episode_0066

Maibaon city center.

Despite the darkness of the night before the sun rose, the wide alleys leading out of the city were packed with citizens. They were all gathered to see the one and only leader of the vigilante group who was about to go on a mission and who had the nickname of the city’s savior. From the elderly to children holding their parents’ hands, each had their own way of covering their bare skin to protect themselves from the cold.

And inside a building not far from here, Mila crouched down on a rather low chair and coughed.

“Don’t move. It’s spreading.”

Memer said as he applied pigment to Mila’s eyes with a fine brush made of animal hair and a weasel comb.

“The cloak is too tight around my neck… . Do I really have to wear something like this?”

Mila grumbles, rubbing her neck as the gleaming plate armor covering her entire body creaks.

“I have to live up to the expectations of the people waiting outside. It suits you well, but what? Lift your chin a little.”

Putting down the brush, Memer takes out a wider brush from the small container, dips it in bright apricot-colored stone powder, and gently applies it to the edges of Mila’s cheeks.

“I never thought there would come a day when I would put makeup on my face. Ugh… My nose is ticklish.”

Mila sniffled, feeling like she was going to sneeze.

“What’s up, Ray? Look here. Are you okay?”

Memer stops brushing and turns to look at Ray.

“Ray… ?”

When he doesn’t respond, Memer calls his name again.

“Huh? Sorry. Did you call me?”

Ray raises his head with a start and answers with wide eyes.

“Phew… What does this woman’s face look like with makeup on?”

Memer said with a sly smile.

“Uh… . So… … .”

‘I liked you. No, I still like you.’

Ray, who was completely absorbed in thinking about last night’s events, shook his head.

“… It’s like a different person. It’s so strange… … .”

It was quite different from the makeup that women used to wear in their previous lives, but her facial features were more distinct and her face looked more dignified.

“Right? My talent is to make even a dull face come alive. If you’re interested, I’ll teach you. You’re pretty even with a bare face, but makeup is a basic quality for men.”

“Nothing much to do… .”

The corners of her mouth, which had risen at Ray’s praise, lowered again.

“I’m so full. I don’t even know how lucky I am to have met a man who doesn’t show his face.”

Memer says a word to Mila, who is looking sullen, while moving the brush delicately.

“Is that so… … ?”

Mila’s expression brightened again immediately. If she really thought that way, she was born with great luck.

“Aren’t you saying that you can’t see the face? Someone like Mila would be okay… Isn’t it hidden?”

Ray spoke in a tone of uncertainty, as he still hadn’t fully grasped the world’s standards of beauty. When he saw his reflection in the water, he felt embarrassed, but he thought he was quite a handsome boy, so he could understand the reactions of those around him, but it was difficult to admit that Milla’s face was that flawed.

“Woohoohoo, that’s right.”

Mila, whose mouth is hanging from her ear.

“… Looks like he’s got his eyes set on something. Or maybe he just has a weird taste.”

Memer made a sullen expression. He took a step back and looked closely at Mila’s face.

“Ugh.”

And it spits out a short, hurtful sound effect.

“Where are everyone else now?”

Ray asks cautiously.

“We are waiting outside the city after preparing. We will leave as soon as the leader finishes his march.”

Kyle, standing unarmed, said.

“Ahhh… … .”

Ray nodded. Somewhere in his heart, he felt extremely uneasy.

“I will definitely prove that I am a great woman who will not bow down to that man. I will show you that I can protect you at any time and make you as happy as that woman.”

“So just wait a minute. Okay? I know it’s shameless, but still.”

After Latia poured out her words, I felt a little uneasy at Ray’s silence that seemed to last forever, not even giving me a moment to feel relieved that she had finally let out all the words she had been holding inside.

“Ray… … ?”

“Uh, that’s… well… … .”

Ray stutters, his face red.

“This is my first time receiving a confession… I don’t know how to react.”

It was true. Including my previous life where I was mostly the one confessing, and in this life where I ended up dating Mila, I never once received a serious confession. Of course, I excluded the case where I was suspected of being a prostitute.

“Really? Uh, how… … ?”

Latia grabs Ray’s shoulder and turns him around, asking. The two blushing boys and girls look at each other’s faces and then simultaneously avert their gaze.

“How could you… . You know better.”

“Ah… Hmm. Hmm.”

Latia coughed slightly as she remembered how, ever since she was a child, she had worked tirelessly to keep the other girls in the village from approaching Ray.

“… I’m sorry.”

“Huh?”

When Ray said that and raised his head, he was surprised to see Latia’s face turned pale.

“Oh, no, no. I was just saying I’m sorry I didn’t notice it sooner.”

“Ahaha. Oh, I see. I’m sorry about that. It’s my fault for being so stupid and not saying anything… ”

Latia scratches her head and sighs in relief.

“I’ll wait.”

“… … !”

Latia looked at Ray’s smiling face and smiled brightly like a child.

“So no matter what happens, please take care of yourself… … .”

He couldn’t finish his sentence because he was buried in Latia’s arms. Latia left Ray alone in that place, looking bewildered, and as if she had exhausted herself from having mustered up too much courage in a short period of time, she felt a surge of shame and left with steps like the wind.

“Something is a little strange today. Is it because you’re sleepy? Anyway, please make sure the baby gets some sleep.”

Memer said, glancing at Mila.

“What, what are you talking about… . I just went to bed early yesterday. Today is the day of the expedition. Surely I’m not some beast. Right? Right? ”

Mila mumbled an excuse with an embarrassed look on her face, then turned to Ray to ask for his consent.

“It’s true that Milla went to bed early. I just went to bed late because I had a lot to think about.”

Ray nods and answers.

“Hehehe, I guess the gentleman outside is worried about going to war. He’s scared that he’ll lose a limb.”

Memer said, reading Ray’s gestures that seemed to indicate that he was restless somewhere.

“That’s it? Don’t worry too much. It’s a fairly large-scale operation, but it won’t be much different from what we’ve done so far.”

Mila, slightly relieved at the fact that she has become the boy’s worry, reassures him.

“Ahahaha… … . You really, really have to be careful. I hope that Milla and her subordinates all return safely without any injuries.”

At Ray’s words, Memer and Mila’s eyes met. They seemed to be the ones who had a pretty face and a pretty heart.

“By the way… How thick are you planning to paint it?”

Mila grumbles as her legs start to go numb from sitting in one place for a long time in uncomfortable clothes.

“It’ll be over soon. How can a person who is the savior of the city have such a pale complexion? Besides, if he were exposed to the cold wind in this weather, his cheeks and nose would turn red and swollen. If he were to just sniffle and have a runny nose, he would look very dignified.”

Memer said, gently rubbing the powdery area with his little finger.

“The city… What? Me, me. I should have exaggerated the rumors a bit… … .”

Mila wiggles one eyebrow.

“Okay, don’t touch your face anymore. What are you talking about? I’ve never touched anything like that. I guess that’s what the locals call me at some point. ”

Memer blew on the tip of his finger and a white powder flew up. He said as he closed the lid of the small cylindrical box containing the stone powder.

“If you say that, it sounds like I’m expecting something incredibly great. In the end, I didn’t accomplish anything here with my abilities, I just lent my name. And anyway, once this expedition is over, that’s the end for me.”

Mila stood up and rubbed her aching joints. The even larger plate armor covering her large chest was even more imposing.

“An analytical attitude is a desirable virtue for a businessman, but you don’t have to be so self-critical. You played a big role in uniting our vigilante group, which had been squabbling countless times. This operation, and many other things that would never have been possible without you.”

Memer answered, neatly organizing her makeup tools.

“What, now?”

As Mila speaks, she raises her hand to scratch her chin, hesitates, and then puts it down awkwardly.

“Was it a little awkward?”

Smiling Memer.

“No, I’m grateful to you too. For accepting us when we had nowhere to go. Thanks to you, I was able to make money to start anew.”

As she says this, Mila gestures for Ray to come closer. As Ray approaches, she holds out her left hand, and Ray naturally places his hand over hers, interlocking his fingers.

“I’ll get back safely. And… As you might have guessed, when this operation is over… … .”

She stares into Ray’s fiery eyes with warm eyes. Mila’s lips tremble as if she is constantly hesitating, giving us a hint of what she is trying to say.

“Okay, wait a minute. Just a minute.”

“Huh?”

Ray intervenes.

“I know what you want to say. So, umm… I just felt really uneasy. If I say that out loud, my luck will be ruined before I even set off.”

Ray, who was not only uncomfortable with the dangerous cliché sticking its weight around between the two, but also a little concerned about Latia’s confession last night, responded to Mila, who was making a bewildered expression.

“Okay. Then… … . You all turn around for a second.”

Mila gives a smile and gives instructions to the other agents inside. Then she turns her head to Ray and approaches him quietly.

“… Ah.”

Ray closes his eyes tightly.

“It’s a shame, but next time we’ll kiss goodbye. Your makeup will be smudged.”

Memer pours cold water on him.

“… … Ugh, just fix it again.”

Mila said, pouting her lips as if she was disappointed.

“Then it’ll take a long time again? I have to think about the rest of the team members waiting outside right now.”

Memer answers with his arms crossed.

“Oh, that’s right. Then I’ll give you this instead.”

Ray takes something out of his pocket and puts it in Mila’s hand. It’s the handkerchief he used.

Mila put the handkerchief in her bosom and jumped up from her seat. She walked briskly to the door, grabbed the doorknob, and pushed it open with all her might.

“Then I’ll be back!”