Chapter 21 : Real Treasure (2)

“Are you giving this to me?”

Lilia looked at me, bewildered. It made sense. Hadn’t I wanted this item so badly that I’d come to this remote dungeon for it?

“If you’re offering it out of guilt or a sense of obligation because I did most of the work, then I don’t need it. I helped because I wanted to, and it wasn’t that difficult.”

The rune was intriguing. A stone that allowed one to use monster abilities. She had heard the explanation about its various conditions and limitations, but they didn’t seem too significant.

If Lilia possessed this rune, she would undoubtedly become even stronger. However, since Ziek had wanted it, Lilia had no intention of taking it.

But why was he trying to give it to her?

As Lilia stared at me questioningly, I voiced my thoughts.

“No matter how I think about it, I believe you can utilize it better than I can.”

Absorbing a rune granted the user a monster’s abilities, but there were two major restrictions. First, the monster’s magic stone had to be directly absorbed. Second, the number of magic stones that could be absorbed depended on the user’s rank.

The first wasn’t a major issue, but the second was. As a 4th-rank, I could absorb a maximum of four magic stones, whereas Lilia could absorb seven. Moreover, being on the cusp of the 7th rank, she would soon be able to absorb a total of eight.

Her growth potential was fundamentally different from mine.

‘It’s right to give it to her.’

I explained clearly why it was more logical for her to have the rune.

After listening to my explanation, Lilia…

“Pff, Puhahaha!”

…burst out laughing.

Puzzled by her laughter, I tilted my head. Lilia, still chuckling, said, “Heehee, that’s not all, is it?”
“…Huh?”
“The reason you suddenly want to give me the rune. It’s not just because you think I can use it better than you, is it?”
“…”

She’d hit the nail on the head.

The rune on the altar… I was trying to give it to her because it seemed to align better with Lilia’s goals than my dream.

The rune guaranteed immense power to its user. But it wouldn’t make me a Grand Mage. It would simply make me stronger.

Power wasn’t what I desperately needed.

Lilia, on the other hand, needed power. Even reaching the 8th rank wouldn’t be enough to face the ducal families. Having the rune wouldn’t guarantee victory against them, but it would significantly narrow the gap.

‘And… I’m half-resigned.’

I had watched Lilia fight on our way here. She, with a single sword, had coolly hunted monsters larger than herself. Seeing her talent and effort, having reached Sword Master at the young age of 26, made me realize how futile my own dreams had been.

That’s why I tried to give it to her. Lilia’s goal of destroying all six ducal families seemed more realistic than my dream of becoming a Grand Mage without talent.

Just as I was about to urge Lilia to take the rune…

Swish.

She took my hand and said gently, “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? There must be a reason you wanted it. Right?”
“…I suppose so.”

When I first remembered the rune, I had planned to absorb a flame-based ability, analyze its formula, and enhance my magical knowledge and skills. Of course, I’d given up because I lacked the power to conquer the dungeon.

I had decided to forget about the rune after that, but the heart doesn’t forget so easily. I had often run simulations in my mind, wondering how I would use the rune if I ever obtained it.

But now that I actually had it, I wasn’t sure if I could utilize it well.

“It’s okay. You can use it better than anyone else. You’ll be much more efficient with it than I, who didn’t even know runes existed.”
“…Do you really think so?”
“Yes. Of course. Trust me.”

Lilia seemed to understand why I had tried to give her the rune. And yet, she told me to trust her. Her trust wouldn’t drastically change anything. But her words were undeniably comforting.

“Then… I’ll take it.”

I nodded and reached for the rune. The moment I touched it, the stone vanished without a trace.

[Bound Item, ‘Rune of Hellfire,’ acquired!]

Instead, the characters engraved on the stone were now etched onto the back of my hand.

As soon as I had the rune, Lilia and I left the dungeon. There was nothing else to take. We didn’t look back.

“Did you get everything from the monsters?”
“I put it all in my bracelet.”
“Good.”

We had already collected the byproducts and magic stones from the 5th and 6th-rank monsters. At the end of the dungeon, there was a stone gate, similar to the entrance, that seemed to lead outside. Touching it, space distorted, and we were transported back to the mountain where the entrance was.

The fresh air was a welcome change after hours in the dungeon, but my stomach churned.

“Ugh… I don’t feel so good.”
“Are you okay?”

Pat, pat!

As I leaned against a tree, my face pale, Lilia came over and patted my back. It seemed to help. I told her that was enough and looked around.

The stone gate leading to Taehaksan Cavern had lost its glow after we hunted Ilerios and came out. It was natural, as the rune and monsters that supplied the dungeon’s magic were gone.

I hadn’t realized it while we were inside, but it was already night.

“It’s so late, we missed our chance to go shopping.”

Should we have come to the dungeon earlier? We had obtained high-rank monster byproducts and a rune, but I felt a pang of disappointment. I had wanted to go shopping with Lilia before heading home.

Lilia smiled and said, “It’s okay. We can go tomorrow.”
“Go out again tomorrow?”
“Why? Don’t you want to?”

Lilia pouted at my words. I quickly waved my hands, reassuring her.

“N-No… It’s not that. I was just wondering if you were okay with it.”
“I don’t have much to do at home besides cooking and talking anyway. Of course, I enjoy that too… but I enjoy going out with you on weekdays even more since we can’t then.”

Lilia beamed.

…I couldn’t say no to that expression.

“Alright, let’s go shopping together tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow won’t be as hectic as today, so we can take our time exploring the market!”
“Hopefully, we can find some good shops.”
“Don’t worry. I was quite the social butterfly in my school days, so I know a lot of places.”
“Aren’t those shops from six or seven years ago? Are they still around…?”

As we slowly descended the mountain, we saw the magic train heading this way. It was going directly to the academy.

When we boarded the train, Lilia, sitting next to me, gave me a mischievous look.

“So, how was your date today?”
“D-Date?!”

The word, which I had never uttered in my life, made my voice crack. Thankfully, it was late, and there was no one around us, or I would have apologized profusely.

Lilia, unfazed, continued, “Well, of course. We walked around the city together since morning, bought things, held hands, and even had a picnic inside a dungeon. If that’s not a date, what is?”
“…Uh.”
Come to think of it, she was right.

This did seem like a date.

‘Wait a minute, does that mean today was our first date?’

Realizing that today’s events constituted a date, a wave of guilt washed over me. While we were walking through the city, a student and my ex-fiancée had secretly tailed us. Instead of taking her to a romantic place, I had brought her to a gloomy dungeon teeming with monsters. And I’d even kept it a secret until the last minute.

‘If Lilia had been looking forward to today…’

…I was trash.

The rune wasn’t the issue now. I should have taken her to a field of flowers, but what had I done?

Overcome with remorse, I was about to apologize when Lilia spoke first.

“Don’t say you’re sorry.”
“Huh?”

What, did she mean she wouldn’t accept my apology?

But her gaze was too firm for that interpretation. As I remained silent, at a loss for words, Lilia recounted the day’s events.

“Well, I’m not thrilled that my first date took place in a dungeon.”
“…”
“But seeing you happy made it seem like it wasn’t such a bad date after all.”

What did she mean, I was happy? Because I got the rune?

I didn’t think so.

But Lilia, as if refuting my thoughts, said with conviction, “You were happy when you got the rune, but you were smiling all day today.”

Hearing that, I instinctively touched my face. There was no mirror, but feeling my face, I realized… I had been smiling until just a moment ago.

No, I was still smiling at her now. It wasn’t a radiant smile, perhaps, but the corners of my mouth were definitely turned up.

“I like that smile, so I’ll let it slide this time. Next time, please escort me to a place suitable for a date, not a place swarming with monsters, okay?”
“…Gladly.”

Seeing Lilia smile, sitting next to me… the rune, everything else, seemed like pointless worries.

Clatter, clatter!

The magic train started moving towards the academy. Lilia, tired, soon fell asleep. Her head rested against the window, but the train’s jolting made her head sway.

I offered her my shoulder.

Nudge.

Her head settled perfectly on my shoulder. Maybe she wasn’t really asleep. That suspicion crossed my mind, but I didn’t want to wake her.

The train sped along the tracks, and soon, the academy town, its lights never dimming even at night, came into view.

The night view of the academy, never dark. The city’s nightscape was incredibly beautiful.

Why hadn’t I ever thought to look at it before, even though I’d been working here for a year?

“…I must have been too focused on moving forward, not looking around.”

Now, Lilia was beside me. I glanced at her and fell silent for a moment.

“…”

Today had been a day of deep thoughts. And a day I found treasure.

Not something like a rune, but a real treasure.

“…I’ve decided.”

In just a few days, she had taken root deep within my heart.

Indeed, a succubus. To have captivated me in such a short time.

‘I can’t even imagine a life without Lilia anymore.’

I turned my head and looked at something more beautiful than the night view outside the train window.

“Snore…”

A small smile appeared on my face as I watched Lilia, snoring softly in her sleep.

I wished this moment could last forever.

At that thought, I looked at the ‘rune’ etched on the back of my hand.

“To make that happen… I have to make a choice too.”

It was time to make up my mind.