Chapter 104

I regained consciousness after ten days, and my condition was worse than I expected.

When I first regained consciousness, the wound on my left shoulder had been throbbing quite badly, but after two days, it had healed completely, so I thought there would be no problem if I were deployed in actual combat. However, when the pain in my shoulder disappeared and I prepared to be deployed, I realized there was one problem that prevented me from being sent on such an important mission as the extermination of the barbarian tribes. Instead, I ended up just standing around the fortress like a lifeless dummy.

As you can see from the recovery of my wounds, the issue was not on the outside of my body, but inside.

What kind of problem, you ask?

It was the inability to refine the hostility that makes a superhuman a true superhuman. More precisely, while I could easily gather mana floating in the air with a single breath, the mana gathered in my lungs and heart wouldn’t refine into hostility at all, causing a serious issue.

Even though the breathing technique I had mastered through short training should have allowed me to refine the hostility that was the source of my superhuman strength in countless battlefields, its failure was a significant problem. Despite this, I couldn’t come up with any solutions.

Why couldn’t it be done? Did Dominus do something when he stabbed my shoulder and kicked me with hostility-infused feet? Or did his injury disrupt the foundation of the breathing technique I had built up over time, preventing me from refining hostility?

Amidst the busy movements of Asulin, who was desperately trying to help me in a crucial situation, I felt helpless. Yet, even as I tried to calmly think about the cause and find a solution, my anxiety rose.

“Don’t push yourself too hard,” Asulin’s gentle voice whispered soothingly from behind, enveloping me in her embrace.

“Asulin…”

Feeling embarrassed that I hadn’t noticed her approach, I turned my head slowly and called out to her.

Despite the fierce battle against the barbarians today, Asulin looked immaculate.

“You don’t need to worry about me. I can handle this myself.”

Her delicate appearance, showing care in every word she spoke, made it clear that she didn’t want to burden me. But I knew better. She was exhausted, despite her efforts to hide it.

I knew she had been leading the Bright Wing Knights outside the fortress earlier, engaging in small skirmishes with the barbarians. No matter how much of a superhuman she was, she couldn’t escape fatigue after days of battling these relentless foes.

These weren’t ordinary enemies. They were like cockroaches, constantly coming back no matter how many times they were crushed. They were warriors who would spare no one, including their own tribe members, to achieve their goals without fear.

The Black Wing Knights of Failord County might be used to such battles, but unlike the fleeing demons, the barbarians showed a stubbornness that required a different kind of resilience.

And Asulin, as the highest commander here, couldn’t possibly remain unaffected by the fatigue of this battlefield.

She had straightened herself as much as possible before approaching me, so it wasn’t obvious, but her smile and slightly trembling eyes betrayed her accumulated fatigue.

How should I respond to Asulin, who was trying to comfort me despite her exhaustion?

While I had learned how to interact with her over time, this unexpected situation made me hesitate about what attitude to take. But my desire to support her dissolved any hesitation.

“…You look tired.”

Gently caressing her cheek, I said, “If I had been beside you, you wouldn’t be as tired.”

This was my way of expressing my regret for not being able to support her properly.

I expected her not to be pleased with my words, but instinct told me to be honest.

Sure enough, Arslin accepted my touch quietly, her eyes narrowing slightly in response to my apology.

She seemed surprised, almost as if she didn’t expect her fatigue to be so obvious.

“…Did you notice?”

Her cautious question made me realize that her reaction was more about being caught off guard than anything else.

Thinking about it, if I had been truly upset, my cheeks would have puffed up rather than my eyes widening.

Suddenly, I imagined Arslin puffing up her cheeks and giving me a slight pout, which softened the stern image of her I had formed as the Sword Demon.

But sometimes, seeing her pout and hearing her complaints made me tense up.

Now, Arslin’s presence had become a part of my daily life, and it was almost comforting.

“…Andy?”

Deciding to address her question first, I replied sincerely.

“I noticed right away that you were tired. You don’t need to hide it from me.”

As I gently stroked her head, I expressed my thoughts honestly.

I wasn’t sure why, but I felt this was the right thing to do.

“…Really?”

There was a hint of satisfaction in Arslin’s expression, whether because of the gentle touch or my straightforward words.

It was just a simple acknowledgment of her fatigue, yet it seemed to please her greatly.

Other people involved in the barbarian extermination, even Katarina, who always supported me, believed I wasn’t tired. It was surprising that I could notice her fatigue.

Arslin, revealing a blush, said this as she approached me again.

Hmm, how could I not notice her obvious signs of fatigue immediately?

Even knights, who must maintain their awareness in ever-changing battlefields, should have noticed their lord’s fatigue. This was concerning.

After this situation was resolved, I thought I should talk to Elshimer or Katarina about this as the duke’s spouse.

As I reflected on what needed to be done next, Arslin came close enough that our breaths mingled.

Seeing her green eyes sparkle intensely, I felt a sense of urgency to help her heal both physically and mentally.

There was no need to think too hard about it. It was something I had done before.

I smiled and teased her lightly, “My dear Duke, you’re acting like a child.”

Usually, Arslin would puff up her cheeks and pat my chest lightly with both hands, but instead, she said earnestly,

“Before you… I feel strangely compelled to act like one.”

Hearing her sincere words, I stopped teasing and gently stroked her forehead with my right hand.

There was no reason to joke anymore. My wife wasn’t upset by my teasing; she was being honest with her feelings.

“Haha…”

Arslin’s laughter, free of worry, filled the air. Seeing her like this, I understood why people say love grows on the battlefield. My heart warmed, and the desire to protect her grew stronger.

At that moment, I felt something change. The hostility that had failed to refine before now flowed smoothly through my body, bringing a sense of loyalty.

“Wow.”

I couldn’t believe it. Just when I was considering forcing myself to go into battle to regain my combat senses, the circulation of hostility had returned to normal.

The cold air in the heated room no longer felt chilly.

This was a sign that I was recovering, and perhaps, with practice, everything would improve.