episode_0016

‘Was that too much…?’

Mirnan, her face buried in Owen’s chest, blushed.

The warmth and embarrassment she felt now.

Not knowing how she would cope if she pulled her face away, she kept holding Owen.

-Woosh

She had never had this kind of contact before, so she didn’t know… but his body was surprisingly good.

The fine muscles could be felt through the cloth with her fingertips.

She hadn’t known why so many people liked muscular bodies before, but now she felt like she understood.

‘When should I pull away.’

As much as she wanted, she wanted to stay like this forever.

But as is the way of the world, too much becomes poison.

She tried to pull her arms away and step back-

-Swoosh

Her body stiffened at the hand quietly stroking her hair.

Mirnan trembled once at the strange sensation rising from her dantian to the tip of her head.

‘Why suddenly?!’

Stiffened, she screamed inwardly.

More from unfamiliarity than astonishment.

More from liking it than being surprised.

Just like that, she closed her eyes.

She tried to maintain this state, but-

“…Thank you, Mirnan-ssi.”

“Mo-l….”

Lost in other thoughts, the words came out with a strange pronunciation.

Perhaps because her mouth was tightly shut, her tongue stiffened.

At that sight, Owen smiled faintly.

“Haha, what’s that. Mirnan-ssi.”

“…Be quiet.”

It was the same smile as usual, but perhaps because it was right after the hug?

She somehow couldn’t look straight at him.

The face she had looked at without much thought now looked handsome.

No, if she thought about it, he was handsome.

It was because of his mischievous smile or squinted eyes, but it was a face that nine out of ten would call handsome.

Since she couldn’t make proper eye contact, Owen suddenly leaned his face in.

“Wh-what!?”

“I was wondering if you were sick. Haha.”

“A co-cold. The weather’s cold these days-”

“You’re wearing short clothes for that though?”

His expression had returned to normal.

Just before, when he was talking about his past, he hadn’t used a suspicious smile or strange way of speaking.

…Come to think of it, it was natural.

He had been chased by the Holy Kingdom since childhood, and once captured and tortured in various ways, he said.

Physical scars weren’t left, but the mental scars must have been extreme.

-Stroke

She carefully stroked the back of his hand, which was clean but had calluses here and there.

Through the small action, she could empathize with his feelings.

“Mirnan-ssi.”

“Speak.”

“Again, thank you.”

“For what.”

“Just for various things. Especially for worrying about me, perhaps?”

“……”

Thank you.

That was something she should be saying.

If it hadn’t been for Owen, she would have continued to live receiving treatment less than human in [Fox’s Den].

And the daily life of living by treating people like this would have been something she couldn’t even dream of.

There was a lot she wanted to say, but she couldn’t open her mouth.

However, her feelings were conveyed through their clasped hands.

Not overly, but at an appropriate density.

“……”

“……”

Without a word, she looked at the moon beyond the ceiling.

Under the silent stillness and emotional moonlight, the atmosphere gradually became awkward.

“Hmm.”

The one who broke the silence first was Owen.

Carefully letting go of their clasped hands, he spoke first.

“Shall we go now?”

“……Yes.”

When Owen took a step, I did.

Following one step behind.

Beyond the distant yet close distance, the gap was continuously maintained.

‘It’s still too early, isn’t it.’

The feelings she held for Owen.

Given the special circumstances and the heightened atmosphere, she didn’t want to talk about them.

Wishing that someday she could convey these feelings calmly.

Wishing that someday Owen would feel the same way about her.

-Stomp -Stomp

A night with a bright moon.

A night where a gentle breeze passed by.

Unrefined emotions quietly lingered.

***

After parting ways with Mirnan, the streets were deserted, perhaps because people were flocking towards Bank’s hideout.

Lately, it seemed like I hadn’t seen people on the streets.

-Stomp -Stomp

Many thoughts crossed my mind as I walked towards my residence.

Things to do in the future, or the demonic energy that had been replenished after returning from the Demon World.

The thought that occupied me the most was Mirnan.

‘……This is troublesome.’

Now I could tell.

What form the feelings Mirnan had for me took.

How deep their depth was.

But I couldn’t answer those feelings right away.

There were too many things I had to do to pour my heart into Mirnan.

Firstly, sending Edith to the academy.

Sending her to the academy when she turns twenty would allow me to align with the starting point of the main story.

Until then, I had to meet the minimum requirements for admission.

“Hmm.”

Thinking various thoughts, I arrived at my destination before I knew it.

The collapsed wall was blocked by rough wooden planks.

And the door with a hole in it was also reinforced with planks.

The person who would do this while I was away.

There was only one.

-Creak

When I opened the door and went inside-

-Whoosh -Huff

Edith, doing push-ups, came into view.

Seeing her training like this even when alone.

Considering her age, she must be about seventeen, which was admirable.

She was sweating and struggling, but she didn’t stop.

-Shake -Shake

Her arms were trembling and her breathing was getting faster.

And then

-Thud

She fell prone just like that.

“You’re working hard.”

Seeing her push herself to the limit even when no one was watching.

Her muscles hadn’t developed yet, so she would experience severe muscle soreness, but she was working hard as if she wanted to do something.

“Huh?”

Hearing my voice, Edith finally turned her head towards the entrance.

Hair soaked with sweat, and eyes shining like obsidian.

Edith looked at me with surprised eyes for a moment, then got up.

-Creak -Squeak

A creaking sound could be heard as she approached, stepping on the shabby wooden planks.

“…Where have you been and just getting back?”

“I went to do volunteer work.”

“……It’s not a lie… Ah, damn.”

-Thump

Edith, who had covered her head for a moment, soon hit her chest with a fist.

Every woman I meet today hits me.

If I met about ten more people, would my ribs break?

Such thoughts were fleeting.

“……”

Edith, who had been hitting me, frowned.

I was about to open my mouth, wondering if there was a problem, but-

“…Perfume smell.”

She stiffened her expression and stared at me coldly.

For some reason, there was a little killing intent in her eyes.

“Who is it?”

“Huh? What are you talking about-”

“You wouldn’t spray perfume. So it must be someone else’s perfume smell. Who is it?”

“Uh……”

Normally, it would have been easy to answer.

But thinking about what happened with Mirnan just now, words wouldn’t come out easily.

…And it felt like I shouldn’t answer honestly either.

I vaguely fumbled for a reply.

“It’s nothing much. I guess the perfume smell rubbed off because of various things today?”

“……You didn’t stop by a brothel, did you?”

“Haha, as if that would happen.”

“……”

Edith, who looked at me silently for a moment, sighed deeply.

It feels like I’m being interrogated.

But.

She soon relaxed her expression, turned around towards the dining table, and said in a small voice.

“……I made dinner.”

“Yes? What did you say?”

“Ah, damn it-”

When I asked back as if I hadn’t heard, Edith shouted sharply.

“I made dinner so eat it!”

“Haha, really?”

Looking at the table, the stew in two plates came into view.

She probably made it with the leftover ingredients from before.

-Scrape

Sitting on the chair and looking closely, the stew was well made for a first attempt.

The vegetables were cut crookedly and freely, and the meat was divided into small and large chunks.

But perhaps because it was boiled well?

The appearance wasn’t too bad.

As I sat down, Edith soon tidied up the surroundings and sat across from me.

And then she stared at me intently as if asking why I wasn’t eating.

However-

“Aren’t there any utensils?”

“Ah.”

There was food, but no utensils to eat it with.

Edith, looking slightly awkward, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly screamed out.

“Eat it with your hands or pick it up and drink it, figure it out yourself!”

“That’s difficult.”

She made it for me for the first time, I couldn’t eat it with my hands.

-Drag

I got up from my seat and went to find utensils.

She made the food, so I guess I should do this much.

Two sets of utensils, one water cup.

I wasn’t particularly thirsty, so I only got Edith’s water cup.

“Here you go.”

“…Sit down quickly, it’s all cold.”

As I sat down again, Edith ate the stew without a word.

Looking at her with satisfaction, I also scooped up the stew and brought it to my mouth.

The seasoning was appropriate, and it was cooked just right.

However-

‘It’s cold.’

It seemed she had made the stew quite a while before I arrived.

It had umami and tasted good, but perhaps because it was cold, it was less flavorful than its original taste.

-Clang

Edith, who had been eating the stew for a moment, put down her spoon and got up as if she wasn’t satisfied.

“I’ll warm it up. Give it to me.”

“No thank you. I’ll keep eating.”

“…Do as you please then.”

I fully understood what she meant.

It was the first time she had served a stew she made herself, so she must have wanted to serve it in the most delicious state.

But it was late anyway.

And her feelings felt warm, so it was okay.

Without a word, I finished the stew completely.

“……How did it taste?”

After finishing the meal, Edith cautiously asked me.

How it tasted, huh.

“It was delicious.”

“Really?”

“I am always sincere. It was more delicious than what they sell at a fancy restaurant. Haha.”

“……It’s not that good.”

It seems she’s still shy about compliments.

She somehow seemed to have similarities with Mirnan.

Lowering her head when she had nothing to say, or blushing.

‘That’s a relief.’

Seeing her like that made me think about what it would have been like if things had gone according to the original story.

A desperate world heading towards a bad ending.

Perhaps because the author had strange tastes, Edith always suffered and became desolate within it, but now, in this moment, that is absolutely not the case.

Why would he torment her so much, someone who blushes and enjoys small happiness?

Seeing her, I made a small resolve.

‘Let’s just focus on one thing for now.’

Send Edith to the academy.

I firmly made up my mind that I had to do everything I could for that, for now.

***

-Stroke

“……What do you mean by that?”

“I have now taught you everything I can teach. If you go to the academy, you will learn much more-”

“I’m not going.”

“……Yes?”

“I said I’m not going.”

Three years later.

When I came holding the academy application form, she said that.

…….

Why?