His voice, trembling like a flickering candle, was restrained anxiety, to the point that it went unnoticed if it wasn’t me, familiar with Hadel. Like a trembling candle, Hadel’s voice conveyed restrained anxiety.

Probing that emotion like a needle, Hadel readily poured out his feelings when I touched it.

“I feel anxious as the capital gets closer.”

“I see.”

Because I felt the same, I could fully empathize.

‘I did well to be prepared.’

I wondered if I weakened Espen to get ahead for no reason, but seeing Hadel made me think I did the right thing. I got up from the bed.

“Just a moment, Hadel.”
There was no need to break away from his embrace; I had been carrying it with me all along. What I took out of my embrace was a bracelet made of leather straps entwined with a round stone.

“See this?”

“A bead?”

As Hadel said, the stone had a translucent pinkish hue, making it look like a glass bead. I extended it towards Hadel.

“Blow your breath here.”

Hadel obediently blew his breath. The stone resonated, emitting a red light, then returned to its original translucent state.

I explained as I tied it around Hadel’s wrist, “It’s a magical tool that allows you to come to where I am just once. Originally, it should be permanent, but I’m not skilled like Yulnysia, so I can only make disposable ones.”

Like the Hinanri Tan, it was a magical tool created on the battlefield. We casually referred to it as an ’emergency escape,’ which was its intended purpose.

Although magical tools themselves had developed tremendously, Hadel continued to marvel at the bracelet, as if he had never seen this type of magical tool before.

“I can come to where you are?”

“Yes.”

“Anytime?”

“Well, since it’s a magical tool used on the battlefield, I’m not sure how far its range extends. But we won’t be too far away, will we?”

“I guess not.”

Hadel’s expression, carefully touching the bead, looked much more relaxed than before. I provided instructions.

“It’s only possible once. So, unless it’s very urgent, don’t use it. Understand?”

“Anyone can use it?”

“No, only you. I just inscribed it that way.”

I tapped my lips, indicating that the breath had been imprinted. I blushed slightly, feeling embarrassed.

“You’ve been putting enough mana into me lately, so I could make it. Still, it took a lot of effort to make one… Hadel, it’s heavy.”

The part about infusing mana was embarrassing. Well, in the end, it meant that the two of us were stuck close together!

Not knowing how to handle our intertwined bodies, Hadel hugged me tightly. His gesture of fully shifting his weight towards me felt like being pinned down by a giant leopard.

“Sorry.”

Hadel’s voice lowered. After briefly stroking his neck, Hadel spoke again.

“I’m sorry for making you anxious.”

At times like this, he truly seemed like a child. I patted Hadel’s head and replied, “You’ll have to repay me twice as much for a lifetime.”

“Haha.”

Hadel, who chuckled quietly, exerted strength in his arms to stand up and looked down at me. His lips, seemingly scary as our eyes met, began to suck on my lower lip as if trying to swallow my breath.

Softly entwining at first, his tongue soon wrapped around mine, pushing forward as if trying to swallow all of my breath.

I hugged Hadel, gasping for breath. The muscles from his firm chest to his back wriggling strangely subtly stimulated me.
I already know, don’t I? How flexible and forcefully he can overwhelm me.

“Oh, I should come to my senses.”

Certainly, it was Hadel who was riding on me, but I was the one who undressed.

“It’s not the time to scold Hadel.”

No, if I had to justify myself, I’m also in my prime and… Well…

Since I had already undressed, should I touch a bit more? Just when I was slyly moving my hand, Hadel suddenly embraced me tightly, and my fingers, which were moving indecently, ended up groping the air. Hadel confessed with a serious tone.

“Even though you say it with a smile, I always wonder what I can do for you. Whatever I give, it fades in front of you.”

Did I do something so remarkable? After all, I ended up facing Hadel because I didn’t want to eat bugs.

Still, it felt good to hear Hadel say that. I gently hugged his waist and replied.

“Treat me tenderly.”

Hadel’s earnest red eyes turned towards me.

“Always say I’m beautiful, say you love me.”

I smiled and kissed the tip of his chin.

“Stay by my side.”

Upon hearing my response, Hadel held his breath for a moment. Then, he kissed me again, answering.

“…Even if you push me away, I’ll stick to you.”

That’s fine with me.

That response was swallowed into my neck.