My Love Debts Are Everywhere!

"Phew! We finally made it through that dangerous strait."

In a bustling harbor filled with people, Leon and Elina disembarked from a large ship that had just docked.

The vessel was the only means of crossing to the opposite land, separated by the vast Horizon Strait.

Due to the powerful ocean currents and the many monsters inhabiting the strait, the only way to cross was by a special ship that sailed just once a month.

Fortunately, when Leon and Elina arrived, the ship had been preparing to take passengers across.

The journey to the other side had taken nearly a month—a long, exhausting, and monotonous trip.

"Ugh!" Elina suddenly clutched her stomach, her face pale.

Startled, Leon quickly supported her trembling body. "Are you alright?"

Elina shook her head, cold sweat dripping from her forehead and neck.

"No, I'm not. That hellish journey is finally over, but my body can't take it anymore. I feel like I'm going to... huweek!"

Her words faded as another wave of nausea hit her.

"Alright, I get it," Leon said gently, rubbing her back. "But please, not on the stairs. You'll make things difficult for others trying to come down."

Without saying another word, he carried Elina on his back and carefully descended the large wooden staircase.

Then, he brought her to the far end of the harbor, where the ocean below was calm and quiet.

Leon gently lowered Elina and guided her to stand near the edge. Then he said calmly, "If you need to vomit, just do it."

The moment he said that, Elina doubled over and threw up, emptying the contents of her stomach.

Leon wasn't disgusted in the slightest. In fact, he helped by gently rubbing her back and neck—though that only made her vomit more.

A few moments later, Elina finally felt some relief. A faint smile formed on her lips, though her face was still streaked with saliva.

"It finally came out," she said with a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Young Master."

Leon smiled and took out a handkerchief and a bottle of water he had bought earlier on the ship.

"Use these to clean your mouth," he said, handing them to her.

Elina showed no sign of embarrassment. She took the items without hesitation, rinsed her mouth, and cleaned her face with the water and handkerchief.

After making sure there was no trace of vomit left, she neatly folded the handkerchief and slipped it into her pocket.

"I'll wash it and return it later," she said softly.

Leon nodded. He turned to look back at the harbor, watching the crowds pass by and the massive ships docking or setting sail.

The harbor was vast and known as Horizon Harbor, named after the strait they had just crossed.

This harbor—and the city surrounding it—was still part of the Holy Orthodoxy's territory. The city was called Nerivale and was governed by a mayor.

Due to its location at the edge of the region, the city wasn't as large as others on the mainland—but that didn't mean it was poor.

The constant activity at the port made the city prosperous and full of life.

Turning back to Elina, Leon smiled and said, "Let's find a place to stay for now. Luckily, we're still in the Holy Orthodoxy's territory, so there's not much to worry about."

"Um! Let's go!" Elina exclaimed, raising her right hand excitedly.

But just as she did, her body gave out, and she fell backward—straight toward the sea.

"Watch out!"

Startled, Leon quickly grabbed her by the waist and pulled her close.

Elina froze, then slowly came back to her senses.

Her heart was pounding, and cold sweat trickled down her neck.

"That was close," Leon muttered with a frown. "If you're feeling weak, say something. Don't just stay silent. If you fall into the sea, even I'd have a hard time finding you, you know?"

Elina lowered her head, guilt written all over her face.

"I'm sorry, Young Master," she whispered.

"Hah..." Leon sighed and waved his hand dismissively. "Forget it. Just don't push yourself. Can you still walk? If not, I'll carry you."

"Carry...?" Elina blinked, recalling the moment Leon had carried her earlier.

A surge of excitement and joy suddenly welled up inside Elina, though she quickly tried to hide it.

But Leon noticed. He smiled faintly, then crouched down and turned his back to her.

"Hop on," he said simply.

Elina hesitated for a moment, then gently wrapped her arms around his neck.

Leon stood up slowly, securing her by the thighs to keep her steady.

Feeling the warmth of his back and the comforting scent of his body, Elina couldn't help but smile. She closed her eyes and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

Amid the hustle and bustle of the harbor—surrounded by passersby and massive ships coming and going—the two of them began walking toward the city center, about six hundred meters from where they stood.

***

Nerivale City was a fairly large and bustling place, home to around three hundred thousand people.

Admittedly, that number was still far behind the major cities on the mainland, but for a coastal city like Nerivale, it was more than enough.

Thanks to its location near the sea, most of its residents worked as fishermen. While this profession might be looked down upon elsewhere, that wasn't the case in Nerivale.

The people here had lived alongside the sea for generations—for them, it was a constant companion.

Fishing was also the most sought-after profession in the city. The demand for fresh fish from the mainland was high, and the prices were relatively profitable.

Not only the people, but the weather in this city was also quite hot and humid—something natural given its coastal location.

Because of this, many tourists from the mainland came to visit.

At one of the largest inns in Nerivale, Leon and Elina approached the reception desk at the center of the building.

It was currently fall, with winter just a few months away.

The sea was unusually calm—not as wild as it usually was—making this the perfect season for travelers from various cities across the Holy Orthodoxy region to come and visit.

As a result, the reception area was crowded with visitors from all over.

Leon and Elina waited patiently in line for about ten minutes before their turn finally came.

"Welcome, guests," the receptionist greeted them warmly.

She was a young woman with short, bobbed brown hair. Her face was pretty, framed by a polite smile that gave her a warm and professional appearance.

Leon gave a slight nod and asked, "Do you have any rooms left?"

"Of course, sir. However, due to the large number of visitors from other cities, we only have one room remaining," the receptionist replied politely, her gaze lingering on Leon with a hint of interest.

"Hm? Just one?" Leon blinked, visibly surprised.

He hadn't expected that. Since he was traveling with Elina, sharing a room would be awkward—wouldn't it?

Even if he didn't mind, Elina would definitely feel uncomfortable.

He was just about to refuse and suggest finding another inn when Elina suddenly cut in.

"That's fine. We'll take it. Please prepare the room," she said firmly.

Startled, Leon turned to her and found Elina looking serious and composed.

However, the blush on her face was hard to hide, and she pretended not to look at him.

The receptionist chuckled softly and gave a small nod. "Alright, I'll get the room ready."

She confirmed the room and asked her coworkers to prepare it.

While they waited, Leon glanced at Elina with a puzzled look and asked, "Why did you agree so quickly? There are probably other inns in the city—we could've checked those."

Elina maintained a composed expression as she replied, "Sure, there are other inns—but none as nice or luxurious as this one. And with the holiday season in full swing, tourists from other cities are flooding in. Who's to say the other inns even have any rooms left?"

Leon stayed silent. She made a valid point. If every inn was full, they'd be left sleeping on the streets or depending on someone's kindness for shelter—neither option sounded appealing.

Still, sharing a room? Isn't that going too far?

Just then, the receptionist returned and gently handed him a silver key.

"The room is eighty silver coins, sir," she said softly.

Leon sighed, pushing aside his thoughts, then took out a gold coin and handed it to her.

"Keep the change," he said briefly as he accepted the key.

Without another word, he and Elina made their way to the upper floor, where their room was located.

The receptionist stood still, watching them leave with wide eyes.

A few seconds later, she snapped out of it and looked down at the gold coin in her hand.

Realizing she'd just been tipped twenty silver coins, her face lit up.

"I'm really lucky today!"

***

Leon opened the door and was immediately impressed by the room's spacious and elegant interior.

But what drew his attention the most were the beds—not just one, but two large ones, each more than enough for a single person.

"Thank goodness," he whispered in relief.

Unlike Leon, who seemed content, Elina looked irritated.

"Tsk! Damn it! Why did they have to give us two beds? Should've just been one," she muttered to herself.