Hours Later—
The door suddenly swung open.
At that very moment, Likath shot out from Rolin's chest, faster than the eye could follow, as if he had never been there in the first place.
Rolin blinked, then lifted his gaze.
Julia.
"…"
He exhaled, voice weary:
"Please… knock before entering next time."
Julia raised one purple eyebrow, her gaze icy.
"You're in a hospital, not some royal suite."
Before he could reply—
A voice emerged from inside his chest.
And then—
A dark crimson flame burst from the tattoo, twisting and stretching in the air… before collapsing into Likath, perched casually at the edge of the bed as if lounging in a fancy salon.
"Woooow…"
He scanned Julia from head to toe.
"…You're… beautiful."
A mischievous grin ignited across his face.
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
—
A heavy silence fell.
So heavy it felt as if the air itself wanted to apologize.
Julia stared.
At Likath.
At Rolin.
Then back at Likath.
"…Are your hallucinations talking now?"
Rolin yelled instantly:
"No! That— I mean— Yes! No! I mean— Damn it!"
He clutched his chest violently.
"Back in! Now!"
Likath turned slowly toward him.
"Why? I was being polite."
"You just asked her if she has a boyfriend!"
"A fair question."
Julia crossed her arms.
"Okay… either this fiery thing is some kind of sexual harasser, or you're hiding a very strange creature inside your chest."
Likath bowed theatrically.
"Likath. Great entity. Embodiment of eternal fire. Naturally handsome."
Then, proudly:
"And attached to this meat sack."
"I'm Rolin!"
Rolin shouted.
"And I'm not a sack!"
Julia closed her eyes for a moment.
"…Fine."
She opened them slowly, calm and sharp.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
Then she gestured at Likath.
"And this… we'll say it's some side magic."
Likath chuckled.
"Denying reality is a natural phase."
Julia stepped closer.
"Does it burn if I hit it?"
Likath's eyes gleamed with delight.
"I love this woman."
"Damn you!"
Rolin grabbed his hair.
"You said you wouldn't show yourself to anyone!"
Likath shrugged.
"I didn't say anyone beautiful."
Rolin's face turned crimson instantly.
"IN! NOW!"
Julia's eyes sparkled with curiosity as she leaned in.
"Rolin… is this… connected to the tattoo?"
He froze. "…Yes."
She looked from the wolf etched on his chest… to Likath.
"…So the mountain… wasn't just a beast."
Likath's grin turned serious, almost unreadable.
"The mountain was only a door."
Silence followed. Even Julia felt it.
Then—
She shook her head.
"Alright. We'll talk about this later."
She fixed Rolin with a serious gaze.
"I have a new offer."
Likath leaned closer, whispering:
"If it involves risk… or death… I'm in."
"Shut up."
"No."
Julia inhaled sharply.
"After what you've done… and what we discovered about you—"
She paused.
"…I want you on my team."
Rolin swallowed. "…Your team?"
She smiled like a seasoned adventurer.
"Level 5 adventures don't run alone."
Likath smirked slowly.
"Ah… upgrades."
Then, in Rolin's ear:
"Say yes. I have a feeling it'll be fun in there."
Rolin shivered at the whisper.
…Fun enough to break swords.
He lifted his gaze.
"…I'll think about it."
Julia smiled.
"Good."
She turned to leave.
Before she reached the door—
Likath waved at her.
"By the way…"
A fiery grin spread across his face.
"My question still stands."
Julia slammed the door shut.
Rolin glared at Likath, murderous.
"…I'll bury you in my chest and keep you there."
Likath laughed.
"Try me."
But deep down—
Something had begun to stir.
---
Two Days Later—
The sky was overcast, heavy gray clouds hanging over the garden like the heavens couldn't decide on their mood.
Rolin sat on a wooden bench, staring at the trees swaying lazily in the cold wind.
Over the past two days…
He had discovered something new. Something extremely annoying about Likath:
Likath could speak outside his chest whenever he pleased.
Without permission.
Without warning.
Always at the worst possible moment.
"I still say lighting this place on fire was an excellent idea."
A voice whispered from inside his chest.
Rolin tugged his coat tighter.
"Shut up."
"The gloomy weather calls for some flames."
"I said shut up."
—
Julia approached. This time, wearing heavier clothes: a dark coat, sturdy boots for rough terrain, leather gloves. She looked… prepared.
She sat quietly beside him.
"…"
Seconds passed. Then she spoke:
"Have you decided?"
Rolin looked straight ahead.
"Yes."
Her violet eyes locked on his.
"So?"
He opened his mouth to answer—
But before a word came out—
"Not interested, witch woman."
The voice came from inside his chest. Deep. Confident. Provocative.
"…What."
Julia's voice was slow.
Rolin froze.
"I didn't— I mean, that wasn't me!!"
"You were."
"No! I swear! This—"
"I am."
The voice declared proudly:
"Likath. Great entity. Official spokesperson for all life-changing decisions."
Julia tilted her head.
"…Your chest talks now?"
Rolin buried his face in his hands.
"I'm sorry… it—"
"We're not sorry."
"Shut UP!!"
"No."
Julia crossed her arms.
"Well… this is new."
Then she looked straight at his chest.
"And why don't you want to join me?"
Silence stretched.
"Because it's dangerous."
Likath's tone suddenly turned serious.
"Powerful. Smart. Beautiful."
Rolin tensed.
"That… isn't a reason!"
"It's an excellent reason."
He continued, whispering in her ear:
"Joining her means fights. Fights mean swords. And swords—"
He paused. His tone darkened.
"…A big deal."
Julia stared at Rolin with precision.
"Seems your fiery friend knows more than he lets on."
Rolin exhaled.
"He… worries more than he should."
"I'm cautious."
"You're rude."
"And you're a fragile meat sack."
Rolin pounded his chest.
"STOP!"
Julia laughed. Short, genuine.
"Alright… I didn't expect this, but—"
She stood.
"The offer still stands."
Then she fixed her gaze on Rolin, not Likath.
"I want you."
Silence.
The wind blew through the trees.
Likath stayed quiet. For the first time—
He didn't object.
Rolin closed his eyes for a moment.
He remembered the mountain. The darkness. The voice. The promise.
He opened them.
"…I accept."
"Huh?!"
Likath erupted.
"Wait! We didn't vote!"
Rolin smiled faintly.
"It's time to break swords."
Julia exhaled.
"Then… get ready."
As she turned to leave—
"…I'll burn the first sword I see," came Likath's whisper from inside.
Rolin grinned.
"Knew you'd be excited."
The clouds above began to shift slowly.
Something… was starting to take shape.
Julia's voice was calm, decisive, with no trace of hesitation:
"I really don't understand your swords… and I think—"
She stared directly at him.
"—you don't either."
Rolin froze. The air suddenly felt heavier, even Likath stayed silent.
"…After thinking it through… I don't think you're suitable for my team."
"…?"
Rolin opened his mouth, then closed it. Before he could argue, she added:
"Instead—
I'm sending you to Lukarina University."
Silence. Even the wind seemed to pause in respect for the name.
From inside his chest—
"…Huh?"
"…University?"
Rolin blinked.
"Wait… what?"
Lukarina.
The name alone could make any adventurer gulp.
The oldest magical university on the continent.
A place for the elite… or… the extremely unusual.
"…You're joking."
Julia raised an eyebrow.
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
He opened his mouth. Closed it. Then muttered:
"I barely survived the mountain… and I have—"
He tapped his chest.
"—a talking problem."
"I'm not a problem."
"I'm a masterpiece."
Julia ignored him entirely.
"Exactly why."
She stepped closer.
"You're unstable, unpredictable, and you have something inside you I don't understand…
Which makes putting you on my team risky."
Then she smiled faintly, cunningly.
"But the university?
The university loves this kind of problem."
"…Sending me to a place full of professors?"
"Labs."
"…Genius students?"
"And things that could explode."
Rolin fell silent. Then—
"…I agree."
He said it faster than expected.
Julia raised an eyebrow this time.
"That easy?"
Rolin exhaled deeply.
If he was going to understand what excited him…
Or what was inside him…
He needed a place where questions could be asked.
Questions he had no answers for.
From inside him—
"…Hmph."
Likath muttered:
"…Lukarina University… a place full of bookish deceivers."
Rolin smiled faintly.
"Don't you love challenges?"
Likath paused. Then—
"…I'll burn the first professor who annoys me."
Julia laughed.
"Relax… they'll try to burn you first."
She handed him a sealed paper, stamped with an ancient crest.
"Report in a week."
Then she turned to leave.
Before she went, she didn't even look back:
"Rolin…
Don't try to understand everything right now.
Lukarina will do it for you… in its own way."
She left him there.
The clouds slowly began to part.
Rolin stared at the paper.
"…University."
From inside him—
"…Damn."
"…Feels worse than the mountain."