Chapter 350
Chapter 350
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 350
Chapter Title: Chapter 8-2. Fragment's Retriever
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"Groooan...!"
Judah let out a zombie-like groan as he opened his eyes in the morning. His body felt disgustingly sticky, but that was secondary. It seemed he'd gone too hard last night with Arhil and Celine—his lower body was sore and fatigued.
'At least I didn't die.'
The first thought that crossed his mind was that he was still alive. Now he knew what it really felt like to have his vitality drained.
'That herb I dug up to give to Lime—I should take it myself when I get the chance.'
Before hearing about Leilyssa, he'd gathered some stamina-boosting herbs for Lime, who would soon be leaving. He'd only given him some of them. He'd planned to gift or sell the rest, but now he needed to keep them for himself. If nights like this happened a few more times, he'd be in real trouble.
Judah sat up and looked around both sides. The blankets were scattered on the floor, and discarded clothes hung here and there.
Arhil and Celine, as if it were the most natural thing, lay sleeping peacefully naked, snoring softly. It was truly the flower in both hands, the little dream of every man fulfilled—but the thought that hit him was that he'd lost his mind.
"Hoo."
Still, it had felt really good. He wouldn't have any regrets even if he died happy right then. Judah sighed and quietly got out of bed. He saw Celine's tail twitch, but she didn't wake.
He glanced briefly at their naked bodies, which made him stand at attention first thing in the morning, but he scratched his head vigorously and headed quietly to the bathroom.
After washing his body clean with hot water, Judah emerged feeling refreshed and sat in a chair. He was hungry. He considered pulling out something to eat, but he wouldn't skip serving breakfast to his guests. He didn't know what would come out, but if he was going to eat with the others, it was better to hold off for now.
Not just Arhil and Celine—Lime and Iris were there too.
"..."
Lime and Iris.
Ugh.
Hadn't they heard the moans from last night? Judah suddenly felt anxious. Iris probably hadn't missed it. He sighed involuntarily. A quick glance at the door showed it was wide open.
'I'm screwed.'
How was he supposed to face them?
Sighing, Judah first woke Arhil and Celine.
After calling their names a few times, they stirred and sat up. They looked annoyed and sleepy. Celine saw Judah sitting in the chair and smiled sleepily, starting to get up and approach him.
"Judah...!"
With a soft voice and smiling eyes, she drew near, but Judah held up his palm. Don't come closer. That was the meaning.
She must have been drowsy, her eyes barely open, yet Celine somehow stopped. Her smiling face turned to one that looked like she might cry as she gazed at him. He pointed to the bathroom.
"Go wash up. Get clean. Then I'll hug you."
Celine's face brightened, and she dashed straight into the bathroom. In contrast, Arhil was leisurely—or rather, still dozing off while sitting up.
"Arhil. Stop sleeping and get up. You need to wash. You gonna let the others see you like this?"
"Hmm. I don't mind at all~?"
Was she still tipsy? No way. Arhil gave him a cheeky look, covered her mouth, and let out a massive yawn. She shook her head side to side, seemingly waking up, then approached Judah and puckered her lips.
"Give me a peck. Not a kiss—a peck."
Looking at her dainty pursed lips, Judah gave in and pressed his briefly against hers.
"Hee hee heung!"
Making a fun little hum, Arhil headed to the bathroom where Celine was. The bathrooms in each room were spacious enough for two.
Judah let out a small sigh. But really, how was he going to face Lime and Iris? Lime was a comrade leaving soon, but Iris was irreplaceable.
'...Since it's come to this, maybe pull Iris in too...'
In his original world, that thought would have earned him trash talk without argument. He didn't know when his values had shifted like this. He'd fallen. The pure self from the past seemed gone. Feeling bitter, Judah pressed the bell by the bed to call a maid.
In less than five minutes, the beastkin maid knocked on the door.
"Come in."
"Yes. Oh?"
The maid's eyes widened at the clothes strewn about the room. Her gaze shifted to the bathroom where washing sounds came from, then she bowed her head. The room smelled suspicious too.
No need to be embarrassed. Judah looked at the maid squarely and made his request.
"Sorry, but could you pick up the clothes and launder them? Wash the bed sheets and blankets too. Breakfast comes here, right?"
"Don't worry about the laundry or room cleaning. If you wish, we can bring breakfast to the room. As far as I know, there's no separate morning schedule, and no special instructions. Shall I bring food?"
Judah nodded but stopped.
"Hm. I'll request breakfast later. Haven't asked the others yet."
"Understood. Then I'll change the bed sheets first and bring fresh blankets."
The beastkin maid quickly gathered the clothes and left. But then Judah realized Arhil's clothes had a code that let magic remove dirt just by infusing mana—no need to launder them.
So he took back the ones she was gathering. They smelled faintly fragrant. No wrinkles, perfectly fine. He shook them lightly, infused mana to clean them, folded neatly.
'Long live the magic world. Long live.'
Sitting in the chair, drinking water, he waited for Celine and Arhil to finish washing. Had last night brought them closer? He heard them giggling and laughing. What were they talking about? Curious, but he didn't eavesdrop.
They didn't emerge until after the beastkin maid had changed the sheets and blankets, done a quick cleanup, and left. Finally, they came out with damp skin, fluffy and exposed, no clothes on—bodies wrapped in long towels, hair tied up. Judah pointed to the door.
"Go back to your rooms, change, and get ready. Both of you."
"That's mean! Judah. You were so fired up last night! Has your love cooled already?"
Arhil said in a playful tone. Celine, listening beside her, chuckled softly. Then Celine looked at Judah.
"I wanted to ask if I can come back after washing and getting ready. Judah."
"Do that."
Remembering his promise to hug her, she fidgeted closer, arms out, asking if she could get a hug. No reason to refuse. Judah gladly embraced her once.
Satisfied at last, Celine said she'd be back and strode out, body wrapped in the towel. She hesitated at the door but left. Of course, without closing it.
"Ugh... I'll head out too then."
Arhil muttered like she wouldn't be outdone, waved at Judah, checked the hallway for anyone, and left.
Now that both were gone, it was finally quiet. It felt like a dream. An absurd dream.
Soon after, Celine returned first, then Arhil. Judah had opened the windows, but the room still smelled, so he moved to the hall connected to the corridor.
They hadn't set a time to meet last night, but hunger would bring them out. If too late, he'd knock.
Judah closed his eyes, watching Celine and Arhil glare at each other from both sides. They'd seemed friendly earlier—what now?
'Lime or Iris would notice the changed vibe right away.'
The sighs wouldn't stop. Time passed, but no Lime or Iris.
'They're late.'
He'd woken early, but still, much time had passed. He could wait more, but hunger gnawed, so Judah stood to fetch them.
"I'll wake them. Wait here."
As soon as he spoke, he caught Celine starting to rise to follow. Judah turned immediately. Don't even think about following, he added. Celine, half-standing, sat back down.
Patting her head with a wry smile, Judah headed to Iris's room first. As he raised his hand to knock, the door opened as if she'd been waiting, revealing Iris in neat clothes.
"Good morning. Sleep well?"
He greeted naturally, casually. But Iris's gaze wasn't. Her eyes swept from his feet to his head. Her look pierced like she knew—I know what you did last night. Judah's lip twitched guiltily.
Iris glared, pulled out her notepad, and scribbled. Calming his pounding heart, he read the note she showed.
-Slept well. Good morning.
Fortunately, the content was normal. Judah nodded and told her Arhil and Celine waited in the hall. Watching her go, he knocked on Lime's door. After a while, rustling sounds came, and Lime opened it—freshly woken, messy with eye boogers.
"Sleep well?"
"Yawwwn— Yeah, decently. Bed was comfy. Everyone else there?"
Judah nodded. Lime rubbed his eyes, removed the crust, and sighed.
"Then I'll wash up and come out soon."
"Yeah. Oh, wait."
Lime looked puzzled at Judah.
"Didn't hear any noises last night?"
"Hmm. No wind, pretty quiet. No special sounds."
He hadn't heard?
To his question if something happened, Judah shook his head—nothing. Hurry and wash, everyone's waiting—he said, returning to the hall.
Once Lime joined, cleaned up, they called the maid for breakfast. Very hungry, so extra food. The maid agreed and left. Morning quiet—group subdued, little talk. Lime yawned hugely, smacking lips.
Then he glanced at Arhil and Celine beside Judah. Not weird they were close, but today closer than yesterday, eyeing each other warily—strange.
"Something happen?"
Lime tossed out casually.
"What?"
Judah, leaning forward head down in chair, looked up.
"No, not you, Judah. Arhil and Celine... like beasts eyeing the same prey, glaring."
"No?"
Arhil replied instantly. Tone prickly.
"Unnecessary meddling. None of your business—don't worry about it."
"Ah... yes."
Celine chimed in like who are you to butt in, leaving Lime awkward. He'd just tried to break the ice in the silent morning huddle. Lime sighed. Glanced at Iris—blank face, eyes closed.
As they sat blankly, the maid brought food. Fresh veggie and meat sandwiches, bread, peppered soup.
Ordinary menu.
No need to expect fancy for breakfast. Preferred this anyway.
Luckily, during the meal, Arhil and Celine behaved, eating quietly.
Finishing with fruit dessert, old dragonkin Lumiren arrived.
"Heh heh. Did everyone enjoy breakfast?"