Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Moment Hearts Connect
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After we started clearing requests for Aldebaran's Steel Wolf Mercenaries and collecting our pay,
Thanks to handling all those backlog requests that had piled up like toxic inventory, we'd amassed enough gold to live as wanderers for several months without lifting a finger. I was treated like nobility among the Steel Wolves, waited on hand and foot.
They hailed me with the title of Mercenary King—the legendary figure said to have never failed a single commission—and showered me with reverence.
Naturally, Lenis, introduced as my personal attendant, received exceptional treatment as well.
It wasn't just because she was known as my attendant. Over the past ten days, her own accomplishments had been impressive.
After I took down that experimental fusion beast that escaped from the magic tower, Lenis had been training nonstop in the fields like a woman possessed, barely even eating, sleeping, or resting.
It was hard to believe this was the same Lenis who'd only ever flaunted flashy, wide-area spells. She drilled the most basic magic—Mana Blade—over and over and over.
In Holy Warrior Brayden NX, Lenis was one of the powerhouses among mages.
But in the game, her efforts were misguided, just like in reality at first, leaving her performance lackluster.
Once you corrected that and guided her to build a solid foundation, though, she skyrocketed into dazzling growth.
Her immense talent had been wasted, buried under an inferiority complex about her background, making her magic as flimsy as a house on sand. But after the fusion beast subjugation request, everything changed.
It was foreshadowing that she'd wield flashy high-tier AoE spells despite neglecting fundamentals.
Lenis had a brilliant grasp of theory; she just hadn't stuck to the basics. With her staff amplifying her mana, she poured everything into practice. And whenever I fought request targets, she dutifully cast her staff's unique ability, Pain Deferral, on me without complaint, raising its proficiency too.
Seeing someone who'd normally strut out and blast everything to prove herself change like that was a bit unnerving. Still, it was positive, so I left it alone.
Then, on the eighth day, Lenis soloed a magician ogre—a far easier mark than my backlog requests. Finally, she earned the pure recognition she'd craved from others.
"Whoa, that's impressive! Not just some servant to the Mercenary King, huh?"
"Amazing, miss! With skills like that, you could have a spot in our merc company. Interested?"
Each time, Lenis's lips twitched wildly, but she played it cool and shouted back.
"N-No thanks! This is nothing for me—don't make a fuss over it, and stop flattering me!"
"Hahaha! Traveling with the Mercenary King has made your mindset top-tier too!"
And so, while Ravi and Elfin were away, we made our names in Aldebaran as the Mercenary King and his attendant.
On the tenth day of that life,
Ravi returned earlier than expected.
"Alvis! Lenis! What are you two doing there?"
"Ravi!"
I pushed through the crowd toward Ravi, who had her hood pulled low.
With people still cheering for me and Lenis, it was no place for a chat. I grabbed Ravi's hand and led her back to our inn.
"Too many people and too noisy here. Let's find somewhere quiet first."
"Eep?! Ah... okay!"
I'd grabbed her hand without thinking, worried about losing her in the throng. But Ravi blushed and squeezed back gently.
I figured she'd pull away once we were clear, but no.
We dashed to the inn and into our room before finally escaping the stares and catching our breath.
"Phew. Fame isn't all it's cracked up to be."
"I think it's great. This is what life's about."
Unlike my exhaustion, Lenis was thrilled by the cheers, her face flushed with satisfaction.
She'd grasped what she'd longed for so badly—who knew how deep that fulfillment ran.
But it was honor earned not as Lady Lenis of the Valentin Count family, but as the nameless attendant of Mercenary King Alvis. She still wasn't fully satisfied.
"This isn't the time for that. I need to hone myself further. I'll become someone so great you couldn't even hand me your card—get ready! I still haven't forgotten that humiliation last time!"
"Wait, I never humiliated you in the first place—"
Lenis bolted out for more training, ignoring me.
Great that she'd found the drive to master the basics, but her zeal was so intense I worried about burnout.
Once we're back on the road, I'll have to help her pace herself.
Ravi, clueless about Lenis's changes, tilted her head.
"Lenis seems different. What happened? And what was that about Mercenary King and attendant in the streets?"
"Well, you see..."
I filled Ravi in on everything since she and Elfin left.
She burst into giggles at the tale—not too long, not too short.
"Ahahaha! Lenis hated basic magic theory classes from her first year. She dragged her feet through required fundamentals because she loathed them. Something about them being boring, pretentious, and how focusing on that would ruin her world? I skipped magic classes myself, so I figured she was just bored."
"Makes sense. She was all about flashy displays to impress people—no way rote theory would stick."
"Even the academy profs gave up on convincing her eventually. Who'd have thought you'd succeed, Alvis? And not by forcing her—you got her to train basics on her own. Got a talent for teaching?"
"If an academy took me despite my record, maybe."
"Ahaha! Fair point. Should've lived more diligently back then."
"I'm reflecting. That's why I'm diligent now."
"True. If you'd shown even half this much back at the academy, I..."
Ravi trailed off, as if struck by a thought.
Her bunny ears slowly drooped. I checked her face.
"Something wrong?"
"Huh? Oh, no. Just... talking about the academy reminded me of Brayden."
Still hung up on her first love?
I thought she was down about not being chosen by Brayden and traveling with me instead, but her next words surprised me.
"Actually, when I went back home, Brayden made an official visit. Celine came too."
"Oh? Bet it was nice reuniting. How are they?"
"Yeah, seem fine."
Even mentioning meeting him, her ears stayed limp.
That Bunny Tribe tell when they're feeling down?
"Then why the long face? Bummed about parting with Brayden and coming back here?"
"Huh?"
"You look off. Your ears are drooping."
"!"
Ravi flushed and clapped her hands over her ears, but it was too late.
She dropped them with a sigh and a soft smile my way.
"You really know our kind inside out."
Then she recounted her Carrot Duchy talk with Brayden.
Hearing it all, I was floored inwardly.
This guy went to propose—or to poke the Bunny Tribe? Picking the exact things they'd hate most? Lived three years with a Bunny Tribe friend and no sense?
Whatever his intentions for Carrot Duchy, from their side, it was the worst possible words.
Duke Liebv held back to avoid clashing with the holy warrior—that's why it ended mildly. Ravi couldn't.
That sweet Ravi snapping like that? Surprising, even for me.
Especially at someone she liked: Brayden.
My gut twisted.
I'd struggled to dodge the game's shitty plot where defeated heroines clash with Brayden, become enemies, and kill or die. But beyond my reach, Ravi and Brayden's bond had frayed.
Did this push Ravi closer to her fated death?
I didn't know how I ended up with Resister of Fate, but this made the title ring hollow.
Then Ravi smiled at me.
"But it doesn't matter anymore."
"Huh? Doesn't matter? You two totally fell out."
"It doesn't. Because I realized then—who really cares about me, who I truly need."
Only a romcom protagonist loser wouldn't get who "who" was.
"You mean me?"
*Nod nod.*
Ravi nodded, cheeks pink.
She leaned closer, bringing her face near.
"Alvis. Kiss me again?"
"Ravi? Feels like you're lashing out from fighting Brayden, asking out of heartbreak..."
"You think so?"
Her sparkling eyes locked on mine. I couldn't resist desire anymore. I'm no eunuch or ascetic.
I gently cradled her nape and pulled her in. Our lips met again.
Ravi's were softer, moister than under that moonlight before.
The brief touch ended. Ravi gazed at me, face hotter than before.
"Alvis. You know our habits. What do you think of this?"
She pointed to her bunny ears—standing rigid, quivering like thrilled shivers.
Bunny Tribe joy when truly happy. No desperation there.
Seeing her trembling ears, my chest swelled with excitement.
"You know what it means, right? Even now, think I'm forcing it out of spite...? Mmph?!"
I hugged her fiercely and kissed her again.
Last time and just now: light lip brushes.
This time, I slipped my tongue in, ravaging her mouth. Ravi didn't pull back—eyes closed, arms around my neck.
Our tongues entwined like snakes, saliva mixing with wet sounds filling the room.
Lost in the kiss, I groped, touching the arm around my neck.
Passing her firm-yet-soft forearm, I gripped her hand, lacing our fingers.
Ravi intertwined instantly. Like lovers, hands clasped tight, we devoured each other.
Lips parted; a saliva strand stretched and snapped. Ravi stared in ecstasy.
"Ravi..."
"Alvis..."
We gasped each other's names. Ravi draped her arms over my shoulders, voice husky.
"Alvis... now you get my feelings. I'd known deep down but denied it. Not anymore. Alvis, last time enemies captured me—you shielded me, got hurt yourself, never touched me. Now I want to repay you."
"Ravi."
"Alvis, never thought I'd say this, but I get it now. I like you. Not Brayden—you who sees me as I am, treats us like humans, understands us truly. Alvis, I want to give myself to you. For all you've done for me, let me—"
Blood rushed to my head and below. I shoved Ravi onto the bed.
"Kyaa!?"
Straddling her, panting hard, I said,
"Ravi, choose your next words carefully. Even if you say no later, I won't stop. No turning back."
"Ah..."
Ravi, breathing ragged with arousal, cupped my cheek, laced her other hand in mine, and whispered sweetly,
"No turning back♡"