Action Again (3)

There was a sound of the wind uniform brushing. Despite being a busy group, it wasn’t chaotic or disorderly.

“How much further?”

“Yes. Just a little more. About 100m?”

A tall woman answered Iris’s question like that.

She was a woman I had seen once when I entered the faction building for material exchange last time.

Is she that woman who was next to Iris then? Anyway, that’s it.

After organizing my thoughts, I looked around the rest of the surroundings. A small forest that wasn’t dense, and as Iris said, there were indeed no remaining magical beasts or animals.

The cleaning was thorough.

I glanced at Erica walking beside me. She seemed to be moving while tapping on a device, perhaps collecting information.

I briefly retraced the plan in my head.

After several blood-sucking sessions and various squabbles with Erica, her stats and abilities had shown dramatic improvements.

Even up until recently, she hadn’t shown any signs of being overwhelmed in any of the battles she fought.

I slightly stuck close to her side and intertwined our fingers.

I can feel the pulsating power. Even the overflowing waves.

Perhaps because she was focusing on the device, she didn’t seem to notice my touch, so I let go of her hand and distanced myself again.

Now the point to consider is how to make her adapt to this power.

A lot of training cum battles have given her experience, and I’ve made her go through blood-sucking acts that only vampire species can do several times.

I thought for a moment.

Should I get some medicine and force her to take it?

She won’t just let it happen either.

Moreover, if I did such a thing in this relationship, I’d be the one getting it instead.

“Mm-hmm. So?”

“I couldn’t stand all the praise… I got a bit embarrassed. I was teased for a long time for being cute…”

Hearing the chattering tone, I turned my head to see Iris talking to the woman with a bright face, seemingly forgetting that they were in the middle of an operation.

“That’s right. You give off a somewhat blunt impression when seen from the outside. But in reality, you’ve found a friend who recognizes how incredibly cute you are!”

“That’s too much praise, ahem! Too much praise.”

The woman blushed. Iris laughed more, saying her cheeks were redder than her own hair color.

Suddenly, when I looked to the side, I saw Erica watching them with a pleased expression.

“What is it?”

“Hm? Why?”

“No, you were smiling.”

Erica opened her mouth calmly.

“No, well. You seem to be enjoying yourself. You always looked tired every time we met, but now you seem energetic again.”

She just looks like a kid to me.

I was about to say something but just closed my mouth.

“Are you going to make that sulky face again?”

“It’s not particularly that.”

I chose my words for a moment.

“It’s good that you can smile.”

Erica looked at me quietly as she walked and then opened her mouth.

“I wish you could do that too.”

Silence flowed. Only the sound of footsteps echoed. I cut off the following thoughts and answered roughly.

“I’m enjoying myself thanks to you too.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

Mm-hmm.

As I was nodding, I glanced at Erica’s reaction.

Seeing that her gaze was still directed at me, I sighed once and then pointed at her with my finger.

“Why are you so interested?”

“What?”

“Don’t be interested. Deeply.”

“Ha.”

Erica let out a dry laugh and then sighed. Regardless of that, I said what I wanted to say.

“It seems like you’re trying to gauge my mood all the time. If you do that, something bad might happen. Since last time.”

“I really can’t get used to this. I’m saying I’ll be interested, just accept it quietly. Just like that.”

Seeing her roughly run her hand over her face, my body naturally trembled.

“Why do you keep throwing tantrums? Did the correction not work well? Surely you’re not still jealous?”

“That’s right? I’m jealous because you’re only being friendly with Iris.”

“As I said earlier, it’s just at the level of exchanging a few words. Can’t I even greet someone?”

“Yeah. You can’t.”

Ignoring the blatant gaze that followed, I kept looking ahead.

“You told me not to be interested, to stay still, and now you’re jealous when I talk to someone else? Are you really not crazy?”

“Why are you like this all of a sudden? We’ve always been like this. You have to accommodate me. Always. All the time.”

“I’m dumbfounded.”

A chilly voice flew in.

I was scared.

I maintained a firm expression.

“Don’t have deviant thoughts. Don’t even think about looking closely. You want me to be happy too? You want me to smile?”

So I let out a dry laugh.

“Since we’re on the topic, I’ll say this. Don’t have such feelings. You only need to care up to the appropriate level I’ve set. When I ask for a hug, you hug me, when I ask to be petted, you pet me, just do that much.”

Erica bit her lip slightly.

Heavy air pressed down on my body.

As she approached, I opened my mouth as leisurely as possible.

“You want to hit me? Good. Hit me. That’s your original role, isn’t it?”

I caught my breath. It’s difficult.

“If I’m okay, then it’s okay. I don’t want anything.”

I grabbed her trembling arm. And met her gaze.

“Don’t worry. Recklessly.”

“Why do you get to decide that?”

“Sometimes there are times when you need to compromise.”

“It doesn’t need to be every day.”

I roughly ignored her and turned my head. It’s a bit further to the destination.

“You know you’re really bad? You make me worry about everything, and then I don’t understand why you push me away like this.”

“There’s no particular problem.”

I listen to you well many times too.

You should be grateful just for not harboring other thoughts.

“How is that not a problem? Then I… Am I just supposed to watch over you like that?”

The omitted phrases evoked piercing emotions.

All the memories intertwined with my vulnerabilities that I had exposed to her screamed at me, asking why I hadn’t been careful then.

“Just watch.”

“I can’t do that. I can’t. Because I care.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because I… you…!”

Erica was about to say something but closed her mouth again. Rapid breathing rang in my ears.

“Ah, I see. I guess that’s how people are. I don’t know well because I’m not human.”

“…Again with those words.”

Naturally, our steps stopped.

Wondering what was going on, I glanced to the side and saw Iris scratching her head. The surrounding gazes were directed at me and Erica.

“…Why are you fighting again? Aureli. Did you say something weird again?”

“No. It’s just an argument. When you live together, there are times like this, you know.”

I thought for a moment about what to say.

“Right? We’re not in a relationship where we can go out for walks like this. Originally, we would have been busy drawing swords. It’s fortunate that it ended with just a minor verbal argument.”

“…Sigh, really. Erica-nim. If you’re annoyed, just hit him once. Just like that.”

Iris swung her arm with an exaggerated gesture.

I roughly ignored it and looked ahead.

A few wolf-like monsters were wandering the field. Seeing their blue feathers and gleaming eyes, they’re higher species.

“…It’s okay. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

“No, well. There’s no need to apologize…”

Iris looked embarrassed. Erica glanced at me and then sighed.

I was irresponsible in the relationship. I betrayed the connection.

The voices are suffocatingly hot, and the gazes I feel even sting.

But it seemed like I had just found it.

The place that suits me. The air that suits me.

I deliberately crossed my arms.

Gazes passed over me and Erica walked away with heavy steps, mixing in among a few hunters.

The price of asserting the legitimacy of the relationship was too painful.

“We’ll split into two teams. One team will cover the outskirts, the other team will follow me inside.”

Iris pointed to an area with a line drawn.

“It’s a free zone, so you can rummage around as much as you want. But if it feels overwhelming, withdraw immediately. Understood?”

A few hunters who were said to be newly recruited answered energetically and started gathering their weapons.

“Um, perhaps…”

“Yes. Speak.”

A man hesitated and looked around, then opened his mouth.

“The magic stones we obtain, can we perhaps keep them for ourselves?”

“Of course. Keep as much as you want.”

Iris smiled. The man’s expression brightened and he uttered words of sincere gratitude.

That’s nice. Indeed.

It’s peaceful.

What’s so enjoyable about it?

Having lost interest, I turned my gaze. The team that seemed to have joined with Erica was moving in unison, subduing the monsters.

A wolf howled and charged. Its claws scattered and breath spewed from its mouth.

Erica swung her sword in a curve in the air. A grid-shaped sword strike was engraved on the limbs of the wolf charging in mid-air and flashed. The breath turned into embers in an instant and the wolf rolled on the ground, spewing blood from all over its body.

With black smoke, magic stones bounced everywhere and the gazes around Erica took on a look of admiration.

I’m envious. How nice. I want to watch closely too.

I was about to clap without realizing it but stopped.

As I was watching like that for a while, a hunter who looked like a rookie was approaching a wolf while showing blatant signs of inexperience. The surrounding hunters seemed to be slightly making way, as if to support and cheer him on.

The wolf growled deeply and exhaled. A small breath ignited in its mouth and heat filled the space.

The hunter hesitated and then his eyes flashed under the gaze of the crowd. As he ran out holding a knife, I roughly aimed at the wolf and stretched out my hand.

An overwhelming scent of blood swept the area and engulfed the wolf.

The wolf’s eyes burned red and two horns were engraved on its forehead and flashed. With a massive howl, the wolf raised its arm. Before the bystanders could react, the swing of sharp claws pierced through the hunter.

The impact of the force destroyed and shook the area. The hunter, slammed into a tree behind, coughed up blood.

“Kyaaak!”

As I was enjoying the scream, the surrounding hunters hurriedly formed ranks.

For a moment, Erica turned her head and glared at me.

So I just.

Crossed my arms again with an expressionless face.