This World Is an Isekai (Part 3)
I stripped off my clothes and draped just the cloak over myself like a poncho raincoat, then pulled out portable rations like jerky and hardtack along with a waterskin. Ferio and I filled our bellies together.
I gathered a few fist-sized rocks.
If you carefully remove the stones piled up to protect the embers, you end up with a genuine heated floor.
Like swapping out batteries, I slotted in the new stones.
I let the removed ones cool just enough, piled up some clothes that wouldn't catch fire as a cushion, spread the cloak on top, and sat down...
"Ahh... finally, my body's thawing out."
If you didn't mind getting dirt or soot on your clothes, you could even dry them this way.
Ferio placed her wet gear and clothes around or on the hot stones to dry them too.
It felt just like sitting on a heated sheet. With the campfire burning steadily, I could finally relax.
Now we were properly prepared to survive a night in the wild.
Ferio and I sat side by side in front of the fire, wrapping our cloaks around us like blankets.
The rain was still falling outside. Less intense than before, but it seemed like it would continue until sunrise.
This scene—sitting by the campfire with Reshi—would look like something straight out of a fantasy game to an onlooker.
All that's missing is hitting the save button and logging out.
Since that's not an option, time to advance the story. Or just chat, anyway.
"By the way, Ferio, was there a real reason you had to chase those goblins?"
"Hearing a question like that makes me think you've truly lost your memories."
"What, you saying it was a dumb question without saying it outright? Ferio, you've gotten quicker with words overnight."
"Heh, I'll let that insult slide as a fond memory, thanks to this campfire.
You seem short on common sense, so don't pull that on other knights or nobles."
"Sheesh. I know when and where to speak up. I read the room—and the person.
I wouldn't have said it if I thought it'd make you uncomfortable or flustered."
"I know. You didn't make me look bad in front of others. If anything..."
"If anything what?"
"Never mind. Let's move on. The reason we can't let those goblins escape is..."
Ferio abruptly changed the subject.
She seemed embarrassed, so I'd been about to tease her a bit.
Now she's even dodging like a pro.
Ferio's leveled up in her own way. Tch...
"...because we can take revenge."
"Yeah, makes sense. They screamed about getting revenge on humans as they fled."
"Monster revenge isn't like a cat or wild animal's. It's relentless. Calculated."
"Figures. They're smart enough for that. They'll prepare, build strength, then strike back."
"Exactly. That's why we wipe them out completely—no loose ends."
"Mm. Got it. Uh..."
Something didn't sit right. I understood Ferio's words, but it felt off.
She called the goblins monsters.
Fighting them, I'd thought of them as another kind of primate.
Put myself in their shoes.
One day, soldiers swarm in, butcher my family and friends unilaterally.
Everything I own burns. I barely escape—the village's sole survivor.
In that situation, goblin or not, even a human like me would harbor deep grudges.
But Ferio called them monsters with strong revenge instincts.
Are goblins and orcs lumped together as monsters just because?
Different from animals??
It felt like glimpsing racial prejudice or mechanicism from my home world.
Thinking too deeply was making my eyes heavy...
"......"
BOOM!!
[Gunshot!? Where?!]
The sudden explosion jolted me awake like a PTSD-afflicted soldier.
Enemy...? Wait, eyes open—campfire right in front of me.
"Relax. That was just the fresh log popping as it caught. It burst louder than usual."
"Huh? Oh, yeah?"
I must've dozed off without realizing, exhausted.
Waking so abruptly left everything feeling unreal.
Mm... definitely isekai, right? Yeah.
Campfire in front of me. Something soft and warm under my head.
"So warm and soft. The world I woke up in must be paradise for sure.
I swear we were fighting for our lives yesterday... no way I died, right?"
"Don't worry. I won't let you die."
'Classic Ferio—tone-deaf but tactically on point.' I almost said it.
But saying more might make us lock eyes.
Normally fine, but right now I was lying with my head in Ferio's lap.
Emphasizing again: we were both naked.
Not straddling both thighs like in manga—just one.
But the softness of her thigh against my head, the faint sweet scent wafting from her, made me awfully forgiving.
But dude! Why are you getting mad!?
"............"
"............"
Crackle-crackle!! Pop!! Tchk. Tchk.
"............"
"............"
We stayed silent for a while. Not awkward or tired.
Rain still pattering. Firewood crackling loud.
Yet her breathing, every tiny shift, stood out sharper, felt stronger.
We were hyper-aware of each other.
Her slight tremors nagged at me.
"Ferio..."
My voice came out low, husky without meaning to.
"!!"
Ferio flinched instead of answering.
"Legs aren't numb?"
It was pitch black outside now, firewood low—I'd slept three, four hours probably.
Even a trained body gets sore holding up dead weight.
"......... "
Ferio glanced down, face a mix of annoyance.
Come on, girl—what'd you expect in this setup?
Teasing time.
"Eek!?"
I lifted my head and poked her thigh with my fingers.
Oh! Better reaction than expected.
That zapped look on her face—first time seeing it.
And that sound! Adorable!
"Wait! Hii! Nngh! Stop it!! Seriously. Hiii!!"
Unable to endure the zaps, Ferio grabbed my hand and yanked.
"Whoa! What strength..."
The pull flipped me right onto her.
In an instant, our faces were breath-sharing close.
Again: both naked.
Soft. Warm. Cozy. Her scent stronger than ever.
Of course I was aroused. She had to feel it too.
But no embarrassment.
"K-Keep fooling around and... I won't let you go."
One hand gripped mine tight.
Fingers interlaced.
Her eyes fluttered shut, head turning—I leaned in naturally.
Lips brushed lightly by firelight; hers met mine soon after.
Ferio kept her eyes closed.
Sometimes my touch drew unwitting moans, eyes snapping open—then closing again.
This moment, she surrendered fully to me.
Her clasped hand trembled; I pulled her into an embrace.
Full-body warmth; a long exhale escaped her.
Fingers loosened; both arms wrapped around me.
".........."
This world is an isekai.
Me, of all people, holding a beauty like this.
Impossible.
Even trying to dismiss it as unreal—her heat, breath, fragrance too close.
My brief hesitation; she opened her eyes, smiled.
Leaned in, lips met again; pulled my body closer.
Our forms overlapping, filling heart's voids—this must be it.
Couldn't help responding to her movements.
This is what loveliness feels like.
--- --- ---
Loud birdsong.
Morning.
Rain stopped.
Campfire hid dying embers in white ash, still radiating heat.
Good dream; must've drifted off.
Tried moving my hand... Ferio's gripped one came along.
Held on so tight, felt like one body.
I knew. Not a dream. Just that good.
"Ah, Ferio, you're up? It's nothing... urgh! Ngh!"
Sudden agony wracked my body.
"What!? What's wrong!?"
Ferio bolted up, supporting me.
"My body, muscles... cramping so bad... aaagh."
Wasn't like this last night.
Morning hit, every muscle screamed.
Post-intense-riding soreness—this is it.
Not just that; yesterday was extra active.
"Ferio, what do I do? Can't get up... kgh... no way..."
"Uh... huh? Really?"
What, Ferio? Why the prim morning stare-down?
Where you looking!?
"But this is up already?"
That's 'cause you're still naked... no.
Morning wood's proof of a healthy guy.
Wait, Ferio.
That look.
I'm scared.
I'm really hurting.
Why's she like this!?
She wasn't before!
...too much, Ferio.
Didn't know you were like this.
I trusted you... trusted you!
Sob...