Hours later, the room was quiet. The golden light of late afternoon spilled through the curtains, painting soft shadows across the tangled sheets. The wine bottle Morgan had bought earlier sat half-empty on the bedside table, its rich scent still lingering in the air.
Kousuke lay on his back, one arm draped behind his head, his breathing calm and steady. Beside him, Morgan rested against his chest, her pale hair cascading over his shoulder like silken threads. Her usual confidence had softened into quiet contentment, her fingers tracing idle circles on his skin.
"For someone who used to swing a sword against the demons without mercy," she murmured, her voice lazy and warm, "you're surprisingly gentle when you want to be."
Kousuke chuckled softly, patting her head. "I aim to please~." Then, with a stretch, he sat up and glanced around at the mess scattered on the floor, it was their clothes. One by one, he picked them up and began dressing.
"We should head out. Wouldn't want to miss the beautiful sunset, would you?" he said, leaning down to place a gentle kiss on her forehead. Morgan groaned softly before sitting up to dress as well. There was still a lingering scent of passion in the air, but nothing a strong perfume couldn't mask. Moments later, the two stepped out of the hotel and entered the Grab Kousuke had ordered in the elevator.
"The Hill of Yaila Café, please," Kousuke said. The driver nodded with a knowing grin before pulling away.
The ride took about fifteen minutes before stopping near Love Valley Trail. From there, Kousuke and Morgan took a leisurely walk up the hill and when they reached the top, both stopped dead in their tracks. The view was simply breathtaking.
The hill of Yaila Café basked in the tender glow of sunset, the world below painted in hues of amber and rose. From where they stood, the land stretched endlessly, valleys of pale stone and golden grass bathed in the warm embrace of evening light. Rugged cliffs framed the horizon, and dozens of hot air balloons floated gracefully across the fading sky. Their vibrant colors glowed like drifting jewels against the pastel expanse—crimson, violet, and gold melting together into something unreal.
The air carried the faint hiss of burners and the earthy scent of dry wind. The whole scene felt suspended between worlds, too beautiful to be real. At least by average standard.
"...Woah, what an insane view," Kousuke muttered honestly. His arm subconsciously wrapped around Morgan's waist, pulling her close. She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder as her arm circled his waist. For a moment, neither spoke. The peace was almost sacred.
That peace, however, was short-lived.
Kousuke's expression darkened as he sensed unwanted company approaching. A moment later, Morgan felt it too. They turned at the same time to see a group approaching, a haughty blonde man at the lead, surrounded by his followers. His very presence seemed to make the nearby tourists step aside, clearing a path as though nature itself recoiled.
The man stopped before them, a condescending smile tugging at his lips. Every gesture screamed arrogance, the kind that came from believing himself untouchable.
"So you're the human causing all the commotion lately?" he said, voice dripping with disdain. "You don't look like much. I can't believe my God actually told me to come here." He sighed dramatically. "I was having such a pleasant time surrounded by beautiful women, yet here I am, forced to talk to a mere mortal. How pathetic."
Then his eyes landed on Morgan.
"Oh? And who might this divine creature be?" His smirk widened as his gaze shamelessly traveled over her form. "Why don't you come with me, beauty? I'll gladly show you the finer pleasures of the divine in somewhere quiet, where our bodies can... get well acquainted, if you know what I mean hehe~"
Morgan's expression didn't change, but the air around her grew cold. The playful warmth from moments ago evaporated, replaced by a quiet, icy malice. A faint grey mist began to form around her fingers.
"...Who are you supposed to be?" she asked, her tone low and dangerous. But none of the people before her understood the danger they put themselves into.
One of the man's followers stepped forward proudly. "You stand in the presence of Tyrone Allstar, the great Demigod blessed by the divine hand of Lord Apollo himself!"
Tyrone chuckled smugly, clearly enjoying the introduction. "You should be honored, woman. Not everyone gets my attention. If you behave, I might even—"
"A demigod?" Morgan interrupted, her voice cutting through his words like a blade. Her eyes glowed faintly beneath the fading sun. "A mere puppet of a god dares to interrupt my honeymoon?"
The mist around her hand thickened, curling like living smoke. The ground beneath her feet began to frost over.
"Scram," she said coldly, "before I lose my patience."
Tyrone blinked, taken aback by the pressure radiating from her. But then, his pride twisted it into anger. "You dare?! You insolent mortal witch!"
He extended his hand, summoning a golden bow of light, its brilliance echoing divine power. The tourists who remained nearby screamed and scattered, but before he could even aim—
A hand rested on his shoulder.
Kousuke was suddenly standing beside him, smiling faintly. "Hey, mind keeping the god complex to yourself? I'm on vacation here. If you wanted to play around, go to a circus or something. At least you'll get paid there."
Before Tyrone could react, Kousuke flicked his finger against the demigod's chest. The sound was soft, barely more than a tap. Yet he had no time to resist, and the result was immediate.
A shockwave rippled outward, shattering the ground beneath Tyrone's feet and launching him several meters back. He crashed into the dirt, coughing violently, his divine aura flaring and flickering like a candle in the wind. His followers froze in horror. It didn't turn out the way they expected. They knew the human before them was strong, but it seemed they had underestimated him, severely at that.
Kousuke dusted his hand off and sighed. "You should be glad I stepped forward. I'm still in a good mood."
Morgan's lips curled into a satisfied smirk as she hugged him from behind, her chin resting on his shoulder. "How merciful of you, dear husband. If it were me, he'd be missing a limb or two~"
"I thought about it as well, but it's not worth the effort," he replied calmly, as if saying he could easily crush Tyrone, a demigod like him if he wanted to. His casual attitude made the followers believes he didn't truly fear angering the gods backing Tyrone. No, he seems even eager to make it happen judging by the mischievous grin on his face.