The morning sunlight pierced through the branches above the Black Forest, casting a few beams of light onto the damp rock walls.
Celia’s eyelids flickered before she slowly opened her eyes.
What met her sight was not the familiar ceiling of the Church, but a warm “wall.”
As Celia’s consciousness returned, she realized her face was pressed against Elent’s chest, her hands wrapping around his waist.
Meanwhile, Elent’s two arms circled her, his chin resting on the top of her head.
Their bodies were pressed tightly together, leaving no space between them.
Celia moved her leg and immediately felt a hard object pressing against her lower abdomen.
Having once possessed the same anatomy, Celia knew exactly what it was.
“Mm…”
A low groan came from above her. Elent’s arms tightened for a moment, as if confirming the presence of the heat source in his arms during his slumber, before he slowly loosened his grip.
The Hero Candidate opened his eyes. His gaze shifted quickly from confusion to clarity, and then to pure shock.
He saw the Priestess in his arms, her clothes disheveled and her expression grim.
“P-Priestess?!”
Elent lunged backward, slamming into the rock wall and shaking loose a few small stones.
“Morning.”
Celia expressionlessly adjusted her collar, which had slipped off her shoulder, and then made a flicking motion in the air above Elent’s awkward area.
“Good spirit.”
Elent followed her gaze, and his face instantly flushed bright red.
“I’m sorry! This was an act of nature! I didn’t do it on purpose!”
“Be quiet.”
Celia used the rock wall for support as she stood up. Her legs felt a bit weak, and the Mana within her body was nearly dry.
“Pack your things. We’re going back.”
Elent scrambled to his feet in a flurry. He was surprised to find that his previously heavy body now felt incredibly light.
His broken leg bone had completely healed, leaving not even a scar behind.
Furthermore, his body was filled with a warm power he had never felt before, as if an endless supply of energy was surging through his veins.
‘Is this the effect of the Priestess’s Healing?’
Elent looked at Celia’s pale face and slightly trembling fingers, and he seemed to understand something.
‘Did the Priestess transfer her life force to me?’
“Priestess, I’ll carry you.”
Elent walked up to Celia without leaving room for argument and crouched down.
Celia wanted to refuse, but her body truly lacked the strength. After a moment of silence, she leaned onto Elent’s back.
……
Iris stood at the cave entrance with her arms crossed, shivering in the cold wind as she kept watch all night.
She didn’t dare look back, and she certainly didn’t dare sleep.
The sounds coming from the cave behind her had caused her to imagine countless terrifying scenarios.
The sound of footsteps rang out.
Iris stiffly turned her neck, prepared to see a desiccated corpse being tossed out.
However, the Elent who walked out had not only avoided becoming a corpse, but he looked absolutely radiant.
Under his tattered leather armor, his exposed skin showed a healthy bronze hue, even faintly emitting a weak, shimmering white glow.
In contrast, Celia, who was draped over his back, was pale with drooping eyelids, looking as weak as if her essence had been completely drained.
Iris’s eyes widened.
‘Is this the Refinement Ritual?’
‘Turning that man into a tireless Holy Light Puppet?’
How terrifying.
The man now looked like a Holy Beast wearing human skin. Just being near him made her feel a suffocating radiation of life force.
“Iris, grab the umbrella. We’re going back.”
Celia’s voice was weak as she rested on Elent’s back.
“Yes!”
Iris picked up the black umbrella from the ground and followed closely behind, not even daring to breathe loudly.
The mountain path after the rain was a muddy mess, filled with puddles.
Elent carried Celia with extreme stability. Even as his feet stepped into the mud, he didn’t slip in the slightest.
Every time they encountered overhanging branches, Elent would turn his body, using his shoulder or arm to push them aside, ensuring not a single drop of muddy water splashed onto the person on his back.
“Put me down. I can walk myself.”
As they neared the Village entrance, Celia patted Elent’s shoulder.
If the villagers saw her like this, what would happen to her dignity as a Priestess?
“No, the ground is dirty.”
Elent’s refusal was blunt, his arms firmly supporting Celia’s thighs.
“Besides, your shoes were already soaked yesterday. You’ll catch a cold if they get wet again.”
“You…”
Celia opened her mouth but ultimately buried her head back against Elent’s neck.
‘How did this guy suddenly become so forceful?’
The group returned to the Church. Lynn was pacing anxiously in the hall, and the moment she saw Elent walk in with Celia on his back, she rushed over.
“Lady Celia, Master Elent, and Miss Iris!”
“Is the hot water ready?” Elent asked directly, without putting Celia down.
“It’s ready!”
“Open the icebox and take out the ice cubes.”
Elent gently placed Celia onto a chair lined with soft cushions.
Then, he pulled a waterproof cloth bundle from his chest that had been kept warm by his body heat.
Opening the bundle, the three stalks of Ice Spirit Grass were still as fresh and green as if they had just been picked.
“What is this?” Lynn looked on curiously.
“The antidote.”
Elent headed into the Kitchen to get to work. A few minutes later, he walked out carrying a small bowl.
Inside was the Ice Spirit Grass mashed into a paste, mixed with a bit of honey and crushed ice.
“Priestess, pardon me.”
Elent walked to Celia’s side. Before she could react, his warm, large hand had already lifted the clothing on her back.
The cold herbal paste was applied to the mosquito bite.
“Hiss…”
The icy sensation of the herbs suppressed the heat and itching of that patch of skin. Immediately after, Elent gently rubbed the paste in.
Celia leaned against the back of the chair, the tips of her ears turning red bit by bit.
The hall was very quiet.
Lynn turned away with a red face to wipe the tables, while Iris huddled in a corner, shivering.
Only the mosquito bite, under the effect of the Ice Spirit Grass, slowly began to recede.
The itch vanished.
But another strange feeling slowly crawled up through her body.
Poor iris.