Awkward Embrace and the Company's 30% Cut

"Kaak, ptoo!! Hey, you lovesick idiots, quit shaking and back the fuck off already?"

The sharp voice of Siron ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slicing through from behind snapped me right out of my reconciliation hug with Kernax. Only then did I finally take in our surroundings. A ton of eyes were glued to us—soldiers watching the whole damn show.

Kernax seemed to snap to as well, loosening her tight grip on me ever so slightly. We pulled apart at the exact same moment, nice and slow. Not that it mattered much; we were still close enough to feel each other's breath.

"……."

"……."

Just moments ago, we'd been wrapped up in apologies and hugs—like that was all a lie now. Kernax and I were radiating pure awkwardness, sneaking peeks at each other. In the heat of the moment, yeah, we got all emotional and jumped into it. But looking back, our last encounter hadn't exactly ended on a high note. No official makeup talk or anything. I'd just one-sidedly fucked her senseless until I passed out. That was it—our "grand finale."

"Ah, fuck. Can't watch this shit anymore. Hey!! Clean up this mess first before you keep moping around?"

"……."

Kernax, who'd been staring at me all awkward-like, whipped her head up to glare at Siron. She mumbled something, then nodded and turned around. The soldiers watching us flinched.

"Sorry for the sudden commotion. Everyone, return to your posts and finish up what you were doing."

The soldiers blinked in confusion. Clearly not the reaction they'd expected. But soon enough, they shuffled off with disappointed looks, scattering at top speed. A few who'd pitched tents nearby kept sneaking glances, but neither Kernax nor I were assholes enough to bitch about that.

"Rina. What's with that face?"

"What's wrong with my face?"

"You look pretty damn pissed."

"Oh~? Is that so? Yeah~ I guess I might be. Well then~? Enjoy your quality time. Kaak. Ptoo!!"

"……."

Kernax watched Rina—the last one lingering—spit on the ground with a demon-faced scowl before storming off. Her face went slack in shock, lips parting slightly. But she shook it off quick, turning back to me like a glitchy robot with a creak.

"……That."

"Ahh~!! Shut up and let's grab some food first if we're done cleaning. I'm starving to death here. Hey, bow bitch, you hungry too?"

"Not really."

"Goddamn, you ruin everything."

"Oh, was that the vibe? Come to think of it, I am a bit hungry."

"Too late, bitch."

Giena just shrugged with a sour face at Siron's jab. Anyway, their antics shut Kernax up mid-sentence with a short chuckle, easing the awkward air a bit.

"Then I'll go prepare without worrying."

"Prepare my ass, fuck off. Come with us to the village head's spot. Gotta buy some extra grub."

"Hm… alright."

With Kernax's okay, Siron and Giena brushed past me. Siron glanced back.

"Dumbass. Stay put by the wagon and don't wander off?"

"Come on, Siron. Where the hell am I gonna go from here?"

"Exactly. That's what I'm wondering."

"……I'll behave."

"Good."

And with that, Kernax vanished inside with Siron and Giena.

Clank.

The sound from behind made me turn. Beneo hopped down from the driver's seat. She eyed the drake crouched on the ground, then suddenly looked my way.

Clank. Clank.

Beneo beckoned me over—like "Hey, come here a sec." I trotted up to her.

"Watch this guy for a bit."

"Pardon? Oh, sure. Just… keep him company?"

"You can pet him too."

"Ah, roger that."

Beneo nodded and we swapped spots. She gave the drake a quick glance, then quietly headed into the village after Siron and the others.

—Grrrrowl.

"There, there."

The second Beneo was gone, the beast thumped the ground with its tail—thicker than my thigh—and tilted its head toward me. I petted its massive dome like it was a giant dog, and it wagged that tail like a broom sweeping the yard, clearly pleased.

"Fuck…… jealous."

"Gotta reincarnate as that bastard next life."

"Living worse than a beast……."

Stroking the drake, I caught some seriously depressing mutters from nearby.

—Grrowl, growl. Pffrrrowl.

The drake sneaked a peek at the soldiers, then snorted like it was mocking them.

"……Did that fucker just laugh at us?"

"Right? That's what it looked like to you too?"

"No way, that shitty—"

The soldiers struck poses like they were about to draw swords and charge. Super awkward for me. Their eyes had that unhinged glint—like they might actually do something stupid to the drake.

—……Grrrowl.

As I fretted, the drake shook its head. I pulled my hand back and stepped away; it suddenly rose up. Even crouched, it'd matched my height—but now it loomed twice as tall, towering over me.

Swoosh.

It wrapped its thick tail around my waist and yanked me sideways. Against my will, I was hoisted into the air and carted left to right.

"……Hic."

"……Gulp."

"F-F-Food… the f-fodder's gotten b-b-bi-bi-big……."

Drake's bulk blocked the soldiers, but suddenly their voices dripped pure terror. Swoosh. The tail unwound, setting me back down right as their panic hit my ears.

"……?"

The drake hunkered down again like nothing happened, eyes closed in fake sleep. The soldiers froze in super unnatural poses, refusing to even glance our way. Whatever went down, it seemed settled peacefully. I stood by the drake, waiting for Siron and crew.

"No matter how much they rely on mushrooms for a living, this is too much, right? Do these bitches have some disease where they die without 'em?"

"Siron. Don't say that after scarfing it all down. And you've got some on your mouth."

"Mmph……."

After the drake dozed off and a bit more time passed, Siron returned—tray in hand piled with steaming stew and grilled mushrooms. Oh, Beneo was with them too.

Anyway, we threw ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠down some mats by the wagon and dug into the village grub. Surprisingly decent dinner. I wiped sauce off Siron's mouth with my handkerchief. She scrunched her eyes but let me.

That signaled the end of chow time. Giena, who'd been spacing out, stood.

"I'll handle cleanup. Rest up, everyone."

"……."

Beneo hopped down from the driver's seat too. She grabbed the empty tray first and headed to the village; Giena scooped up our dishes and tailed her efficiently.

"Um……."

"Ah. Cut the bullshit and get in the wagon first."

Siron cut off Kernax mid-sentence and stood. She flung open the wagon ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠door, grabbed my hand, and pulled me inside.

"Don't just sit there like an idiot—hurry up?"

"……Right."

Kernax got up and followed us in. Door shut. She stood a sec, eyeing spots to sit.

Siron eyed her.

"Quit yapping and just sit next to him?"

"……."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Kernax peeked at me, then slid in beside me sneaky-like.

"……."

"……."

Awkward silence blanketed the wagon. I snuck a glance at Siron. She had her eyes shut, faking sleep. Her way of saying she wouldn't cockblock our talk anymore. Moments like this confirmed it: Siron was a total tsundere.

"Um……."

I turned. Kernax was ducking her head, cheeks flushed pink.

"You… feeling okay?"

"Yeah. Fit as a fiddle."

I grabbed one of her hands—primly folded on her lap—and planted it on my chest.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

Not exactly proof of peak health, but damn if I didn't wanna try this once. And shit, it worked better than expected. Kernax wiggled her fingers on my chest, peeking up at me—face red as a ripe apple.

"See? Healthy, right?"

"I-It is."

She nodded faintly, fingers twitching.

"Smith……."

"Yeah."

Her flushed face stared into mine. I met those blue eyes head-on.

"Mm……."

She fluttered her eyes shut softly—her way of asking for a kiss. I wrapped an arm around her waist, drawing her close. Our lips neared, breaths mingling. Her trembling eyelids were adorable.

As I leaned in, my eyes flicked to the window.

"Pffft!!"

"……."

I jerked away coughing instead of kissing. Kernax blinked blankly, then turned to look.

"……I'll step out a sec."

She bolted out the door.

—Hiiiik!!

—I-I didn't do it!!

—Rina, Captain Rina f-forced me—

—Shut the fuck up!! Captain?! Slander!! It's slander!!

Door slammed. Silence again.

"Pfft……."

"……."

Siron, fake-sleeping, snorted once then rolled over. Even prickly Siron found it funny, apparently. I decided not to peek outside.

"Ah. Perfect—village stop. Time to hand these out."

I thought of the Night Fairy mk.2s stashed behind the partition. No one's watching, soldiers all gathered—distro before bed and demo how to wear 'em.

As I mulled that, waiting for Kernax, a familiar semitransparent window popped up in front of me.

The window vanished in a flash before I could react. I blinked blankly, stood, and yanked open the partition door.

Sacks stuffed with stockings stared back. But one looked suspiciously skinny. I walked over and prodded it.

It deflated like a punctured balloon.

"……Huh?"

My head throbbed for the first time in ages.