The city of pleasure no longer overflowed with joy and happiness.
The number of people who had perished was incalculable, and countless individuals had lost their families, friends, and lovers. Aslan was aware of this fact.
The city was practically dead.
The stench of death and blood was thick in the air, and the collapsed buildings housed those who were either no longer human or had transformed into forms worse than humans.
How many had died? Aslan thought about it, closing and then reopening his eyes.
Half the city, perhaps more, was dead. Aslan sighed after biting his lips as a calm yet heavy realization sank into his heart.
It was confusing.
It wasn’t just because of the cityscape.
Aslan couldn’t understand what kind of being the Dark Ram Herd was or what he had seen in the Dark Ram Herd that caused Thor Mull to die so meaninglessly.
This confusion enveloped Aslan.
Even after twelve years of struggle and battling to return home, Aslan still felt as if he were standing alone in the dark.
A being powerful enough to decimate half the city, one with the strength to effortlessly crush another—what exactly did the Dark Ram Herd want from him, and what was its true nature?
Aslan could not figure out anything.
Yet, what troubled Aslan’s mood the most was the sight of the city.
Even amidst rising confusion and ignorance, Aslan couldn’t ignore the landscape before him and thus grimaced with a lingering sense of guilt.
Of course, none of this was Aslan’s fault. Regardless of what the Dark Ram wanted, Thor Mull had acted against its will.
Even if Aslan hadn’t been there, the same events would have unfolded. There was nothing Aslan could have done. Neither Tiamat nor Phey, both among the most perceptive of his companions, had noticed anything beforehand, so there was no way to prevent it. The city’s fate had already been decided long before Aslan met Lumel.
Still…
Aslan regretted that if he had been stronger, things might have turned out differently.
Perhaps, if he had merely walked the streets instead of entering the prison, he could have realized the situation before it escalated so severely.
Maybe he could have led Thor Mull outside the city to minimize the damage.
Meaningless regrets swirled chaotically in Aslan’s mind, and he tried to hide his melancholy expression while seated.
If only he had noticed the problems in the city sooner.
If only he had quickly grasped the full story and taken action.
If only he had possessed overwhelming power to stop Thor Mull before he consumed the city.
If only he knew a way to bring back those Thor Mull devoured.
Had any of these happened, such a great loss of life could have been avoided.
Regret has no meaning. Aslan knew this well. But he couldn’t stop himself from regretting—it was his habit.
While harboring regrets, Aslan sighed, letting them go along with his breath.
Again, regret held no meaning. It was merely a glance at one’s feet before moving forward. A person who only regrets cannot move forward; they cannot grow. Regret itself is not a driving force for growth. If one only looks down without watching ahead, they are bound to stumble again.
So Aslan resigned himself. Resignation was a way of living he had learned after ceasing to be Lee Hyun-woo.
And this resignation was strikingly clear to anyone who saw it. Even the guards, who might have harbored faint resentment, had no choice but to close their mouths upon seeing Aslan’s appearance.
Aslan, with a melancholic gaze, looked up at the clouds near the rising sun tinged with sorrow. Observing this, the guards each fell into their own thoughts.
Lumel was one of them.
Unlike the comrades Aslan had sent off for various purposes, she was resting due to extreme fatigue.
In her view, though the city’s situation was bleak, it wasn’t the worst. She had intended to express relief.
She had planned to say that they ultimately defended the city and won the battle.
But she couldn’t. The atmosphere emanating from Aslan, which she observed, wouldn’t allow it.
The sorrowful look and subtle hint of regret that he tried to conceal. The bitterness as he attempted to rise despite everything.
Sensing this, Lumel instinctively understood that there was no room for relief in Aslan’s heart.
With her hands clasped together and fingers intertwined, she pondered.
Should she console him? Or empathize? Or perhaps offer an excuse?
Would consoling even make a difference? To Lumel, Aslan seemed like a man who had endured countless wounds.
Just by the atmosphere he exuded now and the image she had seen when he was trapped in the tomb, it was clear enough.
How much would words mean to such a man?
Lumel didn’t know.
Would justifying his actions ease his burden?
Probably not.
Could she empathize with his predicament?
That too, she didn’t know.
Lumel didn’t know what to do. Meanwhile, the street narrowed, and she found herself almost within arm’s reach, deep in thought.
What happened in novels?
How did characters comfort their suffering lovers in fiction? Unconsciously reaching out, she fumbled through her small bag for a book and ended up dropping it.
“Ah!”
Embarrassed, she let out a dull sound, and Aslan turned his head to see the book falling to the ground.
The book hit the dirt, flipped open, and lay there. Lumel blushed slightly, perhaps out of embarrassment.
“Sorry… Sorry, Aslan sir…”
“No need.”
Lumel bent down to pick up the book, and Aslan, trying not to look at how her bosom shifted under gravity, smiled awkwardly as he picked it up first.
Handing it over, he forced a gentle smile.
“Here you go.”
“…Thank you.”
As she took the book, Lumel looked at Aslan’s face.
That warm smile—a kind smile meant to comfort others despite his own pain—made her speechless. She couldn’t imagine smiling during such anguish.
“Lady Lumel? Are you alright?”
After taking the book, the woman remained strangely silent, causing Aslan to blink in confusion.
“Do you have any injuries? Or… Ah.”
Aslan seemed to assume her silence was due to him and soon gave a bitter smile.
“I’m sorry. You must be tired. It was the last chance for revenge, and I inadvertently took it away from you.”
He gave a bitter smile and bowed his head, while Lumel, feeling uneasy, said something like “No, not at all,” and grabbed his cheek to lift his head.
Aslan reluctantly raised his head and met her eyes, and Lumel fell silent again.
Unaware of her silence, Aslan was about to ask again—whether she was really okay or if dust had gotten on the book—but before he could, she gently brushed her hand across his cheek.
“The one who should be asked if they’re alright… is you, Aslan sir. Are you truly alright?”
Her pleading expression confused Aslan.
Answering ‘yes’ came to mind, but the look in her eyes made him close his mouth.
Lying wasn’t Aslan’s forte.
By the various emotions in her unwavering gaze, Aslan realized that Lumel was the most sensitive among the group. It was natural, considering she had been a noblewoman, the daughter of a baron, and a young lady who loved adventure novels until recently.
Aslan hesitated, opening and closing his mouth, while the woman’s eyes trembled slightly.
Finally, as if setting down some heavy burden, Aslan sighed deeply and spoke.
“Yes, as you see, I’m not alright.”
“Then…”
“But… I must be alright.”
The woman frowned, and Aslan chuckled lightly, thinking she was overly sensitive. Lumel, however, pinched his cheek playfully.
“Because I am Aslan.”
As her head tilted curiously, Aslan gently removed her hand from his face.
“There are too many things in this world that only I can do. If I step back from what only I can do, no one else will be able to do it. That’s why I must be alright.”
The woman furrowed her brows and looked sad as he released her hand gently. Though reluctant to let go of Aslan’s hand, she eventually did.
She sensed Aslan’s stubbornness and resolve. Clichés didn’t suit Aslan, so she remained silent while he smiled faintly.
“Still, thank you for your concern.”
Tilting his head slightly, he expressed gratitude with that gentle expression. Lumel seemed satisfied that she had helped lighten his burden somewhat, and she smiled shyly, her face slightly flushed.
“If we were… lovers, this much would be necessary, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmm… Yes… What?”
Aslan stopped mid-sentence and stared, and Lumel, seeing his wide-eyed surprise, opened her own eyes wide. Her moist brown eyes sparkled as they locked onto Aslan’s.
‘Did I hear wrong?’
No, Aslan’s hearing was still fine. He realized he hadn’t misheard and stared intently at her. Sensing the question in his gaze, she responded.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
Aslan opened and closed his mouth several times, tilting his head slightly, and finally asked cautiously.
“Just now… What exactly did you say? I feel like I might have misheard…”
Realizing what she had said, Lumel blushed furiously.
Come to think of it, she hadn’t made a proper declaration of love. Caught off guard by this unexpected confirmation, she twisted uncomfortably, a mix of joy and embarrassment.
“Uh, I, really, do I have to say it again?”
Aslan confirmed his initial hearing was correct by her reaction, and she effectively blocked any denial.
“If we were… lovers… I believe this much would be necessary…”
Her face reddened, her eyes taking on a suggestive curve. Aslan closed his eyes tightly.
It was like a puzzle piece falling into place.
Aslan connected the dots: why she had acted toward Ereta the way she did, and the friendly responses she showed toward him.
What should he say? As he pondered, Lumel grew curious about the unusual vibe, just as distant footsteps approached.
“Aslan! We’re back…”
It was Aslan’s traveling party, mostly consisting of veterans.
Angie paused mid-sentence upon noticing the strange tension between Aslan and Lumel, while Ereta glared daggers at them as if trying to burn them alive with her eyes before stepping closer.
Ereta stopped in front of them, and Lumel, sensing the tension, closed her mouth and eyed her warily.
‘Why didn’t I notice this earlier?’
Aslan sighed inwardly, rubbing his forehead before Lumel could speak and interjected.
“Lady Lumel.”
“Yes, Aslan sir.”
Lumel replied with a friendly gaze, while Ereta scowled at Aslan. Attempting a smile, Aslan continued.
“Forgive me, but… I believe there’s been a misunderstanding. Just to confirm, I’d like to ask one thing.”
When Lumel tilted her head in confusion, Aslan hesitated, clearly uncomfortable asking.
“Um… When exactly did you start thinking of us as… lovers?”
At the implication in his words, Lumel stiffened and fell silent.
Lady Lumel.
She was the daughter of Baron Holren and a young lady who loved novels.
Whenever she heard rumors of affectionate love stories within the estate, she would pester her maidservants to tell her more and often wandered the garden imagining what kind of love her future self might experience.
Through this process, she nurtured her penchant for daydreaming.
All of this was something Lady Lumel herself was well aware of, having encountered difficulties due to her vivid imagination even before becoming a mercenary.
Thus, it was natural for Lady Lumel to blush furiously.
Her face turned bright red, almost as if it were about to burst, and both Ereta, who had been glaring harshly, and Aslan, who had appeared uncomfortable, relaxed in surprise.
Covering her face with her braided hair, Lady Lumel glanced downward with teary eyes.
These tears were not born of regret.
They stemmed from immense shame so overwhelming that it made her wish she could die.
“I’m sorry for misunderstanding…”
Speaking through clenched teeth, barely concealing her face behind her braid, Lady Lumel’s mortified expression was vividly exposed.
*
While the guards secured the remaining citizens, gathered people together, and sent requests for assistance to other cities under the Emperor’s direct jurisdiction, the group reconvened in the jail of the guardhouse.
It was one of the few intact buildings left.
There, the group placed Tiamat in a cell, and after she seemed to adapt, lying down naturally, Lady Lumel spoke up.
“I apologize… For getting involved in this situation, making assumptions, and hurting feelings…”
“No… Um, well, it’s not that I’m not upset… but it’s fine, so…”
In the very spot where they had previously faced off, determined to kill each other, Lady Lumel deeply bowed to Ereta in apology.
Though Ereta seemed somewhat reluctant, she appeared content knowing she had reclaimed Aslan’s exclusive attention.
“I have this tendency to fantasize… I’d like to fix it, but it’s not easy… Please, if I do this again, let me know.”
With the redness in her face significantly reduced, Lady Lumel continued solemnly. Ereta waved her hand dismissively, indicating it was fine, and Tiamat lazily wagged her tail from her side.
Angie still wore a bewildered expression, not fully understanding the situation, and Phey seemed largely indifferent.
Even Aslan maintained a soft smile, allowing Lady Lumel to finally lift her head.
To Ereta, Lady Lumel was simply an inexperienced and naive woman.
Seeing her bow deeply and earnestly apologize, Ereta felt pleased. It was a remnant of her sadistic tendencies from her time as a priestess.
“I’ll accept your apology. Let’s get along well from now on.”
“Thank you… Lady Ereta!”
Regardless of personal preferences, there was no reason not to accept someone who could contribute creatively to Aslan’s objectives. Thus, Ereta’s forgiveness flowed easily, and Lady Lumel straightened up, her eyes brimming with tears as she bowed repeatedly.
Watching Lady Lumel rub her eyes, Angie glanced at Ereta, who seemed pleased, and asked.
“Why go so far? Even if you two don’t get along, it doesn’t matter much…”
“To Aslan sir, who is my savior… I didn’t want to incur the dislike of Lady Ereta, who is so close to Aslan sir.”
Angie’s question revealed her ignorance, but Lady Lumel answered smoothly, giving a response that pleased Ereta.
Ereta’s eyes widened before she broke into a broad smile.
“Are we really that close? Do we look like that?”
Chuckling, Ereta moved closer to Aslan, attempting to embrace him, but Aslan gently patted her head and shook his head.
“Lady Lumel, there’s one more clarification to make… Lady Ereta and I aren’t in that kind of relationship. To me, everyone is a valuable comrade, and I have no intention of favoring any single comrade.”
“Aww, just accept it when it’s given!”
Ereta muttered petulantly, but Aslan’s gentle reaction seemed expected.
On the other hand, observing Aslan’s demeanor, Lady Lumel had an odd reaction.
Sensitive Lumel perceived the darkness in Aslan’s rejection of favoritism and drifted into her own reverie.
Perhaps he had once welcomed a wife and lost her.
Having experienced the suffocating pain of losing her, Aslan must have realized that if he lost again, he wouldn’t be able to stand back up.
Therefore, to fulfill his mission and avoid kneeling prematurely, he pushed people away.
It was Phey, who had remained quiet until now, who snapped Lumel out of her reverie. Poking Lumel’s side with an elbow, Phey asked innocently.
“Lumel, are you daydreaming again?”
Startled out of her thoughts, Lumel flinched and blushed furiously.
“A, uh, w-well…”
Her face turned crimson, and Lumel covered her eyes with her braided hair, as if believing it would somehow hide her fantasies. It only made her appear more provocative.
“Ugh…”
Groaning softly, Lumel’s behavior made Aslan chuckle slightly.
“What is it? What were you thinking? Tell me too!”
“No way…”
“Aw, come on, I’m curious!”
While Angie openly expressed her disappointment, Lumel’s ears turned red as well. Amidst the laughter of the group, Lumel suddenly looked at Aslan with her flushed face and asked.
“So… Is it true that Aslan sir and Lady Ereta aren’t in any kind of relationship?”
What kind of question was that? Aslan blinked and laughed.
“Yes, we are comrades.”
“And am I… also a comrade?”
Looking at Aslan with her brown eyes nearly touching her nose, Lumel’s gaze subtly carried a flicker of desire. A desire Aslan failed to read, tinged with yearning.
“Yes, Lady Lumel is also my comrade.”
Upon Aslan’s oblivious reply, Lumel sighed wetly, her face flushed.
“It’s fortunate…”
The hidden intent in her relief was crystal clear to Ereta. Ereta’s face hardened with a sense of impending danger, and Lumel smiled brightly at her.
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