Chapter 47: Repay It with the Rest of Your Life

In the silent and vast hall, beneath one giant support pillar, a bonfire was burning brightly.

Astrid leaned against the pillar, bandaging her own wounds.

With her silver teeth biting down on the gauze, she gave a forceful tug to tighten the cloth.

On the other side of the bonfire, Lance was lying sprawled on the ground, his armor completely removed.

Lance’s complexion looked much better now; the previous bronze and dull tint had vanished, appearing closer to the skin tone he had when he was alive.

Astrid watched Lance quietly with her almond-shaped eyes and curled her lip.

‘He ate a piece of my flesh and actually turned paler. There is no justice in this world.’

Counting the time, the Mental Toxin should have faded by now, right? Why hadn’t he woken up yet?

Doubt filled Astrid’s heart. She forced her body to move and walked over to Lance’s side, shaking him.

“Ugh… ah…”

Lance let out a groan of uncertain meaning, looking as if he were about to wake.

Astrid hurried to retreat to her original position, but her sudden, broad movement pulled at her wound. She let out a sharp intake of breath from the pain.

Lance’s mind was a muddled mess. He felt as if his brain had been injected with an anesthetic, making it extremely difficult to function.

Slowly, however, his consciousness returned, and his vision began to clear.

When he woke this time, Lance was no longer in the cramped space of the Spiral Passage. Instead, he saw towering pillars that seemed to stretch on forever.

“Where is this?”

Lance forced himself upright and tried to recall his memories from before he lost consciousness, but his brain throbbed with bouts of pain, making him feel miserable.

Just as he straightened up, Lance discovered that the armor on his body had vanished without a trace.

He wore nothing but a pair of linen-colored trousers and white bandages wrapped around his chest and abdomen.

Lance froze on the spot.

What happened?

Am I injured?

“You’re awake…”

The Elf’s crisp voice came from the side. Lance quickly turned his head and saw that Astrid’s shoulder was also wrapped in bandages.

Blood was still slowly seeping through, staining the snow-white gauze.

“Miss Astrid? Why are you also injured? Were we attacked?”

Hearing this, Astrid shook her head slightly and said, “Only I was attacked.”

“Uh — is that so?”

Lance shook his head. The pain emanating from his brain prevented him from thinking clearly in the moment, so he could only subconsciously accept the Elf’s words.

“What happened?”

Lance struggled to ask his question, still not realizing what had just transpired.

Astrid’s spirited almond eyes scanned Lance’s body before staring intently at his expression.

She was somewhat uncertain whether Lance truly didn’t know what happened or was just feigning ignorance…

After a period of silence, Astrid finally spoke slowly.

“You attacked me and bit my shoulder.”

Astrid spoke without sadness or joy, as if she were merely stating a commonplace fact, but to Lance’s ears, the sense of estrangement in her words was exceptionally thick.

“Huh?”

Lance was shocked, his eyes widening. Suddenly, he recalled the thoughts that had been churning in his mind while he was following behind the Elf.

‘Was I thinking earlier that the Miss Elf was fragrant and delicious?’

‘Could it be that I failed to control my wicked thoughts?!’

The moment this thought surfaced, the memories of his loss of control also emerged from the depths of his mind.

Without the slightest hesitation, Lance rolled over and knelt across the bonfire, kowtowing toward the Elf.

“I didn’t mean it! At that time, I couldn’t control my own consciousness!”

Thud! Thud!

Lance repeatedly apologized with sincere words, which actually moved Astrid slightly.

But how could this matter end just because Lance apologized?

If Astrid had only been bitten once, that would be one thing.

But Lance had objectively toyed with her feelings! This matter could not end here! Otherwise, the face of the Elga Royal Family would be entirely lost!

Astrid let out a cold snort, showing no intention of accepting Lance’s apology.

However, this snort itself expressed the girl’s willingness to communicate; she was merely waiting for Lance to make further concessions or offers of compensation.

But how could Lance, whose head was a chaotic mess, think that far? He wouldn’t have even thought of it when he was alive!

Seeing that the Elf had no intention of forgiving him, Lance could only remain prostrate on the ground, continuously apologizing to the girl.

As the Elf took in Lance’s posture, a flicker of irrational anger began to burn in her chest. She truly disliked this humble appearance!

Left with no choice, Astrid could only say, “Stop kneeling on both legs!”

Hearing the Elf’s request, Lance did not dare to delay.

He immediately prepared to stand up, but then he thought about how the Elf had not shown any sign of forgiving him, so perhaps kneeling was still better?

The commands to stand and to kneel conflicted in his mind. Amidst the muddle, the dazed Lance chose to kneel on one knee, still offering his apologies.

Seeing Lance perform a Knight’s Salute, the irrational fire in Astrid’s heart diminished a few degrees.

She then snorted again and said coldly, “You expect me to forgive you with just your mouth? That same mouth that bit me!”

Hearing this, how could Lance not understand that the Miss Elf wanted compensation?

He could only ask, “May I ask what my humble self must pay to earn your forgiveness?”

“As long as I have it, I can give you anything!”

Hearing this, Astrid’s elegant brows rose slightly. She asked in a skeptical tone, “Anything?”

Lance nodded heavily. This was also a form of punishment for himself.

Who told him to fail at controlling his own thoughts! To lose control and injure the Miss Elf!

“Then you shall use the rest of your life to atone for your sins!”

Astrid’s tone was unfriendly as she made a nearly impossible demand, clearly still acting out of anger.

Lance, his head still chaotic, completely failed to distinguish the intent behind her words.

‘Does she want me to be a servant? That might be a bit difficult to achieve.’

If he were all alone, it wouldn’t matter; he would have no attachments and could even be a slave.

But now he still had a sister to look after. He certainly couldn’t go and become a slave!

Lance hesitated for a moment and subconsciously asked in a negotiating tone, “Could it be a bit lighter? I’m afraid I can’t agree to that…”

Hearing these words, Astrid became even angrier!

Previously, she had only been speaking out of spite; Lance could have just ignored it, and she would have naturally forgiven him once her anger cooled.

But her request had been rejected! The nature of the matter changed instantly!

“Then you tell me what should be done?!”

The princess’s willful temperament suddenly flared up. Astrid crossed her arms over her chest and questioned him coldly.

‘What to do… what to do…’

Lance’s mind raced as he searched for a solution, only to feel that his dead brain was simply not enough.

It felt poisoned, as if a large portion of it couldn’t function.

Hmm?

He had it!

‘How about I give the Miss Elf the most valuable thing on me?’

Since it was compensation, there had to be a physical item! Without a tangible gesture, the Elf truly had no reason to forgive him.

‘The most valuable thing on me… the most valuable…’

Lance forced his brain to work as he reached into his Traveler’s Pocket.

The most valuable thing on him was, of course, the Seven Star Stone Ring he had just acquired!

That was a treasure that could assist someone in ascending to the Elemental Tier!

Without hesitation, Lance pulled out the wooden box containing the Seven Star Stone Ring. He stood up and prepared to hand it to the Miss Elf.

Astrid glanced at it and immediately recognized the wooden box. Wasn’t that the Seven Star Stone Ring given by the Takin Elder?

For some reason, Astrid’s heart skipped a beat. An unrealistic fantasy flashed through her mind for a moment before she immediately dispelled it.

But seeing Lance approaching slowly, Astrid lost her composure. She could only maintain her unfriendly tone and snap, “Who told you to stand up!”

“Ah? I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”

Lance, holding the wooden box, had already walked to a spot not far in front of Astrid. Hearing her words, he quickly knelt.

Then, remembering the Elf didn’t want him kneeling on both legs, he knelt on one knee!

With a thud, Lance knelt on one knee before the Miss Elf, holding up the wooden box containing the ring and offering it to her.

Seeing this situation, Astrid became increasingly flustered. A crimson flush rose to the tips of her ears.

She clenched her hands tightly in front of her chest and stammered, “W-what… what do you want to give me?!”

“Uh…”

‘An apology gift?’

Lance, whose brain was not much different from a stalled engine, thought the Elf hadn’t realized what he was trying to give her.

He could only open the wooden box, revealing the exquisite Seven Star Stone Ring.

“Ah… you, why would you give me a ring? How could I possibly put on a ring voluntarily? Hmm? Should I accept it… no, no, I can’t accept it…”

The rosy glow spread to her cheeks. Astrid’s own mind was stalling, her green eyes spinning in circles as she began to murmur unconsciously.

Hearing this, Lance’s dull brain decided that the Miss Elf was acting out of social grace and felt awkward about simply taking it.

He knew how to solve this!

It was just like when elders forced a red envelope on someone — if you just shoved it into their hand, they would naturally accept it!

Thinking this, Lance reached out and pinched the Seven Star Stone Ring, tossing the wooden box aside. He reached out to grab the Elf’s small hand.

“Eh? Mm!”

Astrid’s spirit tensed, yet she did not pull her hand back. Instead, she allowed Lance to take her hand in his.

‘Shove it in her hand… shove it in her hand…’

Lance murmured in his mind, but then felt that something wasn’t quite right.

After a bit of thought, he realized the mistake.

A ring was meant to be worn, while a red envelope was meant to be held. Shoving a ring into her palm was certainly wrong!

Yes! That was it!

He should put the ring on her.

Thinking this, Lance turned the Miss Elf’s hand over and gently pinched her middle finger.

‘Hmm… it won’t go onto the middle finger…’

‘Then I’ll put it on the one next to it…’

After successfully putting it on, Lance looked at the ring on the Elf’s finger with great satisfaction.

However, he faintly felt that something was improper, though he couldn’t put his finger on it.

It looked quite nice…

It was on the… wait, what was this finger called again… the ring finger?

Oh, right. It was the ring finger.

The one used for rings during engagements and weddings…

As he realized this, Lance’s drooping eyelids snapped open, and his listless eyes constricted violently.

At this moment, Lance no longer cared about any pain in his head.

‘Did I just do something incredible?’

Lance slowly looked up at the Miss Elf. He saw her covering the lower half of her face with one hand, her cheeks completely flushed.

Her green eyes were brimming with moisture, and they held a look of utter disbelief.

Yet, deep within those eyes, there was a joy that could not be concealed.

Oh boy.

‘This time… it seems I really will have to use the rest of my life to pay her back…’