Chapter 28

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 28

Chapter Title: My Porter

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"Hey!!"

I shouted. My throat felt like it was ripping apart. My legs were shaking, and my breath was caught right at the edge of my jaw.

"Hah... hah..."

The big brute flinched.

He looked at me.

Cain's finger stopped too.

That finger that had been about to slip into his sleeve.

By a hair's breadth.

It stopped.

'......Phew.'

"Let go."

I slapped the big guy's arm away.

"What the hell is this punk?"

Then.

His gaze landed on my hair.

Silver hair. Violet eyes.

In an instant, the guy's eyes changed.

"K-Kasian, young master?"

Eyes that realized in a flash they were the prey.

"K-Kasian, young master?"

The guy looked flustered. His eyes went wide.

"No, young master. This bastard started it, messing with my stuff..."

"Shut up."

I scowled.

Because of this asshole, my precious coffee. My peaceful tea time. All gone.

But right now, that wasn't the issue.

Right in front of me.

A walking nuke.

Was one switch flip away from detonation.

"..."

I glanced back. Cain was sitting on the ground, trembling.

"S-Sorry... sob sob..."

Tears welled up behind his glasses, and he sniffled.

'Ha.'

Perfect acting material.

When just moments ago he'd been ready to slit a throat with his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠finger.

More importantly, how do I defuse this situation?

I can't say 'don't touch that guy, he's dangerous' or my identity's blown.

But if I say 'spare him, he's pitiful,' Cain's pride might get hurt and he'll assassinate me tonight.

Unlike usual, I racked my brain desperately.

1 second.

2 seconds.

The crisis sharpened my mind like crazy.

Finally, one perfect solution.

Claim ownership.

"You lot."

I lowered my voice.

"What do you think you're doing to my porter?"

"......Huh?"

The guy looked dumbfounded. His mouth fell open.

"Porter? What do you mean?"

"That guy."

I pointed at Cain.

"I hired him."

"......"

"To carry my luggage during this survival."

"......What?"

A voice came from behind.

It was Cain.

A face screaming 'what bullshit is this?'

I know, damn it.

But if I don't do this, you're gonna kill those guys.

"My tent's kinda big, you see."

I went full shameless.

"Hard to handle alone. So I decided to use him."

The big guy looked at Cain in confusion, then back at me.

"You dare."

He stepped forward.

"Grab my worker by the collar?"

"......"

"Touch my belongings?"

I deepened my voice.

Infusing it with the dignity of the Northern Grand Duke's house.

In truth, it was tension making my guts twist.

"Are you insulting the North right now?"

"N-No, sir!!"

The guy recoiled in panic. His face went pale.

"W-We didn't know! If we'd known he was your man..."

"Then get lost."

"Yes, sir!"

The guy turned back.

"Let's go!"

They fled like their lives depended on it.

Scamper-

Footsteps faded into the jungle.

"..."

Phew.

I survived.

A sigh of relief escaped me. Tension drained from my shoulders.

Now, just deal with this bomb.

I slowly turned around.

Cain was still sitting on the ground, looking up at me. Round glasses, dopey expression, tear tracks.

But,

the corner of his mouth.

Ever so slightly.

Curved up.

"......Young master."

Cain whispered in a tiny voice. So soft it nearly drowned in the wind.

"Porter? I don't recall hearing such words."

And with that, he started creeping toward me.

"..."

Gulp. I swallowed. My heart pounded.

'Shit.'

It wasn't an order, just my quick thinking.

Mess up, and my head rolls here.

Hurt that guy's feelings, and it's over.

"......Get up first."

I prayed my voice wouldn't shake. I extended my hand.

Cain looked at my hand.

Staring.

Then his gaze rose to my face.

A look of utter confusion.

Eyes asking 'why are you offering your hand?'

"..."

I just grabbed his wrist and pulled him up.

Cain was yanked to his feet. Still with that blank expression.

Sand covered his clothes.

Pat pat-

I reached out and brushed the sand off his clothes.

"You okay?"

"......Yes."

Cain bowed his head.

"Thank you..."

His voice was small. His glasses were crooked. Tilted awkwardly to one side.

"......"

I reached out and grasped the frame. Pushed it straight.

"These are crooked."

"......"

Cain's pupils trembled.

Slightly.

Very slightly.

But definitely.

They shook.

"..."

Probably no one had ever brushed off his clothes or fixed his glasses in his whole life.

The shadow of the North.

Assassin.

Torture expert.

Kindness to such a man. It must've thrown him off.

"......Thank you."

Cain said softly.

"Young master."

His voice.

Was slightly different.

Not acting.

"Yeah."

I nodded.

"Be careful. Lots of rough types around here."

I was turning to leave.

"Ah."

Cain called. I stopped.

"Come to think of it."

"......"

"You're the second son of the Northern Grand Duke's family."

"......So?"

I felt his presence behind me.

The air.

Changed.

"Northern bloodline..."

Cain's voice lowered.

Not that nerdy voice from before.

Cold.

Sharp.

Chilling.

His real voice.

"Mind if I check your skills?"

"......What?"

The moment I turned.

Ting-!

Cain flicked his finger.

The air tore. Something invisible shot toward my forehead.

Ambush.

No dodging it.

No time to react.

Time slowed.

'I'm dead...!'

That instant.

Wung-

My heart area heated up.

Hot.

So hot.

Like it was burning.

Golden aura.

Against my will.

Holy mana erupted explosively.

Flash-!

Right in front of my forehead.

5 cm.

3 cm.

No, 1 cm.

The killing intent Cain launched shattered against the white light.

Like snowflakes hitting a scorching surface.

Vanish without a trace.

"......"

"......"

Silence.

Only wind and waves.

I stood dazed.

My heart still burned.

What was that just now?

Shit.

Did I almost die?

No.

More than that.

What was that light?

Slowly.

Very slowly.

I turned my head.

Looked at Cain.

Cain stood in the same spot.

Finger still flicked.

But.

His expression had changed.

Behind those round glasses, narrowed eyes gleamed strangely.

"......Hoo."

Cain curled his lip.

Slowly.

Languidly.

Admiration.

And interest.

"Auto-defense, huh."

I heard his soft mutter.

"As expected..."

"The rumors were true."

'......Rumors?'

What rumors?

He adjusted his stance. Brushed dust off his robe.

And.

Bowed politely.

90 degrees.

Perfect etiquette.

"Forgive my rudeness. I'll carry the luggage to the tent."

"......"

Cain hoisted the bag effortlessly.

Earlier he'd grumbled about the weight.

Now, light as a feather.

One hand.

"See you later."

"Young master."

He strode away. His receding back. Shadow stretched long, flickering in the sunlight.

I stood rooted, legs weak, heart racing wildly.

'......Just now.'

Was that a test?

But the vibe was intense.

That guy's eyes when he left...

Full of fascination.

"..."

'Shit.'

Did I just set a flag?

"Phew."

I returned to the tent.

The spilled coffee caught my eye. The cup was tipped over, brown liquid pooled on the ground. Already soaking into the dirt.

"Shit..."

A deep sigh escaped.

"My precious coffee..."

I slumped into the chair and stared at the sea. Waves crashed, white foam rising.

It had been beautiful just moments ago.

"..."

Not in the mood now.

The wind blew.

Cool.

But cold sweat still dripped down my back.

'Cain.'

'Valley of Hibernation's strongest.'

'Why's that guy here?'

Surveillance?

Or.

'To test me?'

That attack just now.

Definitely a test.

To check the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠second son of the Northern Grand Duke's skills.

But.

'Holy mana blocked it.'

How did it look to him?

Auto-defense.

My head was a mess. Thoughts tangled endlessly.

Then.

"Young master!!"

A booming voice.

I turned.

Kael was running over.

"We found a weird cave over there!"

"......"

Kael stopped in front of me, panting, eyes sparkling.

"Something's glowing inside!"

"......"

"Let's explore!!"

"..."

'Cave. Light.'

I thought.

'About time, huh.'

Coffee's ruined anyway. Can't just sit here brooding over Cain.

Time to move.

Do something.

"......Got it."

I stood.

"Let's go."

"Whoa!!"

Kael's eyes sparkled even more.

We headed to the cave.

'In my past life, my golden hand never failed to pull SSR.'

If I pull an SSR there.

Then I can finally sip coffee in peace.