Chapter 59

059.

The head of the Dranunus family chose the Limit Tier 3 as befitting their status.

Before the incident, Sinae had recklessly rushed toward that limit.

Without further ado.

She judged that now, with the help of Lacatus and Hiart, even if it was a bit early, it was the right time.

Blamia endured the now-fading nightmares,

and Sinae pushed herself hard to bear the heavy burden.

Still, the wall of the third tier was high, no matter how hard everyone worked.

Ultimately, that’s the truth.

A wall that can be climbed simply by desiring and working hard doesn’t exist.

It’s not for nothing that high-tier mages are so rare and make names for themselves.

Of course, Kalen is an exception.

His constitution, mental imagery, and now something tied to the spirits—

The boy himself is a singularity, making comparisons difficult.

The weight of the Dranunus family is just as heavy.

The third-tier wall is high, and surpassing it would be an achievement worthy of recognition at Sinae’s age.

In that regard,

Sinae can be said to have failed.

No matter what happened, people don’t listen to the process.

The ones who care about how much difficult work might have been involved are likely to be close to Sinae.

As you know, the people close to Sinae are at most Blamia, Kalen, and Austio Tide.

Leaving that aside, the only fact remaining is the failure to reach the third tier.

This means the Dranunus family’s revival has moved further away.

However, neither Blamia, Kalen, nor Sinae were disappointed.

Not only was the initial goal set too high, but there was also a significant event that overshadowed their frustration.

Even surviving was more than enough to be grateful for.

The things they went through were worth it.

“…It’s true, but it’s not completely impossible. The checks we’ll face will increase, and the path will become slightly more perilous, but that’s all.”

Reaching the third tier is about reinforcing one’s standing.

There’s no obstacle to inheriting the family head position itself.

“So, I must hire you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Just do the same as what Lacatus and Hiart did, brat.”

Blamia seated Kalen and said seriously.

But Kalen understood.

Blamia was swallowing her pride and asking for help.

“When using elemental magic, didn’t you say you could touch the fourth tier?”

“Yes.”

Kalen’s rank, when contracted with Tia-se, becomes absurdly high.

Oddly enough, Kalen and Tia-se are a good match.

What’s more, for some reason, Kalen can also use Felicious’ power.

This was a fact discovered when Sinae, Felicious, and Tia-se reunited not long ago.

Summoning Felicious is possible, and the ability to handle both Eklart and Cleymane’s powers was confirmed.

Normally at the third tier, with the power of two spirits, Kalen can reach the fourth tier.

Who wouldn’t be amazed at a kid who hasn’t even had their coming-of-age ceremony yet?

The fourth tier.

Nothing less than the fourth tier.

In fact, this is an event significant enough to throw the empire into chaos.

However, since the only people this young boy knows are Blamia, Sinae, and Austio Tide, it’s fortunate.

If he caught the emperor’s eye right now, he’d surely secure a prestigious position.

Still, Blamia has no intention of letting him go.

The biggest problem has been resolved, it seems.

Tying this guy down beside Sinae would bring her peace of mind,

so it’s better to claim the always unambitious Kalen early.

‘Despite being a commoner…!’ Too powerful to say such a thing—

Moreover, Kalen’s magic focuses on combat, so not just anyone can mess with him.

At most, either myself or the head of a powerful family could.

There’s no way to miss the chance to bring such a person in as a son-in-law.

“Of course, I’ll offer compensation. The favor you did in saving me more than repays the debt, so hiring you now will be a fair transaction.”

“…”

“Can you help Sinae manage the responsibilities of the family head?”

Listening quietly to Blamia’s words, Kalen hesitated.

Ultimately, it was about taking the position of protector again.

Just like guarding Eliana and Serasie,

this time he’d guard Sinae.

Normally, this would be a decision without doubts.

Kalen didn’t want to leave Sinae and Blamia,

and it seemed Blamia’s reservations about him were gone, so he could perhaps be greedy too.

But the timing wasn’t good.

It was almost the first time.

For the first time, Kalen wanted to do something out of his own free will,

not out of obligation or fulfilling someone else’s expectations.

To understand something on his own,

rather than acting out of necessity or fulfilling duties.

Kalen learned that his initial terrifying mental image was related to an old spirit king,

so he wanted to dig deeper into it.

But, on the other hand, Sinae and Blamia were precious to him.

It would certainly be a painful path for Sinae, just a second-tier mage, to shoulder the weight of the Dranunus family.

As Kalen pondered, Blamia tapped his shoulder and stood up.

“It’s alright if you don’t answer immediately. On the contrary, I’m glad. It seems like you’ve found something you’d want to do.”

“…Thank you.”

“Yes.”

Kalen was grateful for such consideration.

Deciding was even more important.

*

Sinae called for Kalen.

Upon hearing the news, Kalen moved.

Walking absentmindedly through the forest behind the small cottage, you’ll eventually reach a hill.

Sinae’s favorite ridge, the usual place she’d call Kalen to when there was something important to say.

It would be the same this time.

As Kalen thought of the offer Blamia had presented earlier, he steadied his mind.

The reason Sinae called him couldn’t be anything other than that.

Absentmindedly walking through the rear forest, Kalen approached the distant silhouette of a girl.

“Kal, you came?”

“Yeah.”

“Come sit here.”

Sinae patted the spot beside her.

Kalen nodded slightly and sat at a comfortable distance.

The two remained silent for a long while.

Finally, it was Sinae who broke the silence first.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“I feel like I haven’t thanked you properly.”

“That time?”

“Uh… I don’t know. Just everything?”

“What does that mean?”

Sinae was pure and straightforward.

She was unvarnished and transparent, clumsy with indirectness or hiding feelings.

Kalen liked that about her, and it hadn’t changed now.

“Hii~.”

Sinae smiled at Kalen.

As the awkward moment extended and silence returned,

“Sinae.”

Sinae calls Kalen by the nickname ‘Kal.’

As said before, it’s a name that stuck from trying to become friends quickly.

When Sinae uses Kalen’s full name,

it means she’s about to say something heartfelt.

What was coming next was inevitable.

Kalen nodded, looking directly at Sinae.

If Sinae were to ask, he wouldn’t be able to refuse.

If they both wanted it,

wouldn’t it be reasonable to move toward the one who hopes?

For that reason, just as Kalen was about to give a positive answer,

“I love you.”

“Huh… What?”

“I said I love you.”

Kalen did the same as he did earlier,

wrapping his ears with magic.

Sinae, watching this, moved a bit closer and smiled.

“I love you, Kalen.”

“…”

There was no possibility he misheard.

Kalen froze completely.

Sinae was still smiling mischievously,

while Kalen could find no words to respond.

After a long moment,

Sinae pushed her index finger against Kalen’s lips with a grin,

pressed her other finger slightly,

until her finger touched his lips directly.

“I don’t want to hear excuses about lack of sanity, Kalen. I’m serious. So, the answer can wait. Understand?”

“…”

“Hii~.”

Kalen could only stare as Sinae turned her head.

The familiar sunset stretched along the ridge,

and the day’s memory replayed itself.

The moment Kalen couldn’t forget

blended into his memory, leaving a powerful impression.

“…”

“…”

Sinae, who had enough of the sunset’s view,

lightly kissed the back of her hand before placing it on Kalen’s lips,

then stood up and ran off.

“…”

What had just happened?

Kalen tried to snap back to reality,

wondering if his flushed cheeks were because of the sunset.

He couldn’t get up from his spot for a long time.

It was another unforgettable moment added to the hill lit by the sunset.

“Huuu…”

Thump, thump, thump.

Sinae quickly returned to her room, locking the door behind her,

and slumped down as she gripped her racing heart.

The heartbeat was pounding loudly in her ears.

Her flushed face showed no signs of cooling down.

“Huff… Huff…”

Shaking fingers.

Sinae shakily held up the finger that touched Kalen’s lips.

She did it.

Afraid of hearing the answer at the end,

she had pushed it a bit in an odd form,

but still…

She did it.

Until the very end, she was constantly in doubt.

It was scary to consider the possibility of failure.

Should she say it?

Should she not?

But all those concerns vanished when the sunset beautifully covered Kalen.

How could she hold back at such a sight?

“Alright, let’s sleep. Yup. Sleep…”

Sinae climbed into bed clutching her fluttering heart.

She covered herself in blankets, closed her eyes for a long time,

and when sleep didn’t come, stared absentmindedly at her shaking fingers.

“Kalen…”

It was scary.

However,

exciting.

While it was disappointing not to muster the courage at the end,

right now, this was enough.

She had broken the friendship boundary, so all that was left was waiting.

Sinae quietly,

pressed her lips to her own finger.

*

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