The Hero and the Mesugaki Saint
“Hero-nim! This looks delicious too!”
“Really? Should we try it?”
“Yes!”
Abel and Cloe had been exploring the streets of Athens for an hour now, and the pair were deep in the joys of street-food hunting.
The streets of the Athenian city bustled with countless delicious street foods, and Abel strolled through the crowds while savoring them. The lively atmosphere was far more vibrant than he had imagined.
Here and there, buskers performed private shows, their instruments filling the air with cheerful melodies that delighted both the eyes and ears of passersby.
Even after wandering the streets for so long, Cloe’s expression remained bright and unrestrained. It was truly wonderful to see her so happy.
While they walked like this, Abel asked Cloe, who had just discovered lamb skewers, “Cloe, do you have any particular places you want to visit?”
“Hmm… How about going to the fountain? There’s a magnificent fountain in the Athenian Square. It’s famous as an Athens tourist spot because the water spurts from incredibly detailed sculptures.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea.”
Fountain… If it were a medieval fountain, wouldn’t it feel similar to the famous Trevi Fountain in Rome?
With sculptures present as well, it was almost as if Abel was standing before the original. Had the author simply copied the scene from the Trevi Fountain?
Following Cloe’s directions, they made their way toward the square where the fountain stood. The closer they got, the more people they saw. With such a large crowd, they could easily become lost.
When they finally reached the square, Abel realized that the earlier snack stop had been nothing compared to the real situation. The square was absolutely packed with people.
“Wow… There are so many people.”
“I told you it’s a famous tourist spot. The Saint told me to be careful so you don’t get separated, Hero-nim!”
“…” I should be the one who should be careful, Cloe. You’re shorter, after all. You might not be able to see over the crowd…
“Eek! Don’t tease me!!”
He had been found out.
“I have complex about my short height, too.”
“Really? I think it’s a distinctive feature. There are people who like that kind of thing.”
The reason short-stature characters appear so frequently in subculture works was because there was demand for them, after all.
“…” Even if the Hero doesn’t like it, what’s the point?
“…” Huff. Anyway…
Cloe suddenly leaned in closer.
“Cloe, with this many people in the crowd, be careful…!”
“Kyaa!?”
Some passerby had failed to notice Cloe and shoved her, causing her balance to falter and her to be swept into the crowd.
…Watch this.
Abel quickly reached out and grabbed Cloe’s hand, which was about to be swept away by the crowd. Thanks to that, she regained her balance and stood up safely.
“Are you okay?”
“Ah… Uh… Yeah…”
Why is my reaction… Ah.
Inside his palm lay Cloe’s small, delicate hand. The slight flush on Cloe’s cheeks had not been a hallucination.
Realizing the situation, Abel immediately let go of her hand. He had almost committed a serious crime. It was a miracle he had not been caught.
When he released her, Cloe gave him a disappointed look and said, “…” Hero-nim… I might be swept away again.
“Hmm…”
That was true. Because Cloe was short, her physique was small, making her more likely to be swept away by the crowd.
“If you don’t want to use your hand, at least hold my wrist.”
“…” All right.”
Cloe smiled brightly.
…Is she happy? It’s good that she looks happy.
A soft touch settled on his wrist. It really felt like a child’s hand. How could five delicate fingers fit so snugly together on such a small hand?
After Cloe’s wrist was firmly in his grasp, however, she was no longer swept away by the crowd. Thanks to that, Abel was able to safely lead Cloe all the way to the fountain.
…So this is not a scheme to fill my heart.
By the time they reached the fountain, the square was already crowded with many people. Some were sitting on benches, while others gathered around the sculptures, chatting and enjoying their time.
The most striking thing was that almost all of them were pairs of men and women. And that meant…
“…” So do we look like that too?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“No, never mind. The sculptures are incredibly detailed. It must be the work of a famous artist, right?”
“Ah, the sculptor who made these statues? He’s famous now, but at the time he was just a nameless artist.”
Such cases were common, especially among artists who were still unknown.
“I see.”
…How long are you going to hold my wrist, Cloe?
“Cloe, when are you going to let go of my wrist?”
“…” Hero-nim.
“What?”
Cloe loosened her grip on his wrist just a little and asked him, “Hero-nim, do you like the Saint?”
#
Abel’s eyes widened in shock. The look on his face was not one of confusion, but pure bewilderment. Cloe had taken his silence as a positive answer, but Abel was panicking for an entirely different reason.
When Cloe had spoken those words, the memory of seeing the Saint’s bare skin had flashed through Abel’s mind.
‘…Am I trash?’
Abel covered his forehead with his hand and sighed heavily.
“…” So that’s what you meant?
“…” I think you’re mistaken, Cloe.
“What?”
“I have never liked the Saint at all!!! Why would I like the Saint in the first place! The Saint always says weird things to me.
Cloe’s eyes grew wide. Abel’s answer was completely unexpected. Since they seemed to get along so well, she had naturally assumed there was some affection between them, but that had been wrong.
Now Abel’s confusion only deepened. She liked him, yet Cloe was pushing him away. She liked him, but why was she pushing him away?
“…” Then why are you pushing me away? If you don’t have anyone you like, then I’m fine with that too.
Cloe placed her hand on her chest and said, “My chest is… still my chest…”
“No, that’s not what I meant!?”
“…” Then what is the reason? Honestly, even I think you’re quite handsome.
Cloe had a petite figure and small breasts, but she was undeniably a beautiful young lady. Her purple hair was as soft and beautiful as silk, and her amethyst eyes sparkled like gems. Coupled with her refined nose and pink, delicate lips, she was almost flawless—except for her childish height.
But Abel was not judging her by her appearance. He knew that his inner voice was saying it was a crime, yet he could not help the truth that lay beneath.
The age difference was only one year. How could that be a crime? No matter where they went, the two of them were of legal age.
“…” Huff.
Abel sighed. Because Cloe was speaking so seriously, he could no longer treat her words as a joke.
He had to confess his true feelings honestly, so that Cloe would understand and accept them. Thinking that way, Abel cautiously opened his mouth.
“You know I only became a Hero recently, right?”
“…” Yes.
“So I’m still very confused.”
Of course, he could not pour out everything. If he told her he had come from another world and that this was a novel world he had been reincarnated into, she would certainly treat him like a madman.
“I still have many things I lack, and I should focus on improving my skills. That’s why I can’t be honest with my feelings right now. So… I hesitate to accept it. Even if it weren’t you, Cloe, my answer would probably be the same.”
“……”
Abel had not yet fully understood this world. At a time like this, building a connection with someone from this world felt impossible.
Cloe said nothing, but her expression showed deep sorrow mixed with understanding.
“…” Then there is still hope? The Hero is too busy right now to accept it.
“…” Huh?
Abel stared at Cloe with a look that seemed to say, “Is that how it is?” Cloe smiled at him, and the smile was not sad but radiant and cheerful.
“Watch and see. After I graduate, I will definitely make you accept me. But until then, you must leave my spot empty, right?”
Abel tilted his head at the words “leave her spot empty.” It was as if he had multiple seats available. Confused, he asked Cloe, “What do you mean? Leave her spot empty?”
“Yes?… The Mars Empire has polygamy, so you can leave at least one of my spots empty, right?”
“……Polygamy?”
Polygamy. The word was as fantastical to Abel as a dream for a Korean man. In a novel world, he had never imagined hearing about a system common only in Middle Eastern countries.
When Abel showed his confusion at the word “polygamy,” Cloe puffed out her cheeks and said, “Why can’t you answer? Are you saying you won’t even leave my spot empty?”
“…” Ah, no, that’s not it…
Abel sighed deeply. He had never imagined that such a system even existed.
‘…This is a harem story.’
Feeling a sense of disappointment that the author he had liked had written a harem novel, Abel told Cloe, “…” For now, let’s graduate first. The situation might change in the meantime. People’s hearts can change often…
“I will only look at you, the Hero-nim!”
“…” That’s very kind of you, but wouldn’t it be better to leave some possibilities open?”
“No. I won’t look at any other man.
Abel was a little surprised by Cloe’s firm words, but he was also grateful. It was a happy thing that someone was expressing affection for him like this.
“Then see you later. As Cloe said, my spot… probably won’t be crowded. I don’t think there’s anyone else with such peculiar tastes as to like someone like me.”
Cloe tilted her head at Abel’s self-deprecating tone. Her expression showed that she did not understand his words.
“There are probably many people who like the Hero-nim, right?”
“…” Really?
“Yes. You’re kind-hearted, always cool and heroic…
“But I’m not that handsome.”
“……” What?
Cloe’s expression turned the most bewildered Abel had ever seen. She asked him, “Why are you asking that?”
“Why?”
“…” Ah, no. Do you think the Hero-nim is ugly?
“I don’t think so?”
The Saint always teased him, saying he looked like a goblin. So, if he were to be generous, his face was probably only average at best. That was Abel’s thinking.
“…” Hero-nim, the fountain is right behind us. Look into the water for a moment and think it over again.”
‘Oh, right?’
Abel had never had the chance to check his own face because he lacked a mirror. Unlike a bath, the fountain water was not filled with steam, so his reflection would be clear.
Abel leaned his face over the pool of water at the fountain. And Abel…
“…” Huh?
He was deeply shocked. The Saint had teased him, saying he looked like a goblin, yet the reflection in the water showed a strikingly handsome young man—even Abel himself could not deny it.
His hair was a perfect snow-white, his eyes a vivid scarlet-red, his features sharp and refined, with a strong jawline. He was truly the epitome of a handsome young man.
Cloe asked Abel, who was muttering and staring at his reflection, “Do you still think you’re ugly, Hero-nim?”
“…” Th-that’s because the Saint always teases me by calling me a goblin…
“That’s obviously a joke. Don’t you know that people don’t tease genuinely ugly people like that? It would actually hurt them.”
Cloe explained that while lean people might tease each other about being pigs, it would be rude to call a chubby person a pig.
Abel, having finally understood the truth, let out a helpless sigh.
“……” Huh.
“From your reaction, it seems the Hero-nim really never looked at his own face…”
“Because I never had a chance to look in a mirror…
“I understand. I, too, never had a chance to look in a mirror before I entered the military academy. I could only check my face in the stream.
The mention of a stream made Abel tap his forehead.
‘I should have checked my own face like that too.’
Abel had realized that the Saint’s teasing about him being ugly was not based on any truth but was simply part of the joke.
And he could also understand why Cloe liked him. With such a face, it was natural for someone his age to fall for him.
‘…This is crazy logic.’
Then a thought struck him. Why had the Saint never once told him that he was handsome? Even if teasing was fun, she could have said it at least once.
“Cloe.”
“Yes?”
“Saint-nim, why does she always call me ugly?”
“…” She’s probably just teasing.
“Hmm.”
Abel recalled the Saint’s past reactions. When he had suddenly approached her, her reactions, and those times when she had seemed to show off to him.
“…” Hmm?
Abel felt as if he was having a headache.