Chapter 214: Silverleaf Academy (LXII)

The morning sun peeked faintly through the high glass windows of the west wing, its rays slipping through the ornate curtains.

“Haah…”

Aestrea sat on the edge of the bed, a thick bandage wrapped over his chest. His white shirt clung faintly to the dried blood beneath it, but he looked calm… calm, and yet tired.

The weight behind his eyelids threatened to shut them at any moment.

[21 hours remaining…]

Yeah, it had been more than a whole day since the battle, and Aestrea’s life was hanging by a thread; his body was near his limit.

“Well… today’s the final day to resolve everything…” he clenched his fists, and feeling that his mana had recovered totally, he couldn’t help but smile lightly.

Knock, knock!

The door opened gently, and the first to enter was Alaine, her golden hair was tied neatly, her maid uniform spotless as always, though her usually composed eyes were soft today.

Following close behind her was Lumi, bouncing cheerfully, quite literally, as her slime-like hair wiggled behind her steps. She wore her humanoid form for the sake of decency… though her skirt was once again too short.

Behind Lumi came Chaerin, who walked slowly, hugging a small blanket that trailed behind her like a security net. Her little frown deepened the moment she saw him.

And last—

Ruli and Leaf slipped in together, the twin sisters, peeking from behind the half-open door. Ruli’s fingers played with her braid nervously, while Leaf was biting her lip, trying not to look too emotional.

“You’re awake…” Alaine said softly.

“I am,” Aestrea replied, managing a weak smile. “And all of you came… makes me think I’m dying.”

‘Although I quite am…’

“You’re not dying!” Chaerin grumbled, striding to the bed without hesitation. “If you are… I’ll bite you!”

Aestrea blinked at her words, a light smile forming on his face.

“…You’re not that shy anymore.”

“That’s natural! Someone has to take care of you.”

He laughed weakly, and Alaine stepped closer, bowing politely. “I instructed the others not to disturb you, but… I couldn’t stop them.”

“She’s lying,” Lumi added with a giggle, bouncing over and climbing beside Aestrea. “She was the first to knock.”

“I was checking the hallway,” Alaine said stiffly.

“Uh-huh. While standing in front of the door for ten minutes,” Lumi teased, winking.

Aestrea chuckled again, raising a hand and gently petting Lumi’s head.

“You’re still mischievous, huh… even after turning into an SS-rank creature.”

“Well, of course. I’m made of love and goo.” She grinned proudly.

Chaerin didn’t say anything more. She just climbed onto the bed too and leaned into his side, her little arms careful around his injuries.

The twins followed at last, Ruli tiptoeing across the floor with her eyes locked on Aestrea’s face like he might disappear again, and Leaf walking more confidently, but clutching her sister’s sleeve.

“You’re… really okay?” Leaf asked.

Aestrea nodded faintly.

“Still breathing.”

“Good,” Ruli said softly. “We were worried, and Chaerin cried.”

“I did not!” Chaerin barked, red in the face.

“She totally did,” Lumi whispered behind her palm.

“I will erase you.”

“You’ll try~”

Alaine cleared her throat, stepping beside the bed.

She reached out, brushing her fingers gently over Aestrea’s forehead to fix his messy hair. “Master… you’re leaving again, aren’t you?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

“…Yes.”

That one word made everyone fall silent.

“You know it’s going to be extremely dangerous,” Alaine said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You know it may be the last time we see you.”

Aestrea looked at her, then at Chaerin, then Lumi, and the twins.

One by one.

“I know,” he said.

“That’s why I wanted to see all of you.”

Lumi blinked, surprised.

“Oh wow… that’s actually kinda sweet for you.”

“Don’t ruin it,” Chaerin muttered.

Ruli and Leaf had moved closer now, sitting at the edge of the bed and watching him with wide eyes.

“If… if it’s really dangerous,” Ruli began softly, “promise you’ll think about us while you fight.”

“And don’t die looking lame,” Leaf added.

“Yeah, at least die in a cool pose,” Lumi chimed in cheerfully.

Chaerin groaned.

“Seriously, all of you are terrible at this.”

Aestrea closed his eyes for a moment, as if trying to remember their voices, their warmth… their overall presence.

“I’ll come back…” Aestrea muttered slightly.

“I promise.”

Chaerin tightened her hold on his sleeve.

Alaine leaned in and kissed his temple gently, her voice soft.

“We’ll be waiting. No matter how long.”

“Even if I’m late?”

“You’ve never been on time once,” she said.

“But yes.”

Aestrea smiled faintly, pulling the blanket closer.

And just as the girls began heading for the door, Lumi spun around one last time, wagging her finger playfully.

“Oh! If you pass out again—”

Aestrea raised an eyebrow.

“Yes?”

“I’m not carrying your corpse this time. It was heavy!”

“You’re a slime.”

“Yes. And you’re heave!”

Chaerin rolled her eyes.

“You carried him in your mouth last time.”

“It was efficient!”

Ruli giggled, and Leaf tried to hide her laugh with both hands.

Aestrea watched them leave with a small smile, the softest warmth blooming in his chest. But unfortunately, it was time for him to leave.

He slowly stood up and went to the room where the portal to Yara’s place was. behind him, only Alaine stood, however…

“Sniff, sniff…”

Even without turning, even without his enhanced senses, he could hear it all. The sound of soft sobs stifled behind closed doors.

The faint, muffled cries of Leaf. Ruli’s voice cracked as she tried to whisper something brave. Chaerin’s frustrated silence. Lumi’s heartbeat shifting, heavier than usual.

They were crying.

All of them.

He exhaled quietly.

And then…

A gentle hand touched his arm, brushing over one of his bruises with a trembling caress.

“…Are you sure you don’t need our help?” Alaine asked, her voice small, barely a whisper.

Not the voice of the maid who served him… but as the woman who loved him deeply.

Aestrea turned slightly, his eyes soft.

He raised a hand, brushing one of her long, golden strands behind her pointed ear, letting his fingers linger just a little too long.

“I’m sure,” he said quietly. “But knowing you’d come for me… if I ever stopped breathing, that’s enough.”

Alaine’s breath hitched, her throat bobbing.

“I love you, Alaine.”

Her eyes widened.

“And I’ll come back,” he promised. “In one piece.”

Chuu♡!

His lips softly brushed hers.

Her body stiffened at first, caught between shock and disbelief, but her hands slowly reached up, trembling, as if afraid he might vanish the moment she touched him.

“…You always say the cruelest things with the sweetest smile,” she whispered, breaking just a little.

He smiled.

And then, without another word, Aestrea turned… and stepped into the glowing circle of the portal.

It was time for the final showdown.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

The instant Aestrea stepped through the portal, the light behind him vanished.

And then—

“DARRRLIIINNGGG~!”

The voice floated to him like silk soaked in wine, sultry and playful, echoing through the beautiful mansion with unmistakable hunger.

A second later—

FWUMP!

Two pairs of arms wrapped around his shoulders from behind, and two smooth legs coiled tightly around his waist, locking into place like a trap.

“Caught you~♡”

He didn’t even need to look.

That scent, dark lilies and black fire, and that warm breath against his ear.

Yara.

Her long black hair cascaded over his shoulder like a waterfall of shadows, strands brushing against his collarbone.

Her body was pressed entirely to his back, soft and supple, yet brimming with dangerous strength.

Her black eyes stared at him upside-down with the most saccharine, maddening smile carved across her lips.

“I missed you so much,” she purred, her voice dropping to a whisper, brushing hot against the shell of his ear.

And before Aestrea could speak—

CHUUU♡!!

She spun around him mid-air like a serpent, and slammed her lips to his with zero hesitation, one hand curling behind his head, pulling him deeper into the kiss.

“Mmh—♡”

Her mouth moved hungrily against his, tongue sliding in like she had every right to taste him down to the soul. Her moan vibrated right into his chest, breath hot and wet between gasps.

Slrrrp—♡

Mwah~!

Smack~!

She pulled back just slightly, her eyes half-lidded with smoky desire, a little string of saliva still connecting their lips as her hips ground slowly against his waist.

“I waited sooo long,” she whispered against his lips, “and you come in looking all bruised and tired… mmf, how cruel of you, Darling~”

She licked the corner of his mouth, catching a trail of blood.

“Tastes like god’s work…”

Aestrea blinked, half-dizzy from the sudden onslaught of affection, but said nothing, only lifting one arm to hold her steady around his waist.

“…Yara.”

“Hm~?” she tilted her head, playfully sucking on the tip of her thumb, her lower half still rubbing suggestively against him.

“…You’re not going to let me rest first, are you?”

“Fufufu~♡” she giggled against his throat, pressing her breasts tighter into his chest, her voice vibrating like a spell cast just for him.

“You came to my palace, my throne, my bed. What did you think was going to happen?”

She licked her lips again.

“Rest comes after you pay the toll… in kisses. And maybe a little bit of everything else~♡”

She leaned in again.

“But don’t worry… I’ll be very gentle. Probably.”

And her lips met his again, fiercer, hotter, sloppier—

“CHUUP~!! SLRRP♡! Nnnh~!”

And in the middle of her kiss, she whispered like a curse:

“Welcome home, my beloved…”

Their lips locked again, heat swirling between them like wildfire, tongues intertwining with a wet, needy exchange as Yara pushed herself tighter against Aestrea’s chest.

Her moans were soft, playful, fueled by the delight of finally having him in her arms again.

“Mmmnh… chu… slrpp♡…”

Her fingers, gentle at first, began trailing down the buttons of his shirt.

“Just a little peek,” she whispered teasingly, brushing her lips against his jawline as her fingers moved with a practiced elegance.

One button came undone.

Then another.

But just before the third—

Aestrea’s hand caught hers.

Firm, not harsh. His grip was steady.

Yara blinked.

“Hmm…?”

“I can’t right now,” he said softly.

“I’m not here for that… although, I do miss you a lot and have been wanting to visit you since the day I left.”

She tilted her head, black hair spilling across his shoulder like ink.

“And what are you here for then, my Darling?”

Aestrea looked her directly in the eyes, his expression unreadable but calm.

“…Today… I’m going to attack the Emperor.”

Yara’s playful smile froze for the briefest moment.

Her eyes widened just slightly.

But then—

Her lips slowly curled into a grin.

“Finally.”

She giggled.

“I was wondering how long it would take you to say those words.”

Aestrea blinked.

He hadn’t expected that reaction.

“You’re… not going to stop me?”

“Stop you?” Yara leaned in again, pressing her lips back onto his.

Then she whispered, breath curling like smoke:

“Darling, I’ll do anything you want to do.”

Slrrrp♡~

She kissed him again, this time deeper, more tender. Her hands cupped the sides of his face, brushing her thumbs under his tired eyes.

“If you want war, I’ll sharpen the blades. If you want peace, I’ll tear down kingdoms to make it happen.”

Chu~

She kissed him once more and pulled back with a wink.

“You’re mine. I trust everything you decide.”

Aestrea couldn’t help it, his lips twitching up slightly.

“…Thanks.”

“Now,” Yara spun around gracefully, her hair swaying behind her, “I’ve got a few generals to summon. We’ll paint the palace red together.”

Her fingers trailed down the edge of the wall as she walked out of the room, humming a dark melody to herself, hips swaying like a queen off to claim her throne.

The door closed behind her with a soft click.

Silence.

And then—

“BLUUGHHH—!!”

A violent, wet cough ripped from Aestrea’s throat as a full mouthful of dark red blood spilled from his lips, splashing across the black marble floor.

He staggered slightly, one hand clutching his ribs as pain lanced through his chest like a spear.

His body trembled.

“Fuck…”

He panted, wiping his mouth with the back of his sleeve, blood still dripping from the corner.

“That damn clock is definitely broken…”

A faint ding echoed in his ears as a panel flickered into view before his eyes.

[Remaining Lifespan: 22 hours and 53 minutes]

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep