Chapter 129 – An Answer which Flew Past His Head
Chapter 129
An Answer which Flew Past His Head
Date : Day 23 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.
Jackey stood there panting heavily, both hands resting on his knees as he struggled to catch his breath. His chest rose and fell with each labored inhalation—the kind of breathing that came from exertion pushed well beyond comfortable limits.
Sweat dripped from his chin onto the dirt below. His orange hair was plastered to his forehead.
Across from him, Hyoren slowly lowered his training sword and stepped back, giving the exhausted beastkin room to recover. His own breathing was elevated but controlled.
"Jackey, was it? You're strong..."
The words were simple—carrying neither false modesty nor condescension.
Jackey wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm, still breathing hard.
"How...? I thought I was going to win..."
He looked directly at Hyoren, still struggling to understand what had happened. His golden eyes gleaming with a mixture of confusion and something approaching respect.
"Big Sis said you only started learning how to become a tank recently. But you move better than most veteran tanks back in my hometown."
Jackey had expected an easy victory based on Ina's description. What he had found was something entirely different.
Hyoren let out a small chuckle.
"That's because I had a good teacher."
Jackey blinked once. Then his eyes widened in realization. And finally, amazement.
"Good teacher or not... You're strong. Really strong! You're immovable and unbreakable!"
The words tumbled out with an enthusiasm that bordered on reverence.
Then a wide, genuine grin spread across Jackey's face.
Before anyone could react, the large Cat-clan beastkin strode forward—and bowed deeply toward Hyoren.
The entire training yard froze for a moment. The spectators who had been cheering and chatting fell silent—surprised by the unexpected display of respect from the defeated combatant. Duels often ended with handshakes or nods of acknowledgment, but a deep bow was something else entirely. It carried implications that went beyond mere sportsmanship.
"Big Bro!"
Jackey raised his head again, grinning from ear to ear.
“Even if you’re not going to marry my Big Sis, from now on, you’re my Big Bro!”
His orange tabby tail swished wildly behind him. The Cat-clan beastkin had clearly found a new alpha to follow.
“I’ll follow you around from now on!”
The crowd exploded into cheers. Not mockery. Not laughter. But genuine excitement and admiration for the duel they had just witnessed.
“I lost fifty thousand Kres! But damn, that duel was worth it!”
“That little minx is still single, sadly, but damn... that guy’s shield work was incredible!”
“Who the hell said that dark-haired guy was weak?!”
“He’s strong!”
“Hyoren Enjo? I’ll remember that name closely. That guy’s definitely going to carve his name into history someday!”
Then someone in the crowd shouted loudly.
“HYOREN ENJO!”
Another voice followed.
“HYOREN ENJO!”
Soon, more and more adventurers joined the chant.
“HYOREN ENJO!”
“HYOREN ENJO!”
Fiona watched the exchange between the two men, and for once, a genuine chuckle escaped her lips.
She stepped forward and gave Hyoren a nod of approval worth more than any gold coin. Coming from a former Silver-ranked adventurer, such acknowledgment carried weight that could not be purchased or earned through any means other than genuine merit.
"Good work, Hyoren."
Her voice carried easily across the slowly thinning crowd.
"Your sword and shield work is really good. Ronald's teaching huh..."
Then her sharp eyes narrowed slightly.
"Don't get fucking complacent, though. You are still fledging."
With that final warning, Fiona turned and walked away. Her fiery red hair fluttered with each step.
As she left, the overwhelming aura of authority surrounding the training yard faded with her, quickly replaced by excited chatter from the adventurers still discussing the duel.
Bets were being settled. Opinions were being exchanged. The kind of post-event analysis that always followed significant duels was already underway.
Hyoren was left standing beside an absolutely beaming Jackey.
The beastkin kept slapping his shoulder enthusiastically, acting as though they had been brothers-in-arms for years instead of opponents just minutes ago.
The sheer, unfiltered enthusiasm was honestly baffling.
Hyoren was still trying to process how Jackey had somehow shifted from "man trying to force me into marriage" to "devoted follower" in less than ten minutes.
"Are you sure you want to join our party?"
Hyoren looked at him carefully.
“You’ll be traveling with me and my lover, Elise. Won’t it be awkward?”
Jackey stared at him as if he had just asked whether the sky was blue. The very concept of awkwardness clearly failed to register inside his brain.
"I don't mind at all!"
He laughed loudly. The sound was boisterous—carrying the kind of unselfconscious joy that came from someone who had never learned to moderate their emotional expressions.
"When I worked as a mercenary, it was sometimes even worse! I once had to escort a noble's son who brought five girls along for an 'adventure'!"
He shrugged casually, displaying an almost terrifying level of practicality.
"And I'm not lonely anyway. I like visiting brothels or hanging out with other single adventurers. So it's all good!"
The statement was delivered with the same casual tone that someone might use to describe their preference for a particular type of food.
Hyoren slowly raised a hand and pressed his palm against his forehead.
The logic. The shamelessness. The complete absence of social restraint. It was exactly the same as Ina. The family resemblance was not limited to physical characteristics.
The brother was truly just like the sister. Hyoren could already feel the headache coming. A very, very large headache.
***
The crowd gradually dispersed. The exodus began slowly at first—a few adventurers breaking away from the groups they had formed during the duel, then more following as the novelty of the event faded and the demands of daily life reasserted themselves.
Conversations continued in lowered voices—the kind of post-event analysis that always followed significant duels. Even the ones who lost money still looked pleased.
The duel had been good entertainment.
Ignoring the still-beaming Jackey beside him, Hyoren scanned the surroundings, searching for Elise. His eyes moved across the thinning crowd—tracking faces and forms in search of the silver hair and emerald eyes that had become his anchor in this world.
He expected her to be relieved. Happy, even. After all, he had won.
He didn't need to marry Ina now. The outcome that had seemed to concern her so deeply had been avoided entirely. The duel was over, and he had emerged victorious without any binding obligations beyond adding a new party member.
But what he found instead completely baffled him.
"Elise? What happened? I won. So I don't need to marry Ina..."
The words came out before he could stop them—a question that seemed obvious in his mind but received no welcoming response.
Elise was still holding Ina's hand. The contact was not the casual grip of acquaintances but something more intimate—the kind of hand-holding that suggested shared disappointment rather than shared celebration.
Her eyebrows were furrowed slightly, and there wasn't even a trace of a smile on her face. Instead—she looked sad.
Ina looked the same. Her cat ears had drooped—the energetic swishing of her tails reduced to occasional, listless movements.
Beside them, Jackey simply stood there awkwardly, glancing back and forth between his big sister and his newly acquired big brother.
Hyoren was utterly confused. Ina's disappointment, he understood. She had openly pursued him for a long time already. The duel had been her opportunity to formalize their relationship through official channels, and that opportunity had slipped away with his victory.
But Elise? Why was Elise sad?
Then realization suddenly struck him.
Wait… Were her hints actually real? Did she truly want me to get together with Ina? Was she genuinely willing to let me have two lovers?
The idea sounded absurd. Completely absurd.
And yet—it was the only explanation that made logical sense after everything that had happened recently. The evidence had been accumulating for days, but he had refused to see it. Had willfully ignored it because acknowledging it would require confronting possibilities that seemed too good to be true.
Elise's mysterious smile when she mentioned having 'an agreement' with Ina. He had dismissed it as some kind of inside joke between the two women.
The sudden closeness between the two women afterward. The synchronized giggles. Cooking together. The interactions that had seemed like the natural thawing of a previously hostile relationship now took on a different significance.
The way Elise casually included Ina while discussing the house earlier that morning, as if Ina living with them had already become an accepted fact.
And then her calm encouragement before the duel.
If Hyoren looked back carefully—every single hint pointed in the same direction. But he still couldn't fully believe it.
Because Elise had never been like this before. She used to be territorial. Jealous. Possessive. At one point, she had practically wanted to strangle Ina. The memory of her fierce protectiveness was still fresh.
And when Elise discovered that Hyoren had spent time alone with Ina in the Guild Reference Room—even though they had only been reading books together—it nearly caused a crisis severe enough to threaten their relationship.
So what changed? Why was Elise acting like this now?
Hyoren stood there, completely and utterly baffled.
***
Elise finally moved. The shift was subtle—a slight relaxation of her shoulders that preceded the more significant motion that followed. She slowly released Ina's hand.
Her expression was still sad, but now it also carried resignation. For the moment, she ignored Hyoren entirely and turned toward Ina instead.
"Ina... this guy is too dense."
She let out a long sigh. The sound carried the weight of accumulated frustration—weeks of careful hints and meaningful glances reduced to nothing by his inability to recognize what was being offered.
"I think only direct words will get through that thick skull of his."
Ina nodded in complete agreement. Her cat ears were still flattened in disappointment, but her tail had finally started swishing again.
"You're right, Elise..."
She rubbed her forehead tiredly.
"Let's go to my room in the dormitory and discuss it there..."
The suggestion was practical—offering privacy that the training yard could not provide.
The two women exchanged a synchronized nod.
Then Elise finally looked toward Hyoren, who was still standing frozen in place, utterly baffled by everything happening around him. Her gaze settled on him with an intensity that made him feel as though he was being examined under a magnifying glass—every flaw and failing laid bare for inspection.
"Hyoren."
Her emerald eyes narrowed slightly.
"I knew you were dense... but I never realized you were this dense."
She shook her head, silver hair swaying softly with the motion.
“Let’s talk about this somewhere more private.”
Ina turned toward Jackey. The shift in her attention was immediate—redirecting from the complicated dynamics of the larger group to the simpler matter of managing her younger brother.
“And you too, little brother. Follow us.”
Jackey immediately straightened up and nodded obediently. He might fear no monster inside a dungeon, but defying his big sister was clearly a different matter entirely.
Without another word, Elise and Ina began walking away together.
Jackey hurried after them. His stride was longer than theirs but somehow managed to convey the same sense of purposeful pursuit—a younger sibling following his elders without questioning the destination.
A few seconds later, Elise glanced back over her shoulder and noticed Hyoren still standing there motionlessly. The sight seemed to push her past the limits of her patience—a final straw added to the burden of frustration she was already carrying.
A hint of irritation finally slipped into her voice, as though she genuinely could not believe someone could remain this oblivious after all the hints she had thrown at him.
"What are you doing, Hyoren? Hurry up and follow us."
That finally snapped Hyoren out of his stupor.
He quickly followed after the two women, his thoughts still tangled in confusion. His feet moved before his mind could fully process the implications of what was happening. The training yard receded behind him—the packed dirt and scattered equipment giving way to the stone paths and wooden structures of the Guild grounds.
But one thing was certain now. He needed answers. And it seemed Elise was finally ready to give them.
***
The walk toward the Guild Dormitory was quick. The building was only a stone's throw away from the training yard.
The dormitory itself was a large two-story structure, spacious and well-maintained. It radiated warmth and comfort from every angle—the kind of building that seemed designed to welcome its inhabitants rather than merely house them. Magic lamps hung near the entrance. The flowers were well-tended.
The atmosphere felt cozy. Welcoming. But Hyoren couldn't appreciate any of it. Right now, all he felt was dread. The pleasant surroundings seemed almost mocking.
Ina led them upstairs to the second floor.
The wooden stairs creaked softly beneath their combined weight. Judging by the size and layout, this level was reserved for senior guild staff. Unlike the first floor, which contained around ten smaller rooms, the second floor only had three large ones.
Ina stopped in front of the last room and unlocked the door. Then she led them inside. Hyoren, Elise, and Jackey followed after her.
The interior was surprisingly spacious and cozy.
There was a kitchen connected to a combined living room and dining area, a bathroom near the corner, and a single closed door that likely led to the bedroom.
The entire room felt unmistakably like Ina. Warm. Comfortable. Lively. The personality of the Vice Guild Master was evident in every corner.
Flower pots filled the corners of the room, while cute decorations and colorful fabrics gave the place a soft charm that contrasted heavily with Ina's shameless flirting personality. Small trinkets lined the shelves—mementos from adventures and gifts from acquaintances that suggested a life richer than her professional demeanor might indicate.
The living room contained a large sofa resting atop a plush carpet.
Papers were scattered across the table—mostly reports and guild documents awaiting the vice guild master's signature.
Several shelves filled with books lined the walls.
She turned around and faced Jackey.
"Jackey, go take a shower first. You stink."
The instruction was delivered with casual authority—the kind of tone that an older sibling used when directing a younger one.
Jackey immediately nodded.
"Will do, Big Sis! Farewell!"
Then he practically bolted toward the bathroom. The door closed behind him with a soft click.
Even musclebrain like him could tell the atmosphere had become dangerously heavy.
And like the survival-oriented beastkin he was, Jackey instantly decided to flee the battlefield. Using the shower as an excuse, he clearly intended to stay inside as long as possible.
Ina and Elise sat side by side on the plush carpet. The position was deliberate—placing them together in a way that emphasized their alliance and presented a united front.
Both women wore serious expressions now.
Ina pointed toward the empty space in front of them.
"Now, Hyoren. Sit."
Hyoren obediently did as he was told. His legs folded beneath him as he settled onto the carpet—the plush fabric providing a soft cushion that did nothing to ease the tension in his body.
He was still sweating from the duel, but unlike Jackey, he knew he couldn't escape this conversation by hiding in the bathroom.
So he sat down quietly across from them. Then he looked toward Elise, his expression earnest and worried.
"Elise... did I make a mistake? If I did, let me apologize first."
He would rather apologize and seek forgiveness than allow the distance between them to grow.
Elise slowly shook her head, silver hair swaying softly with the motion.
"Hyoren... I'm not angry because you made a mistake. But..."
She paused. When she looked at him again, her emerald eyes were filled with sadness.
"Because you forgot your own promise to me..."
Hyoren's eyes widened. The shock of the statement hit him like a physical blow.
A promise? What promise?
The question echoed in his mind without finding an answer. He searched his memory desperately—trying to recall any commitment he might have made and subsequently broken.
Confusion immediately flooded his mind.
He thought he had always put Elise first. He loved her. Protected her. He never wanted to hurt her. As far as he remembered, he had never broken any promise between them. The conviction was genuine—he could not recall a single instance where he had failed to honor a commitment he had made to her.
So what was she talking about?
Elise closed her eyes briefly and inhaled a deep breath, as though steadying herself emotionally.
“So you really don’t remember...”
Then she opened her eyes again. This time, disappointment was clearly visible within her emerald irises.
“Remember our last big fight?”
Her voice was quiet.
“What did I say was necessary for our relationship to continue?”
Hyoren's mind raced desperately. He tried to remember that crisis. The argument. The tension. The conditions they discussed afterward. The memories were there—fragmented and unclear—but they refused to coalesce into anything coherent.
The fight had been intense. He remembered that much. The discovery of Ina's scent on his clothes. The accusation in Elise's eyes. The desperate explanations that had seemed inadequate. The conditions she had laid out for continuing their relationship.
But his thoughts were tangled, uncertain.
"Umm..."
He hesitated.
"For me to always love you? And never cheat with anyone?"
The words came out halting and uncertain—a guess rather than a confident recollection. He hoped he was right. He prayed that he had remembered correctly. But the expressions on the faces of both women told him otherwise before either of them spoke.
Elise slowly exhaled.
Even Ina looked disappointed now. Her cat ears had flattened against her head.
"So you really forgot..."
The words were not a question but a confirmation.
Hyoren's eyes widened further. At that moment, panic finally began creeping into his chest.
He had forgotten something important. Something precious. A promise to Elise. His lover. His emotional anchor. The realization was devastating—not just because he had failed to remember, but because he could not even identify what he had forgotten.
And judging from the sadness in her eyes—it was clearly something that mattered deeply to her.
***
Elise went silent for a while, seemingly organizing her thoughts. The pause was deliberate—a moment of preparation before delivering something significant. Her emerald eyes moved slightly as she processed whatever internal narrative she was constructing.
The silence only lasted a few seconds. But to Hyoren, it felt like an eternity.
Finally, Elise steeled herself and spoke.
"You promised to never lie to me again."
Realization struck Hyoren instantly.
That night. That crisis. He remembered it clearly now. The fight that had nearly torn them apart. The desperate reconciliation. The conditions Elise had laid out for continuing their relationship. She had made him promise that no matter what happened, he would never lie to her again.
Not even about small things.
"Ah..."
The words caught in his throat.
"I'm sorry, Elise... for actually forgetting my own promise..."
The apology was genuine—carrying the weight of sincere regret. He had broken something precious without even realizing it.
But then confusion surfaced again.
"But... what did I lie about? I didn't lie to you about anything..."
The question was honest—he genuinely could not identify the deception she was referring to. He had been careful with his words. He had avoided making false statements. And yet the sadness in her eyes suggested that he had failed her in some fundamental way.
Elise looked directly at him, her emerald eyes locking onto his dark ones.
"You may not have directly lied to me."
Her voice was calm.
"But you deliberately avoided telling me the truth. Even when I kept asking you. Over and over."
She shook her head slightly, silver hair swaying softly with the motion.
"I kept asking you about your real feelings toward Ina..."
A faint sadness entered her voice.
"But you kept deflecting."
Then she reached beside her and gently held Ina's hand. Their fingers intertwined with a familiarity that suggested this was not the first time they had sought comfort in each other's presence.
"Did you really think I wouldn't notice your feelings for her?"
Her eyes softened slightly. The sharpness that had characterized her earlier expressions gave way to something gentler.
"You're easy to read, Hyoren."
She continued quietly.
"At first, I asked you indirectly. Then directly. But every time, you made excuses or avoided answering."
Ina lowered her gaze silently beside her while Elise continued speaking. The cat-eared woman's posture was subdued.
"Even this duel..."
A bitter smile appeared briefly on Elise's lips.
"It was something Ina and I planned together to make you finally become honest with yourself."
Hyoren froze. The revelation struck him with unexpected force—a cascade of implications that he had not considered. The duel had not been a spontaneous challenge from a protective brother. It had been orchestrated. Planned. Designed to produce a specific outcome.
"We planned for you to lose..."
Elise's voice remained calm, but the disappointment underneath it was unmistakable.
"So you would finally admit that you loved Ina too."
At that moment, Hyoren finally understood his mistake. He had not simply forgotten a promise. He had actively avoided fulfilling it.
Deep down, he had wanted to talk about it. Many times. But every time the conversation approached, he postponed it. Deflected it. Avoided it. Because he was afraid. Afraid Elise would hate him if he admitted the truth.
About what he truly felt toward Ina.
He tried to organize his thoughts. He would be honest. About his fear. About his feelings.
"Elise... I admit it. I do have feelings for Ina."
His voice was quiet but firm.
"But I kept holding myself back. I already have you as my lover. And I noticed how jealous and territorial you became whenever Ina approached me before."
He lowered his gaze slightly.
"So I decided to bury those feelings."
A bitter smile formed on his lips. The expression was self-deprecating.
"I didn't want to lose you just because I admitted I was starting to fall for Ina too."
Elise smiled softly.
"So that's what this was about..."
She let out a small sigh.
"Why couldn't you just be honest? We could've talked about it together."
She briefly glanced at Ina beside her. The look they exchanged was one of shared understanding.
Ina nodded silently, leaving the explanation to Elise first.
Elise looked back toward Hyoren. Her emerald eyes met his with a directness that left no room for evasion.
"When Ina first started flirting with you, it wasn't because I was jealous."
Her expression became serious.
"I was trying to protect you from a maneater."
She raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You remember, right? Ina used to flirt with and sleep around with a lot of men."
Hyoren slowly nodded.
Even the crowd earlier had openly acknowledged Ina's infamous reputation. The comments had been casual but revealing—testimony to a pattern of behavior that was widely recognized throughout Akela's adventuring community.
Seeing that he understood, Elise continued.
"That's why I became territorial."
Her fingers intertwined gently with Ina's hand.
"I didn't want you becoming her next target. Her next plaything."
Then Elise glanced at Ina, silently giving her space to speak.
Ina inhaled slowly before beginning. The breath was deep—a preparatory gesture that preceded words she had clearly been wanting to say for some time.
"Elise was right."
A faint, embarrassed smile appeared on her lips. .
"When I first saw you, I just thought you were a handsome and capable man."
Her cat ears twitched awkwardly.
"I wanted to eat you up immediately. Exactly like Elise said."
She paused briefly, seemingly recalling those memories fondly. The nostalgia was visible in her expression—a softening of her features that suggested the recollection was not entirely unpleasant.
"But slowly... things changed."
Her amber eyes softened.
"You treated me preciously. You didn't treat me like some whore. You treated me like a proper lady. Be kind to me. Talk to me, laugh with me. You make me feel I truly could be loved. Not just a men sexual outlet."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"After that... I stopped chasing men around. It suddenly felt hollow. And somewhere along the way, I started genuinely falling for you."
A weak laugh escaped her lips.
"At first, I also tried burying those feelings. You already had Elise. And.. I was afraid you would hate me because I'm tainted. You would not wanting me because I already slept with many men. The thought scared me."
Then she smiled softly again. The expression was fragile—carrying hope that had been tempered by fear.
"But of course Elise noticed… She approached me herself... and offered me a place beside you."
Tears slowly gathered in Ina's eyes. The droplets formed gradually—building at the corners before beginning their descent down her cheeks.
"I don't think I've ever been that happy before..."
Her voice cracked slightly.
"The idea that someone like me could still receive happiness… It felt unreal."
She quickly wiped at her eyes, though the redness remained in her amber gaze.
"Elise agreed to let me become your lover too."
Ina looked toward Elise with deep gratitude. The emotion was visible in every aspect of her expression—the kind of thankfulness that came from being offered something she had never expected to receive.
"She said she didn't mind more women orbiting around you."
Elise gently hugged Ina closer.
"For elves, the concept of marriage is different compared to humans."
Her voice carried calm warmth now. The earlier tension had dissipated—replaced by something more comfortable and explanatory.
"We love our partners deeply. But we don't believe in binding them."
She smiled faintly.
"What matters most to us is honesty. If our partner genuinely falls in love with someone else too... then we simply welcome that person into the family."
Then Elise suddenly giggled softly. The sound was unexpected—a moment of levity in a conversation that had been intensely serious.
"And honestly, I thought humans were similar anyway. Don't many human nobles have harems?"
A teasing smile appeared briefly on her face.
"Some people even say a man's worth is measured by how many women choose him. Fufu."
Finally, she looked directly into Hyoren's eyes again. The shift in her demeanor was immediate—the playfulness giving way to something more serious.
"So Ina and I reached an agreement together. And afterward, we waited for you to finally be honest with us."
Then her expression became slightly exasperated again.
"But you just kept staying silent. Even when we asked you directly, you kept dodging the question. And today..."
She sighed dramatically.
"You even ruined our entire plan by winning the duel."
Ina nodded beside her, her eyes still slightly red.
"That's why we're asking directly now..."
Then Elise pointed at Hyoren. The gesture was direct—leaving no ambiguity about who she was addressing and what she expected.
"Now we've both opened our hearts completely to you."
Her voice softened.
"So please... Your turn. No more deflecting. No more running away. Be honest with us, Hyoren."
***
Elise and Ina's confessions lingered heavily in the air. The words they had spoken seemed to hang between them. The room felt smaller somehow, as if the emotional gravity of what had been shared had compressed the space around them.
The room fell silent. Their fingers remained intertwined, the two women sitting close together like family already. Perhaps, in the end, they truly had become one.
Two women who loved the same man. And instead of fighting over him, they chose to stay together beside him.
Hyoren inhaled deeply before slowly opening his eyes again. Steeling his resolve. He knew this confession was late. Both women already understood his feelings long ago.
But as a man, he felt he needed to say it properly with his own mouth. First, he looked toward Elise. She silently nodded, encouraging him to continue. Her emerald eyes held no jealousy or resentment, only warmth and encouragement.
Then Hyoren turned toward Ina, his dark eyes filled with sincerity.
"Ina... to tell you the truth, I don't know exactly when I started falling for you."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Maybe the feeling first began when I heard your soft giggle for the first time. Or when you kept helping me over and over. Or when you took care of me and Elise while we were bedridden."
He paused briefly.
"But I guess the exact moment doesn't really matter anymore."
His gaze softened.
"What matters is this... I love you, Ina."
His voice became firm. The words were spoken with certainty—leaving no room for misinterpretation or doubt.
"Not less than Elise. I love both of you. Equally. I promise I will be fair."
He closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them again. The gesture was one of resolve.
"Call me greedy if you want."
A self-deprecating smile appeared on his face. The expression carried a hint of humor—acknowledging the audacity of his desire while refusing to apologize for it.
"But I wanted both of you to become my lovers."
His emotions finally began pouring out like a broken dam.
"I always imagined how nice it would feel to see both of you together beside me. In our home. You two cooking together. Us laughing together in the living room. Sharing our lives together."
His voice softened further.
"I love you, Ina. And I don't care about your past. I never thought you were tainted."
He shook his head firmly. The motion was emphatic—a rejection of the self-condemnation that Ina had carried for so long.
"The past is the past. What matters is that you already regret it. And what matters most is the future we choose from now on."
Then his expression became serious.
"So as long as you truly leave behind your maneater habits..."
He smiled gently.
"I'll gladly accept you as my lover."
Hyoren's confession lingered heavily in the air. The words seemed to echo in the quiet room—each phrase finding its place in the space between them and settling there like stones dropped into still water.
Ina opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her lips parted and closed again—forming shapes that refused to become sounds.
The articulate Vice Guild Master who could tease and flirt with effortless charm had been reduced to silence by the weight of emotions she had never expected to confront.
Beside her, Elise gently nudged her shoulder.
The contact was light—a physical reminder that she was not alone in this moment. Only then did Ina finally snap out of her stupor. The touch seemed to break whatever spell had held her frozen—releasing the flood of emotions that had been building behind the dam of her composure.
The next moment, she suddenly lunged forward. Hyoren instinctively caught her in his arms.
And finally, the dam inside Ina broke apart completely.
The tears that had been threatening throughout the conversation finally overflowed—spilling down her cheeks in torrents that she made no effort to contain. Tears poured from her eyes without restraint—a release that had been building for longer than she wanted to admit
"I love you, Hyoren...!"
Her voice cracked apart into sobs.
"I love you... I love you..."
The repetition was involuntary.
She buried her face against his chest, clutching tightly onto his clothes as though afraid he might disappear. Her fingers gripped the fabric with desperate intensity—the kind of hold that suggested she was clinging to something she had feared would never be hers.
"I was always scared..."
Her shoulders trembled violently.
"The thought of you hating me because of my past kept giving me nightmares..."
The respected Vice Guild Master who usually teased everyone around her had become a complete mess now. The transformation was absolute—the confident woman who flirted with abandon and commanded respect in equal measure had been replaced by someone far more vulnerable.
Tears and snot mixed together without dignity.
"Hicc... I'm tainted..."
Her voice shook weakly.
"My body was used by so many men..."
She clenched his clothes tighter. The grip was almost painful—her knuckles whitening as she held onto him with desperate strength.
"I don't deserve love... Hicc..."
Hyoren silently tightened his embrace.
The motion was instinctive—a response that required no thought or deliberation. Then his hand slowly moved to her head, gently patting her soft orange hair. The touch was tender—a contrast to the violent emotions that surrounded them. Ina's cat ears flattened completely beneath his touch.
"I kept telling myself that..."
Her voice trembled harder.
"That I didn't deserve someone like you... But... But… I just couldn't stop my feelings anymore..."
Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.
"I never felt like this before..."
A weak laugh escaped between sobs.
"Usually I only played with men's hearts and bodies... But this time..."
She buried herself deeper against him.
"I just couldn't..."
She continued crying quietly.
The sobs had subsided slightly—replaced by a steady stream of tears that flowed without the violent convulsions that had characterized her earlier release.
"I kept dreaming about us being together... But I was also scared... I thought Elise would hate me... That she would never let me stay near you..."
Hyoren continued gently patting Ina's head, giving her time to pour out all the emotions she had been bottling up for so long.
"Then..."
Ina's voice softened.
"She suddenly told me I could become yours too..."
A few more tears escaped her eyes.
"She even started planning things for me..."
Her lips trembled.
"I'm really grateful to her..."
Finally, Ina slowly lifted her head.
The face that emerged was a mess of tears and emotion—flushed cheeks that bore no resemblance to the confident flirt she usually presented to the world.
Her amber eyes were red and wet with tears as they met Hyoren's dark gaze. The contrast between her usual vivaciousness and her current vulnerability was striking.
"I love you, Hyoren..."
Her voice was small now. The confidence and playfulness that usually characterized her speech had been stripped away—leaving only the raw honesty of someone who had nothing left to hide.
"So please... Please let me stay beside you..."
Hyoren looked at her quietly. The moment stretched between them—a silence that carried more weight than any words could convey. Then he smiled gently.
"I love you too, Ina."
His hand softly caressed her hair. The motion was tender—a continuation of the comfort he had been offering throughout her emotional release.
"So please... Become my lover."
Beside them, Elise watched the scene with warm eyes.
Tears quietly rolled down her cheeks too, though hers were tears of happiness. The moisture traced paths down her face—unnoticed and unacknowledged as she witnessed the resolution of something she had been working toward for weeks.
The man she loved. And the woman she had chosen to become family. Both had finally become honest with each other. The realization brought a soft smile to her lips even as the tears continued to fall.
Meanwhile, inside the bathroom, the sound of running water had actually stopped a long time ago. But someone clearly understood that this was absolutely not the right moment to come out.
Outside the dormitory window, the three moons of Kresneger—Azure, Crimson, and Ebony—hung high in the dark sky. And once again, they became silent witnesses.
Witnesses to the confession of two people who had each been trapped by their own fears—his inability to acknowledge his feelings and her conviction that she was unworthy of love.