Episode 35

Thanks to the Merchant Leader's consideration, after dinner, Aron and I entered the tent alone.

Perhaps it was a VIP tent, as it was quite large.

Although there were two simple beds, I had specifically requested only one.

If there were two beds, I wouldn't be able to freely smell his scent, so it couldn't be helped.

After entering the tent and checking the interior, Aron muttered.

"Given the tent's size, I thought there would be two beds, but there's only one."

I flinched at his casual remark but quickly smiled and spoke.

"Maybe they're short on beds because of the attack. Even if not, it's big, right? This should be enough for the two of us to sleep."

"You said you disliked sleeping together because it was uncomfortable."

"Well, if there's no bed, what choice do we have? More importantly, have you washed up?"

Aron shook his head.

"I was planning to wash before sleeping. I heard there's a suitable lake for washing very nearby."

"Are you going alone?"

"Seems like it. Everyone said they've already washed."

"Then shall we go together? I'm a little scared to go alone."

Honestly, I'm not scared.

It's just boring to go alone.

Might as well go together, it's better that way.

"Anyway, let's go together. And since you're supposed to protect me anyway, you should accompany me."

"You usually wash alone just fine."

"That's because we're usually in the same room. When we're not, you should ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠come with me. What if I get kidnapped in that short time?"

"You? Kidnapped?"

I averted my gaze for a moment at his reaction that suggested it was impossible.

It's almost impossible for me to be overpowered so helplessly.

Still, I needed a plausible excuse, but I didn't expect this reaction.

"What if the Cult of the End shows up while I'm washing and I really get kidnapped? Are you really going to leave me alone?"

"Hmm..."

He seemed to think it had some merit, pondered for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright, let's go together. It's better to go together than to leave you and have something happen."

"Right? Then shall we go quickly?"

The moment he agreed, I immediately rummaged through my bag, grabbed my clothes, and hugged them to my chest.

Holding the necessary shower items in one hand, I looked at Aron.

"...Pfft!"

Aron, seeing Mia's expression, couldn't hold back his laughter.

Even without a tail, it was as if he could see a tail swishing vigorously left and right behind Mia's butt.

Her very expectant expression was also very obvious.

'Her becoming more and more honest is kind of cute too.'

She brings various excuses, but Aron knows.

Mia, who clearly disliked it at first, has recently been approaching him more herself.

She must have been stimulated by Seoryeong and Eri.

Aron roughly thought so.

"I'll get my clothes too. After I get my clothes, let's go right away."

*

The lake Aron mentioned was right next to the caravan's campsite.

We arrived at the lake before even exchanging a few words, and I glanced over it.

'It's much prettier than I thought.'

Generally, lakes aren't as pretty as in pictures. Most are muddy or dirty because the water doesn't circulate.

Compared to that, the lake we found now was like a real painting.

The water was clean, and the surrounding atmosphere was good, making it look truly picturesque.

"Are you going in together?"

While looking around the lake, Aron's voice reached me, and I reflexively looked at him.

"I'll go in with my clothes on anyway. It's fine to wash roughly for a day or so."

"Right. Then should I go ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in with my clothes on too?"

I nodded.

In this medieval era where just washing with water outdoors is considered clean, this was acceptable.

"Then I'll just take off roughly..."

I took off my armor first.

With clinking sounds, the light armor protecting my shoulders, arms, abdomen, and chest came off. The always-worn armor disappeared, leaving only thin undergarments.

I looked at the long-sleeved shirt covering my arms for a moment and thought.

'Since I'm washing anyway, I should wash properly.'

Making an excuse to myself, I took off one more layer of clothing.

The loose-fitting clothes covering my body disappeared, leaving only the clothes underneath. The kind of clothes that accentuate and cling to the figure.

After neatly arranging my clothes, I walked to the edge of the lake to check my appearance.

My figure, checked after a long time, had definitely changed.

My slim waist remained, but my chest and pelvis had grown, making the lines more pronounced.

I unnecessarily ran my hands softly from my waist down to my pelvis to check.

"I've definitely changed. I think I understand what Seoryeong unni meant by growth."

My physical age was clearly over 20.

Now in my mid-twenties, it could be seen without dispute that growth had ended. Yet, my figure was particularly lacking.

Exaggerating a bit, you could even believe I was a delicate, slender man.

"Hmm..."

I pushed my pelvis back slightly and thrust my chest forward.

I smiled satisfactorily at the clearly visible volume, but then a voice came from behind.

"What are you doing? Standing there in a weird pose by yourself."

Startled, I quickly turned around.

He was watching me, arms crossed, with his top completely off, wearing only shorts below.

"J-just... checking if I'm growing properly. Got a problem?"

I unnecessarily hugged my chest with both arms. Not that anything was visible since I was clothed anyway.

Perhaps because of that attitude, Aron's gaze went toward my chest.

"No. I just asked because you were standing in a weird pose."

If it were up to me, I wouldn't indulge him at all, but since I'm under Aron's protection, I have to indulge him.

It's absolutely not because I like it that I'm allowing this.

"More importantly, let's wash quickly and go back. So you go in first. Go in and tell me how cold the water is."

"Even without using aura, cold water should be fine, right?"

"I dislike cold things."

"Hmm... Really bothersome."

Aron grumbled but entered the lake first.

As he passed by me, his scent tickled the tip of my nose.

"How is it? Okay?"

"Just cool. So come in quickly."

After briefly looking at the water depth reaching Aron's waist, I spread my arms.

"I can't swim, so hold me. It looks deeper than I thought, I can't go in alone."

"Really? Then I should hold you."

Aron, without any suspicion, came right up to me, put his hands under my armpits, and lifted me.

His large, rough hands slipped smoothly between my arms, and my body seemed to react.

'His hands are so big... and reliable...'

Aron carried me into the lake without showing any sign of heaviness.

The cold water soaked my body, but thanks to Aron's body heat, it wasn't as cold as I thought.

"The atmosphere is nice."

I muttered while being held in Aron's embrace.

With the calm, clear lake and the quiet surroundings, my tired body felt like it was recovering.

Especially with Aron's body heat and scent, the tension completely left my body.

"Can I do that thing now?"

Without specifying exactly what, Aron, understanding, turned my body to face him.

One arm supported my butt, the other pulled me into a hug around my back.

I hugged Aron tightly and took a breath.

'She said I just need to adapt... I wonder when this adaptation will end.'

According to Seoryeong unni, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once adaptation is over, I won't depend on or be obsessed with it to this extent.

Trusting those words, I sniffed Aron's scent even more diligently, but it felt like there was no change.

"When we go to the Red Canyon, can we meet the Dragon right away?"

At Aron's question, I stopped sniffing for a moment.

Meeting Aron's gaze, I shook my head vigorously.

"You can meet it normally, but it's a bit difficult."

"Then what are you going to do?"

"We need to meet the Dwarves. The Dwarves make accessories and such for the Dragon and are under its protection."

"But Dwarves are very closed off too. Can we ask them to let us meet the Dragon?"

"That's what I'm leaving to you, isn't it?"

Aron looked at me as if he didn't understand.

"Do you know what Dwarves like the most?"

"It's alcohol, right?"

"So I'm going to bring precious alcohol from nearby. Give that to them and drink hard with the Dwarves."

"That will work?"

I nodded lightly.

Dwarves show incredible egalitarianism; what ultimately matters to them is drinking and craftsmanship.

Anything else is irrelevant, an ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠extreme form of egalitarianism.

What about talent in drinking and craftsmanship?

'Well, they acknowledge you to some extent if you put in the effort.'

It's in the Dwarves' nature to acknowledge you if you just do the basics.

Their hearty and easygoing nature is emphasized, making them easy to befriend, and those who recognize the true value of their work are treated like life's benefactors.

Fortunately, I remember a few works, so if the opportunity arises, I just need to pretend I know them.

"The Dwarves have good personalities, and I have a few methods, so I'll tell you when we get there."

"Why not tell me now?"

"Because too much has changed thanks to you, so I can't be sure of anything. So I think we need to go and check first."

At my blunt words, Aron seemed chastised and nodded.

"Right. If so much has changed, it's important to check directly."

"Right. And the Cult of the End has appeared too. It might be very different from what I know. So... don't trust it too much. You know what I mean?"

So far, my information has only been denied.

There were occasional lucky hits, but the game I played has changed so much that it's ambiguous to call it reliable information.

Information that's good for reference.

That's about the level of these pieces of information.

'At least it's a relief that I met Aron and found out he's real.'

If I hadn't met Aron and read Haim's walkthrough, I might have really erased everything from my mind.

At my trembling voice and gaze, Aron seemed to understand the anxiety and stroked my head.

His large hand gently covered and swept over my head.

"I know. Even if you're wrong, I won't stop believing you, so don't worry."

My anxiety subsided at Aron's soft voice and words.

I entrusted my body to the pleasant touch and hugged him tightly.

"Mmm..."

After feeling his body heat and touch for a moment, I quickly pushed against his chest.

Unknowingly, I had been resting in his embrace for too long.

I spoke to Aron in an awkward voice.

"Shall we get out now?! I think we've been washing for longer than expected!"

Thanks to washing my body intermittently while talking, I felt much fresher than before entering.

Aron seemed the same, as he nodded.

"Right, let's go quickly and rest."

The two got out of the water, dried off, changed clothes, returned to the tent, and fell asleep on one bed.

Mia, for whom being held in his embrace had somehow become so natural.