Before I fell in love with words; with setting skies and singing birds, it was the hero with gentle face and a righteous heart that I fell in love with. He saved the world. Luke Florence, that was his name – the protagonist of the novel, Return of the Savior.

I know, I know… an adult old enough to fall in love with fictional characters sounds pathetic… I know. But the heart wants what it wants and I can’t control it. A wonderful hero who saves the world with a sculptural face and a righteous heart.

Imagining his visage, blue eyes and blonde hair… my heart pounds erratically .

But contrary to my affection, it was clear the author of the novel did not like Luke. The author despised Luke, it seemed like.

As the main character, should he not defeat the evil forces with one blow?

But my Luke faced many hardships. I was frustrated at times and shed tears at times reading his past and the struggles he’d go through. My heart would tighten. For all my simplicity, I wanted to embrace Luke. I wanted to be his shoulder to lean on. I wanted him… to rely on me.

The villain, Camian de la Rose Hespion… the prince of devils and the strongest man in the world. This man… I could not give him my affection. Evil and ruthlessness filled Camian’s heart. He’d slaughter and murder his colleagues anytime he saw fit to enact.

The author favored Camian, a rare villain. His character and background was well-written and detailed. Even his past history was 90 pages longer than Luke’s.

Camian’s past was written like this… Camian, prince of devils, went down to the human realm after he was summoned by a young seven-year-old girl. His first contractor was a child and he had yet become the world’s greatest villain. He accepted the young girl’s contract and gradually opened his heart to the innocent girl, Liv.

“Don’t just stare at them with envy. Aren’t you going out to run too?”

“It’s okay. I’ll get tired in ten steps and the other kids will grow bored of me. And I’m not jealous at all. After all, you’re here next to me, Camian.”

“…..”

“I wish I was a little bit special to you. You’re special in my little world, Camian.”

“Don’t indulge in useless emotions. Think about how to become healthier.”

“I used to resent being sick to death, but ever since I met you, I don’t mind so much. As long as you’re here next to me, I’m okay.”

“…..”

…What in the world? As I read further through the novel, Camian’s ear flushed a rosy red at Liv’s innocence. I was astonished. ly, before this chapter, Camian had blown a whole country to pieces.

Meanwhile, my love, Luke, had never experienced the fleeting thing called love. All he had ever known was swords while Camian indulged and myriads of things.

Camian and Liv maintained a close relationship and only confirmed their feelings to one another as she grew to adulthood. But their happy ever after was short lived. Liv passed away from the illness that overtook her. She was buried in white lilies.

Camian was overwhelmed by the pain and heartache of losing the woman he loved. All the places Liv touched was left in ruins for the pain became too much to bear.

“It’s so simple to kil 10,000 human, but why could I not save you…?”

And thus, the main plot of the novel revolves around Luke fighting against Camian to protect the world. But… the author… it’s not balanced.

Even after Luke finishes his training and was armed with all sorts of rare magical items, he was a mere prey waiting to be slaughtered in front of Camian.

There was no hope…

Just the appearance of Camian causes nervous and anxiety in my body. How can my Luke defeat the villain?

But it was impossible to defeat I Camian. I know this, the extras in the novel knows this… my heart is torn to pieces. Poor Luke…

‘If only I can enter the book… I’d prevent Camian’s blackening by all means.’

Did my love for Luke touch the deities heart? Without notice, without warning, I entered the novel to the time before Camian became a villain.

Camian spooned the stew and brought it closer to my mouth. I looked at the spoon disapprovingly.

“Open your mouth.”

“….”

I bit my lips. I knew it would prove difficult to get rid of him. I opened my mouth… stubbornly.

“You’re not leaving until you finish your bowl.”

The man who took care of my meal spoke in a harsh tone. He was the prince of devils and the world’s greatest villain – Camian de la Rose Hespion.

“I was going to eat it all even if you didn’t tell me,” I pouted.

Camian looked at me, his glance passive.

“Camian is the only one who can take care of our Liv.”

“Camian, I hope you’ll be by our Liv’s side. We’ll give you all our farms. What do you say?”

Debra and Jack, my aunt and uncle, gave a pleased smile. Debra pushed her plate of stew to the side and put her hand on the chin. She looked as if she was enjoying a movie.

“Don’t speak nonsense. Are you crazy?” Camian growled.

Thereafter, he put the spoon down.

Debra blinked. “I wish Camian could be a little more honest.”

“How can I be more honest than this?”

I snorted at Camian’s words inwardly. Debra knows you like me, Camian, Jack knows, and I know. But we’ll keep this little secret  away from you.

“Come on. Just eat.”

Camian roughly grabbed the bowl and spooned the stew. He brought the spoon closer to me. He wore a scowl on his face. Frowning, I opened my mouth. I’ve been watching him over time. His stubbornness will be broken. I will break it.

*

15 years later.

Years had passed since Liv summoned Camian, the man who destroyed the world from grief and heartache after Liv’s death.

When I first opened my eyes to this world, I woke up to a boy with black wings standing at the center and kissing the back of my hand.

“The contract is sealed, Liv Klein.”

The seven-year-old Liv signed her first contract with Camian.

The Liv before me only wished for Camian to be her friend. She had a weak body and had difficulty befriending her peers. She craved a companion. And then, she chanced upon a Mana Summoning book and thus began her journey with Camian.

Looking back, the past fifteen years had been a difficult time. I had trouble accepting the situation I was suddenly placed in. I’d rack my brain all night, all week looking for a way back home, but the thoughts drained away. Five years in, my health deteriorated rapidly. Bloodshot pain and aches greeted me in the morning and I would pass out from a fever far too often.

I could feel life draining away from every breath I take. The fear of death knocks my bones and flesh. I would vomit blood, one that stained my clothing frequently. Death was ready to rip my whole body apart. I was afraid of death, but my desire for death soared. I’d lose consciousness, my limbs shaking from the terrible pain. I was hopeless, picturing in my head that I would die in an unknown world.

But it was Camian who took care of me with extreme care. To lower the fever, he’d constantly wipe me with a cold towel, feed me, and clean up after my blood and vomit… when I needed medicine every hour, it was Camian who stood at my side putting the medicine in my mouth like an alarm clock.

My weak body and shattered mind naturally learned to rely on Camian. If he was not there to care for me, I’d have been sucked into an eternity of pain and hell. I’m not sure why I did not give up… whether Camian patiently nursed me or that it was not my time to go, I do not know. All I know was that I gradually recovered from my sickness.

And since then, I knew that something inside me had changed.

When I was able to think more clearly, I was convinced that there was a clear cut reason that I came to this world and not by some freak accident. And I’d had the same dream since the day I was able to think clearly. It was when I was Lee Heewon, not as Liv.

‘If only I can enter the book… I’d prevent Camian’s blackening by all means.’

Right…

And then I came to my senses, my body covered in cold sweats. Unconvincing questions lingered in my head, but all the cells inside me screamed the answer, that I came here because of those whimsical thoughts.

And after that, I never dreamed of it again.

I knew what I had to do. I needed to prevent Camian’s blackening. It was the only way I can return back home. It was like a quest that can only be completed when a given condition had been achieved.

Ten full years had passed since the pledge I’d made to myself.

“Get back up.” Camian lowered his body and leaned forward, his front facing me. He looked at me and said, “Liv.”

Each time he spoke, I feltl his voice echoing from the back of my mind.

“Yes?” I asked.

“You didn’t do your theology assignment, didn’t you?” He leaned more, cheek coolly pressed against my shoulder, then he suddenly raised his head. “You had an assignment, right? Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You didn’t ask.”

His eyes widened. “H-how can I ask if I don’t know…?! Wow… that’s so cheap of you, Liv.”

Camian rubbed his forehead. He had been betrayed. He wrapped his arm around my neck and wept tearfully. I looked at him stupefied… what a sly man. I had thoughts of strangling him. I’m sure he knows of it but he smiled foolishly while seemingly unaware of my seething thoughts.

“Go and finish it, Liv.”

“Then let’s go!”

I kicked his thighs with my leg, and jumped on his back, my body drawing back in the process. At the same time, a cool breeze blew over me. I told him to go, but not this fast! I hurriedly clutched onto him as I was about to fall. The water streams flowing between the wild grass that had grown unruly whipped past me.

Camian had walked for an hour without break.

Not too far away, the academy building came to view, and only then did Camian stop and let me down.

“Count to 100,” Camian said.

After a slight nod, he turned away and walked opposite of me. I looked at him. His black hair glittered and I began counting.

‘1, 2, 3….’

Our reasoning for this was childish.

Camian once carried me to school everyday because I could not walk long distances. My weak body prevented me from doing so. When his classmates saw us, they joked in amusement, wondering if we were a couple. Camian blushed all over and stormed out.

That night, after dinner, Camian sneaked into my bedroom and said, “We’re going to school separately from now on.”

I looked at him. Was he shy?

‘You don’t need to be tsundere. I know you like me.’

I’ve read the novel. I know what went through his mind and I know his heart would beat erratically. And even if I was left unaware of the plot, I would know. Camian did not know how to hide his feelings. He was an open book. Well, regardless, I pretended to be ignorant to his feelings. But at times, I found it irritating. This Camian, he truly had trouble hiding his overflowing emotions. It leaked out badly at times.

According to the original version, in their 18th year, Camian and Liv confirmed their love for one another and became one. But I had a mission to prevent his blackening, so I had decided to ignore his growing affection.

One might wonder in stupidity, the readers most likely, how pretending to be unaware of Camian’s affection would prevent his blackening…? They’d tilt their heads in angst and rage. But they would never know that the key to prevent his blackening was to never fall for him.

If I die as “Liv”, Camian must never blacken. And I could not imagine the worst, but I had to be prepared… for my death.

So I came to the conclusion based on real-world experience that the death of a friend is less painful than the death of a lover. If Camian sees me no more than a friend, he’ll be sad, depressed even, but it won’t lead to his blackening.

So I kept my distance and maintained a friendly relation with Camian. But… even though Liv and I had nothing in common, from our tone to personality, he became more than a friend than I had originally planned.

Damn it all.

Can I not change the course of the plot?

There was no hope.

Though one fortunate thing did come out of this. Camian’s growing feelings never stopped, but unlike the novel, we remained friends even into our adulthood.

“That’s 100 seconds,” I muttered.

And then I walked to the academy, meeting familiar faces near the main gate, and greeting them with delight. Before the bell rang, I walked inside the classroom.

Camian, with his chin resting on his palms, turned his head slightly and stared at me. I stood at a standstill and looked back.

I needed to know how he felt. Why did he wish to go to school separately? I had to know. Clicking my tongue, I walked towards him. I needed to copy the assignment anyway.

“Can I sit down?”