I Didn’t Save You To Get Proposed To - Chapter 34
I cut his words off at once.
“Because I didn’t feel like the monster was attacking me.”
“That’s just a hunch.”
“Anyway, it’s not that I’m not willing to put my life in danger to save the Prince.”
“Then something has changed.” Ixion stood up and said. “Because I put my life on the line to save you. You’re still alive, right?”
‘This moron.’
I couldn’t even say, ‘I’m on my way to becoming a monster, so it’s not a hypothesis, it’s a certainty.’ It was too disgusting for me to say the words ‘turning into a monster.’
“Yes, thank you.” I responded half-heartedly.
‘This cave is the nest of the devil—’
I was considering what I should do to get out of here when Ixion casually mentioned something else to see if it was important.
“I’m not the same as you, Young Lady.”
“…Isn’t everyone different?”
“If the Young Lady gives me a marriage proposal to repay me, I’ll accept it.”
‘Oh, what are you saying!’
I was dumbfounded and looked up at him. It was even more amazing to say that very seriously. It would have been preferable if a man like Niel spoke such a thing, but there was nothing to say when someone like Ixion spoke seriously, almost as if he were a knight.
So, now that I’ve seen with my own eyes that I’m not being attacked by the devil, my doubts will grow stronger. I was at a loss for words because I expected Ixion to be more attached to me in the future.
“I mean it.”
“I’m more concerned because I believe so. Stop playing with words and start thinking about how to get away with it.”
“Because it appeared in the Marquis, the nest must be in Marquis territory…”
While I was falling, Ixion appeared to have finished calculating. Because of his meticulous personality, there’s no way he didn’t do anything.
“Then go to the knights closest to the monster’s habitat rather than the Marquis.”
“That’s all right. Should I then continue down this path?”
“Because it’s a maze, you have to be careful not to get lost.”
“We only need to leave the wall in one direction.”
I remarked, remembering how I saw it in the maze search program before.
“Are you aware of that?”
“Of course. Let’s get started.”
“We must move quickly. It’s three times faster than the time outside.”
“Oh my goodness. Where’s that?”
“Black magic seems to control time.”
Elsia, on the other hand, has the ability to reverse time. What’s interesting is that I’m not hungry or thirsty here, but Ixion claims this is due to the fact that it’s a magical space.
He said that if you get out of the maze, it will revert to normal space and time, and you can then go to the Knights’ location there.
‘Does my body process go three times faster if the time is three times faster?’
If this is the case, the time without divine magic would be longer. Anxiety caused me to bite my nails. Niel once said that because I don’t use divine magic until I get to the tower, the energy of black magic grows stronger.
“Prince?”
“Why?”
“Are you hurt in any way?”
Ixion was the only person who could have been harmed by the evil monster. I asked, hoping for the best, but Ixion seemed unconcerned.
“It was only a dagger when fighting the cubs, so it might have hurt somewhere, but I don’t think there were any major injuries.”
“It hurts even if it’s only a little!”
‘You must have been injured somewhere!’
I snapped at his arm, feeling like a hungry hyena.
“I can’t be uncomfortable at all, you’re a Prince. Show it to me right away, anywhere.”
“No, you don’t have to—”
“You told me that even a cut the size of a fingernail hurts when I was in the subjugation site!”
“Because I need an excuse—” Ixion smiled and sighed once. “You can’t even see me hurt a little, did you change your mind?”
‘What are you talking about?’
All I could think was, ‘How can this man show his wounds?’ no matter what he said.
“—I’ve seen a lot of things on the battlefield.”
“Yes. Of course.”
“No matter how confident you are that you will not be hurt, you can die instead, but it is extremely difficult to jump in front of people.”
“Yes. Just show me where you were injured.”
Whether he put on a happy face or not, I slammed it down like a ton of bricks.
“—Well, if that’s what you want.”
I took a step back as he made his next move. He began unbuttoning his shirt. “W-what are you doing?” As the shirt unbuttoned, I noticed his strong body and turned my head away.
‘What the hell is going on! I’ve always treated his wrist!’
He slowly turned back.
“My back is hurting. It’s natural to be attacked from behind a lot.”
I sighed as I swallowed some dry saliva. Because I’m not a doctor, I’m not used to being in this situation. His back, which was tensely held together by muscles and covered in wounds and scars, came into view.
‘You weren’t hurt just this time.’
It would not have been easy to learn that it was an undefeated war ghost.
I placed my hand on his back.
The selfish intent vanished before I knew it, and I felt sorry for this man’s body that no more signs of suffering were stretched.
“Prince.”
It felt like he and I were the only two people in the world, using divine magic in a dark, dark cave.
“You must have had a difficult time. Your back is covered in scars.”
“It’s all in the past.”
“It’s not like the past is going away.”
“Elsia, you’re correct. The past is not going away.” Ixion answered in a low tone. “Even if your mind has changed—.”
I got sulky and angry when he said this earlier, but now I can’t say anything because I can hear Ixion’s tone is a little sad.
“It’s not as if the memories of that time have vanished.”
“I’m not particularly… I don’t want to keep it.”
Naturally, the memory of being laughed at by others and when she suddenly asked him to dance could not be pleased. It was even disgraceful that it was still being talked about here and there.
Irene previously stated that the song “I Decided to Dance with the Prince” had become popular, and I vowed to refrain from visiting the capital until the situation calmed down.
“You aren’t the only one who has that memory.”
I couldn’t confirm Ixion’s expression, who was turning his back.
“It’s a memory I’d like to cherish. Everything.”
However, his voice sounded calm and a little sad.
******
Elsia and Ixion did not return after one night. Niel arrived in Mela early in the morning, despite having had little sleep.
“Mother, the Prince, and Elsia are not returning. Is there something wrong?”
“Are they not coming back?”
Mela didn’t seem concerned at all. She appeared to be a little excited.
“The Prince knows everything there is to know about the Marquis territory, and there is no better escort than him. Don’t bother people who are having a good time and stay still. They will return on their own.”
“What do you mean everything is fine?” Niel poked his brow, as if irritated.
Good time? It never felt like that.
Ixion clearly saw Elsia as a woman based on what he saw at dinner yesterday, but Elsia was wary of Ixion.
“The Prince once sent Elsia a marriage proposal.”
The first emotion Niel felt when he heard those words was one of betrayal. Elsia had never said that to him, despite the fact that he was her only friend.
She didn’t tell him about the details when Ixion continued to pursue her to Count Recesil’s banquet.
“Elsia likes it as well, so why not go straight to the monster subjugation site?”
Niel was well aware that his mother was unconcerned about them. He even realized she wasn’t looking for a single search, dismissing their disappearance as merely a romantic journey.
He had the strange sensation that his chest was becoming stuffy.
******
Anyway, after pouring divine magic, I felt like I was relieved of a burden. I didn’t know because it was dark, but Ixion’s shirt was also messed up. While I was unconscious, he must have suffered quite a bit, although I don’t know.
“Thank you, Elsia. It’s much better.”
“I know right— Why didn’t you ask me to do it in the first place?” My conscience pricked me when I heard thank you, so I looked elsewhere and replied. “What’s the point of fighting the monsters if you’re going to get hurt like this?”
“I’m a Prince, after all. They’ll hurt us too much if I leave the monster alone. It is deadly to civilians.”
“……”
“It is the Imperial Palace’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the Imperial Palace’s citizens. I can’t politically improve the lives of the empire’s people, so I’m developing my military skills.”
“I-I see.”
“And it’s easier to kill the monster than it is to kill the enemy.”
I was taken aback. He carried on calmly.
“It’s a global issue for all humans.”
“T-that’s right—”
He was right. I was thinking that if I were the evil monster, I’d rather die. I became even more determined after witnessing Ziebel and Gvestin, who had lost their reason and attacked humans.
“It’s extremely valuable to all humans.”
“This isn’t the type of conversation that would be interesting.”
“No, I’ve always admired talkative men. It’s great fun. Really.”
‘Because I’m pretty sure you, too, are on a mission.’
In the end, it was like being at a decision point.
Is it a material that will live on in the history of the Wizard Tower or will it satisfy the prince’s sense of duty?
I thought that it would be nice to extend my life by working hard on divine magic for an additional year. To be honest, life hasn’t been too bad lately.
I hadn’t planned on going to the capital for a while, but I needed to see Irene and Ridan before I died.
