The People at the Barrier

“Yes!”

“Alright, do your best.”

“Hehe.”

Theodore beamed at Sian’s words of encouragement, or rather, not-so-much encouragement.

‘He wants to live together forever.’ Sian thought. ‘He’ll just forget about his teacher, who was kind to him when he was young, the moment he meets the female lead.‘ Sian could only manage a wry smile as he thought about the predetermined future.

“Still, don’t overdo it with the sword. It won’t do to be unable to eat cookies because your arm hurts.”

“……”

Sian, who spoke softly, stooped down to meet Theodore’s eye level.

She then raised her hand and massaged Theodore’s arm as if he were receiving physiotherapy.

This was something Sian often did after training when muscle pain would occur.

But every time, Theodore felt a strange sensation. Even now, whenever he received Sian’s touch, his back and waist twitched.

“T, Teacher….”

“Hmm?”

Unable to hold back, Theodore called out to Sian in a small voice, and Sian, who had been engrossed in the massage, tilted his head with a puzzled expression. Then, Theodore’s reddened face came into view.

“Are you hurt?”

“N, no, I’m not.”

Theodore quickly shook his head and wore an awkward expression. To Sian, that face looked like he was enduring pain.

‘I was being gentle, but did it hurt that much?’ Sian looked embarrassed and removed his hand from Theodore’s arm.

“I’m sorry if it hurt.”

“I’m really alright, Teacher.”

Theodore felt an unbearable sensation when Sian’s hand had touched his body, but now that it was gone, he felt a sense of disappointment.

He thought, ‘I should have endured even if it felt strange.’ Not knowing Theodore’s regret, Sian got up.

“Shall we call it a day for today’s training?”

“I can do more….”

“I told you it’s not good to overdo it.”

Sian shook his head and gathered the swordsmanship tools. Then, he held Theodore’s hand and entered the mansion.

The swordsmanship training was going smoothly, and now the magic lessons remained. Sian was actually a little worried about magic.

Because the magic power of Sian and Theodore did not match naturally, the magic they handled was different.

But basic magic should be fine.

In the original work, Theodore barely escaped the mountain with his body destroyed after being tortured by Drake, let alone basic magic.

That is why the Theodore in the original work is treated as an idiot when he first meets the female lead.

It was because he had only grown physically without receiving any education.

But the Theodore of now is different.

If he teaches him basic magic, he will be able to navigate the future much more easily than in the original work.

‘My little one will never be treated like that.’

Sian’s eyes secretly burned.

“Suspend magic lessons for the time being.”

“Yes?”

Theodore, who had been holding his hands out in front of him, opened his eyes wide.

Sian looked at the forest, which had been turned into a wasteland.

He had only taught the basics of the basics of magic.

It’s not like he could use magic right away just by hearing the theory once, so he had just told him to try it lightly.

But to think he would destroy the forest like this. It was fortunate that Sian had stepped in and stopped it before it turned into a huge fire. Otherwise, the mountain, which already had few trees, would have become even more bald.

“Why?”

“……”

But the person who almost caused the incident had a naive face, so he had nothing to say.

Whether he was missing a screw or two because he didn’t receive the education he should have when he was young, or whether it was innate, she didn’t know.

Sian cleared her throat and continued.

“Let’s learn more when you can handle your magic power more delicately. Got it?”

“I want to learn more….”

“……”

‘Then the few trees on this mountain won’t be left.’ Sian muttered inwardly.

Should he put up a barrier for the lessons? But Theodore would have a hard time using magic within the barrier. No, maybe that’s better right now.

‘Surely Theodore had a hard time in the out-chamber because of their incompatibility, but why is he so energetic?’ Sian looked back and forth between the burned forest and Theodore with a hesitant expression.

“We’ll continue the theory lessons, but let’s postpone the practice a little longer.”

“Yess…”

Theodore replied with a deflated air. Sian habitually stroked Theodore’s head.

And as they were holding hands and returning to the mansion.

“Sian-nim!”

“Hmm?”

Kali came running from afar, panting. Sian looked at him with a questioning gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

“Hah, hah… That’s…”

Kali glanced to the side, gasping for breath. Kali, who looked at Theodore with a frown for a moment, opened his mouth to Sian again.

“Humans are gathered near the barrier, it seems.”

“What?”

“It seems they are the residents of the village near the base of the mountain. Resha sent the message.”

“Hmm…”

Resha was Kalley’s friend and one of the sentries in the Dark Elf village.

‘Speaking of which, a human village… Since the only neighboring country is the Orta Empire, it must be a remote village belonging to the Empire. What’s its name again?’

He hadn’t paid much attention, so he didn’t remember the village name.

Drake wouldn’t have tried to know the human villages one by one in the first place, so it couldn’t be helped that he didn’t remember.

“Why are the humans suddenly…?”

The continental war had ended anyway, and the Orta Empire had even promised not to invade Sian’s territory in the future after being severely punished by Sian.

‘Are they perhaps trying to start a war again?’ As Sian thought that inwardly, Kali shook his head.

“They aren’t an army, they’re just ordinary folk.

The humans are all dirty and grubby, and they’re so thin that Resha said she couldn’t bear to look at them.”

“Huh…?”

‘Not an army?’ Sian tilted his head at the unexpected words.

He had been sure the Empire was up to some strange scheme again.

But come to think of it, it was a bit strange for them to be up to something after 200 years.

Then who are they? Sian frowned in thought.

“There don’t seem to be many of them. If it bothers you, we can just drive them away.”

“No, I should meet them myself.”

“Yes?”

Kali was surprised and opened his eyes wide, and hurriedly opened his mouth.

“How could Sian-nim… deal with such insignificant humans….”

“It’s not a common occurrence. Shouldn’t I find out why they’ve come this far?”

“We’ll do it if you tell us to!”

“No. I’ll go.”

Surely the Dark Elves, who were hostile to humans, would not be able to have a proper conversation with them.

It seemed better for the rational self to go. Sian shook his head at Kali and turned around.

“Theo, can you wait quietly by yourself?”

“Shouldn’t I come too?”

“Hmm… I don’t think that would be a good idea.”

Sian looked down at Theodore’s hair, which was shining in the sunlight, with a troubled expression.

He didn’t know what rumors might spread if the humans saw Theodore.

‘I need to find the dye soon.’ Theodore seemed to be feeling frustrated because he couldn’t leave the mansion.

“Instead, let’s go down the mountain together later. When everything is ready.”

“Really? You’ll take me later, won’t you?”

“Yes.”

“You promised?”

“I did.”

Even though he had to leave Theodore at the mansion, she couldn’t quite bring herself to leave. It felt as if she was leaving a pitifully whimpering puppy at home.

‘No, you’re not treating the protagonist like a pet.’ Sian shook her head and left the mansion with Kalley.

“Please, please let us see you. Please…”

“……?”

Sian tilted her head at the scenery she saw as soon as she teleported.

The people who had gathered in front of the barrier stared at Sian, who suddenly appeared, with surprised eyes.

“Huk… S, suddenly a person….”

“Magician…?”

Sian scanned the people with his eyes at the murmuring voices. Indeed, they looked as shabby as Resha had been baffled by. Sian was increasingly puzzled.

What did these people want to come here for? They all looked wretched, and were so thin they seemed to be starving, and their complexions were bad.

Seeing the old people and children who seemed to have no energy to walk collapsed, Sian frowned.

“Who are you?”

The informal speech came out naturally. Perhaps because she had transmigrated 200 years ago, he didn’t act flustered like she used to when she saw strangers.

Sian glared at the people gathered with a sharp gaze.

The people flinched at Sian’s interrogation, which was full of energy even to the ordinary eye. Then, someone stepped forward.

It was an old man with white hair. He, too, seemed to have difficulty moving and was being supported by a young person.

“Are you… a Dragon?”

Sian, who didn’t intend to hide his identity, nodded at the old man’s question.

“So?”

“Huk…!”

Sounds of intakes of breath were heard here and there.

Whether they were terrified by the Dragon’s majesty, or simply surprised that a seemingly ordinary young man was a Dragon, she didn’t know.

It seemed that the latter was more likely. The surprise was momentary, and followed by curious gazes.

Sian calmly looked at the old man.

“I, the humble one, hold the position of village head of the Ador Village, great one.”

“Ador Village….”

‘Right, that was the name.’ Sian felt the information about the Ador Village being updated in the Dragon’s memory.

“But what brings you here? The moment you cross the barrier, you break the agreement and invade my land. You understand what that means, right?”

“Hut….”

He had put up the warning on purpose, but in fact, she had set up the barrier to protect the people.

Because all sorts of magical beasts were swarming inside the barrier that surrounded the mountain.

Anyway, now she would know why they had come here in such a large group.

Sian looked at the village head and the people, as if asking for a reason.

“Please… please accept us. Dragon-nim…!”

“……?”

And he heard unexpected words.