A Promise, Not a Request

From the next day, an order was issued prohibiting anyone except Karvan’s direct Suras from entering the main building.

“Do you not understand the word ‘forbidden’?”

On the surface, the order was given because the Valta did not wish to have his rest disturbed, but it was obvious who it was aimed at.

“…Is it wrong to offer a gift to the Valtael?”
“I said you can’t, so you can’t!”

Furthermore, the entire Black Mane faction was said to have been drafted for a hunting expedition.

It was a task of hunting in a distant place, something usually done by tribes with ambiguous power.
Tegen told me with a hint of satisfaction that it was the first time the Black Manes, who were among the stronger factions of the ‘Maha,’ had been sent on such a task.

“The Valta has been very patient. He didn’t kill him because he saw how much Shinbi-nim cherishes him.”

“…Because of, me?”

“Oh, if not for that, his head would have been torn off long ago. How could he let a male who dares to harbor improper feelings for his mate live?”

“What? No. Radugan feels a sense of kinship with me because we have common ground. It’s not romantic…”

“Aigoo, our Shinbi-nim. You’re so sharp in other areas, but when it comes to this.”

‘The Valta will have a hard time,’ I heard Tegen mutter like a lament, but I couldn’t believe it.

‘There’s no way Radugan would do that.’
Thinking this, I carefully mulled over what had happened with him.

‘Yes, speak from there.’

‘If so, could his actions that day have been a warning? Did he do it in front of Radugan on purpose for him to hear?’

‘You seem to care a great deal about him.’
‘If we’re talking about manners, I think it’s the fault of the one who came visiting while I was mating with my mate.’

I had thought he simply wanted to tease me again or was showing off to a rival faction.
But it seemed that man had known all along.

“You look like you have something to say.”

But contrary to my expectations, Karvan said nothing.

“…Nngh. No. It’s nothing.”

I thought he would confront me at least once, but for days he hasn’t brought up the topic of Radugan at all.
His attitude was as if it wasn’t even worth mentioning.

“I heard you were in the blacksmith’s all day.”

“Ah, yeah! I’m making armor for the Suras these days.”

“Is that something you should be doing, even skipping meals?”

“I just ate a simple meal, it’s not like I didn’t eat.”

“You’re not a child. If I hear that one more time, Akal will lose his job soon.”

“Ah, I got it! I get it.”

He wasn’t exactly mellowed out, spouting threats about getting rid of the blacksmith just because I skipped a meal, but it was strange.
As I was panting, he, having just returned, pressed his cold hand to my neck to warm it and beckoned with his finger.

When I meekly went to him and let him hold me, he buried his head in my collarbone so closely it tickled, just like always.

“Oh right. About that Hyena tribe from before.”

In the silence that was gradually becoming familiar, the distinct skill crest on his neck suddenly caught my eye.

“What happened to him?”

When I asked casually, he looked down at me with his head tilted.
Seeing his brow slowly furrow, I added hastily.

“I mean, I’m not worried, I just suddenly remembered…”

“I killed him.”

‘I knew it.’
On one hand, I thought it was a relief that he had saved me the trouble, as I would have had to deal with him eventually because of the debuff.
On the other hand, I flinched when I met his direct gaze.

“You don’t ask why I killed him.”

“Huh? Ah, well, he was a prisoner. There’s no reason to keep him alive. Haha.”

“I killed him because you imprinted on him.”

My awkward laughter was swallowed.
The usual grumbling about it being a stigma, not an imprint, didn’t even come out.

“So, it would be best not to carelessly touch other males.”

I swallowed hard at his silently glittering eyes.
I thought I knew what he was warning me about.

‘How much longer? Until his stigma can be removed.’

Karvan had pestered me for the entire week that the ‘Stigma Theory’ skill couldn’t be removed, and as soon as the cooldown was over, he made me delete the Hyena-kin’s skill.

“I’ve told you every time, it’s not a meaningful act like the Varg’s imprint.”

“Was it a meaningless act for me as well?”

At the casually thrown question, I looked at the cute cherry blossom crest below his earlobe with complex eyes.

At the time, it was.
It was truly an act with no meaning or thought.
I was only thinking of stealing a skill from a monster to escape from prison.

“It was just a mistake.”

“There are many times when an action thought to be a mistake turns out to be the right path in retrospect.”

“……”

“It might not have been a mistake, but a choice.”

‘He’s really good with words. He’d make a great cult leader.’
As I was having such silly thoughts and pouting my lips, the sound of flesh meeting and parting was heard.

Throughout the entire sequence of pressing and releasing my lower lip, he stared straight at me.
My wavering reflection was visible in his wet, golden eyes.

“By the way, how did you get that scar on your eye?”

As I stared blankly into those upright eyes, I saw the scar running across his right eye and asked.

“It was from a Destroyer. A long time ago, when I was cast out from the pack and living as a wanderer.”

“So that’s why you hated me so much.”

“At first, I did. I denied, hated, and tried to reject it.”

“……”

“But in the end, it turned out like this.”

Contrary to his dry voice, his gaze was as thick and murky as a swamp in the rain.

Even when I tried to look away, thinking it was an illusion caused by the dark room, it followed me persistently.
Like the light of a full moon, high in the sky, that illuminates me no matter where I am in the world.

“The tracking Suras are searching for Dowongyeong. The plan is to move there as soon as it’s found.”

Karvan continued to murmur, pressing his lips against my furrowed brow, which was wrinkled in confusion.

“Dowongyeong is a sacred land that is free from any interference, including from the Grim Reapers.”

Karvan began to persuade me how wonderful a paradise it was.
Perhaps thinking my restless face was due to anxiety, he held my chin, which was gradually lowering, and whispered soothingly as he met my eyes.

“It’s a much safer place than Bahalgras, and it’s not cold like the snowy mountains, so you’ll like it too.”

It was a preposterous plan to anyone.
If I foolishly joined in, I might get noticed by the Observers and only make my crime worse.
I had finally escaped their attention, and I didn’t want to live on the run again.

…But.

I looked at the pink cherry blossom on the man’s neck with conflict.

“Karvan. You know.”

“If you’re going to say you won’t go with me, I don’t want to hear it.”

“It’s not that, actually…”

After hesitating as if plucking each of those flower petals, I shut my eyes tight and opened my mouth.

“I know where Dowongyeong is!”

To my string of confessions—that the Awakeners call that place Midvalen, that I could find it with my eyes closed, that the master of that place was the one who asked me to get the Nemea’s claws—the man just listened quietly.

“That’s good.”

He didn’t blame me or question me, asking why I had only said it now or how I had hidden it for so long.
Karvan, who had been listening silently, only spoke after I had finished.

“I was worried you might get scared and hide because we’re moving to a new home, but you’ll adjust well to the move.”

“…Do you think I’m some kind of cat?”

“You’re just like one. You get angry, then you sidle up and rub against me, and if I reach out my hand, you run away again.”

“When did I ever! …Ugh, whatever. But, a new home? Are you really thinking of taking that place?”

“Why else would I have been searching for it so desperately?”

Karvan, who spoke with his chin slightly raised, had a face that showed he didn’t have a single doubt about his plan.

“Thanks to you, things will be easier.”

“……”

“I’ve got myself a good mate. Haven’t I?”

At his smooth reply, I groaned and put my hand on my forehead.
He’s going to take over the neutral city of Midvalen?
It would be more believable to say a boss monster is dating a player.

“…Yeah, haah. I get it.”

But the fact that I was readily believing even that, had I finally gone mad?

“So, do I just need to take you to Midvalen?”

I sighed deeply as I looked at the man who was placidly rubbing my forehead, as if trying to smooth out my frown.

“Is there anything else I can help with? A request, perhaps?”

“If there is, will you grant it?”

Karvan made that face again.
The one where he curled up the corners of his mouth leisurely, like a wolf that has succeeded in a hunt… a clear teasing expression.

“I’ll hear you out.”

But I’ve been through this so many times now that I’m not easily provoked.
As if I’d fall for that again.

“Alright, what’s the request?”

As I spoke with my chin held high in a feigned air of arrogance, a reply came back without a moment’s delay.

“Promise me you won’t leave me.”

Karvan, who I had expected to ask for a kiss or to mate, said something completely unexpected.