RHFTY chapter 72

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As nearly half their forces were lost in an instant, the elves’ advantage was quickly overturned.

The elf with the laurel crown clenched his fist, his expression grim.

It was said that the laurel symbolized “high rank”—clearly, this elf was able to withstand Leonard’s overwhelming power better than most.

Amidst the tense silence, Clemant, who had been watching in stunned disbelief, muttered quietly.

“I’d only heard rumors, but he really is a monster… Is something like this even possible for a human?”

From any angle, Leonard was undoubtedly human. Chaeyi felt the urge to defend him, but now was hardly the time for it, so he held back.

“…This is unexpected.”

The crowned elf murmured, observing the scene with indifference. Finally, he fixed a penetrating gaze on Leonard.

‘That human caused all this.’

Yet instead of reacting with rage at his fallen kin, the crowned elf’s lips curled into a smirk behind his mask.

‘How intriguing.’

It had been so long since he’d felt this thrill.

The fallen elves would have likely seen their deaths as honorable, yielding to a force of undeniable strength—a notion difficult for most to grasp but deeply ingrained in elven nature.

“We withdraw for now.”

At those words, the remaining elves struggled to rise, breaking free from the weight of the pheromones.

The crowned elf, however, turned to leave first, paying little attention to whether his men could follow.

Watching this aloofness, Leonard carefully lowered the concentration of his pheromones, releasing the elves from his influence.

Freed at last, they retreated after the crowned elf, vanishing without a trace, a stark contrast to the dwarves who always showed such tight camaraderie.

Chaeyi finally exhaled in relief.

‘We managed to drive them off.’

Thanks to Leonard, they had averted immediate danger.

Leonard’s power was a much greater asset than Chaeyi had realized.

He looked at Leonard with newfound admiration.

“……?”

But then, Leonard, still holding Chaeyi, suddenly lurched forward.

Chaeyi instinctively caught him, noticing something dripping onto the floor.

Blood. Startled, he glanced over to see Leonard clutching his mouth, blood trickling between his fingers.

Chaeyi’s heart sank.

“Leo! What’s wrong?!”

He asked in alarm, but Leonard waved it off as if it were nothing.

He looked anything but fine—Leonard was just trying to reassure him.

Delion approached, looking down at Leonard and explaining nonchalantly.

“He used a tremendous amount of power to kill so many elves at once. His insides are probably in turmoil. With some Healing Water and rest, he’ll recover.”

“Oh…”

“And make sure you get your own injuries treated as well,” Delion added, calling for Enoch and issuing orders to the medics.

Together with Enoch, Chaeyi helped Leonard back to Kukuf’s house.

Medics quickly distributed Healing Water to both Leonard and Chaeyi, and then hurried to tend to the wounded dwarves and knights.

The atmosphere was tense.

The victory was hard-won, and the cost was steep, considering the elves had only sent about twenty attackers.

Knowing they might return, regrouped and in greater numbers, cast a shadow over any relief they might have felt.

“Leo… are you alright?”

After applying Healing Water to his own wound, Chaeyi looked over to where Leonard sat, rubbing his forehead.

Leonard nodded that he was fine.

Thankfully, the bleeding had stopped, and his color was improving, allowing Chaeyi to finally feel some relief.

‘Thank goodness.’

Chaeyi had been terrified something terrible might happen to Leonard, but now he could relax. He suddenly felt as though the tension had drained all his energy.

“Chaeyi, does your wound hurt at all?”

Despite everything, Leonard was still worried about him.

It was just a scratch… Chaeyi let out a small sigh.

“It’s nothing, really.”

“Nothing?”

“Really. This sort of thing happens all the time.”

“…All the time?”

Oops.

Chaeyi was rendered speechless under the curious gazes of Leonard and Enoch.

It was as if he’d lost his senses, accidentally letting slip words he hadn’t meant to.

Such slips were common in his previous life—not now, when he was shielded in the vulnerable position of a beta.

After a moment of awkward silence, Chaeyi fumbled for an excuse.

“I mean… that sort of thing used to happen all the time back when I was out hunting monsters.”

“Hmm.”

“Anyway! I’ll leave you to rest. You must be tired, so get some good sleep tonight.”

Chaeyi rose to leave, but Leonard caught his wrist and spoke up.

“I feel more at ease when you’re with me, Chaeyi. So… don’t leave me alone.”

It was an endearing and bashful request, making Chaeyi’s chest feel warm and fluttery, so much so that he averted his gaze from Leonard’s earnest eyes.

With Leonard looking at him like that, there was no way he could firmly refuse.

“Then… the two of you should rest here together.”

Taking the chance to exit gracefully, Enoch intervened, helping Chaeyi sit back down before leaving them alone.

Left at Leonard’s side, Chaeyi tried his best to keep any stray thoughts at bay.

Being alone together did bring certain ideas to mind, but Chaeyi wasn’t the type to indulge in such thoughts around someone who was injured.

Of course, Leonard was a bit different.

“You smell nice, Chaeyi.”

Leonard leaned in, wrapping his arms around Chaeyi in an “energy-recharging” hug.

Apparently, he’d need to hold him like this for about 30 minutes.

But something about his touch suggested a different motive, and Chaeyi gave him a pointed look.

He’d been saving a lecture on restraint for tomorrow, but it was hard to resist.

“You. Don’t push yourself like that again.”

“Mm, I won’t.”

“I really thought something terrible had happened to you! Why use powers that come with such side effects? I was just relieved, thinking you were fine…”

“Sorry.”

“No, I get it… you were doing it to protect me. It’s not something you need to apologize for. Still, I’d rather you stay safe.”

“…Me too.”

Chaeyi felt Leonard’s arms tighten around him.

“Me too, Chaeyi… I’m sorry. I should’ve been there with you the whole time. I couldn’t reach you sooner.”

And at that moment, Chaeyi realized.

‘Oh.’

Leonard was carrying a heavy burden of guilt and anxiety, nearly losing his life for Chaeyi’s sake.

Without a word, Chaeyi reached up to stroke Leonard’s head as it rested against his shoulder.

Then, suddenly, Leonard lifted his head and surprised Chaeyi with a light kiss on the lips.

It was brief, just a gentle peck, but it caught Chaeyi so off guard that he turned bright red.

“Hey! This isn’t the place for that…”

“Why not?”

“It matters, okay? You’re not supposed to do things like that in public.”

Technically, they were in Kukuf’s house, not exactly a public space, but it still wasn’t the right time or place for displays of affection.

The others were resting and recovering, so Chaeyi didn’t want to cause a scene, though no one would dare to call Leonard out on it anyway.

“Whenever it’s just the two of us, you always do things like this. Just go to sleep already, you little troublemaker.”

Chaeyi shook his head, cheeks still flushed, as he gently helped Leonard lie down.

Leonard obediently listened, although he still looked reluctant, glancing up at Chaeyi as if wanting him to stay close.

But clearly exhausted, Leonard soon closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

Chaeyi, leaning beside him, covered him with a blanket and watched his peaceful face with a trace of worry.

‘If the elves reorganize and attack again, there will be even more injuries.’

So far, they’d avoided casualties, but no one knew what the future might hold if things escalated.

He now knew Leonard’s powers could hurt him as well, and that thought unsettled Chaeyi deeply.

Was brute force really the only answer? He sighed, the thought hanging over him.

‘Come to think of it…’

Chaeyi recalled the recent close call when an elf nearly killed him.

If the elf hadn’t hesitated, he might have been severely injured or worse.

It was as if, for some reason, the elf had chosen to spare him.

‘Why did they hesitate?’

He’d noticed the elf seemed almost startled upon seeing him, as if recognizing something familiar.

Chaeyi couldn’t shake the feeling that there was some reason behind it.

If only he could uncover that reason… perhaps it would lead him toward a solution of his own.

With that thought, Chaeyi lay back and stared at the ceiling, lost in contemplation until he finally closed his eyes.

That night…

Though he’d been drained from the day’s battles, Chaeyi soon fell into a deep sleep.

But then, he found himself suddenly awake.

‘…A dream?’

Chaeyi stood in a vast, endless white space.

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