Shinju straightened up after absorbing the Yin energy.
His entire body was covered in blood.Drops slid down from his fingertips, falling one by one onto the ground.
For a brief moment, he lifted his head.A tired smile formed at the corner of his lips.
"Was that… all?"
He took a step forward.
His vision went dark.
And his body silently rolled down from the pile of rats.
Koharu screamed and rushed to his side.
"Shinju! Open your eyes!"
Swen approached from behind, holding her breath as she dropped to her knees.She grabbed Koharu's trembling hands.
"Calm down," she said in a low voice."He's just unconscious. He has an immortal body, remember?"
Koharu lowered her head, still unable to stop her tears.She looked at Shinju's face—it was as if he was simply sleeping.
Swen clenched her teeth.
"First, we need to move him somewhere safe. That damned essence was too strong—we have to hide before more creatures show up."
Koharu nodded, her eyes never leaving Shinju.Together, they dragged him between the rocks.
They found a shaded hollow… and waited there until morning.
Koharu didn't move at all.Her eyes never left Shinju's face.
When the first light of dawn touched them, Shinju's fingers twitched.
His eyes slowly opened.
His breathing was uneven. His vision blurred.
And the first thing he saw…
was Koharu.
Her eyes were red.She hadn't slept.
"Were you watching over me… princess?"
His voice was weak, but that familiar hint of teasing was still there.
Koharu's lips trembled.For a moment, she couldn't speak.
Then she leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper:
"Don't be stupid…"
She paused.A tear slipped down her cheek.
"I thought you were going to die."
Her hand instinctively grabbed his collar.
"If you ever do something like that again… I'll kill you myself."
It wasn't a threat.
It was fear.
Koharu took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.She gave a fragile smile.
"Of course I stayed.I'm not letting anyone take you away from me."
Shinju looked at her for a moment.
This time, he didn't reply.He simply closed his eyes briefly… then opened them again.
"Don't worry…" he said quietly."I have no intention of dying."
A short silence followed.
Then his gaze shifted to her hand.
The muddy, gray rat meat.
He frowned.
"…Seriously?"
Koharu immediately changed the subject, as if nothing had happened.
"I'm starving.Turn these into something amazing and let's have a proper feast."
A small pause.
"Without you… how am I supposed to eat these?"
Shinju turned his head and sighed.
"Seriously… that's what you're thinking about right now?"
He paused.
Then suddenly raised his voice:
"Where is that crazy alchemist?!"
A voice came from behind the rocks.
Swen peeked out, only half her face visible.
"So… you're finally awake."
This time, Shinju was genuinely irritated.
But beneath that anger… there was something else.
He clenched his teeth.
"You crazy woman…"
He paused.
His breathing grew heavier.
"Do you even know what you just did?"
He tried to stand, his body trembling.
"Dying…" he muttered,"would've been easier than that."
Silence.
"My flesh was torn apart… then healed… then torn apart again.""Every single time… it felt like a red-hot iron was pressed into my wounds."
He narrowed his eyes at Swen.
"I might be immortal… but pain is still real."
He took a step forward.
"If I hear a plan like that again…""next time, I'll experiment on you."
Swen stayed silent for a moment.
Then shrugged.
"Look at the bright side."
"Gathering that much Yin energy would've taken months."
A crooked grin appeared on her face.
"But you handled it in a few hours."
Shinju rolled his eyes.
"Koharu… bring the meat."
Koharu carried over a pile of rat meat.
Shinju grumbled:
"At this rate, we're going to start calling you 'chubby princess.'"
Koharu frowned as she dropped the meat.
"No backing out. You promised—I get to eat as much as I want."
Shinju sighed.
"Alright, alright."
He raised his hands; the meat was purified, and a fire formed.
Swen peeked from behind the rocks again, holding a few small bottles.
"I can make them taste better."
Koharu clutched her stomach and pleaded:
"Shinju… just this once, please forgive her."
Shinju narrowed his eyes.
"Fine. You can come over.But I still haven't forgiven you."
Swen ran over, laughing.
"Don't worry, Shinju. I'll make it so good you won't have a choice but to forgive me."
She opened the spice bottles, enhancing the meat with alchemy.
A rich aroma spread across the rocks.The juices shimmered as the meat cooked.
The three of them sat together and ate.
It tasted even better than they expected.
Shinju slowly chewed his bite, then closed his eyes.
"This… must be food from the heavens."
He lifted his head and looked at Swen.
"You're forgiven. This time."
Swen smiled triumphantly.
Koharu couldn't hold back her laughter.
That day, in the middle of war…
the three of them found a brief moment of peace—
and shared a meal, conversation… and laughter.