Spoiler I’m Not the Final Boss’ Lover

Can i have more spoiler pls? What happened to Fabian and his team? At what chapter will MC meet with fabian?

 

Fabian and MC meets again in 2nd life for the first time around chapter 90.

 

Did fabian regret it? Abandoning her? Or is he more shameless than i thought?

 

Spoiler: Fabian

He's super shameless. He thinks Jun loves him and that's why she's sad that he left her, not cause he left her to die! But Jun never liked him. It's just his own assumption. Even after Jun clears the fact and tells him that she hates him, he acts like "It's okay. I understand. You're just sulking cause I didn't give you attention. You'll come back to me again after I coax you a little." Then he acts like "I'm so disappointed in you, Jun. How can you be so greedy to join the black knights? I always knew that you loved power and money and were greedy but to think you're gonna betray me, your teammate, over it." Like that son of a b*tch wasn't the one who betrayed her! Then he even plans to strangle and kill her in case she gives all her information to Meyer! Thankfully Meyer comes and stops him.

 

I volunteer as a tribute to cut his tongue off (as well as his comrades)

 

As of chapter 101 the ML has realized his feelings. I was fully expecting him to hold out and be in denial lot longer. To bad he thinks she'll be disappointed in him if she realizes he likes her to the extent he does.

While MC likes him back but is to traumatized by the abuse she got last round by people harassing her over misunderstanding her and past a** hole.

 

What ending does fabian has? What will happen to Meyer as he's the final hidden boss? Will the nobles and other member point a sword on him? I hope that's not the case.

 

Spoiler: Emm

Idk as I've only read till ch125 as of now. But Fabian will definitely not do well in the future. Meyer almost crushed one of his hand for trying to hurt Jun. He got it healed but there's still an aftereffect so he won't be a dual wielder anymore. Also Jun poached both his best healer and best ice mage. Technically, it's not poaching as the healer (April) sent the ice mage (Jeanne, 13yo) to Jun cause Fabian was literally abusing Jeanne in the dungeon by having her work without rest. Then April left to retire from dungeon fighting and go home cause she was disappointed with him. But Fabian that bitch attempted to murder her cause he's a fucking suspicious paranoid asshole. Then Jun saved her and she changed her face to join the black knight for safety.

 

I'm rereading the novel until the latest transl but I beg them to give August some peace. They've been bothering him since day 1 'til this day that he even felt frustrated to St. Marianne in some cases.

 

Hopefully now that April/Anastasia has ben added to the kinights. It will help relive some of his frustration by having a female my MC's side who can help these two wo are such dumasses when it comes to anything that's non dungeon related. Jun needs a female friend that can help out. She's a smart good girl so she'll probably pick up on Meyer liking Jun quick and be able to give advice/moderate from a girl's perspective.

 

Spoiler: a bit of 17?

-I don't remember it well but it seems like Fabian became the new demon king as he was the one who stabbed it (?)
-Jun died and met St. Marianne.
-St. Marianne revealed she really chose Fabian as someone to defeat the demon king. She was also responsible as to why Jun and Fabian wasn't affected by the regression. In Meyer's case it is because he was suppose to be the next demon king so he wasn't affected and can still remember the 1st round.
-St. Marianne tried to make Divine Revelation (?) but due to Fabian being corrupted and his mind deteriorating he wasn't able to hear it.

The mtl was quite messy and I don't remember it well (ᗒᗣᗕ)

 

Basically… He was too stupid and shameless to live?

 

Something like that I guess (?) don't really know how he died but.. oh well in any case let's just say he died because he got too greedy and arrogant.

Spoiler: Jun

She became the emperor. She really took everything from Fabian lol

 

MAH QUEEN!!

 

Guys, we can now read the novels in WordExcerpt (including this one) for free but it's going to become paid content later on.

Here's the link below if you want to read more about it.

Spoiler: Business Model Transition

https://wordexcerpt.com/news/business-model-transition/

 

"For him, the Black Knights were just a bunch of hamsters…"
Hhahahhhahahhhaa can't stop laughing at this omg Meyer hahahhahahhahahhahha

And their bickering omg hhahahahahahhahaahhaahhaha

Sylvester and Ophelia bickering was one thing but these two lmao hahhahahhaha

 

Spoiler: Jun abduction incident

Shortly after the banquet begins, Jun trash parent barged in the imperial palace and saying the little bro is sick and she needs to go with them (she know this is trap and said a code word to Nova who's her guard, he left without saying anything, but in truth he going to inform Meyer and the rest) .
Jun followed them to an alley in an abandoned neighborhood where fabitrash reveals himself along with reinforcements , among them there were spies Jun kicked out during the reorganization of BK (Meyer gave her authorities to do so) and a mental mage

Jun was buying time till Meyer and the rest came , she used the pumkin to cast lightning attack but an earth wall appears and blocked the attack, revealing an earth mage among enemies.
fabitrash then ordered the mental mage to attack and brainwash her, at first she pretending to be affected but she got bored pretty quick after hearing him spewing shits in front of her, she then revealed she was not affected by mental attacks at all, fabitrash ordered the mage to tries again and again but the attempts failed, she was stronger than he knows. So he slash at her with his sword ,but Meyer and the rest appear and the fighting began. The special squadron quickly overwhelming fabitrash men and subdued them. Meyer went berserk at fabitrash attempts to kill Jun, though fabitrash using a magic sword he only barely hanging on against Meyer who has higher lv and better skills despite using a normal sword. Meyer finally wounded fabitrash, intended to finish him but fabitrash used the teleport scroll and got away to the hideout he prepared before where he met his end by Deca hands.
The trash parent got arrested and dragged away while begging for mercy.
Nova on Jun's order, found the stepbro and send him to the castle for monitoring, she said the butler can let him works at the stable or something lol and see if he's still doing shenanigans, she's gonna kick him out of the castle when she get back from the expedition.

Countess nerus was trial and found guilty and swiftly executed. The ones in house nerus that not involved with her plan were spared by the emperor following Jun pleading.

The mental mage was found to be forced by countess nerus to brainwash himself which when August casted a cleansing on him, after that, the mage confessed everything, then Jun gave him a choice, to die as the countess dog or live as the grand duke dog , he chose the latter, then Jun made him brainwashed himself like the countess did but she made it so that he can't use brainwashing magic without Jun commands, some nobles argued if she will use it for bad things, she replied what the BK use has for such thing, or if they fear she gonna get all the handsome men of the empire under her, which Meyer jumped and protested lol, the whole room looks at him with strange eyes lol jjajahjahahaha.
Things then shift to preparations for the final battle against demon king.

I need to re-read Jun and Meyer confessions scene to add spoiler later duh. Cuz these two were very funny and straight forward once they realized their feelings lol.

I dont know which chapter is this cuz from where I read, it has a different chapter counting than wordexcerpt, this spoiler span for 2 chapters lol.

Spoiler: romcom?

Meyer hesitated and blurted the end of his speech. I didn’t know what he was trying to say, but he couldn’t say anything.

How long had it been?

The moment I couldn’t stand the boredom and was shaking my hips, Meyer finally opened his heavy mouth.

“Last time.”

“Yes.”

“You said Axion wasn’t your cup of tea.”

“Well… yes.”

“Then, what kind of man is your preference?”

… Why is he suddenly talking about my ideal type?

When I first heard his words, it was chaotic, so I almost made a mistake saying that Meyer was my preference. But then and now are different! Although I was puzzled by Meyer’s sudden question about my ideal type, there was no reason for me not to answer. I answered honestly.

“There are many kinds of ideal types, but… What comes to mind right now is a man with a light butt.”

“Butt… what?”

“I hate it when a man just sits around. I like men who move diligently and well.”

A man with a heavy butt will always make others do the work. I’ve never been a fan of men who need to be taken care of.

‘I don’t want to fall in love with a man who doesn’t want to move a single finger because I’m too busy breaking dungeons… I don’t want to be in a relationship unless it’s a man who brings water to me and picks strawberry stalks every day.’

I recalled my head, praising myself for making my own decision.

Anyway… I don’t know why he’s curious about a man of my taste, but I thought his curiosity would have been solved once I answered him.
But it was my illusion. Meyer mumbled, touching his chin.

“That’s a little vague.”

“What’s vague?”

“Is there anything else?”

“What else? About my ideal type?”

Meyer nodded.
Why was he digging so deep?
It bothered me that he was bothering me about it, but I could feel the pressure in Meyer’s intense gaze to get some answers.
That was fine. It was not a difficult question.
Ideal type… I pondered, my brows furrowed.

“Hm…I guess, height? You have to be tall, right? About a head taller than me?”

“A head taller… also?”

“It’s good to be handsome… I like people with thick eyebrows, maybe because my eyebrows are open.”

“And?”

“It’s not good to be too stupid. Because we have to communicate. At least I hope the intelligence index is similar to mine. Oh, it’s good to get the gag points right.”

“Intelligence index… Gag points…”

Meyer continued to ask questions, writing down each thing I said as if he were a doctor preparing a chart.

“What about physique? Skinny or muscular?”

“It’s better to have muscles, right? Strong men are my taste.”

Meyer’s lips were twitching. I couldn’t guess what point I meant made him feel good.

“And personality is… I like obedient people, maybe because I’m stubborn. I hate it when they talk back and argue.”

“…”

Suddenly, Meyer’s pen tip stopped. His face, which looked good earlier, was crumpled.

“Leader? Is there a problem?”

“… No. Right. Personality. Is there anything else?”

“If there’s anything left, it’s money? Of course, I am paid a considerable annual salary as the vice commander of the Black Knights, but the men’s side also needs to have stable real estate and personal assets, so it is good that they are well prepared for their future retirement. Oh, of course, there must be another job to do. Because when people play and eat, they get lazy.”

“…”

“But no matter how much money they have, it’s useless if you don’t spend money on me, so I hope they’re a man who spends a lot of money on me.”

“Good. I have a lot of money…”

“What?”

“Nothing. What other conditions do you have?”

I said it up to here. Should I say more? Appearance, physique, personality, wealth… Didn’t I say everything? Oh, come to think of it, there’s one more important thing left.

But no matter how much I say everything to Meyer, I didn’t know if it was okay to say this. Meyer, who quickly noticed that I was hesitating, urged me.

“Hurry.”

“… Sexual function?” .

“What?”

Meyer asked back with an expression of sincerely hoping that he had heard something wrong.

“It’s important if you’re lovers…”

I murmured at the end of my speech. It didn’t matter how embarrassing it was, it was important.

Meyer’s face turned bright red and then immediately pale. No, he wouldn’t act like he’d heard something he didn’t want to hear.

To make the world’s Meyer Knox on the verge of fainting with just one word. Thinking about it that way, I thought it was great too.

However, apart from that, I was ashamed of the situation in which I was having such a conversation with Meyer. My face was also heated up by Meyer’s unusual response.

“Ah, so why are you asking me all these questions? I won’t answer anymore.”

“W-Wait, Jun!”

With a yell, I quickly rose from my seat. I fled before Meyer had time to stop me. My purpose for breaking into Meyer’s office in the first place was forgotten in the back of my mind.

Suddenly it was an interrogation of my ideal type.

… What did Meyer Knox really think about?

The entire conversation here is just pure comedy I tell you jahahhajhaha
And yeah I am still rereading. Ehehhehehhe

Spoiler: Meyer realization

He knew this would happen eventually.

Meyer’s teeth clenched as he came to the reality that even though he had guessed everything, he could not avoid it.

He had been against the idea of letting Tragula sit in the Black Knights while even holding the artifact from the beginning.

The artifact was something Meyer had been thinking of giving to Jun since the beginning of the second round she joined the Black Order.

He didn’t like everything about it, but he couldn’t help it because Jun wanted it.

Going against Jun’s moods was a taboo that Meyer had to avoid as a top priority.

Ever since he found out that she liked obedient people and hated throwing up on her work, Meyer held his breath and watched Jun.

Since he didn’t have any information about ‘that’ function in question, he tried to match the other conditions to the best of his ability, just in case.
(T/N: Sexual function.)

But that was the limit.

Tragula was wagging his tail and sticking to Jun as if he were her loyal dog!

It was ironic to see him smiling and making eye contact with Jun.

He didn’t like the way the special forces showed Jun dog-like appearances, but he had to admit that it was a bit much. They were still just cute puppies.

Meyer burned with hostility, directing his owner’s affection toward Tragula as if he were a pet dog.

That said, it was difficult to forcefully peel away Tragula. It wouldn’t do to feel Jun’s weirdness.

She was really slow about how people around her saw her, but she was quick to read the room when it came to people’s tricks.

It was a setback if Jun was disappointed in himself while trying to excessively check Tragula by going out of the frying pan and falling on the fire.

That wasn’t all.

If she knew how he really felt, she would try to persuade him with forceful arguments about how beneficial Tragula was.

He didn’t want to hear her defending or praising another man.

‘I have to do something… What should I do?’

Fortunately, Jun was going to enter the dungeon soon.

Whenever he sent Jun to the dungeon, his mouth would dry up and his heart would tighten, but this time, he had to be pleased.

That’s right. While Jun was away, he should set up Tragula’s Yellow Lightning unit and send him to the dungeon too.

He was sure he was hungry for a dungeon of the right level of difficulty and to level up, so he would be happy to accept.

Jun went into the dungeon and came out after a while, so it wouldn’t be strange for Tragula to not be there when she comes out.

If he adjusted the schedule alternately…

He was thinking about this when suddenly he sighed and covered his face with his palms.

He never thought he would behave so poorly…

The old him could never have imagined this.

There was only one thorn in his mouth, but it was better to turn Tragula away without thinking.

His cowardly behavior, infested with jealousy, was even disastrous when viewed objectively.

Meyer pressed his nose bridge between the frowns with his thumb.

But… Jun was the first sweetness Meyer had tasted in his life.

How chilling it was to feel her fingertips touching his scalp as it slipped between his hair without hesitation.

It was the first gentle human warmth he’d felt since his nanny died.

Her crimson eyes filled with an unshakable trust in him, and every time they met in unison, Meyer’s lips would dry up.

Even Meyer couldn’t remember the last time he believed himself that way.

Is that all? Every time she showed a hint of concern, a chill of glee rose from the pit of Meyer’s stomach.

How could anyone in this world worry about him, who had been abandoned and ostracized by his parents since birth?

Come to think of it, Jun was always like that. She approached as if it were nothing, and moved away as if it were nothing…

When he stood in front of her, he felt as if he was no longer the residue of the Demon King, the cursed Meyer, but just an ordinary person.

Ordinary.

It was a word he hadn’t been given to begin with, a word he had thought had no place in his life at all.

Until now, Meyer didn’t care what happened to his life as long as he could defeat the Demon King.

Even if he had to die together with the Demon King, he would have been satisfied with that and would have gladly burned it into his soul.

But now, he could envision a life one by one after defeating the Demon King.

Jun and himself in a world that was free and was no longer bound by dungeons, demons, or death.…

Of course, he knew that she might not like him.

But the possibility that she might. Just one possibility was enough to make Meyer’s heart race.

Before he had met Jun, he could not have imagined all of this. Nor that he would change like this.

Meyer smirked. His past self may not be happy that he had changed like this, but his present self was willing to endure all of this.

The gaze she gave him, her touch, was very sweet.

But the more he touched her and the more he was with her, the more thirsty he became. This was not enough…

He didn’t know, but he had already put his tongue on the sweet water of kindness that Jun gave generously.

So he couldn’t help but crave it. It was the only possibility of happiness Meyer could catch.

For her, he would give up all his appearances, his honor, his convictions, and become earnest, cowardly, and childish over and over again.

It was worth it. It was enough to endure.

The look in Meyer’s eyes that promised such a future was a combination of excitement and gloom.

Duh "I see you, as a woman" " I like you romantically "
Yep, a direct critical hit to her heart. Nice shot Mr. Meyer.

Spoiler: Meyer's confession

The fact that his own men had come to me like matchmakers, interfering with me every step of the way, how embarrassing! And even though he had already made a definite decision not to have anything to do with me at all!

An awkward silence reverberated through us as I followed Meyer to his office.

Once in the office, I gravely put down the report that I had in my hands.

My arms felt lighter, but my heart was heavy with the fact that I had to talk to Meyer.

Meyer had a serious face weighing down on his shoulders, and I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He didn’t seem like he was going to open up easily.

I guess I’ll have to make the breakthrough first.

Meyer’s pride would be hurt, but the Black Night unit had brought it up for Meyer in mind in their own way…

I didn’t want Meyer to complain. I did everything I could to defend the Black Night unit.

“He didn’t know what kind of relationship we had, and that’s why he brought it up. I’m sure he didn’t mean to disrespect the Commander when he said you weren’t enough…”

“…”

“He just said it with good intentions, so don’t take it too seriously. Okay?”

I tried to persuade him with a smile. While I was rambling alone, Meyer suddenly asked a random question.

“So, what do you think?”

“Pardon?”

“About what the Black Night member said.”

Then I coughed in vain.

I couldn’t believe he was biting back. What the Black Night unit member said seemed to be very attentive. I shook my head as if it was ridiculous and answered.

“The fact that the Commander lacks a lot of things? That’s…”

“Not that!”

The furious Meyer cut me off and shouted. Whether he was embarrassed or angry, his ears were red.

“Not that?”

I frowned and ruminated over what the Black Night soldier said.

There was nothing for Meyer to pay attention to… I took what I thought would be close to the answer.

“About having thoughts of things working well with the Commander?”

“…”

Meyer didn’t give a simple affirmation, just his lips quivered slightly. It seemed to be the right answer.

He can just openly say that you care about it. Did he have to use a speech that he wanted me to recognize?

But I also thought I would know what point Meyer was concerned about in the remarks. I sighed softly.

“I know, I know.”

Meyer’s face was brightened by my answer. It was a look of trust as if the Vice Commander was the only one who could do it.

That’s right. I’ll have to relieve his frustration. I spoke in a confident and firm tone.

“I won’t think anything strange, no matter how much the Black Night unit does. You don’t like me, right, Commander? You don’t even see me as a woman. It’s not like you have romantic feelings for me.”

“What?”

Meyer’s face was distorted.

It was clear that I pointed it out correctly. I put added on once again.

“I don’t expect that, so please relax. If the rumor is bothering you, then…”

“That’s not it!”

Meyer couldn’t hold back a yelp. His face was contorted, but he seemed to be betrayed.

How could he have been betrayed? I asked Meyer back, my eyes wide with incomprehensible emotion.

“It’s not?”

“No!”

“What’s not it?”

“…”

Meyer squeezed his mouth together again.

He bit his lip. He abused his lips so much that his lips, which were appropriately easy to see, turned red.

In the awkward silence, I had nothing to do so I fiddled with the end of a document and looked around.

In the meantime, Meyer looked straight at me a long time later, as if he had finally made up his mind.

I had a feeling that perhaps the reason why he kept repeating the end he had been trying to talk about all this time was related to this.

If so, that would finally clear things up a bit.

I waited for Meyer’s next words, thinking of something to unburden my mind, but what he said confused me, despite my expectations.

“I see you as a woman.”

His eyes, staring at me, blushed like hot melted gold. It seemed unfair, frustrating, and he looked as if I had made a very big mistake to him.

A corner of my heart began to beat fearfully as I faced those eyes, which were uncertain whether they were hot or watery.

Meyer said and asked as if chewing.

“Is there a problem?”

… Is there a problem?

There is! It’s overflowing!

I looked at Meyer, stunned. He said he had no feelings for me! He jumped up and down with a serious look just in case I misunderstood!

Is he messing with me? Or is he saying something that doesn’t even work because he’s nervous?

Yeah. There’s a possibility. Hasn’t he always been wary of Fabian?

This time, Fabian’s behavior provoked him again, and… Because of that, I became fickle. It was a possibility enough. My frustrated fingertips saw and curled up to stomp out the corner.

Just when I thought I’d finally talked him out of useless thoughts of Fabian and calmed him down during the debriefing!

My head was spinning. I had no idea what to cut out of this.

Meyer stared at me with a restless expression and opened his mouth.

“I know it’s very confusing for me to suddenly bring this up.”

Meyer reached out his hand.

His fingertips rubbed against my fingertips as I stroked the report, and then withdrew like a mimosa fold.

It was just that. A banal contact that had passed between him and me several times.

Yet at that moment, Meyer’s face turned bright red.

It was an emotional upset that was obvious to anyone who saw it.

“I’ve endured and held it back because it’s too early to do so far, but… But now I’m forced to say it. That’s right. I can’t take it anymore. I’m at my limit.”

He was going to drop some more bombshells. In all honesty, I wished he would keep his mouth shut.

But my wish did not reach my mouth, and I could not shut Meyer’s mouth. I just had to listen to what he had to say.

“Jun.”

With a red face, he closed his eyes tightly and forced himself to make eye contact with me as if pressing down the real feelings he wanted to avoid.

“I like you.”

“What?”

“Romantically.”

“What?”

Is it right that I heard him correctly? My head was dizzy and my heart was as stuffy as if it were tight.

No, maybe I guessed all of this inwardly. In retrospect, the telltale symptoms were always there. I just pretended that I didn’t know them and turned my face away.

It wasn’t that I was unhappy or uncomfortable. Rather, it was the opposite, but…

It was just that all the plans I had made, which could not be resolved by that, were all shattered and I was suffocated by the chaos of fragmentation.

I didn’t have time to indulge in such sweet, sloppy, or fiery passions.

Does Meyer like me?

What variables does that add to dungeon strategy? What if I reject his confession? Or what if I accept?

What problems would arise in training the Black Knights?

Meyer smiled bitterly as he saw me smiling without saying anything in my complicated head.

“I’m flustered, too. I… I didn’t know I’d like someone.”

I was the same way. I thought that Meyer’s love was still a long way off after he defeated the Demon King.

I never dreamed that it would be me.

Meyer stuttered and added as if to excuse his actions.

“The reason I kept worrying about Fabian… It was because I was insecure. I couldn’t believe it at all. How could he abandon you? Who would expect that the person who holds the most precious thing in the world would throw it away in one fell swoop?”

“…”

“So even though I saw the discord between you and that guy with my own eyes, I thought there was something… I thought something was going on that I didn’t know about. So I kept being foolish and sensitive.”

Meyer chuckled. His smile was full of self-mockery as if he was dumbfounded when he thought back on it.

“But it wasn’t that. Fabian was just stupid. And… I also realized that I was foolishly ignoring my feelings.”

Having said all that, Meyer finally grabbed my hand firmly.

His hand was hot and trembling finely as he gripped the back of my hand tightly. How nervous he was, it took over his hand.

It would have been easy to shake his hand off. But I couldn’t budge, and I felt his nervousness and desperation intact.

Meyer whispered to me with an anxious, heated gaze.

“Right now, I know it’ll be pressure for me to even tell you this. However… It’s my first time doing this, so I couldn’t stand it without saying it.”

Meyer said that and grabbed the report under my hand. The warmth that had been passed on to my hand had disappeared.

“It’s not that I want an immediate answer to my confession. After we defeat the Demon King… yes. You can answer me after that if you want. So think about it one by one until then.”

His feverish gaze disappeared without a shadow of a trace.

After confusing me and completely calming down, Meyer left his seat.

As he walked to his desk in the office, I could read from his back that it meant it was okay to leave.

I couldn’t say anything at all as the distance between us became greater and greater. I didn’t know what to say.

I just hurried out of the office, relieved that I didn’t have to conclude this right now.

Spoiler: Jun rolling in confusion after Meyer's sudden confession

Even if there was a storm, it would have been more moderate than this.
My mind was in complete ruins. I don’t know what I had been thinking about since then,
The next thing I knew, I was already in the dungeon.
Wow, I really seem to be busy.
It’s as if a film has been cut, and I don’t remember what my life has been like these past few days.
I was dismayed when I recognized the situation around me a step late. It was fortunate that I noticed it when I was resting a bit.
As a matter of fact, I was wondering if I looked strange recently, and the special unit gathered to talk.

“It seems you’ve been really busy lately, Vice Commander.”

“Even if you can’t concentrate for sure… you can’t listen with one ear and spill it out the other… What happened?

“Yeah. You were kind of stuck in the dungeon before we got there.”

“Is there something big going on? Priest August… Can she get treatment for her mental health?”

“Magic for the mind can only be used on a curse.”

I can hear everything, I can hear everything.

But it seems that I’ve been outside of the box so much that I didn’t even notice it until now. I guess it was pretty long. Without knowing that I had come to my senses, the special unit continued to chat.

“Even in the midst of that, look at how the support magic is accurately stuck. As expected, the Vice Commander is not a person.”

“That’s right. I’m a dehumanized person when I see something like that… Is that what happens when you become elite? His Excellency, the Flame Mage, and Priest August…”

“I’m just an honest priest.”

“… Actually, the priest seems to be the least normal.” Sebby shook his head and rolled his tongue. You’ll be able to talk like this if you’re rolled around a bit in the dungeon… Even if you’re out of your mind, your body automatically moves to live.

But, as usual, my mind was too complex to allow me the luxury of a beak of a story like that. I sighed deeply. Is it true that he likes me? But to doubt his true intentions, his every word and action revealed sincerity intact.

‘No wonder he was warier of the people around me than I was…’

Meyer’s confession was not an easy proposition to swallow. More than anything… My biggest problem was that I was glad that Meyer had confessed. Meyer wasn’t bad either. No, he was good.

Sometimes it was annoying when he was stubborn and tight when it came to listening to me, but even that looked cute like a puppy biting off slippers because he was jealous.

‘That’s because he’s so handsome. My annoyance would subside just by looking at his face. Of course, not at all times.’

If I was misunderstood as Meyer’s lover, my life would be tough, so I tried so hard to avoid him, but it was tolerable as a real lover.

However, I didn’t think that Meyer would like me, so I just memorized the sour grapes chant without thinking about it. What on earth does he like about me…? Did I make his empathy of remembering the first round together bigger than I thought? Or was it that he likes a capable partner?

Considering Meyer’s personality, if it was a love that could be easily broken, he wouldn’t have confessed.

When I thought of Meyer alone, my heart suddenly beat tremendously.
If it wasn’t too early.
At times like this… I chewed on my lips. Since Meyer said he doesn’t want to hear the answer right away anyway, should I reserve it as it is? Then, do you have to keep lukewarm like this?

It’s not bad to enjoy being confessed to. However, the problem was that I didn’t have that personality. I felt awkward as if I was half-heartedly putting off my work. In particular, when I was busy during the exam period or when I was busy at work, I would give an immediate answer. It was to quickly kick it out of my head and focus on my work.

Besides… To shelve it so much would be like torturing Meyer with hope, wouldn’t it?

He himself said that the answer was to take care of the Demon King, but if you think about it, he would be nervous about me…

I’d be in trouble if Meyer neglected dungeons because he was worried about me. I ruffled my hair.

I knew I couldn’t go on like this. Because I can’t make up my mind more than anything else.

‘Who confesses and feels refreshed by themselves? For whom?’

I clenched my teeth and made a decision. Then I jumped from my position and shouted.

“How long do you have to rest? The demons will be here soon! Nova, manage with aggro!”

“Ah, yes!”

When I suddenly came to my senses, the special unit quickly stood up. Looking at the troops completing the ranks in an instant, I decided to attack this dungeon quickly.

***

“We’re going to stop by the castle for a bit.”

I said, as the special unit that had closed the gate was in the process of dressing for their journey to the next dungeon. Nova, who was counting the number of supplies, was surprised and asked.

“What? We still have supplies left.”

“Right, it’s only been 2 weeks?”

Sevi and Julieta also opened their eyes wide. I was surprised, too.

It’s already been 2 weeks since I was out of my mind? Then August beckoned at me with a serious look.

“…Come here for a second, sister.”

“Why?”

“I thought you might be cursed.”

“What are you talking about?”

Speechless, I shed my eyes at August. August admitted that I was normal only after using the mental magic.

“If it’s the supplies right now, we can go around for another month or two.”

Nova said, looking around as if he thought they didn’t manage the supplies properly while I was busy. Then Jeanne and Anasta were surprised this time. Anasta asked carefully. .
“In two weeks… Isn’t it time to go back to filling the supply? We should take some time off…”

“Our supply is different from other expeditions, so it’s easy for a month or two.”

“That’s how we closed the dungeon for six months by supplying it regularly. Constantly. No rest.”

Sevi said spookily. It was a little bit of a dominant tone. It was clear that he secretly enjoyed pretending to know as a senior.

Jeanne’s complexion turned white and pulled Anasta’s skirt hem. .
Anasta also realized that the place they rolled into was the dungeon hell, and her smile hardened. Julieta quickly comforted them.

“But I think she cares about Priest Anasta and Jeanne. That’s why we’re going back to the base early.”

“That’s right. It seems that the Vice Commander has finally decided to have a human heart.”

“If I weren’t human, what would I be?”

I nibbled and asked Sevi, who scared Anasta and Jeanne. Sevi didn’t even know I asked, and he rambled.

“The dungeon is like a secret weapon, isn’t it? I thought the vice commander was under a brainwashing spell at first. We can’t go back until we’ve closed all the dungeons we’ve been given. Something like that.”

“Aha, that’s how it is.”

“Hyuk, Vice Commander! No, I didn’t mean it with a weird intention!”

Sevi, realizing a step too late, bounced back.

But August pls, how can she be cursed when mental attack not even affect her in the slightest lol
Meyer cursed her is the most likely fact hahahhahahahha

Spoiler: Jun's confession

I don’t know about others, but Meyer shouldn’t react like this. How can he be more curious than happy that I came earlier than scheduled?

I was offended, and for no reason at all, I was being mean and sarcastic.

“So, aren’t you happy to see me? Then I’ll go back.”

“No! I’m happy to see you. I’m very happy to see you…”

Meyer hurriedly waved his hand and denied it. However, while saying so, he could not hide all signs of anxiety.

The shadows on his faintly drooping face were gloomy. He looked like a prisoner who was dreading what the judge would decide.

And I was the judge of the omniscient and omnipotent God who had taken possession of that prisoner’s life.

It was so awkward and strange to have rights that had never been given to me before.

I sighed and sat in front of Meyer.

“After thinking about it, I decided to accept the Commander’s confession positively.”

“Okay… What? Positively?”

Meyer raised his drooping head. It was as if he hadn’t expected me to say that at all.

Meyer asked back, stunned.

“Really?”

“Why can’t you believe me?”

Meyer couldn’t speak easily. He stuttered like a person who had lost his language for a moment.

“Then… We….”

A smile that I’ve never seen spread around Meyer’s mouth. At the moment when his eyes were about to rise with joy, I blocked his words.

“However.”

“… However?”

“I think I’ll hold off on dating for now.”

Meyer’s face became dazed as if he had been hit by me.

Someone who doesn’t move an eyebrow when he’s actually hit…

Stunned like a child robbed of their candy, he asked back as if he didn’t understand.

“Why?”

“I need to level up and focus on closing dungeons.”

“Can’t you level up and date while closing dungeons?”

Meyer carefully asked, looking at me.

I shook my head with a sigh.

“No. Commander, have you ever dated someone?”

“…”

Meyer’s mouth was closed tightly. He was a human who had devoted his life to dungeons. Dating experience? Of course, there can’t be.

I continued to speak with equal momentum.

“Right? It didn’t seem like it. Then, if you’re 29 now, and have experienced regression, do you think a person who has never been in a relationship for nearly 30 years will be able to focus on dungeons for their first relationship?”

“…”

“You can’t. It’s absolutely impossible. If you could, the Commander wouldn’t like me very much.”

“It’s not like that. My love for you is sincere.”

Meyer, who had been keeping his mouth shut, hurriedly added as an excuse.

I don’t know how long that feeling will last, but I know exactly how I really feel right now. I can’t not know.

It was so bad that “that” Meyer confessed because he couldn’t endure it ahead of the epic battle of the Demon King.

I grabbed Meyer’s hand. His body stiffened and he looked at me.

I said seriously, holding Meyer’s hand tightly.

“So let’s date on the premise that we’re dating after defeating the Demon King.”

“… What’s the difference?”

Meyer asked shakily.

To be honest, I knew well that I said something ridiculous like a warm iced Americano.

I don’t know if it makes sense to have a relationship on the premise of a relationship.

But there’s a subtle and important difference!

‘In this world, it’s pretty natural to have a bed to sleep in when you date…’

If it had been a romance in my original world, I might have nodded graciously.

I’d be okay with holding hands, kissing, that sort of thing.

But a bed…

A bed…!

‘That’s not possible.’

In fact, Meyer was an excuse.

If I said okay to that, it was clear that my concentration would be ruined, not Meyer.

Honestly, Meyer was really my type!

‘I tried so hard not to recognize it…!’

Every time I conversed with Meyer, I couldn’t help but gaze at every single thing like the thickness of his lower lip, the veins on the back of his protruding hand, his arms thicker than my thighs, and his thighs even thicker.

So I usually tried my best to pretend I didn’t know about it, blurring and filtering my gaze, but every so often I would appreciate it with a drink…

Even if he has never been in a relationship, Meyer should have some basic common sense. So he also might have implicitly expected it.

Still, I was too shy to tell him I’m not ready to sleep with him, let alone date him!

In short, not going out with him was a
Maginot Line for me.

I cut the contradictory story, and I insisted proudly, hiding my embarrassment with brazenness.

“We know we like each other, but we’re not in a relationship. We didn’t even announce it to the world.”

Meyer muttered blankly.

“You like me? Really?”

“I like you, so I considered the Commander’s confession positively. If it didn’t, I’d just say no.”

When I grumbled and responded, joy spread over Meyer’s face.

But before his face was completely colored with a smile, he suddenly asked with a straight face.

“…What if you change your mind after putting off dating like that?”

“It won’t change.”

“But… You’re not as desperate as I am. In the meantime, if you like another man…”

“I won’t go out with anyone until we defeat the Demon King.”

“After defeating the Demon King, you may find another man you like more than me.”

“There are few men better than the Commander.”

“It means there are a few.”

“No, that’s just the way it sounds… Oh, let’s write a memorandum then.”

I replied back annoyedly. It wasn’t until I said it that I realized that this conversation pattern was somewhat familiar to me.

In this way, of course…

“Okay, good. Memorandum. We should write a memorandum.”

…I knew this would happen. I feel like I’ve dug my own grave.

Meyer busily searched the desk and lined up high-quality parchment, pens, and ink in front of me.

“Make sure you write that you’ll go out with me. Or at least that you’ll give me the first chance.”

“Okay, okay.”

I sighed and grabbed a pen. Then, I wrote down the contents of the memorandum with a brushstroke. As there was nothing complicated, the memorandum was completed quickly.

Meyer watched me closely as I wrote the memorandum. There was a shadow over the memorandum because of how close his head was.

He checked the contents of the memorandum twice and was relieved when I finished putting my seal on it.

He listened to the memorandum I wrote preciously as if it were a white dandelion.

Then he put it in a drawer in a box where he kept important things and felt a small sense of relief.

‘The emperor’s edicts are no more important than mine. Not that he’s the kind of person who cares about imperial edicts in the first place.’

I thought to myself and folded my memorandum into thirds.

Meyer sneakily asked, reading the air.

“Then tell your close acquaintances in advance…”

“I can’t.”

What nonsense is he talking about?

“It’s a big issue for the head and Vice Commander to date. The atmosphere in the expedition will be disturbed.”

“We’re not dating.”

“A dating schedule would be the same as dating in the eyes of others.”

There’s a serious reason why I can’t go out with Meyer right now, and it seems that Meyer was just trying to keep up with what I said, so I just went on to say that…

It was clear to others that it would only be seen as flirting but not dating.

Meyer muttered in a small, dissatisfied voice.

“You seemed to be disturbed even if we weren’t dating.”

“Isn’t that because of the Commander’s lack of leadership?”

“…”

Meyer’s mouth was shut. He wanted to refute, but he seemed to be wary of denying what I said.

Unlike Meyer’s confusion, I was so refreshed because my complicated mind was organized. I spoke cheerfully.

“Now I’m really going to be stuck in dungeons. I came out in advance to tell the Commander not to have a hard time, so the Commander should also go around dungeons and gradually increase your experience and magical proficiency.”

“Okay. Don’t worry. Trust me.”

Meyer nodded proudly with a much better face compared to the beginning.

It looked as if he was a military dog that listened well, and an admiring heart tickled my chest.

I stood up smiling.

It was cute to see him like that in the past, but now that I think he’s my man-to-be, it was much better to see.

That way, Meyer and I agreed to date after defeating the Demon King.

Although I belatedly recalled that it was like a death flag, such as asking to marry when you came back from war, the possibility was as slim as Sevi’s height growing the same as Axion’s.

After getting rid of all the drowsiness, I stormed into the room of the special unit where they were resting for a long time and shouted vigorously.

“We’re going back to the dungeons tomorrow morning, so get ready in advance!”

“Huh? Ehhhhhhh!”

“So let’s date on the premise that we’re dating after defeating the Demon King.”

oh pls Jun what are you saying rn bruh hahhahaha

And why these two even wrote a memorandum lmao hahhahahahhahaha this is too much I can't stop laughing ... Send help pls hahahhahahahhahaha.

Spoiler: after 2nd dungeon grinding

I wanted to wash up, but I didn’t want to go with the smell of flowers. I thought I was the only one who was excited.

Mary guided me to a bathroom with a flavor similar to the scent of eucalyptus. Having become such a neat and at least polite person, I firmly moved toward Meyer’s office as if it were a showdown.


“I’m back, Commander.”

“…! Welcome.”

As soon as I opened the door, I made eye contact with Meyer, who was nervously walking in the room. Meyer immediately approached me and opened his arms. I guess he was thinking of hugging me, but when the large man opened his arms, his spacious office seemed full. After advancing like that, he suddenly stopped with me just around the corner. Then he hesitated and asked, looking at my complexion.

“Even if we’re not in a relationship, we can hug each other….? Can I hug you?”

No, after all this time? As I was preparing to hug him, I muttered without realizing it ridiculously.

“You used to hug me before you confessed…”

“That’s…”

Meyer laughed bitterly.

“I didn’t know how I felt back then.”

“Did getting to know me cause problems?”

“I became more aware of you.”

I did not seem to reject him, and Meyer finally held me. His broad chest wrapped around me as if to erase me from the world, and all my vision was filled with black.

I’m glad I washed up. I felt a pang of relief inside. Meyer, who didn’t know how I felt, whispered to me, trying to relieve his overwhelming feelings.

“I also wanted to run out right away knowing that you were here. But I refrained because I was afraid of hugging you again. Because you don’t like me doing this in front of others.”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, but I care about other people’s eyes a little.”

I pressed lightly on his chest as I seemed to be getting too close to Meyer.

I could almost hear my heart beating too loudly against his. I’ve noticed my heartbeat, and now I’m noticing every single other thing. The temperature of Meyer’s arms, the position of his fingers. The sound of his breath tickling my ear… At first, I only pushed out my chest, but anywhere he touched made me itch, and now I had to get out of his chest.

As if he were showing off, Meyer had no dating experience, so it was embarrassing to say something.

I took off his arms as naturally as possible and continued to pretend not to be shy.

“This time, the results are good. At this rate, everyone will be able to hit level 60 at the next performance report session. Maybe there will be a title.”

“You can talk about levels slowly. More than that, are you hurt?”

Meyer let go of me in his arms and began to look around. In the meantime, he held my hand tightly.

“I’m not, at all.”

I secretly pulled my hand out of his grasp. But if I avoided him repeatedly, even the most insensitive person would have noticed. What’s more, Meyer is the kind of person who can read my expression clearly. Meyer’s face hardened.

“… Do you feel bad when I touch you? If that’s the case…”

“No, that’s not it.”

I hurriedly denied it. But it’s already too late.

“I’m not trying to touch you. Of course, I want to touch you because I like you, but… I just want to know more about you…”

Meyer, who was full of sensitivity, was thinking about what I was avoiding, and in the meantime, the accident reached its extreme.

Meyer said somberly with a dark face.

“If you decide to go out with me because I’m the Commander and it might be detrimental to you if you go against my moods, talk to me. I don’t like you being conscious of me.”

You’re the one looking at me consciously! I hurriedly tried to calm down Meyer.

“It’s not like that. I like you, too.”

“But why are you avoiding me.”

“… That’s.”

I actually said no, but I couldn’t bear to say that I refused because I was nervous about contact with Meyer. I struggled and tried to come up with other excuses. Looking at me like that, Meyer said as if it was unfair.

“Do you think I would crush you? You’re afraid I can’t control my power?”

“…”

Oh, there was that, too. I remembered now how messed up my body had been when I had kissed Meyer, or rather when I had broken through his mana. Perhaps noticing the silence of the moment, a startled Meyer cajoled me.

“What? Is this for real? Is that true? Did I ever hurt you before?”

“N-no.”

I hastily denied it, but it was too late again.

Meyer narrowed his eyes. His gaze took in every corner of my face as if he were analyzing the emotions that had come over me.

He asked suspiciously.

“Are you sure it’s not true?”

“Yes! Of course!”

I smiled brightly. Meyer’s eyes became more persistent.

Eyes are the windows of the heart, and I smiled more bent to hide my eyes that would be revealing my uneasy feelings.

It wasn’t long before Meyer sighed and moved.

“If it were you, you’d tell me exactly why you’re avoiding me…If you’re not, then I guess you’re considering me.”

No, that’s not it. I wasn’t considerate at all!

Meyer’s rampant paranoia had to be stopped. But how? Meyer was so busy working on his novel that he didn’t notice my bewilderment.

No, he didn’t even know that I was embarrassed because I was stabbed to the point.

Meyer dropped his head, pitiful and pitiable.

His deep-set eyes and well-defined nose cast a distinct shadow on his face, but it made him look terribly gloomy.

“Is it because I have mana after all? As Commander, I’m sure you’d resist touching me as a lover whether I had mana or not…”

I can’t just reveal that we’ve already been through the kissing stage…

If it was revealed, it was clear that what I had buried between him and me would come out like candy one after another.

I really can’t listen to that.

He was so adorable and cute even if he made mistakes, but he doesn’t know.

Meyer muttered as if he were the product of all sins.

“You might get goosebumps. I understand how you feel.”

What do you understand!

I hurriedly grabbed Meyer’s hand with both hands.

“Okay? Look. I don’t care if you touch my hand.”

Meyer’s face was stained with pain. He carefully pulled out his hand as if it were dirt on my hand.

Spoiler: Jun self-destruct moment

The mixture of these two things was boiling over, and my head was overloaded.

At that moment, somewhere in my mind, the line that had been holding my reason snapped.

Yeah, holding hands doesn’t prove it

I jumped out of my seat impulsively.

Meyer, sitting on the sofa over the low table, was surprised and looked up at me.

“… Jun?”

“Okay. I’ll prove that I’m not offended or reluctant to touch you.”

Speaking as if I were spitting it out, I immediately reached out to the back of Meyer’s head. My fingers dug into his dark hair. Meyer looked up at me with startled eyes but didn’t shake my hands off. It would have been close to not being able to shake them off exactly. Because I put my lips on him first.

“…!”

Meyer’s eyes got bigger. He groaned quietly without realizing it, and the small gap in his open lips was enough.

“Haa…”

No matter how big Meyer was, he was still lower than me as he rose from his seat.

Meyer’s head tilted upward, and the back of his neck moved roughly.

My hair cascaded down Meyer’s face. It felt as if his hair was turning gray. His golden eyes blurred.

The arm that was trying to grab my forearm quickly clung to it. Just holding it in his hand was enough to cover half of my forearm.

As if his trepidation were a lie, he clung desperately to me like a lifesaving rope, or as if I were his only breathing holding.

It was as if we were at the time of the mana exchange…

I also became distant. The stability provided by the hard muscles that touched me intoxicated me as if I were lying in a cradle.

And so there were many breaths.

He was persistent and eager to feel this moment forever.

As for me, I had committed the act without a second thought in order to silence Meyer, but whatever his intentions, seemed to have no doubt that this act was as noble as sharing his soul.

But just as a hand that tries to catch moonlight never achieves its goal, our kissing came to an end.

Unlike the first time, when we had bumped into each other in a surprise attack, the process of falling was slow and full of unknowns.

Meyer leaned back on the back of the couch and looked up at me with a hazy look in his eyes as if he still hadn’t quite grasped the situation.

Only then did my senses slowly return, as if oxygen had circulated in my head.

And I belatedly realized that I hit hard even if I caused an accident.

‘So… I attacked Meyer, who was sober.’

That’s why leaks in the house leak even when you go out…! What’s the point of keeping it a secret that I kissed Meyer? That habit is still there!

My legs lost strength and I staggered as if I was about to sit down. I struggled to get my body under control. In the meantime, Meyer’s eyes, which had begun to calm down to a certain extent, were slowly dyed with questions. It was a matter of course. What kind of person would suddenly kiss someone who wanted to hold their hand, and kiss them very deeply?

No matter how much of a preliminary relationship it was, it was sexual harassment.

But for the moment, the situation was irreversible. I had to get it under control somehow. Shall I apologize? Or should I instead stand tall? I chose the latter. I spoke plainly, hoping that the confused Meyer would not be able to read my feelings to the best of my ability.

“Commander, I like your black hair. I’ve never thought about mana while looking at the Commander’s hair…”

I tried to pretend to be determined, but my mouth dried up at Meyer’s gaze, which seemed to pierce me while blinking slowly. I’d rather Meyer be sly, or brazen… It would have been less frustrating if that had been the case.

He looked at me as if every word I said was a revelation of salvation. It was really burdensome, so I hurriedly ended my sentence.

“So, don’t think about nonsense… I’ll just go early and rest today.”

Sensitive bodies detected all the small signs of each other.

In that state, it was not a very good idea for him and me to remain alone in this enclosed space for a long time.

I was in a hurry to leave the room.

It was only after I left Meyer’s office and closed the door that I made a mess of my hair like I was venting out with frustration and regret.

‘I’ve finally gone crazy…’

Rather, I think I was more rational at the time when I believed Fabian as the hero and sent blind trust.

In short, I had no rationale at all now. Now that Meyer was in a moment of confusion, I was able to get out easily, but it’s difficult when he comes to his senses…

If I tell everyone to go to the dungeon right now, no matter how nice they are, they’ll still rebel, right?

I sighed heavily. However, no matter how much I regretted it, it wouldn’t change the situation.

I don’t have the energy to launch the special unit. I really need to go back to my room and rest.

I quickly got to my feet. No, I tried to move. Immediately behind me, the door to the office opened, revealing Meyer.

Filling the door to the brim, he stared down at me with a look that could have been figurative.

As expected, Meyer must have been uncomfortable, too… I looked up at him with an awkward smile.

“Um, Commander… When I kissed you earlier…”

Even before my excuse was over, his hand strongly pulled me into the office.

While I was about to come to my senses, in the dizzying moment, Meyer kissed me this time.

“…!”

Overwhelmed by Meyer’s devouring momentum, I even forgot to resist.

Bang, without knowing it, he closed the door. Only our gasping breaths remained in his quiet office. If earlier he had just been uncomfortable, like being swept up in a tidal wave, now he was relentless as if trying to remember something, and one by one he dug in.

The posture was reversed. I was the one who was much different in height from him. My neck arched back as if it would snap.

I struggled in Meyer’s arms. I knew it meant nothing to Meyer, who had me trapped tightly.

But the feeling of strength in my toes and stiffness in my body was so foreign to me that I could not stay still.

After a long time, Meyer let me go. Only then was I able to breathe.

I wanted to ask him, “What the hell are you doing?” but I didn’t feel like asking since I had already attacked him first.

Why is he already good at kissing?

I didn’t know why but it was unfair. I was breathing roughly, and tears flickered in my eyes.

“As expected.”

Meyer mumbled, touching his lips.

“I’m used to it.”

My heart fluttered at the moment. It was not time to feel resentful about Meyer’s kissing skills. When I was embarrassed, I stuttered and asked again without realizing it.

“W-what?”

“This feeling… Isn’t this the first time we’ve kissed?”

“…”

I couldn’t say anything.

Meyer looked more than a little confused when I kissed him. Scary jerk. Does he remember the kiss he gave me when he was dreaming and not in his right mind? I remember the last time he said something about the color of my eyes…

Meyer asked again with a stunned look on his face while cold sweat broke out.

“When the hell?”

Even if he asks me when… What I really needed to keep my mouth shut about was not that it made my heart flutter when I came in contact with Meyer, or the reason I kissed him. It was about the events of that time when I had opened his mana circuits, which I had buried in the other side of my memory…

My defeat was that I realized it now.

Spoiler: misunderstanding

<Not your first time… Don’t you think you’re mistaken?>

<Mistaken? It’s my first time kissing someone!>

<…>

<It’s my first time kissing, but I’m mistaken that I’ve done it so many times? Nonsense!>

Meyer shouted in exasperation, but Jun pretended not to know, her mouth clenched like a clam.

<… I think it’s because you’re good at everything you do with your body, Commander. Don’t get any ideas.>

He was good at everything he does with his body, and he could often tell the difference between something he was good at from the start and something he was not.

But after saying that a few times, Jun just shook her head. Thinking she was in a tight spot, she pushed Meyer away and said once and for all.

<And today’s incident is an exception. Don’t kiss me like this next time. I won’t do it either.>

<Jun!>

Meyer called out to her, but Jun did not care and took advantage of the opportunity to run away at once.

Meyer chased after her, but it was after she was already far away. Her long gray hair, flying in the dark corridor, remained in his vision like a silver universe. Jun repeatedly denied that anything had happened, but Meyer didn’t believe her.

Her blank expression, and the vivid feeling left in her body… Made Meyer’s conviction stronger and stronger. Surely they had kissed before.

But… When exactly?

“I can’t remember at all.”

Meyer remained alone in the office where Jun left and ruffled his hair. Ever since he was born he remembered clearly what he saw and heard.

The scornful stares of his parents, their exclusive behavior as if they would be cursed by him if he touched them even a little…

But the kiss with Jun remained as faint as a dream.

It was dim and hazy, as if it would soon dissipate if only he did not concentrate.

This made him even more curious to know the truth.

“But Jun will never tell me either.”

Maybe if he persistently asked, she would let him know as if she gave up.

But he wasn’t happy about it either.
It was because Jun didn’t know Meyer was so persistent and tenacious, and it would be a big deal if she hated such a man, saying he was unattractive. Just thinking about it made his whole body go cold as if a blade had grown near his heart. It was not terrible, it was hopeless.

Meyer tried to shake off his silly thoughts and remember something pleasant to feel a little better. It wasn’t going to be easy.

People without gold in their hands didn’t have to worry about losing it, but once they had it, things would change.

He was so happy at that moment when Jun accepted him that he didn’t want to do anything that Jun hated. He didn’t think that falling in love with someone would be something that would make him so trepidatious. Even the slightest tone of voice or gesture of the other person’s hand bothered him… But there was a certain fullness of joy in it.

Every time Meyer acted to Jun’s liking, she would involuntarily bend her eyes and smile.

Meyer was willing to adjust to her many times just to see her smile. If anyone saw him like that, the reputation of the Black Knight would be ruined, but Meyer could let go as much as he wanted. However, he couldn’t help but feel a tightening pain in his heart.

Of course, Jun had told him that she liked him, too.

It wasn’t that he didn’t believe her. It was just that he knew for sure that her love and his love were not the same in size and weight. He couldn’t imagine all the happiness in his life without Jun, but Jun would be happy enough without having to be so sure. Meyer couldn’t stand the sight of her getting even a little close to someone else, but he also knew very well that it was all pointless. It was impossible for him to monopolize her.

He knew that, but he couldn’t resist… Unknowingly, soaring jealousy burned in Meyer. Jun looked at and understood all of such annoying self.

But that was not because Jun liked him, but because he was useful.

He was the strongest being as the head of the Black Knights, so she needed him to achieve the purpose of defeating the Demon King… If so, then… What if peace comes after defeating the Demon King? He wondered if she would be so generous as to forgive him for his brash and annoying jealousy.

Jun was a kind person with a lot of compassion. So she wouldn’t abandon him any time soon… She would probably try to stay by his side because of his love. He had a memorandum with Jun as if it were a Bible, but that wasn’t enough to loosen him up. He needed more other safeguards.

Therefore, all Meyer could do now was to defeat the Demon Lord and save up the maximum number of good deeds before he became useless to her.

Don’t bother Jun with jealousy, don’t do anything she doesn’t like… Then maybe someday, she would like him as much as he liked her.

So he was really surprised when Jun kissed him, and at the same time, he was nervous that she might like him even more than he guessed…

Meyer’s hand smoothed his lips as if he were fumbling with happiness. It was hot as if the heat from the moment he’d locked lips with Jun was still there.

Her lips carved her name into Meyer’s heart like a brand.

The moment he touched Jun, the elation of that moment when she assured him that she didn’t hate him…

But as if to mock himself, a sense of deja vu came over him that he could not recall.

‘It’s already after she kissed me… Why is she keeping it a secret that we’ve kissed in the past? Of course, there may be circumstances, but… If she explains it, I would understand.’

She was too difficult and complicated… Then, he remembered another idea. He couldn’t understand why he couldn’t remember it.

It was as if the accident was biased only towards Jun, and he hadn’t been able to see the surrounding area yet. He didn’t remember himself, and Jun was definitely not going to tell him. Then why didn’t he just find someone else? That’s right… Like August.

He kept him on Jun from the beginning, so he might know something about Jun that he didn’t know.

Meyer, who found the way, immediately called August. There was no delay.

***

“It looks like I did something bad to Jun, could it be…”

Meyer opened his heavy mouth.

While he actually called for August, he had a hard time opening his mouth to ask anything. He couldn’t blatantly ask about kissing Jun. If he was really as mistaken as Jun said… Even because of that possibility, he had no choice but to ask around.

“I don’t remember at all. But I definitely remember…”

Meyer’s forehead showed the line of his frustration.

In the middle of the launch, August was brought in and listened to Meyer’s story without hesitation.

From the moment August was summoned by Meyer, he had roughly guessed the circumstances that would welcome him, so he could not be too embarrassed.

After all, it was all about Sister Jun.

And his prediction was accurate.

“Jun won’t tell me. Do you have any idea?”

Of course. August immediately noticed what Meyer was saying. He thought it would be revealed to the surface someday.

You can’t cover the sky with your palm. There was a limit to how long one could hide the truth, and it was only a matter of time before Meyer found out.

August cried out in a low voice with a sigh.

“I see you’ve finally noticed.”

“As expected, you knew!”

Meyer’s expression changed mysteriously.

The joy of finally being able to know what he was curious about and the subtle displeasure that August knew something about Jun he didn’t know were mixed.

However, Meyer tried to erase such feelings and welcomed August’s words.

August opened his mouth with a sigh.

“Yes. Your Excellency hurt sister….”

“I kissed Jun… What?” “Pardon? Kiss?”

“No, that’s not it. Who got hurt?”

Their confused glances passed each other. Meyer and August both realized that they had made a firm mistake.

And the enormous wavelength of the opponent’s words.

“Your Excellency, did you kiss sister? It wasn’t forced, was it?”

“Let’s talk about the kiss later for now and talk about it again. I hurt Jun?”

He didn’t think it was something to talk about later. August’s forehead frowned.

But for such a protest, Meyer’s momentum was unusual.

His anger flared up visibly. It was obvious that he was going to hear the truth from August’s mouth.

Eventually, with a sigh, he confided what he knew and had seen for himself. Meyer listened quietly to August’s story. Sparks flew in his eyes as he gritted his teeth.

“…that’s what happened.”

August caught a glimpse of Meyer’s mood. Meyer’s face had turned cold when he learned the whole story. They say that when people get too angry, they become expressionless, and that’s what Meyer looked like right now.

Meyer suppressed his anger and asked.

“Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

“The Vice Commander didn’t want me to reveal it.”

“Still!”

It would have eased Meyer’s anger a bit if he had been able to give a more reasonable explanation.

But August had no talent for that. He told Meyer the truth.

“And it was not necessary to reveal it to Your Excellency. I and the Vice Commander reached an agreement.”

At the end of August’s words, the boiling lava finally exploded. Meyer exclaimed with anger with an active volcano-like momentum.

“Jun Karentia!!”

Jun Karentia, tia, tia… Meyer’s cries rang out and echoed through Nokentoria Castle. It was so loud that it could be heard from his office, which was quite a distance from my room. Oh… I didn’t know what happened after I left the office, but I think something’s ruined. Feeling instinctively threatened, I jumped out of bed. I can’t do it today. After hiding a little from Meyer… I’ll sneak back after the sun rises tomorrow. So I hurriedly took my coat and tried to get out of the room like a person running at night. But my attempt failed.

“Jun!”

This is because Meyer swooped in before I left the room. It hadn’t been long since there had been a loud scream, but he was really fast. Meyer tried to hold me up but stopped his hand in midair like someone who had just had an epiphany. Earlier I had tried to get to him, but now the situation was just the opposite. Instead of holding me, he clenched his fist, and his gaze reached my hand.

“What’s… with your coat? Did you try to run away?”

“No way. I just thought I’d take a walk…”

I smiled awkwardly and slipped my coat down on the sofa next to me.

“What about the bag in your left hand?”

I put down my bag, too. In an apparent attempt to escape, Meyer narrowed his eyebrows.

“You are really…! You thought about running away immediately?”

“I was going to take a walk.”

I was caught, but I shamelessly denied it. At this point, the winner was the one who insisted until the end. Meyer clicked his tongue and walked up and sat on the sofa. Come to think of it, it was the first time Meyer came to my room.

‘I always went to Meyer’s office…’

Perhaps that’s why I felt heterogeneous even though I was sitting in a familiar space. Meyer lifted his eyes. It meant for me to come to his seat and sit down. I sat in front of him, and I felt stabbed. Meyer stared at me with a stern expression. I felt like I was being scolded by a teacher, and my head dropped for no reason.

“I heard it all from August. He said you got hurt because of me!”

I trusted you, August…! I pursed my lips. I had hoped that his mouth would be as heavy as his heavy muscles, but my hopes were shattered. If you’re a priest, shouldn’t you keep a secret? However, it was not an atmosphere to say that out loud…

“Your arms were all bruised as if you were beaten. You know how dangerous I am when I am out of my mind…!”

Meyer vented his anger. It was fortunate that August didn’t know that I and Meyer kissed. Of course, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to take this situation as a real relief… I thought about how to calm Meyer’s anger. There was no answer.

“When I said I can’t control my power, the reaction was bad. It’s because of what happened then, right?”

“That’s…”

“It was all a lie that you said it was okay! From now on, I can’t believe anything you say. Especially about your health!”

I felt betrayed by Meyer’s eyes.

“If I hadn’t noticed, you’d have kept your mouth shut for the rest of your life. Do you know how much I feel ashamed that I found out later?”

As someone who was always mindful and watchful of my well-being, I thought there would be a great outburst, but I didn’t expect it to hurt so much. I thought I’d just hear some nagging, but… I didn’t know what to say to comfort him, so my mouth was dry. Meyer’s gaze was strangely haunting on my face. He studied my face one by one as if trying to find out the truth that I was trying to hide until the end. At the moment I was holding my breath, Meyer’s face suddenly collapsed.

“I can’t believe I… Did I force you to kiss me?”

Hold on, how did he know? I was flustered, but I couldn’t just admit it. I immediately denied it.

“N-no!”

But even when I said it, it sounded really suspicious. Of course, Meyer didn’t believe it either.

“Seriously!”

Meyer exclaimed astonishingly. His fist trembled and blue veins sprang up on the back of his hand. How tightly he clenched his fist, his finger bones stood out exceptionally.

“Fuck!”

Meyer bit his lip tightly. I could see all the swear words coming and going only in his mouth. I think he’s misunderstanding something… I couldn’t tell if it was anger at me for lying to him or self-loathing… August didn’t know exactly what was going on, and neither did Meyer. Looking at it, it was me, not Meyer, who kissed first. I carefully explained the situation at that time to somehow soften Meyer.

“The Commander didn’t even think of it… You were insane at the time. You were in a lot of pain… The kiss was just a means I chose to get the Commander to drink the holy water. So I was going to pretend it never happened.”

“If I’ve already done it, how can you pretend it didn’t happen? You should’ve said it!”

“But if I say so, you would have said you wouldn’t pierce the mana circuit. It was the right time to break through the mana.”

For me, it was an excuse to calm Meyer’s anger, but it seemed to have added oil to the fire.

“Right time, right time, right time! I’m sick and tired of it!”

Meyer screamed. As if his last patience, which he had been trying to hold on to, had been cut off, he shouted and held onto my arm.

“As long as you’re so efficient, nothing else matters to you? Even your body?”

Meyer looked at me with a miserable face and murmured blankly.

“You…”

His golden eyes shone dry like sand under the desert. But why? He looked like he was crying.

“Even if it was someone other than me, you probably would have said it was okay. And endured everything alone… isn’t that right?”

The voice that had been raised earlier subsided like a lie. A miserable smile spread around his mouth.

“It’s a necessary procedure to defeat the Demon Lord. All you have to do is endure. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

Meyer’s words hit the nail. Seeing me say nothing, Meyer lowered his head as if he were in despair.

“I… I don’t understand. Why do you spare yourself so much?”

His hand, holding my arm, trembled a little. Meyer whispered to himself in a low voice.

“The fact that I have no volition on you is too… It hurts too much.”

I looked at the top of Meyer’s head that fell in front of me and murmured to my heart.

“Commander…”

Unknowingly, I reached out to Meyer’s hair. But before my fingertips could touch his hair, Meyer’s head snapped back. He averted his gaze at an angle. For the first time, the eyes that had faced me head-on all this time ignored me. His eyes seemed to redden for a moment as he passed me. Meyer said as he rose from his seat.

“I’m going to get going now. For the time being… I need to think.”

“Commander!”

I tried to grab him, but he pushed my hand away. It was a polite refusal. So I couldn’t bear to stop him. His exit from the room looked staggering and precarious. Even if he was abandoned alone in the world, he would look less miserable than that. Meyer left, and I remained alone in the room. I thought long and hard about that moment again.

It had been a few years since I woke up in this world, but I still had the memory that this world was a game.

I know that sometimes I react in a way that gives me an advantage in this world, but I also know that to people who are in the real world now, such points seem too calm or inhuman…

If it happened again, I would make the same choices.

So, I have no regrets.

But… I had to admit that my choice was a deep wound for Meyer.

I’m sorry.

I covered up the guilt that lingered only in my mouth with a deep sigh that I couldn’t swallow or spit.

It was clear that he was quite disappointed in me…

He didn’t want to see my face. Thinking like that, a corner of my heart became heavy…

I trudged back to my room. My head was blank. That day, I spent the whole day locked up in the room.

Spoiler: Meyer's rampage

After poking and prodding like that, I soon returned to Nokentoria Castle.

At this time of year, everyone was busy closing dungeons. We remained at the castle, where the few expedition members and the servants welcomed us.

Vince, the butler, approached me in a panic.

“Vice Commander. The Black Night Unit is waiting for you.”

“Not the leader, but the Black Night Unit…? Why?”

“That’s…”

Vince was at a loss for words. I was at a loss as to where to begin.

That’s when the Black Night Unit flew at me from afar. The sight of the old knights in black armor rushing towards me like a herd of buffalo was intimidating.

“Vice Commander!”

The title of Vice Commander resonated desperately in Nokentoria Castle.

The trio came out wondering and whispered while alternating between the Black Night Unit.

“Why is the Black Night unit desperately looking for the Vice Commander?”

“Did the Vice Commander borrow something and not return it?”

“There’s no reason for the Vice Commander to borrow anything. His Excellency gives her everything.”

Aigoo.

The children seemed to be still children. I glanced at the trio and turned my head to the approaching herd of buffalo and asked.

“So what’s going on?”

“His Excellency, please stop His Excellency!”

Meyer? Why Meyer?

I asked with confusion.

“Didn’t the Commander go to dungeons with the Black Night Unit? You’ve just returned to the castle….”

“No, he closed dungeons with us at first, but… Soon, His Excellency rejected us, saying that we were holding him back.”

The black night unit member who had called me and talked to me in the hallway in the past took a step forward and said. His wrinkled face was scrunched.

I was surprised.

“Don’t tell me he’s closing dungeons by himself?”

“It’s been months since he’s been doing that! So, Vice Commander, please stop His Excellency. He never listens to us.”

Even if you’re disobedient, how can you leave Meyer alone!

The Black Night unit and I were not worried about Meyer closing the dungeon and putting himself in danger.

It was more of a mental issue than a physical one. If he shifted his eyes when he was alone and his mana went out of control, he would…

Of course, I knew that Meyer Knox wasn’t Fabian and that he couldn’t let himself go so stupidly, but I had goosebumps on my back as I thought about it.

“His Excellency is the strongest, so closing a dungeon by himself shouldn’t be a problem. Is there such a thing as a dangerous dungeon for His Excellency?”

The trio snooped their heads.

The only people who knew about Meyer’s mana were me, The Black Night Unit, and Vince.

Therefore, in the eyes of others, we would only be seen as making a fuss.

My lips were dry, so I asked in a trembling voice.

“So, Meyer Knox, that human being is… No, what dungeon is the Commander in right now?”

“We, well… He left for somewhere…”

“Then how do you want sister to stop him? You don’t even know where he is!”

August, who was listening to the story, shouted absurdly.

The Black Night Unit also hurriedly bowed their heads as if they knew they were saying nonsense.

“That’s not what we meant. We are also impatient… Sorry, Vice Commander.”

“… It’s fine. I think I know where he is.”

“Pardon? How?”

Everyone, including the Black Night Unit, August, and the others, looked up at me.

But there was no time to explain everything. Biting my lip, I thought of a dungeon of a level Meyer could go to.

Did he think that if he hid like that, I wouldn’t be able to find him? I asked the Black Night Unit, my eyes wise.

“Please tell me the location of the last dungeon you went to with the leader.”

“…it was a dungeon near the western plateau.”

A member of the Black Night unit replied, crouching his shoulders overshadowing his large size. I murmured, tapping my chin with my fingertips.

“Western plateau… Then he must be on the west coast now due to the time.”

“How do you know that?”

“There is a way to know everything. The Commander’s thoughts are all there.”

I replied broadly to the reaction of the Black Night Unit who seemed to be surprised and about to do something.

There was no way Meyer was going to enter a low to a mid-level dungeon. Especially if he was pissed off.

The demons would probably melt before he could swing his sword, and he wouldn’t have much experience, so what was the point?

So he would have been in a dungeon of at least level 50, and there were few dungeons of that level open at this time of year. If you knew the direction Meyer had gone, the answer was clear.

As perplexed as ever, the Black Night Unit all had an aloof look on their faces.

“No, how do you know where the dungeon will open in the first place? You can only know when the gates open and the symptoms are found…”

“The Vice Commander knows everything.”

The trio spoke plainly.

It seemed to be a no-brainer for me to guess Meyer’s route, as they had seen me many times heatedly trying to figure out where and when the dungeon would open and at what level.

“First of all, the special forces should rest. I’ll bring the Commander.”

“I can’t let the Vice Commander go alone!”

Julieta came out. She had a strong face that was not like her usual opinion.

“I’ll go with August. There won’t be much danger.”

“… Okay.”

Finally, the faces of Julieta and the rest of the special forces unraveled. They certainly seemed relieved that August was going with me.

August, what kind of a priest are you…

It was obvious that he was a trustworthy partner as either a healer or a guard. I looked back at August who had suddenly decided to follow me and smiled.

“I’m sorry about the situation, August.”

“No, I’m also somewhat responsible for His Excellency’s wandering.”

August said resolutely. Then the conversation went by fast. As soon as I prepared to leave for the dungeon, the Black Night unit came out.

“We’ll follow you, too.”

“No. It’s faster for fewer people to move. I’ll bring him back soon, so stay at the castle.”

I held them back. If I had needed more people from the start, I would have mobilized the special forces.

In fact, it would have been better if there were no people. That way, Meyer could tell me what he really thoughts .

The wrinkled faces of the Black Night troops were full of worry as if they were sorry to leave it to me.

“I know His Excellency is inexperienced in many ways, but please bear with him… I’m sure His Excellency is not being stubborn with the intention of playing a prank on the Vice Commander.”

“I didn’t think he was being stubborn. I’ve even done something wrong to the Commander.”

“What do you mean something wrong? It can’t be too your fault.”

The Black Night unit jumped up and down. It was the opposite reaction to Mary.

Of course, I didn’t believe the reaction literally. It’s probably because the priority is to please me. I shook my head with a small smile.

“It’s because the Commander is so delicate.”

“His Excellency is what…?”

“Yes. He’s very delicate… it must have made him angry that I, who was dull, didn’t understand.”

Meyer’s voice was still vivid in my memory as he shouted at me asking why I didn’t spare myself.

At that moment, I stuttered unintentionally at the target. I couldn’t say anything, so I couldn’t even hold on to Meyer… This is the result of such a momentary shift.

However, as I went around the dungeons, I found the answer I could give him after several times of reflection.

I muttered looking at the western sky.

“It’s my role as the vice commander to take care of the leader. So please don’t worry too much. I’ll do whatever it takes to make him back to normal and bring him back.”

Spoiler: Resolution

August and I galloped our horses.

The better our horses were, the sooner we got to the dungeon along the west coast. However, when we came to the coast, it was hard.

Because I had never been there and only knew the area from the game, I didn’t know exactly how far the gate was open.

In the end, I had to ask the villagers.

The people of the seaside were quite exclusive, and their walls were as good as scrap paper before Priest August.

“Over that ridge, a gate opened near a coastal cave. A knight in black armor entered alone… Is he really the Black Knight, Meyer Knox, Priest?”

Thanks to August, I was able to readily obtain information. If I had come alone, things would not have worked out so smoothly.

Knowing the location of the gate, we headed there. Fortunately, the information was not wrong.

Since Meyer’s solo entry into the dungeon was not fully filled, the gate seemed dangerous and was gurgling as if swallowing a person.

But it was certainly ringing for a level 50+ dungeon. I quickly grabbed the information about the dungeon in the status window.

There were only a few areas left in the dungeon, including the boss. Even that should be taken care of soon.

I tied the reins of the horses under a tree near the shore and left them there.

“I’ll go into the gate by myself.”

“That’s outrageous. You’ll be in big trouble!”

August’s face turned serious. I had a rough guess that he would come out this way. But… I couldn’t take him with me.

“Sister has come all the way here to take His Excellency. If sister goes in alone, His Excellency will be even angrier. It’s not good.”

August mentioned Meyer, thinking that I didn’t listen to him enough to mention my safety.

“But August. I have to go alone for this.”

“Why don’t you wait for His Excellency to come out?”

“… There’s a reason why I have to go in.”

I calmly spoke and shook my head.

If I go with August, Meyer will probably avoid me. The same would be true if I tried to have a dialogue with him after he left.

It wouldn’t be easy to aim for an opening where the two of us could talk alone, so this dungeon was our chance.

Furthermore, if Meyer was using mana…

I stared resolutely at August.

August’s face contorted languidly. It was as if he was looking at a lamb who did not listen to God.

“I shouldn’t go in, but sister will go in alone?”

“Yes.”

“What if I prevent you, sister?”

“I’m not saying I’m going in without thinking. This dungeon is a level 50 ultra-high… The demons are mostly sorted out, so it’s not particularly dangerous.”

“How did you know the progress of the dungeon… That’s enough. Sister’s ability is not surprising anymore.”

“If there are any demons left, I have Fulgor’s Pumpkin, so I’ll have a simple self-defense.”

“…”

Fulgor’s pumpkin could easily take on a 50+ level demon.

August, who had seen the power of Fulgor’s Pumpkin many times in the dungeon, kept his mouth shut.

As if realizing that my thorough coping plan wasn’t something I had brought up with excitement, August clicked his tongue in amazement.

“I thought you didn’t say anything abo

ut the dungeon when you came all the way here… You were such a figure. You didn’t bring the special unit with you because you were planning on going into the dungeon alone in the first place, right?”

“…they are sometimes more stubborn than Priest August.”

I laughed bitterly. If they were going to persuade me, it would have been better to deal with only one person.

“Really, sister…”

August sighed. The sigh mixed with deep fatigue clearly showed signs of defeat. August said, raising both hands.

“… Fine. But six hours. I’ll wait for exactly six hours. Six hours would be enough for you to reunite with His Excellency and talk. If you don’t come out after that, I’ll just go into the dungeon.”

“Thank you, August.”

Only then did I laugh quietly at August’s permission. August clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“If His Excellency tries to bully me, sister, stop him. If you have a conscience, please do so.”

“Of course. I’m such a conscientious person.”

“You’re the most brazen person in the world.”

August shook his head and stepped back. I bowed my head to him and stepped toward the gate that led to the demon world. A dimensional wave engulfed me, and soon the familiar mana stung my skin. It’s the first time I’ve ever entered this dungeon, but the structure of the dungeon is the same. I strode across the dungeon without hesitation. I’m sure Meyer will be angry again when he meets me. He’ll ask me why I came in alone, why I don’t look after myself… But this time I’ll be clear.

The reason I throw my body like this is that I trust completely in him. I would also tell him about my feelings, which until now I had kept under wraps for the sake of my own face and the secret I had kept from him.

I care about you getting hurt.

I complained about you taking care of me, but I secretly enjoyed it. You don’t know, but I’ve always looked forward to drinking with you…

Although I can’t compare it to the way you like me… I probably like you more than you think. I will pour out all the words that have only lingered in my mouth so far, and from then on, our relationship will be re-established and started anew.

At that moment, I saw Meyer’s figure far away. As soon as he was surrounded by demons, his sword split the demons. His sculpted face appeared clearly, an indifferent expression on his face while the demon’s blood stained the air. The moment was like an eternity as if the dust in the air had stopped. It was time to settle this. I shouted with all my might at Meyer.

“Meyer Knox!”

***

The dungeon was over 50 levels, but it was just not easy for Meyer alone to defeat all the demons that existed in the dungeon. It was not easy, but it was not difficult either. In fact, this was just the thing to help him forget his complicated thoughts. Meyer mindlessly cut down demons and then cut them down again. Meyer had never trusted another person in his life.

No matter how kind they were, if they knew the truth about him, they would turn around and point fingers, and no matter how strong they were, they would die in the dungeon for something that wasn’t important more times than he could count.

If he didn’t expect anything, he wouldn’t get hurt. As such, Meyer locked his heart tightly. But Jun’s straight gaze opened Meyer’s tightly locked door. Jun was different. She could be trusted…

But Jun didn’t trust Meyer. She always hid her danger and… Anyway, she drew the line at Meyer too.

Until now, he had deliberately turned a blind eye to the sweetness that she sometimes threw at him, but the events that had occurred while drilling through the mana circuit were a shock that could not be overlooked.

‘I’m not trusted by Jun.’

The fact almost drove Meyer crazy with shame. It made him feel like he was useless. He wanted to forget. He chose to escape to a dungeon of all places. That’s how he scraped his way through the corpses of demons. His footprints were red.

At first, the demons tried to flee in the face of his overwhelming force, but when they had nowhere else to run, they pounced on Meyer as if they were cornered rats making a last stand. It made it a lot less complicated. Just as Meyer silently muttered and sliced through the demon with his sweet sword, he heard a voice from afar that he wasn’t supposed to hear.

“Meyer Knox!”

Meyer raised his head toward the place where he heard the sound reflexively. Jun, who couldn’t have been here, was staring at himself with a hard face. Was this a dream? Yes. It could be a dream. She had never called him by his first name. She called him Commander. He felt like she was saying over and over again that he was her leader, not Fabian. But his greed was endless, and it quickly became too much for him. Perhaps it was his inner desire that was manifesting itself in auditory and visual hallucinations. But there were no demons in this dungeon to deceive people with illusions. Then maybe he had finally gone mad. Thinking so calmly, Meyer smiled. If it was an illusion, he would show her a smile. It seemed that just because it was a dream didn’t mean it would listen to all his wishes.

But as the distant Jun drew nearer, Meyer realized that this was no illusion. Aside from how Jun was here, he was devastated by the fact that Jun came in alone to the dungeon.

“Jun Karentia, you’re a human being who never gets tired!”

Meyer gritted his teeth. Every time he saw her not taking care of herself, it was as painful as stepping onto a hot griddle. The remaining one of the demons took advantage of the opportunity and pounced on Meyer’s back. But it was a futile attempt. Meyer swung his sword without turning around, and the demon fell to the floor in half as it was.

Jun looked up at Meyer with a fierce expression, both nervous and challenging. As if she hadn’t made a single mistake. Meyer found her attractive, but at the same time, a corner of his heart went cold. Meyer hurriedly approached her. But he couldn’t get close enough to her nose, and he stood three steps in front of her. He asked, quickly scanning her to see whether she had any injuries.

“How did you get here… Are you here alone? August. Did he send you alone?”

“I asked for that on purpose. There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

“If that’s the case, we can go outside and do it! Why did you enter the dungeon alone?”

“I’m just around the corner of level 60. It’s not that dangerous. In addition… The Commander knows that I have the ability to figure out how much a dungeon attack has progressed. There was no room for danger.”

Jun was nonchalant. Her demeanor made Meyer nervous because it seemed as if she was trying to draw a line in the sand. Was she tired of him? Was this a sign that she was sick of him and wanted to reconsider their… relationship? Meyer’s heart was beating wildly. He clenched his fist. He said quietly, suppressing his heart that sounded so loud that he felt like throwing up.

“But you shouldn’t have done that. You are… You make my worries useless.”

“That’s not the words of a Commander who came into the dungeon alone. If you don’t like me coming into the dungeon, you should attack it with seven people. So that no more people can come in.”

“It’s not that I don’t like it but I’m worried! And I’m not like you. I…”

“No. We’re the same.”

Jun shook her head firmly. Then she shot Meyer straight. Her bright red eyes shone like rubies containing life.

“I’m also worried whenever the leader acts alone like this. Do you get it? It has nothing to do with being weak and strong. It’s the same even if the Commander is the strongest.”

***

I couldn’t help but smile bitterly when I saw Meyer, who was surprised at the fact that I had come alone as soon as he saw me. It seemed that my concern was paramount to him. Perhaps my answer was unexpected, but Meyer looked confused as if he had been hit once. I still had a lot left to say.

“What if your mana goes out of control, what if you’re eroded by your mana…”

“That won’t happen.”

“But I’m still worried. The possibility is not zero. But… I also trusted the Commander. That it won’t happen. That’s why I went into the dungeon alone.”

“…But you shouldn’t have done that.”

Meyer said quietly, trying to hide his boiling voice.

“Rather, don’t trust me. No, don’t trust anyone. You just… Just worry about your own safety. It’s for my own good.”

“You’re making me do something difficult.”

“… You would have worried if it had been someone else in the dungeon alone and not me. I’m well aware now that you’re like that… But you shouldn’t go in alone like this. No matter how safe it is. Do you understand?”

Meyer tried desperately to dissuade me. I’m not used to seeing him do this. If I dared to worry about sacrifice, I would worry about Meyer. For he was a man who burned with fire, sparing no limits in the dungeon to defeat the Demon King. But I didn’t know it would be the opposite. I took a step closer to Meyer. Meyer retreated. I took two steps closer and grabbed his wrist, which was so thick I had to grab it with both hands. It was impossible to hold him with my strength. But as soon as I grabbed Meyer’s hand, he just stood there. I looked up at Meyer and spoke clearly.

“What do you mean? If it was anyone else, I wouldn’t have come in. I came in because the one in the dungeon is the Commander.”

Meyer asked back blankly as if he couldn’t believe it.

“You wouldn’t have come if it were other people?”

“If another had remained alone in the dungeon, I would naturally have sent the Commander or another member of the expedition.”

My eyebrows frowned. No matter how nosy I was, I didn’t bother buying and struggling.

I had something to tell Meyer and I had to come in person because I had to be the one to bring him, so I came in directly… If it had been anyone else, I wouldn’t have bothered to come in. I sighed and shook my head.

“The Commander sometimes seems to see me as a saint… I’m also logical, selfish, and snobbish enough to have my priorities in order. That’s why I wouldn’t risk coming for anyone like this.”

“But what about at the time of the treatment for April? Didn’t you volunteer for the role of getting hurt first?”

Meyer brought up the time when I had tried to use Holy Devotion to save April.

The unpleasantness of that moment flashed through my mind, and I flinched. My lips quivered a few times.

But then I decided to be frank, didn’t I? I murmured quietly.

“At that time… I didn’t want the leader to get hurt.”

“Me?”

Meyer asked back. Listen properly and don’t be so emphatic, it’s embarrassing…!

I clenched my bottom lip.

Meyer seems to have mistaken me for something noble, but it’s all an illusion.

How cumbersome it was for the illusion to bind me like shackles…

But when it came time to strip away the illusion, I suddenly felt afraid.

Perhaps my true self deviated from the noble rationality he envisioned?

If so… Then would he even like me, selfish and snobbish, like he used to?

However, having made it so clear, I could not retreat now. I confided in him frankly.

“I’m selfish and think about my priorities. I… I thought it was better for me to get injured than for the Commander to get injured.

“Ha.”

Meyer’s mouth opened blankly and let out a sigh.

He didn’t think I would say that, so he slowly blinked and looked at me.

I immediately lowered my eyes. I was embarrassed to make eye contact with him.

“It’s like that for the mana circuits, too. It was the leader who endured the pain, so it was the leader who kissed me.”

Then I stopped speaking for a while.

I raised my head again. I wanted to say these words properly.

I had already said them once, but looking back again made them even clearer.

I spoke clearly.

“Because I like the Commander… No, Meyer Knox.”

The answer to my confession was silence.

I didn’t know if it was a pleasure or not… I just stared at the tip of Meyer’s toes with my mouth closed.

His neck, which was revealed at first glance outside his black armor, was heated up.

Is he angry?

Maybe he was disappointed because I only made excuses without apologizing.

Indeed, taking out the words that I liked him in such a situation might have sounded like an excuse to escape the situation.

I was quick to add that that was not my intention.

“But… I’m sorry for hiding what happened with the mana circuit. I apologize for that. I just didn’t want to worry the… Commander at that time.”

“…”

“Now I’ll take care of my health as the Commander wants. Try not to get hurt, and…”

I murmured, listening to Meyer’s mood. Nevertheless, Meyer’s face did not unfold.

I had no idea how to make him feel better. I clenched my eyes and reached out to Meyer.

“Because I’m such a human being… You may have been disappointed with me. But we’re going back. Together.”

The hand I held out shook involuntarily.

Meyer only looked at my hand for a long time.

What, no matter how much I apologize…

Did I not apologize enough?

Yes. Maybe so. Maybe I’ve been thinking too much by my own standards. Meyer is a more sensitive person…

The moment I opened my mouth to say sorry again, Meyer suddenly grabbed my hand.

I don’t know how tightly he grasped my hand, but it was so tight that my body went right along with it and hugged his chest.

Meyer mumbled as he held me in his arms.

“What do you mean disappointment? That doesn’t make sense.”

Meyer put his forehead on my forehead. His eyes shone like stars under the cast shadow.

“I am… I’m just so happy that you cared about me this much.”

Then Meyer put my hand on his chest. Even on the hard and cold armor, I could feel how strong his heart was beating.

Meyer asked in a voice full of excitement and joy.

“It’s me you like the most, wherever you are, isn’t it?”

“Of course. I like the Commander best.”

I answered with more confidence than before. Meyer’s eyes became honeyed.

“If so, then… Call me from Meyer from now on. It’s okay only when it’s the two of us, without people.”

I called his name when I came to the dungeon, and I called his name many times even in the first round.

However, when it came time to say it in this situation, I felt awkward. I awkwardly spoke his name.

“…okay, Meyer.”

At that moment, as soon as I said his name, Meyer held my cheek and kissed me.

The name I had said disappeared from the tip of my tongue to the tip of his tongue.

Meyer, who was much taller than me, was so aggressive in his approach that I wobbled and fell backward. But before falling, Meyer’s hand snatched my waist.

Unable to move, I clutched only his forearms and received his passionate kiss.

After a few moments, Meyer released me.

I finally let out a breath.

It was only the murky air of the demon world coming in on my respiratory tract, but even that pleased me.

I thought that if we were going to kiss in a dungeon, we would have to defeat the Demon King. Nothing ever goes according to plan, but I didn’t see this coming.

Slowly I began to calm down and told Meyer.

“I have a favor to ask of you, too.”

“What is it?”

“Don’t call me [1]’you.’ Don’t do anything dangerous and take care of your health.”

I said jokingly, smiling and laughing at Meyer, who asked back as if he would listen to anything.

Meyer’s face shook with unknown emotions.

He muttered in a low, locked voice as if he was speechless.

“…you’re really…”

“Oho.”

“… Jun.”

Meyer spoke slowly.

Usually, Meyer often called me Jun, but at this moment, the name he called me was sweet.

I smiled satisfactorily and reached out to Meyer once again.

“We’re really going back now, Meyer.”

Meyer’s hand grasped mine. Our opposing hands were tightly bound, as if in trust and affection for each other.

Glad the misunderstanding can be resolved this quick, I can understand him though, he experiences this for the first time duh.

But they both quick to communicate and talk it out... Claps claps claps... So nothing to worry now lol.