* * *
Erdian lightly tapped the tail of the hatchling, who was nestled comfortably in Seo Woohyun’s arms.
“Your tail is sticking out.”
“Oh, thank you. People here won’t try to kill a dragon if they see one, right?”
“Maybe, if someone is reckless enough. But usually, they worship them. Dragons can do things humans can’t.”
“Oh, that’s a relief.”
“So, what do you think about meeting a dragon?”
“It’s just complicated. I mean, what kind of dragon goes around stealing things? And hearing it ran away makes me worry, too.”
Erdian felt reassured.
Woohyun’s pale face, drained of color earlier when he was about to leave the sleeping hatchling behind, now had some warmth returning to it.
His voice also seemed to be gaining strength. It was clear that leaving the young hatchling troubled him deeply.
“That little thing, Malrang, is a lot bolder than you’d think. Don’t be fooled by its looks. Anyway, you really have a weakness for cute and pretty things, don’t you?”
“…Me?”
“Of course. Didn’t you find my face appealing? Your taste is quite refined, I must say.”
“I-I didn’t mean it like that….”
Woohyun quickly lowered his head, his eyes widening in embarrassment.
There were others still in the lounge with them.
It was one thing to talk like this when they were alone, but saying such ambiguous things in front of others was a bit much.
“Anyway, we’ll stay here for the night. Tomorrow, it’d be good for you to talk to that blue creature. It’d be better for you to part on good terms, wouldn’t it?”
“…Yes. I’m sorry for causing trouble.”
“Apologies are banned from now on.”
Erdian’s eyes blinked slowly, clearly not pleased with Woohyun’s constant apologies.
[A Main Quest: ‘Prohibition’ has arrived.]
[No apologies for one week.]
[Reward: 1 Erdian’s Praise Stamp.]
Woohyun inhaled sharply. While he had seen quest windows before, he didn’t expect it to be applied in this way.
“…What happens if I don’t follow it?”
“I’ll be terribly sad.”
Wouldn’t the sky rain acid if a god became sad?
The thought made him feel oddly uneasy.
Still, it didn’t seem like he would suddenly die or be punished, so the tension eased slightly.
Buying just one more item on the way to the inn would mean having three stamps already.
If he managed to avoid apologizing for a week, he’d be halfway there.
“But what if something happens that requires an apology, and I don’t apologize just because I want the stamp…?”
“I doubt you’d do that.”
“But just in case, if I did…”
“Woohyun, what kind of answer are you expecting from me?”
Erdian’s gentle tone hit the mark, and Woohyun, avoiding his gaze, opened his eyes a little wider.
‘Yeah, what answer was I hoping for from him?’
Maybe what he wanted most was unconditional support and praise. Ever since that moment when their conversation finally clicked, Erdian had been openly friendly and kind to him.
At first, Erdian felt like a distant boss, uncomfortable and intimidating.
But since he’d transformed his appearance and started speaking more casually for their journey, the emotional wall Woohyun had vaguely put up had crumbled more and more.
Now, they could sit together, exchanging light banter, with that barrier barely holding up.
“I guess I just wanted to hear the things you usually say to me.”
Woohyun didn’t hide his feelings.
There was no point; if they held hands, Erdian would figure out everything anyway.
Trying to conceal it would only embarrass him further.
It wasn’t like he was sure why he had asked such a question in the first place.
“I see. Well then, if you find yourself in a situation where you can’t apologize because of the quest, I’ll take your side. After all, I’m the one who gave you the quest.”
Erdian chuckled softly, giving Woohyun the exact answer he was hoping for.
Though a bit embarrassed, Woohyun couldn’t help but smile in satisfaction at the promise of Erdian’s support.
“That’s comforting. Knowing El-nim is on my side.”
“Of course. You’re free to do whatever you want. I’m not so incompetent that I couldn’t handle something like that.”
Erdian’s expression, when their eyes met again, was kind and beautiful.
Woohyun swallowed down the question that had nearly slipped out.
‘The way he looks at me… it’s starting to feel like how someone gazes at an ex-lover. I must be imagining things, right?’
Even if he bluntly asked, Erdian would probably smile brightly and say it was a secret, or teasingly tell him to guess.
Woohyun subtly averted his gaze.
‘I should just be satisfied with getting to look at such a handsome face up close. Faces like his are really rare.’
A god with a face worth admiring and who was kind to him—that was the distance he needed to maintain.
After all, developing romantic feelings for a god who had lived for over a thousand years would be nothing short of foolish.
The inn that Raullet and Giselle brought them to was well-kept and clean.
Although they didn’t explicitly state they were members of the Erdian Order, their attire gave it away.
With the bright yellow robes against a light background, it was hard not to think of the Erdian Order.
“Oh my, priests and knights! Please enjoy your stay. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to let me know.”
The innkeeper, a warm-faced woman, guided the group to their rooms, apologizing multiple times. Though they had wanted single rooms, the entire inn was full.
The high price of the inn was the least of their concerns.
Ever since the news spread that the Holy Saint had appeared in the holy city, nobles had flocked from all directions, hoping to catch a glimpse of his face.
There was no way they could storm into where the nobles were staying and demand rooms.
The inns across the region were in a similar state, so Raullet and Giselle had chosen the place with the best facilities.
After the innkeeper left, Giselle gestured politely toward the door of the double room.
“El-nim and Ciel-nim can share this room. I’ve already sorted and placed your belongings inside.”
“And the others?”
“We’ve split into two groups, taking two triple rooms.”
It sounded like they had barely managed to secure even this double room.
Woohyun’s face flushed. If he hadn’t insisted on staying for the night, they might have found better accommodations.
‘This is the last time I’ll cause trouble.’
Clutching his clothes tightly in his arms, Woohyun followed Erdian into the room they would be sharing.
After gently setting Malrang down on the bed, Woohyun felt a slight ache in his arms from carrying the little one’s weight.
While massaging his arms, he muttered under his breath.
“It’s kind of a workout.”
“Even if you say that, I can’t count carrying him as exercise.”
“…That’s not what I meant.”
“You’re cute.”
Erdian chuckled softly.
It was good for him too if Woohyun found something to help him feel more at ease here.
So, allowing the little hatchling to claim Woohyun’s arms was a small price to pay.
Sitting down on the empty bed, Erdian glanced around the room.
Except for the beds being slightly far apart, it wasn’t a bad place to stay for the night.
“I asked the innkeeper about tonight’s menu, and there’s something you’d like.”
“What is it?”
“Roast chicken. Cooked over charcoal, and the innkeeper was boasting about its flavor.”
Woohyun’s face instantly brightened.
Life had always been tough for him, and his only hobbies were reading fantasy novels and eating.
Even then, it wasn’t much—reading for a few hours on his days off and indulging in some pricier food on payday.
“I’ll have to keep an eye on your meals during this trip. This is the first time I’ve seen you smile like that today. I didn’t expect it to be over food.”
Erdian’s gentle words made Woohyun’s face flush. He hadn’t intended to seem gluttonous, but it must’ve come across that way.
Since he really had been excited about the chicken, Woohyun quietly avoided eye contact. Malrang was still fast asleep on the bed.
Fidgeting with the coin purse he had gotten back from the child, Woohyun suddenly asked:
“Does paying for a meal count as buying something?”
“Do you want to collect the stamps faster?”
“It’s just that I feel uneasy, like I’ve left something unfinished. It bothers me, and I’ve been meaning to start exercising properly soon, too.”
“Well, I’m glad to hear you’re thinking about exercising, but meals at an inn are usually included in the room charge, so someone’s probably already paid for it.”
“Oh.”
So meals are often included in the price of accommodation. That’s news to him.
Seo Woohyun nodded and took out his notebook.
He was jotting down the fact that there wasn’t a specific way priests were supposed to speak and that meals were usually included in accommodation fees, when a long shadow was cast over the notebook.
Eridian was openly looking at it.
‘What the… You’re really just going to look at it like that?’
Seo Woohyun tilted the notebook slightly toward himself.
* * *
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When will malrang wake up 😔
Why are you so cute El nim
Thanks for the chapter!! (^^)人(^^)