“Water… just a little…”
As Eira asked in a cracked voice, Yanu rose from his seat. He kept his eyes tightly closed, and after a moment, something wet touched his lips. It was Yanu’s damp lips. Instinctively parting his mouth, a long, moist tongue slipped inside, and lukewarm water flowed in. The movement of the tongue was strangely indulgent—so much so that it was hard to tell if he was being given water or being kissed.
“Want more?”
“No, I’m fine…”
Eira, sensing danger as Yanu’s hand began to slowly sneak under the bed covers, refused quickly. He lay still in Yanu’s arms, breathing lightly. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been this sick. It felt like the time he had returned to Solar, just after finishing the funerals of his family.
Wait… now that I think of it, I wasn’t sick from exhaustion back then either, was I…?
The sudden thought struck him like lightning. Eira tried to sit up with a gasp, but groaned instead. Could it be? Using magic to scan his body, he chose the most reliable method to check—he summoned his stat window.
And sure enough, just as expected.
Lying still, Eira suddenly started chuckling to himself like a lunatic. Yanu, unusually concerned, asked in a worried voice,
“Eira, has your fever made you lose it?”
“No…”
“Maybe if you go into my stomach and come back out, you’ll recover.”
“I said no…”
Feeling the sincerity in Yanu’s voice, Eira repeatedly begged him not to swallow him.
He continued to lie in bed, groaning like the dead, for several more days. The longer he stayed sick, the more Yanu’s temper—no, sensitivity—seemed to worsen, but there was nothing to be done.
Even as he heard the desperate voices of retainers outside the door begging Yanu to let them check on the Lord’s condition, he didn’t stop it. For a mage, this was a critical period. Not even the most loyal retainers should be allowed to interfere.
Finally, when the fever broke, it was the dragon who noticed first. Yanu had been holding Eira, lazily licking off the sweat as he slept. The moment Eira stirred, Yanu licked his lips and gave him a deep, starving look. Eira, unsure whether that hunger was for food or something else (he hoped it was the former), shoved a handful of mana stones into Yanu’s mouth and declared,
“I’m hungry. I need a proper meal.”
Yanu reluctantly stood at his insistence. When he opened the bedroom door, Steward Botello Oron, who had been nervously pacing outside, nearly cried out.
“My Lord! Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, Oron. Sorry to have worried you.”
After reassuring his steward—who had served faithfully from his grandfather’s time—Eira requested food.
“I’m starving. Could you prepare a meal? Something for Yanu too, please.”
“Yes, My Lord! Right away!”
The first to rush in upon hearing the news was Bloom, the only retainer besides Yanu with 100 affection points. He fell to his knees and burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry, My Lord. This is all my fault. I failed in my duties and caused you harm…”
“Why would my illness be your fault?”
It even looked like Bloom hadn’t eaten properly while Eira was sick. Eira thought he’d have to ask Oron to bring extra food for Bloom too. While comforting the guilt-ridden knight, Ginas and Gretel arrived in a rush.
“My Lord! How are you feeling?”
As Eira tried to calm his concerned retainers, Yanu, who had been glaring from the side with an unpleasant expression, stepped forward. Without hesitation, he picked Bloom up—armour and all—and slammed him out into the hallway. Then he barked at the frozen retainers:
“All of you, out. Come back after Eira’s eaten properly.”
And slammed the door shut in their faces. Eira considered stopping him, but instead, just gave Yanu’s backside a few comforting pats. When Yanu squinted at him, Eira quickly added,
“It’s not seduction.”
What could he do? His dragon had a firm and satisfying backside—he just couldn’t help it. Eira, still weak, pulled off the pebble stuck to his cheek and kneaded it until it popped out little heart shapes.
Soon after, Oron brought in their meal. For the sick patient who hadn’t eaten properly in days, he prepared soft stew and bread. For the ravenous dragon, there was an entire feast of meat. While Eira slowly spooned up stew filled with mashed meat and potatoes, Yanu devoured five chickens, a whole roast pig, and an enormous portion of grilled beef ribs—leaving not a single bone behind.
After the meal, Eira bathed in hot water to relieve the aches and stickiness. Though still sleepy, he felt refreshed—finally, he could think clearly again. He even brushed the dust off Yanu, who hadn’t moved from his side for days. Then, he summoned his retainers.
“Sorry, everyone. I must’ve worried you a lot.”
“You’re still in rough shape, My Lord.”
Ginas, who examined him carefully, looked worried. Even without the pebble to read his emotions, Eira could tell he was reminded of the time Eira had been gravely ill after first arriving in Solar.
“Wouldn’t it be best to go on convalescence for a while? You don’t handle cold well—perhaps spend the winter in a warmer region. Any lord would be honoured to host you.”
“You humans can make decent suggestions sometimes.”
Yanu seemed pleased with the idea, but Eira shook his head. Convalescence? It wasn’t like he was dying.
Solar wasn’t the same fragile territory it once was. With skilled blacksmiths, well-trained soldiers and knights, and loyal retainers, even if he stepped away briefly, nothing would fall apart. But if he went off to relax, someone else among the retainers would surely collapse from overwork.
Why do the tasks never decrease no matter how many people we hire? Maybe in ten years things will ease up… Eira offered an explanation.
“This wasn’t just exhaustion. I awakened a new spell—magic bloom.”
“Magic… bloom, My Lord?”
Eira explained the process of magical bloom—how, just like knights or mercenaries reach a new realm through enlightenment, mages also attain their own unique spells when they reach a certain level of insight. And when that happens, their bodies suffer, causing them to fall into a weakened state.
“A magic bloom is something to be celebrated for a mage.”
He didn’t mention that some mages die from it. Most deaths occurred with their first bloom. Each bloom after that significantly reduced the death rate. Eira was now on his second, so he was unlikely to die again.
“You’ve reached a new level—congratulations, My Lord!”
Bloom, who had experienced something similar himself, beamed with joy. As his retainers congratulated him, Eira reopened his stat window.
HP: 316 (Status: Weakened from Magic Bloom Syndrome)
MP: 62,115
Physical Attack: 119
Magic Attack: 33,537
Affection: 95♡
[Details]
Title: Grand Lord of Great Solar
Class: Grand Lord, Magic Bloom Mage II (Second Advancement)
Strength: 23
Intelligence: 508
Skills: Physical Magic VII, Illusion Magic XII, Telepathy XII, Labyrinth of Memory I
Owned Titles: [Click!]
– Our Lord, Labyrinth Mage, Monster Enthusiast, Morunka’s Favourite, Mate of the Red Dragon, That One Who Married a Dragon
Related Characters: [Click!]
– Yanu Lezhedet: All the retainers are here, so please just hold back a little. I’m still a patient ‖ 100♡
– Hes Ru Ginas: You need the rest, not him… When was the last time you took a break? ‖ 87♡
– Lan Gretel: Surely there are more decent folks in the Gretel family? ‖ 85♡
– Bloom: You take a break too. When are you getting a lover? ‖ 85♡
– Hera: I bet Hera brought a few hot, spicy broth buns ‖ 83♡
– Botello Oron: Your tea-making is nearly as good as your grandfather’s now ‖ 80♡
– Botello Delo: I hope you live a long, healthy life ‖ 74♡
– Attera De Acte: Ever since becoming a cult leader, seems like he’s been working on character development ‖ 70♡
Current Thought: I want to test this magic bloom soon. But everything still aches. Speaking of convalescence, maybe I should go to a hot spring and relax with Yanu.
There had been several changes to his stat window. His magic attack had increased significantly with this second bloom, and he had gained a new skill: Labyrinth of Memory I. A new title had also been added.
“That One Who Married a Dragon.”
Must’ve been from that recent labyrinth expedition when a bunch of mages splurged on mana stones and had their little getaway…
“But still, you’ve been overworking. Take this opportunity and rest.”
Hera spoke while unpacking a giant bundle of food. The scent of Wolf’s special restorative broth buns made Eira’s mouth water. Twice the size of the regular ones, packed with ingredients, and not sold to the public—they were a special, heartfelt recipe. Botello served a large bowl to Eira first. But since his partner had been eyeing him with growing hunger, Eira pushed the bun toward Yanu instead.
They all quietly ate together. Not only Eira, but everyone else had been overworked as well—so the warmth from the meal comforted them all. After licking their bowls clean, they sipped herbal tea sent by Attera De Acte. Finally feeling revived, Eira shouted brightly:
“Alright! As you all suggested—starting today, we’re on vacation!”
Little Pink Starfish 
Leave a comment