I’m Telling You, I’m Not a Boss Monster!

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My body refuses to obey. Life force drains away in real-time.

Roseha let out a self-deprecating laugh. The Lord of The Seven Lairs is in such a state.

If other Lords saw this, they would surely scorn him.

Ssss, ssss.

A faint breath escaped through the gaps between my teeth.

For the first time in over a thousand years, I found myself at the crossroads of life and death.

Yet, in my mind, my own wellbeing was a secondary concern.

The loss of vitality, the dull, lifeless gaze settles on one point.

Dozens of layers of magic circles operating in the sky. The black spot of breath condensing in the mouth of the Bond Dragon.

Every impact point was aimed at the same target, the Diamond Stone.

“No…!”

There was no time to gather consciousness. Roseha instinctively tried to rise.

Stumbling. Her feeble steps did not last long before she fell again.

The sword hilt slipped from her weakened grip.

The membrane around her wings was completely torn, becoming tattered. Her whole body was covered in wounds, blood pooling and congealing.

Eyes clenched shut against the visceral pain within.

These were pains I had never felt in my life.

But more than that, the feeling of powerlessness, helplessness, and despair was far more agonizing.

As Roseha lay on the ground, she raised her head.

Calandas was determined to unleash all of his attacks at once.

Barugore was completely unaware of the situation. With no defenses, it was down to bare survival.

When I heard that the Moonlight Sword Hero had nearly died previously, Roseha noticed his weakness.

The fact that Roxanne, who could also kill, held rank 7 was precisely because he was a singular entity, focusing solely on attack power.

Barugore lacked the defensive ability to respond to incoming attacks.

Calandas had also surely noticed this and guided the situation accordingly.

Even Great King Daron could not endure such strikes if all were released at once.

At the very least, Barugore could be killed.

Trembling from the helplessness of knowing yet being unable to act, Roseha’s lips merely moved in vain.

“Please, be safe.”

In her hazy vision, Barugore came into view.

She reached out her hand towards him. But her tightly clenched fist grasped only empty air.

Roseha bit her lips until they bled.

When I wanted to help, why did it end up like this…?

To become a spectator facing the crisis of the man she loves. This was beyond merely a matter of pride for The Seven Lairs.

Fwoosh!

Dozens of spells activated from the ground where Barugore stood.

From the edges, billowing black smoke obscured the view.

───!

Before the repercussions faded, dozens of spells rained down from the sky, and breaths were unleashed.

Boom—!

Remarkably, the trajectory of the breath collided with the magic circles.

Roseha’s eyes widened in confusion.

As the aerial magic circles vanished, the Bond Dragon flew towards Barugore.

Just in front of him, the Bond Dragon pushed its snout forward, as if asking to be petted.

“…What is happening?”

A question escaped me instinctively as I locked eyes with Barugore.

I wanted to shout and ask him immediately.

I couldn’t speak due to the blood clogging my throat. I could only question him with my gaze.

Barugore quietly opened his mouth.

“It seems it recognizes strength and has submitted.”

As expected, the Bond Dragon was showing signs of submission.

Was it purely because it acknowledged Barugore as strong?

…If the Bond Dragon could perceive its opponent’s prowess.

It might have realized it could never win against Barugore and opted to join instead.

No, there could be no other explanation.

‘Incredible, isn’t it?’

Even facing the Bond Dragon alone, Roseha couldn’t guarantee victory.

Yet Barugore made the Bond Dragon submit without saying a word.

Roseha realized once again.

He was too good for me.

Even though I wanted to hold on to him… I could no longer do so.

“Thank goodness…”

The corners of Roseha’s mouth painted a faint smile.

Barugore wouldn’t die. Despite all worries, he was alive and well.

This is okay. This is enough…

***

When I stroked the Bond Dragon’s snout, it wagged its tail in happiness.

At this point, it felt like it liked me more than Helboki does.

Looking again, its green level seemed to have deepened.

I had no clue why it was acting so clingy all of a sudden.

It was a situation that was as incomprehensible as it was good.

‘But something about it…’

It somehow felt like it could understand me just as well as Helboki.

For reasons unknown, my instinct was saying so.

“Stay down quietly.”

Thud!

The Bond Dragon laid its chin on the ground.

At this point, it was becoming somewhat scary.

This wasn’t just any Bond Dragon. It was Briyagon, the final boss of the Ancient Dragon’s tomb.

This creature that could be considered a boss of The Seven Lairs understood my words and obeyed like a pet.

This reality felt far too unreal.

Putting aside the cause, what had to be prioritized now was different.

Turning my head, I spotted the three collapsed individuals, and among them, the sight of Roseha was utterly tragic.

It was clear at a glance that she was on the verge of death.

Fortunately, the level indicator popping up suggested she hadn’t died yet.

A sigh of relief involuntarily escaped me.

I finally understood Calandas’ plan.

He isolated me to kill Roseha first, but did he know?

In the end, everything he did was just paving the way for my good fortune.

[All target conditions have been met.]

[100% probability of evolution available.]

Leaving Briyagon behind, I headed towards Roseha.

Upon hearing my footsteps, Roseha’s eyelids fluttered.

As I stopped before her, she gently opened her eyes.

“You came.”

Roseha wore a sorrowful expression.

“Love, I feel like I’m going to die soon.”

Healing magic couldn’t be used on demon kind.

Even the healing power of the Holy Sword felt like pouring salt in her wounds.

It seemed Roseha was certain she had no means to heal right away.

I couldn’t understand.

Knowing all that, why hadn’t she run away until it had come to this?

“Did you not have the strength to flee?”

“…A little.”

“Then why didn’t you at least try?”

“How could I abandon you?”

I couldn’t fathom why things had gotten to this point.

I merely wanted to grasp her feelings, even just a little.

“Why did you go this far?”

“Just… I wanted to.”

Roseha looked at me without holding back.

“The death of a loved one. Isn’t it romantic?”

“….”

“If I were to die, I wanted to do so like this. Living for eternity makes one yearn for death, you know.”

Does that mean she loves me that much?

To the extent of giving up her life for me.

Cough cough!

Roseha coughed up blood.

Glancing upwards at me, she struggled to continue speaking.

“I’ve never loved anyone like this in my life. If you can’t understand, then I’ve lost. The one who loves more always loses.”

A gentle smile crept onto her lips.

“Barugore.”

“Yeah.”

“I like you. You’re so lovable.”

She reached out with her trembling hands.

As they touched my cheek, I felt a delicate tremor.

“When this is over, you might die. I won’t be able to stop it… Even if I die, I can’t bear to see you die.”

I knew that.

Having voluntarily opposed The Seven Lairs and fought to protect humanity.

“So you’re trying to leave first. You want to die before me because you think it’s better for me to lose you than for you to lose me.”

“….”

“If you die, I’ll think about dying too, but it’s not the same for you, right? That’s somewhat sad, but on the other hand, I hope you live. I hope you remember me forever and cherish the memories. What a selfish woman, right?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, containing me.

Roseha lifted the corners of her mouth.

She smiled faintly before sealing her lips tightly.

From her barely parted lips, soft breaths escaped.

“Ah… I wanted to smile and say it’s okay.”

She barely held back her tears.

Roseha trembled pathetically.

“I’m cold…”

Slowly, she reached out her hands to me.

“It’s my last request before I die. Will you hold me?”

I reached out my arms and pulled her in.

A faint laugh tickled my ears.

“It’s warm. Even without body heat.”

Roseha craved my cold warmth as if it was a chill draft.

I couldn’t even comprehend that.

“Barugore. Did I help you a lot?”

“A lot.”

“It’s true that I died for you, right?”

“Of course.”

“Then… can you love me as much as I love you? This is our last moment.”

“How?”

“Just hold me tighter. As if you love me so much that you don’t want to let go. Like this.”

Roseha tightly embraced me. It didn’t hurt.

If I held her tightly, it felt like she would break. Sorry, but I held her a bit tighter.

Roseha let out a soft laugh and caressed my face.

“My love, Barugore. I will forget you. Even if you lose me, don’t forget me.”

“How selfish.”

The corners of Roseha’s mouth held a faint smile.

Her colorless lips trembled weakly.

Roseha looked at me longingly and parted her lips.

“Actually, saying I wanted to die like this was all a lie. Since I met you, I became afraid of death. I want to live forever with you. I want to seduce you, try many things, and let our love blossom.”

“….”

“I’m afraid of leaving you and dying. How can you ask me to die when you’re here? Barugore, I don’t want to die. I want to live my whole life by your side. I…”

Within my embrace, Roseha trembled faintly.

Her sobbing was painful to my heart.

“You will not die.”

[All conditions have been met, hence there is a 100% probability of success.]

As the notification window disappeared, a beam of light gently enveloped Roseha’s body.

As I caressed her wound, the injury healed completely.

Roseha’s dim eyes slowly grew brighter.

In an instant, all her wounds healed and life returned along with her energy.

[Lv. 94]

Looking at her level above her head, I turned to her face.

Roseha, with her mouth slightly working in disbelief, looked at me.

“How…?”

“You said you wanted to live, didn’t you?”

Tears glistened at the corners of Roseha’s eyes.

I gently wiped that tear with my fingertips.

“That’s how it turned out.”