I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 52
“I saw you.”
If I had to tell a story, it didn’t necessarily have to be my story today.
Since you, my only breathing space, my bamboo forest, had shaken me.
‘Today, let’s talk about your story.’
I squeezed our interlocked hands and released my guiding energy more strongly.
And with the other hand, still interlocked, I covered the Emperor’s lips.
As if understanding my intention, he immediately bit and licked the skin on the back of my hand while I watched, calling up the status window.
‘There’s no need to build guiding points quickly.’
The rapidly decreasing numbers, along with the Emperor’s hazily relaxed face.
“Your Majesty.”
Even without deliberately kissing, embracing, or deeply overlapping our bodies, the numbers were decreasing quite steadily as saliva was exchanged and mucous membranes touched.
He was urging me, asking why I wouldn’t kiss him, but I pretended not to notice.
“I saw you as a child inside the Gate.”
Tension flowed.
“A young, fragile boy.”
His gaze, slowly looking down at m,e felt like it was devouring me.
“I saved you. So today, instead of my story, Your Majesty, please tell me your story.”
Looking up at Kaisis, who seemed dazed from hearing something completely unexpected, I stood on my tiptoes.
As he lowered his head in response, I lightly kissed him.
I sucked on his soft lips and breathed into them.
His handsome face, relaxing languidly with evident pleasure, followed seeking a deeper kiss, but that was it.
“Won’t you tell me?”
“…You’re cruel.”
Of course, my current behavior of not immediately calming his pain could feel cruel.
But the numbers were steadily decreasing, so where was this whining coming from?
“I’m not feeling well today.”
His eyes grew larger, nearly popping out of their sockets.
“So today, just holding hands…”
“Are you hurt?”
My hand was suddenly pulled.
Once again, my face was buried against his chest, solid as a rock.
Ah, what am I doing?
But his urgent gesture pulled my hand, naturally making me look up.
Our eyes met. Unlike before, I saw a desperate expression, a desperate look in his eyes.
“Were you hurt because of me? Is that it? Is it because you came into the Gate?”
That appearance, which had casually set aside the dignity of an Emperor, reminded me exactly of the young boy I had seen inside the Gate.
“Yes, even an Indoja can receive mental attacks. Did you perhaps see something terrible? Is that why…”
Seeing his hardening expression, I blurted out fragments of my story.
“You’re the first Awakened One who liked this power. I only saw that past.”
“….”
“It wasn’t that painful. So today, I want to hear Your Majesty’s story. Please tell me.”
The roles of who was pleading had reversed.
This was the right approach if I wanted to minimize talking about myself.
And as he lowered his head, he gently kissed my forehead.
“Never.”
When the warm, ticklish sensation spread across my skin, he spoke with his lips still touching me.
“Say such things again. When the Emperor of the Empire desires your power so desperately, who would dare?”
Was he angry that there had been other Awakened Ones?
“To me, you are salvation.”
Words he always said.
“I was no different. When any Indoja touched me.”
His face, leaning toward me, smiled bitterly.
“They had expressions as if facing a monster. You’re the first Indoja who didn’t.”
Perhaps he and I were truly in similar positions, I thought.
I, a Guide who wasn’t welcomed by anyone.
Him, who couldn’t be saved by any Guide.
‘Your mother also called you a monster.’
That must be his pain.
I suddenly felt the urge to comfort this man.
How long had it been since I decided not to get close, to keep my distance, to deliberately draw out his story?
‘I must be truly crazy.’
But why was I stepping closer and placing my hand on his cheek?
“So, my Indoja, don’t run away from me.”
Even though I knew he already had everything, and no matter how pitiful his past was, he was currently the highest authority in the Empire.
“Don’t do that.”
In front of this powerful monarch, whom no one would dare confront, just like the Tyrant Emperor.
“Kiss me.”
I stood on my tiptoes again.
This time, my waist was pulled so strongly that my body was lifted up.
Naturally, I wrapped my arms around his neck and was buried in a deep kiss.
A spinning sensation in my head. The feeling of energy being strongly sucked out, draining from my body.
Dizziness.
Then something seemed to flash through my mind like a needle prick, but I couldn’t properly recognize it.
Nor did I notice that at that moment, the status window flickered with a crackling sound as if giving some warning.
***
Once again, his Indoja left.
Taking away the fragments of power that had been coldly cutting through his skin and tearing his heart to pieces.
Kaisis’s eyes, which had been staring intently at the afterimage disappearing like mist, gradually became clear.
And he lowered his gaze to what he had been clutching all this time.
His clenched fist.
“….”
Slowly opening fingers.
And what lay upon them.
A single strand of hair, secretly stolen from his partner.
“….”
It was a vivid red color.
Just like someone’s hair, the exact same shade was right there in his hand.”
***
I was disgustingly busy.
‘Life, damn life!’
Even after being reincarnated, huh?
Working through the night, huh?
‘Is this right?’
I glared at the paperwork that kept multiplying, growing more terrifyingly than loan interest no matter how much I processed.
But the state of the magicians who came to report occasionally was worse than mine, if anything, so I couldn’t even get properly angry.
‘Why is the treatment of magicians in this world so terrible?’
Is it because I, a workaholic, am the leader?
I gritted my teeth while clutching my throbbing head.
With just over three weeks left until the demonstration.
Waking up like a ghost at dawn to practice magic and retch, then diving into work.
Since we had to report research results to the Emperor, the magicians were pushing even harder, and I was no different.
‘I feel like throwing up.’
If there was anything fortunate, perhaps it was that my magic proficiency was gradually improving?
‘Today, I didn’t stagger after using it once.’
Remembering how my fat cat Lucy had meowed mockingly while moving alongside me, clearly monitoring my condition, my good mood took a downward turn.
When will you get used to it? That’s exactly what she had said!
‘Just wait. I will definitely regain the dignity of a great magician, you fat cat.’
I frowned at Lucy’s empty spot again today.
Where on earth does she wander during the day?
That’s when it happened. Something crashed into the door with a bang.
As I blinked in surprise, a polite knock was heard.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
As soon as I granted permission with a sullen expression, the door flung open.
“Master!”
And a man with a face full of joy, like someone who had successfully confessed to their first love, burst in.
So that guy, his name was…
“…What is it, Ardiel?”
There was one magician whom the chief magician always praised, spitting as he spoke.
That was this man, Ardiel.
He was a twenty-year-old young genius, commonly called the youngest magician.
‘He certainly is young among the mostly middle-aged tower magicians.’
Anyway, that’s enough appreciation.
I stared at the magician who had rushed in with such haste he appeared ready to collapse.
His purple long hair disheveled in all directions, pale skin befitting his lifestyle of being buried in the laboratory, and amber eyes that sparkled brilliantly.
A magician with a naturally beautiful face, making even his thin build not much of a flaw.
‘Not quite a supporting role.’
But not a character specifically mentioned in the original work either.
Yet suddenly this man burst into tears in front of me.
No, what? What is it!
Why are you crying?
“I found it!”
