Chapter 333
Chapter 333
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 333
Chapter Title: Chapter 8-1. The Country of Dragonkin, Reillysa.
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Ah.
Judah let out a sigh as he watched Lumiren glare sharply and turn away. Well, who would believe it was all a misunderstanding after hearing that? He realized his words lacked any real persuasiveness.
…Tsk.
He pondered whether to decline the dinner invitation later, but skipping it might make things even worse. He felt a stinging gaze and turned to see Lime staring holes through him.
“What?”
“No, nothing. Just… I realized our client has so many talents. I’m jealous.”
“…”
He knew it was sarcasm, but the “jealous” part at the end felt genuine.
Jealous, huh?
Fair enough. Tilting his head at Lime’s remark, Judah thought it over and nodded. Compared to his original self back in that world, this body of Judah’s was a walking bundle of blessings.
A body that reacted faster than he could think, monstrous strength, handsome features, tall stature, and absurd luck—what more could anyone want? The only flaw was its rotten fate, but with the game’s creator—who knew most of the scenario—now inside it, that was basically resolved.
Above all, if he’d been stuck with that trash body from his original world, he’d never have ended up traveling with such stunning beauties. Even if he had crossed paths with them, it would’ve been fleeting encounters, barely memorable—like a random village NPC.
And that’s not all.
He wouldn’t have stood a chance against the Black Wolves south of Serenia Castle. Still, being misunderstood and caught in awkward situations wasn’t exactly pleasant. If things got tangled up needlessly, headaches were inevitable.
“Wait a second.”
Arhil followed up, staring at Celleon with a shocked expression.
“You don’t mean what I think you mean, right? Did something happen between you two?”
Celleon let out a scoff.
“I know what you’re imagining, but nothing happened, so relax. Not yet, anyway.”
“Aaaah?”
“And I was just being honest about my feelings. Ever since that day, I’ve been gripped by this anxiety that without you by my side, I might slip back into that state. It’s a mental issue. That’s what I meant.”
“Ummm…”
As Celleon tapped her temple with her finger, Arhil couldn’t find words to respond. Admitting to mental problems herself—what could she say without seeming petty? Pouting, Arhil nodded reluctantly.
“Got it. If that’s the case…”
Just as the awkward silence settled, Iris timed it perfectly and held out her notepad.
-For now, how about we all wash up and meet back up later? We’re gathering again anyway, and the rooms seem to have attached bathrooms. We’ve got plenty of time, right?
The group read the note and nodded. Celleon added,
“But I don’t recommend taking too long. I asked my father to provide clothes, so the tailors will probably have them ready within an hour. If you want custom-fitted outfits, I suggest not lingering in the bath too long.”
“Custom-fitted?”
Celleon nodded at Arhil’s question.
“They can’t just hand out ready-made ones. And whether they’d even allow it is another question. If the craftsmen of Reillysa I knew are still true to their principles, they won’t. You can look forward to it, though. You’ll probably see clothes being made in an instant with magic.”
Arhil made a thoughtful hum, glanced sidelong at Judah, and nodded.
“Understood. Then, Judah? I’m going to wash up and rest first. See you later, Lime, Iris.”
With that, Arhil headed to the room she’d chosen, then turned back to ask Judah to retrieve her luggage from the <Bag>. He pulled it out and handed it over. Despite its weight, she grunted as she lifted it, so he carried it to her room for her.
He did the same for Iris’s things, and Lime shrugged before heading to his room. Of the open doors, three now had occupants, and the doors clicked shut.
Judah glanced at Celleon. She hadn’t gone in and was waiting. It was in the past, but he needed to caution her about those easily misinterpreted words.
“Celleon.”
“Yes, Judah.”
She replied with a soft smile, her expression innocently asking if something was wrong.
He needed to tell her not to say things that could cause misunderstandings, but facing her clear eyes made it hard to bring it up. If he just said she’d only spoken her honest feelings—what then?
She’d lived longer than Judah as a queen of a nation; it was hard to believe she’d said it with pure intentions. Yet her eyes and expression betrayed no ulterior motives.
“No, nothing.”
“Okay.”
“Let’s head in and rest.”
“Yes.”
Watching her nod obediently, Judah made for his chosen room. But Celleon followed right behind.
“…? Yours is that way.”
“Ah!”
Not “ah!” He’d pointed out the direction, but she seemed reluctant to move.
‘Does she get anxious if I’m out of sight? Not just within a certain range?’
If so, it was serious. Thinking back, even when he’d slipped out at dawn before sunrise to gather herbs, she’d tailed him without fail, knowing exactly when he’d woken.
This wouldn’t do. For her future—and as a comrade who’d fight alongside them, taking a protective role or leading the front—she couldn’t afford to panic just from losing sight of him. No matter how great her stats, it’d be useless.
Her current trash trait already caused stat penalties; more drops would make her expendable. He sighed at her standing by the door like an abandoned kitten. She acted so regal in front of others—why this now?
It was nice that she saw him as a god and submitted, but… this would cause problems ahead. Feeling sorry, Judah knew he needed to keep distance and reduce her dependency. He grabbed her wrist as she hesitated.
“Alright, want to talk a bit before resting?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Let’s be frank while we’re at it.”
Celleon beamed happily and entered Judah’s room. Of course, to avoid misunderstandings, he left the door open.
Someone might eavesdrop, but they wouldn’t focus that intently, so he’d stop if anyone approached. With the queen returned, rumors of mental instability weren’t welcome.
The room had a small table perfect for two to sit face-to-face—no need to seek elsewhere.
‘Nothing to drink, huh.’
He considered pulling something from the <Bag> but asked if she wanted anything. She politely declined. Maybe she thought it wouldn’t suit her taste.
Now that they were here, where everything produced was top-quality, he planned to stock up not just on gear but consumables too. He pulled out some water.
“Did I make you uncomfortable with what I said earlier?”
Celleon cautiously asked, watching him pour water into an empty cup she’d conjured from thin air.
“Hm? Uncomfortable? Nah, not really.”
He didn’t want the hassle it might cause, but it didn’t bother him. She hadn’t done anything irritating. She sighed in relief, and Judah continued.
“But I’m a little worried.”
“Huh? About what…?”
Celleon tilted her head.
“You said you can’t live without me. The group bought your explanation, but that dragonkin earlier? Lumiren. She didn’t. What if she misunderstands and tries to pair us up?”
“What are you saying…! I don’t care. No, if that could happen, I’d be thrilled. I can’t claim it was without any ulterior motives… but I didn’t lie or say it to trouble you! I just shared my honest feelings—the ones I feel right now! I-I truly hold you in my heart!”
Ah, that wasn’t what he’d wanted to hear. She’d accidentally confessed her love. Judah regretted leaving the door open. Her voice was louder than expected; if it echoed down the hall, others might’ve heard. He could only pray for good soundproofing.
Realizing her flushed excitement, Celleon averted her eyes and fidgeted.
“Sorry for saying something awkward. But it wasn’t meant to bind you. I just wanted you to know. Of course, I know you’re close with that Arhil, but if not now, there might not be another chance…”
“Wait. I get it.”
Celleon clamped her mouth shut, then opened it again.
“I had no intent to trouble you. Don’t worry about any fallout. If Father or Lumiren brings it up, I’ll handle it.”
“Hm. That wasn’t what I meant to discuss.”
“I can wait for your answer forever. Even if you refuse, it’s fine. As long as I can stay by your side, that’s enough. I believe in you and am prepared to sacrifice everything for you. You’re my one and only savior.”
Judah drained his glass in one go, watching her radiant smile.
“But it seemed like you had something else to say…”
“Ah, yeah. It’s about how deeply you seem to rely on me.”
“Does it bother you?”
Judah shook his head.
“No, it doesn’t. You’ve never inconvenienced me. It’s just, like you said earlier, you recognize your mental issues. If you feel anxious just from me being out of sight, that’s dangerous. I can’t always be right in front of you, right? Like… I can’t follow you to the bathroom. I can’t show you mine, and you can’t have me watching yours.”
“I’m fine with either.”
“No, I’m not.”
At Judah’s firm tone, Celleon looked crestfallen.
========== Afterword ==========
This chapter is a little breather...
There’ll be some steamy scenes coming up.