Chapter 94: Shower (2)

Splash—!!!

Thick raindrops lashed against the skin.

The rain poured down in an instant, as if a bucket had been overturned, and in a few seconds, they were drenched like drowned rats.

The downpour made it difficult to keep their eyes open.

But despite this, Rohan and Ichinose didn’t move from their spot.

There was nowhere they could go even if they moved hastily to avoid the rain.

“This is going to slow us down even more.”

“…”

This weather affected not only Rohan but Ichinose as well.

Even if she didn’t rely on sight, such weather would cause confusion to her other senses.

This wasn’t good.

“Let’s keep moving for now.”

Rohan left a rough mark on a tree with his sword and continued on his way.

Ichinose nodded and followed behind.

…It’s refreshing.

The rainwater that invaded her lips slightly quenched her thirst.

Her hair and clothes were soaked and heavy, but strangely, her body felt lighter than before after just a sip of water.

It was the first time she felt good in the rain.

Squish! Squish! Squish!

As they walked through the dark forest, stepping on the mud-turned ground, they spotted a place where huge rocks interlocked like a roof.

Going underneath, the rain was somewhat blocked.

It wasn’t exactly a cave, but it was enough to be thankful for. Both let out a sigh of relief at the same time.

“Phew!”

“Haa…”

They looked at each other and chuckled.

The situation was absurd, and their drenched appearances were comical.

“It blocks the wind pretty well too. Not bad for a place we happened to find by chance.”

“This is enough to use as a base.”

While Ichinose drew her sword and shook off the water, Rohan took off his jacket, wrung out the water with a squeeze!, and spread it on the ground.

“Sit here.”

“…How can I sit on someone else’s clothes? I’ll use mine, so put yours back on quickly.”

As Ichinose tried to take off her top, Rohan quickly stopped her.

“Ichinose’s clothes are less than half my size.”

“This is enough for me to sit on.”

“Forget it. Take off your shoes and socks. Go wash them in the rain.”

“Huh?”

Rohan’s demand followed his firm refusal.

It wasn’t the time to bring up the topic of whose clothes to sit on.

“They’re covered in mud, so it’s better to wash and dry them. I don’t want to see grains of sand rolling around in your shoes tomorrow.”

“I’ll do it myself. I’m here as an equal cadet, not to be protected.”

Seeing Ichinose’s lowered voice, perhaps offended, Rohan chuckled.

She clearly had a strong sense of identity as a warrior.

“No, it’s not like I’m trying to protect or pamper you or anything… It’s about dividing the tasks efficiently.”

Rohan produced a small flame at his fingertips using mana.

This was an application made possible by the Fire Attribute Unique Skill, Divine Sun Judgment Sword.

“Can you light a fire while I’m gone? If you haven’t done it before, I’ll do it.”

“I can do it. Lighting a fire is just… putting in things to burn, right? And fanning it.”

The rock-formed shelter(?) was deeper and wider than expected.

In the area angled to block the wind, there were dry grass, branches, and old animal fur like tinder scattered around.

“That’s not wrong, but lighting a fire is harder than you think.”

“…”

Ichinose opened her eyes, feeling a sense of peculiarity.

Rohan’s voice and expression weren’t dismissive or admonishing.

“I was going to tend the fire, but I also need to clean the Honbird. I need to set up something to collect rainwater, too.”

Unlike people who unconsciously laced their words and gazes with contempt, he was different.

He didn’t mock or belittle her for her complex about her small stature and femininity.

It was like seeing a father on a camping trip with his beloved daughter.

There was an almost surprising amount of kindness in his demeanor.

“Take off your socks and shoes first. Quickly.”

“D-don’t rush me… Just turn around for a second.”

Maintaining his smile, Rohan leaned his Long Sword against the uneven wall and took the spare Supply Long Sword.

Ichinose looked at Rohan several times as he gathered materials for firewood, then sat down and took off her mud-stained shoes and damp socks.

Small, white feet, wet from the rain.

Somehow, it felt like a part of her body that shouldn’t be shown to the opposite sex, so the girl kept wiggling her toes.

“Ahem…! Here.”

“Then I’ll just make the embers and go.”

“Okay.”

Rohan’s skillful movements left no room for Ichinose to help.

She just stood around, unable to do anything.

After silently gathering tinder and laying the foundation, Rohan tucked his muddy shoes and socks under his arm.

He took the Honbird and Long Sword in his hands and walked outside.

He seemed excited to have a good opportunity to wash off the blood, as he had been asking for.

As he strode towards the entrance, Rohan added one more thing as if he just remembered.

“Even if your clothes get wrinkled, it’s good to wring them out once. Don’t rely on mana and catch a cold.”

The sound of his footsteps faded away.

Ichinose watched the embers and silently stood up.

Indeed… to maintain body temperature, I should wring out my clothes once…

Moving away from the embers Rohan had made, she grabbed the hem of her skirt and wrung it out. Water trickled down.

And then she realized.

The image that could only be seen with eyes.

A white shirt, so her underwear…

Even though she was wearing a t-shirt underneath, the outline was faintly visible.

A sight that would be sufficiently visible to those with mana, even in the dark.

DId it look like that to Rohan all this time?

“…”

Her hands trembled as she unbuttoned her shirt.

Was that why he interrupted her earlier and told her not to take it off?

Pop! Pop!

Lost in her thoughts, she unbuttoned the shirt.

While feeling embarrassed, Ichinose couldn’t shake off the tension.

Being in her underwear outside, there was a limit to even delinquency.

“Huuuuuu…”

Still, a clear and serene mind.

She exhaled the rising heat and collected herself.

I need to act like it’s nothing…

Before being a woman, she was the proud successor of Cheonocheon and a martial artist.

Would she cower if her clothes were torn in battle? That would only hasten her death.

Let’s be calm.

She had to compose herself.

If she made a fuss and showed her embarrassment, it would be uncomfortable for both her and Rohan.

“Hoo.”

Rohan moved busily in the rain.

He placed his now clean shoes and socks in a spot sheltered from the rain.

He lightly finished preparations by cutting tough leaves, reminiscent of banana leaves, to collect rainwater.

Now he took his dagger. He dismantled the Honbird.

Cutting it into large pieces and washing them. There was quite a bit.

I wonder how it’ll taste.

As for himself, he’d chew on anything as long as he could fill his stomach.

But for Ichinose to eat it, wouldn’t it have to taste like familiar poultry, like chicken or turkey?

He filled the giant leaves with the cut Honbird.

Holding Ichinose’s socks and shoes in one hand, Rohan called out from the entrance.

“Ichinose. Can I come in?”

─ Uh… Come in!

A voice that, despite giving permission, felt rushed.

Only after entering did Rohan realize the reason.

“!”

He saw the campfire, which had died out after she clumsily stuffed a large amount of firewood into it.

Only ashen smoke rose gently.

“Th, this… So…”

Ichinose, who had been crouched down blowing at the fire, Hoo! Hoo!, raised her head.

Guilt flickered in her golden eyes. Her cute toes were covered in soot.

Rohan couldn’t help but laugh at Ichinose’s appearance.

··

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The campfire was revived by Rohan’s touch.

And the cooking followed immediately.

He skewered the Honbird meat chunks using his Long Sword as a spit.

Cooking with Blazing Blade and the campfire.

Ichinose, who had also quenched her thirst with the water Rohan brought, couldn’t take her eyes off the browning meat.

The girl’s gaze held hesitation about eating a monster.

But her throat gulped, endlessly triggering Rohan’s laughter.

Only Ichinose herself didn’t seem to fully realize it.

Time passed without Ichinose’s concentration breaking.

Rohan checked the perfectly cooked meat by slicing it open with his dagger.

He cut off a Honbird Leg with the dagger, placed it on a leaf, and set it in front of Ichinose.

He even took the first bite himself, acting as a food taster.

“It’s not as good as chicken, but it’s not bad. Try it.”

“I’ll, I’ll enjoy it.”

The girl hesitated, holding the meat, and slowly put it in her mouth.

Chewing like a hamster with her small mouth.

After a few chews, as if it was unexpectedly good, she blinked. She moved her mouth again and swallowed.

“Is it edible?”

“…”

Perhaps embarrassed by her initial hesitation,

Ichinose shyly nodded, her face flushed.

“Eat a lot. Even if it’s just meat, hunger is the best sauce.”

“Those words… I definitely understand.”

Ichinose thanked Rohan and sat down to eat with him.

It was a time when she realized how precious the things she took for granted were, and how terrifying hunger and thirst could be.

He really doesn’t rest, does he?

That was Ichinose’s observation.

Rohan was diligent. He continued working without a single break.

She tried to do something herself, but she didn’t know what to do.

Unable to decide easily, Ichinose started to meticulously wipe the moisture and grease off Rohan’s Long Sword.

After finishing cleaning, she called out to Rohan, who was still working on something.

“Rohan.”

“Yeah?”

The way he turned around at the sound of his name somehow resembled a large dog.

Ichinose, with a faint smile, moved her hips sideways and patted the spot beside her.

“Sit here.”