Chapter 17
The reunion brought a rare sense of relief.
For the first time since entering the mountain, they were no longer alone.
The six investigators gathered near one of the enormous stone pillars, where the silver light was brightest. Weapons were laid within easy reach, waterskins were refilled, and the remaining food was divided carefully between everyone.
No one knew when they would find another chance to rest.
One of the investigators looked around the silent royal tomb.
“We should stop here for a few hours.”
Another nodded.
“We’ve all been walking for far too long.”
Kyrth looked at the others before finally agreeing.
“We’ll rest in shifts. Two people stay awake while the others sleep.”
No one objected.
The arrangement was simple.
Necessary.
Everyone immediately began preparing a small resting area using their cloaks and packs.
Saeroyx quietly watched Kyrth spread his cloak across the smooth stone floor.
Without a word, he walked over and dropped his own pack beside it.
Kyrth looked up.
“…What are you doing?”
“Sleeping.”
“There is plenty of space over there.”
“I know.”
Saeroyx continued arranging his blanket directly beside Kyrth’s.
“I prefer this place.”
Kyrth raised an eyebrow.
“You’ve become unusually attached.”
“I nearly died.”
“You’ve nearly died several times.”
“Exactly.”
Saeroyx looked completely unconcerned.
“I’ve decided life is too short to sleep far away.”
One of the investigators coughed awkwardly, pretending not to listen.
Another quietly hid a smile.
Kyrth noticed both of them.
“…You’re making this awkward.”
“I am?”
“Yes.”
Saeroyx looked around innocently.
“I only said I wanted to sleep beside my partner.”
“We’re partners in the investigation.”
“That’s still a partner.”
Kyrth sighed.
“…Convenient wording.”
“It is.”
Without waiting for permission, Saeroyx sat down beside Kyrth, leaving barely enough space between them for the edge of their cloaks.
The little black puppy circled twice before curling up exactly between the two of them.
Saeroyx laughed softly.
“It seems we’ve been assigned a guard.”
The puppy gave a content little huff without opening its eyes.
One of the investigators glanced at the scene before quietly whispering to another,
“I don’t think that puppy is guarding them.”
“It looks more like it’s making sure they don’t wander apart.”
The other investigator nodded in complete agreement.
Kyrth heard every word.
He chose not to respond.
Instead, he leaned back against the ancient pillar and closed his eyes.
A few moments later…
He felt a gentle weight settle against his shoulder.
Without opening his eyes, he already knew who it was.
“…Comfortable?”
Saeroyx’s voice came, quiet enough that only Kyrth could hear.
“Very.”
“You really don’t intend to move.”
“No.”
“And if I push you away?”
“I’ll probably come back.”
Kyrth let out a quiet breath that sounded suspiciously like a defeated laugh.
“…You’re troublesome.”
“So you’ve told me.”
Neither of them spoke again.
The puppy slept peacefully between them.
Around them, the other investigators gradually drifted into exhausted sleep.
Above them, twenty-one ancient kings rested in eternal silence.
And deep within the forgotten royal tomb…
The mountain watched its unexpected guests with endless patience.
The royal tomb gradually settled into silence.
Most of the investigators had already fallen asleep, their exhaustion finally overtaking them after everything they had endured beneath the mountain.
Only the silver veins running through the walls continued to pulse softly.
Kyrth leaned against one of the ancient pillars, his eyes still open.
Beside him, Saeroyx rested comfortably with the little black puppy curled between them.
After several quiet minutes, Kyrth finally spoke.
“…I’ve been wondering something.”
Saeroyx opened one eye.
“Hm?”
“When all of this is over…”
“…where are you going?”
Saeroyx thought for a moment before answering.
“Home.”
Kyrth smiled faintly.
“I gathered that.”
“But where exactly is home?”
Saeroyx stared at the glowing ceiling.
His expression became distant.
“I don’t really remember its name.”
Kyrth looked at him.
“You forgot your own planet’s name?”
“I told you my memory isn’t reliable.”
He smiled helplessly.
“I remember pieces.”
“What kind of pieces?”
Saeroyx closed his eyes.
“I remember deserts.”
“An endless sea of golden sand.”
“I remember enormous mines cutting deep into the ground.”
“The sound of drills.”
“The smell of heated metal.”
“The entire settlement lived because of the ores beneath the desert.”
He chuckled softly.
“I spent more time covered in dust than I ever did clean.”
Kyrth listened quietly.
When Saeroyx finished, he rubbed his forehead.
“…You’ve just described at least ten inhabited planets.”
Saeroyx blinked.
“I did?”
Kyrth nodded.
“Mining colonies are common throughout Rytheris.”
“Several planets have desert continents rich in rare ores.”
“Some are known almost entirely for mining.”
He looked at Saeroyx with an amused expression.
“If that’s all you remember…”
“…how am I supposed to find you after we leave here?”
Saeroyx was silent.
Then he laughed.
“I hadn’t thought that far.”
“You should.”
Kyrth folded his arms.
“I’d rather not spend years visiting every desert mine in the galaxy because you forgot your own address.”
Saeroyx smiled mischievously.
“Then you’ll have to keep me with you.”
Kyrth gave him a flat look.
“That sounds suspiciously like your solution to everything.”
“It usually works.”
Kyrth shook his head, unable to suppress a small smile.
“…You’re unbelievable.”
Saeroyx looked at him for a moment before speaking more quietly.
“If we get separated…”
“…I’ll remember one thing.”
“What?”
“I’ll remember you.”
The teasing had disappeared from his voice.
The words were simple.
Honest.
Kyrth held his gaze for a brief moment before looking away.
“…Then don’t make me search half the galaxy.”
Saeroyx’s smile returned, softer this time.
“I’ll do my best.”
The silence settled again, warm and heavy with sleep.
As they began to drift, Saeroyx shifted closer without warning, sliding until his body was pressed against Kyrth’s side. Then, with deliberate slowness, he tucked his face into the curve of Kyrth’s neck, his breath warm against the skin there.
Kyrth went still.
Saeroyx’s voice came out low and teasing, almost drowsy.
“Then why wouldn’t you want to marry me?”
Kyrth stared at him, caught completely off guard.
“…What?”
Saeroyx only smiled against his neck, clearly pleased with himself.
The little black puppy between them let out a tiny huff, as if it had heard enough nonsense for one night, and curled tighter into the warmth.
Kyrth exhaled slowly, trying and failing to hide the flush rising to his face.
“You can’t just ask that like it’s nothing.”
Saeroyx’s smile deepened.
“I can if I mean it.”
For a moment, Kyrth had no answer.
Then, very quietly, he looked down at the man still hiding his face against him and said, “…You’re impossible.”
Saeroyx only hummed in satisfaction, content to stay exactly where he was.
Saeroyx remained comfortably nestled against Kyrth’s neck.
For several quiet heartbeats, neither of them spoke.
Then…
Saeroyx slowly lifted his head.
His amber eyes met Kyrth’s.
The usual teasing smile was gone.
Instead, there was an unexpectedly bright expression on his face—his eyes sparkling with genuine excitement, carrying an innocent eagerness that Kyrth had never seen before.
It caught him completely off guard.
Saeroyx tilted his head slightly.
“…Kyrth?”
“Hm?”
A hopeful smile spread across Saeroyx’s face.
“So…”
He leaned just a little closer.
“…please marry me.”
The words were spoken so naturally that they almost sounded like he was asking Kyrth to pass him a blanket.
Kyrth’s mind went utterly blank.
“…What?”
Saeroyx blinked innocently.
“I said—”
“I heard what you said.”
Kyrth interrupted immediately.
“I’m questioning why you said it.”
Saeroyx rested his chin lightly on Kyrth’s shoulder, looking genuinely puzzled.
“Because if I can’t remember where home is…”
“…and you don’t know how to find me…”
“…then marrying you sounds like the easiest solution.”
He smiled as though he had just solved an incredibly difficult puzzle.
“I won’t get lost.”
“And neither will you.”
Kyrth stared at him.
For once…
The brilliant investigator who could decipher forgotten languages and unravel ancient mysteries found himself completely unable to respond.
After several long seconds, he finally managed,
“…That…”
“…is the most ridiculous proposal I’ve ever heard.”
Saeroyx’s hopeful expression drooped ever so slightly.
“So that’s a no?”
Kyrth rubbed a hand over his face, trying to hide the faint warmth creeping into his cheeks.
“I didn’t say that.”
Saeroyx’s eyes brightened immediately.
“You didn’t?”
“I said it was ridiculous.”
“…Not impossible.”
A slow smile returned to Saeroyx’s face, softer than before.
“I’ll take that as progress.”
Kyrth let out a quiet, defeated sigh.
“…Go to sleep.”
Saeroyx happily settled back against his shoulder.
“Good night… future husband.”
Kyrth closed his eyes.
“…Sleep.”
Saeroyx settled comfortably against Kyrth’s shoulder, the hopeful smile still lingering on his face.
For a while, the silence returned.
Kyrth thought the conversation was finally over.
Then he let out a quiet sigh.
“…Fine.”
Saeroyx immediately looked up.
“Hm?”
Kyrth’s expression remained as composed as ever, though there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
“If you truly intend to ask me that one day…”
“…then you’ll have to earn the right.”
Saeroyx blinked curiously.
“How?”
Kyrth looked directly into his eyes.
“When all of this is over…”
“…go back to your home.”
“Remember its name.”
“Remember who you are.”
“And then…”
He paused for a heartbeat.
“…come and find me.”
Saeroyx listened without interrupting.
Kyrth continued in the same calm voice.
“If your memory is really as terrible as you claim…”
“…don’t forget me.”
“Don’t lose yourself.”
“And don’t spend years wandering the galaxy because you couldn’t remember where to go.”
A faint smile appeared on Kyrth’s lips.
“If you can still remember me after all that…”
“…then come find me.”
Saeroyx’s amber eyes sparkled.
“…Really?”
Kyrth nodded once.
“But…”
He deliberately allowed the word to hang in the air.
“If you forget me…”
“…I’ll assume you never intended to come.”
Saeroyx’s smile slowly faded.
“And then?”
Kyrth answered with perfect composure.
“…Then I’ll marry someone else the very next day.”
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Saeroyx stared at him as though the entire mountain had just collapsed.
“…The next day?”
“The very next day.”
“Not… a month later?”
“No.”
“A year?”
“No.”
“You wouldn’t even wait a week?”
Kyrth’s expression remained flawlessly serious.
“I see no reason to.”
Saeroyx looked genuinely devastated.
“That’s cruel.”
“You told me your memory is unreliable.”
“I did.”
“So consider this your motivation.”
Saeroyx pouted, folding his arms across his chest.
“…You’re threatening me with your own marriage.”
“I’m encouraging you to remember.”
“That sounds exactly like a threat.”
For the first time, Kyrth’s composure cracked.
A quiet laugh escaped him.
“Perhaps.”
Saeroyx looked at him for another long moment before pointing a finger toward him with complete determination.
“Fine.”
“I’ll remember.”
“I’ll remember your name.”
“I’ll remember your face.”
“I’ll remember where to find you.”
“And when I do…”
He smiled with unwavering confidence.
“…you won’t have anyone else to marry.”
Kyrth simply shook his head, still smiling faintly.
“…We’ll see…”
For a while, the silence returned.
Kyrth thought the conversation was finally over.
Then he let out a quiet sigh.
“…Fine.”
Saeroyx remained thoughtful for a while.
Then, as another question came to mind, he turned toward Kyrth again.
“…If I’m supposed to find you…”
“I’ll need to know where to look.”
Kyrth glanced at him.
“You’ve finally started thinking ahead?”
“I’ve always been thoughtful.”
Kyrth gave him a skeptical look.
“I’ll pretend I believe that.”
Saeroyx smiled.
“So…”
“Where do you live?”
Kyrth rested his head against the pillar, thinking for a moment before answering.
“I live on the Third Planet.”
“The Republic of Varel.”
“The capital city.”
Saeroyx nodded carefully, committing each word to memory.
“And your address?”
Kyrth chuckled quietly.
“If I give you my full address now, you’ll probably forget it by tomorrow.”
“I won’t.”
“You already forgot your own planet’s name.”
“…That’s different.”
“It really isn’t.”
Saeroyx looked away with exaggerated embarrassment.
“…Fair point.”
Kyrth’s smile softened.
“If we both leave this mountain alive…”
“I’ll write it down for you.”
“So even you won’t have an excuse.”
Saeroyx’s expression brightened.
“Deal.”
A comfortable silence settled between them before Saeroyx asked another question.
“…What about your family?”
Kyrth’s expression became noticeably gentler.
“They’re all alive.”
“My parents are well.”
“My father serves as the King’s chief aide.”
“He has spent most of his life advising the royal family.”
“My mother manages our household.”
Saeroyx listened quietly.
“And your siblings?”
“I’m the youngest.”
“I have two older brothers…”
“…and three older sisters.”
Saeroyx’s eyes widened.
“Five older siblings?”
Kyrth nodded with a faint smile.
“I never won an argument growing up.”
Saeroyx laughed softly.
“I can imagine.”
“My eldest brother always acted more like a second father.”
“My sisters believed it was their duty to interfere in every part of my life.”
“They still do.”
“And the other brother?”
“He enjoyed reminding me that being the youngest meant doing everyone’s errands.”
Saeroyx couldn’t help smiling at the image.
“It sounds… lively.”
“It was.”
Kyrth looked toward the glowing ceiling of the royal tomb.
“…No matter how far I travel…”
“…it’s the one place I know I’ll always be welcomed back.”
Saeroyx watched him for a moment.
Then he quietly repeated to himself,
“The Third Planet.”
“The Republic of Varel.”
“The capital city.”
“The youngest of six.”
“Father, the King’s chief aide.”
“Two brothers.”
“Three sisters.”
Kyrth raised an eyebrow.
“Memorizing it already?”
Saeroyx smiled.
“You told me not to forget.”
“So…”
“…I’m starting now.”
For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.
The silence between them no longer felt awkward.
It felt like the quiet beginning of a promise.
