‘Could it be that because the boss in the labyrinth was a Water Demon, a sudden rainstorm breaks out after clearing it?’ Ian guessed inwardly.
“I’m sorry, I was being willful this time.”
After escaping the labyrinth, Aetherinra apologized respectfully to Ian and Elise.
“Don’t apologize, Aetherinra. If it were me, I might have made the same choice.”
Upon hearing Aetherinra’s apology, Ian consoled her.
“Yes, Miss, you don’t need to apologize.”
“If Young Master falls into a coma, Elise would also come to clear the labyrinth alone like you.”
Elise’s words were true; if Ian really fell into a coma, she would definitely go to clear the labyrinth despite any objections.
“Thank you, thank you both.”
Hearing Ian and Elise’s comfort, Aetherinra expressed her thanks.
If not for Ian and Elise, she would have died inside.
Not only would she have failed to avenge Veronica, but she would have lost her own life.
Fortunately, Ian and Elise followed her, preventing that from happening.
“Don’t thank me, we’re family.”
For Aetherinra’s gratitude, Ian covered his forehead with his hand; he couldn’t stand such cheesy scenes.
“If you really want to thank me, promise me one thing.”
“That is, never give up on your path of magic, no matter what.”
Ian turned around and smiled at Aetherinra.
“Mm, I will.”
Aetherinra nodded.
After getting Aetherinra’s answer, Ian turned around and stretched his hands to relax his body.
Ian was really afraid that Aetherinra would give up on magic practice.
After all, during the fight with the Water Demon, Aetherinra had severely downplayed her own role.
Ian feared she would be discouraged and stop training.
‘If Aetherinra stopped training, how could I follow the Protagonist Party to defeat the Demon God?’
‘And how could I return to Blue Star?’
‘So it was necessary to encourage Aetherinra appropriately.’
However, such an ordinary encouragement took on a different meaning in Aetherinra’s eyes.
‘Ian seems like a pretty good person?’
‘Maybe it’s an illusion, but Aetherinra actually thought Ian looked a bit handsome at that moment.’
‘He saved me from the Demon Race first, and then helped me clear the labyrinth.’
‘It seems I owe Ian more and more?’
Aetherinra couldn’t help recalling in her mind how Ian had changed over the past dozen days.
‘It was as if he had become a different person, completely unlike before.’
‘But the change was good.’
‘If it were the current Ian, it wouldn’t be impossible for her to fall for him, would it?’
‘Pfft, what am I thinking?’
Aetherinra patted her flushed face.
‘What am I fantasizing about alone here?’
‘I won’t fall for Ian!’
Even though she thought so in her heart, her mind was now full of Ian’s figure.
Everyone leaves a strong impression on those who protect them, and even Aetherinra was no exception.
“What’s wrong? Why is your face red?”
Seeing Aetherinra’s flushed face, Ian leaned in and asked.
“Nothing, nothing.”
Feeling Ian’s presence, Aetherinra regained her usual expression.
At least in front of Ian, she couldn’t reveal her concern.
“I’ll remember the favor you did for me. I’ll repay you someday.”
“Mm, take your time repaying it.”
Ian didn’t take Aetherinra’s talk of repaying a favor seriously.
‘What could Aetherinra possibly repay me with?’
‘But Aetherinra is at least a heroine. Isn’t it better to get along with her than not?’
“Should we head back now?”
Looking at the heavy rain, Ian said to Elise and Aetherinra beside him.
“Mm, we should go back, or the Duke and the others will worry.”
Aetherinra responded quietly.
But upon hearing Aetherinra’s words, Ian complained inwardly.
‘You knew you’d make Father and the others worry?’
However, just as Ian was about to walk back to the Duke’s Mansion with Aetherinra and Elise, he felt a sharp pain in his body.
“Ah.”
After a cry of pain, Ian fell heavily to the ground.
“Ian!”
“Young Master!”
Although they didn’t know what happened, seeing Ian fall, Aetherinra and Elise quickly rushed to his side.
But at that moment, although Ian was not completely unconscious, he couldn’t move his body at all.
“What’s going on? Why can’t I move my body?”
“Did you think my power was so easy to use?”
Hearing Ian’s question, Yeyue transformed into a figure and appeared in front of him.
Only Ian could see this figure; Aetherinra and Elise could not.
“I already told you, your strength is insufficient. Forcibly borrowing my power can unleash extremely powerful strength in a short time.”
“But the side effects are also very severe.”
Hearing Yeyue’s words, Ian finally understood why he couldn’t move his body.
During the battle with the Water Demon, facing the Water Demon’s sudden power boost, Ian knew he absolutely couldn’t match it with his current strength.
So he borrowed Yeyue’s power, easily blocked that attack, and defeated the Water Demon.
Ian knew there would be side effects, but he didn’t expect them to be this strong.
“With your current Second Tier Mage level, you can borrow my power at most once a month. Any more than that won’t work.”
Yeyue let out a sigh and explained to Ian.
“Although you can forcibly borrow it, the consequences won’t be a simple coma.”
As Ian’s Guardian Deity, Yeyue needed to clearly explain these things to him.
To prevent him from abusing her power and causing irreversible damage to his body.
“Speaking of which, I haven’t asked you yet, Yeyue.”
“What exactly is a Guardian Deity?”
Because earlier, in order to escape that black room as soon as possible, Ian directly agreed to Yeyue’s conditions without fully understanding what a Guardian Deity really was.
“According to common belief on the Faloran Continent, a Guardian Deity is similar to a deity’s blessing, I suppose?”
“However, it is even more powerful than a deity’s blessing.”
Yeyue explained to Ian.
Upon hearing Yeyue’s explanation, Ian’s heart blossomed with joy.
‘In that case, doesn’t that mean I have a deity?’
“Stop grinning stupidly.”
Yeyue saw through Ian’s thoughts and scolded him.
“You’ll be lying in bed for the next few days. I won’t keep you company.”
“Where are you going?”
Upon hearing Yeyue’s words, Ian frowned.
“It’s been so long since I’ve been back to the Faloran Continent. Of course I’ll enjoy myself properly.”
Although as Ian’s Guardian Deity she resided within Ian’s body, she could still materialize into a physical form.
“Aren’t you going to take care of me?”
“Those two will take you back.”
The people Yeyue referred to were naturally Aetherinra and Elise.
At that moment, the two were taking shelter from the rain and using healing magic to treat Ian.
“When will I wake up?”
“I don’t know.”
“And you call yourself a deity? You don’t even know that?”
Hearing Ian’s mockery, Yeyue lost her patience and reached out a finger, poking Ian on the forehead.
“Alright, just go to sleep for now.”
With that poke from Yeyue’s finger, not only could Ian not move his body, but his consciousness also fell into deep sleep.