Chapter 38

Lucas felt the strength drain from Viola's body in his arms.

Glancing at her face, he saw that she was sleeping soundly, completely at ease. Seeing her defenseless, trusting face, Lucas relaxed his lips into a gentle smile.

Then, a sharp, stern gaze pierced him.

"Mr. Lucas, I did as you said, but aren't you getting too personal?"

Clement, recalling the advice given the other day, voiced his dissatisfaction.

However, Lucas was unfazed. He deliberately adopted a triumphant expression.

"An exhausted hero should be allowed to rest on a bed in the dormitory. I can get her there faster than a stretcher, and it will also reduce the burden on the knights carrying the stretcher. Isn't it reasonable?"

Clement's temple twitched. Realizing that further complaints would be futile, he let out a small sigh.

"If you drop Senior Viola, I won't forgive you. And after we get to the dormitory, don't do anything funny while she's sleeping."

"Of course not."

"What's with that pause?"

"If you're worried, you can return to the manor sooner."

Lucas turned toward Albertina, hiding the fact that he had thought a kiss on the hair would be fine.

Albertina was prostrate on the ground, lowering her posture to the maximum.

It was rare for a proud griffin to cooperate so much for a human. This was proof of the strong bond with her partner, Lucas, and her acceptance of Viola, who was sleeping in his arms.

The boundary division team members, including the divine beast knights, who were waiting for the departure signal, were impressed by the scene.

Lucas, holding Viola, skillfully mounted Albertina and fastened the belt. Without disturbing his fiancée's sleep, he signaled the departure with a hand gesture and took off into the sky.

Upon arriving at the dormitory, he immediately laid Viola on the bed in the assigned room.

Her golden-blonde hair spread out, and her pink diamond earrings sparkled.

He was overjoyed that she had kept her promise and worn them faithfully.

He showed her to the expedition's dedicated physician as a precaution, and received a diagnosis that she would wake up naturally once her magic power returned. However, it would take time for a full recovery due to her depleted magic power.

Her sleeping face was adorable, and her frail body seemed to fit perfectly in his arms, yet the fact that she had used her body to deactivate the magic formula was impressive.

The contrast between her delicate appearance and her heroic actions tickled Lucas's heart.

(From the first meeting, I was surprised by her drinking prowess, and this time, she was the most impressive. She's always captivating. It was a stroke of luck to become her fiancé, even if it was initially due to a drunken impulse.)

While he was happy, he also had concerns.

(This incident will make Viola even more famous in the Magic Bureau. Director Dressler will be fine, but will the Magic Bureau approve her resignation as planned? I hope they don't try to keep her due to her competence... I'll pray it ends as a groundless worry. First, thank you for your hard work.)

Despite the anxiety about returning to the capital, he was grateful to Viola for completing the expedition.

Lucas gently stroked Viola's head as if praising her, then left the room, entrusting her to the doctor and the dormitory staff.

At the entrance, the boundary division team had returned, and Clement and Zen were reporting to the Magic Bureau in the capital via magic communication.

The deputy captain of the divine beast knights, Jackson, whom Lucas had designated as the successor, was participating on his behalf and was standing next to the Grand Master of the Knights, Gerald.

Lucas stood next to Jackson.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. Any problems?"

"No, there are no particular issues with the divine beast knights. However, there are many problems on the Magic Bureau's side due to the magic formula for attracting monsters."

"Of course. Not only did they invalidate the barrier, but they also overlaid the magic formula for attracting monsters, which clearly shows malicious intent. Will the stay be extended for the investigation?"

"The Magic Bureau wishes to receive a direct report in the capital. They want us to pack our bags and leave the day after tomorrow morning."

"Without considering the fatigue of the people."

Viola had just collapsed. While he wanted to return quickly, he also wanted to let her rest. Unable to interrupt the communication, he sighed in frustration, convincing himself that he could carry her no matter what her condition was.

The remaining reports would be made in the capital, and the magic communication was cut off.

Although there was a new boundary stone and monster surveillance to be done tonight, most of the people were given a break.

Later that night, after finishing the cleanup, Lucas visited Viola's room before going to bed. She was wearing a shirt instead of her uniform, probably changed by the caretaker.

He placed a chair by the bedside and gazed at her sleeping face for a while.

She seemed to be having a good dream, occasionally smiling.

"Haha, you're really cute."

She was so endearing that he couldn't help but say it out loud. He could look at her for hours.

"I'm glad... that today's events didn't become a trauma for you. Were you not afraid of the blood?"

Although she hadn't directly killed the monster, she had witnessed its death. Even a knight who had prepared themselves might have nightmares on the first night.

Lucas himself had been plagued by nausea the first time.

As he wondered about this, a person who could answer his question entered the room.

"Senior Viola, due to her family's poverty, had to help her father dissect animals from a young age. I think she has a certain level of mental preparation for killing."

"Clement. What are you doing here?"

He had left the door open to avoid spreading rumors, but he didn't like being intruded upon.

"Isn't it natural for the leader to check on the condition of a hero and see how they are doing?"

Clement stood next to Lucas with his usual cheerful smile. Although he was saying something reasonable, Lucas didn't want to show Viola's sleeping face to him.

When Lucas glared up at him, Clement's smile disappeared.

"Do you really mean it about Senior Viola?"

"What do you mean by 'now'?"

"But, didn't you call Senior Viola a pawn?"

Lucas remembered saying that and laughed it off.

"That was to prevent you from directing your anger at Viola again. The bruise on her wrist was really bad."

"---I see. So your earlier muttering was the truth..."

At that time, he hadn't yet realized his feelings, but he saw no need to explain himself.

"If you understand, I hope you'll give up on Viola. I have no intention of giving her to anyone."

"From what I've seen, it still seems like a one-sided love from you, Mr. Lucas. I don't think I can give up until Senior Viola fully loves you."

"You..."

Clement's words, which he hadn't expected, made Lucas's eyes widen. It sounded more like advice than a warning.

"Haha, even Mr. Lucas can be surprised."

Satisfied with eliciting a rare expression from the hero, Clement smiled.

"I'm going back to my room. Even though you're engaged, you shouldn't stay in Senior Viola's room for too long. Think about the caretaker. Good night."

With those motherly words, Clement retreated.

As he watched Clement leave, the caretaker, a woman, returned with a basket of laundry, probably to hang up Viola's clothes, which included more than just her uniform.

Lucas told Viola, "Have a good dream," and left the room.