* * *

“You thought you could hang around Zerbin with that pathetic strength?”

I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Do you even think he sees you as a person?”

“S-shut up…!”

He was still angry, but his voice had noticeably lost its edge.

Even he must realize how pathetic he looked.

What should I do?

Should I break an arm to make sure he doesn’t try this again?

That’s the annoying thing about adventurers—they think with their muscles instead of their brains.

Unless you leave them with a painful, unforgettable lesson, they never learn their place.

“D-don’t! Hey!”

His instincts were sharp, I’ll give him that.

Even pinned down, he struggled with everything he had.

“This is hilarious. Next time you see Zerbin, try squirming around like this. He might at least find you an interesting bug.”

I was about to break his arm.

Just a bit more pressure, and it would’ve snapped.

But I stopped.

Because I heard someone calling my name.

“Raul.”

And it wasn’t just anyone.

It was someone I desperately wanted to look good in front of.

The bright summer sunlight landed on his violet hair, making it shimmer.

As he strode closer, his striking hair swayed with every step, instantly drawing all eyes to him.

The moment he entered the scene, everyone turned to look.

Just his presence alone radiated an overwhelming aura.

There’s only one man like that.

“Z-Zerbin?”

Why is he here?

How long has he been standing there?

Don’t tell me he heard everything I said.

Does he think I’m a horrible person now?

Panicking, I quickly stood up.

Heros, who’d been pinned beneath me, took the chance to scramble to his feet—but that didn’t matter.

“W-when did you get here?”

The bigger issue was that I might’ve just ruined all the effort I’d put into building a good impression of myself.

“Just now.”

His cold response sent a shiver down my spine.

But his icy gaze wasn’t directed at me—it was fixed on Heros.

“L-Lord Zerbin.”

“And who do you think you are, saying my name?”

“I-I’m sorry…!”

Zerbin didn’t even give Heros a chance to apologize.

Unlike me, who’d merely pinned him down, Zerbin broke his arm in one swift motion and mercilessly threw him to the ground.

The impact was so violent it sounded like the stones beneath him had cracked.

Blood streamed down Heros’ forehead as he writhed on the ground, unable to stand.

I’d joked about him being a bug, but seeing this happen right after made it hard to add any further comments.

This was karma, plain and simple.

Who in their right mind swings an axe around in a marketplace while yelling someone else’s name?

Of course, Zerbin would show up.

“Clean it up,” Zerbin ordered.

Me?

I hesitated, and Zerbin shot me a glare.

Not me?

“Didn’t you hear me?”

He turned his gaze to the nearby adventurers who’d been watching the whole time.

Startled, they scurried forward.

Well, it’s only fair they pay for the show they just enjoyed.

“Raul. You’re a good fighter.”

“Lord Zerbin, you’re not mad at us, are you? Please, put in a good word for us…”

“I trusted you! Spare me!”

These idiots.

If they were so worried, they should’ve helped me earlier.

Maybe I should just report them as accomplices.

Annoyed, I slapped one of them on the back to hurry him along.

As Zerbin’s presence settled over the area, the atmosphere grew tense, and the onlookers began to disperse.

Even the vendors in the market started cleaning up their stalls.

Fighting outside the market had minimized the damage, so it wouldn’t take too long for things to return to normal.

Zerbin grabbed my wrist.

Huh?

“W-why?”

Why does this feel scary?

Am I about to be punished too?

Is he going to throw me like he did Heros?

Should I beg for my life?

I tried my best to keep the civilians out of this!

I was so tense that I froze.

Zerbin’s subdued gray eyes silently scanned me from head to toe.

His gaze was so intense it sent chills down my spine.

My heart pounded loudly in my chest.

“Are you mad…?”

“You’re injured.”

“Huh? I’m not injured, though.”

Compared to when I was dragged off to Heros with a broken arm and a cracked skull, I was perfectly fine.

I wasn’t even in pain anywhere.

Zerbin traced my cheek with his index finger.

Ah.

“That’s just a little scratch.”

As an adventurer, this didn’t even qualify as an injury.

The blood had stopped a long time ago, and while it stung slightly, it wasn’t bothersome unless I focused on it.

“It’ll heal in no time!”

“…”

Why does it feel like he’s angry?

Should I ask again? Would he answer if I did?

But I couldn’t get the question out.

As soon as I opened my mouth, Zerbin poured a potion straight into it.

The liquid filled my mouth, and before I could think, I swallowed it down.

The scratch on my cheek healed instantly.

Drinking a potion for a wound this minor?

What a waste of money… We could’ve saved that for something critical, like after the Demon King’s invasion!

But there was no way I could complain to Zerbin.

After all, he only healed me because he was concerned about my injuries.

Honestly, it was a touching gesture.

Healing a scratch like this with an expensive potion?

‘Zerbin must really like my face…’

I should feel more confident about my looks.

I mean, even Heros complimented me today!

“Thanks. Thanks to you, I won’t have any scars on my face.”

I smiled and expressed my gratitude.

“A scar on a handsome face would be such a waste.”

I tried to lighten the mood with a playful comment, but Zerbin’s fierce expression didn’t soften one bit.

Did he not like my flippant response to what could’ve been a dangerous situation, one that might’ve involved innocent bystanders?

Maybe I should just change the subject.

“Since we’re already at the market, want to pick up some supplies together?”

Sure, I got mixed up with a crazy person, but at least it gave me the chance to see Zerbin.

Running into him without planning it? What a pleasant surprise.

“I was actually thinking of getting things you like.”

I lowered my voice for that part.

It was fine to be seen walking with Zerbin in town, but I didn’t want anyone knowing we’d be heading to his hometown together.

Just look at what happened as soon as I got to the market today.

Being around someone as popular as Zerbin is a challenge.

Not that I don’t feel a bit of pride about it!

No response.

Zerbin’s even quieter than usual today.

Sure, he’s always been the quiet type, but lately, he’s been good about responding to questions.

“Did something bad happen today? Or are you just hungry?”

“…Raul.”

Wow.

Every time Zerbin says my name, it feels like my heart drops straight to the ground.

It’s like he has my heart in his hands, squeezing and releasing it at will.

He rarely calls my name, so when he does, it hits differently.

The few times he’s murmured my name in that low voice recently…

No! Stop thinking about it!

But my face was already burning.

Just because we had sex once, does my face have to light up every time I think about it?

No wonder Aimone teases me, saying I look like a boy in love for the first time.

* * *