Let’s Not Write A Novel Recklessly

CHAPTER 11 – ONE’S REST

Rhythmic, bubbly, and cute writing style. Unexpected twists and turns. A sweet and happy ending, like chocolate. Se-ho thought that Tae-ram’s writing was very much like his.

* * *

The group ate a late dinner again today. 

“Fran! Skipping meals is not good.” 

“It’s not skipping; it’s a matter of preference.”

“I love goblin stew! They’re so well-seasoned and delicious, and the flesh is so tender, it must have been an athletic monster.”

“I don’t like any kind of stew. Humans don’t eat monster meat in the first place.” 

“But Amil does eat it.”

“Is it that you don’t like my cooking, Fran?” 

“Not that….”

Lucias pushed his plate toward Kairan, taking advantage of the three of them fidgeting.

The table was noisy as usual. But Se-ho felt a small twinge of discomfort: Tae-ram was strangely quiet. Uneasily, he glanced to the side and saw Tae-ram’s body sway precariously. His tiny body slumped to the side. Se-ho hurriedly grabbed Tae-ram.

He seemed to be asleep, but Se-ho checked his breathing just in case. To his relief, he heard soft, regular breathing.

“He’s just falling asleep.”

The others, who had been watching with concern, breathed a collective sigh of relief. 

“He must have been very tired.”

“He’s been pushing himself lately, but he’s an honest man who can’t smoke a joint.”

“That’s what’s cute about him, the way he sleeps.”

Lucias nodded. Se-ho suddenly felt bad; even in the book world, Tae-ram was loved by everyone.

He wishes he was the only one next to him… A twisted sense of possessiveness crept up on him.

Tae-ram was the first wall in Se-ho’s life, the first thing that made him feel inferior. Any initial crush was erased when he denied and mocked his work.

But as the novel progresses and he gets to know him, Se-ho wonders if there was a misunderstanding. The transparent Tae-ram wouldn’t tell him the whole story.

Why would he do that? Maybe he misunderstood him. Maybe there was a reason, even if it was real.

Hate and obsession turned into heavy affection. Se-ho could no longer claim that he only liked Tae-ram on the outside. Everything about him was good.

“I’m glad he’s asleep, but I’ll take a look just in case.” 

Se-ho reached out and stopped Fran from reaching for him.

“I’ll do it.”

“It’s for Tae-ram’s health, don’t be stubborn.” 

“Funny how you have nothing but selfishness on your mind.” 

“Excuse me?”

“Tae-ram is just tired. All we have to do is put him to bed.” 

“So that’s what I’m going to do.”

“You might want to cast a healing spell, too, in case there are invisible wounds….”

“Tae-ram will wake up, you two just move him.”

Lucias, speaking for the first time today, mediated between the two. Se-ho and Fran meekly followed his orders.

Once inside Tae-ram’s barracks, Se-ho gently laid him down on his bed.

Se-ho stared down at the sleeping Tae-ram. It was strange to see him so quiet and neat. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. He had beautiful, full lashes. He was haughty.

His upturned nose and pouty lips were small and cute. His hair, like the silk of the sky, looked soft. He wanted to touch his defenseless face like a child.

Se-ho couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Tae-ram’s face, which never seemed to get old. Fran, who had been watching Se-ho impatiently, opened his mouth in annoyance.

“I need to heal him, so get out of the way.” 

“You’re still here?”

“I can’t just leave the prince here.” 

“That’s for me to say.”

“I don’t want to argue over nothing, we have a hard march tomorrow and I want to relieve his fatigue.”

Se-ho didn’t like the idea of letting Fran take care of Tae-ram, but he stepped aside. As frustrated as he was, Fran was the only one who could heal him. He didn’t want him to collapse again.

“Lian’s grace to you!”

A beam of light emanated from Fran and enveloped Tae-ram’s body. Tae-ram’s face relaxed. 

“If you’re done, you can leave now.”

“Once the prince leaves.”

Fran pulled a chair to the side of the bed and sat down. Se-ho reluctantly took a seat at the desk as well. He could never trust Fran.

The two men remained silent, wary of each other. It wasn’t like they were exchanging words.

How much time had passed? Fran broke the silence first. 

“What does the prince think of Tae-ram?”

Fran’s question was deeper than he expected, and Se-ho pondered.

What is his Senior to him? It was an emotion too complex to be defined in one word.

Their first meeting was off-putting. They used to argue whenever their eyes met. As their time together grew, Se-ho found himself increasingly drawn to Tae-ram. It bothered him that he seemed to be the only one aware of Tae-ram and he wished Tae-ram would think more about him. Yet, Se-ho couldn’t gather the courage to approach Tae-ram and instead kept circling him. Looking back now, he realized it was cowardly behavior.

Se-ho admired Tae-ram for reaching out to him. At that moment, had it not been for Amil’s interruption, Se-ho might have honestly confessed his feelings.

“He’s someone I want to keep around.”

“But he’s going to leave one day. Is that okay with the prince?”

“It’ll be hard, but I don’t think I can tie him down. I want to make sure he gets what he wants.” 

“Such a grandiose story. Well, it’s not like the prince is desperate, right?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Are you asking me that? I don’t want to let go of Tae-ram, no matter what.”

Fran’s words were filled with blind determination. Even if he chose someone other than him, Se-ho thought, it could never be Fran.

Fran was dangerous, after all. He was a slithering snake, a man with a relentlessness and sullenness that preyed on people’s weaknesses and immobilized them. He was no match for the upright Tae-ram.

“Touch him and I will never forgive you.” 

Fran scoffed at Se-ho’s warning.

“What is Tae-ram to you? There’s not much difference between you and me. At least for now.”

Fran’s words cut like a knife into Se-ho’s heart. Aside from the confession, Tae-ram had never fully trusted Se-ho. At least, that’s what Se-ho believed. The nightmares he’d been having lately, the sudden darkening of the jewel, he hadn’t told him anything.

Seeing Se-ho’s darkened expression, Fran smiled with satisfaction.

“There’s no point in staying here any longer, the prince won’t be able to do anything about it anyway.” 

He rose and strode out of the barracks. Alone, Se-ho pondered Fran’s last words.

Is there anything he can do for him? He doesn’t even know what’s wrong with him… All he can do now is guard the barracks, waiting for him to wake up.

The gloomy thoughts sank to the bottom. Like the dark demonic sky, Se-ho’s mind was lost in a fog, unable to find its way.

* * *

“…Hey,…Se-ho!”

A familiar voice pierced through Se-ho’s mind. A high, loud voice. But it was good to hear.

“Lee Se-ho, wake up. It’s already lunchtime.”

Se-ho forced his unwilling eyelids open. 

“Senior Tae-ram?”

“Your eyes are so hazy. Drink this and snap out of it.”

Se-ho took the glass of water from Tae-ram’s hand and downed it in one gulp. As the cold water spread through his body, his blurred vision slowly returned.

“When I woke up, you were lying on top of me. Do you know how surprised I was?” 

“You suddenly fell asleep during the meal, senior…”

“I know. I know. Fran told me you two moved me together. I guess you’ve become close since then?” 

“No way!”

“Or not. Why are you yelling?”

“Because you’re saying ridiculous things.” 

“I’m sorry. Okay?”

Se-ho knew from experience that this would lead to another fight. There was a lot he wanted to say to Tae-ram. He didn’t want to waste time arguing.

“I apologize for yelling at you as soon I woke up.” 

“No, what… You don’t need to apologize.”

Tae-ram’s voice softened at Se-ho’s quick apology.

“Oh, right. I mentioned it while eating breakfast. I decided to take a day off today, so I’m sorry if it’s because of me….”

Se-ho found Tae-ram’s embarrassment cute. On the other hand, he was worried that he was making too much of being a non-combatant.

“You’re doing your part, you’re doing your part, we’re all good at different things.”

The unexpectedly kind words made Tae-ram stare at Se-ho with a puzzled expression. 

“Why?”

“Just… I didn’t expect you to say something like that. Normally, you would have said something like, ‘I wasted my time uselessly because of you.'”

“It’s not that bad, it’s just useless….” 

“Don’t say it, right?”

“…If you’ve said all you have to say, please leave.”

Se-ho shoved Tae-ram out of the barracks. He was a little offended by Tae-ram imitating him with a furrowed brow.

“Wait! Wait! This is my barracks in the first place! I’m not going to make fun of you anymore, so listen to me.” 

“…What is it?”

“If you don’t have anything else to do, do you want to go out with me?” 

“Go out?”

Se-ho was puzzled; it was a desolate demon world outside.

“That sword training I told you about, let’s do it today. I think it’s too human to fall while eating, and I’ve been reflecting a bit.”

“Good.”

The two went out to a nearby clearing.

Se-ho wanted to get a feel for Tae-ram’s basic skills first, so he suggested a simple match. He made sure to be as gentle as possible. Hesitant, Tae-ram trusted Se-ho’s word and drew his sword.

Less than a minute into the duel, he regretted it. 

“Are you kidding me? Your movements are too monotonous.”

“Your sword is too heavy!”

“Don’t just thrust it out, think about it.” 

“I thought you said you were being gentle!”

“I’m being gentle enough.” 

“You’re lying!”

“Stop whining and start moving. If you do it in a circular motion, it will be natural and continuous.”

But Tae-ram’s sword sliced through the air in front of his swinging foot.

“…That won’t work, I’ll get you into a basic stance first.”

Eventually, Se-ho put down his sword and approached Tae-ram. He placed his hands on his waist and shoulders to correct his posture.

He was stiff at first, but as time went on, he became more and more proficient. “Good. Put some pressure on your fingertips.”

“Like this?”

“That halves the destructive power. Stretch your arms out.” 

“Okay. Like this?”

“Good.”

Seeing Tae-ram’s posture, Se-ho looked satisfied for the first time. 

“You’re no stronger than a child, but your learning ability is surprisingly good.”

“No surprises!”

With that, the two continued their training.

As the day grew darker, Tae-ram sank to the ground. 

“I can’t do it anymore.”

“People don’t die with that easily.”

“…You scared me, I thought it was the army for a second, I got goosebumps.” 

“Stop talking weird and get up. You’re dirty.” 

“I’m going to have to wash up anyway because of the sweat, so what the hell.”

“Really, you are….” 

“You come over here too!”

Tae-ram suddenly tugged on Se-ho’s arm. Se-ho was caught off guard and fell to the ground.

“Senior, what are you doing?” 

“Don’t be angry, lie down.”

Se-ho lay down on the ground, half in despair. His body was already a mess, just as Tae-ram had said.

“There are stars in the demonic sky, too. It’s pretty.”

Se-ho followed Tae-ram’s gaze upward. Stars dotted the sky, flowing like a river. Each one was a different jewel. It was a beautiful sky that made him forget he was in the Demon World. It was certainly a sight not often seen.

“I guess this isn’t so bad once in a while.”

“It is, isn’t it? Fran said that today is the only day with clear skies.”

At the mention of Fran, Se-ho’s excitement diminished. He hated the way the Fran had infiltrated Tae-ram’s daily life.

Is Fran more precious to Tae-ram than him?

It was a childish question that he couldn’t help but ask. Se-ho’s heart sank, knowing that Tae-ram cared about Fran.

* * *

Fran didn’t believe in God. He cursed him. Because he had nothing, he committed crimes great and small. He defined himself as evil. Nevertheless, a divine light shone down on him.

A God without standards for good and evil. A God who is not fair. Could such a God be worthy of existence? Is divinity really divine?

Fran thought endlessly of ways to call him blasphemous if anyone heard him. He was the closest thing to a God, but at some point, he stopped being a believer.

Tae-ram. Only he is his God. As he has given him power at his whim, he will choose whom he will serve.

And so Tae-ram became the God of Fran.

* * *

An unexpected visitor came to Fran’s barracks. 

“Tae-ram, what brings you here?”

“Sorry for the late night, Fran. I’m having a hard time sleeping, and I was wondering if you could use your healing on me.”

It was the first time Tae-ram had sought him out, so Fran felt elated. Tae-ram, with damp hair, looked like he had just finished washing up, emitting a pleasant scent.

“That’s not hard, but why are you so tired?”

“It’s because… I did some training at Se-ho’s suggestion, and my arm still hurts.”

“Training? That’s dangerous, and the prince is being a bit harsh on you. You don’t have the stamina to do it anyway….”

“I asked him for it. I remembered that the prince once said that it would be good to have some basic physical strength.”

Fran’s excitement subsided at the sight of Tae-ram eagerly defending Se-ho.

Prince… No, did he say Se-ho? That asshole and Tae-ram are clearly from the same world. It’s annoying. Plus, the prince said he was destined to be the main character. He wishes he’d just die already…….…

Fran decided to spike the prince’s meal with more poison tomorrow morning. 

“Then please sit over here, Tae-ram.”

Fran invited Tae-ram to sit on his bed, and Tae-ram crawled up onto the bed with a wiggle. It was so cute that Fran wanted to capture it on video, and he resolved to get a video sphere from Kairan when he had the chance.

“Please take care of me.” 

“The grace of Lian be upon you!”

Tae-ram’s body was enveloped in a brilliant light. After a moment, his face relaxed. 

“Are you feeling any more uncomfortable?”

“My headache seems to be gone, but I’m very sleepy….”

“That’s because you’ve been using up your stamina, so don’t think about it, just get some sleep.” 

“Thank you, then I’ll go inside.”

Tae-ram rubbed his eyes and turned to leave Fran’s barracks.

“Wait, just dry your hair before you go, or you’ll catch a cold.” 

“I’m tired….”

“I’ll do it for you.”

“…Thank you.”

Setting the half-closed-eyed man back on the bed, Fran wiped his hair with a towel he had retrieved. Delicately, skillfully, he brushed the remaining water from his hair.

His touch soothed him, and he fell asleep with his head in his hands. 

“Tae-ram, are you sleeping?”

There was no answer from the already sleeping Tae-ram.

Fran smoothed Tae-ram’s disheveled hair and stared down at his face. It was a beautiful face, well-groomed. He was so white he wanted to stain it, and everything that made him up was lovely.

“I don’t want you to go anywhere.”

When Fran first realized that this world was a fabrication, he despaired, and he felt terror. He felt like a puppet controlled by invisible hands. He even doubted his unholy, temporary attraction to Tae-ram.

“I don’t care if it’s a world where everything is as it should be, because this heart is real, and I’ll do anything to keep you bound to it.”

Fran continued to study the sleeping face and eventually fell asleep.

* * *

When he regained consciousness, warm sunlight was shining on Fran. Morning? Did he fall asleep watching Tae-ram?

“No wonder there was no response since earlier… Fran. Were you sleeping?”

“Tae-ram?”

Feeling intensely awkward, Fran looked around. The flowers and garden trees were fragrant and beautiful. It was the greenhouse garden where he had often enjoyed tea time with Tae-ram. And it was a space he had created with his illusionary magic.

Could it be? Is this within the barrier?

Franc concentrated and traced the flow of mana. As expected, he and Tae-ram were inside an illusion barrier. The barrier’s surface is undulated like ripples. The structure was loose, and unfamiliar and rough energy could be felt. It wasn’t magical power or divine power, but something different.

Fran pondered and concluded.

It seems that Tae-ram might be the owner of this space. Perhaps he was influenced periodically while experiencing the illusion barrier? Tae-ram doesn’t have magic power, but he’s a special existence… Even though it’s the same space, such bright energy emanates from him. It’s truly magical in Tae-ram’s style.

Just as Fran was about to analyze the phenomenon in more detail, a grumbling voice interrupted his thoughts. 

“You seem a bit unfocused today. Fran, your absentminded look is fresh, but I’m a little disappointed. Are you bored being with me?”

“No, I’m not! I love spending time with you more than anything.” 

“Haha… You don’t have to be so serious. I know, even without you saying it. I can’t even play tricks on you, Fran.”

Tae-ram’s smile was fresher than a freshly bloomed flower, and Fran couldn’t help but be mesmerized by it. For once, he was more defenseless than a child.

“You’re groggy again. Here, drink this to wake you up.” 

“Thanks.”

Fran accepted the tea Tae-ram held out to him with some trepidation. As he sipped, a thick sweetness flooded his mouth. It was radish-sweet.

“Seems like milk tea doesn’t suit your taste.”

On the table was an ornate three-tiered tray that he had seen before, though the contents were different. These were the things that Fran embodied. All because Tae-ram had created this space based on Fran’s magic.

It felt like a collaborative effort, somehow. Fran felt heat rise to his face.

“Then let’s have dessert.” 

“Yes, yes!”

Fran’s eyes flicked back to the table at Tae-ram’s urging. The tray was filled with chocolate-covered cookies and chocolate pudding. Chocolate cake and more. It was all tongue-numbingly sweet. Fran grabbed a suitable one and popped it into his mouth. As expected, it was sweet.

“I must have brought too many of my favorites. I’m sorry, Fran.” 

“No, it’s delicious.”

“It’s just that you don’t have a sweet tooth, do you?” 

“That’s….”

“I appreciate your consideration, but I’d like to know what you like, Fran.” 

“What do I like?”

“Yes. Besides your favorite desserts, I’d like to know…. or favorite places or books or music or something like that.”

Fran didn’t know what to say to the question he’d never heard before. No one had ever wondered about him before. Everyone had arbitrarily defined him according to their tastes and forced predetermined roles upon him. Even when he was a ‘dirty orphan bastard’…. and now as the Great High Priest, nothing has changed.

The only thing that means anything to him is Tae-ram, and he doesn’t want anything else, but this heart is too heavy for him, isn’t it?

“I’m embarrassed, but I don’t know.”

Fran was afraid that Tae-ram would avoid him.

“Okay, now that we’re in the garden, let’s go find Fran’s favorite flower!”

Tae-ram stood up and took Fran’s hand and led him away. Fran felt like his little hand, his little back, was a prince’s back, leading him into a new world.

“There are so many different flowers blooming.” 

“Yes. It makes me feel calm.”

The various flowers showed off their splendor. They strolled through the garden, magnificent yet somehow cozy.

“What do you think, Fran? Did you find any flowers you think you’ll like?” 

“I don’t know.”

As they walked, Fran could only stare at Tae-ram, who rolled his eyes at what was so interesting.

“Fran, look at the flowers, not me.” 

“I’m looking at the flowers too.”

Suddenly, Fran spotted a flower among the colorful blooms that caught his eye. It was a small, white, bell-shaped flower that resembled a slender, sturdy crab.

“Do you like that flower?”

“I think so, but I don’t know its name.”

“If I had a laptop, I’d look it up… Ah! I remembered what that flower is!” 

“Really?”

“It’s a snowflake flower.”

“Snowflake flowers… It’s small and round, so it’s appropriate.” 

“I was once looking for a symbol flower for avant-garde….”

“Avant-garde?”

“Well, that’s what we call a small, cute guy in my world.”

“I see. Thanks to you, I learned something new: people like you are called avant-garde.”

“Haha… I think I’d better not use that one. Oh, by the way, it’s a snowflake flower, which is a different name in this world, now that I think about it.”

“I like snowflake flowers, I’ll call it that.”

“If that’s what you like, Fran, then go for it. Speaking of which, I’ll give you the flower language of the snowflake flower, which is ‘beauty’, which suits you very well.”

“I think it’s more for Tae-ram than me….” 

“Wait here!”

Leaving the shy Fran alone, Tae-ram crouched down in the center of the flower bed and began to weave the tiny flowers together. It was clumsy work, but when he was done, he had a pretty convincing corolla.

“What’s that for?”

“I made it for Fran!”

Cheerful, Tae-ram placed the wreath on Fran’s head. 

“Hmm, it suits you well. No, it’s actually really pretty.” 

“…It’s not that great on me.”

It was nice to see him smile, but Fran felt embarrassed by the blatant compliment. 

“I’ll keep it, but do you mind if I take it off?”

“No. At least wear it when you’re in the garden. If it looks so good on you, why are you so shy?” 

“Sometimes, you can be mischievous, Tae-ram.”

“You call a pretty thing pretty, so what’s wrong with that?”

The laughter was contagious, and Fran was laughing along with Tae-ram.

He wish he could always smile at him like this. But if Tae-ram finds out what he’d done, he’ll never smile at him again. Fran was well aware of how contradictory he was.

A godless believer prayed fervently.

May he stay by his side forever, even when he loses his light.

* * *

“…-an…. …Fran!”

A familiar voice cut through Fran’s thoughts. It was Tae-ram. A sweet, soothing voice. Was it a dream?

“Wake up, it’s already lunchtime, I was going to let you sleep, but skipping meals makes you sick.” 

Fran forced his unwilling eyelids open.

“Tae-ram?”

“I think we both just fell asleep last night, so I told the others to give us another day of rest.”

“Thank you for your concern.” 

“Drink some water, it’ll wake you up.”

Fran took the glass of water from Tae-ram’s hand and sipped slowly. As the cold water spread through his body, he felt his foggy mind slowly return.

“When I woke up, I was surprised to find Fran next to me. Now that I think about it, it must be tiring to heal others, including me, every time.”

“No, it’s not. I’m sorry I bothered you….”

“I’m more sorry, you had a hard time using your healing magic yesterday because of me, didn’t you?” 

“I did it because I wanted to.”

“Ah! I see. For dessert today, I asked Amil to make flower tea.” 

“Flower tea?”

“Yes. I know how Fran likes his tea more fragrant than sweet.” 

“Have I ever told you that?”

“Huh? Come to think of it, no. But why did I suddenly think of it? I barely remember it, but I think I saw Fran in a dream, and when I woke up, I thought I should make him some flower tea… Is that weird?”

“No. Was the dream happy?”

“Yes! It was very happy because Fran was nice to me in my dream.” 

“Was I nice to you?”

“Of course you were, so I’ll go now! Come on out to eat.” 

Tae-ram left the barracks, leaving Fran alone.

“Tae-ram, I’m not a nice person.”

Fran had learned a lot from the glimpses of his dreams. He realized that Lucias’ giving of his heart to Tae-ram was a set story and that interfering with it would change it.

Even as he watched him cry out in agony, Fran’s nightmares continued to amplify his guilt. Every time he saw him in pain, it shook him, but he turned away from him. There was no turning back now.

Unlike his cowardly self, Tae-ram never turned away from any of his fantasies. He’s the kind one, and that’s why he’ll eventually do what he wants him to do. Foolish, foolish man. But that’s what he loves about him.

* * *

Tae-ram was the greatest puzzle in the peaceful life of Kairan.

Pure curiosity arose at the sight of a soul in a new form. It started from a small interest. A small lake grew deeper over time and became a vast ocean that could govern everything. An unfamiliar discomfort he had never experienced before. Suddenly, the change that came was not welcome.

There was nothing he couldn’t possess, whether it was an object or a living being… So why couldn’t he have him entirely? How could he monopolize him? Should he just lock him up somewhere? Then, he would be sad, right? He didn’t want to see him with a sad face.

Kairan sealed away the wicked thoughts that came to his mind.

* * *

Mealtime as usual, except for Fran, who didn’t show up, claiming he wasn’t feeling well. The lunch menu was goblin stir-fry. Kairan stirred his fork furiously, as always.

He didn’t know why Amil had been sticking to goblin meat lately, but his cooking was delicious today.

“Tae-ram, try this!” 

“I’m full, so….”

“You just started eating, what are you saying?”

Kairan could feel Tae-ram’s distress, but he didn’t stop gobbling, because this stir-fry was amazing. The vegetables were crunchy and fun to chew. The tender meat that melted in the mouth, together with the savory soy sauce, created a heavenly taste.

“It’s really delicious. I want Tae-ram to try it too, huh? Just once.”

“…Mmm, I’m going to eat, so stop looking at me.”

Tae-ram closed his eyes tightly and picked up the stir-fry. Despite this, Tae-ram was weak in the face.

“It’s delicious….”

“Isn’t it?”

“…If it wasn’t monster meat, I could enjoy it purely.” 

“Humans eat everything, why not monsters?”

“Because… Monsters aren’t livestock, for one thing, and honestly, it’s like eating poison.” 

“You’ve developed an immunity, so now you can eat any monster. Right?”

“What’s the point of having something like that?” 

“I thought you said it was delicious.”

“It’s delicious, yes, but….”

It was cute to see Tae-ram eating goblin food while Kairan grumbled but dutifully teased his cutlery. He was angry, then happy, then busy. It’s so fun to see Tae-ram’s colorful emotions.

While Kairan was in the middle of admiring Tae-ram, an interruption came. It was Se-ho, who had been looking up from his meal to see if something was bothering him.

“Tae-ram. We need to discuss something.”

“Yeah, okay, I’ll get up first.” 

“Okay. Go ahead.”

Tae-ram followed Se-ho into the barracks. Kairan felt a pang of bitterness as he was somehow left all alone.

Tae-ram shared so much with Se-ho. Kairan didn’t probe, knowing his desperation, but he could tell that what he was doing was vital to the survival of the world.

Why does he never want anything from him? He’d do anything to help him if he asked…. even if it means turning the world upside down.

A negative emotion crawled up Kairan’s spine, something he had never experienced in his long dragon life. 

“This isn’t funny.”

Kairan paced the barracks unnecessarily, trying to cool down his bubbling bad feelings.

“…I’m hungry.”

Still hungry, Kairan returned to the table. An unexpected figure remained at the table. 

Next to Lucias, who was eating neatly, with an upright posture and no distractions, was a huge pile of empty plates.

“You eat surprisingly much, too.”

Lucias didn’t respond to Kairan’s comment, but instead offered him a seat closer to the fire. 

“You want me to sit by the fire to warm up?”

Lucias nodded. Kairan meekly complied.

An uncomfortable silence descended between the two of them. Lucias’ gentleness seeped into Kairan’s heart like the warmth of a campfire.

In hindsight, it was hard to tell who Lucias was. He’s definitely a demon, but he’s probably bigger than he thought.

After observing Lucias, Kairan blurted out.

“Are you a demon?” 

“Yes.”

Lucias said it so casually that for a moment, Kairan wondered if he’d misheard, then asked again.

“…Really, you’re a demon?”

“I have no reason to lie to you.”

Kairan thought that if he was on the outs, Lucias was even worse.

Sure, he’s a dragon, and he’s been involved in fighting dragons, but he hadn’t aimed at the dragon. It’s even weirder that it was a demon-slaying party and a demon came in.

“Does Tae-ram know about this? No, what do you plan to do from now on? Which one?” 

 “I don’t know.”

“Do you mean he doesn’t know who you are, or do you mean you don’t know what you’re going to do, which one?” 

Lucias finished his meal and stood up, whether Kairan was confused or not.

“Rest assured, I would never harm anyone, not even Tae-ram.” 

“No. So you’re going to kill yourself?”

“Just because I want to be by his side? You probably feel the same way… “

With that, Lucias walked away. Left alone, Kairan continued to ponder his last words.

Will he ever be satisfied with just being around him? Why does he like him in the first place? Because he’s an unusual soul? That’s true, but neither Lucias nor the prince nor Fran is unusual. Because he’s cute? Amil is cute, too. When has he ever cared so much about another creature’s feelings?

It was not in Kairan’s nature to ponder. The answer came easily and without much thought. He can stay with him as long as he wants, and he’ll think about it later.

“I’ll be there at this hour.”

After a modest meal, Kairan stood up and made his way to Tae-ram’s barracks.

* * *

Kairan knocked and opened the door to the barracks. Tae-ram’s eyes widened like a rabbit’s at the unexpected visit.

“Kairan?”

“Let’s go have a midnight snack.” 

“Now?”

“It’s a late-night snack because we’re eating now. You didn’t eat properly earlier, right?” 

“Yeah, but… Now, wait!”

Before Tae-ram could say anything, Kairan grabbed his hand and used a spatial traveling spell. 

“This is Conn?”

“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t get to hang out with you last time.” 

“That’s right. You couldn’t come with us back then.”

Tae-ram still looked a little off, but he didn’t seem offended. Kairan was slightly relieved, though he knew he’d been pushing it a bit.

After a long absence, Conn was still lively and bustling with people. Street vendors were actively hawking their wares, and there were performances everywhere. Tae-ram was amused. It felt liberating to be out of the dark realm, even for a moment.

“This is nice, but are you okay? I don’t know much about magic, but I’ve heard that traveling through space takes a lot of mental energy and mana.”

“It indeed is, but Conn is close to my rare, and I had the help of the traveling device in my rare, and I’ll barely have any energy tomorrow, considering I have to go back later.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, there are no battles these days anyway.”

Kairan said that, but he also honestly calculated that it was okay since he had Lucias, the demon king, to protect him.

“No matter what, I can’t believe you’re doing this just for a midnight snack….”

“A day or so? No, I’ll recover in two days, so it’s fine, and it’s important to me.” 

“Eating midnight snacks?”

“No! Eating something delicious with you.” 

“Really. Kairan can’t help it.” 

“We’re already here, so let’s go.” 

“Okay, so where do you want to go?”

“What’s your favorite food? Let’s go eat that.”

“No, I think it’s better if Kairan picks since he wasn’t here last time.” 

“Well, I forced you to eat monster meat for lunch, and I feel bad about that.”

“Did you care about that? I just didn’t like it because it was monster meat. It was delicious, and thanks to Kairan, I’m always having new experiences.”

“That’s nice of you to say. But I’m also curious to know what you like.” 

“If you say so….”

Tae-ram took Kairan to the same place he had gone with Se-ho.

A small, dilapidated mud-brick house on a corner. A clunky sign for chicken dishes. The place hadn’t changed from the last time they’d been there, but there was a long line.

“Shall we go somewhere else?”

“Waiting is a memory in itself, so wait.” 

“Okay.”

Tae-ram dragged Kairan, who was tired of the long line, to the tail of the line and stood. His mind was full of chicken. After waiting for a while, the line didn’t get any shorter.

“Tae-ram. You look so cold.”

“It’s because Kairan barged in on me, and I didn’t have time to put on more clothes.” 

“I’ll take care of it. Do you want me to hold you?”

“Here?”

“Does that mean it’s okay anywhere else?” 

“That’s not what I meant!”

“You’ve been a little chilly with me lately.” 

“Not that….”

“That’s a little sad.”

Tae-ram’s eyes fluttered as Kairan gave him a small, sad look. Kairan’s expression grew more wistful as he realized that if he pushed any further, he would fall. Tae-ram tended to look at him as a child.

Kairan grumbled inwardly. He doesn’t mind being taken care of, and he doesn’t mind being taken advantage of, but sometimes he wishes Tae-ram would lean on him.

“Do that, then.”

In the end, he did whatever Kairan asked him to do. Kairan was happy with the way things turned out.

He was getting tired of it… 

“Here. Come here.”

Kairan held out his arms, and Tae-ram snuggled into them, purring.

“Are you a little less cold now?”

“Yeah, but….”

“Are you embarrassed?”

“Don’t ask me when you know everything. You’re a bit of a jerk around here.”

It felt good to hold him in his arms, Kairan thought, the small, squishy crab-like slime, with a pleasant scent. He buried his nose in the nape of his neck and breathed in deeply, the sweet scent intensifying.

“Chocolate? I didn’t eat, but you made sure to have dessert.” 

“Kairan. Stop, you’re tickling me, you’re like a dog.”

“Not a dog, a dragon. I’ll stay like this until you order one as punishment for twisting my birth.”

The two of them had made it to the front of the line by now. Without a moment’s hesitation, Tae-ram slipped out of Kairan’s arms and into the shop. Kairan was sad to see the warmth fade away. He pouted his lips, wondering if he was the only one.

“I’ll take your order then. Would you like something to eat?” 

“No. You must be tired, sit down.”

Kairan glanced at the menu and then turned to the owner.

“Here’s a fiery, fire flavor, two pieces!”

A moment later, two chickens covered in scorching red sauce appeared.

“Isn’t this the spiciest flavor? Still, it looks delicious! I’ll eat it.”

Seeing Tae-ram’s excited expression, Kairan felt annoyed for no reason. He thought Tae-ram was only good at eating. Without responding to Tae-ram’s words, Kairan grabbed a chicken leg covered in the red sauce and ate it heartily.

“Wow, Kairan, you eat well. It’s a bit spicy for me, but still tasty!”

Tae-ram didn’t care about Kairan’s mood and happily started to devour the chicken. He didn’t notice that Kairan’s mood soured until he finished one chicken.

Eventually, Kairan got tired of grazing and returned to his normal behavior. Dull.

After finishing their midnight snack, the two walked around the streets looking at the paintings and dancers performing. 

“Look at that painting, the brush is moving by itself.”

“I have a lot of moving paintings in my rarities.” 

“You should show me next time.”

For a moment, Kairan felt depressed, wondering if there would be a next time for Tae-ram and himself, but he didn’t want to break his mood, so he kept his mouth shut.

“Okay, you can come whenever you want.” 

“Let’s go over there, too.”

As they browsed the accessories on the shelves, Kairan saw something he liked.

“I think this will look good on you.”

Kairan picked up a red bejeweled ribbon and slipped it into Tae-ram’s hair. 

“This is for a girl.”

“You’re always saying how pretty Fran is. There’s no such thing as a man or a woman in pretty, right? My brother said that when two pretty things come together, it becomes even better.” 

“Well, anyway, I won’t wear a ribbon.”

As Tae-ram and Kairan fidgeted, the accessory shop owner interrupted.

“You don’t have to wear a ribbon in your hair, you can wear it around your wrist. Are you two lovers?” 

“Yes.”

“No.”

“Why are you so adamant, do you hate me?”

He gave Tae-ram a look that was particularly telling. Tae-ram turned to Kairan again. 

“No… We really don’t have a relationship.”

“You took away my first….”

“Don’t give him the wrong idea!” 

“I’m sad and I want to go home alone.” 

“Are you going to be so cheesy?”

“I think this ribbon will make me feel better, but have it your way.” 

“Kairan!”

Even the shopkeeper joined in.

“This ribbon is made of the finest silk, even supplied to the royal court of Runever, and I only have one left.”

Tae-ram gave a small sigh and finally surrendered.

“Alright.”

“Master, I’ll take this one!”

Kairan quickly calculated, and without hesitation, he placed the ribbon on Tae-ram’s head. 

“It looks good on you.”

“I thought he said it didn’t have to be in my hair.”

“That’s what the shopkeeper said.” 

“Yeah, but….”

“Let’s just wear it for tonight.” 

“Maybe later. I’m going to get my revenge.”

“I’m looking forward to that. You can have your revenge all you want, and then you’ll be even cuter, right?” 

“Let’s go see a show.”

The two enjoyed the night market in good spirits.

* * *

“I enjoyed today, I never thought I’d be able to go to town. Kairan’s magic is amazing after all.”

“I can do anything for you if you want.”

“If you put it that way, I’ll say anything.”

Kaira was quite serious, but Tae-ram thought it was a joke and shrugged it off.

He can do anything he wants. Kairan swallowed hard at what he wanted to say. He didn’t want to ruin Tae-ram’s sunny smile.

“What kind of monster does Amil want to cook for us tomorrow morning?”

“I don’t like monster dishes….” 

“I told you it was a good experience.”

“I only want to do it once in a while, very occasionally.” 

“It’s too late. Go inside.”

“Okay!”

After Tae-ram left, Kairan, who was about to fall asleep, sensed a presence not far away.

The pattern of movement made it unlikely that it was a monster, but just in case, Kairan headed toward the clearing where he’d sensed life.

There, in the clearing, was Se-ho, swinging his sword aimlessly. “Damn it!”

After a few minutes of destructive behavior, Se-ho threw the sword away. The sword clattered to the ground with an unpleasant clang. Like the discarded sword, he lay on the ground in a haphazard heap.

Kairan tried to look away, then remembered Tae-ram, and stepped closer to Se-ho. 

“Tae-ram would be sad if you got hurt.”

“Kairan?”

“Dark, complicated feelings. Did things not go well with Tae-Ram earlier?”

Se-ho was in no mood to play the prince. Kairan was part of the problem, though not as much as Fran.

“He cares about you. Maybe even more than he cares about me.”

Despite Se-ho’s near-angry words, Kairan smiled wryly.

“You were something like Tae-ram. Ah. Don’t be alarmed. I’m not going to dig any deeper, rest assured, but as far as I’m concerned, it’s all for naught.”

“What?”

“What matters is your heart.” 

“…My heart?”

Kairan remembered Lucias’ words. The words had cleared his mind to a certain extent, so maybe they would work for Se-ho as well. Kairan hoped Se-ho would come to his senses, if only for Tae-ram’s sake.

“I’m going to stay with him because I like him, and you should too.”

Satisfied that Se-ho’s mind had calmed down somewhat, Kairan left the clearing. Kairan knew that Se-ho was a little more special to Tae-ram, but he hadn’t let him know it was a part of him.

It hurts, but it’s not over yet.

When it’s all over, he’ll ask Tae-ram to marry him formally.