* * *
I kept repeating the same thought in my head because I couldn’t think of anything else.
This situation didn’t make any sense.
I was holding daggers, charging straight at Zerbin, and yet here I was, in his arms.
The weapons I’d thrown and the ones I’d held were now lying uselessly on the ground, and I didn’t even think to summon them back.
That would’ve reopened the fight, wouldn’t it?
‘I can’t hear anything.’
I couldn’t move.
The loud, erratic pounding of my heart filled my head, drowning out all other sound. My thoughts went blank.
Frozen in Zerbin’s embrace, time felt like it had come to a standstill.
Was it because this sudden hug was so absurd and unexpected?
His long violet hair brushed against my neck, soft and ticklish, confirming that this wasn’t some strange dream.
It was reality.
The strands of his hair felt unexpectedly smooth, their touch unbearably light and irritating.
My body trembled.
On top of that, we were pressed so closely together that I could feel his breath on my cheek.
His breathing was slightly uneven, likely from the fight with the monsters.
Hearing that so clearly while being held like this made me think something… inappropriate.
‘Just because we slept together once doesn’t mean you can crawl all over me now….’
Embarrassed, I lowered my head. It wasn’t just the sound of his breathing.
The faint scent of soap lingered on his skin, reminiscent of the inn’s supplies, and that, unfortunately, brought to mind memories of before.
No. Stop.
Stop thinking about that!
Objectively speaking, it was impressive that he still smelled so clean despite the battle with those monsters.
It was a testament to how unchallenging they were for someone of Zerbin’s caliber, even if there had been so many of them.
‘I guess he subdued me, huh.’
Realistically, this wasn’t a hug. In the context of combat, it was a capture.
My upper body was completely immobilized.
Although, I did fit into his arms almost too perfectly….
But Zerbin must’ve had his reasons, like testing my reactions.
“Not going to try escaping?”
…Right?
He’s testing me, isn’t he?
I knew that, but why did it feel so anticlimactic?
It made my chest itch with frustration.
Still, there was no point dwelling on it.
He’d given me an order, and I had to obey.
He probably restrained me this way to test my agility.
Unlike Naike and Vicente, who rely on brute strength, I’m more resourceful.
I’m more akin to Vasco, adept at hiding my presence and striking swiftly.
One moment, I’d be on a tree branch, and the next, I’d be right in front of you with a dagger at your throat.
So, was this all to see how quick I could be?
That explanation made sense.
I couldn’t help feeling flustered since he didn’t explain beforehand, but it checked out.
‘Can I escape?’
The difference in our strength was overwhelming.
If Zerbin was serious, I wouldn’t be able to break free no matter how hard I tried.
But this was a test, so there had to be some kind of opening, right?
I carefully shifted my body to gauge my range of movement.
Though we were completely pressed together, it turned out I wasn’t entirely immobilized.
I must’ve been so startled that I froze earlier.
I could wiggle slightly, turning my joints little by little.
But if I tried to slip away too obviously, he’d just grab me tighter, wouldn’t he?
“Mm.”
Zerbin’s body flinched.
Wait, what?
I wasn’t doing anything inappropriate—just trying to escape.
But since we were so close, it was inevitable that I accidentally brushed against Zerbin’s body, much like his long hair grazed my skin.
The leather armor rose slightly, covering just enough of his neck.
It was so close that I could see the nape of his neck beneath it.
My breath, exhaled in tension, barely brushed against him, and yet…
I suddenly remembered how sensitive he was to physical contact with others.
Crap.
Right now, he was fully clad in armor and gloves, leaving almost no exposed skin.
Yet, despite that discomfort, he still agreed to train with me.
How kind of him.
I should respond with just as much sincerity!
I resolved firmly in my mind.
“…Raul.”
At least, I thought I did.
When I turned my gaze to assess his mood, I realized his eyes were fixed on me.
Those gray eyes, reminiscent of faint moonlight on a midnight horizon, met mine, and I was rendered speechless again.
He’s looking at me.
Just as I look at him, he’s looking at me.
“Aren’t you going to move away?”
That’s what Zerbin had said to me earlier.
So, I should pull away from his arms.
That’s what I thought.
That’s what I intended to do.
But as I stayed nestled in his embrace, our gazes locked…
Why did it feel like staying still was the right choice?
I meant to pull away, yet somehow, the distance between us only seemed to shrink.
It was the kind of deep night where even the faint light of the moon dimmed behind the clouds.
In the dark, I should’ve seen nothing.
But unfortunately, my vision is sharp at night.
I could see his lips.
The distance was closing. Without realizing it, I shut my eyes.
“Thank you!”
Ack!
Startled, I flinched back just before I could brush against Zerbin.
A booming voice broke the tension—a guard had emerged from the inn to express his gratitude.
I leapt back so quickly that it was almost embarrassing.
Because of the sounds from within the inn, I hadn’t anticipated the door would suddenly swing open.
But the fact that I didn’t sense him approach at all until he was right in front of us?
That was even worse.
‘How dazed must I have been?’
Although nothing dangerous could have happened with Zerbin nearby, it was still shocking.
I blamed it all on how being so close to him turns my brain to mush.
It’s pathetic how it happens every time!
I don’t even know if I should allow myself to keep acting this way!
Besides, if we had stayed like that for just a little longer, I might’ve… Zerbin and I…
Ah, thank goodness for the interruption.
Seriously.
“Leave,” Zerbin growled at the guard.
His voice was so low and menacing that I flinched in tandem with the startled guard.
Was he embarrassed someone saw us in such a moment?
“Don’t be too harsh. He was just thanking us.”
“And so?”
What an un-heroic thing to say.
“Ah—uh, I’m sorry! My apologies!”
I tried to intervene, but it was too late.
The guard, unable to withstand Zerbin’s intimidating aura, hurriedly scurried away.
It seemed he ran even faster than when we first helped him escape danger.
Despite the guard’s retreat, Zerbin still wore a sour expression.
If he could erase the memory of what happened, he probably would.
But honestly, the door had barely opened before we jumped apart.
Would the guard have even noticed anything?
With his average reaction time, it’s unlikely he saw much.
Should I tell Zerbin that to lighten his mood?
“Hey.”
Zerbin grabbed my wrist.
“Uh, yeah?”
I flinched like an idiot, my arm trembling involuntarily.
Well, anyone would jump if they were suddenly grabbed!
“Let’s do it again.”
I was more shocked.
A-again?
…He means training, right?
He wants to train again?
Surely that’s what he means
It has to be.
And yeah, training is important.
I had initially refused his offer because I didn’t want to waste his time.
But now that he’s asking so insistently, rejecting him feels wrong.
I’ll do anything Zerbin asks of me.
“Okay, let’s do it.”
I steadied my emotions and answered, but I still wasn’t fully composed.
Once again, the inn door flew open, and people came flooding out.
“Thank you both so much! You’re heroes to our village!”
* * *
Our poor hero just wants a little kiss 💋