For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 82
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“Feyden, are you crazy?”
“Yeah.”
“Stop joking around! Why aren’t you fighting with him?”
“There’s a priest who’s not a combat priest but fights well. I didn’t feel the need to pick up a sword myself.”
Clearly sulking, Feyden flicked a rude gesture behind Ariel’s back as Ariel stood alone, facing off against three dark mages.
“What if something happens to Ariel?”
“And what if it does?”
Feyden, oblivious to my frustration, wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to his side.
“Then it’s just the two of us.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
I pushed Feyden’s arm away and looked at Ariel, who was precariously holding his ground alone. Even though Ariel supposedly had divine power second only to the Pope, facing three dark mages without being a combat priest was far too dangerous.
‘Especially on his own…’
I couldn’t help but resent Feyden, who stood there with his arms crossed, sulkily watching the standoff between Ariel and the dark mages like it was a show.
“Wait…?”
Suddenly, the air shifted around us, the atmosphere thickening and speeding up. As I looked around in alarm, Feyden casually pointed at the mages.
“They’re casting a spell.”
Sure enough, the dark mages’ lips began to move as though chanting incantations, and their long robes fluttered wildly as time passed.
The trees and grass around them swayed violently, as if ready to be uprooted at any moment.
Whoosh!
An immense gale made it hard to even keep my eyes open, yet the sky above remained clear and tranquil.
“Ariel!”
Shielding my face with one arm against the wind, I shouted Ariel’s name at the top of my lungs. I begged him to come back, but he didn’t move an inch, standing stoically in the eye of the storm, his silver hair fluttering elegantly.
At last, the three mages simultaneously closed their mouths. The chanting had ended.
It was a moment of critical tension—just one trigger word, and their spells would be unleashed. Unconsciously, I gripped Feyden’s arm tightly and muttered a prayer to the angel Natasia, someone I’d never thought to pray to before.
‘Please, protect that beautiful priest who’s so devoted to you.’
As my prayer ended, a blinding flash of light erupted in the cloudless sky. Squinting through the haze, I saw Ariel extend his hand toward the radiant light.
When he lowered his hand to point at the dark mages, the light shot down toward them like an arrow.
The holy power Ariel summoned surged toward the dark mages just as the swirling black energy they conjured came charging to meet it.
‘They’re going to collide…!’
Boom!
A deafening explosion filled the forest clearing as a cloud of dust swept over the area. Coughing and choking on the debris, Feyden and I tried desperately to spot Ariel through the thick haze.
‘Please, please let Ariel be safe!’
Squinting against the dust, I focused on the spot where Ariel had stood. Then, in the gusting wind, I glimpsed the shimmer of Ariel’s brilliant silver hair.
There he was, unharmed, standing tall and unwavering as he stared down the dark mages.
Relief flooded me, and I let out a deep sigh.
“Thank goodness…”
The moment I spoke, Ariel turned his head to look at me.
Amidst the swirling dust, his golden eyes gleamed like a predator’s, glowing in the darkness. Staring at his piercing gaze, I found myself chuckling in disbelief.
Through the dissipating dust, I noticed the dark mages retreating in the distance.
Ariel also noticed my laughter and smiled back at me. His pure, serene smile washed away the anxiety that had gripped me, making it seem as if I’d never been worried in the first place.
“Really…”
My heart, which had been pounding so loudly it felt like it was in my ears, finally began to calm. It was thanks to Ariel, who now approached me, unharmed.
“I was worried about you.”
In response to my scolding, Ariel offered no excuses and simply apologized. His demeanor was as composed and immaculate as though he hadn’t been in mortal danger moments earlier.
“I’m sorry for worrying you, Estira. I felt as if the angel Natasia was with me, and thanks to that, I was able to handle it well.”
Ariel looked genuinely elated, clasping his hands over his chest and recalling the moment with a flushed expression. Watching him, I collapsed onto the ground like someone drained of all energy.
“Please don’t ever do that again… I feel like I’m the one about to join the angel at this rate.”
“Yes. I’ll do my best.”
Ariel smiled brightly, like a blooming flower. Even though I was still upset, seeing his pure and graceful smile made it impossible to stay angry.
‘As expected, being handsome makes you innocent of all crimes.’
