(Risking My Life) Proposing to Miss Hazel - Chapter 42

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 42

 

“The direction Felix is digging is clear.”

 

Baron pointed his finger at the mountain peak where darkness had settled earlier than the sky.

 

The Ruvark Mountain Range.

 

The cause that isolated Ruden Village from the Empire, and paradoxically, a natural fortress that provided safety.

 

I heard that beyond there lies an endlessly spread sea and Benu, the central city of trade, but not many have been there in person.

 

I asked Baron with a sense of disbelief.

 

“You’re not trying to say that Felix is making a path to Benu, are you?”

 

If so, Felix has truly gone insane. Perhaps the side effects of eating poisonous mushrooms are finally showing up.

 

Trying to dig through a mountain range alone with just a shovel.

 

It’s not even hitting a rock with an egg—nothing could be more reckless than this.

 

But Baron answered matter-of-factly as if it were nothing special.

 

“That’s what it looks like to me.”

 

“…”

 

This man.

 

He speaks so easily because it’s someone else’s business.

 

I suddenly felt suffocated. A sigh escaped me involuntarily.

 

“Do you think… that’s something possible?”

 

“In the Empire, there are dozens of paths even through terrain more treacherous than this. It’s not impossible.”

 

“I know that too.”

 

But they didn’t accomplish such a great undertaking alone. They must have used tools that utilize magic power too.

 

Even though I pointed this out, Baron seemed to think Felix could really break through the path.

 

I thought Baron and Felix had nothing in common except being handsome, but perhaps they’re more similar than I thought.

 

I asked Baron in a half-given-up state.

 

“Is there anything I can help with?”

 

No matter how absurd Felix’s digging might be, it’s pitiful to watch him struggle.

 

Since it’s impossible to make Felix give up, I wanted to help in some way.

 

If I think of it as a hobby, I suppose I could support it. At least it would be exercise. Though it’s scary to think his already huge and sturdy body might get even bigger.

 

“Did Felix ask you to help him?”

 

“Not at all. He told me not to worry about anything and just eat chicken, but how can I do that?”

 

“Heh.”

 

While I’m seriously worried to death, Baron burst into laughter again at a strange point.

 

This man, contrary to his first impression, laughs quite easily the more I see him.

 

The red eyes embedded like jewels in the center of his curved eye shape smoothly moved to the side.

 

He stared intently behind me and spoke mysteriously.

 

“The creature behind you might be able to help.”

 

“…What?”

 

Wh-what’s behind me?

 

Wasn’t there nobody there?

 

When I thought it might be a ghost, the back of my neck felt chilly.

 

I had firmly believed and lived thinking there are no ghosts in the world, that people are scarier than ghosts.

 

But this eerie intuition couldn’t be explained unless it was a ghost.

 

‘Axel didn’t really slip while avoiding a ghost on the mountain, did he?’

 

I barely managed to turn my stiff head to check behind me—

 

“Come out.”

 

As soon as Baron’s words fell, I heard the sound of something moving with a rustling through the wind.

 

“Ahhh!”

 

Startled, I unconsciously grabbed Baron’s clothes and buried my face in his chest.

 

Baron’s firm arms wrapped around my shoulders.

 

He chuckled, making his throat vibrate as if teasing me as I trembled.

 

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

 

“It’s… it’s not a ghost, right?”

 

“There are no ghosts in the world. Though there are souls of corrupted dark mages who cannot ascend.”

 

Isn’t that the same thing?

 

Baron gently patted my back soothingly.

 

He slightly separated my body and whispered tenderly in my ear.

 

“Don’t be too frightened and look down at your right foot.”

 

“Kyu, kyu!”

 

Just then, a familiar crying sound came from under my feet.

 

I blinked my bewildered eyes and looked down.

 

A round monster’s face popped up from the dirt floor.

 

The monster that met my eyes sparkled its eyes prettily and rubbed its cheek against my ankle.

 

As if asking to be loved.

 

“Kuuuu.”

 

***

 

The monster’s body slowly emerged from the ground.

 

The monster that flopped over on its back made cute crying sounds while flailing its short legs.

 

Hazel giggled and petted the monster’s belly.

 

“What should I do? Is it okay for a monster to be this cute?”

 

“Kuung.”

 

“What am I going to do if you come out like this again? Didn’t your mom scold you?”

 

“Kyu, kuuuu.”

 

When Baron glared sharply at the monster, the monster quickly turned its head away.

 

‘Disgusting thing.’

 

Acting coy while hiding its true nature to receive affection from its master.

 

Ah, am I any different?

 

Baron, quick at self-reflection, soon understood and watched the cunning monster’s behavior.

 

He wanted to chase it away immediately, but he needed that creature right now.

 

“Hazel, as you can see, the monster has special abilities.”

 

“Appearing from the ground?”

 

“That’s right. Monsters are very skilled at digging through soil and stone, and restoring the ground.”

 

That’s all because their wings degenerated.

 

Baron looked down on the monster as if viewing something worthless.

 

An inferior creature that attacked him without knowing its place.

 

He let it slide because it was a young monster, but if it had been a fully grown monster, it wouldn’t have stood a chance.

 

“That monster could help Felix. Secretly, without being caught.”

 

Hazel gently scratched the monster’s chin and tilted her head.

 

“Will the monster listen to my request?”

 

Baron swallowed a hollow laugh at the needless worry.

 

Of course it will listen.

 

The young monster that can’t tell heaven from earth would do anything to receive Hazel’s attention.

 

Though even being young, it must be over a hundred years old.

 

The monster that had been quietly listening to their conversation nodded its head up and down and shouted.

 

“Kyuu, kyu!”

 

The monster’s red eyes sparkled brightly. Hazel spoke carefully with a relieved expression.

 

“Well, you see, my Felix is digging the ground over there…”…”

 

With Hazel speaking softly between them, a subtle tension circulated between the monster and Baron.

 

Goosebumps kept rising on Hazel’s tender skin.

 

Her body shivered with chills.

 

It wasn’t like there were ghosts around, so it was strange.

 

“…So, could you do me this favor?”

 

“Kyu.”

 

The monster’s answer came quickly.

 

“Really? I don’t have anything to repay you with…, is there something you want?”

 

Baron’s brow furrowed deeply.

 

He sent a warning glare toward the monster, but the young monster was fearless.

 

The monster stretched out its short legs and tugged at Hazel’s arm.

 

Understanding the meaning, Hazel asked for confirmation.

 

“You want me to hug you?”

 

“Kyu. Kyu.”

 

“That’s all it takes?”

 

“Kyu!!”

 

Baron ground his teeth with a creak.

 

That cunning and detestable dragon subspecies.

 

He had no choice but to endure it this time, but there would be no next time.

 

When Hazel pulled the monster into a tight embrace, it made a ‘kuuuu’ sound and clung to her like a baby.

 

Baron’s jaw tensed with force. Veins bulged on his jaw and his fists clenched tight.

 

But the moment Hazel’s warm smile like sunshine entered his vision—.

 

“…Ha.”

 

All the strength in his body melted away as if his soul had left him.

 

Longing memories covered his vision.

 

They rushed in so thickly it was suffocating.

 

‘Come here, hide over here.’

 

‘You haven’t eaten anything? I only have candy, but do you want to eat this?’

 

He gazed at Hazel’s round head with wistful eyes.

 

That little girl who had extended her hand to him on that distant day,

 

Who now remembered nothing at all.

 

***

 

Thunk—!

 

Felix, who had been driving his shovel into the gap between stones, tilted his head curiously.

 

‘Why? Why is the shovel suddenly going in so easily?’

 

Actually, this wasn’t just any shovel.

 

It was a super-grade shovel made from reinforced steel that Uncle Franz, who would soon become a legend in the Blacksmith Guild, had developed over decades and even charged with magic power.

 

But it wasn’t supposed to be able to cut through solid rock like pudding.

 

Thunk—.

 

Felix drove the shovel into the rock once more and his eyes sparkled with excitement.

 

His golden eyes shone brighter than the moon.

 

“Did I get super strong?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————