In truth, it was a foolish question that didn’t need to be asked out loud.

What would I do if Cedar said he didn’t like it? It’s not like I’d meekly back down with an “Oh, is that so?”

It was a question better left unasked, as I couldn’t do anything about an unwanted answer. Yet strangely, as I waited for a response, my heart began to beat faster and faster.

As if I was afraid Cedar might say he didn’t like it.

‘My heart seems to have malfunctioned recently. It’s beating quite oddly.’

It stops when it should beat, and races at full speed when it shouldn’t.

Why is it pumping blood so vigorously now when we’re just sitting here talking?

But the more I was conscious of it, the faster my heart beat, and sweat gathered on my palms and forehead.

It was a clear sign of nervousness.

‘Why on earth am I…?’

As I was dazed, unable to understand my own physical reactions, Cedar parted his lips. In contrast to my tension, a light answer flowed out.

“I want to.”

His large hand cupped my cheek. His thumb, hard as a wooden block, pressed firmly against my lower lip.

Cedar’s silver-gray eyes glowed red from the bonfire. Like a blazing sun.

He continued, not taking his eyes off my lower lip.

“When you’re panting and clinging to me, I want to just devour you, regardless of boundaries. I’m just holding back because I’m afraid of hurting you. You’re much weaker than me.”

“What? Do you eat people too?”

When this usually taciturn person suddenly poured out words, my nerves couldn’t keep up.

At my foolish question, Cedar chuckled and slowly removed his hand.

The tension that had been taut between us was cut off as if it were a lie.

He ruffled my hair as if dealing with a child and twisted the corners of his eyes.

“That’s not what I meant… This is why they say people without self-awareness are scarier. Do you even know what intimate contact is?”

Unlike his light touch, his palm against my skin was warm as if feverish.

The corners of his eyes, looking at me with a bitter smile, were also faintly red. It was as if the desire he was suppressing was dripping out.

‘No, why are you holding back! I said it’s okay.’

It was like a fish saying, “I have too many bones, you should study more about how to eat fish,” when I reached out saying, “You’re a tasty fish, aren’t you? I want to eat you.”

Quietly accepting his touch, I pouted and started to speak.

He keeps treating me like a child, but I know everything I need to know!

“I think I’m quite well-versed in theory. You know, when a man and a woman…”

I was about to elaborate on the methods of male-female relationships I had read in books, but I stopped abruptly.

Cedar was right. Our skinship wasn’t just about emotional factors.

We had to consider if it was physically possible.

As my gaze lowered, Cedar’s face turned bright red, and the blanket he was holding covered my head.

Suddenly turned into a child playing ghost pranks, I flailed my arms and removed the blanket.

With messy hair, I poked my head out from under the blanket, only to find Cedar busily drawing a line between us with a piece of charcoal.

“What are you doing? Why are you suddenly drawing a line?”

“I just realized you’re a dangerous beast. This much distance between us is appropriate. No crossing over.”

“What? That’s too much!”

How are we supposed to kiss with this line drawn! At my protest, Cedar, his face red as a tomato, burst out.

“You’re the one who’s too much!”

“Heeeng.”

I thought it would just end in a war of words, but Cedar really laid out his blanket this far from the line and lay down.

I tried to feign being cold to sneakily cross the line, but Cedar gave me all of his blankets too, so I canceled that plan.

As I lay down to sleep, I could hear the peaceful crackling of the burning firewood.

Lying straight with my hands on my chest, I sighed and muttered.

“It’s a shame. It would be nice if you felt similar sensations to me.”

If he felt the same as me, Cedar wouldn’t just pull away, he’d respond actively. It was just disappointing.

‘Tomorrow, I’ll have to try to seduce him more naturally.’

Since Cedar seems to be shy, I should try to tempt him indirectly instead of using direct words.

As I was making plans, my body felt heavy like a water-soaked cotton, and sleep washed over me. I closed my drowsy eyes.

Just before jumping into the valley of sleep, Cedar’s voice came like a lullaby.

“…I like it very much too.”

It was a peaceful night.

After spending a day in the hut, thanks to Cedar who was getting familiar with the geography here, we were able to sleep in proper inns in the villages every night.

But he didn’t stop drawing lines on the floor.

“Don’t cross over here.”

“…There are two beds, do we really need to draw another line?”

“Let’s call it a psychological barrier.”

“It’s physically visible to my eyes, what psychological nonsense are you talking about?”

“It’s just like that anyway.”

Cedar was getting used to nitpicking, and became skilled at insisting.

When I argued what’s the point of drawing lines like this when we’re supposed to get closer by traveling together, he shrugged and answered.

“Instead, let’s talk to each other. Childhood stories are good, or about magic…”

So I told Cedar about the first time I rode a horse, and when I imbued my aura into a sword, and Cedar told me about the poor conditions at the Academy and how strange the professors were.

“Oh right, we should buy gifts. The professors suddenly become affectionate when they eat sweets.”

“Are they animals?”

“Humans are animals in a broad sense, right?”

Exchanging such conversations, we arrived at the Academy after several days, and it was surprisingly no different from when we left.

The zombie-like magic students walking around were too preoccupied with their own problems to look around.

So they didn’t even recognize me and Cedar who had come to the Academy.

It’s just that Grisha and I graduated unusually quickly, and even seniors who entered the Academy before me still haven’t received their magician certification, so I didn’t bother to make myself known.

Even if I called out, I’d just hear crying.

But I couldn’t hide my visit for the sake of inheritance.

When I arrived at the magic department building, I quietly said I wanted to see only the dean, but all the professors came rushing out, so I failed.

“Great Magician Periway!”

“It’s been 3 years! Have you gotten shorter?”

“Welcome!”

What’s with getting shorter.

It wasn’t the first time I heard such nonsensical greetings from the professors, so instead of being surprised, I held out the gifts I had bought in advance.

They were delighted, saying they would enjoy them while researching.

My advisor stroked his beard and laughed loudly.

“I heard you fell into a comatose state due to mana depletion, but it seems it was like a chrysalis state to reach a higher realm!”

“A higher realm?”

“How on earth did you hide so much mana? I can’t feel even a speck of mana from you now.”

“Haha…”

It’s not that I hid it, it’s that it disappeared.

But I kept my mouth shut because it would be troublesome if they tried to take back my Great Magician title after telling the truth.

The professor, who had been interpreting my condition in his own way and lavishing praise on me, turned his gaze to Cedar standing blankly beside me.

“In contrast, this person…”

Cedar frowned and replied in a blunt voice.

“What?”

“Ah, nothing.”

It’s surprising enough that Cedar’s short words were so rude, but what’s funnier is that upon hearing those words, the professor put his hands together politely and lowered his eyes.

I opened my mouth in disbelief.

‘No, professor, why are you suddenly shrinking?’

He was so confident when bullying me, why is he becoming so small in front of Cedar?

As if he couldn’t see this professor shrinking, another professor tactlessly clung to Cedar.

“Excuse me, it seems your mana quantity is quite substantial, may I analyze your mana?”

It was like ants gathering around honey. Of course, Cedar’s mana was very attractive.

It was my first time seeing someone emitting mana strong enough to distort the surroundings.

‘That’s why I was worried about bringing Cedar to the Academy.’

But in the end, that worry was unnecessary. Just as he had dismissed the first professor with one word, Cedar firmly rejected this professor too.

“No.”

“…I see.”

Then that professor became docile too.

I thought he would throw a tantrum and cling, but no. It was very impressive to see him unable to even raise his voice.

‘These people are weak against the physical. I don’t need to worry about them trying to capture and dissect Cedar.’

This is the power of muscles. For the first time, I thought that physical training might not be all bad. But I still won’t exercise.

However, although they couldn’t openly speak to Cedar, their eyes sparkled with curiosity like children who had found a new toy.

Unable to approach Cedar out of fear, they poked my innocent side and asked.

“But who is that person? Seeing that you came together, he doesn’t seem to be an ordinary person… Ack!”

Cedar slapped away the hand poking my side as if shooing away a fly.

The professor grabbed his hand and screamed. Cedar frowned and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him.

I looked up at Cedar with flushed cheeks.

While I wanted to cling to him because his kisses were ecstatic, now admiration bloomed at his current appearance.

‘Wow, amazing.’

To scold the professors so unhesitatingly like this. This kind of exhilaration is a first.

Cedar, meeting my eyes, lightly pulled up the corners of his mouth to smile.

It was completely different from his unpleasant expression when looking at the professors.

It was as if he was saying I alone was special.

‘Cedar, I like you.’

My heart tickled. Joy slowly spread throughout my body like soaking in warm water.

I introduced Cedar to the professors with a bright smile.

“This is my husband.”