Baekyang felt the heat.

My whole body was hot.

Strangely, however, instead of feeling pain from the melting heat, he felt warmth.

It was quite a strange thing for her, who easily gets hot.

“Um… … .”

Baek Yang slowly began to awaken from his sleepy state.

And as my consciousness awakened, I felt the heat grow stronger.

‘ah.’

And when he came to his senses to some extent, Baek-yang was able to notice.

‘You were holding my hand.’

Where did the heat she felt come from?

Oz was holding her hand desperately, lest he lose it.

The heat was rising through the palm of his hand. Oz’s concern could be felt from the hand that was gripped so strongly that it hurt a little.

“If you hold on tight like that, I might melt?”

Baekyang opened her eyes and smiled at Oz, giggling as usual.

That smile was mischievous, like someone playing a joke, but passionate as if it had heat.

“Well… … . I made a mistake. I must have been mistaken.”

Baek Yang thought about the fact that he was still alive.

she must have died

Still alive, it must be because of the fruit that Oz fed him.

It must have been for the fruit that Oz was anxious in the first place.

Isn’t it something that can save her from having her heart pierced? It must have been something I really wanted to get.

“Oz-sama was a much nicer person than I thought.”

Still, he used it for himself. Baekyang decided to express gratitude rather than sorry.

And that he chose her.

“Whoop whoop.”

To be honest, I was more than happy.

Even though they hadn’t been close for a while, Oz was able to give that for himself.

Baekyang covered his mouth with the blanket and laughed quietly.

“… … this idiot What in the world are you laughing at?”

Baekyang laughed hysterically at Oz’s accusations, not his accusations.

I was so happy that I couldn’t stop the laughter that leaked out, so I just covered my face with the blanket.

On the other hand, I felt a warm feeling in the hand that was tightly clasped.

Oz’s haggard face looked down at her, his eyes full of concern shining sadly. It was such a beautiful color.

“Hmm, I didn’t know that before, but Oz-sama’s eyes are really pretty.”

Oz sighed at the sight of Baekyang and said,

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Um… … .”

Baekyang put her face under the blanket and wriggled for a moment. It was as if he was examining his wounds.

After a while, Baek Yang showed her face again from the futon and said with a smirk.

“Would you like to check it yourself?”

“… … From the look on your face, you look fine.”

Oz sighed and pulled up the blanket and put Baekyang’s face back in.

Then Baekyang peeked out his face again.

Even in the midst of such a playful exchange, Oz’s hands were shaking. It hasn’t calmed down yet.

Although he had already experienced the touch of death flowing through his fingertips, the fear was intense this time.

Baek Yang, who jumped out of the blanket again, looked at Oz for a moment and then spoke cautiously.

“it’s okay.”

“… … .”

“It’s nothing. Fortunately, there doesn’t seem to be any scars, and rather, it’s just that you’re feeling energetic?”

“yes… … .”

A little, but a relieved face.

On that face, Baek Yang whispered, as if the playfulness had sprung up again.

“Would you like to check it?”

“… … .”

“Kyaang.”

Oz put the blanket over Baekyang’s prank again. I didn’t want to see that strangely smirking face.

But this time, even after Baekyang’s face was covered with the blanket, Oz’s hand did not come off for a moment.

Baekyang wondered if he might have offended her, but was shocked by her actions.

“In the future, don’t do that again.”

Oz was hugging her through the covers.

It was a cowardly act that couldn’t bear to hug him directly, but Baekyang surrendered to the slightly frustrating pressure.

I felt the coziness of the blanket and even more warmth.

“I will not die.”

Oz was crying.

“I never intend to die. So you and the other kids don’t have to do such an unreasonable thing for me.”

I was saying it as if begging.

Yang Baek wriggled under the covers at Oz’s voice, reached out her hand and hugged Oz.

I was shaking. It was a variety of emotions including anxiety and self-doubt.

“Okay. So don’t be so scared anymore.”

Baekyang felt happy.

The person you love is saying this for you.

I can’t help but be happy

But at the same time, I felt bitter.

‘It’s only now.’

Obviously, Oz will try to keep his promise. But this will be the only time I’m hanging on like this.

Moreover, it is only now that she can monopolize Oz.

Because there were so many precious things to protect by Oz’s side.

Baekyang knows.

It won’t be long before I can hug him with such an honest feeling.

Oz will stand up again after a short rest and regret.

‘A little more… … .’

That’s why Baekyang thought. If now is a rare opportunity.

‘Let’s engrave the existence of the country.’

Let’s leave a color so intense that this feeling won’t fade.

* * *

Immediately after confirming that Baekyang’s condition had improved. It was when I came out of the room with a suitable excuse for the strangely changed atmosphere.

“… … .”

Now that I think about it, I feel a bit ashamed.

Clinging to the white sheep, not Arietta or anyone else… … . I don’t know what I really did.

How should I look at that guy’s face in the future?

It was the time when I was about to head to the well to cool off my burning face.

“Uh, um… … . I didn’t try to eavesdrop on it, but I came here because I was worried about Baek-yang. uh, something like that… … . Mi, are you sorry?”

“… … why are you here Soyeon?”

When I turned the corner, I saw So-yeon scurrying around with her face dyed red.

Looking at her reaction, I must have overheard the conversation between Baekyang and I.

The shame doubles.

“Kuhm… … . Now that you’re here like this, would you like to go somewhere quiet and talk?”

“uh… … . Anyway, I met Baekyang just a while ago, but I’m trying to meet another woman… … .”

So-yeon staggers back and starts talking nonsense.

What is this human called?

What happened to your hair because you stayed in the Three Taoism for so long?

“… … Since it’s about Baekyang, let’s talk about it somewhere else.”

“Oh, I see. that’s right Well.”

So-yeon cleared her throat and then began following me cautiously with a stiff movement.

No, am I not that trustworthy?

Well, I can’t help it. Wasn’t the situation the situation? I think it would be awkward for me, but would it be different for Soyeon?

It will gradually get better over time.

“Well, that might sound a bit strange, but… … .”

Float carefully while moving seats. Fortunately, So-yeon had calmed down to some extent, so she didn’t move as stiffly as before.

“What just happened is a secret from the rest of the party… … .”

As my words continue, Soyeon’s expression becomes more and more distorted.

“No, don’t look at it like trash, just listen.”

“done. I don’t want to hear trash excuses. Just tell me the point.”

“Yes… … .”

let’s give up

Even So-yeon, who had been pliable until now, has a straight face. It’s already too late to convince him.

Yeah, it’s easier to just give up. There is nothing wrong with Soyeon’s words.

i’m trash

“We will be leaving the goblin forest soon.”

“yes? Even though you’re garbage, it’s a pity that we parted ways like this.”

Since this is a request, I would like you to remove one modifier from the sentence.

However, pointing this out only adds to the story.

“Yes, so there is something I want to ask of Soyeon.”

“ask? Well… … . If you think about what I said earlier, it must have something to do with Baekyang, right? Are you asking for directions because you’re going to cross the Samdocheon?”

“Nope.”

This incident is also related to Soyeon.

So it would be better to tell them in advance before breaking up.

“Could you stay in the Goblin Forest for a little while longer and take care of Baekyang? It’s okay, but I’m still worried.”

I can’t say for sure how the effect of the fruit of the World Tree worked on Baek Yang.

Perhaps the yogi in the body makes the body worse.

I don’t think it will be a big problem, but… … .

Still, I wish there was someone nearby that she could lean on.

“Well… … . I want to do that too, but it’s not a matter for me to decide on my own… … .”

“Why don’t you just pretend that there are still follow-up measures to be taken?”

Soyeon scratched her cheek and said as if she was in trouble.

“How could I lie in front of that terrifying iron?”

“There will be nothing to report to the king. I would have been away.”

“Ah really?”

As if Soyeon was excited, her eyes twinkled and she smiled brightly. It seems that Kang Chul was quite awkward.

However, So-yeon, who was humming excitedly, suddenly tilted her head as if it were strange and said,

“No, wait. Does it make sense that Kang Chul-i is away? The three masters are Kang Chul.”

“It makes sense. Part of the Three Taoism will fall apart and move separately.”

“… … yes?”

The side story is over.

Now we have to solve the problem of the main story, Mount Bongrae.

There are only five dragons in this world.

Three of them will be intertwined.

“The king of Yo released the shackles that bound him a while ago.”

both die

* * *

After the ＜Dokkaebi Forest＞ work is over.

Oz and the others decided to set out on the road again. However, those who gathered at the entrance of ＜Dokkaebi Forest＞ were relatively few in number.

Alexios planned to part ways to seek forgiveness from his fellow students, and Ulla later followed to guide him.

“I’m sorry. We became friends after a long time.”

And Baekyang can’t be together now. She must have known that fact, but she pursed her lips in pouting and grunted.

[Baekryong] A monster with a yogi cannot enter Jinseon’s dwelling place.

Although there are monsters living in Mt. Bongrae, they are monks who have emptied their minds.

That’s why the goblin, Baekyang, was also a monster with yogi, so he couldn’t enter Mt. Bongrae.

No, even she was likely to get lost. It is the opposite of Samdocheon.

A monster that enters the realm of truth and goodness gets lost and returns the way it came.

Guidance was impossible because those who were together could be separated from the yokai at any moment or get lost together.

“I might be able to get to the front of Mt. Bongrae too.”

“What exactly is the standard in front of Mt. Bongrae?”

“… … .”

“If there was such a reference point in the first place, people-eating monsters would have camped in front of it.”

At Oz’s criticism, Baek Yang pouted again and grumbled.

“He was such a kind and wonderful person not too long ago… … .”

As soon as she got up and got healthy, people changed.

To put it bluntly, it was only now that he had returned to his original relationship, but to Baek Yang, Oz’s appearance only felt savage.

“Well, it can’t be helped.”

Saying so, Baekyang looked at the faces of the party.

The first thing that caught my eye was Mary with a dazed expression. I didn’t know what he was thinking.

And the next thing I looked at was Arrieta. Right now, Oz is the person he cares about the most.

The next person to look at was, of course, Eleanor. She was unusually tired.

Baekyang was also the subject of the most sympathy and guilt.

“Then, Mr. Oz.”

“yes?”

Baekyang made eye contact with Oz for the last time and smiled.

Her purple eyes were slightly more sinister than usual, as if they were plotting a ruse.

“Was it number six?”

“yes… … ?”

Baek Yang strode closer to Oz and put her arms around his neck.

“The number of times Oz coveted me.”

Baek Yang pressed his lips to Oz’s.

It was a sincere kiss given after making it impossible to avoid by wrapping both arms.

“I wanted to try it once when I was sober. Could this be number 7? How was it? I was good.”

“No, that… … .”

Baekyang smiled mischievously as he looked at Oz, who was hesitant and unable to speak, and then looked at the members of the party again.

Everyone except Marie was looking shocked.

“I am. There is nothing to shy away from.”

Baekyang hugged Oz tightly.

Then, looking over his shoulder at the party, he licked his lips as if to show off the kiss he had just kissed.

“I have no rules to follow and no mission to fulfill.”

Yes, that’s why she has nothing to hold back. Then there is no need to match the stride with others.

If the start is late, all you have to do is sprint with all your might.

“With this, you won’t forget about me even if you’re gone for a while, right?”

Baekyang issued a declaration of war.