The Monster Lady and the Holy Knight - Chapter 82

She had said she never wanted to see him again. No matter how much he regretted it, that was only his feeling. She believed that forcing it was nothing more than selfish violence.

He understood. He clearly understood the meaning of her words, sharp as a blade. And Leon was certain he could respect her wishes. At least until last night, when he forced his hesitant steps forward. Until he saw the woman collapse, coughing blood. Yes, everything had been clear.

Bwooo. A horn blared outside, sending a chill down his spine. When he saw Veronica collapse after returning from the barrier, Leon understood what it felt like for the ground beneath his feet to give way. It wasn’t until he had been pushed to that point that he finally realized.

He couldn’t let her go. He couldn’t release her. Even if he had to hover nearby until the day he died, he needed to stay close to her. No matter how much he pretended to be a decent person, his despicable greed couldn’t be hidden.

“Perhaps it’s fortunate that she’s fully assimilated,” Leon murmured, looking down at the sleeping Veronica. “Now she’ll need me whenever she gets hurt.”

She seemed much more at ease, her face slackened in deep relaxation. The nuns’ efforts to clean her were undone the moment she regained consciousness, as she began sweating profusely. But it had been worth it; Leon’s holy power was slowly healing her body.

“…Don’t go…”

She whimpered in her sleep and burrowed closer as he briefly pulled away to check her complexion. Her tear-stained eyes were slightly red, and her lips parted slightly. Her soft shoulders curled up with shallow breaths.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Leon answered, slowly caressing her pale, almost ghostly cheek. The mere thought that another human might have seen this face made his nerves prickle with cold unease. There was something about her that made him feel young again. Whenever her gaze shifted away, the possessiveness he had felt as a child resurfaced. A childish jealousy of wanting to have her or not wanting anyone else to take her would surge up.

He buried his face against her white neck. Her faint scent stirred his body, unwearied. He couldn’t believe how soft and delicate human skin could feel. No, more than that, he doubted the reality that such a fragile woman had accepted him.

He held her tightly, afraid she might disappear like a dream. Slowly, he ran his hand down her back, tracing her spine. When his hand reached the hollow above her hips, her body twitched sensitively. The sharp contours of her body drew a short breath from Leon.

Bang, bang. The sound of cannon fire outside snapped him back to reality. Tonight, the imperial army would defend the walls. But starting tomorrow, the reorganized knights would have to return to the battlefield.

No matter how many they killed, it seemed endless. Bahamut kept surging forward. The woman, who had revealed her worth, would undoubtedly have to dive back into battle as soon as she recovered.

Today, Veronica singlehandedly dealt with hundreds of Bahamuts that the imperial army had failed to block from entering. This was different from when she had simply helped refugees. Now, every citizen would know her name.

Veronica was a commoner, a woman, and even young compared to seasoned knights. People cheered more fervently when the weak stood above. Just as Leon’s rise as the Wolf of Berg drew great attention.

But this wasn’t a good thing. She would have to meet their expectations.

“Is there any reason to protect this body anymore? I was always meant to die for someone else. That’s why I came this far, isn’t it?”

No. That was wrong. She wasn’t someone meant to die that way.

‘Oh? Then how was she meant to die?’

Suddenly, a question surfaced from the depths of his mind. Leon didn’t answer. Perhaps the term “self-deception” existed because humans were creatures capable of lying to themselves.

I never wanted to kill her.

He repeated it to himself, but the memory of encountering the first Bahamut in the church resurfaced. When he plunged his sword into its hardened hide, Veronica collapsed simultaneously, a groan escaping her lips. He had almost killed her then.

‘Admit it. You felt joy. You rejoiced at finally fulfilling the burden on your shoulders.’

No. That wasn’t true. He wanted to save her. That was why he missed the chance to end the tragedy right before his eyes. All the lives lost afterward were his responsibility.

His mind writhed in torment, trapped in a pitch-black dilemma. No matter which choice he made, guilt burned him.

Leon buried his face in the woman he held tightly and gasped for breath. Thankfully, she was asleep. She didn’t need to see how miserable a purposeless life could become.

His fingers twitched on their own. The aftermath of pushing his limits for half a day and sharing his holy power was slowly setting in. Like poison spreading through him, creeping and insidious.

***

“And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it He rested from all the work of creating that He had done.”

—Genesis 2:3

***

Veronica felt hot. When she kicked off the bothersome blanket, someone covered her again. It was too hot—hot enough to drive her mad. This time, she kicked the blanket away with a bit more force. Yet again, it was placed back on her. Irritated, she decided not to fight the blanket but to move herself instead. Struggling to free her arms and legs, she finally escaped. And at that moment, her body tilted to one side. Veronica’s eyes flew open. She was falling. Falling…

“What…”

…falling.

With a jolt, an arm grabbed her. Veronica, who had nearly tumbled off the bed, was swiftly pulled back by a frowning man. Leon, his eyes still heavy with sleep, gazed blankly at her before glancing at his veined arm.

“Why were you all the way over there?”

“…Someone must have pushed me,” she muttered shamelessly.

Sliding out of his embrace, Veronica quickly sat upright. As she rubbed her dry eyes, she felt his gaze. Realizing he was staring at her chest, Veronica belatedly pulled the blanket to her.

“Don’t look.”

“Now? After I even cleaned you up while you were asleep?”

His nonchalant remark made embarrassment well up from deep within her. She felt as though her entire body was suddenly aflame. Leon, who had been brushing his hair back to shake off his drowsiness, paused when he saw her blushing to the tips of her ears.

Veronica, avoiding his piercing gaze, turned her head and preemptively spoke, “Bring me some clothes.”

Fortunately, Leon didn’t seem inclined to tease her further. Without a word, he rose and picked up his clothes from the floor. Veronica, determined not to glance at his lower half, focused on his broad back. His shoulder blades jutted out sharply, and the deep line of his spine shifted with each movement, accentuating his muscles. When he turned to glance over his shoulder, she snapped her attention back to herself.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“I don’t need to eat. I’d just throw it up anyway.”

She felt as if she didn’t need food or sleep anymore. She couldn’t explain it, but that was the impression she got.

“Still, it seems like you slept well.”

She couldn’t tell if he was teasing or just making a comment, so she chose not to respond. Truthfully, she had slept briefly. It hadn’t seemed necessary, but the comfort of being held had soothed her.

When Leon, now fully dressed, handed her clothes, Veronica burrowed under the blanket to change out of sight. Her arms and legs moved much more freely and comfortably than the day before. As expected, breathing in his breath seemed to have had a healing effect.

While she wrestled with the blanket, she heard the door open and close as he stepped out. Veronica paused mid-motion. For quite a while, she stayed still. She didn’t move until the door opened again.

“I thought you left,” she said quietly, peeking out from under the blanket.

Leon, placing a plate on the table, responded, “I’m not that rude.”

“You always left without saying goodbye.”

At her pointed remark, Leon turned to look at her. His expression seemed to search his memory. Watching his reaction, Veronica sighed, as though she had expected as much. Those moments had clearly not even registered in his memory. Their mundane life together in the inn after escaping the Holy See—he had often left without a word unless she made the effort to wake and see him off.

She was used to waking up alone in bed.

“If you don’t remember, never mind.”

Muttering to herself, Veronica tied her clothes neatly and stood. As she passed the stiffly frozen Leon, he grabbed her arm.

“Where are you going?”

“Out. I want to see what’s happening outside.”

“Ask me. I’ll tell you everything.”

“No, thanks. I’ll ask Oscar.”

At the mention of the name that had elicited the strongest reaction the day before, Leon predictably raised an eyebrow. In a low voice, he said, “I feel like I’ve been hearing that name too much lately.”

“That’s because I keep saying it. Let go. I want to check if he got hurt in yesterday’s battle.”

“Why?”

At the abrupt question, Veronica looked up at him curiously. Leon, radiating a subtly sharp air, slowly repeated the question.

“Why do you need to check that first thing in the morning?”

She hadn’t realized it was morning. In truth, she hadn’t planned to go directly to Oscar. She just didn’t want to stay in the same room with Leon for too long. She feared that speaking with him for too long might bring them back to their past.

“I don’t know. Maybe because I like him?”

So she casually threw out the words. As she turned her gaze away, she hesitated and looked back at him.

“……”

She hadn’t expected to see such an expression. If she had known, she would have phrased it differently. She would have made it clear that it wasn’t like the confession he had once made to her. That she could still hide the abyss within herself as she always had.

Veronica held her breath, her gaze locked on the shattered mask of the man before her. In the oppressive silence, she faced a broken boy.