I Reject the villain’s ending.

Episode 18.

Diane, having tended to the two rabbits, stuck a stick into the campfire and spoke to Iros.

‘So, you were upset earlier because the holy woman grabbed my clothes and hid behind them, right?’

Gimlet. Iros’s eyebrows moved.

His seemingly innocent eyes turned sharp.

‘What are you trying to say?’

‘You’re right. You’re grumpy because the Saint is so close to me.’

‘…….’

Iros glared at Diane but didn’t deny it.

Diane smirked at him.

‘Anyway, it’s one thing for the saint to tame the temple’s wild dogs, but it’s another for that murderous little brat to be so mild-mannered.’

‘If you say that in front of the holy woman, she won’t let you off the hook.’

‘Yes. I’m an obedient sword in the presence of a saint, but only the saint knows how terrifying you are, and I’d kill for a glare. I’ll burn you, not your rabbit meat.’

Diane raised her hands in a gesture of surrender.

In the meantime, the meat was cooked, lunch was ready, and everyone sat down to eat.

The mood was one of ‘Will we be okay with this group? The mood was jovial as if the thought had never crossed my mind.

Sierra, who I’d expected to have a fussy palate and an even fussier temper, was surprisingly unflappable.

Mei was a lively addition to the conversation here and there, and Eldrakis, who had been a bit of a thorn in her side at first, wasn’t so prickly now.

Diane had always been the kind of person who could fit in anywhere, and Iros was suddenly back to his normal self.

‘At this rate, we should be able to make it to Elotta without any problems.

… they thought as they enjoyed the feast.

That evening, that thought was shattered.

‘It’s a long way to the city, and it’s getting dark, so we’ll have to camp for the night.’

Iros said as he tied his horse to a tree, scanning the surroundings. Diane nodded as he secured the wagon as well.

‘The priestess and her maid will sleep in the wagon, the rest of us in sleeping bags. Iros and I will take turns on the fire watch.’

‘Right.’

Dinner was a light supper of sandwiches prepared by Mei and bread brought in earlier, and everyone prepared for bed.

The carriage was large enough to sleep in with a little bending of the knees, and the chairs were cushioned, so sleeping was no problem.

Just as I was settling in for the night, I heard a knock on the door and Iros’s voice.

‘Do you mind if I come in for a moment?’

‘Sure.’

The door opened and Iros entered the carriage, his back to the moonlight, and sat down on his knees in front of me, pulling the blanket over me.

‘Don’t kick the quilt, and be a good girl.’

‘Pink, do I look like a child to you?’

‘You’re two years younger than me, and you were a tiny little thing when I first met you.’

‘Hmm. Never mind. Let’s not talk.’

He’s obviously over his anger because he’s back to his usual, wordless self.

‘I’m just going to check my stuff and go for a walk.’

‘Okay. Bye.’

Iros leans in front of me, looking a little more relaxed as Mei exits the carriage.

‘I’m going to make sure you’re asleep before I leave, so go to sleep.’

‘How can anyone sleep when you’re staring at them like that?’

I said and drifted off to sleep.

The touch on my back was so familiar that I fell asleep in a very short time.

When I woke up again, I was surprised to find the hand still on my back and the even breathing coming from the front.

‘But why is she still patting me on the back?

I lay there pretending to be asleep, unable to open my eyes at the sight in front of me.

At that moment, Iros moved.

A squeak. The floor of the carriage shifted, and I could feel the warmth of his body in the slightly cooler air.

‘Huh? Why?

He hadn’t opened his eyes to pretend to be asleep, but he was panicking as he felt Iros approaching.

Palpitations. Iros stopped so close I could hear his heartbeat.

I thought my heart would stop too.

‘I can feel his breathing.

Goosebumps rose on my cheeks as his warm breath tickled the fur on my cheeks.

The cool water tasted of sweet mint with a hint of coolness.

Wheeze, wheeze.

I squeezed my eyes shut tighter as we shared a breath.

If I didn’t, my eyes would open at any moment.

‘Saint, are you sleeping?’

‘Yes. I’m asleep, so stop checking and get out of here!

‘Are you sleeping, Sierra?’

Why does this pink thing keep calling me by my first name when she used to trip over stones during the day?

He had never called me by name before.

I was muttering to myself, embarrassed by the proximity, when Iros smirked.

‘You sleep surprisingly well for someone who looks like she couldn’t sleep in a carriage. For someone who looks like she’s been bred for life.’

I thought, listening to the low, quiet muttering.

Does that mean I’m too ugly, or does it mean I’m so nervous I can sleep anywhere?

Is it a compliment or an insult?

As I pondered this for a while, something soft touched my forehead and then fell away with a clatter.

‘……??’

It took me a moment to realize what had just happened to my forehead.

‘What the hell just happened?

As I panicked and wondered if I should open my eyes or not, Iros leaned down and whispered in my ear.

‘Sleep well, my saint.’

‘…….’

With the small sound of the carriage door slamming shut, I blinked open my eyes and froze in my lying position.

I think… I think… I think Iros likes me.

‘Holy shit, that’s insane!

How could Iros, who in the future will lead the other Guardians and the people of the Temple join the Revolutionary Army and slit my throat!

‘No way, he’d kill the girl he likes, that’s not possible.’

So Iros must not like me, something is very wrong.

‘What the hell is going on?

I wish someone would explain it to me. I desperately need an explanation for this situation.

Maybe the dictionary meaning of the word ‘like’ has changed without my knowledge.

Or maybe it doesn’t mean heterosexual love at all, but rather a pure liking between dog and owner, or animal and owner?

Why don’t puppies sometimes run up to their owners and kiss them because they’re happy to see them?

‘Aha, yeah, that’s what it means, because I’m the owner and he’s my dog.

I don’t think that’s a sane thing to think about, but I’ve never thought about any other relationship than that.

I’m sure it’s the same with Iros.

He was picked up off the street from the very first meeting, so our relationship was already defined as owner and stray.

‘Ugh, I’m surprised you thought it meant something else. Let’s stop thinking about it and get some sleep.’

I buried my face in my pillow and pulled the covers over me, embarrassed that I’d drunk the kimchi soup because I’d been singing Iros’s innocent goodnight to myself.

Suddenly, the door creaked open and Mei, who had been absent for a while, entered.

‘Holy Sister, are you asleep already?’

‘No.’

‘What did your guardian say?’

‘He’s been nagging me as usual.’

‘Oh, really?’

‘Mei, why do you look so disappointed?’

Mei peeked out from under the covers and looked at me with wide-open eyes.

‘I guess your guardian isn’t as passive as I thought.’

‘……?’

I shook my head, the fatigue of a long day of traveling in a carriage washing over me.

‘Let’s get some sleep. Aren’t you tired?’

‘I’m very tired. You should get some sleep, too.’

‘Okay. Sweet dreams.’

She lowered her heavy eyelids, full of sleepiness, and drifted off to sleep. A little while later, I heard Mei snoring loudly.

‘…….’

But why can’t I sleep like this?

I tried tossing and turning with my eyes closed, my body screaming with fatigue, but no matter how much time passed, I was only tired, not asleep.

‘Maybe I’m just too tired to fall asleep, but I fell asleep so quickly when I was with Iros earlier.

I have a strange premonition that I won’t be able to sleep all night. Why do I have days like that? ‘Oh, I can’t sleep tonight.

It seems like it’s today.

‘Phew. I should go for a walk.’

Maybe I’ll feel better once I get some air, so I throw a shawl over my shoulders and get out of the carriage.

Squeak. I opened the carriage door and stepped out, a fresh spring breeze ruffling the hair on my cheeks.

I could see Iros’ back to the crackling scarlet bonfire, clutching a pure white sword.

‘Pink.’

I muttered softly, and as if he heard me, Iros slowly turned his head to look at me.

Her pretty face, shadowed by a warm orange glow, softened into a faint smile.

‘Saint.’

I walked over and sat down lightly on the log where Iros was sitting.

A faint warmth radiated from the fire.

‘Are you standing by the fire?’

‘Yes. Why did you come out when you were asleep?’

‘I woke up and couldn’t go back to sleep.’

When I was younger, I slept on roofs, stables, chimneys, and spider-crawling attics as long as I put my head down.

Now that I’ve been living in the temple and sleeping in a nice bed, I’m having trouble sleeping.

‘You said you’re used to camping,’ I said, ‘but are you sleepwalking?’

‘I thought I could sleep anywhere.’

I muttered apologetically, and Iros turned his head and smirked.

‘Next time, we’ll find a town and sleep in an inn.’

‘Yuck. Why are you standing on the fire now, anyway? I thought Diane was supposed to go first.’

‘…….’

‘……?’

The one who’d been tight-lipped and averting his eyes when Iros’s face came into view spoke in a low, almost inaudible voice.

‘…I can’t sleep because we always sleep together and then I try to sleep alone.’

‘What, Foot. You just told me you’re sleeping around?’

The giggle made Iros blush a little, whether from the bonfire or embarrassment.

‘Don’t laugh.

‘Ahahahaha.’

‘Don’t laugh, really.’

I stroked Iros’s head as he peeked out from under his crane and laughed heartily.

I usually slept on my bed, and he leaned against mine, but sleeping separately like this must have been hard for him.

I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve sat next to him, but I let my guard down and dozed off.

I glanced over to see him blinking slowly before my eyes closed completely in sleep.

I closed my eyelids and listened to the buzzing of grasshoppers, and fell into a very short sleep.