In an instant, the inside of the mansion was engulfed in steam.
The heat from the Sun Water, still not neutralized within Ether's body,
clashed head-on with Jaekiel's cold energy. It was indeed an intense
struggle.
'At least it's just steam. It's quiet enough that the warriors outside the
mansion won't notice.'
Only Ether, Jaekiel, and the messenger had witnessed this. The warriors
must not find out.
Boom! Bang!
The sound of explosions was now quite close.
This meant that the frontlines had been pushed back considerably. It was no
surprise; for warriors engaged in close combat, there was nothing more
dangerous than an enemy's self-detonation.
Jaekiel took a moment to check the atmosphere outside through the gap in
the window, closely observing the warriors' expressions.
Indeed, the confidence had disappeared from their faces. They were too
concerned about the First Princess to move freely.
'I must not let that doubt turn into certainty.'
If the foundation of the warriors, the First Princess, faltered, the battlefield
would collapse, leading to swift defeat.
But there was an even bigger issue.
How many people had thrown their lives away to earn the title of "the
strongest"? If Ether's weakness were exposed, challengers would never stop
coming.
Such chaos must be avoided at all costs.
Jaekiel had to succeed, no matter what.
The messenger's eyes widened as he asked.
"Auditor! What are you doing…?!"
It wasn't just him. Ether also seemed quite surprised.
"Teacher, I warned you that this would be dangerous."
"Both the First Princess and you are irreplaceable! With the situation in the
Demon Realm so unstable lately, if something were to happen to both of
you…"
Given the circumstances, the messenger's cry was desperate.
There hadn't been many moments this urgent, but it was already too late to
turn back. The heat from the Sun Water wouldn't let go of Jaekiel's hand.
Suddenly, Ether asked.
"Teacher."
"Yes."
Jaekiel answered calmly, trying not to show how immense the heat from the
Sun Water was.
"You said my life is more important than your own. Do you truly mean
that?"
Ether's question was sharp. Jaekiel was human, after all—how could he not
have the desire to live?
But Jaekiel didn't change his mind.
"…Yes."
As much as he hated the thought of his own death, it was clear that if he
saw Ether die, he would live the rest of his life in regret.
That was even worse.
"…"
Ether blinked silently for a moment, seemingly touched by Jaekiel's
sincerity, and a little surprised.
After a short pause, Ether spoke.
"The heat from the Sun Water is hotter than you can imagine. It's scattered
wildly, mixing with my energy. It won't be easy to channel your cold
energy in."
"I've never been one for easy tasks."
Jaekiel replied calmly.
"I just keep at it until it becomes easier."
"Is that really so…?"
How much time had passed?
In the end, the First Princess, Ether, nodded her head.
"Teacher, I grant you permission to touch this royal body."
It was permission to do as he pleased.
The messenger's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You're going to interfere with her internal energy? Even the slightest
mistake could cost both of your lives! Not just the Princess, but your own
safety is in grave danger too…"
"It's too late. Once my hand touched her, there was no turning back. As a
subordinate, maintain your composure."
Once Ether made a decision, she never reversed it.
Ether spoke decisively and leaned forward further, completely exposing her
back to Jaekiel.
It was astonishing.
For the First Princess to bare her skin, for a warrior to expose their back—it
was a significant gesture.
Ether slowly closed her eyelids.
"Teacher, what you said earlier was practically a confession. Are you
prepared to take responsibility for me?"
"I've always been ready for that."
"The way you control cold energy is incredibly precise. Yes, if not you, then
who could I trust? From now on, try whatever you wish without hesitation."
Her attitude was as if she were easily entrusting him with something trivial.
But Jaekiel knew the truth. Ether cherished her body immensely, but she
trusted him even more.
It was truly a precious thing.
"Ah… Ugh…"
When the messenger became restless, Ether's gaze turned toward him.
"What's the matter?"
"It's no different from putting both of your lives on a guillotine. I'm deeply
worried…"
"So, it means we're sharing life and death together."
Ether merely chuckled.
"Doesn't that sound really romantic?"
Though she spoke boldly of romance, her labored breathing revealed that
her condition was worsening.
At the same time, there was a rush of voices coming from outside the
mansion.
"Your Highness, the enemy wrapped in demonic energy is relentless! If you
could come out just once and burn them…!"
"No matter how many corpses we deal with, it doesn't end. They keep
resurrecting in strange ways!"
All the reports were of the worsening battlefield. The situation was growing
more desperate by the moment.
Jaekiel was well aware of this, too.
He released cold energy into Ether's bare neck. He could feel both the soft
texture of her skin and the solid muscles beneath.
Her soft skin immediately began to burn from the heat.
Then, it healed itself, only to repeat the cycle.
'If I can end this chain of pain with my own hands.'
This thought came to him as he gathered all the cold energy he could.
Jaekiel had long desired the Sun Water but could never obtain it, while
Ether, who didn't necessarily want it, was forced to endure the pain it
brought.
Neither of them was likely very happy with their circumstances.
'Now, I want us all to be happy.'
The man simply wished for this. And to achieve it, he first needed to quell
the heat raging within the First Princess's body.
Sssssss!
Cold energy rose like a frosty cave.
Jaekiel cleared all distractions from his mind.
Yes, he had forgotten everything else except saving the First Princess.
It was unbelievable.
The revered First Princess had allowed someone to touch her skin.
Goddess of War, Queen of All Weapons… She held such mighty titles.
What man could ever imagine placing his hand on her bare skin?
Jaekiel's hand was placed high on her back, near her nape, a crucial area.
The neck.
It was a vital spot where blood vessels gathered and energy surged. For
Ether, who controlled her energy, it was an incredibly important area.
Now, all of it was in Jaekiel's hands.
Ssssssssss!
His palm felt as if it would burn from the heat.
Jaekiel had never truly felt such intense heat before in his life, and he found
the Sun Water utterly fascinating. How could something like this even
exist?
"The Sun Water, in the form of a spirit, is blocking my energy pathways and
tormenting me. You have to break through it with your cold energy."
Ether, who had entrusted her nape to him, murmured quietly.
"I've carefully refined my energy pathways. Just push your cold energy in
as hard as you can. It will flow on its own."
Indeed, the First Princess's energy pathways were incredibly wide, beyond
what was typical.
Energy pathways are influenced by mental strength.
How much mental training must she have endured to reach such a level? To
withstand the constant pain of her burning flesh required an extraordinary
mind.
Boom!
At that moment, something struck the mansion's main door with great
force.
"Do not let this door open, no matter what!"
"Guard it! You must protect it!"
"Push forward as far as you can! If the corpses explode here, it will be
dangerous! This is the First Princess's mansion!"
All the sounds echoed the urgency of the situation. The 'Goddess' of the
Demon Realm sought the downfall of the First Princess.
It wasn't hard to understand. If the First Princess were eliminated,
conquering the continent would be much easier for the Demon Realm.
A crisis.
Jaekiel slowly closed his eyes.
"Ah, I can't stay here any longer! I'm going to join the battle! First
Princess, Auditor, please stay safe!"
Jaekiel heard the sound of the messenger rushing outside as he focused his
consciousness, slowly pushing the cold energy in.
Sssrrrrr.
As Jaekiel closed his eyes, a vivid scene appeared before him. In the pitchblack darkness, something stretched out in the shape of tree branches, one
blue and the other red.
It was Ether's energy veins and pathways, all clearly visible.
Suddenly.
The Emperor's words came to mind.
─It seems the Sun Water fears your cold energy. Even I have never seen
anything like this before.
If it caused fear, it meant Jaekiel had the upper hand.
Perhaps… he could overcome it.
No, maybe he could even dominate the Sun Water Spirit.
To realize that audacious thought, he poured all his concentration into the
cold energy. His control over it had greatly improved with recent battles.
Somehow, confidence surged within him.
He heard Ether's labored coughs a few times, but they gradually faded from
his consciousness.
And then, at one moment.
Jaekiel felt an enormous world.
Ether's energy pathways were so vast they felt like an entire world. Her
level of mastery far surpassed others—indeed, she was worthy of being
called the strongest.
It was a truly mysterious body.
But perhaps due to the effects of the Sun Water, it seemed terribly unstable.
Hooooooo!
He pushed the cold energy in with all his strength.
He didn't forget Ether's advice. Her energy pathways were wide, so all he
had to do was release the cold energy without hesitation.
That's exactly what he did.
As a reaction, heat surged into Jaekiel. His head spun as if he were suffering
from a high fever, and he even began to smell something burning at the tip
of his nose.
However.
Even so.
Hooooooo!
As a result of his relentless effort to not give up.
"…Huh?"
At some point, he heard a dazed gasp from the First Princess.
At that moment, Jaekiel was certain.
That he had a chance to dominate the Sun Water Spirit.