How should he describe this feeling?
Jake felt as though he hadn't slept for days and nights, enduring the agony of continuous overwork.
He was so exhausted he could fall asleep standing up.
He swore this level of fatigue surpassed even the time Zephyr had trained him nonstop for half a month!
As Jake collapsed limply onto the sofa, Tesoro rushed to his side with a worried expression.
"Commodore Jake! Are you alright?! If it's impossible, please don't push yourself!"
But Jake could tell—Tesoro couldn't hide the disappointment in his eyes as he spoke.
Jake let out a long exhale, then smiled at Tesoro and said.
"You're really not an honest guy, are you? If you want to see Miss Stella, just say it outright—there's nothing to be embarrassed about. And you bastard, you really underestimate me. Who said I didn't succeed? Isn't Stella standing right there? Though she's still a bit transparent... but you can see her now, right?"
At Jake's words, Tesoro's body stiffened abruptly.
Before he could turn around, a voice that had echoed in his dreams countless times softly reached his ears.
"Tesoro..."
The moment he heard that voice, Tesoro's tears burst forth like a flood, falling in heavy drops.
His facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, and every muscle in his body trembled visibly.
He turned his head slowly, his face filled with excitement and fear.
How terrified he was—terrified that this might just be an auditory hallucination, terrified that all of this was just a dream.
If this was all a dream, then he had to be careful, so very careful. He couldn't shatter or wake from it—absolutely not!
The instant Tesoro tremblingly turned around and saw the face he had longed for day and night, he could no longer suppress the yearning in his heart.
He broke down into loud, unrestrained sobs.
"Ugh... ngh... ah..."
It was the sound of a man trying to hold back his cries, but the surge of emotion was too overwhelming—far beyond what he could control.
Countless calls and yearnings, suppressed for so long, now poured out through his sobs, squeezed through a throat tight with emotion.
Tesoro clung to the woman who had saved his life, like a drowning man clutching his last lifeline.
He cried so hard he could barely breathe, as though determined to pour out every ounce of longing he had carried all these years in this single moment.
Stella held Tesoro tightly in her arms—this was the first time she had truly embraced him.
She could feel it all: the beating of his heart, the scalding tears on his face, and the overwhelming longing that threatened to drown her.
She simply held him, saying nothing, yet tears had already filled her eyes without her realizing it.
But just then, Jake's somewhat ill-timed voice rang out.
"Are you two really going to waste this long-awaited reunion on crying? Tesoro, you bastard, as a man, shouldn't you be trying to look cool in front of the woman you love? Crying like this is just pathetic."
"And you, Miss Stella, maintaining this state isn't easy for me. I regret to inform you both that this conversation can last at most thirty minutes. After that, Miss Stella, you'll likely revert to your previous state. If you want to meet again, it'll take at least a week—that's how long I need to recover..."
Hearing Jake's words, the two, who had been crying in each other's arms, froze.
Tesoro, in particular, flushed slightly at Jake's teasing tone.
Reluctantly, he pulled away from Stella's embrace, wiped his tears, and then knelt before Jake, pressing his forehead to the ground.
His voice was filled with utmost sincerity.
"Jake-sama, I, Tesoro, will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life. From today onward, my life belongs only to you! Whatever you command me to do—"
Jake, however, cut him off with a sigh.
"Enough, enough, Tesoro. You've already said this to me once. Your time is precious—don't waste it on me. Spend it with Miss Stella instead. I'm sure there's so much you two haven't said to each other. I'll leave you to it. Oh, and when the time's up, don't make it too sad. This isn't difficult for me—there'll be plenty of chances for you two to meet again. Try to keep the conversation light, alright?"
As he spoke, Jake smiled and gently closed the door to his office behind him.
The moment the door shut, he heard the sound of weeping from inside once more.
He shook his head, but a smile lingered on his lips.
Such beautiful, genuine emotions—who in this world wouldn't feel moved by their happy ending?
Though, admittedly, it wasn't entirely happy just yet.
Still, it was far better than endless longing without ever meeting.
Jake's steps were unsteady as he walked, his mind flashing with the description of the skill [Revival Light].
Skill Name: [Revival Light]
Activation Condition: Only the purest and most resilient souls can be blessed and awakened by the divine.
Duration: Deducts all Holy Light Energy from the user. Current maximum duration: 30 minutes.
The host may choose to stop supplying Holy Light Energy at any time. Upon ending the effect, any remaining Holy Light Energy will be returned to the host.
Note: Can only be used once per week.
Significantly increases user fatigue upon activation!
Looking at the lines of instructions, Jake felt slightly dizzy.
"The purest and most resilient soul"—this description was just too bizarre.
Purity probably meant the person to be revived had to be good?
But what did a resilient soul imply?
Did Stella's soul have anything to do with resilience?
Was it about the soul's inherent strength, or was it due to Stella's unwavering love for Tesoro?
Jake couldn't quite grasp these concepts.
As he stood there lost in thought, his already weak legs accidentally bumped into the steps.
But before he could fall, a slightly chilly figure steadied him, accompanied by a voice tinged with amusement.
Jake turned his head and smiled.
"What was Commodore Jake thinking about just now? You nearly tripped on flat ground."
"If I said I was thinking about you, would you believe me?"
Monet's face flushed red, and as her grip loosened, Jake almost stumbled again.