My Ex-Husband Became The Male Lead - Chapter 22 – Renna

The two didn’t talk until Ashia laid down too. Lying on her back, she tossed and turned a little to find a good position, then stopped moving. They were obviously two people with a good distance between them, but it seemed like they were right next to each other.

She could even hear his heartbeat.

‘No… is it my heart?’

At first, she was only worried about her heartbeat being too loud, but it seemed like even the sound of her breathing was different than normal.

‘Is it alright to breathe like this?’

Everything was awkward and unfamiliar. She almost wanted to faint, if only to fall asleep faster. She closed her eyes tightly, strengthening her resolve to sleep. As she calmed herself down, Kaligo behind her briefly tossed and turned too, then got into position. The time in the quiet tent passed by very slowly.

‘How much time has passed?’

She was definitely tired, but she couldn’t sleep. Her ears reacted more sensitively inside the quiet space. She could hear his labor breathing, as well as the sound of the grasshoppers outside the tent she didn’t even know were outside.

‘This is driving me crazy… If only morning can come sooner…’

Normally, she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. Now, though, she was waiting for the sun to rise. It was then that her head was suddenly filled with all sorts of thoughts.

“Keuk!”

A short gasp came from behind her. Ashia’s tightly closed eyes shot open. What was that?

‘Kaligo?’

He sounded pained. Was it a nightmare? Sleep paralysis?

‘…Is he having a seizure?!’

Startled, she jumped up from the bed. “Kaligo?!”

“Keuu!”

“Kaligo!!”

Ashia quickly got up from the bed and climbed onto Kaligo’s body. Instead of him having a seizure, it was a monster with long black tentacles that was gripping his body painfully. A part of the monster managed to slip through the small gap of the tent, and it was wrapping around his limbs and neck, struggling to pull him out.

‘What’s this?!’

She knew for sure that the Fairy Forest was full of animals and plants she had never seen before, and of course, she also noticed the existence of monsters. However, they rarely showed up in front of Ashia, so this was even worse. She initially thought that those monsters that existed but don’t attack were simply docile.

The monster dragging away his body faltered for a moment, but he was dragged again using its strength.

(T/N: The reason the monster stopped dragging away Kaligo’s body for a moment was because Ashia was on top of him, in case you suddenly got confused. ☺☺☺)

‘Tie it up for now.’

Roots began to sprout from the ground starting as she hurriedly hit it. They dug between its tentacles, helping her bind the monster until it let go of Kaligo.

“Haak! Haa… haa.”

“Are you okay?!”

Just then, Kaligo caught his breath violently.

Ashia sighed in relief as she saw his face regain its original color. And soon after, she angrily took out a necklace from her robe as she clenched her molars. “Luke… find the body.”

Then, Luke, who was still quiet, shimmered with colorful lights.

[Yes, Asha-nim~ And?]

‘And? Oh come to think of it, I had kept Luke locked for so long.’

When was the last time she let Luke out of the necklace? This was a good opportunity for Luke who was itching to get out of the necklace from being locked up for so long.

“Do whatever you want… I don’t mind even if you eat it this time,” Ashia said as she raised her eyebrows.

[Wow! Really?! I will do as you command!]

As soon as she granted him permission, the necklace flew into the air. A translucent giant bird enthusiastically came out of the magic stone embedded in the center of the necklace. It was the first time in half a year.

Excited, Luke flew straight out of the tent. The interior became quiet again. Her fluttering hair and robe floated down, and Kaligo’s harsh breathing subsided.

The suppressed monster struggled to break free from the roots that were binding it. Perhaps, it decided that its own life was more important than dragging this intruder away.

“Kaligo? Wake up!” Ashia slapped his cheeks and shoulders as she called his name.

Jjak, jjak, jjak~

She slapped him three to four times on his cheeks. “Kaligo! Kaligo!!”

“S…top….” Kaligo regained consciousness and gently grabbed Ashia’s hand and lowered it.

“Are you awake?”

“…”

“Do you know where this place is? What just happened, and where do you hurt?”

“…”

“Yes?! Kaligo!”

He just looked up at her with a hazy gaze while the barrage of questions continued.

“Answer me! Who am I?”

“…”

“You don’t know who I am?”

“…”

But he still didn’t answer.

‘Is he still not coming to his senses? Did something go wrong? He was dragged and hit his head?’

He smiled faintly while staring intently. Ashia grew more worried when she saw him smile. The expression on her face was also something that made his smile widen.

Even Kaligo knew that the lower part of the completed tent was sloppy since he went to get some firewood. Perhaps Ashia was unaware that this was a dangerous place for herself. She might have thought that the tent had done its job if it could block the wind and cold. That was what Kaligo thought. However, he felt an existence while he was scouting that he had never felt when he was with Ashia.

‘It’s not just one or two…’

From the moment Kaligo was left alone, they were showing their naked intent to kill.

‘You seem to think I’m an intruder.’

He let it go, rather he walked more confidently through the forest. He deliberately provoked them. Perhaps thanks to his provocation, the monster attacked him just before he could even sleep.

In fact, the monster who broke through the tent was no big problem for him. Kaligo didn’t subdue it although he had the power to easily do so. He just quietly let it attack and drag him away. And as expected, Ashia moved to save him.

Kaligo!!

Kaligo needed the assurance that Ashia wasn’t going to break down easily, both mentally and physically. This was because the memories of the past were deeply etched in him.

Renna was like a doll in the past – a beautiful, fragile paper doll. However, Kaligo confirmed today that Ashia was different in many ways. She was agile, wise, and strong. He was thinking of going out if there was danger, but Ashia dealt with the monster and rescued him – only using her own power.

Of course, there was one more unexpected harvest in the process.

“Kaligo?”

She was still unaware of her situation.

Ashia tilted her head as she looked at his wordless smile. Her coveted platinum blond hair cascaded down the side of her face. “Oh?”

“…”

She quickly moved away and sat down, slowly raising her hand over her head. Her blue eyes filled with embarrassment, not knowing where to look as she was trying to grasp the situation.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell over their shared space. Stroking her head, Ashia let out a small sigh and slowly lowered her gaze to Kaligo, who was lying beneath her. Her clear blue eyes met his and intertwined without any sort of obstruction.

“Ah… I…”

Kaligo smiled a little deeper, as if he had been waiting for this moment. It made her even more embarrassed.

“So, about this…”

Ashia didn’t realize it until her hair flowed down.

The situation was really urgent. The hood of her robe, which always covered her face, didn’t feel like it was brushing against the back of her head.

Ashia took a deep breath and opened her mouth. “Ka—Kaligo.”

“…Are my eyes weird?”

“…”

As his low, heavy tone reverberated in the tent, his dark blue eyes reflecting the light of the lamp shook wildly along with the light.

“You said you had an ugly wound.”

Beautiful hair, flawless skin, a sharp nose and mysterious eyes, and even the red lips that he often got glimpses of, now opened slightly. The unfinished puzzle found its place and completed the perfect shape. He had longed to see this face.

“You are still… beautiful.” Kaligo’s eyes looking at her didn’t even move.

Ashia, who was carefully fumbling through her exposed hair and face, bit her lower lip.

‘…That expression, tone of voice… I knew it too.’

Her proud, fierce blue eyes met unshakable red ones. “Kaligo.”

“…”

“I can explain…”

His voice was heavy. “Renna.”

“….”

He called her, just like the day the two of them died together, like the day he called her name for the first time in their five years of marriage.

Kaligo called Renna just like that.