"Is it usually hormones?"
The endocrine substances that naturally emerge from the body, I’ve heard they also affect the mind.
Of course, I’m a fairy (or so I assume). A spiritual being where the soul takes precedence over the body.
But right now, I’m still made of flesh and bone, and blood flows through me.
Unfortunately, that means I am still influenced by the chemicals secreted from my body.
It’s something like that.
A child’s body is emotional, and has little patience, so it’s hard to hold back tears.
The sight of Hong Yeonhwa and Elia through the mist made it even harder to stop crying.
With affectionate hands gently patting and soothing me, it became even harder to suppress the urge to act spoiled.
I didn’t want to eat the tasteless porridge with no flavor, pressed against my lips.
If it were the old me, I would have eaten it without complaint.
After all, what does it matter what kind of food it is when it’s all tasteless?
But now, I know other tastes.
The most delicious food I’ve ever had in my life. I can indulge myself whenever I want just by acting spoiled, so there’s no reason to hold back.
So I ate.
"Hah... My little one, was it good?"
"Yeah..."
"Good boy, eat slowly... There’s still a lot."
As my stomach was filled, I began to relax. Hong Yeonhwa smiled warmly and held me close.
Buried in her warm embrace, both my body and mind began to feel comfortably warm.
‘This is nice...’
I felt her hand gently grooming my hair as I chewed, savoring the rich sweetness that lingered in my mouth.
It felt satisfying to finally have something this sweet in my mouth after tasting nothing but blandness.
‘Happiness.’
This was a blissful sensation, loved both in body and soul.
Yes, this happiness is why I’ve gone through all that hardship.
Though for some reason, my body has regressed, it’s not a big issue.
‘I can grow it back quickly.’
I’ve already experienced reversing my body. If I just channel Taesan and draw on enough life force, it’ll be done in no time.
And honestly, there’s no need to do it right away.
‘I want to stay like this a little longer... I want to be spoiled more...’
I wanted to enjoy this happiness longer.
Though it’s embarrassing to admit, how much hardship have I endured?
Wandering alone, seeking the entrance to the underworld, passing through unpleasant places and uncomfortable people.
Once I entered the underworld, each moment was filled with the crushing oppression of my body.
Burning in the flames of the Tower of Purgatory, pierced by the blood stabs of the 10th trial, burning with my own flame, struggling to block the outbreak of the underworld, clinging to my fading consciousness...
Just listing it out like this, it was quite a lot.
I’ve really suffered a lot. I deserve a reward.
‘So it’s okay to act spoiled more...’
I wanted to be loved even just for a short while.
I thought this while deeply burying my face in Hong Yeonhwa’s chest.
About ten minutes passed since I had that thought.
The dilemma came.
I was now in the healing room, looking up at my master as I met his gaze.
"...gulp."
My body froze at the sight of his face filling my vision.
Such a beautiful face. My strong and dependable master’s face.
His golden eyes gleamed with warmth, filled with feelings of relief and affection.
His gaze made my heart brighten, and I wanted to act spoiled right away.
"What should I do..."
But there was a strange dilemma in his gaze, so I couldn’t act spoiled.
What kind of dilemma was it? I could easily guess.
"Little one, my student."
"Yes, yes..."
"You said it wasn’t dangerous, didn’t you?"
"Well..."
My master asked bluntly, and I couldn’t respond, lowering my eyes slightly.
"Little one, you should look at me when you speak."
My body turned around, and his face was right in front of me again.
I couldn’t escape now.
‘I’m scared...’
It’s all because of this young body. The fear felt much stronger now.
Even though it was meant with good intentions, I had lied. And I had to face the consequences.
But I didn’t want to be scolded by my master...
‘...Yeonhwa and the others, they stopped when I cried... but I can’t cry again...’
I sought another way out.
"Master..."
"Why are you like this?"
My master tried to be as blunt as possible. Aware of his hand on my back, I gently shifted my body.
"I missed you..."
My master’s lips twitched slightly. Taking this chance, I hugged him tightly.
Burying my face in his fragrant neck, I gently rubbed against him.
"I really, really missed you... Sniff."
As I recalled the memories, a sob slipped out unexpectedly.
The feeling of missing him was the truth, with no lies in it.
It worked.
My master, who had been staring at me seriously, began to flinch slightly.
"...I missed you too."
After a moment of hesitation, my master finally patted my head.
The affection in his touch made my stiff body melt.
"Hehe..."
"But still..."
After a few pats on my head, his hand moved downward, past my back and lower.
His hand reached my bottom. My body instinctively tensed.
The memories of the past came rushing back.
The day we killed the twin-headed wyvern, and when I returned to Siolam, hugged by Professor Liana.
The memory of being scolded while held in my master’s arms...
"Even so, didn’t you promise not to engage in dangerous things?"
"Well... This time, it really couldn’t be helped..."
"Why did you have to do it alone? You should have called in the waiting troops. You went into the underworld alone."
"...That’s..."
"I don’t fully understand what happened inside, but I’ve heard enough from Daera."
I stiffened.
Among the people who entered the healing room with my master earlier, there was a presence—Daera’s aura.
It wasn’t just her. I could feel the presence of Hong Yeonhwa, Elia, and Professor Liana as well.
Baek Arin and Lee Jiyeon’s presence could also be felt.
Suddenly, I became embarrassed to be scolded in my master’s arms in front of these people.
"...Well..."
"Why are you putting yourself in danger alone? Hmm?"
I couldn’t help but tremble as my master’s voice, full of concern, echoed in my ears.
"Why didn’t you ask for help from me? Wasn’t I trustworthy enough?"
"No... no..."
I had a perfectly valid excuse for doing it alone.
I was the one chosen as the savior by the Tower Master. I had to go in alone, endure, and grow from it...
"...It’s too dangerous..."
I bit my lip.
"Yeah, why would you go into such a dangerous place alone..."
"If we went together, you’d be in danger..."
"Mm?"
I felt emotions swelling up from deep inside me. This body really couldn’t hold back anything.
I hugged my master’s neck and buried my face in his chest.
"It’s because you’re in danger... That’s why I don’t want to..."
Why should I go through all this suffering?
Why should I crawl into the underworld, endure pain, and grow my strength?
Why should I rush into the Tower’s invasion to stop it?
There are ethical, moral reasons—reasons that everyone would say are obvious—but the personal reason is far stronger.
The people I love are at risk.
Even if I try to escape on my own, I can’t run from those I care about because they have something to protect.
That’s the reason.
I care more about the people I love than about some faceless stranger.
I can’t stand to see the people I love hurt.
I’d rather take the pain myself.
So, I want to solve everything on my own.
My heart skipped a beat. The strange sensation made my body shudder. The weight pressing on my chest grew heavier.
"I don’t want you to get hurt, master..."
I tried to hold it in, but my sobs became more pronounced. I held my breath, burying my face in my master’s chest.
"Hah."
That moment. His hand on my bottom moved. My body froze in place.
But it wasn’t the action I had feared.
Without applying force, he gently patted my bottom, as if soothing a child.
"Ugh..."
With the rhythmic pats that matched the beat of my heart, my body and mind softened and melted away.
"...I’m grateful for your feelings, but I feel the same. Who would want their loved ones to get hurt?"
Eventually, my master’s voice softened with warmth.
"I’m sorry for pressing you so much. We should talk about this properly once you’re fully recovered."
After kissing my cheek, my master lovingly rubbed his face against mine. The tension in my body released.
Maybe that’s why? As my mind relaxed, my eyes slowly closed.
The prelude to sleep. With my belly fully satisfied, the sleepiness was especially intense.
"Master... I’m sleepy..."
"Okay. Rest well."
"Goodnight..."
At my master’s response, my eyes closed on their own.
Daera, observing Ihayul, saw an extraordinary person.
First of all, he was strong.
When she didn’t know his identity, she had rushed in recklessly and was overwhelmingly defeated, losing consciousness.
Ihayul had praised Daera’s skills and told her it had been dangerous, but from her perspective, it didn’t seem dangerous at all.
Hadn’t she seen his true power in the subsequent fight?
It was simply that her skills were overwhelmed.
And then, he had so many talents.
He was skilled in magic.
From everyday tasks to combat, the magic he used was numerous and impressive.
Even Daera, who was unfamiliar with magic, could recognize that his abilities were incredible.
And that wasn’t all.
He could find paths with terrifying skill.
His unique ability seemed to be something related to detection.
Even when she searched with all her might, Ihayul would effortlessly find traces that she had missed, finding the right path incredibly quickly and accurately.
He was good at cooking too.
Even considering that they hadn’t had proper meals in the underworld, the food Ihayul made was the best she had ever tasted.
He had a good personality too.
Even when Daera complained and clung to him because of her mental instability, he had comforted her without complaint and helped her out.
He was so beautiful.
Though he was a man, he was far more beautiful than her, overwhelming in terms of human standards.
He was warm, and his scent was pleasant.
His body fit perfectly in her arms. When lying in his embrace, she didn’t have nightmares and slept blissfully.
Daera saw Ihayul as an incredible person.
He seemed perfect, capable of anything.
An extraordinary person who could do anything, truly superhuman.
"Cooh..."
"..."
The Ihayul she was looking at now, though, was different from that perfect superhuman.
This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.
Daera, lying in Atra’s arms, stared at Ihayul with a strange expression.
‘A spoiled baby?’
That was exactly what it felt like.
Something about her perception of Ihayul had shattered.
But it wasn’t in a bad way. In fact, it felt like a good thing.
Though she was curious as to why Ihayul, who had been so gravely injured, had regressed to a child, that wasn’t the question that was occupying her mind now...
No, right now, there was something else she wanted to know.
"...Master."
When Atra gave her a brief glance, Daera scanned the room with a confused expression.
The women who had been watching Ihayul with affectionate eyes, having tried to suppress their emotions while comforting him.
Daera could see the intense affection in their gazes.
It wasn’t hard to figure out what those emotions were. Even Daera, who had never been in a romantic relationship, could tell what they meant.
The problem was...
"Could it be..."
Among the women casting those loving looks was her own master, Atra.
"..."
"...Really?"
Daera’s expression of disbelief caused Atra to avert her eyes.
Daera’s face dropped.
She turned her neck and counted the number of women in the healing room.
One, two, three, four, five, six...
"Wow."
Daera stood frozen, mouth agape.
It seemed her master had a very strong liking for women.
Especially for... their chests.
"Eh?"
Daera, who had been muttering in astonishment, suddenly lowered her gaze.
"..."
Daera herself had a more than average size.