Chapter 5

"Hahhh!!"I gasped for air, heart pounding violently. My hands wrapped in bandages clutched my chest as I struggled to piece together what had just happened.

"What happened? The dragon… the dragonoid!"

Though my body was still heavy, I rolled my eyes in her direction.

"Out of the 650 muscles and 206 bones in the human body, you managed to tear 580 of those muscles and either shatter or crack 179 bones. And don’t even get me started on the condition of your veins and organs."

She started lecturing, and I couldn't stop her. I didn’t have the strength.

All I could do was offer a weak smile and let my eyes drift shut again.

As darkness embraced me once more, one question echoed in my mind—

Why am I still alive?

No matter. I’ll get my answers the moment I leave this room.

As the days and nights blurred together, I remained motionless in bed—isolated from everyone. Alone in this room.

Though I could still hear the footsteps of passersby outside the door, not a single soul dared to enter.

No one... except Terisha.

She wasn’t a fighter.

But in truth, her value far exceeded that of most warriors.

She had no spouse, no partner—no one tying her down.

However, she is incredibly sought after.

Not only was she young—just 21—but she was also stunningly attractive.

Every time she visited, she was either buried beneath towering bouquets or juggling boxes of gifts most women would envy.

"Why don’t you just accept one of them?" I muttered as she checked my status.

"Don’t be ridiculous. You know exactly why I can’t, Incase if you forgot, I'll increase your stay here in this room for 2 months"

"Please don't, I had been patiently waiting to go outside"

That’s right—she wasn’t just admired for her beauty. What made her truly desirable was what she could do.

"Nobles only want me for what I offer," she continued, her voice cool but firm. "I’m no different from the great blacksmith six centuries ago—wanted, not for who I am, but for what I can create." Said by her as she changed the bloodied bandages around my body

"You know... you’ve already fulfilled the wish of the Mezide household. Isn’t it time you started chasing your own?"

"My wish?"

That question lingered with me for days.

What was my wish?

For someone like me—whose entire goal was shaped by the words of someone I was indebted to—I never stopped to think about what I actually wanted.

A few days later, she came again—of course, not without the usual flood of gifts from men and nobles across the continent.

If all the continents were ever joined… would she still be able to go out freely, with how many people desired her?

"Terisha," I said her name softly.

"What?"

"What is your wish?"

The question slipped from my mouth.

She looked at me, eyes narrowing with suspicion.

"Where did that come from all of a sudden?"

"I was just curious," I replied, offering her a casual smile.

She paused, folding her arms.

"My wish, huh..."

"You better not tell anyone about this."

"Alright," I nodded.

"What I desire..." she paused, lowering her gaze for a moment, "is to become a wife and settle down in the countryside—with a husband who can love and protect me wholeheartedly."

I stared at her, deadpan.

"Heh—" the sound slipped out before I could stop it.

She immediately stretched out her hands.

"You dare to mock me!?"

PAK!!

She slapped my knee.

"ARGHH!!" I cried out, clutching it as tears welled up in my eyes.

"That hurt! I’m still a patient, you know!!"

"Oops~ Hehehe."

"HEY!! That’s not how you treat someone recovering!" I shouted.

"IT'S YOUR FAULT!" she yelled back without missing a beat.

A month had passed. I could finally move my limbs—though standing on my own was still impossible.

"Hey, Terisha."

"What?" she replied without looking up, her eyes fixed on her notes as she recorded my recovery progress.

"I forgot to ask this a month ago… What's the current date on the calendar?"

"The calendar's changed—for our kingdom, and most of the continent."

"It changed?" I tilted my head, frowning in confusion.

"Yes. The victory shaped the fate of the continent. Naturally, they celebrated it with a new era."

"What's the name of the new calendar?"

"It's the 8th day of the 5th month... in the 'Race Alliance Calendar.'"

"Race Alliance Calendar… So, the alliance didn’t fall apart after the war..." I muttered, nodding slowly.

Then it hit me.

"Wait—5th month?"

"What’s with the sudden panic?" she asked, glancing at me curiously.

"Terisha... how long was I unconscious?"

She blinked.

"About four months and two days."

"EHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

I shouted so loud the walls might’ve trembled.