episode_0172

Who will sleep holding little Ian?

The competition began regardless of Ian’s will.

There were no words.

It’s real life.

The sport is rock, paper, scissors.

The reason for turning back is simple.

Not only Kati, but also Helena and Lucia can now predict what will come out by looking at the other person’s wrist movements.

So, turn around, close your eyes, and play rock-paper-scissors overhead.

This is a method where one referee confirms which side won.

Ian felt dizzy as he watched the women recalling the rules in a solemn and solemn way.

‘… ‘When did you make something like this?’

The first match is Vivian and Helena.

The two stood back to back.

The judge is Mercy.

“It is a best-of-three game.”

The person who wins the most people wins the prize.

Vivian and Helena closed their eyes and took a slow breath.

They were even noble, like the last warriors of a religious war in the name of God.

‘Why are you so serious? .’

Ian was out of time.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

So, everyone took turns playing rock, paper, scissors with each other, and it ended after quite a long time.

The final winner is.

“Yaaagh-!”

It was Helena.

She roared loudly.

A defeated Lucia sat down on the ground, hit the ground, and glared at Helena.

“Helena This guy… . How dare you defeat my sister… ?”

Likewise, Vivian, a loser, bit her fingernails and muttered.

“Why not me? Why not me? Why not me?”

Mercy, burned white, collapsed helplessly on the bed, and Kati looked down at her hands with gloomy eyes.

Ian didn’t do anything.

However, for some reason, I felt anxious and responsible because I felt like this scene was because of me.

‘… ‘Is it because of me?’

Now he is starting to get confused too.

Rather than being confused, it may be that you understand it right away.

“I, Ian… !”

As if asking when she had roared, Helena hesitated and looked down at Ian.

Ian still felt awkward looking up at Helena.

“Now, thank you… !”

Ian grabbed his forehead and asked back, wishing he wouldn’t say something like that.

“… What on earth.”

“Well, if you ask me what it is, it’s the first time we spent together… uh… .”

“Stop.”

Lucia glared at Helena with sparkling eyes.

“Don’t say any more than that.”

“… … .”

Helena froze in silence, then slowly lifted her arm and sniffed.

I was worried that my body would smell.

“I just took a shower… .”

“Wait a minute. I never agreed to this… .”

“… … .”

Closed door.

Opponents are five.

Four of them are now impossible to defeat even if their original strength returns.

Even Mercy is not guaranteed to win with her younger body.

Helena, the person involved, was ready to cry immediately if Ian had truly refused.

Ian naturally had to change his words.

“… No, but what does my opinion matter?”

Only then did everyone feel relieved.

‘Yes, this is probably my karma too…’ .’

Helena, who lay down on the bed first, glanced at Ian and then covered her head with the blanket.

Ian took a step away from the bed and hesitated.

‘Is this right?’

At that time, Lucia sneakily approached me and whispered like a devil.

“Ian. Actually, isn’t Ian’s opinion the most important? So, if you don’t like it, say no and go to my bed… .”

“No-!”

Helena pulled back the blanket and stood up.

“It’s already been decided! This is cheating!”

Lucia stuck out her tongue and shrugged her shoulders.

“What, I was just asking Ian’s thoughts?”

“Profit… ! Come here!”

Helena quickly pulled Ian’s wrist.

He was dragged away without any time to react and lay down on the bed with Helena.

The posture was that they were facing each other.

Although she couldn’t see Ian buried in Helena’s chest, Helena smiled at her sisters like a proud winner.

“… … .”

Lucia and Mercy gritted their teeth at that, and Katy looked at Ian’s small back and turned his head.

Vivian muttered helplessly.

“Ha… . What can I do by looking at it, it only hurts my heart… . I’ll turn off the fire… .”

Eventually, each person returned to their own bed, and the lights in the room were turned off.

The awkward darkness and silence subsided.

Although he threw Ian down with great force, Helena froze in the position of hugging him.

“Breath… It’s blocked… yo. this… .”

When Ian barely spoke, he flinched and pulled away.

“Sin, sorry… .”

The two whispered softly so that only each other could hear.

Since it was time to sleep in the room we all shared, it was a natural thing to do.

But that natural action somehow seemed to have turned the bed into a space just for the two of them.

Helena felt a strange tickling sensation and looked down at Ian in her arms.

She was the shortest and most petite of the group.

For Helena, who had a height difference of only 30cm between Ian and Ian, he was too big of a person.

Ian has now become so small that he can fit comfortably in his arms.

My face was slightly red and my eyes were moist because I was out of breath.

The frowning face, as if dissatisfied with this situation, stimulated sadism.

Helena ignored those evil feelings.

“Ian… .”

When Helena whispered, Ian also whispered and answered.

“Yes.”

The distance was so close that only each other’s whispers could be heard.

Helena asked, facing his face so close that it almost touched him.

“Really, you don’t smell anything?”

Ian sniffed reflexively, then paused.

The face that met Helena showed embarrassment and shame.

It was the same with Helena.

Seeing someone trying to smell me right in front of me was so embarrassing that I didn’t know what to do.

But somehow, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

No, rather more… .

“… It really doesn’t work.”

“Is that so? Well, I’m glad I washed it, but I was worried because I was moving around so violently and touching so many injured people… .”

“There is absolutely no need to worry. The scent of just-washed soap… Oh, no.”

“… … .”

Ian said.

What do you smell like?

As he pictured his body scent penetrating his senses, his lips became dry.

When I licked my lips without realizing it, Ian got nervous when he saw the movement of my tongue.

Helena felt dizzy at the sight that seemed to test her patience.

We shouldn’t talk any further than this.

Let’s go to sleep sooner.

“Oh, good night. I hope you have a nice dream.”

Ian, who hesitated, said.

“… Sleep well, Helena too.”

At that moment, Helena hugged Ian tightly, trying to suppress the urge to explode.

Just imagining it was extremely blasphemous.

My heart is beating like it’s going to explode.

It is certain that Ian, who is buried, will hear it.

Even though I knew that, I couldn’t bring myself to look at his face right now.

I could feel Ian breathing, barely able to find a breathing hole.

My heavy yet careful breathing heats my clothes.

Ian’s arms, which were wrapped around him, were vaguely holding Helena.

Ian, who hesitated a few times, had no choice but to hug Helena comfortably.

He had no choice anyway.

Helena felt like her body was going to twist at the feeling of being locked.

Helena closed her eyes tightly.

Ian’s hair that touches under his chin is soft.

He also smells like soap.

Because it is a supply item, the scent is the same as yours.

But somehow it seemed like a different scent.

The two were quiet, and no one was talking in the room.

However, the remaining four continued to listen without falling asleep.

What are these two talking about?

I was busy guessing what he would do when he heard the sound of cloth rubbing.

It was a silent and noisy night.

*

Not long after saying goodnight to each other, Helena cautiously called out to Ian.

“Ian… ?”

“Yes.”

“I can’t sleep… .”

In fact, so did Ian.

It was his first time sleeping with someone like this.

It’s natural for them to be buried in your arms due to their small size, and it’s also their first time sleeping together without a specific purpose.

I have slept with Mercy or Sylvia in my arms.

The purpose was to soothe the trauma of those two.

There were several times when Katy crawled in and slept with Ian while he was asleep.

However, there was no particular purpose, and the situation of sleeping in someone’s arms was very unfamiliar.

Aside from all that, Helena’s heartbeat is too loud.

It’s almost north.

“First, calm down.”

“… Did you hear everything?”

“How can I not hear when it’s this loud? Even Lucia, far away, can be heard.”

“… … .”

Helena’s heart became louder.

Ian was so dumbfounded that he laughed.

I couldn’t see its face because it was buried in my arms, but it was probably bright red.

Ian patted Helena on the back.

Slow, weak, gentle.

“Close your eyes, don’t think about anything.”

Although he is young, his voice, slightly lowered because he is whispering, seeps into my ears.

A voice like a dream, a hand that pats soothingly.

It reminded me of memories with my parents that I had forgotten.

She, who was loved and lived an ordinary life, was forced to live harshly.

It’s been a long time since I remembered my parents.

Ian was similar to him.

He is a god, a protector, like a parent, and also someone he loves… .

My heart calmed down without me even realizing it.

Tears flowed from my closed eyes, but neither Helena nor Ian knew it.

Helena simply entrusted her consciousness to the precious warmth in her arms and the hands patting her.

The moment I talked to Sisyphus and made a promise came to mind like a dream.

Aria seemed to have realized a lot and changed after talking with the pilgrim, but… I’m not sure about Helena.

Even if it is absurd, life is about just enduring and moving on.

It was hard to accept.

My parents died, I was ostracized at the monastery, and I endured such absurdity.

Although I met Ian in the end, it was happiness in the end.

This is not to ignore Sisyphus’ argument.

Helena knows full well that she is not as gifted as others.

The learning is not long or deep.

So it’s just an area you don’t understand.

Although Sisyphus respected Sisyphus, Helena thought differently.

I will fight against that absurdity head on and destroy it.

I pledged to become a shield that protects Ian from the threats of the world.

Helena wants only one thing.

Ian’s safe and sound.

There was nothing more I could wish for.

Helena unconsciously hugged Ian deeper.

The small warmth that touched my chest was planted in my heart.

Feeling the warmth, Helena fell into a deeper sleep with a loose smile and tears in her eyes.

Ian’s hand that was tapping Helena slowly slowed down.

His consciousness gradually sank into sleep.

Helena’s calm heartbeat beat pleasantly in my ears.

The senses of my younger body have become duller than before.

I was a little uneasy about that.

However, in this room with Helena and others, there was no need to feel anxious at all.

There was no need to worry.

How long has it been since you felt safe in bed?

It’s been a long time since I was thrown into this unfamiliar place.

Although I adapted, I was never comfortable in this world.

I felt uncomfortable, somewhat anxious, and anxious at every moment.

Not now.

In a quiet, dark room.

All you have to do is fall asleep, immersed in Helena’s body temperature and soapy scent.

There is no need to worry about unexpected dangers.

house.

The return and peaceful home I had longed for so much in the past.

Ian inadvertently considered this place home.

It was my first feeling after coming to this world.

If I were sober, I would never have admitted it, but my consciousness becoming looser in my sleep was quite honest.

‘It’s comfortable and warm… .’

***

It was quite late in the morning when I woke up.

I don’t know the time, but I could tell that I slept very deeply.

A quiet and peaceful room, the sound of chirping birds, a hazy yet refreshing feeling. Things like that.

He must have been tossing and turning in his sleep, so his back was to Helena.

Helena put her arm under my shoulder and hugged me tightly.

“… … .”

I slowly opened my eyes.

Sunlight shining from the window illuminated the room.

And then, Vivian’s happy smiling face greeted me right in front of me.

Light green eyes barely visible between narrow, curved eyes and freckles that make her look young.

I don’t know how long this has been going on, but it was clear that he hadn’t just arrived.

And I realized one more thing.

As my body got younger, my senses became duller.

In the past, I would have realized that Vivian had come this close before I even woke up.

“… What is it?”

I asked in a quiet voice.

Instead of answering, Vivian said.

-side.

He kissed my cheek lightly.

“Did you sleep well?”

The quietly whispered question is somehow cozy.

I was half asleep and didn’t have the energy to protest.

I slept well.

Other than passing out while on the brink of death, I don’t know how long it’s been since I last had a good night’s sleep.

Maybe it’s because my senses have become dull and I start to neglect my guard even while I sleep.

Or maybe it’s because I sleep protected in someone’s arms… .

“Okay.”

“I was so sad that I didn’t sleep well.”

“… … .”

“It’s so lovely, but I can’t keep it in my arms… .”

“Don’t tell scary jokes… .”

“Do you think this is a joke?”

“… … .”

Although he is smiling, he is infinitely serious.

I just closed my eyes and lay down right away.

“I’m still sleepy.”

Vivian smiled brightly and placed her lips on my cheek again.

“Sleep more.”

Those lips came close to touching my ear.

Vivian whispered sweetly.

“Don’t turn towards Helena. I’m dying of jealousy.”

“… … .”