CHAPTER 49: PHILOSOPHICAL LECTURE ON ONE’S DEATHBED

Cradled in Kassie’s arms, my awareness of the surroundings felt like it was diving into a deep ocean of darkness. One thing I knew for certain was that Kassie was moving — constantly, desperately moving.

’Stay still, damnit!’

Despite knowing that my life depended on her thick... strong legs, I still wished it. But I was too weak to demand anything. Plus, my body felt cold.

’Too cold.’

The dark ocean I was diving into only got darker and deeper. At some point, I saw nothing, heard nothing, felt nothing.

I think in this situation, it would simply be appropriate to say that the great Cade had passed out.

***

A few moments later.

What I first felt was warmth, then pain — crawling like an annoying worm all over my body. I was still. Every other thing was still, too.

My eyes slowly opened. My vision swam with blurry, strange shapes, but eventually, I was able to make out a fire crackling beside me. And a lady sitting in the dim firelight.

Naked.

’Naked?!’

I jerked myself up — only to wince in agony and fall back down with a groan that sounded far too pathetic.

’Real smooth, Cade.’

Kassie, sitting beside me with just my coat draped over her shoulders, frowned.

"Are you dumb? Why are you moving so recklessly with a wounded body?" Her tone was sharp. "My armor can only stop the bleeding and keep you from dying. It won’t heal you."

’Right.’

I was wounded.

And I’d fought Kai. Killed that deadweight bastard Kael, too.

Everything that had happened before came streaming back into my head in a flood of memories. It left bitterness and rage churning in my chest — hot and acidic.

The church had sent Kai to kill me.

’Why?’

Was making my life a living hell just because I awakened as F-rank not enough? Why did they have to kill me too?

Frustration gnawed at my chest. I couldn’t help but grit my teeth, feeling the tension pull at something torn inside. Pain flared.

’Bad idea.’

Kassie’s red brows knitted together, and she glared at me with cold reproach.

"Whatever it is you’re doing, stop." Her voice was soft but edged with frost. "You’re only making your injuries worse. Your breathing, your state of mind — all of it matters for the activities within your body. Right now, you’re hanging by a thin thread. You should do everything to reduce the strain on that thread, not increase it."

I forced myself to take a slow breath. Let it out.

’Fine.’

I leaned up slightly — carefully this time — to look at myself. My body was enveloped by a dark metal sheet that had formed a sleek, smooth, lusterless black armor across my torso and limbs.

’Kassie’s armor?’

I shifted my gaze toward her, surprised.

"Y — you gave me your armor?" My voice came out hoarse. "Why?"

She grimaced, looking away toward the fire.

"Was I supposed to watch you die?"

I looked away from her, silent for a few moments. The fire popped softly in the darkness.

Then I said, with a deliberately casual tone, "I mean... given the fact that you’ve been trying to kill me since day one — since the moment I summoned you — I wouldn’t be too surprised if you’d just left me somewhere to die."

Then again, I remembered and added matter-of-factly, "After all, you stood still and watched me get whooped unfairly... I particularly don’t think my death bothers you. At least you gave me reason not to think so."

A small frown crossed her face by the time I finished talking. To be honest, she looked genuinely confused.

"You said you were in control..."

’What?’

My mouth hung open.

"That’s low."

"What is?"

"It’s really low." I smacked my lips in irritation and pulled my focus from her, staring at the frozen stalactites above. "I never knew you had humor in you."

Her voice came barely a second later — cold and tender as usual, in no hurry to be said.

"I cannot fight your battles for you."

I winced at her because she wasn’t making any sense.

’That’s basically what I summoned you for, you dumbass bitch.’

She frowned darkly.

"I am not like other Spirits. I will fight for you only when you prove you’re worthy of it." Her red eyes held mine. "I will not allow myself to be ruled and controlled by a weakling and a coward."

She paused. Her tone took a softer edge — barely perceptible, but there.

"At first, I thought that was exactly what you were. I was prepared to kill you and return to the Spirit Realm." Something shifted in her expression. "But then... today made me realize you’re not a weakling, and certainly not a coward, at least not one that hides behind power they can’t even wield. Watching you battle tooth and nail for your life made me realize you treasure it dearly. And you will fight to protect it."

I gave her a slightly irritated look.

’Great. A philosophical lecture while I’m bleeding out.’

"Then you should know that if being a coward or a weakling will save my life... I wouldn’t run from it."

Her frown drew tighter again.

"Which makes you a very disturbing person." She studied me like I was some kind of puzzle. "You’re weak, but then you’re strong in unexpected places. You seem not to care, yet you do care deeply. But at the same time, none of these observations can be trusted. You’re quite unpredictable, and it’s... baffling."

She gave me a serious look.

"What kind of life did you live before now?"

"Me?" I shrugged slightly — or tried to. Pain lanced through my shoulder. "I lived hating on anyone and everything while beating my meat to ladies with different skin colors, thick thighs, fat booties, and really massive tits."

I paused for dramatic effect.

"I love... Kassie, I so much love tits!"

With the exclamation, I coughed — and a spill of blood exploded from my throat. My chest tightened. I could feel the wound straining open, tearing at something deep inside even with Kassie’s strange armor wrapped all over me.

’Smooth, Cade. Real smooth.’

She shifted closer, concern flickering across her face. My coat was barely covering her breasts — her nipples were peeking out from behind the fabric, pointy and sharp like the edge of a sword.

’Even dying, I’m a degenerate.’

I tried not to make it obvious that I was stealing glances while she seriously examined my injury. Failed spectacularly, probably.

"At this point, talking itself is a gamble." Her voice was firm. "Remain silent."

I sighed. Was silent for a bit.

But then I thought about the whole thing and asked myself internally:

’What am I waiting around here for... a miracle to happen? Or just to die quietly in this frozen hellhole?’

If I wanted to die, I might as well do it in a flashy way.

After all, it had always been my desire to die while having a spectacular orgasm.