Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: 25. Wilderness Festival
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"Master."
Drip, drop. Lulled by the sound of falling water, I must have dozed off for a moment.
Just as sleep was about to fully claim my consciousness.
Bang! The door flew open, snapping me back to reality.
"...What."
"That guy's not dead, is he?"
Squinting at the doorway through bleary eyes, amid the thick steam.
Imir emerged from the bathroom, blurting it out bluntly.
In her arms was Kaien, limp as ever, just like before the bath.
His black hair, damp and settled calmly, and his glistening skin suggested.
Thankfully, she'd washed him properly, despite my worries.
The problem was the aftermath, though.
Drip. Drip.
"Why didn't you dry him off properly before bringing him? The floor's all wet now."
"Don't know. I changed his clothes too. My job's done now, right?"
She acted like she'd rather die than do more.
Imir dropped him unceremoniously onto the bed beside me and dusted off her hands.
Her face twisted in disgust, as if she'd touched something filthy, but she'd followed orders meticulously enough to earn praise.
Training her as a maid through all that hassle hadn't been wasted, it seemed.
"Good work."
"...Then show me around lots of good stuff on the last day!"
"I'll try."
"...Annoying. Seriously."
My earnest reply apparently didn't satisfy her.
Pouting and grumbling, she slipped back into her room.
Slam!
The door shut with quite the irritable bang, but what could I do?
Considering her temperament, she'd done well enough just to obey quietly. I should be grateful.
"Hoo..."
I buried my face in the pillow again.
Beside me, Kaien lay fast asleep, breathing softly.
'He really didn't wake up once?'
No matter how tired, not stirring while being stripped and bathed?
It was starting to feel less like sleep and more like a coma.
Just to check, I reached out and tapped his cheek lightly.
"Hey. Kaien."
"..."
No response.
I pinched his cheek a bit harder.
"Mm..."
He furrowed his brow slightly and mumbled, but remained deep in slumber.
Well, a guy usually so sensitive, knocked out like this—must have been utterly exhausted.
'...Anyway.'
Thanks to Imir carelessly tossing him aside.
The disheveled sight of him, uncovered by blankets, caught my eye.
"..."
'Don't know. I changed his clothes too. My job's done now, right?'
"...If you're gonna dress him, do it right."
His shirt gaped open, buttons improperly fastened.
The real issue was the exposed white skin beneath, the gentle curve flowing from his collarbone.
And above all.
The bandages he always desperately hid were gone, leaving his upper body starkly revealed.
"...Ha."
My gaze inevitably settled on his chest, reaffirming it once more.
The rounded mounds swelling softly.
Not the explosive volume of Iris or Elicia, but definitely not a man's chest.
I knew it already, but.
Seeing it directly like this made it hit harder.
...That he was a woman.
'Yup, it's real.'
Rejoice, fans.
All that IF debate and fighting was canon after all.
"...Mm."
As I pictured the community erupting in cheers upon learning this, with a wry smile.
His usually furrowed face looked peaceful.
His chest rose and fell gently beneath the shirt with steady breaths.
Bound tight with those stuffy bandages daily, it must have been suffocating.
"..."
Staring blankly at the swell of his chest, I suddenly snapped to.
'But why am I still staring?'
Am I crazy? Or did fatigue short-circuit my brain?
A man ogling a sleeping woman's chest? Unacceptable.
"...Get it together, Evan."
Okay, look away. Back to bed now.
You can do it, Evan!
"..."
I slapped both cheeks hard enough to sting, desperately averting my eyes, but it wasn't easy.
The moonlight-glowed pale skin, faintly flushed face. And that subtly sweet scent tickling my nose.
...Snap out of it.
'You're Evan, but not the real Evan. Get a grip, idiot!'
Slap! Slap!
I finally wrenched my gaze to the ceiling.
But then, a thought flashed through my mind, forcing me to look back.
'But... is it okay to leave him like this?'
Understandably so—he was dressed and laid on the bed.
Come morning, when Kaien woke and grasped the situation, chaos was inevitable.
Would he believe it was Imir?
"..."
No way in hell.
'You undressed me?!' and swing a sword—lucky if it didn't come to that.
'...Yeah. At least button him up.'
Best for both of us.
I cautiously reached for his chest.
Careful not to touch skin, fingertips tense, grasping the shirt edge—
"Mm..."
Kaien stirred, murmuring softly.
My heart dropped; I froze. But no signs of waking.
'Phew. Close call.'
Exhaling in relief, I reached again, grabbing the fabric.
No time to wipe the cold sweat beading on my forehead, as I carefully aimed for the first button—
Swish.
Kaien's hand seized my wrist.
"...?!"
Without warning, the sudden grip.
I swallowed a scream ready to burst.
...Did he wake? Is he awake?
What excuse? 'Your buttons were undone, so I was fixing them?'
Busted like this, I'm done for.
Thoughts racing.
Cold sweat pouring like rain, eyes darting frantically to his face.
But Kaien's eyes remained closed.
'Sleep-talking?'
That grab probably shaved ten years off my life.
I tried slowly pulling free, but his grip held firm.
Like he'd never let go.
...Could you let go?
I whispered near his ear, careful not to wake him.
"...Mm."
Grip!
Instead, he yanked harder.
"Whoa!"
Off-balance, my body pitched forward over him.
Narrowly avoiding face-planting into his chest—a disaster averted.
Thud!
"Hup!"
Bracing against the headboard saved me.
But...
"..."
This position? Perfect for misunderstandings.
Me looming over Kaien.
And this damn roommate clutching my wrist relentlessly.
'...Screwed.'
"...Ma."
His steady breath tickled my jaw as he murmured something.
Moonlit, his sleeping face held an odd tension.
"Don't... go..."
Kaien rubbed my wrist against his cheek, mumbling.
The soft, warm touch on my cold fingertips startled me, but I couldn't pull away.
'Who're you telling not to go?'
No idea who he longed for in dreams, but the pathos in his voice was genuine.
Utterly unlike his usual self—fragile, yearning.
Tsk.
"...You've got your story too."
Everyone does.
But hiding her gender to survive? Kinda pitiful.
'Still.'
That's that, this is this.
Couldn't stay like this sleepless till morning.
So, cautiously—very cautiously—I twisted my wrist free.
"Mm... uh..."
The more I did, the more he whined like a child.
Clinging tighter, pulling me closer.
"...This is insane."
Forcing it might wake her; staying wasn't an option.
True dilemma, no easy out.
"Haa..."
My conclusion after agonizing: wait till she settled.
How long I stared down at her vulnerable, unbuttoned form in awkward silence.
Only her breathing audible now.
Slip.
The instant her grip loosened, like it'd last forever—
I yanked free and scrambled up before recapture.
'Survived.'
Legs buckled in relief, but no time to collapse.
Hadn't accomplished the goal.
Buttons.
Yeah, needed to button her up.
Reaching carefully again, I fastened each one.
Tense not to brush skin.
After the last button and tucking her in snugly.
I collapsed onto the floor, gasping raggedly.
"Never again. Absolutely."
Next time, wake Imir regardless—make her do it.
Couldn't handle this twice.
"..."
In the quiet room.
As body heat faded, floor chill crept up my back, I felt my sweat-soaked state.
Taut nerves over mere buttoning left me sticky everywhere.
"...Gotta wash up."
I rose shakily, stumbling to the bathroom.
+ + +
After showering, toweling my hair, I glanced out the window.
Time was late—very late.
"Sleep's gone. Damn it."
Cold water or the fiasco? Either way, wide awake. No point lying in bed.
'Short walk maybe.'
A lap near the dorm should help.
Grabbing a light coat, heading out—
Shimmer.
My shadow rippled; a familiar voice echoed in my head.
Slowly manifesting.
[My liege. You're awake?]
Emerging from the shadow: Tundra, unseen for a while.
"Yeah."
Conveniently so.
Wide-eyed and bushy-tailed.
"What's up this late."
[Well, I have a report, you see.]
Report? This hour?
Gripping the doorknob, frowning.
"Speak."
Urging him, Tundra scratched his head before opening up.
[Yes. So, someone seems to be approaching this building.]
As expected.
'They're here.'
Visitors at this hour? Obvious.
The signal for the random event's start.