"Kevin, take a seat!"

The aged voice cut sharply through the quiet room. Kevin said nothing, shifting to sit on the chair. Their eyes locked, the air thick with tension.

"How have you been lately?"

Kevin let out a soft sigh, breaking the silence first. His tone held a hint of concern—they’d never had bad blood, after all. They’d even shared a brief romance once.

*Alas*, Elise Osman had probably married long ago. Without interference, that magical marriage contract would dissolve within ten years. To avoid trouble—he hated trouble—he’d disguised his voice with magic back to its original tone.

"How to put it... I’m getting by," Elise murmured. She struggled to sit up, leaning against the bedside table. Her golden eyes fixed quietly on Kevin Jaeger across the room. Her cracked lips twitched slightly.

"Kevin, you seem to be doing quite well lately. So well you forgot you had a fiancée?"

"???"

Kevin froze, stunned. He cleared his throat lightly, asking tentatively, "Aren’t you married? No—you should have grandchildren by now."

*That contract would’ve expired in ten years max. With her looks and strength, finding a good match should’ve been easy. What’s going on? Is she joking? No—Elise Osman never joked, especially not here.*

A wild thought flashed: *Had she unilaterally maintained the contract? Impossible. Who’d cling to a vow with someone vanished?*

*No. Absolutely not.* Kevin shook his head inwardly.

"I’m not married. I’ve been waiting for someone. Thought I’d never see them again... but my intuition was right."

Elise spoke slowly, her clouded gaze resting on Kevin. He shifted uneasily in his seat, then asked gently, "Elise... do you still keep that magical marriage contract?"

"Mm."

That single syllable hung between them. Silence swallowed the room again.

Pressure crushed Kevin’s chest. The chair beneath him felt unbearably heavy—he was the heartless one here.

"Why not find someone better? There’s no need for this," he said, concern softening his voice. Relief flickered inside—he hadn’t married anyone during the contract’s validity. That’d have caused massive trouble.

*Even with magic sustaining it, the contract would fade in two or three years. Time is the greatest magic.*

"I’ve always trusted my intuition," Elise said. "It told me only you could be my husband. That’s all."

"Is that so."

Kevin rose slowly from his chair, stepping closer to the frail, aged Elise on the bed. His wariness had melted into gentleness. He reached out, his slender, fair hand stroking her time-worn, wrinkled palm.

"I’m honored, Miss Elise."

For a moment, it felt like their first meeting—all vivid again.

"Is that so? You haven’t changed," Elise whispered. A satisfied breath escaped her. Her presence dimmed, growing fainter. *A Sixth Tier surviving this long relied not just on medicine, but on sheer will.*

"Hey. I never gave you permission to die."

Kevin’s voice turned icy. He sensed her fading—clueless about healing magic, but as a Tenth Tier, saving lives was no issue.

Green light flickered steadily in the dim room as he channeled his weakest skill: healing magic. It lasted until dawn.

"Damn. Should’ve learned a bit of healing magic. This is exhausting."

Kevin slumped weakly into the chair. The magic he’d just absorbed was nearly gone. He marveled inwardly at buffed healing’s power, then glanced at the now-stable Elise.

"Elise, how did you get so badly injured? Nothing threatening should be near here."

His voice had slipped back to its true tone—magic exhaustion stripped his disguise.

"Mmm..." Elise had almost thought she’d misheard. She sighed softly, then continued, "There’s a troublesome beast nearby—at least Sixth Tier. Our last fight left us both crippled. I ended up like this... but I sent adventurers to monitor it."

She gazed out the window, pleading, "Kevin, please deal with that beast. It’s a request from your fiancée."

"I understand."

*Beep—zzzt!* The system’s voice crackled in his mind. A panel flashed before his eyes:

【Special Quest Issued】

【Head to the Dark Forest. Find a monster egg with potential using system guidance. (Friendly Reminder: It grows with you, becoming a powerful combat force.)】

【Accept】【Decline】

【Complete the first task immediately: Say to Elise Osman, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty west. Never scorn the poor young man," and make a three-year pact.】

Kevin didn’t glance at the panel. He silently clicked 【Accept】. *To change back, he had to finish all tasks. This first one? Easy.*

His expression hardened, deadly serious. He recited firmly,

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty—"

The words died as a door slammed open.