Chapter 57

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 57

Chapter Title: His Kiss and Her Soul (1)

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Floyd thought he must be dreaming.

The last time he had seen this forest, it had been completely incinerated by his flames, reduced to a charred wasteland. The trees had burned to brittle husks of ash-gray, and the thick underbrush had vanished without a trace. The once-fertile soil had dried up and blackened, reeking of smoke so intensely that it was clear nothing could survive there—not by sight alone.

So what was this scene unfolding before his eyes now?

Trees as tall as Floyd himself, bushes reaching up to his waist, flowers that shouldn't bloom in this season, and air fresher and clearer than ever before.

Amid this overflowing vitality, the plants seemed to be growing even now.

Is this even possible?

They weren't just seeming to grow—they really were. A tree that had been at eye level just moments ago now required him to look up slightly to see its top.

In all his life, Floyd had seen plants wither and die countless times, but never watched one grow right before his eyes. It was so miraculous that he forgot the urgency of the situation and stood frozen, gazing around in awe.

"Kng!"

The wolf's howl snapped him back to reality.

Was it his imagination?

The wolf seemed a bit larger, just like the plants.

No, that wasn't important right now.

Realizing what this miraculous forest meant, his heart sank like a stone.

Roxiana had nearly died, frozen solid just from expelling demonic energy from a handful of patients. So what must the price have been for reviving this vast forest?

Floyd's jaw clenched as he followed the wolf.

Soon, a wide clearing appeared. Filled densely with low grass like a lawn, there she lay collapsed.

Her platinum hair spread vividly across the deep green grass. The moment Floyd spotted her, he leaped from his horse and ran toward her.

Even before reaching Roxiana, he felt the chill emanating from her. In this forest brimming with life and warmth regardless of the season, she alone was shrouded in icy death.

Floyd embraced her without hesitation. He stroked her pale, ashen cheek.

"Princess."

A voice that didn't feel like his own escaped his lips.

"Don't do this."

No life stirred in Roxiana. It felt like something deeper than death had taken root in her body—impossible, yet undeniable.

Last time, she had at least breathed faintly, but now her chest was still, as if her lungs had frozen solid. No matter how closely he checked, he detected no breath.

This was far more dire than before. He was afraid even to touch her. Any pressure might shatter her entire body.

Floyd felt a deeper terror than ever before as he drew out his body's inner heat. The flames gathering in his large hands seeped into her flesh.

Her body devoured his fire greedily, like a desert absorbing water. Yet no warmth returned, and her breathing remained stopped.

Floyd stroked her arms, shoulders, head, cheeks, chest, and legs with hands wreathed in flame, but it was no use. Despair gripped his heart.

"Ah, please don't do this, Roxiana."

He whispered in a hoarse voice, rubbing his cheek against hers.

"This isn't right. You can't die like this."

Then how should she die?

He didn't know. But not this quickly, not like this.

The flames that had been confined to his hands grew, enveloping his entire body. The grass beneath them blackened in his fire, only to sprout anew from the life force filling the air, repeating the cycle. The now even larger wolf sat quietly watching them, but Floyd didn't notice.

I have to save this woman.

He didn't know why, but he was certain that if he failed to save her, he would die too.

I'm not ready to die yet, so you have to live.

Floyd pulled his cheek away and looked down at her. Flames infused every strand of his hair as his face slowly drew near hers. Before they even touched, the fire on his face seeped into her. His lips pressed onto hers.

Her lips were indescribably cold. Frost formed where they overlapped with his, but Floyd didn't pull away. He forced her lips apart.

Cold air poured from her mouth, freezing the inside of his, but he didn't stop. He wrapped his arms tightly around Roxiana, stirred her mouth with his tongue, and poured his heat into her without restraint.

After a time that felt both endlessly long and fleetingly short, Floyd realized the ice crystals covering his face had vanished.

A faint warmth was returning to Roxiana's body.

After Floyd vanished following the wolf, the knight captains stood there in bewilderment. They weren't sure whether to follow or stay and guard the area.

Exchanging glances that said to wait for now, they lingered far longer than expected, but Floyd didn't return. After an hour, then nearly two, with no word, they mounted their horses without a word from anyone.

Arsen naturally took the lead.

Arsen was certain Floyd and the wolf had headed for the dead forest. That tiny, adorable wolf had shown interest only in Roxiana.

The other knight captains silently followed Arsen, who rode swiftly as if he knew the destination. When they arrived after a long gallop, they beheld an unbelievable sight.

The horses, which had raced without pause, slowed as if sensing their riders' shock. Instead of urging them on, the knight captains stared around with eyes wide open.

"What... is this...?"

Adrian muttered.

The forest, pitch-black and lifeless just days ago, now brimmed with suffocating vitality. Trees far taller than any man densely covered the sky, and waist-high grass made walking difficult.

The trees were smaller than they would eventually become, but their branches bore leaves far lusher and greener than before. And moreover...

"Why are these flowers blooming in this weather?"

Wild roses adorned the bushes in lush profusion. Not only that, but spring and summer wildflowers bloomed here and there, flaunting vibrant colors.

A gentle breeze carried freshness. It was still early February, yet the air was unusually mild—kind enough to steady the labored breaths of their exhausted horses.

The knight captains had traveled countless regions slaying magical beasts, but never had they felt such an atmosphere.

"Did the princess really pull this off in the end?"

At Hexston's words, Adrian's eyes widened.

"No way! How could a person do something like this?"

"You forgetting how she cured those afflicted by demonic energy?"

"I remember. But... this is too much!"

Adrian was right.

Curing people tainted by demonic energy was something even temple priests could do. Purifying land corrupted by it was within their power too.

But this was different.

Priests could drive demonic energy from tainted soil, but they couldn't revive plants already killed by it. They couldn't create air so pure it calmed heaving horses.

This was truly...

"Something only a god could do..."

At Kain's murmur, goosebumps rose on Arsen's arms.

-"Where's the forest that burned down after the magical beast subjugation? And how large an area was damaged?"

-"I'm going to try reviving that forest."

He recalled the conversation with Roxiana from not long ago.

What had he said then?

Probably called it nonsense.

It was only natural. The forest hadn't died from demonic energy but from Floyd's fire. No priest could revive a forest burned by Floyd's flames. The fire had scorched deep into the earth, requiring long years for life to return.

So Roxiana's words should have ended as mere nonsense, yet what was this sight before them?

It feels like a dream.

Arsen thought.

She really did it...

The arrogant, rigid silver-haired knight captain admitted he was wrong.

Roxiana hadn't spouted nonsense. She had accomplished something so grand it seemed like it. Those who kept their word deserved respect, so his past rude treatment of her had been mistaken.

To think I was wrong.

As Arsen, who had always thought and acted cautiously without error, reflected on his misdeeds, movement rustled in the bushes. He reflexively reached for his sword, glaring that way.

Seeing reddish-brown hair through the tall underbrush, Arsen released the hilt.

Floyd emerged from the bushes, not alone. Roxiana lay cradled in his arms, and a massive ash-gray wolf walked beside Red, the red horse.

Arsen recognized it as Lion the moment he saw the wolf, but more striking was Red's odd behavior. The horse, arrogantly allowing no one but its master near, cowered before the gray wolf like a whipped dog.

Because the wolf was a massive beast?

No, that couldn't be. Red charged at magical beasts fearlessly, even when other horses fled in terror.

Then why...?

As he puzzled over it, Adrian shouted.

"My lord! Is the princess alright?"