chapter 6
6 – outing (1)
When I opened my dirty eyes, I saw the ceiling. Pleasant softness and warmth rushed from the back of the nuin. Noticing that it wasn’t so dazzling, I looked out the window, and it was still raining. Compared to yesterday, I didn’t feel so strong.
But my left hand, which was strangely warm, felt strange. Something soft and soft touched my hand.
No, wait. Yesterday I must have been stubborn and slept in the chair –
I barely turned my stiff neck and looked to the side to see her holding her hand and sleeping soundly. With it sandwiched between my cheek and pillow, the wrist I clenched tightly as if I wouldn’t let go was filled with pleasant warmth.
Her glistening white hair tickled her closed eyes and arms. And most of all, what caught my eye was her long ears that twitched to the sound of her quiet breathing. They were droopy, probably from sleeping, but I knew right away that the occasional twitching and short flapping of the ears was not good for the heart.
Dangerous. really.
I tried using a bit of force to get my hand out, but it wouldn’t come off. Rather, my hand was caught, so I had to hold my breath for a moment.
“Kwuu-wook,” she murmured as she held her hand tighter.
“Ugh…”
Her skin, which is soft and fluffy, yet soft as if stroking high-quality fabric, burrows into my hard hand and presses against it. Just like a rabbit in pain when its owner leaves, the image of her approaching me kept pounding my heart.
…Ah, my ears perked up.
Now I even flutter. And at great speed.
I couldn’t see her face, which had sunk with my hand, but I could barely tell by the fact that even the wheezing from breathing had disappeared.
“…Did you sleep well?”
Her ears fluttered along her face as she nodded – she was caught by an outstretched hand. My hands are also very red.
“Then I’ll get up first, so come out slowly?”
Slowly, leaving behind his untied hands, he quietly got up from his seat, went into the bathroom, closed the door, and sat down in his seat. The deafening heartbeat was painful, but I never hated it. No, it was rather good.
A thrilling sensation ran through my body. It was thrilling to see someone with such a beautiful face rubbing his face in my hands like that, making such expressions, and expressing his shame so openly.
Maybe, I’ve done more awesome than I thought.
The touch of these still warm hands! Oh my God, I must have put my hand on the skin, but my hand still held the warmth and touch as if I had touched the soft, warm, freshly made glutinous rice cake with my hand.
By the way, how did I fall asleep next to her? Maybe I moved my body in my sleep… Maybe she did something uncomfortable.
Let’s wash first. Let’s wash and think about the following. But… in the bathroom, there was only a drain, a toilet, a mirror, a small window through which light came in, and a storage cabinet.
There were no utensils or objects to wash the body. I couldn’t even see the capital.
Wait a minute, come to think of it, I said I had to go downstairs and ask for the bath water. Come to think of it, when I was with Paul… I guess it was roughly resolved with cold water friction. So, how do you take a normal bath here?
I felt I had no choice but to ask her, so I pulled the doorknob.
***
“Cleaning your body, you mean.”
My heart was shocked once more when I saw her trying not to get out of bed with the blanket over her, but she pricked her ears to see if she had listened to her question properly.
“Did you bring water by any chance? If you specify a time to receive water downstairs, there is a service that brings water to the front door at the scheduled time every day… but it seems that you did not request it.
Perhaps she couldn’t overcome the heat after all, she lifted up the blanket and folded it to reveal herself, her face blushing. still.
“Well, before that… Excuse me. I don’t think I’ll be able to get Mr. Marcus to sleep in the chair, so I moved him to the bed.”
I want to hear about the reason why you slept holding my hand… but I wonder if it’s okay. let’s not ask that By the way… Then how are we supposed to keep talking and sleeping on the bed together?
“That, in the future… Uh, so… I want you to sleep together on the bed. All, I have no other intentions! It’s okay if it’s uncomfortable! It’s just that… Ahhh…”
…Is he aware of what he said?
I tried to ignore her heart beating, and I scolded her because I felt like I needed to hear the answer to the question I was about to ask.
“Then. Can you tell me how to clean yourself?”
“Ah… yes. Hmmm, so – they bring you a wooden bucket full of hot water and several long towels at once. Then you can take it to the bathroom, wet the towel and wipe yourself. Do you understand?”
It’s kind of complicated, but it didn’t seem that difficult. Wipe the body with a towel soaked in water… It’s an awkward way, but there’s nothing you can’t do.
“Ah, thank you. Then-“
“That, and!”
She turned her back and called me to open the door and stopped me.
“Horse… I think you can leave it to me… I think.”
When I saw her, I finally had to smile. A very bright smile too. I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand, but to no avail. She had already seen my face and turned red like a tomato, so she pulled the blanket over again.
“I’ll be back soon, then. I’m waiting for a moment.”
After holding the room key and locking the door, I walked a few steps and finally had to hold my face with my hand. The smile won’t stop from before. The shyness was so lingering in my mind that I couldn’t seem to get rid of it. My facial muscles hurt and I had to rub my cheekbones with my hands.
“Letting go, what is that… Ha, really. It drives people crazy, really.”
***
After wiping off my body, I definitely felt much refreshed than before. The warmth remaining on my body was also pleasantly rising. However, I didn’t like the frizzy hair. Is there no soap?
She had just washed and was wearing the same clothes she had worn yesterday. I had my spare set of clothes ready, but none of hers. This might be a bit difficult.
“Thanks to that, I was able to clean up. Thank you.”
I waved my hand and removed the chair to her who still sticks to the honorific.
“No, no. There’s no need to say thank you to each and every one of them. Didn’t you decide to let go of that…?”
Shaking her head, she asked me again.
“You’ve put the words well, but there’s something wrong… No, no way, I shouldn’t have to let go, right?”
That’s right. When I smiled once, she was frightened and stretched out her hands and shook them wildly.
“No, no, no! I can’t do that! How could I! No!”
I decided to tease her a little while ago, who boasted of her serious cuteness. Would it be okay if it was like this? I want to see her reaction too.
“Or not. I don’t like it when one side is respectful and the other side is letting go. If Ellie doesn’t stop talking, there’s no reason for me to either.”
“I-I think that… that’s too much, but… I’ve already received a lot of consideration, but if I receive more than this, I really have nothing to worry about. Please, please do as you please.”
As you like, la. Then where should I push a little more?
“Then come on, let go.”
“Uh, uhhh… that, that’s not possible! I can’t concede this much. It’s true. I’d appreciate it if you would consider it my bare minimum courtesy. I’m really, really sorry…”
However, contrary to the reaction I expected, I was rather taken aback when I lowered my back and my ears sank. Even though I didn’t want this reaction.
So I gave up teasing early and put her in the seat. I’m glad you calmed down quickly.
Once I needed to go shopping with her. So – grocery shopping. I had to buy her clothes, prepare weapons and armor suitable for her, and buy food while doing so. It would be a good time to look around while buying necessary items and asking her about the information I needed.
It’s because I realized that exploring dungeons is not an easy task because of ‘the past’.
I still get goosebumps thinking about it, but fortunately, unlike then, I have at least one person to trust.
To be honest, she can’t betray me. As long as there is a contract, I will not harm her and she will be loyal to me.
Because of her, I will be able to know this world more. Unlike that damn bounty, you’ll learn a lot of accurate information. If possible, you may learn to write as soon as possible.
…Ah, did I bruise too long? When I suggested going out for the purpose of preparing for the dungeon exploration to the girl who tilted her head, she showed a little hesitation.
“Wouldn’t it cost a lot of money?”
“I don’t have to worry about money. I’m not trying to be ostentatious, but it’s going to be okay since we have enough money to live on for a few weeks.
“Then, I’ll try to approach it economically as much as possible. I know of a few shops with good value for money. I’ve heard of places that adventurers often go to. And, after all, don’t they stop talking?”
“…If you keep telling me to let go, I’ll make sure to let you go too, so I know that.”
When I said that, I opened my mouth and shut it. If you look cute in every action you do, what should you do? No, perhaps this must be because she is overwhelmingly cute.
Looking at her with a smile, her ears rang. However, seeing that she was also trying to smile, I felt that the awkwardness between them was somewhat reduced.
The clouds were clearing outside and the sun was slowly coming in.
Then, where shall we go?