Chapter 1283: Benevolence

The sky began to darken while Ilman sat alone on the artificial landmass’ shore. His brain barely recorded whenever he emptied another bottle, and he completely forgot about it once all the booze was gone.

Ilman truly didn’t know what to do, and considering his options didn’t help. He couldn’t even follow Khan’s example since his situation was quite different, as well as his feelings toward the Niqols.

Khan had been able to do what he did through a mixture of personal and political power accumulated over ten years. Liiza also couldn’t help but accept the kidnapping. Part of her had probably hoped for that ever since Khan had left Nitis.

Meanwhile, Ilman had no mighty force at his command that could create some leverage in the political environment. He was a simple man juggling between love and loyalty toward his species.

Of course, Ilman wanted to protect the Nele. Jenna cared about her species, so he cared, too. He had even promised her he would never allow her to put her species at risk, and stealing her away or failing to join the escort team would do just that.

Yet, Ilman also had a sworn duty toward his species. Liiza’s betrayal had even ruined the Niqols’ plans, affecting their future. They needed to regroup and reorganize, and Ilman had to be part of that process.

The situation was painfully complicated. Admittedly, Khan might solve everything with the Niqols, saving Ilman from having to make that tough decision.

Still, Ilman never thought about Khan after he departed from the shore. He only considered himself and his situation. That was his choice to make, and his decision would only have to do with his feelings.

That decision didn’t arrive. It was an impossible situation for Ilman, and he also forgot about an important detail, but the aura that touched his senses started to remind him.

Graceful steps resounded on the shore’s ground, growing closer to Ilman’s position. He turned, only for his red glow to illuminate a green figure. Jenna smiled back at him, even if the lying empty bottles and his aura told her that his condition was serious.

“I’ll have to do something quite tiring in a bit,” Jenna exclaimed, pretending not to notice Ilman’s state while sitting at his side. “So be sure to cuddle me a lot before and after.”

Jenna had only planned to tease Ilman a bit while resting her head on his shoulder, but the Niqols wrapped an arm around her waist before she could, pulling her on him.

A surprised gasp escaped Jenna’s mouth, worrying Ilman and making him freeze. He feared he had hurt her, but the Nele didn’t hesitate to exploit that chance to deliver a sneaky kiss on his lips.

“I didn’t expect it to be so intense,” Jenna giggled. “It’s truly different when you take the initiative.”

Jenna’s pleased expression released Ilman from his stunned, worried state, but she didn’t make it any easier for him. Jenna still lay her head on Ilman’s shoulder, but something told him that she was waiting for him to act again.

Needless to say, Ilman had a hard time resisting Jenna’s alluring presence and gestures. He didn’t want to, either, but his internal conflict helped him focus on the issue at hand.

“The Niqols might call me back soon,” Ilman revealed. “I should be the one to reunite with them, too.”

“Are you going to introduce me to your species?” Jenna wondered, rubbing her face closer to Ilman’s neck.

“Do you want to?” Ilman asked.

Jenna was about to deliver a sneaky bite to Ilman’s neck, but the question interrupted her. She ended up lifting her head to place it before Ilman’s to study his every detail.

“If you have to go,” Jenna said, “I’ll come with you.”

Jenna had reacted exactly as Khan had predicted, but Ilman could hardly think about his friend now. Jenna’s declaration resonated with her urges, and her eyes half-closed in desire as her hands rose to Ilman’s face, keeping it still to draw him into a kiss.

Ilman’s eyes went wide when Jenna kissed him. He was about to lose himself in the moment when his resolute sides flared, making him grab Jenna’s shoulders to push her away.

“Please,” Jenna whispered, begging as her hands slid past Ilman’s face to cling to his neck. “Just a little more.”

That wasn’t Ilman’s first time seeing Jenna like that. After all, her urges were hard to control, and she had never gone as far with anyone else.

Yet, Jenna’s self-restraint looked far weaker that day, almost non-existent, and for good reason. The Nele had just gained a proper home. Her emotional state was a mess, and the hope in that new safety for her species worsened it, only to explode when she was with Ilman.

“I promised I would never allow you to put your species at risk,” Ilman reminded, his hands on Jenna’s shoulders opposing the pull on his neck. “And you leaving with me will, won’t it?”

“Yes,” Jenna admitted, still struggling to oppose Ilman’s push. “But you said that making me happy will become your sole desire, and I trust you completely.”

Ilman’s strength wavered, and Jenna didn’t miss that chance. One of her shoulders escaped Ilman’s grasp, allowing her to slide into his stretched arms and dive into his face again, clinging to him with everything she had.

The Niqols fell prey to a passionate kiss, and Jenna didn’t hold back from sliding a hand down his collar, caressing his cold, firm muscles. She was lost in the moment, and Ilman knew his sanity wouldn’t last long at that pace.

Nevertheless, Ilman didn’t immediately interrupt Jenna. Part of his mind was lost in the passion, but the rest of it reviewed Jenna’s words. The stunning Nele had already placed her heart and life in his hands, and that realization made him livid beyond reason.

Of course, that anger was toward Ilman himself. After all, he had made those promises, and Jenna had believed them, only for him to feel conflicted at the first serious issue.

“No!” Jenna complained when a force she couldn’t hope to oppose pushed her arms away, forcing her to interrupt the passionate moment. “More.”

Jenna looked completely lost, but Ilman managed to snap her awake. One of the arms pushing her away suddenly left, so she tried to jump forward again, only for her to stop when Ilman punched himself.

The punch was by no means weak. Ilman’s fist hit his left cheek and sent his whole torso down, making his head slam into the ground.

“I apologize!” Ilman shouted, his louder-than-ever voice blowing away pieces of the ground. “I am unworthy!”

Jenna was too perplexed to mind her still raging passion, but Ilman never stopped. He straightened himself, pale-red blood flowing from the left side of his lips, before placing his hands on Jenna’s shoulders again while showing the sternest expression he was capable of.

“May I be so bold as to ask you to wait for a bit?!” Ilman asked, but his question sounded like a declaration. “I must do something before swearing myself to you forever.”

Jenna blinked, mustering a weak nod. Ilman took a deep breath, releasing Jenna’s shoulders and performing a Niqols’ bow. Afterward, he stood up, taking firm steps as he walked toward the landing area.

From the outside, Ilman looked about to jump into a war where he could lose his life, which wasn’t much different from the truth due to his extreme character. Yet, when Zalpa eventually spotted his nearing figure, she instinctively felt the urge to curse.

That urge became even stronger when Ilman slammed his knees to the ground as soon as he reached Zalpa. A violent tremor ran through the area at his sudden gesture, and cracks even opened around his kneeling figure, but he barely noticed it.

“[What is it now]?” Zalpa groaned in her native language, annoyed but thankful Tamara wasn’t with her.

“[Zalpa, I must leave the Niqols]!” Ilman declared, performing a kneeling Niqols’ bow. “[I love a woman and must take care of her! I can’t do that while serving the Niqols, not now]!”

“[Damned horny kids],” Zalpa cursed. “[Why are you even shouting over something so trivial]?”

Ilman’s head snapped up, his stern expression broken by a faint frown. He had just declared his willingness to betray the Niqols, but Zalpa didn’t seem to care at all.

“[What]?” Zalpa snorted. “[You love that Nele girl, right? Just go to her and don’t think too hard about it. Thinking was never your strong suit anyway].”

“[Aren’t you angry]?” Ilman asked. “[This is when you usually scold us].”

“[The Niqols accepted the old ways again],” Zalpa scoffed. “[They evolved their heritage and stopped avoiding sacrifices. What they do with that is their business].”

Zalpa diverted her gaze, angry that two faces appeared in his vision. She couldn’t help but think about Khan and Liiza, but a helpless sigh eventually escaped her mouth.

“[Maybe I was wrong],” Zalpa uttered. “[Perhaps the Niqols have reached their limits and must interact with outsiders who respect their customs to evolve even more].”

Zalpa scratched her long, greasy hair, and dirt fell from it before she added something else.

“[I’ve never seen that kid so happy],” Zalpa sighed, “[And she is even carrying his child. For her to get pregnant so soon … It’s like the mana is trying to tell us something].”

“[And Khan is strong, too],” Ilman added. “[The Niqols couldn’t have asked for a better ally].”

“[Let’s hope the Elders aren’t too stubborn],” Zalpa nodded. “[That kid loves the Niqols, but he would do anything for Lii, and I fear how he might react].”

“[You sure trust him a lot]!” Ilman laughed.

“[He is Lii’s husband],” Zalpa said, “[And the father of her child. I would have never married them if I didn’t trust him].”

Zalpa’s eyes suddenly went wide and moved to Ilman, who had worn an idiotic, proud smile that sent a chill down her spine.

“[I know curses that will kill your entire bloodline],” Zalpa threatened. “[Don’t you dare to say a single word of this to that damned human].”

“[Nonsense]!” Ilman cried, straightening himself. “[Khan and Liiza must know of your benevolence]!”

Zalpa started to lean forward, planning to jump at Ilman to catch him, but his figure suddenly disappeared, only leaving behind the faint, distant tremors of his heavy steps.