The sun was setting, and our dying emotions were starting to burn along with the blazing fire.

Why was Jo Hye-Jin blushing? Was it because of the fire or the sunset?

It was unlike her to act so embarrassed, but the sight did not necessarily mean that she was falling in love with the old elf.

Even if she wasn’t interested in him, there wasn't a person alive who wouldn’t be embarrassed after hearing Elias' words.

He was decent in the looks department as well, so his words had to have sounded even sweeter in Jo Hye-Jin's ears.

“

Um…

”

Perhaps even the crackling noises from the bonfire sounded romantic, as Jo Hye-Jin was staring speechlessly at the bonfire.

I felt uneasy because I had no idea what Elias was looking at, but he was preparing to say his next words. His next words were from his heart, not something he had prepared in advance. His eyes were filled with determination, and his every word was genuine.

“I don’t care where we end up as long as we’re together,” Elias said.

“...”

“I’ll do my best to become an understanding person rather than trying to make the other person understand,” he added.

“...”

‘He’s counting his chickens before they hatch.’

“Even if my choice causes me to lose everything, I think I’ll be happier than before I made that decision,” he said.

‘So you’re just going to abandon the Union of Others and the Elf Kingdom to settle down in Lindel?’

'You think Hye-Jin will like that?'

Jo Hye-Jin was such an upright individual that there was no way she would let Elias do something like that.

However, it seemed that Elias' Habitual Confession Syndrome had returned, as I was sure he had no intentions of confessing to her. His words just now were just an expression of his feelings, and it was like he was admitting that he had only been thinking about himself so far.

In Jo Hye-Jin's eyes, that was the biggest issue in dating Elias.

‘She’ll end up being the Queen of the Everia Kingdom.’

However, Jo Hye-Jin had her own career, a position within the Blue Guild, and a bright future, so I couldn't imagine her suddenly going over to the Everia Kingdom to become its queen.

In addition, she’d have to live with other races with a lifespan of thousands of years. If she were to date Elias, she’d have to give up on many things. If they started dating, the continent would focus on them, and she’d have to distance herself from Lindel.

I was sure those two had yet to discuss such issues.

They weren’t exactly at the stage where they could discuss those things, but if they ended up dating, it was highly likely that they wouldn't even think about those issues at all. 𝔯åＮỐ₿Εṧ

However, they were realistic issues that they would have to face. Elias seemed to genuinely understand that Hye-Jin was feeling burdened by his approach, but despite that, he remained consistent in his attempts to win her heart over.

“I know that both of you don’t really like me,” Elias said.

“...”

“I realized once again how much of a fool I was… for suddenly appearing before Miss Hye-Jin and not thinking about the circumstances… and how much you’re worried about her as her friend.

"I would like to really apologize to Miss Hye-Jin… first of all. I-I wasn’t considerate at all,” Elias added.

‘No, that’s not the reason why we dislike you. We just hate you as you are.’

I couldn’t find the exact reason, but I just hated him.

I hated the fact that he looked like a ladies’ man and that he was old… but most importantly, I disliked the fact that he was trying to take Hye-Jin away from us.

His personality wasn't bad, but I needed to see whether he was willing to do anything and everything for Hye-Jin. I honestly had no idea if he was even willing to go that far. He said he was willing to abandon the Elf Empire and the Union of Other Races, but no one knew whether he was telling the truth or not.

People would always act like they were willing to lay down everything for their partner during the honeymoon phase, but it was common for relationships to go downhill after that, so what if he ended up returning to the Elf Kingdom? Hye-Jin would surely be devastated.

“I think I'm just obsessed with the frustration inside me,” Elias remarked.

‘Frustration?’

“I feel like the world is going to collapse if I don’t express my feelings. It feels like my heart will stop if I don't say anything. It feels like my body is rotting… a-and that’s why I'm in a hurry to express my feelings,” Elias continued.

‘Are you lovesick or something? You’re overexaggerating things now. What are you? The greatest romantic of this era?’

“Despite knowing how burdensome… and… and… difficult it must’ve been for Miss Hye-Jin… releasing my frustration was a priority. I-I didn’t even think about Miss Hye-Jin’s situation,” Elias explained.

“...”

“I know it sounds ridiculous… but… but it just means I’m thinking about Miss Hye-Jin that much,” Elias said.

‘He must be serious…’

I

was blushing, and the wanderers here even looked away.

Elias was a runaway train when it came to love.

It was a one-way confession that was inconsiderate of the people around him. Jung Ha-Yan wasn’t really listening, but Han Sora clearly looked like she wanted to get away from here. I was sure Han Sora embodied the reaction of an ordinary person.

It was such a heartwarming and tear-jerking moment, but the problem was that

I Like Blue’s

heart was wavering in the face of his sincerity.

‘There are people who like things like that.’

I was sure she liked his sincere remarks, as she once said, “Don’t tarnish

his

pride.”

“I-I actually wanted to express my feelings today…” Elias said.

“...”

‘You’re already doing that.’

“I don’t think I'm ready. I think I’m not good enough… for Miss Hye-Jin…” Elias added.

‘At least he knows that.’

“At least you know that,” Lee Ji-Hye said.

‘Ji-Hye noona, you shouldn’t have said that.’

“Miss Ji-Hye, please stop,” Jo Hye-Jin begged.

“...”

“...”

“I’ll head back first today. Please enjoy your time,” Elias said.

“M-Mr. Elias, wait!” Jo Hye-Jin shouted.

“I really hope I can hear your answer… the next time we meet. For the last time,” Elias remarked.

Jo Hye-Jin called out, but he disappeared like the wind. The wanderers, who remained quiet during the awkward situation, were finally able to breathe comfortably.

Jo Hye-Jin stared at Elias' departing figure before walking toward us.

“You two…”

“...”

“I appreciate you worrying and caring about me… but don’t you think you were a bit too harsh on him?” Jo Hye-Jin questioned.

‘I did nothing wrong. It’s all Ji-Hye noona.’

“Why are you including me in this?” I asked.

“You’re the same, sir. If you hadn't suggested… a double… I mean…” Jo Hye-Jin paused.

“...”

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

“I’m not a child. I’m not that stupid that I need someone to tell me what I need to do with my love life,” Jo Hye-Jin said.

“I-I… was just worried about you… Miss Hye-jin…” Lee Ji-Hye said.

“I have plans as well, Miss Ji-Hye. Mr. Elias sometimes says strange things that catch me off-guard… but he’s not a bad person. I can tell what’s right and wrong… so please don’t overstep your boundaries,” Jo Hye-Jin requested.

“But…

heuk…

”

“Even if you cry… I don’t know why you’re so interested in my love life in the first place… b-but the reason I’m so confused isn’t because I've never been in a relationship,” she explained.

‘No one said anything about that.’

“As I said before, I've had many relationships. I’m just… sick of relationships that don't last long. I simply want to be more careful when it comes to a new relationship.

"I want to maintain a healthy relationship with someone I can trust… and not just have a fling. Th-That’s why I’ve been thinking about many things and my feelings. And today… wasn’t exactly a date…” Jo Hye-Jin explained.

“I think… he thought of it as a date, Miss Jo Hye-Jin. Th-Then, how do you feel right now?” Han Sora chimed in. It seemed that the abrupt drama had piqued her curiosity.

“...”

“Do you like Mr. Elias?” she asked.

“...”

“...”

“...”

“I’m not sure,” Jo Hye-Jin replied.

‘Nice.’

“I still don’t know how I feel about him. Honestly, Mr. Elias isn’t a bad person. He’s too good for me… He’s an upright… and fragile man. Strictly speaking… h-he’s good-looking as well… but looks aren’t everything.

"What I’m trying to say is that he’s someone that doesn’t fit me. I appreciate his kindness… but honestly…” Jo Hye-Jin trailed off.

“...”

“I don’t even know my own feelings. There are times when I do like him… Actually, there are times when I think maybe it won't be a bad idea to date him, but I feel like it's rude to accept Mr. Elias’ feelings when I’m not even sure about my own feelings…”

“...”

“Mr. Elias is really overestimating me, but all of you already know that. I’m not… the kind of person Mr. Elias thinks I am…"

‘No, you are the exact person that Elias is thinking of…’

If she were someone else, Elias wouldn’t think much of them.

'If you believe he’s not the one for you after dating him, you can just break up with him. You can also control him and compare him to other people… I’m sure it will be enjoyable at the very least.'

Meeting new people was fun and stimulating. Ordinary people wouldn’t spend days thinking about whether to take his confession seriously or not. They’d simply enjoy the moment.

Elias probably liked that side of Jo Hye-Jin.

It wouldn't be as pure as Elena’s soul, but if Elias could look into the souls of people, he’d know how pure Jo Hye-Jin’s soul was.

“A-Anyway… this is my problem, not yours. I appreciate your concern and attention… but I ask that… you stop now. Also…” Jo Hye-Jin paused.

“...”

“I won’t talk about this issue again. I feel like I’ll get even more confused by your words, so I think it’s best if we no longer talk about this. As I mentioned earlier, this is my problem, so please… don’t interfere,” Jo Hye-Jin requested.

A deafening silence descended.

It seemed that Lee Ji-Hye had finally understood Jo Hye-Jin's feelings as well

— She’s pretty determined, oppa.

"I feel the same way, noona. Honestly, I think we cared too much…"

— Right? Strictly speaking, this is her personal issue, and I think it's a bad idea to interfere too much. We’ve been thinking about her as a child so far, but I’m sure she has a plan, and… she will do just fine. Elias has also expressed his true feelings today, so let’s just keep an eye on them. I’m sure Hye-Jin will do fine.

"Yeah, let’s just keep an eye on her."

— Let’s do one last test, oppa.

"Let’s do one last test, noona."

Elias, the last remaining pure-hearted elf on the continent.

I had no choice but to see just how loyal that guy was.