I could have entrusted the money to Orland and asked him to increase it, but it is always a good experience to manage your money personally.

So Orland, Varne and I chatted about various things before leaving the room.

There was still time until mealtime, but Askan’s rigid face from a while ago kept sticking in my mind like a thorn in my throat.

Remembering that he said he would check on the horse’s condition, I went to the stables, but Askan was nowhere to be seen.

‘Strange. Has he already gone to his room?’

While I was walking, puzzled, Selenje, a young noblewoman from the Regent Empire whom I had seen in the dining room a while ago, approached me with a cheerful face.

“Lady Brellop. It’s unexpected to meet you here.”

“Indeed, where are you going?”

“Yes. By the way, Lady Brellop, you have an incredibly handsome attendant.”

I immediately understood who she was referring to. The only attendant who came with me to the Academic Festival was Askan, and he was the only one who could receive such compliments for his appearance.

But why was she suddenly talking about Askan?

“Did your attendant do something seriously wrong? Please don’t scold him too harshly.”

“What do you mean?”

“Some young ladies were saying they saw him being dragged towards the warehouse, bleeding. He is quite conspicuous because of his appearance……”

“Tell me precisely. Where did they see this?”

I could sense something was not right from Selenje’s words.

Realizing my face had turned serious, Selenje pointed towards the Academic Festival warehouse where luggage was stacked with a bewildered expression.

“I only heard it, but they said they saw it there……”

Without waiting for Selenje’s words to finish, I ran towards the place she pointed.

It was ominous. At first, I only thought Askan’s condition was strange, but I did not expect this unexpected event to occur.

I didn’t know who orchestrated this or what was happening, but one thing was clear.

‘Right now, the only person who can save Askan is me.’

I was fortunate enough to find Askan in the place I had run to, panting heavily.

The problem was that Askan was not alone. I could see Leiana, Shasha, Ryuren, and Kayuna standing next to him.

Seeing Leiana there, I immediately realized it was her doing.

‘I clearly warned her I would not let this go twice…!’

Feeling the surge of anger, I walked towards them.

Whoooosh─

I could see the energy of the wind gathering in Leiana’s hand.

Seeing this, a dreadful thought brushed my mind.

In an empty space, if she used her power, there was only one target.

‘Askan…!’

I quickened my pace, which had slowed when I found him. There was no time to even think.

Leiana was trying to attack Askan with her power.

Only that thought filled my head.

Just then, Leiana’s wind strike was about to hit Askan.

“Stop, halt!”

Yelling, I instinctively wrapped my arms around Askan’s body.

It was a reflexive action. It might have been driven by a sense of responsibility, knowing I was the only one who could save Askan now.

“Ugh!”

The energy of the wind Leiana released lashed my body.

I felt pain as if I had been scraped by a knife on my arms, legs, and shoulders.

For a moment, a tremendous pain crumpled my body. Blood scattered in every direction, and immediately I felt it flowing down my body.

In that instant, my eyes met Askan’s, who was looking at me from the void.

His golden eyes widened upon seeing my form. And soon, an indescribable anger fell drop by drop from his slim pupils.

“…As…kan.”

It was the moment I called him faintly.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Fire rose in the void. Quite literally, four flames began to burn in the air where there was nothing, like willo’thewisps.

It was the moment I witnessed Askan’s ability, which I had only seen in the novel “The Beloved Saint”, for the first time.