The journey through the naless forest was nearing its end.
As befitted the start of Chapter 1, there were no enemies threatening Lucy and Lin.
However, while there were no enemies, elents that tornted them abounded.
From tiny poisonous insects to snakes lurking just out of sight, ready to strike, to trees that all looked the sa, causing them to lose their sense of direction, and other hazards.
It was sufficiently dangerous for a non-combatant and a person with amputated limbs.
“Ah~,” Lin sighed, focusing all his actions on Lucy.
Even if the posture was uncomfortable, if Lucy, wrapped in a sling, said she was comfortable, Lin would continue walking or holding her, even as he beca drenched in sweat.
Whenever Lucy showed even the slightest sign of exhaustion, Lin would imdiately rest.
Now, as Lucy’s stomach growled, Lin took out so honey without hesitation and brought a spoonful to Lucy’s mouth.
“Uhm, ah~,” Lucy opened her mouth to follow Lin.
She eagerly accepted the honey Lin offered.
Though she had no limbs, Lucy enjoyed altis when she could see Lin attentively watching to make sure she had eaten well.
“Lin, aren’t you going to eat?” Lucy asked.
“Only if I need to,” Lin replied.
“You should eat too, Lin…”
“I’m fine for now.”
He wasn’t fine.
Lin’s stomach growled incessantly.
No matter how much Lucy worried, Lin only ate a bit of boiled fern when he was on the verge of collapsing from hunger.
When Lucy asked what it was, Lin said it was bracken boiled in water.
Lucy, unable to bear it, tried to firmly tell Lin to have a proper al, but Lin would say with a smile, “I’m used to this from the journey to defeat the Demon King.”
Recalling the past, Lucy was frozen, rembering how often they had devoured the prepared als when Lin, a non-combatant, was away for a mont.
It started because everyone was starving, and even though Lin said it was okay,
Lucy couldn’t help but feel regretful.
Lin must have been hungry too, enduring it and sacrificing himself for the sake of the party.
Lucy despised herself for belittling Lin as a re walking inventory.
This was the greatest source of Lucy’s tornt.
She liked Lin—her only ally, her best companion, her Lin.
She rembered the warm smile Lin gave when Lucy expressed this sentint.
But just words couldn’t bring her closer to Lin.
No matter how much she pushed away, Lin remained.
She wanted to close the distance between them, but it seed impossible.
“Are you uncomfortable? You don’t look well,” Lin asked.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Let know if you need anything.”
Lucy wished Lin would smile at her without pretense.
However, knowing she wasn’t entitled to make such a demand, she could only smile bitterly.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Okay.”
“Lin?.”
“Hm?”
“…….”
“What’s the matter?”
“…Just, thank you.”
“It’s what I should do.”
Lucy was anxious that Lin’s kindness might stem from obligation.
Lin had a reason for pushing himself to the limit.
The first reason was the pursuers.
They didn’t know if they were being followed, but they had to assu the worst.
Reinhold was ticulous.
He would remove even the slightest potential danger for the princess.
He might have sent pursuers on his own.
Even if not, Linachien, who lacked patience to ignore obstacles, might have given direct orders.
“Patience has always been sothing that was lacking since childhood,” Lin thought, knowing the princess’s nature well.
Lin liked that proactive trait.
“Lin, are you listening?”
“Sorry, I was distracted by the surroundings.”
“I don’t sense anything around.”
“That’s a relief.”
“Lin.”
“Yes?”
“Focus on .”
“Okay.”
“You’re the only one I have.”
“It’s not just…”
“You’re the only one. Who else do I have?”
“…No one.”
“You only have too.”
As the only hero who could save the world, Lin agreed with a nod. Lucy’s face brightened.
“What would you like to do if the world beca peaceful?” Lucy asked.
“If it beca peaceful?”
“I want to know how you’d like to live the rest of your life.”
Lucy felt her heart flutter.
After much thought, she brought up this topic.
Talking about the past only caused harm, so she thought discussing the future might be better.
Lucy hoped Lin would say he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.
Although the chance was slim, she eagerly awaited his response.
“Well, I’d like to rest. Not as much as you, but I’ve been running nonstop.”
“Ah… is that all?”
“It’s been so long since I’ve properly rested.”
“What about after that? After you’ve rested enough? You’d have lots of gold and fa from saving the world. Don’t you want to do sothing with that?”
“That’s for you, who did all the hard work, to enjoy.”
“Still! As a party mber, you’ll get quite a bit, won’t you?”
“Hmm.”
Lin thought hard but couldn’t grasp the reality.
“It doesn’t feel real. I’ve always lived hand-to-mouth.”
“I see…”
“Maybe if I had money, I’d build a house in a quiet place and live peacefully.”
The words left a bitter taste.
His wish had changed to sothing ordinary.
He felt he’d lost the passion of his younger self.
“Alone?”
“Huh?”
“Would you live in the house alone?”
“It’s my house, so I’d be alone, right?”
“Would you consider starting a family?”
“I’m not popular.”
“No, Lin, you’re handso.”
“Uh-huh.”
“I said that without really looking!”
Lucy referred to the first day she t Lin, telling him to wear a mask because he was ugly.
As the conversation stalled, she directly asked, “What’s your ideal type, Lin?”
Lin’s steps halted.
“Ideal type?”
“Yes, your ideal type.”
To be honest, Lin found this conversation uncomfortable.
Perhaps due to long exposure to indifference or malice, soone wanting to know about him felt strange.
The gentle, lively voice directed at him felt surreal.
Though he was the protagonist of his life, he wasn’t the world’s protagonist, making such topics feel foreign and unfamiliar.
“Lin?”
But he was caring for Lucy now.
He had to cater to her to heal her limbs and prepare her for the world’s dangers.
“Do you an the person I like?”
“Soone you desire as a partner or spouse.”
“Uh…”
“Do you have one?”
“Not really, but soone who’s not calculating?”
“What about appearance?”
“If they like , I’d be grateful.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it’d be a great blessing.”
Lucy felt a sense of accomplishnt.
Did she like him?
Of course.
Was she calculating?
No.
She had shown devotion to her comrades, and though she had shown her worst side to Lin, she was determined to change.
She anticipated earning the right to be a candidate for his heart.
Optimistically, she thought there were no rivals, so she just needed to win his heart.
“What about you, Lucy? What’s your ideal type?”
“My ideal type?”
A new opportunity arose.
Lin asked about her for once.
This ti, she would subtly hint at her feelings.
“I like kind people.”
Soone like Lin, who accepted her irritability and anger.
“Considerate people.”
Lin, who noticed her discomfort imdiately and asked about it.
“Soone who protects .”
Lin, who saved her from the party’s betrayal and protected her.
Wasn’t this enough?
“I thought so.”
The conversation ended.
With nothing more to say, it ended sweetly.
But how did he know?
Did Lin already know her feelings?
Busy with doubts and questions, Lucy’s face turned pale.
“I like kind people.”
Reinhold, with his golden hair and blue eyes, was kind to everyone.
“Considerate people.”
Reinhold, who used gentle words considering others’ feelings.
“Soone who protects .”
Reinhold, who defended her with his shield in battles and never let harm co to her when they were engaged.
“No!!!”
“Lucy?!”
“No!”
Realizing her blunder, Lucy shouted in denial.
“What’s wrong, Lucy?”
“Lin!”
“I’m here.”
“You’re the only one for !”
“I know, you told .”
“I wasn’t thinking of Reinhold when I said that.”
“Reinhold? Ah, your ideal type.”
“No! I wasn’t thinking of Reinhold! Did you forget he incited everyone to cut off my limbs?!”
Lin felt awkward.
He thought Lucy’s past affection for Reinhold matched her ideal type.
Before Reinhold revealed his true colors, he seed like a suitable fiancé and protector.
That’s why Lin said he expected it, but he had apparently pressed the wrong button.
“Lin, don’t misunderstand my feelings like that. Okay?”
“Of course.”
I only have you.
Without you, the world spins, and I have nightmares without your heartbeat when I sleep.
Dreams of that cursed Reinhold tearing apart!
“Lucy, it’s okay. I’ll stay with you if you want.”
“Promise? You’re promising, right?”
“Yes, I promise.”
“I don’t like Reinhold. You know that, right?”
“Who likes their enemy?”
“I regret every day I spent engaged to him.”
“Of course, you do. He hurt you.”
Their conversation aligned but also missed each other. Lucy desperately tried to convey her feelings, while Lin tried to calm her.
The more nonchalant Lin was, the more Lucy yearned for him.
If she had legs, she would approach him; if she had arms, she would hug him and whisper her love.
This missing connection felt like torture, keeping their relationship at a distance.
With each step, Lucy feared losing Lin’s feelings and struggled with these sensations.
They finally exited the naless forest, a place of endless trees and small creatures.
The sound of trickling water, chirping birds, and rustling grass signaled a peaceful valley.
They didn’t lower their guard yet; an unstable bridge lood ahead, just one step towards the Naless Valley’s safe house.
“Lin.”
“Yes?”
“What’s next?”
“Rest at the safe house, then plan our next move.”
“If you need anything?”
“I’ll ask you.”
“And if you’re hungry?”
“I’ll eat.”
“Good.”
The journey to restore Lucy’s limbs and protect each other continued, with hopeful dreams and uncertain futures ahead.
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