Chapter 93 – I Helped You Because It Was You

The thought that Axion might have come to save her sent her heart racing. Still, it was too soon to feel safe. The Lizardman, riled by the sudden appearance of a man who could shatter its barrier, grew even more frenzied, and its laughter twisted into something darker and more grotesque.

[ Will you play hide-a□d-seek with me too? ]

“Why on earth would I?”

Apparently displeased by Axion’s response, the Lizardman’s laughter vanished in an instant.

[ Then you c□n just d■e. ]

“Look out, Axion!”

Crash—

The beast lunged, closing the distance between them in a heartbeat. Axion dodged the wild assault with ease, his crimson eyes flashing dangerously as he exuded a lethal aura. In the chaos of close combat, he drove his dagger straight into the Lizardman’s throat with all his strength..

As the scaled hide lost its sheen and the creature’s muscles stiffened, the monster glared at him with murderous intent.

[ You think you’ll esc◆pe, hu◇an? ]

“I think you’ll die first.”

Axion began chanting a spell, and an immense surge of magic coursed into the monster’s body.

[ Keeek! Ggak! ]

The Lizardman shrieked, its cries twisting with agony as it thrashed about. However, Axion had no intention of sparing a creature that had already lost its strength. His crimson eyes grew cold as ice. A hint of a smirk lifted one corner of his mouth as he spoke in a dry, detached voice.

“It’s unfortunate things ended this way.”

With that, he drove his dagger straight through the monster’s core.

[ Screee—! ]

The violent convulsions gradually slowed, then ceased altogether as the Lizardman fell, its life finally snuffed out.

Axion wiped the monster’s blood from his face with casual indifference. Only then did Evelyn’s tension break, a ragged breath escaping her lips.

As the oppressive aura of dark magic faded from the air, he strode over to her.

“Evelyn, are you alright?”

He dropped to one knee, carefully checking her condition. Even though she was still trembling uncontrollably, she managed a slow nod.

“Yes, I’m okay.”

And yet, for some reason, his gaze as he looked at her was different from usual. In those crimson eyes lingered an unspoken depth she couldn’t quite name.

“Why are you crying?”

“What…?”

At the gentle sound of his voice, Evelyn lifted a hand to her face. Only then did she realize tears were streaming down her cheeks. No matter how hard she tried, they wouldn’t stop, as though something inside her had broken. Her green eyes trembled with confusion.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

Since childhood, she had never once allowed herself to cry in front of anyone. The unfamiliar feeling unsettled her, and she could do nothing but blink, unable even to wipe the tears away.

Axion, his eyes still fixed on her, drew in a heavy breath and forced his expression into composure.

“I’m sorry.”

“….?”

“I should have come sooner.”

At his sudden apology, she looked up at him with wide, startled eyes.

Why was he apologizing when none of this was his fault?

The thought made her frustrated and unsettled, and she blurted out words she didn’t truly mean.

“Heuk. Why are you apologizing, you idiot?”

And then, like a child, she burst into tears.

To tell the truth, she had been terrified. She’d truly thought she was about to become the monster’s next meal. But the moment Axion stepped through the barrier, a jolt ran through her whole body, and she couldn’t remember ever being so glad to see him.

As Evelyn wept helplessly, unable to stop her tears, Axion looked at her with eyes filled with bewilderment. After hesitating for a long moment, he slowly raised his hand. Then, with great care, he gently wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks.

Time slipped by, and as her sobs gradually quieted, she lifted her head at last.

In the soft glow of moonlight, the man’s face was shadowed, but his vivid crimson eyes shone clearly through the darkness.

“If not me, then who will protect you?”