For the first time, she truly understood what it meant for death to be right in front of her.

 

“How… is this…”

 

Could there really be a human who wasn’t affected by curses?

 

Humans were all filled with greed. Even when they couldn’t have something, they longed for it, wanted it, and desired it.

 

The curse dug into that weak part of the heart. Failure was not an option.

 

Kellive answered calmly while adjusting his glove.

 

“Who knows?”

 

As if recalling something, his sharp eyes softened for a moment.

 

Merlin’s breathing grew rapid.

 

Even in the underground prison of the Holy Kingdom, where her entire body had felt like it was burning, she hadn’t felt this way.

 

‘I can’t die like this…’

 

How far she had come. The finish line was right in front of her!

 

She was half-human, half-demon. No matter how human she was, it was impossible for her, who carried demon blood, to be defeated so helplessly.

 

She had felt the instinctive difference in power from Mordred, who was a pure demon himself.

 

Humans could not defeat demons.

 

Because she had never felt such a gap in power before, it was hard to believe.

 

‘Even if he is the master of a demonic sword…’

 

With all her strength, Merlin trembled violently and sharpened her nails. She dug them straight into her own throat as if clawing it.

 

Even as her nails pierced her flesh and blood trickled faintly, she didn’t loosen her grip.

 

Merlin smiled bitterly.

 

“A mere human…”

 

A black vortex swirled at her feet.

 

Black smoke gathered and gathered, creating a powerful wind.

 

Even the fixed tent flapped wildly, causing Nimue, who had been sleeping inside, to roll out.

 

It was astonishing that she hadn’t woken up even then.

 

Mangeum, who had regained his senses, was biting the tent tightly so his small body wouldn’t be blown away.

 

Morgana, who woke up late, couldn’t come out of the tent. She held her fluttering hair with one hand and barely opened one eye.

 

“Kellive? What is this?!”

 

She tried to look ahead, but the flapping tent made it hard to see.

 

The moment Kellive blinked and opened his eyes again.

 

Only red blood droplets remained where Merlin had been.

 

The wind that had been blowing died down as if it had never happened.

 

If the campsite hadn’t been a mess, it would have been hard to believe a wind had blown at all. She had vanished in an instant.

 

Kellive clicked his tongue so softly it was almost inaudible.

 

“Leaving blood behind. Is she telling me to follow?”

 

Tyrving was a sword that gained power by drinking blood.

 

If it drank Merlin’s blood, he would be able to find her easily.

 

But reason stopped him.

 

‘I shouldn’t follow. It might be a trap.’

 

While he was chasing Merlin, Mordred could come. He had to be satisfied with the information he had gained.

 

‘It means Tyrving is needed to find the Holy Grail.’

 

“Woof woof!”

 

Mangeum, who had finally planted his feet on the ground, ran toward Morgana belatedly.

 

He tried to dig her out of the tent, but because of his small size, he couldn’t manage it and barked loudly at Kellive’s feet instead.

 

“Woof woof!”

 

“It’s okay, Mangeum. It’s fine now!”

 

Morgana crawled out of the messy tent on all fours.

 

The moment she emerged, Mangeum whined and rushed into her arms. When she gently stroked him, his frantic movements finally calmed down a little.

 

Morgana let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

 

‘Phew, I thought I was going to die.’

 

It had felt like an earthquake while she was sleeping.

 

It didn’t take long for her to realize it was the wind.

 

Even though it was strong enough to blow her away, the tent had strangely held firm to the ground.

 

It was probably thanks to Kellive’s magic. She roughly fixed her disheveled hair and stood up.

 

“What was that sudden gale? I thought something like this wouldn’t happen in a forest…”

 

For some reason, Nimue, who had been sleeping in the tent, was now lying on the dirt floor of the campsite.

 

Morgana rubbed her eyes and focused to check on him.

 

“Why is Excal sleeping over there again?”

 

Seeing that he could sleep through such a gale, it seemed iron lumps really were different, just as Aide had said.

 

“Sorry, Morgana. Was it very loud?”

 

In the dark forest, where even the campfire had gone out.

 

Moonlight shone on Kellive as he stood there.

 

Reflected by the faint light in the darkness, he didn’t look much different from before they slept. But now she could instinctively distinguish those subtle differences.

 

“Come here. Why are you standing so far away?”

 

When Morgana asked calmly, he smiled softly and shook his head nonchalantly.

 

“No. I’m fine.”

 

Morgana knew that expression.

 

In the past, it had just looked like the same smile, but now she could tell them apart.

 

Strangely, things that had always looked the same now appeared different. She couldn’t help but notice those subtle differences.

 

It was the same expression as when he had returned with an injured hand and tried to hide it from her.

 

Morgana walked straight toward him.

 

The closer she got, the clearer his expression became.

 

On the surface, he looked fine. To an ordinary person’s eyes, there were no visible external wounds. 

 

But…

 

Morgana slowly reached out her hand.

 

He neither avoided nor refused her. He simply watched quietly, no matter what she did. She placed one hand firmly on his chest.

 

“It’s a curse.”

 

“…I can’t hide anything from you.”

 

He let out a small chuckle and answered.

 

Morgana looked up at the much taller man.

 

“You should have hidden it at least once or twice. Did Merlin come? It doesn’t look like you’re fully under the curse, so how are you still conscious?”

 

As her hand gently stroked his chest, a soft light flowed from it.

 

The moment she sent her power into him, his large, gloved hand grabbed her wrist.

 

Startled, she blinked and asked.

 

“What’s wrong? Does it hurt? Or are you seeing strange things in your dreams?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Instead of answering, he lowered his head like a spoiled child. He pressed his forehead against hers with a thud and whispered.

 

“I’m not that easy to read, am I?”

 

The weight in his voice at the end made it sound heavier than a simple childish complaint.

 

For some reason, it was hard to speak loudly. She knew he wasn’t in pain, but it still worried her every time.

 

At first, because she was the one helping him. Then, because she hadn’t given him anything.

 

And later…

 

Under her palm against his chest, his heart was beating fiercely.

 

In the quiet Mount Badon, the thump thump sound ringing in her ears slightly clouded her mind.

 

Now she couldn’t even tell if the sound was coming from him or from herself.

 

Kellive’s breath brushed the tip of Morgana’s nose.

 

Every time his lips moved, her silver hair swayed gently.

 

“Just look at me.”

 

Later, it was simply because she thought of him.

 

The strange sense of security that he would always stand by her side. His golden eyes met hers lightly, as if touching.

 

When Morgana’s purple eyes tried to avoid the close gaze, he followed persistently and locked eyes with her.

 

The moment she realized she could distinguish his face, which had always seemed only kind, she understood.

 

She had been paying far more attention to Kellive than she thought.

 

Slowly, his head lowered.

 

Instead of answering, Morgana closed her eyes.

 

Along with the tilt of his head, warm breath brushed her lips. He didn’t rush. He soothed her just as he had watched over her all this time.

 

“Mm…”

 

When Morgana’s lips parted from lack of breath, Kellive didn’t miss the moment and delved in.

 

He mixed their breaths as if seeking permission. When his large hand wrapped around her back soothingly, she reached out her arms.

 

As she wrapped them around his neck, he breathed deeply into her as if he had been waiting. Her legs felt like they would give out, but his strong arms supported her.

 

He lightly pulled his lips away, met her eyes again, and smiled.

 

Morgana’s flushed cheeks burned as she fumbled with her mouth, unable to handle his joyfully bright eyes.

 

He gave her a short, audible kiss and asked.

 

“I can be quite persistent.”

 

When Morgana glared at him without any real anger, he tilted his head again.

 

Just before their lips met once more, Morgana whispered.

 

“I know.”

 

Her words were swallowed back into his mouth.

 

💫

 

“Huff, huff.”

 

Merlin staggered back into the cave with a deathly pale face.

 

Mordred frowned upon seeing her.

 

“Tyrving.”

 

His only interest was the Holy Grail.

 

Merlin’s injuries couldn’t capture his attention. 

 

Or perhaps he simply didn’t care whether his mere chess piece lived or died. When Merlin didn’t answer, Mordred clicked his tongue loudly.

 

“I knew it would be like this. Fine, if there’s no Tyrving, there’s nothing we can do. I didn’t want to use this method if possible.”

 

He rolled up his sleeve. His slender arm had clean, clear skin as if it had never endured any hardship.

 

He stood in front of the door and scratched his arm with his nail.

 

Drop, drop… 

 

Blood flowed from the pressed gap, but he showed no sign of pain as he continued to bleed.

 

Until the floor was soaked and the groove for the sword was filled with blood.