Chapter 87
The Black Continent, Top Floor of the Black Tower.
“Ugh…!”
While he was watching the running demons on the field, Killian suddenly clutched an area near his heart, doubling over at the unexpected pain.
Suffering from such agony, he slowly bent down.
Down on his knees, Killian struggled to get some air.
“Ugh…!”
“What’s wrong with you?”
Walking into Killian’s room, Lupes asked him; his gaze layered with indifference.
“Is it the effect of the curse?”
Upon learning that Killian had cursed Elena Respell, Lupes was delighted.
But now, seeing Killian’s condition, he had an ominous feeling.
There was only one case where the caster who cast the curse would suffer from pain.
The cursed target was out of magic.
Lupes’ brows furrowed.
Meanwhile, the miserable Killian took a deep breath.
“Hah hah.”
Fortunately, the pain disappeared quickly, but its’ aftermath still lingered in his body.
Killian continued to gasp for air.
‘… The curse has been lifted.’
After his initial suffering, he felt the dark magic returning to his body.
This meant that the curse on Elena had been lifted.
“Damnit!”
Killian swore, slamming the floor.
It was then that laughter was heard.
“Hahaha! I wondered where the funny noise was coming from.”
Killian and Lupes’ heads simultaneously turned to the sound.
The door was open, and the wizard was standing there.
Upon finding him, Killian’s complexion turned sickly white.
Step. Step.
The wizard walked straight to Killian and asked monotonously.
“Has the curse been lifted?”
“… No, wizard.”
Frightened, Killian stepped back, butt on the cold ground.
But the wizard’s hand was faster.
Black magic flowed out of his hand and grabbed Killian’s arms and legs.
“Ugh–!”
“Answer me straight. Unless you want to lose all your intact limbs.”
A creepy voice came from the wizard.
Killian felt the pain radiating from the captured limbs and struggled to open his mouth.
It wasn’t ideal for him to keep silent now.
“Y–Yes. I’m sorry– Ugh–!”
As soon as he gave his response, magic flowed again from the wizard.
The sharp energy formed relatively into a hand and squeezed Killian’s neck.
“Ugh–!”
Killian struggled in anguish, but the wizard didn’t withdraw his magic.
“So useless.”
The wizard stepped heavily on Killian’s foot and went back.
Lupes also looked at Killian and followed after the wizard.
After a while, the black magic that was restraining Killian disappeared.
“Hah, hah.”
Killian’s body completely collapsed to the floor.
He quickly grabbed his neck and exhaled.
Tears, snot, and saliva ran down his face, but there was no time to wipe them off.
Too busy replenishing his oxygen supply, he glared at the open doorway before him.
Killian’s eyes lit up.
“Elena Respell…!”
*****
Upon arriving at the Halos’ residence, Lexion smiled at Elena.
“I’m going to get cleaned up first, and then I’ll get you something to eat.”
“Okay.”
Elena left Lexion’s office and headed straight to her room.
Meanwhile, Lexion took a glance at his office.
Because Kerr worked hard while he was away, there were hardly any piled-up papers left.
‘I’ll have to give him a vacation soon.’
He knew the look on Ker’s face wasn’t a sham since he had been working too much these days.
Hence, once things have stabilized to a certain extent, he planned to give him a generous bonus and vacation.
Lexion also decided to change from his battle uniform and headed to his room.
He took a quick shower and went to the kitchen.
It was late, so most of the maids were asleep. However, if he called them, they would all come running like crazy.
But today, he wanted to cook by himself.
Because it would be Elena’s first meal after her recovery.
Lexion decided to show off all of his skills.
*****
Returning to her room, Elena took off her winter clothes and organized it.
“It was hard…”
She didn’t show it, but it was hard-fought.
Although she didn’t use her body much, the curse made her tired easily.
Of course, now that the curse was gone, her body has become a bit lighter.
However, that didn’t mean that all the accumulated fatigue disappeared.
Regardless, Elena went straight into the bathroom.
She immediately reached for the bathtub and sent out her magic.
Then, in an instant, the bathtub was filled with warm water.
Elena smiled and took out the bath powder from the corner of the bathroom and sprinkled it.
A fragrant smell emanated from the pale blue water.
After soaking and sitting comfortably, she felt her exhaustion gradually dissipating.
“Ha~ It’s so good.”
The curse was broken; Lexion was unharmed; she had made some good friends, and they came back safely.
It couldn’t get any better than this.
Elena smiled and started washing herself.
She wanted to soak in for a while longer, but she knew she’d be fast asleep if she did.
Lexion had said he’d be back with food, so she couldn’t sleep in.
She hurriedly cleaned up and got out of the bathtub, feeling drowsy.
Elena woke herself by slightly pinching her cheek and moved in a hurry.
As she dried her body and put on a thin dress, there was a knock on the door.
“Yes.”
She answered, and the door opened.
“Elena. Did you finish washing up?”
“Yes. By the way… What is all that?”
With an easygoing smile on his face, Lexion walked in, carrying a tray with him.
The tray had a considerable amount of food on it.
There was a simple soup, salad, and pasta. There was even meat and seafood.
“Didn’t you say it was a simple snack?”
Obviously, Lexion had said so.
However, the amount of food that Lexion brought was at the level of a bountiful meal.
While Elena looked at the dishes with a surprised face, Lexion just smiled innocently.
He said as he set the food on the round table in the corner of the room.
“I was going to prepare a light snack, but I think Elena is famished. So treat it as your first proper meal today.”
With those words, Elena remembered the food she had eaten that day.
The only thing they consumed in the Kurte Mountains was beef jerky, a remedy for fatigue, and a nutritional supplement.
“Still, this isn’t exactly…”
She cut herself off.
‘If you were going to prepare something simple…’
Unbelievable.
“Did Lexion make all of this food?”
Lexion answered her question with a smile.
“Yes.”
“Oh my gosh!”
Elena’s face brightened as she followed him.
“Lexion, you are really skilled when it comes to cooking.”
Just looking at the food set on the table, they were similar to the chef’s dishes in the mansion.
He must have prepared it while she was washing up. Elena found it hard to believe that he managed to cook so much in such a short time.
‘I know he said that he cooked his own food when he went out, but… on this level?’
The plating was pretty. It felt like she was eating at a restaurant.
“Lexion, did you learn to do professional cooking after returning home?”
Elena asked while sitting on the chair that Lexion had pulled out.
He sat across from her and shook his head.
“I didn’t do that. However, when we were outside, a former chef was among the soldiers.”
“Wow. I see.”
“Eat now.”
“Yes! I will eat well.”
Elena smiled brightly and ate the salad that was near her.
Meanwhile, as usual, Lexion took the food on a plate and handed it to her.
After eating the soup, meat, and even the shrimp, she had no choice but to admit it.
‘… Lexion is definitely a culinary genius!’
Elena looked at Lexion with twinkling eyes and her bulging cheeks.
“Is it delicious?”
Elena nodded.
Then, Lexion’s lips rose warmly.
“Eat a lot.”
As soon as his words were finished, Elena began to eat vigorously.
She chewed every bite, making sure it was evenly distributed.
Lexion watched her as she ate.
The sight of Elena shoveling food, until her cheeks were bursting, was adorable.
The time spent on such a blissful meal quietly passed by for both of them.
“Hah. I ate so well. Thank you, Lexion.”
Elena said to him; a satisfied look on his face.
“I’m the one who should be thanking you, for eating so well.”
After Lexion answered her, he got up and started cleaning.
“Oh. I will help too.”
Elena tried to stand up after him, but Lexion stopped her with his hand.
“Elena, get some rest.”
He insisted, and Elena was forced to sit back down.
With a swift motion, Lexion transferred the empty plates and silverware to the tray.
He then carried the tray out into the hallway. The cleanup was complete.
“Ah. I’m full…”
Elena muttered with a happy face.
She was already drowsy while taking a bath. But after eating, she became even more sleepy.
‘I haven’t digested it yet.’
Elena sat up from her seat.
Lexion, noticing her condition, approached her.
“Elena, would you like to take a walk?”
An attractive smile hung on his lips as he reached out to her.
Because of that, Elena also unconsciously reached out to him.
“Okay.”
