The dazzling light faded, and Elsez slowly opened her eyes.
‘…I’m back.’
She flexed her hands, feeling the weight of her returned body.
Since Elsez’s body had remained in the dimensional rift, her soul naturally left Yoo Hana’s vessel and returned to her own.
Even though her body had changed, Rashiel’s hand was still firmly holding hers.
He tilted his head outward, gesturing toward something.
Elsez followed his gaze and slowly took in her surroundings.
Before her stretched the familiar view of the temple.
A familiar landscape, a familiar body, and then—
“Human!”
She turned toward the voice she knew so well. Reti, bounding alongside Tezette, leapt straight into her arms.
Behind them came Cassian and Astaire, rushing toward her.
Elsez beamed as she caught Reti in a hug.
“I missed you, Reti.”
Holding her close, she turned to greet Tezette, Cassian, and Astaire.
“Have you all been well?”
Tezette, lips parting as though to answer, froze in hesitation. Before he could speak, Cassian suddenly cut in.
“You—you really scared us half to death!”
Cassian strode forward with an almost tearful expression and pulled Elsez into his arms.
She gave a soft laugh, about to return the embrace, when Tezette grabbed Cassian by the scruff of his neck and yanked him back.
“Let go.”
“Oh, you heartless bastard. Way to ruin a touching reunion.”
Elsez laughed again at the sight of their familiar bickering.
How she had missed this.
“So tell me—why are all the heroes here hanging around instead of guarding the world?”
She teased lightly, and Cassian gave a dry retort.
“Why should we guard it? You weren’t even here.”
“And besides, it’s already a world that doesn’t need heroes. Thanks to you.”
Astaire softened Cassian’s blunt words with a gentle smile.
Elsez, pleased, murmured under her breath:
“A world without the need for heroes… That’s a good world.”
Just then—
‘Hm?’
Before her eyes, a familiar blue system window appeared.
【Cruel Ruler of This World】 Cleared!
You have defeated those who opposed your conquest and successfully claimed this world.
Would you like to receive your main scenario completion reward?
‘Wait—wasn’t the quest supposed to end when I left this world?’
The quest conditions and progress baffled her, but there was no reason to refuse a reward.
Elsez accepted.
The system window shimmered brightly.
Reward activated: 《Earnest Wish》!
State your wish.
A wish?
With everyone’s eyes fixed curiously on her, Elsez thought of a single one.
‘My wish is…’
****
Since Elsez had returned to this world, another half-year had passed.
From that day onward, Tracia had made it a habit to visit the Mage Tower once a week, without fail, to see Elsez.
Today was one of those days.
“Hello, oh brilliant mage.”
The first to greet her when she entered the laboratory was Rashiel.
Words that might sound like praise from anyone else felt like mockery when he said them.
‘…So irritating.’
Tracia still found Rashiel unbearable, but she could tolerate him somewhat—because of Elsez, his beloved.
She shot him a sharp glance before stepping deeper into the lab.
There, Elsez was waiting for her.
“You’re here, Tracia?”
Tracia immediately began inspecting the magical apparatus and preparing controls while asking,
“How are you feeling today?”
“Perfectly fine.”
“Then let’s get started.”
Elsez nodded.
Treisha adjusted the instruments for activation and gave instructions to the apprentice mages nearby.
They moved toward Elsez, attaching and connecting various devices to her body.
On her way back to the controls, Tracia paused when she caught sight of Rashiel.
He stood silently in one corner of the lab, watching Elsez with an expression of deep worry—like a man sick with fear.
Sensing the discomfort in both Tracia and the mages, Elsez turned to him.
“Rashiel, could you step outside for a bit?”
Though reluctant, he could never oppose her will. Rashiel left the lab, closing the door behind him.
“…Hah.”
The experiments Elsez underwent each week were attempts to extract the Demon Lord’s power.
For on the day she returned to this world, the wish she had spoken was—
‘Separate the Demon Lord’s power from Reti’s soul, and return her to her original body.’
Even in her one chance to make a wish, she had chosen not for herself, but for someone else. That was who she was.
Originally, Rashiel had intended to separate Elsez’s soul from Reti’s once they came back. But Elsez refused—she didn’t want Reti to suffer any longer.
‘Reti has already endured centuries of torment. I want to bear the rest of it in her place.’
And so, Reti was restored to her human body. But the Demon Lord’s power remained with Elsez.
At Elsez’s request, Tracia had searched for a method to extract that power. She had found one—but it was dangerous, for it meant tampering with the very root of the soul.
If taken all at once, it could kill her. It had to be drawn out little by little, through repeated procedures.
Rashiel wished she would simply keep the power and live with it. But Elsez would not bend.
Thus, for months now, Elsez had undergone these periodic experiments with Tracia.
…Rashiel paced anxiously outside for a long while until the laboratory door finally opened. Treisha stepped out.
He rushed to her. “Elsez?”
Since her return, Elsez had wished to be called not “Ruel,” but “Elsez.”
Tracia cast a glance back at the lab and spoke softly.
“She’s asleep.”
The experiment didn’t cause her pain, but because it touched the soul, she always ended up exhausted and falling into sleep afterward.
Rashiel brushed past Tracia into the lab.
There she lay, peacefully sleeping on the bed.
Seeing her so unaware, resting as if nothing burned within her, he felt a pang of bitterness—then sighed in surrender.
“…As long as you’re safe, that’s enough.”
He gathered Elsez into his arms and carried her out. He couldn’t bring himself to leave her in such a sterile place.
Back at his estate, Rennie—busily keeping the household in order—bowed when she saw him.
“Oh! You’ve returned?”
Two years ago, upon hearing news of Elsez, Rennie and Mrs. Mars had remained behind to safeguard the Rohen family’s estate and await her.
And when Elsez returned half a year ago and began living with Rashiel, the two women had joined them here as well.
Rashiel acknowledged Rennie’s greeting with a nod and carried Elsez upstairs to the bedchamber.
He laid her down and took a seat at her side, watching her sleep.
In moments like this, with her resting in peace, he thought he finally understood what happiness was.
Yes, some still feared her power. Yes, she had not yet shed the Demon Lord’s strength entirely. And yes, he still dreamed at times of losing her.
But none of that mattered.
For there were more who believed in her than feared her. And when he woke from his nightmares, she was there to hold him.
Peace and happiness didn’t need to be perfect. They were enough to be grateful for—so long as she was at his side.
Rashiel bent down, kissed her forehead, and whispered:
“Sleep well.”
Then his eyes closed too, holding her in their gaze until dreams claimed him.
***
When Rashiel woke, the sun was already setting.
“Rashiel, wake up.”
He felt Elsez tugging at his arm, but he kept his eyes closed.
“We’re supposed to meet everyone today. We’ll be late.”
At her gentle nagging, Rashiel replied without opening his eyes:
“Give me a kiss.”
“…What?”
“You’ve never read fairy tales? A sleeping princess can only wake with a prince’s kiss.”
Elsez laughed, incredulous.
“You’re the princess and I’m the prince?”
“Don’t sweat the details.”
She was quiet for a moment, then rose from the bed. He waited, anticipating her lips—but she began to walk past him instead.
Rashiel seized the chance, slipping an arm around her waist and pulling her onto his lap.
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