Ch.77The Only One for Each Other (2)

“…I see you’re awake.”

Irene had been lying next to me, our bodies pressed together.

She was in a position that looked like she was embracing me from above.

After confirming that I had regained consciousness, she raised her body from where it was sprawled on the bed.

Behind her sigh of relief remained a faint smile.

“Thank goodness. I was worried because you weren’t waking up at all.”

The fox whispers in a soft voice.

The atmosphere felt somehow different.

Her usual prickliness was nowhere to be seen.

As I stared blankly with a question mark floating in my mind, the girl who had her back turned to me held something out.

It was a glass cup emanating warmth.

“It’s tea made from snow herb. They say it’s good for recovering energy, so drink it.”

“……”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

Though confused, I accepted the teacup held out before me.

The lukewarm heat colored my fingertips.

While I quietly swallowed the tea, the fox stood beside me, watching.

Her black eyes blinked gently.

“……”

Her gaze was strangely burdensome.

Trying to shake off the awkwardness, I drained the contents of the cup completely.

The drowsiness from sleep seemed to fade a little.

As my consciousness became clearer, I asked Irene a question.

It was a question to understand what had happened.

“…So, how much time has passed since I lost consciousness?”

“Two full days.”

“Longer than I thought. Did anything unusual happen while I was unable to move?”

“Nothing special. We just continued sailing.”

The fox explained the details of what had happened.

From the moment she pulled me out of the sea, to the Unknown who left without hesitation despite encountering us, to moving my unconscious body to the cabin.

It didn’t deviate much from what I had predicted.

‘That’s a relief.’

I smile with belated reassurance.

As I was tidying my disheveled hair, the girl sitting beside me suddenly asked softly.

She seemed puzzled.

“That person you called Unknown. Why did they leave us alone?”

Considering how intensely we had confronted each other, it felt like things had ended rather inconclusively.

It was understandable that Irene would be curious.

Instead of answering, I just gave an ambiguous smile.

“Well~ I’m not sure either.”

“Unknown told me to ask you. Said there was a reason they couldn’t kill you carelessly.”

“Hmm.”

It seems Unknown left some unnecessary words behind.

I briefly rest my chin on my hand, reminiscing.

It was a story from the days when I was busy overturning the underworld.

Given that it involved the dirty depths, it wasn’t a story I particularly wanted to share with others.

As always, I evaded the question.

“It’s a secret.”

“…Just as I thought?”

Irene nodded.

Her reaction was strange.

Normally, she would have shown little interest and moved on, but today she had an unusually bitter look in her eyes.

As if she felt hurt.

“If that’s what you say, then that’s how it is. I think you have your reasons for keeping it secret.”

Contrary to her words of understanding, she had a strangely dejected expression.

Could the existence of Unknown have left such an impression on her?

I didn’t expect her to be this interested.

Feeling awkward, I smiled and gently changed the subject.

“By the way… Miss Irene?”

“Yes?”

“About earlier on the bed. I think we woke up entangled with each other, and I was wondering how we ended up like that.”

“Ah… about that.”

The girl hesitated for a moment, then explained in a composed voice.

Her tail swayed slightly.

“I was keeping watch by the bed. Since I didn’t know when you’d regain consciousness. I tried to fight off sleep until dawn, but I think I eventually fell asleep just like that.”

“Are you saying you nursed me for two whole days?”

“Nursing is… it wasn’t that grand. I just stayed by your side through the nights, that’s all.”

“That’s enough. It’s touching enough as it is.”

I instinctively reached out and stroked the fox’s head.

Her vermilion hair became disheveled.

A tender warmth colored my palm.

As I savored the soft sensation, I conveyed my gratitude.

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad… that I could help.”

The fox held a faint smile.

Seeing her drooping ears perk up, it seemed her true feelings were showing.

I couldn’t help but tilt my head in confusion.

‘What’s this?’

She had been strangely friendly since earlier.

Docile, you might say.

It felt unfamiliar somehow.

Even her characteristically cold atmosphere had become blurred.

Though I found it puzzling, I soon dismissed it.

‘I don’t know what change of heart she’s had, but…’

It was nice to see her smiling like this.

I had been worried because she always had such a stoic face, but perhaps she was finally starting to let her guard down.

Such a positive change was always welcome.

Stroke, stroke.

I quietly pet the fox.

After spending a moment like that, something suddenly occurred to me.

“…Ah, come to think of it. What happened to the others?”

“The others?”

“The people who were captured as illegal slaves. I remember they were all imprisoned on the lowest deck.”

“Those people were released. They should all be staying in the second-floor cabins now.”

“I see.”

It seemed everything had been wrapped up nicely.

I got up from my seat.

I intended to go check on them personally.

I had briefly looked them over at the time, but I needed to accurately count their numbers to make subsequent handling easier.

There might also be people who had fallen ill or gotten injured.

“I’ll go take a look around.”

“I’ll come with you.”

Irene stuck close to my side.

After putting on light outerwear, we stepped out of the cabin.

***

We thoroughly explored the interior like that.

The size was several times that of a regular passenger ship. As a result, it took quite some time to check everything.

It felt more like a fortress than a ship.

Probably even if you looked across the entire continent, there would be very few people capable of such extravagance.

I could freshly appreciate the businessman’s prowess.

‘I received a nice gift.’

This ship is now mine.

That means I can do whatever I want with it.

Given its overwhelmingly superior basic performance, it seemed like it could be operated decently with just minor modifications.

I reset the destination.

It was a port under Astro’s jurisdiction.

‘I should contact them in advance.’

We needed someone who could safely move the ship on our behalf.

After all, we still had the school trip schedule to attend to.

Having already been absent for two days, I planned to return to our lodgings by tomorrow.

Flap-flap!

I send off a crow made of shadow.

Its wings fluttering darkly.

It was a telegram sent in simplified form.

Flying like this, it should reach headquarters by tomorrow morning.

Once Rena checks the contents and opens a portal to appear, we would exchange roles, and I would return to the travel destination.

Even when returning, I could move instantly with Rena’s help.

‘Perfect.’

The return plan was also perfect.

Some students might find it strange if I disappeared for three days and then suddenly reappeared, but I could silence them with my position as head teaching assistant.

After all, that’s why I obtained this authority in the first place.

Besides, the professor in charge of supervising the school trip was Selena.

Our teacher would take her disciple’s side, so minor complaints wouldn’t be a problem at all.

“Hehe.”

I smile with satisfaction.

Shaking off distracting thoughts, I started walking again.

The interior of the ship was maintaining a pleasant condition.

‘Not bad.’

It was Unknown’s handiwork.

They had dealt with the troops remaining on the ship without leaving even a small bloodstain.

The soldiers’ bodies seemed to have been thrown into the sea.

It was a clean cleanup, worthy of the right hand of a monarch.

‘Has their skill improved somewhat?’

As I was mulling over such monologues, the fox walking beside me spoke up.

It was another question about Unknown.

“Unknown… that person seemed afraid of you.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

“It was the same after you lost consciousness. They were sweating and couldn’t bring themselves to come near you.”

“That’s a shame. I should have seen that stiff expression crumble.”

“Why are they so afraid of you?”

“I wonder.”

It couldn’t be helped.

Two years ago.

The war that broke out in the underworld.

Anyone who had encountered me back then would inevitably harbor similar fears.

It was especially so because I had quite a terrible personality at that time.

“…Let’s just say various things happened.”

Another vague, evasive answer.

Irene, as if she had expected this response, simply nodded quietly.

We walked in silence for a moment.

***

Only after a full half day had passed were we able to explore the entire ship.

As expected, there were no particular problems.

All functions were operating normally.

-Thank you for saving us…!

The freed slaves also seemed to be doing well.

People who had been exhausted from harsh imprisonment in iron cages greeted their saviors with enthusiastic cheers.

Every one of them shed tears as they expressed their gratitude.

-Sob, sob… I thought I’d never be able to go home again.

-If it weren’t for you two, what would have happened to us…

-It’s like a dream! I thought we were going to be sold to a foreign country!

-Brother! Sister! Thank you so much!

I don’t know how many times we received words of thanks.

Being thanked for doing good deeds was certainly nice, but having so much attention focused on us was burdensome.

I slipped away quietly.

After such a hectic day…

“……”

We were only able to return to our cabin when night fell.

The clock hands already pointed toward dawn.

“It’s later than I thought.”

“There were a lot of places to look around. We were also held up by people in between.”

“I should get ready for bed. Since we have a schedule starting tomorrow, it would be good to get some sleep early.”

“Yes. I understand.”

Given the late hour, we quickly finished showering and changing.

The two of us got into bed.

Since there was only one double-sized bed prepared, we had no choice but to lie down side by side.

Of course, the problem could be solved if one of us went to another cabin, but…

“Don’t go.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s okay… just stay with me.”

Irene grabbed my sleeve.

Her eyes looked up at me intently.

Perhaps because of what happened a few days ago, the girl seemed anxious about being left alone.

There was a slight tremor at her fingertips.

“Alright.”

I nodded.

It was rare for Irene to ask for something first.

And it wasn’t a difficult request anyway.

‘It should be fine.’

Since we were already roommates, I thought this much would be okay.

Irene didn’t seem to be conscious of such aspects either.

We covered ourselves with the blanket while maintaining an appropriate distance.

As I was quietly waiting for sleep to come, the girl beside me suddenly spoke.

“…Are you awake?”

“Still am.”

“Sorry if I woke you. I just wanted to talk.”

“Can’t sleep, I see.”

“Well… that’s right.”

“That’s fine. Is there any particular topic you’d like to discuss?”

“Yes. There were things I wanted to ask about.”

We exchanged a few words.

Although we had had quite a few conversations before, we had never talked while lying in the same bed, so it was a fresh experience in its own way.

Voices resonated across the precarious distance between us.

“When you were facing the hunting dog. You imitated my master’s voice.”

“I did.”

“You already knew, didn’t you? About my past.”

“So I’ve been found out.”

“It was strange. The fact that you knew a story I had never once shared.”

“I didn’t intend to deceive you from the beginning. I just didn’t bring it up because you seemed to be suffering from those memories.”

“Yes… it was a painful memory.”

The fox murmurs faintly.

In the sentences scattered into the darkness, there were questions that remained unresolved.

Her black eyes glance sideways at me.

Had I aroused her suspicion after all?

Someone who shouldn’t even know about the existence of her master had staged a performance while mentioning words he had spoken; it was understandable that the girl would be perplexed.

I hold a troubled smile on my lips.

“I’m sorry. It must have been a wound you didn’t want exposed.”

“It’s okay if it’s you.”

“I’m grateful you say that.”

“The story about my master. If I ask how you knew, will you say it’s a secret again…?”

“I’d like to.”

There was no other way to explain it.

I couldn’t bring up the story about the original work.

And it would also be strange to make up a story about finding out their personal conversations through simple investigation.

The most appropriate choice was to maintain silence.

“……”

The fox makes a complicated expression.

She seemed to be thinking about something.

After biting her lip for a moment, the girl soon muttered.

The atmosphere had strangely sunk.

“You… seem to have too many secrets.”

“That’s a disappointing thing to say. I consider myself quite a transparent person…”

“Liar.”

A word of denial heard right beside me.

Turning my head in response, I see the fox’s face, which had already come far beyond the appropriate distance.

I could feel her lukewarm breath on my cheek.

The gap had narrowed to the point where our noses could touch.

“Miss Irene?”

I raise a question mark at the reduced distance.

Meanwhile.

The girl raises her upper body from where she was lying.

The slowly extending movement entangles with each other, and before I knew it, the fox was sitting astride my body.

She had mounted my waist.

“What’s this all of a sudden…?”

The sudden impulsive action startled me.

Her distinctive body scent wafting subtly.

Since we were both in light sleepwear, we could clearly feel each other’s contours through the thin fabric.

As I remained frozen for a moment, her delicate fingertips touched my chest.

“You.”

My heart colored with a faint warmth.

The fox’s fingers began to unbutton my shirt one by one.

Surely not.

“Miss Irene.”

I realize something is wrong.

I belatedly call the girl’s name, but by then my shirt was already completely unbuttoned.

Bare skin is revealed through the wide-open front.

Irene stares down at it blankly.

“What on earth are you…”

Her voice becomes tinged with haziness.

Desire, excitement, thirst.

It wasn’t any of those.

The emotion dwelling in her trembling eyes was none other than shock, or perhaps compassion.

The girl clenches her fist and mutters.

“…What on earth are you hiding?”

Transparent pupils.

Beyond them, a body covered in scars is reflected.

From knife cuts to stab wounds, burn marks, and strange surgical scars.

It was a complete mess, to the point where healthy skin was barely visible.

“……”

I found myself closing my mouth involuntarily.

On my expression that had grown cold, only an expressionless indifference without any trace of a smile remained.

I chew on a monologue surrounded by coldness.

‘Ah.’

As expected.

I’ve been found out.