A gentle sunlight slipped through the crack in the window and started tickling my eyes.
“Ugh…”
What kind of jerk is interrupting my beauty sleep…?
I raised my arm to shield my eyes. To escape that filthy sunlight disturbing my delightful slumber, I dramatically twisted my waist and began rolling on the bed.
After rolling about three times, I finally found the perfect spot where that wicked sunlight couldn’t reach. Satisfaction bubbled inside me, and my lips began to curl up.
…And then.
“Hehe…”
Having rolled all the way here, I suddenly felt a pleasant pressure wrap around my entire body. A sensation completely different from the strange feeling I had before falling asleep, more luxurious, perhaps.
Maybe the blanket has changed?
I reached out to investigate this mystery, and for some reason, it felt solid.
…Was this here on the bed?
I had a small question, but soon shrugged it off.
Hmm, it must be a trick of the mind in my sleep.
Nodding to myself, I kept rubbing my cheeks against whatever was enveloping me.
It should be time to sleep again.
That is… if it weren’t for the tiny noise suddenly breaking the silence in the room.
“Ugh…”
At the sound drifting into my ears and the faint twitching of the blanket, I frowned.
Why is the blanket moving about on its own…?
Determined to stop the squirming blanket, I pulled it tight around myself, and only then did the movement cease.
As I nestled under the blanket with one leg raised, I heard a knock, knock, knock at my ear.
…Why do so many people have to interrupt my sleep?
With a scowl, I muttered in a sleepy voice, “What do you want… huh?”
“…Harang? If you’re awake, can I come in?”
Hmm, judging by the voice, was it Elia?
“Tsk.”
With Elia, I couldn’t speak loudly. We weren’t that close, and aside from the Nameless guy, there was no one around me I could be completely honest with about my feelings.
Of course, that damn little boy was a whole different story.
Talking to that brat somehow always made me lose my cool.
…Anyway.
Since Elia has come to my room, it seems like it was time to get moving, despite my desire to just relax.
“…”
“Harang? Why are you not answering?”
But my body wouldn’t cooperate, instead, it pushed its head deeper into the blanket.
You know that feeling, right?
When your brain knows it should get up, but your body is just like, “Nah, let’s not”?
Haven’t you all experienced that at least once?
…It can’t just be me.
And.
Since I was stuck in this room, no doubt Elia, with her personality, would definitely come in and wake me up.
Since I had no intention of moving right now, that might be the better option.
I let out a small sigh.
At that, the blanket around me stirred again, but I just tilted my head slightly and didn’t pay it much mind.
More than anything.
Right now, I don’t even want to open my eyes.
I truly don’t want to do anything.
…Just leave me alone.
Letting out a deep sigh, I rubbed my cheek against the blanket.
Time passed as I rolled around.
-Slam!
The door swung open, and I heard Elia’s shrill scream follow.
I jolted upright, forcing my bleary eyes open.
“What, what’s going on?!”
“Gah! What’s happening?!”
“No, ugh, Harang! Your clothes! Your clothes! And, and….”
“Oh, my clothes?”
I hastily glanced down and started feeling around my body.
When had I taken them off?
My bandages were loose, and my clothes were half off, exposing my shoulder.
And then.
I slowly turned my head toward the source of the voice.
The Nameless guy, just waking up, was squinting as he assessed the situation.
When our eyes met, his widened in shock, like he’d never seen such a sight before.
“…Master? What’s going on here?”
“Don’t ask me…”
“Wait! Harang and the Nameless guy! What were you two doing?! What about the clean-up…?”
I ignored Elia, who was totally clueless, and focused on the Nameless.
Hmm, but why is his outfit like that?
Thinking about it, it seemed like he had gotten half undressed when I dragged him onto the bed.
Hmm… must be cold.
I stretched out my hand to tidy up his clothes.
“Were you not cold last night?”
“Um? What does that even mean?”
His face flushed bright red as he looked at me with dizzy eyes, but surprisingly, he didn’t reject my hands fixing his outfit, implying he didn’t mind too much.
More than that…
Seeing the Nameless guy’s red face reminded me of something.
Hmm, I suddenly want strawberries.
I should go replenish my stock at the market in Ellen later.
Nodding to myself, I finished fixing his clothes and looked at him again. The Nameless guy couldn’t look straight at me.
I quickly realized the reason.
It must be because I was half undressed.
Still, I found it kind of adorable how he showed consideration for me like a man treating a woman, so I ruffled his hair.
At that moment, Elia covered her face with her hands.
She peeked through her fingers, resembling a somewhat comical sight.
…Can you even really hide like that?
I decided it wasn’t worth worrying about, so I turned away.
“Uh… soon, there will be an important conversation, so please get ready and come to the reception room!”
Elia finished her sentence, slammed the door shut, but then it quickly creaked open again.
She popped her head through the tiny gap and spoke again.
“And… no matter what kind of relationship you have, I feel like doing that at any time is a bit much…”
“…What on earth are you talking about—”
“Then, I’m leaving?!”
With that, Elia, ignoring what I wanted to say, slammed the door shut and hurried away.
I stared after her, dazed, and shook my head slightly.
“Tsk, how can she be so clumsy about it? Right, Nameless?”
“…I don’t know anymore.”
“Hmm?”
The Nameless guy sighed deeply, looking defeated.
Hmm, what’s going on here?
I just can’t wrap my head around how Elia reacts like this.
Isn’t it common sense for a master and disciple to sleep together?
Hmm, right? I nodded to myself.
…
After a quick freshening up, I arrived at the reception room.
There, I found Lucius and Iron Blood sitting across from each other, both radiating a bizarre tension.
“…”
The atmosphere felt thick and uneasy.
I silently scolded myself for not moving faster, then gently took the Nameless’s hand and dragged him to a nearby chair.
I leaned in to listen to their conversation.
Lucius frowned as he spoke.
“Camilla, why can’t you provide assistance?”
“Huh? How dumb can this generation of heroes be?”
Iron Blood, Camilla, scowled briefly before breaking into her characteristic smile.
“Did you forget what I just said? Pfft, are you perhaps a goldfish?”
Finally losing his cool, Lucius slammed the table and stood up.
“Enough! …Do you not realize this isn’t the time for jokes?”
“Ugh, don’t shout with that nasty voice, it’s unpleasant, loser.”
Camilla stuck out her tongue and shrugged as she spoke.
“Unlike you, who has no use, I have a load of things to do, okay?”
“…”
“How much more simple can I make this for you? It’s saying we’re also short on manpower.”
Tsk, this is why losers… Camilla muttered under her breath, adding more fuel to the fire.
Hearing that, Lucius fell silent, sitting back down with a highly displeased expression.
As someone clueless about the topic of their conversation, I was flabbergasted.
Though I hadn’t known Lucius for long, I’d never seen him openly express discontent like this.
Hmm, what is going on…?
Curious, I poked Elia in the side.
“Eek?!”
“Elia.”
“Harang…? What, what’s going on…? Why are you poking me…?”
Elia blushed as she rubbed her side, trying to figure me out.
“Could you possibly explain what’s happening?”
“A… well…”
Elia began explaining.
…
So basically, it was clear that a demon had invaded near Ellen, but they couldn’t pinpoint the location quickly.
To address this, Lucius asked Camilla for help to send a few people out.
However, Camilla had refused, claiming she was busy, leading to Lucius getting angry, turning into some argument.
After hearing that, I quietly thought to myself.
…This could actually work out in my favor, and I could find a way to avoid involvement.
I mean, I’d prefer if they didn’t find that demon, right?
What an unexpected stroke of luck.
No reason not to make use of this.
I already had a natural idea to stall for time too.
With one side of my mouth tugged up into a smirk, I decided to take action.
As soon as Elia finished her explanation, I stood up and walked toward Lucius and Camilla.
“What’s up… old lady? Need something?”
“Hmm, well, I do have a request.”
Camilla frowned.
“I already said I’m busy, am I really going to help you, old lady?”
“…It’s not that kind of request.”
Camilla cocked her head, curious.
“Well, what is it then?”
“Could you possibly lend me the training hall here?”
“What? Why would I?”
Camilla looked at me, disgusted.
Hmm, this isn’t right.
Isn’t this the kind of favor someone could easily agree to?
…If only it were that simple.
I leaned in closer to Camilla’s ear and, so only she could hear, unleashed a bit of my power, whispering.
“What if I take care of that annoying hero for you?”
“…What?”
“Oh, so now the goldfish is you, huh?”
I chuckled softly, stepping back and minimizing my power.
Camilla twisted her mouth slightly and nodded.
Being generous like me, perhaps she could grant such a request.
Alright then.
Now I can stall for quite a while.
Satisfaction filled me and I had no intention of hiding my grin.
Hmm, as expected… it’s always me!
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