Ch.65Chapter 65: A Brief Rest (2)

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Carefully matching my steps with Shizu, it wasn’t long before we encountered the first obstacle blocking our path.

It was the stairway in the fortress wall that we had to pass through to enter the interior.

When I had rushed up to see Lord Nighthart earlier, I hadn’t really noticed it.

But now, as I tried to descend slowly and leisurely, I could see how steep the slope actually was.

Moreover, perhaps due to the troops stationed inside and outside the fortress all rushing up when the undead army approached.

The wet soil left behind by soldiers who had hurriedly climbed the stairs covered in snow made descending the already steep staircase a cautious affair.

If I were going down alone, it wouldn’t have been much of a concern.

“…”

But with Shizu holding my hand beside me as we descended together, I had to focus all my attention on these steep stairs.

I matched my pace to her stride, and though the steps were narrow, we carefully descended at a moderate pace with her not-so-slow footsteps.

Careful. And careful again.

I matched my steps with hers, moving more cautiously than if handling fragile porcelain.

Both of us could have descended much more comfortably if we weren’t relying on each other, but.

Step, step.

Between the two of us, making only the sound of overlapping footsteps without any words.

Neither of us let go of the other’s hand.

Rather, how should I put it.

As we descended one step at a time.

“…Hehe.”

Shizu let out a light laugh and drew even closer to me than when I had pulled her in, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

She was so close that the crown of her head, about a head shorter than me, almost touched my chin.

As her crown came into view, I noticed how her hair, like molten gold poured over her head, reflected the sunlight from the clear sky so brightly that it almost dazzled my eyes.

And as soon as I registered this visual information, the sweet scent emanating from the top of her head stimulated my sense of smell.

It was the sweet fragrance of spring, so exotic in this land that embodied winter itself.

The scent was so intense that for a moment I thought I might be in a flower garden.

Yet it wasn’t overwhelming, but rather a gentle fragrance that calmed my mind, which had been somewhat complicated with memories of the past.

It was a scent so pleasant that it made us both stop in our tracks.

“…What’s wrong?”

As soon as we stopped, she slightly raised her head and met my eyes.

Her clear blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and concern, reflecting my image within them.

The image of me looking slightly dazed, intoxicated by her spring-like scent.

“…Are you okay?”

As no words came from my mouth, her voice grew increasingly concerned.

Realizing that maintaining silence here wouldn’t be the best choice.

“Ah.”

After letting out a brief sigh.

“I suddenly felt spring, so I stopped.”

I reported exactly what I felt.

Without needing to add any subject.

Just looking straight at her to let her know what spring meant.

“…!!”

Her eyes widened at my words.

Even more than when I had just pulled her into my arms.

Small yet beautiful, large yet beautiful.

Her blue eyes were always beautiful no matter when I looked at them.

As I was lost in such thoughts.

“How can there be any hint of spring when it’s this cold…”

She shyly responded to my words, her voice trailing off slightly.

A faint blush appeared on her face, noticeable even at a glance.

“Let’s… let’s hurry down. I want to explore the bustling area in the fortress quickly.”

Perhaps wanting to hide her embarrassment caused by my sudden words.

Shizu released her hand from mine and tried to accelerate her steps down the stairs, but.

Slip.

Perhaps because she was in too much of a hurry.

Her foot stumbled before she could even take a full step down.

“Eek!!”

With a delicate scream, Shizu’s body momentarily tilted and I saw her wobbling toward the ground rather than the stairs.

It was common sense that a superhuman with a perfectly trained body wouldn’t be hurt even if they fell headfirst after slipping, but.

“Shizu!”

My arm reached out to catch her before such common sense could even cross my mind.

Thanks to my quick extension of my arm as her body tilted.

Fortunately, my right arm was able to prevent her from tumbling down the stairs.

Focusing only on catching her, I unconsciously put strength into my arm and pulled her strongly into my embrace, but that was far better than letting her roll down the stairs.

“Phew…”

I calmed my startled heart with a sigh of relief.

“Are you okay?”

Before the white breath from my mouth could even disappear, I carefully called out to Shizu, who must have been more startled than I was, but.

“…Phew.”

Instead of an answer, only a hot sigh similar to mine came from her lips.

It was hot. Or should I say warm?

Anyway, even though it touched my clothes rather than bare skin, I could feel the warmth stimulating all my senses.

Enough to make my chest, where her breath touched, subtly heat up.

Gently lowering my head to look at Shizu in my arms.

Though not at an angle where her face was completely visible, I could easily notice that her forehead, glimpsed briefly, was flushed bright red.

“…”

Thump, thump.

Too… too close.

So close that I worried she might hear my uncontrollably beating heart.

Of course, it wasn’t that I disliked this.

If there were plenty of time and no prying eyes, I would gladly offer her my embrace anytime, but.

‘…Suddenly drawing a lot of attention.’

I could easily tell that the number of gazes directed at where Shizu and I were standing was increasing.

It was the attention drawn when she screamed as she slipped on the stairs, which increased further when I safely caught her.

While I wouldn’t be bothered by such gazes continuing to pile up, it was clear that she would be different, so.

“Ahem. Shizu. Are you okay?”

I called her name again in a gentle voice before an even more embarrassing situation could unfold.

“Ah! …Um. I’m… I’m fine.”

Shizu, finally coming to her senses, spoke with a noticeably flustered voice as she lifted her face from my chest.

The blush that had been faint earlier now spread across her entire face, but.

“Thank you for catching me…”

She seemed to have enough presence of mind to thank me.

Since she had regained her composure, I needed to get away from these stairs before an even more embarrassing situation developed.

Having decided what to do, I met Shizu’s eyes and then.

“The stairs seem a bit slippery, so let’s let go of hands and go down carefully until we reach the bottom.”

After saying this, I went down the stairs first.

As I descended, I made sure to use both feet alternately to sweep away the soil that made the stairs slippery, like using a broom.

If this much attention was drawn from one fall, it was clear that if she fell again, there wouldn’t be a single gaze that wouldn’t turn our way.

Fortunately, thanks to diligently clearing away the soil as I went down, Shizu, who followed behind me, didn’t slip again.

“…Hold my hand now.”

Though her voice was still small from shyness and embarrassment, I took Shizu’s hand as she reached out to hold mine, and then.

“The bustling area. It’ll have a lot more interesting things than you might expect.”

I moved forward, infusing as much warmth as I could into my voice to dispel her embarrassment.

Needless to say, Shizu’s feet followed in step with mine.

At first, I was pulled along by her footsteps as she tried to lead me.

When we descended the stairs, we both carefully stepped forward, matching each other’s movements without either taking the lead.

And now, I extended my foot first to lead her.

In the short time it took to descend the fortress wall stairs, the leading role in our footsteps changed three times.

If someone were to see this, they might find it absurd and wonder what we were doing.

Despite it being just a few steps.

For me, who couldn’t even get such an opportunity in the previous timeline.

All of this was like a blessing.

So much so that I wished it would continue and that time would flow even more slowly during it all.

⚜

As Kal and I descended the fortress wall and headed toward the bustling area.

Although there was some murmuring sound coming from around us.

Not a single sound of the surrounding hustle and bustle reached my ears.

All I could hear was.

Step, step.

The sound of our footsteps in unison as we headed toward the bustling area inside the fortress, and.

Thump, thump.

The strangely pounding sound of my heartbeat.

Only these two sounds could be heard.

It’s a strange thing.

I thought I was quite used to being around him like this since we often spent time together from a young age, but to think my heart would pound this much.

The pounding that started when I held his hand has been accelerating since he caught me when I almost tumbled down the stairs.

Even though we’re engaged, our relationship had grown distant for the past few months, and we hadn’t spent time together for a while.

During that time, there was an invisible wall between him and me.

About two years ago, when I awakened three qualities of a great hero who would protect the world all at once.

At first, he was happier than anyone to see me shine brilliantly, but as he gradually distanced himself from me, that invisible wall grew thicker.

The more I approached, the thicker it became.

Every time I saw him distancing himself from me, it was a difficult period, so suffocating that I could barely breathe.

But that wall crumbled a few weeks ago when he apologized to me and gently embraced me with his warm touch, leading to where we are now.

The warmth of Kal’s embrace then was… truly warm.

As warm as the heat I felt from his back when he carried me on his back when I had injured my ankle as a child and couldn’t move.

It was a moment of joy… endless joy.

Since then, we’ve both been busy, and apart from watching each other train, we haven’t had the leisure for private time together.

But now, as I hold his hand and match my steps with his on this journey to the distant tournament.

Thump, thump.

I can clearly feel my heart pounding in time with our footsteps.

To the point where my chest feels full.

It’s always been like this, but especially in the past few weeks, this happens often when I’m with him.

“…Phew.”

To the extent that I have to let out a light sigh like this to release some of the warmth gathered in my chest.

I didn’t want to let it out at all because of the warm, tickling feeling in my chest.

But I had no choice because otherwise, that warmth would rise up and set my face on fire.

It’s regrettable.

I wish I could keep this warmth locked in my chest for a long time.

But it’s okay.

Because soon, the warmth I exhaled with that sigh will fill my chest again.

Because he… Kal is by my side.

And he’s holding my hand.

I turned my head briefly to look at him holding my hand.

With his deep red hair that seems like it would melt immediately if touched by the white snow that often falls in the north during this season.

Combined with his expression that others occasionally find a bit fierce.

Those who don’t know him well might avoid him, thinking he’s unapproachable based on his appearance.

But I know well.

The warmth as intense as his hair color hidden beneath that expression, and.

Grip.

The warmth that emanates from his hand firmly holding mine.

If one were to gather all the warmest things in this world and shape them into a human form, it would undoubtedly take the shape of this person.

Kal. Kal Ranos.

My fiancé.

The person I truly love.

I’ve liked him since the moment I first met him.

From the moment he approached me without hesitation and spoke to me when I was going through the most difficult period of my life, unable to do anything.