A dull longsword and a heartbroken villager

Asking others for help might come at an enormous cost, but it doesn't matter; he can afford to pay that price.

"Hehe." Naruko shifted her body, getting closer to Bree.

Now, she can easily embrace Bray with a simple turn.

Bray is quite passive, just like most people.

Perhaps it was because Bray was frequently injured? Others might not be able to tell, but she knew that Bray was always getting hurt.

This guy seems invincible, but he can get injured.

Not only the body can be injured, but the heart can also be injured.

Although he is very strong-willed, and those wounds are not visible when they are etched on his body, a wound is a wound.

He was just too powerful. Even Bray himself, and even others, had never counted how many wounds he had suffered in his heart.

When Bray and Naruko were bored, they talked about all sorts of people, all of whom were people Bray had met and who left a deep impression on him.

You know, unless it's someone special, Bray wouldn't even remember their name.

There are all kinds of people, some good, some bad, and some whose right or wrong is impossible to judge.

Then Bray was about to draw his sword at these people.

Every time you draw your sword against these people, you also inflict a wound on your own heart.

Those who lack resolve would probably have laid down their swords long ago after these past ten years or so, no longer wanting to think about why they were fighting.

Although Bray is still the same as before, he will definitely be affected to some extent.

The most obvious sign is that Bray is very passive.

They won't actively make friends or reciprocate feelings.

She went to great lengths to win Bray's heart.

"I feel it's really difficult for me to marry you," Naruko said with deep emotion.

"Aren't you already married to me?" Bray tilted his head, a little confused.

Naruko not only married me, but we even have a child together. What is she saying here?

"I paid for everything myself," Naruko pouted, expressing her dissatisfaction.

Bray was speechless now, as if it were indeed the truth.

"Your pink hair fell across my face."

"I did it on purpose."

"..."

"Brai," Naruko called out to Bray, who was standing right next to her.

"What?" Although it was a little itchy, Bray didn't brush Naruko's hair aside.

"I'll be thirty tomorrow."

"I know."

Bray always remembered Naruko's age and knew her fate.

However, he never told Naruko about this, nor did he tell anyone else that Naruko could only live to be thirty.

Naruko wouldn't say it, but she was happy as if every day would come naturally.

But in reality, not every day will come naturally; eventually, there will be that so-called "last day".

"Tell me, does my lifespan refer to the first day of my thirtieth year, or the last day of my thirtieth year?"

"do not know."

"I think so too. I don't know either, but I think it's the latter."

Are you scared?

"Of course I'm scared, who wouldn't be?" Naruko laughed heartily, not at all like she was scared.

Bray turned his head to the side, and Naruko did the same, and the two stared at each other.

Naruko actually liked that Bray was like that, without any pity for her and without treating her differently because of her special circumstances.

She treats herself as always, with normalcy. More than ten years ago, she didn't know her lifespan would be like that, and now she knows her lifespan is still the same.

"You're so kind," Naruko said softly as she hugged Bray.

Are you complimenting me?

“Yes.” Naruko nodded with a smile.

"Speaking of which, it's a rare occasion for me to celebrate my birthday, so it's not too much to hug you, is it?"

"Hold me as much as you want," Bray said nonchalantly.

If Naruko has said that she really wants to live longer and has the same lifespan as a normal person, then Bray will try to find a way.

Whether it's going to the real world or searching for the golden seed.

But Naruko never made such a request, even when she honestly told herself that she was terrified of death.

Ultimately, such a request was never made.

Time passed by, and the night grew darker.

"Mommy, aren't you going to play?" Nia walked up to her parents, looking incredibly expectant.

Seeing this, how could Naruko possibly refuse? Of course not.

This is my most, most, most adorable daughter.

"Let's play! Play with Nia now!" Naruko picked Nia up and spun her around several times.

Nia giggled at the joke.

"Happy birthday, Mommy," Nia said sweetly in Naruko's arms.

Naruko's heart melted at her daughter's blessing.

"Ah, my maternal instincts are overflowing!" Naruko rubbed her chubby cheeks vigorously.

"Hehe, it itches."

"When Nia grows up, she wants to be just like her mom," Nia said earnestly, opening her arms wide.

“How is it the same as wanting to be like Mom?” Naruko laughed when she heard that.

She looked at Bray with a defiant gaze, "See? My daughter says she wants to learn from me."

"Tsk," Bray scoffed.

"I don't know," Nia said with a smile.

"But I just want to be like Mommy!" the little girl said.

Nia doesn't know what she should learn from her mother. It seems her mother has many shortcomings and is often criticized by her father.

But she still wanted to be like her mother.

She only had this idea; she hadn't thought about the specifics.

Oh right, it's this smiling face.

Nia loves her mother's smiling face; no matter what happens, she will never be discouraged and will always remain optimistic.

"Mommy is the best!"

"Ah, Nia too, you're the best." Naruko kissed Nia several times passionately.

Beside Levy, wagging her tail, she silently took out a camera.

"Click." She skillfully snapped a series of photos, then handed the camera to Fireball.

Mission accomplished! Now I can take a few more photos of my home =V=.

"Nia, let Mom show you the real function of this arm armor," Naruko said, clearing her throat after putting Nia down.

"Besides flying, are there any other fun things to do?" Nia clapped her fingers, not doubting her mother's words at all.

“Of course.” Naruko channeled her magic into the arm armor.

The next moment, countless plumes of steam shot out from the vents of the arm armor.

Although the steam has no particular use, it is visually appealing.

"Mommy, again!" Nia exclaimed excitedly as she plunged into the intangible steam.

She hopped around, constantly begging Naruko to perform for her again.

Nia didn't know what the steam was for, but it looked really nice, and that was all that mattered.

"Good!" Naruko suddenly became smug and continued to demonstrate the fancy functions of the arm armor with great enthusiasm.

---

The price of indulging in magic is exhaustion.

"I can't go on, I'm so tired." Naruko collapsed backwards onto the ground.

The ground was relatively soft, so Naruko didn't fall and hurt her back.

Otherwise, she probably wouldn't have dared to do that.

Naruko is now a bit drained after using too much magic to activate the arm armor.

However, seeing Nia smiling so happily makes it all worthwhile.

"Why are you sitting still like a salted fish?" Naruko asked, glancing at Bree.

Bray didn't even get up; he just lay on the ground gazing at the stars.

This look, paired with those dead fish eyes, easily reminds one of a famous dish called "Stargazing".

"I'm tired," Bray said dejectedly.

Yeah, it's exhausting. I've been running around to all sorts of places these past few days.

Just for this short while, simply to celebrate the pink-haired idiot's birthday.

"Shall I rub it for you?"

“No,” Bray said disdainfully.

Their conversation was so ordinary, as if they had never discussed the topic of "thirty years old" before.

There was no solemnity, no sadness.

The couple's conversations and interactions were just as ordinary as the previous birthdays.

Bray didn't know whether Naruko would leave at the beginning of her thirties or at the end of her thirties, nor did he ever dwell on it.

No one can understand Naruko, not even Bray.

Why was this woman so optimistic as her appointed death date approached?

That wasn't a forced smile, but a genuine one; she would never feign happiness to please anyone.

When people know they are going to die, they may feel both calm and fear.

Could it be so "ordinary," as ordinary as if one were thirty-one years old?

So nobody understands Naruko.

However, even if you don't understand it, you can still respect it.

He would treat Naruko as if she were "thirty-one years old".

This is Mingzi, this is how Yunming lives, and no one is allowed to question or insult it.

"Are you staying up late tonight?" Naruko suddenly asked Bray beside her, her voice filled with anticipation.

"Go ahead and stay up if you want." Bray didn't mind; he had never stayed up all night when doing commissions before.

But what exactly is this idiot expecting?

"Let's go! Let's go back and make a cake!" Naruko suddenly sprang up from the ground and grabbed Bray's hand.

She always felt like something was missing if she didn't eat cake on her birthday.