Chapter 2: Exciting Age Difference

It was half a year ago when I fell for her.

That was the time it took to think about love, to ponder it, and to change my beliefs.

It was also the time it took to muster the courage not to miss my chance.

For a single elf and her smile to change the beliefs I’d built over 23 years was enough.

Even so, half a year could hardly be called a short time.

Of course, compared to a hundred years, it’s certainly brief.

And if I dared to guess the span of her life, my transformation might seem like childish impulsiveness to her.

But considering the lives I saved and the villages I helped rebuild in that half-year, I could say it wasn’t such a short period.

And now, with nearly a year having passed since I confessed my love to her…

I believe even more changes have unfolded between us.

I could walk by the side of the woman I once could only admire from afar.

I could see up close what she does, how she thinks, how she treats patients and their ailments.

I could observe what she does after work, closer than anyone else.

That was a great joy to me.

And knowing that this time was granted to no one else but me made it all the more precious.

“Evan, could you come here for a moment?”

Moving from being called “Brother” to being called by my name by the one I love was truly a precious experience.

What lies within that beautiful face, gazing straight at me, waiting for me to come to her side?

Does she understand how precious it is that this sight—her brushing back golden strands with a radiant smile—is granted to me alone?

“This part is a bit confusing.”

“The patient has persistent rashes and high fever, but it seems no proper treatment has been given.”

Thea always spent hours reviewing and analyzing even after work was done.

‘It’s fine to make mistakes, but repeating them is not.’

She never broke her own maxim.

And because I knew how arduous and difficult it was to uphold such conviction…

Though deep down I wished to set work aside and share tea and snacks with her while talking…

Instead, I propped myself up with one hand and began reading her notebook.

“Could you look at the patient’s special notes?”

“It says [Hilmor]. But I’m not sure what that means.”

“Does it… explain why only a simple prayer was offered for the fever and rashes?”

Explaining the diversity of humans to her was always challenging.

Even though we both serve the same, very real God, humans divide a single word into dozens of interpretations with their whims, selfishness, and foolishness.

Some were branded heretics; others stood on the edge of heresy.

But I held my tongue about them.

Even I sometimes doubt whether I’m correctly interpreting His words, so how could they be any different?

“The [Hilmor] Order is an extreme sect that rejects all medical treatment.”

“They believe only faith can save them, and if they die, it’s part of His will.”

“…They could lose their life, though?”

“Considering the symptoms of this disease, and as it’s written here, they might even be poisoned by corpse venom from the battlefield.”

“If we don’t disinfect the wound and administer medicine—”

Her judgment was rational and sound.

Her diagnosis was accurate.

That warrior, claiming to walk the path of asceticism, went to the battlefield time and again, facing unholy enemies without properly bandaging his wounds.

It’s only natural that charging at corpses controlled by evil will and abominations made of rotting flesh without proper gear would lead to such consequences.

Even I, in my zealous past, didn’t look kindly on that sect.

But because I know how precious faith is…

Even if I believe in something, I’ve learned through my long years as a clergyman that others might not.

So I respected their choice.

Even if that choice led to death.

“…People have freedom.”

“The freedom to follow what they believe.”

“You and I both know that He watches over us from above, that He sent you down here filled with blessings.”

“We know He answers directly when we question, proving it through the miracles and power we wield.”

“But some choose to oppose Him.”

“They walk the path of darkness.”

“And even if they lead themselves to ruin—”

“Just as He respects their choice…”

“I believe we, too, must accept such people.”

But she didn’t seem to easily accept my words.

“…Accepting is one thing, but this foolishness—must we just let it be?”

“Even if it means losing their life, leaving their family behind, dying in agony?”

Her brow furrowed, her expression growing more serious as she scanned the notebook, filled with doubt.

She was likely wondering whether she should truly let this choice stand or step in to help this person herself.

“At the very least, He respects that he believes this way.”

“Because he joined that order…”

“Because he mercilessly slaughtered enemies…”

“Because he kept going despite his body being wounded and torn, someone else might have been saved.”

“For that, God must have permitted his faith.”

All I could do for her was share my thoughts.

“You… really believe that?”

Looking at me slightly, her sorrowful eyes carried a hint of sadness.

In this place where lives are lost and saved, she, called the golden saint, would likely try to save this life too.

Could I dare to stop her?

Did I even have the right to?

“…I hope you follow your faith.”

If it’s her choice, I have no right to interfere.

No matter how strongly I might scold or reproach someone…

I believe it won’t change them.

In the end, we learn by walking the path of life.

And through what we experience, we grow more mature—or so I believe.

“Asking your age might be rude, but—”

“Of course it is.”

Her voice was firm as she glared at me.

…She’d recently been teased for dating a “short-lived” human.

“It’s really upsetting that I keep giving you hints like this, but my comrades teased me again today.”

“What did they say—”

“They called me a pervert who seduces young kids for naughty things.”

Her face flushed red as a beet, her pointed ears twitching slightly.

Unable to meet my gaze, she turned her head and slammed the book shut.

“I’m not a kid—”

“You know well that 23 years isn’t a long time for us.”

“Ten years pass in a blink… 23 years old.”

“Now that I think about it, really…”

Covering her face with her slender hand, she peeked through a small gap, her eyes locked on mine.

My heart jolted violently again.

Even as I trembled with the pain of a faint groan escaping…

Knowing it would hurt more to meet her gaze again…

I couldn’t help but take in her form once more.

“Hnng…”

Her pale skin, flushed with heat, refusing to look away from me, was even more captivating.

Even though I was only facing one of her eyes, hidden behind her hand…

Even though I was only glimpsing a tiny fragment of her emotions…

My entire body trembled this intensely.

“D*mn, I’ll… go get some tea.”

“Peach tea…”

As I tried to escape to her kitchen…

My hand was caught.

“Ah.”

Her hand was truly soft.

I had thought, given how she’d bandaged countless wounds and cleared abominations from harsh battlefields, it would be rough.

Seeing the scars on the back of her hand, I assumed it would feel tough from all her hardships.

But it was like the surface of a blanket dried crisp under a blazing sun on a cool, dry day.

Or like the soft cheek of a puppy brushed with the back of my hand.

Or that moment when, blessing a newborn’s chubby face, I lingered a bit with selfish affection.

That sensation flowed through my palm now.

Another of her hands rested atop mine.

How much warmth did she hold that just grasping my hand could make my whole body feel so warm

“…Such a foolish face.”

Glancing at my face, she let out a soft chuckle.

Feeling my lips curl up painfully, I tried to cover them with my other hand.

But her right hand, which had been holding mine, reached out and grabbed my left hand too.

“No, that won’t do.”

Even with flickering candlelight behind her, her golden eyes met mine precisely.

Each time her peach-colored lips parted slightly…

Each time I traced the movement of her skin with my eyes, guilt washed over me.

Every imagination in my mind felt so vile that I thought I might need to repent.

And she kept watching me through it all.

“I called you here today to see your cute self, so it’s a bit annoying that you’re only talking stiffly.”

What happened next was so sudden.

It was so fleeting, my mind could barely keep up.

A red mark was left on the back of my hand.

From her lips.

“Show me an even more foolish face.”

…My face, surely meeting her expectations, was burning painfully hot.