“Here. Aaah, open up.”
“Oh… it’s okay. I can eat this by myself.”
“What are you talking about? It’s my job to take care of my sick woman. Of course, I have to do at least this much. Hurry up, ah~.”
Bahamut held a bowl of porridge and tried to feed Ophelia.
Ophelia blushed, unsure of what to do. Bahamut slowly brought the spoon to her lips, observing her flustered and adorable expression.
Ophelia lowered her head, chewing and swallowing the food. However, she felt so embarrassed that she couldn’t tell if the porridge was going down her throat or into her nose.
After setting the bowl aside, Bahamut carefully inspected her hand once more.
“How is it? The doctor said it would heal quickly with mana, but I was still worried.”
“It’s much better. It will just take a little more time to fully recover.”
“I did it to protect you, Master. An injury like this is a small price to pay.”
“Don’t say that.” Bahamut’s voice became firm.
He grasped Ophelia’s hand tightly, his gaze locked with hers. “Did you forget? Before you are my sword, you are the woman I love. How do you think I would feel if something serious happened to you?”
“Ah…” Ophelia’s cheeks flushed at his words.
Seeing her reaction, Bahamut gently wrapped his arms around her. “I’ve told you this many times—appreciate yourself a little more. If you get hurt, it hurts me too.”
“Master…”
Hearing such heartfelt words made Ophelia feel overwhelmed with happiness.
Bahamut gazed into her eyes, leaned in slowly, and k!ssed her softly.
Her lips were warm and moist. Bahamut soon felt her t0ngue timidly slide into his mouth. In battle, Ophelia was fearless with her sword, but now, she showed a delicate hesitation.
A smile tugged at the corners of Bahamut’s mouth as he teased her t0ngue with his own. It tasted sweet, carrying a subtle fragrance. Her t0ngue trembled slightly before entwining with his, like a small snake coiling around its prey.
The intensity between them grew as they shared the moment, their emotions igniting like fire. Bahamut’s hand slowly trailed down to her mounds, caressing them gently.
“Ah… hah…” Ophelia gasped, pleasure evident in her voice.
Bahamut felt a deep desire to take things further, but he restrained himself. Her injury wasn’t fully healed yet, and he couldn’t risk causing her more harm.
Reluctantly, Bahamut pulled away, his breath heavy with regret.
Ophelia, equally reluctant, wiped the corners of his mouth with delicate fingers, savoring the lingering warmth of their k!ss.
‘I need to recover as soon as possible…’ Ophelia thought as she gazed at Bahamut, who smiled warmly at her.
His voice was tender as he spoke, “Thank you, Ophelia. It was a dangerous task, but thanks to you, everything ended without major trouble. I promise to reward you properly in the future.”
“Yes, Master. I’m looking forward to it,” she replied with a blush and a soft smile.
***
After spending sweet moments with the woman he cherished, Bahamut left Ophelia’s room and headed to a separate chamber.
The restoration work following the attack by the White Dragon Princess was still in progress. However, the guesthouse owned by the Uranus Merchant Guild, situated on the outskirts of the city, was quieter than most places—a perfect spot for rest and discreet conversations.
Seated comfortably, Bahamut glanced at Ashbel, who stood before him.
“You worked hard. There were no issues with the last food supply, right?”
“No, Master. We even secured a generous profit while taking care of it.”
“Excellent. With that, our role in this war is almost complete.”
“Yes, sir.”
They exchanged subtle smiles—cool and calculated, far from the affectionate expression Bahamut had shown Ophelia earlier.
“How much did we loan this time?”
“Two million talets to the Kingdom of Hangury, five million to the Kingdom of Frank, four million to the combined kingdoms of the Kalmar Alliance and Roland, and six million to the Holy Empire.”
“This is… quite a significant sum.”
“Yes. If it hadn’t been for the Uranus Merchant Company’s support, it would have been impossible.”
The vast fortune accumulated through ventures such as the Eastern Trade had been poured into these efforts. Although Bertina avoided incurring excessive debt by paying off large portions, the guild’s funds were almost depleted, creating operational difficulties.
The predicted disaster—where the Tarkic Empire would have destroyed Hangury and engulfed the continent in chaos—had been narrowly avoided. However, the financial cost had been staggering.
‘I knew we’d need the money, but I didn’t expect to burn through it all in just a few months,’ Bahamut mused.
Despite the loss, he felt no regret. It wasn’t just about saving his own life and those around him; the money hadn’t disappeared—it had been loaned out.
And the recipients weren’t bankrupt businesses; they were monarchs of powerful nations. This meant the investment was safe, with multiple ways to reclaim it.
‘Retrieving money from those in power isn’t always about cash,’ Bahamut thought with a sly grin.
Even if some nations faced financial difficulties, or worse, collapsed, the Beden Merchant Company could still benefit. Power granted control over a nation’s systems, and debt was a perfect leash for those in authority.
Depending on future circumstances, the company could even acquire state rights and privileges. In the long run, the rewards would far outweigh the temporary setbacks.
‘Let’s try to secure the agricultural trade rights from the Kingdom of Frank. If nothing else, acquiring control over their medicinal products would be ideal…’
Relief and anticipation filled Bahamut’s heart as he imagined the rewards waiting for him after the storm settled.
Of course, there was still work to be done.
Goblin: the last sponsored chapter, 4 of 4.
Book Release: I recently listed a collection of my poems titled “Thought Blinks: A Collection of Poems” on Patreon and BuyMeaCoffee shop. You can buy it for only $7, if you like poetry.