Chapter 135: 135 Determination.

A calm breeze passed by, along with the tangy smell of viscous liquid that dropped from Sereth’s opened chest.

Its jagged teeth gaped before it let out a menacing roar.

The air trembled from its howl, and the tentacles around its left body wriggled like crazy, slamming around the ground and air.

Jin knitted his brows and leaped back toward Lucya’s front, watching her figure, who covered her ears with a pale face.

He gritted his teeth as the scream also started to affect his mind for a bit.

His silver blade glowed green. Then Jin stabbed it to the ground, creating a layer of barrier that covered both of them.

As the barrier was erected, the world turned muted.

Jin and Lucya could finally lift their gaze and witnessed the monster’s body slowly being swallowed in dark color before crumbling like dust.

Sereth’s monstrous body dissipated into thin air, leaving a lingering malice that etched deep within both souls.

The boy waited for a few seconds longer before lifting the barrier that covered them.

“Lucya, are you okay?”.

Jin said while sheathed his blade and twisted his neck to the side, peeking at Lucya’s condition.

“Yeah, thank you”. Lucya exhaled as strength left her body, and she lay her back on the ground. “Huff, that was the most horrifying scream I’ve ever heard”.

She held her shivering body and shifted her attention to the side, feeling Jin’s shadows covering her entire body.

“Can you stand?”.

Jin crouched beside her and swept over his gaze. He saw the tear in her uniform and a red mark on her neck.

The earlier experience must have gripped her to the core, but the girl was breathing calmly, her expression one of relief.

Lucya paused, then after a bit of pondering, she shook her head and glanced at Jin with a playful smirk.

“Huff, I think I’ve lost my strength; soon, maybe I’ll lose my breath too.”

“Don’t joke like that. My heart nearly popped from my throat when seeing you being choked”.

The girl blinked and stared at his emerald eyes that reflected her flushed face. “O-Okay…”.

Jin stored the katana in his item box and slid both arms under the stiffened girl’s back and knees.

He stood up while the princess soon nestled into his chest, searching for a comfortable position to rest.

Her soft and slender body pressed directly to him, sending a pleasant warmth that melted his stiff facial muscles.

’I’m glad she was okay’. Jin looked toward her neck and noticed there was no residual mucus that spilled from the tentacle’s hand.

“Let’s return”.

Seeing the girl nod, Jin touched the primal mana in his surrounding area. He absorbed it into his skin and let it flow through his veins.

A green aura pulsated around his skin. It nourished his flesh and strengthened the bones inside, multiplying his power.

A green magic circle emerged from his toes as the boy jumped and soared to the sky above.

The wind rushed past her ears. Lucya’s golden hair fluttered gently at the slow pace of Jin’s flight.

She held her breath to see the blackened sky turn bright, welcoming her with its warm glow that shimmered her heart with joy.

Her gaze involuntarily shifted toward the boy. Lucya snuggled close to his chest, letting herself feel his calm heartbeat that slowly resonated within her.

His manly smell soothed her ragged mind, which still couldn’t escape from the earlier incident.

At the last time, when she lowered her guard, Lucya was almost gone from this world. ’Again, I’m saved by him’.

Lucya’s arms unknowingly wrapped around the boy’s neck. Her heartbeat started to quicken as she gulped to swallow her nervousness.

“Jin?”.

“Hm? What’s the matter?”. Jin lowered his gaze, meeting her gaze head-on

The arm around his neck tightened as she muttered. “Is that true? What you said earlier?”.

“About what?”.

He tilted his head, unsure of what part Lucya had been asked. Lucya bit her lips and noticed that heat started to gather around her cheek.

“…About your heart which nearly bursts when seeing me in crisis?”.

“Oh, that?”. Jin’s brows raised. He was at a loss for words. “Of course it is; you are important to me, after all.”

The princess’ heart fluttered with her lips curled upward. Her vision started to blur and bite her lips as she barely held the urge to shout at the top of her lungs.

“Beside…”.

Her breath hitched as Lucya gazed at the boy’s calm expression, waiting for his following words.

“I still have a promise in finding a cure for your mother, right?”.

“…”.

“So I will make sure to protect you until you are reunited with your mother again.”

Lucya froze. Her gaze swelled in tears as she couldn’t contain the overflowing happiness in her heart.

The girl leaned in closer, feeling his warm breath tickle her lips.

Lucya kissed him.

She could feel the boy flinching upon contact, but Lucya didn’t have any intention to hold back.

The princess wanted the boy to recognize her feelings and her determination to stay by his side from now on.

After a dozen seconds that felt eternal, Lucya reluctantly separated her lips and saw a faint blush on the boy’s cheek, which made her giggle in amusement.

“Lucya, you, hm!?”.

Her second time, Lucya gently kissed his lips and let it linger for a few seconds longer. She slightly played with her tongue as she pulled away.

’I won’t let you talk, fufu’. Lucya noticed the boy’s lips opened, intending to say something, but she sealed his lips again.

The game of silencing her partner was over after a few exchanges until the boy finally shrugged his shoulder and planted his moist lips on her forehead.

They both stopped in midair and resumed toward their group, who waited in the distance.

From above, they could witness a pile of monster carcasses, scorched land, and the faces of students who just survived their first war.

Jin landed where Silvia and Iris stood, and they bombarded him with many questions, seeing the glistening face on Lucya’s expression and her smug grin.

***

While a group basked in the warmth of hard-earned victory, on the other side, there was a white-haired boy surrounded by corpses and self-doubt.

Allen, who sat on the ground with the body of a kobold by his side, glanced at the pink-haired girl who kept wandering around the field, giving other students treatment.

He raised his blade and saw his blood-stained hand, which still trembled by the aftereffect of the battle.

The tangy smell of blood infiltrated his nose, making his brows knitted in displeasure.

Allen shook his head, tightened the grip on his sword hilt, and muttered inside. ’No, this is the path I will walk’.

At the age of five, Allen was recognized as the chosen one by the orphanage he stayed in, located in the Holy Empire in the West.

As someone who was raised at the orphanage without knowing who his parents were. The only one he could depend on was the existence of Lily, who always accompanied him from his childhood.

She was cheerful and caring, with a strong belief in using her healing abilities to help everyone around her.

Unlike him, he had a weak heart and a crybaby who was suddenly being pointed out as a Hero who would save the world someday.

The boy wanted nothing but to wish that everything until now was a dream.

Then, a time came when the main temple was taking him. His blissful and calm life turned into nothing but a struggle with endless pain.

Waking in the morning to be subjected to prayer and training in swordsmanship. Then, at noon, Allen learned academic knowledge and etiquette.

Allen gritted his teeth and endured the path that he had been walking for years.

The cause was thanks to the presence of Lily, who was also chosen as his partner. He could survive that hellish training.

As time passed and the prophesied day near, where the Demon Lord Thypon would awake from its sealed state.

Allen embarked on his first journey in acquiring power and knowledge about the world by attending the academy.

The place where many talents from the continents gathered.

However, upon his arrival, Allen was baffled to see a powerful boy the same age as him also attending.

His strength was unlike anything he had ever seen. Even the teacher in the academy recognized him, and the power he displayed shattered all the confidence that he had built up.

Allen shook his head. ’No, I can’t betray those who care for me and Lily, who is willing to accompany me in this dangerous journey’.

His eyes narrowed, watching Jin’s group, who was still enveloped with a merry atmosphere despite being in the middle of the chaos.

He exhaled and stood up from the ground, turning his attention toward Lily, who still attended to her task with sweat streaming down her forehead.

The boy took a cloth from his storage and wiped the blood from his sword before sheathed it.

Allen’s legs moved on their own as Allen approached Jin’s side. Each step he took felt like walking through a swamp, heavy and unsettling, but his eyes remained unwavering.

The hellish training Allen honed for years shaped his weak heart into an unrefined sword with a dull blade.

What he needed was a wet stone to sharpen its edge for him to be ready to face his fate as a chosen one.

Allen stood behind the black-haired boy, who turned his back to him. He stared at Jin’s emerald eyes that reflected his own.

“Jin…”. Allen gulped and slightly bowed his torso and said out loud. “Would you train me, please?”.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep