CHAPTER 87: CAN I HAVE ONE MORE WISH?

Still, Mika’s exhaustion didn’t linger. It only lasted for a few seconds before the faint pallor in his face vanished completely, his skin regaining its usual healthy glow.

That was only natural, his mana didn’t stay drained for long. The instant he used up every last drop producing that spell, his body simply replenished it again, endlessly and effortlessly.

A body that could produce mana on its own...That was something no one else in this world could even dream of having.

And, of course, there was also Mina, currently hugging him so tightly that it almost felt like she was trying to press every ounce of her warmth into his body to restore him.

It was working...Not because she has some healing ability, but because her embrace carried a kind of comfort that mana alone couldn’t replicate.

The only problem was...she was hugging him too tightly. So tightly it felt like she feared he would vanish into thin air the moment she let go.

Mika looked down at the top of her head, strands of her hair tickling his chin, and slowly lifted one hand to rub her hair.

"It’s alright now." He said softly, his voice almost like a whisper meant just for her. "It’s alright...I’m completely fine, Mina."

He stepped back slightly, raising both arms in a display of strength before flashing her a reassuring grin.

"See? Look at me, I’m perfectly fine. I’m strong. Not even close to breaking. So it’s fine to let go now."

But Mina didn’t move. She only tightened her hold for a moment, before finally speaking in a trembling voice.

"...It’s all because of me."

She said, glancing down at with a guilty tone in her voice

"I gave you such a big wish, Mika...I shouldn’t have done it. I didn’t know it would cost you so much...If I did, I-I wouldn’t have asked you to do such a thing, no matter the situation my village was in."

Her lips pressed together as her eyes shimmered, looking ready to tear up and seeing this Mika couldn’t help it, he smirked.

Not out of mockery, but because the sight was almost unbearably adorable. She genuinely thought she had caused him all this trouble, that she was somehow guilty.

"Just who do you think you are?" He said suddenly, his smirk widening.

"Huh?" Her head jerked up, startled.

"I...." He said, tapping her forehead lightly. "...am someone chosen by your god herself. So, do you honestly think..." He let out a low chuckle. "...that a few little wishes from you could actually make me ill?"

"I—"

"That’s absolutely preposterous." He continued, drawing the word out with theatrical exaggeration. "Honestly, I’m a little insulted you’d even think that."

She stared at him, lips parted, eyes still searching his face.

"...Really? My wishes didn’t...affect you at all?"

"Of course not."

He said without hesitation, his grin turning playful.

"In fact..." He tapped his chin as though thinking deeply. "The only way your wish affected me was because it was too boring."

Mina blinked. "Boring?"

"Yeah." He said, leaning closer with mock seriousness. "I was expecting something big, something impossible. Something that’d make me break a sweat. But you gave me something so easy it was almost disappointing."

He said it in such an exaggerated, teasing manner that Mina couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, though she was clearly relieved, too.

And seeing his color had fully returned, she finally, slowly, loosened her grip and stepped back. She wiped at the corners of her eyes with the heel of her hand.

"That’s...good. That’s really good. I’m glad nothing bad happened to you, Mika."

"That makes two of us." Mika said with a faint smile.

But as he looked at her, something caught his attention. He crouched slightly, his gaze dropping to her dress.

"Now look at you..." He muttered.

"What?" She asked, puzzled.

"You took care of the whole village. Fixed every house, gave everyone new clothes..." He tugged lightly at the fabric of her sleeve. "...and you completely forgot about yourself."

She glanced down, and only now seemed to notice. Her dress was still the same worn, patched thing she’d been wearing before.

"Oh, that." She said with a small smile. "I don’t mind. Really. As long as everyone else has new clothes, I’m happy with these."

"Well, there’s no way I’m leaving it like that." Mika said flatly.

Before she could protest, he lifted his hand. A soft, bright white glow enveloped her, spreading from head to toe.

The old fabric shimmered, warped, and transformed into a stunning princess gown, rich fabric, intricate embroidery, and a jeweled tiara resting lightly in her hair.

When the glow faded, Mina gasped, her eyes wide.

"How’s that?" Mika asked, clearly expecting her to be delighted. "Do you like it?"

She blinked at him, then...smiled sheepishly.

"Actually...it’d be better if it was something easier to move in."

Mika’s brow lifted. "Easier to move in?"

"I’m from a hunter’s family." She explained. "I’m used to running through the forest. A princess dress like this is..." She gave a little shrug. "Not very practical."

For a moment, Mika was genuinely taken aback, then he chuckled, shaking his head.

"Practical, huh?...Fine. I can work with that."

With another wave of his hand, the gown dissolved into a new outfit, this one a sleek, formal skirt paired with fitted, stylish boots and a tunic-like top.

It still looked beautiful, but the cut and design made it perfect for movement, almost as if it had been tailored for both elegance and battle.

Mina’s eyes lit up. "Now this...this I really like!"

She then ran forward and wrapped her arms around him again.

"Thank you, Mika! Thank you so much, for everything you’ve done...I don’t know what would’ve happened to the village if you hadn’t come!"

Mika hugged her back casually.

"It’s nothing. Just a transaction between you and me. Both sides benefited." He glanced at the villagers gathering around them. "I got a treasure...and also the smiles of you and your people. That’s more than enough."

Mina’s smile softened at his words, and she hugged him tighter. But then...something flickered across her face. A shy, almost mischievous look.

She pulled back slightly, fidgeting. "Um...actually." She began in a voice that was both timid and cheeky. "I’ve granted so many wishes for the village...and I was wondering if maybe...I could have one more wish myself?"

Mika raised a brow. "You know...if you said that to anyone else, they’d say no immediately. One minute of unlimited wishes is already ridiculous."

"I know." She said, smiling sweetly.

"But..." He sighed dramatically. "Since you’re cute, I’ll allow it. What do you want?"

He expected her to ask for some kind of magical item, maybe a divine ability for herself.

Instead, she gave him a sly look that made him feel like he’d walked into a trap.

"Well, as embarrassing as it is, ever since you came here." She said with a cheeky gaze. "I noticed you have quite a handsome face."

"...huh?"

"It’s not blue like the rest of my people, but it’s still really cute." She continued without missing a beat. "And...I think it would be fun to tell my friends that I got a kiss from such a handsome boy."

"...So, that’s why I want you to give me a kiss on the cheek, Mika!" She declared with a bright look in her mischievous eyes and showed off her cheek

"Y-You’re joking." Mika stared at her in disbelief. "This is a joke, right?"

But Mina just smiled and pointed to her cheek expectantly. And seeing that reasoning with her wasn’t going to work out since she was dead set in getting that kiss, he looked at the villagers for help.

"Come on, tell her to change her wish! She could have asked for anything, anything, and she picks this? Don’t you think she’s wasting it!"

He thought that they would agree with him. But to his shock, the village head, her parents, and even the children were all grinning knowingly.

Not one of them said a word to stop her and Mika groaned internally.

And seeing everyone’s expectant looks, and Mina’s eager, waiting expression, he knew he had no way out. So with his cheeks flushed faintly for being forced into this situation, he leaned down and gave her a quick, gentle peck on the cheek.

"Kiss!♡~"

The moment he pulled back, Mina’s face lit up with a giddy, almost triumphant smile. She giggled softly, cheeks glowing, and clasped her hands together.

The villagers also broke into warm smiles at the sight, and despite himself...Mika found that he was smiling too.

Reluctantly, yes, but smiling nonetheless.

Mina, however, despite being bold enough to actually ask for the kiss, clearly hadn’t thought through the aftermath.

The moment Mika’s lips had brushed her cheek, her face went scarlet, her breath caught, and she let out the tiniest squeak before quickly covering her face with both hands. She half-turned away from him, her movements awkward and stiff, before scurrying toward her mother like a startled deer.

Her mother, already smiling knowingly, crouched down to receive her. Mina practically dove into her arms, and the older woman wrapped her in a warm, protective hug. She bent low, whispering something soft into her daughter’s ear.

Mina’s head bobbed in a shy little nod, and even as she tried to hide behind her mother’s shoulder, she kept sneaking hesitant glances at Mika, peeking out for only a second before looking away again.

Mika chuckled under his breath, shaking his head. ’Yeah...She’s definitely a kid.’ He thought with an amused smirk.

His smile then faded into something more thoughtful as he straightened and turned toward Meldor, the village head.

"I’ve got a question." Mika said, his tone casual but his eyes sharp. "Do you know about the fact that the area around this village is actually pretty safe? No cursed beings wandering here at all."

"In fact, it’s only beyond the outskirts, just past that safe ring, where the cursed things are packed so thick you could walk across their backs without touching the ground."

Meldor’s expression grew serious, and then he gave a slow, respectful nod.

"Most definitely, Chosen One." The elder replied. "A millennium ago, this realm, vast as it is, was home to countless villages and cities. This place was merely one among many. But then...disaster struck."

"A great infestation of cursed beings swept over the land, devouring everything in its path. Entire kingdoms vanished. All believed that humanity was doomed to extinction beneath those horrors."

He paused, lowering his voice with reverence.

"But miraculously...for some reason, the cursed beings could not approach our village. They simply...stopped. As though something invisible barred their way."

"We have long believed this to be the blessing of Lady Elna herself, divine protection over her faithful people."

Mika’s brow furrowed slightly, hearing this.

"So..." He said slowly. "If you know this area is safe, why are hunters going out into the parts that aren’t? You’ve lost people because of it. You could just stay inside the safe zone and avoid trouble entirely."

Meldor gave a small, rueful smile.

"That is what we have done...for centuries. We stayed within the borders of our sanctuary, and for a long while, it worked...But recently, things have changed."

"The resources here are dwindling. The beasts we hunted for food have all but vanished. The water runs thinner each year, the soil grows tired, the trees wither. This blessed land...is slowly dying."

"That is why our hunters have been venturing further and further into the dangerous territories beyond. And...that is why so many have fallen."

The murmurs among the gathered villagers grew somber at those words. Faces that had been glowing with joy moments ago now held a shadow of worry.

Mika crossed his arms. "Then you also know why Mina asked for improvements to the land, the soil, the water."

"Indeed. It was a wise wish." Meldor nodded gravely.

"Then, do you know why the cursed beings can’t come here?" Mika tilted his head slightly, studying the man. "What exactly is keeping them out?"

Meldor straightened with quiet conviction.

"It is the blessing of Lady Elna, Chosen One. This is a holy land, blessed soil given by her upon which no cursed being may tread."

"You really believe that?" One of Mika’s eyebrows rose. "And it’s got nothing to do with...oh, I don’t know...the artifact you keep locked away?"

The village head let out a short, dismissive laugh.

"Ah, that old thing. Yes, it is an ancient relic, and our ancestors said it was powerful, but to think it alone could keep back the cursed legions?...Impossible."

"No mere object could accomplish such a feat. Lady Elna’s will is what shields us, nothing else and that’s what been told by our ancestors for ages now and why we’re so devoted to her as without her we would have a long been annihilated."

He spoke with such simple, unshakable faith that it was almost endearing....Almost.

But Mika knew better. Meldor’s belief was ignorance, harmless in some ways, dangerous in others.

But the truth was far more startling: it wasn’t the land itself keeping the cursed beings at bay.

It was the artifact.

A true primordial relic from the earliest ages. The cursed beings stayed away not because of divine grace...but because the artifact terrified them.

And that made Mika wonder.

’If I took it away.’ He thought. ’Would this entire village be overrun within a day?’

The smiles he saw now would be gone, replaced by screaming and desperate cries for help as the cursed beasts tore through the streets. The laughter of the children would vanish into shrieks of terror.

Mina who was right now chattering excitedly to her friends about the kiss, her face glowing with joy, wouldn’t be the same girl anymore.

In that scenario, she wouldn’t have even a moment to comprehend what was happening before she was swallowed whole, her life snuffed out in seconds the instant he left.

The thought made his lips tighten until his teeth ground together.

Just what was the will of the world playing at?

Did it already know he was going to wipe out the cursed things nearby, and so it saw no need to shield this place?

Was this all some calculated indifference?

Or...did it not give a damn about the village at all, simply wanting him to take the already doomed away without a second thought?

No matter how he thought about it, he just couldn’t figure out this presence that was always looming over him and dragging him all over the place in the middle of the night...