitated and spread his palm without saying a word. Then, as if by magic, flames flickered on it.

Currently, he could summon 4 flames. Thanks to special training over time, he has been able to handle one of the flames without it going wild.

“When I can use all the flames freely, then I will receive the reward you said you would give. Can I say something separate from that?”

“Of course. What are you going to ask for? I need to prepare in advance.”

“You don’t need to prepare.”

“Is there such a thing?”

It was the moment when I looked at Askan with a curious look.

Suddenly, the carriage shook as it passed a rough road.

“Oh, oh.”

Askan caught me firmly as my upper body tilted. And I felt his face coming closer and closer to me.

Whawhat?

I was surprised in another way, and I had to widen my eyes.

Suddenly, we were close enough for our noses to touch. Askan, who stopped right in front of me, looked at me with a deep gaze and asked.

“May I kiss you?”

My head was in a state of panic.

What now, what was I supposed to do?

“Sle…”

However, I couldn’t complete the word “sleep”.

With another jolt from the carriage, my lips unintentionally met Askan’s.

The first thing Decain did when he returned to the top of Ighteon was to investigate the volcanic stone he received from Tanashia.

But he had no clue how the magic was imbued into the stone.

He gathered all the experts he could find from the top of Ighteon and those he could personally enlist, but they all shook their heads.

Then Decain realized.

‘No one else can create a new magic stone except Tanashia.’

He had no choice but to get Tanashia to reveal how she made it.

‘How can I persuade her when she’s unlikely to tell?’

The deal was already done. Because of the conditions Tanashia proposed when making the agreement, the top of Ighteon could not make any demands.

It was a headache.

He was pondering what to do when he was called by his adoptive father, the ruler of Ighteon, Louisbane.

Even though it was quite late, he went straight to Louisbane’s office, wondering why he was called since it was rare without a special reason.

Knock, knock, Louisbane’s voice came from inside the room.

“Come in.”

Upon receiving permission, Decain entered the office.