Wall Slam
We slipped out the back door of the Lord's Castle, our ill-fitting detective coats flapping dramatically as we melted into the town.
Normally, the townsfolk would spot us and call out, "Aigoo, young master!" with warm greetings, but today our detective cosplay had us flying completely under the radar.
"Young master, this coat is too hot. And it keeps getting tangled around my feet."
Seria grumbled from right on my heels, clutching the long hem and walking awkwardly.
"Urgh..."
I stopped in my tracks and gave her a wistful, pleading look.
Truth is, I'm hot too. It's early summer and all. But hey, detectives wear trench coats and hats! That's the romance of it!
I unleashed the full power of my puppy-dog eyes on her.
Ziiiing.
"...Nothing. Let's get going."
I won.
"Oh yeah~!"
I left Seria sighing behind me and strutted ahead, humming a cheerful tune.
Our destination was the herb farm on the outskirts of the territory—the workplace where that pickpocket kid 'Luke' from a month ago was now diligently employed.
We'd just left the bustling main street and turned into a quiet alley when—
"Hey? Isn't that Kalian young master over there?"
"Huh? Where? Then the girl next to him must be Knight Seria?"
Familiar voices drifted from behind us.
I glanced back to see the butcher who often supplied meat to the castle and the baker lady, both squinting suspiciously in our direction.
"Gah."
I yanked my hat brim down over my eyes on reflex.
"Seria, run!"
"Huh?!"
If they spotted us here, it was game over. The second word got back to Dad—"The young master's wandering the streets in some weird outfit"—our detective game would be shut down, and I'd be right back to house arrest in my room.
I grabbed Seria's wrist in a panic and dove into the narrow, dingy alley beside us.
Tatadak!
"Huh, where'd they go? Did we imagine it?"
"Yeah. No way the young master would wear something that drab."
Luckily, their footsteps faded away.
But it was too soon to relax.
"Hah... hah..."
I leaned against the alley wall, panting hard.
And right in front of me...
"Y-Young master."
Because I'd yanked her wrist so hard, Seria was plastered right up against my chest.
The cramped alley left no room to dodge.
Instinctively, I threw out one arm to brace against the wall and keep her from falling.
The classic wall slam.
"...Uh."
Seria was trapped, frozen in place.
She slowly tilted her head up to look at me.
Up close, I could see her eyelashes quivering faintly.
Our Seria's got some nice lashes.
No, wait—'Damn, I've really grown, haven't I?'
Back in the day, I'd been looking up at her, or at best eye-to-eye.
Now her shoulders felt so much smaller than before.
"Y-Young... master..."
Seria swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Yeah? What's up? You hurt?"
"N-No, not that... it's just..."
Her gaze wandered the air before settling on my lips.
Her face flushed crimson, like it might explode.
In the narrow alley, we were close enough to feel each other's breath.
The faint lavender scent of her shampoo wafted over, and my heart started pounding.
"Hey, Seria."
"Y-Yes?!"
"...You feeling cramped?"
I asked awkwardly, and she shook her head vigorously.
"N-No! It's just... you suddenly seem so much bigger, young master..."
She mumbled in a voice tinier than a mosquito.
I could feel her hands clutching the hem of my coat over my chest.
This was seriously bad for my heart.
Was this that "boyfriend POV" thing people talked about? Having her tucked right here, looking up at me like this—she was adorable enough to kill.
"Ahem! Th-They seem gone. Let's head out."
I cleared my throat, pulled my arm from the wall, and took a step back.
Seria jumped in surprise, straightening her clothes.
We avoided each other's eyes, faces burning, hats pulled low as we slipped out of the alley.
—
"Big bro! Kalian bro!"
The moment we reached the herb farm on the outskirts, a dirt-covered boy in work clothes came bounding over like a tail-wagging puppy.
Luke.
"Oh, Luke. How's the job treating you?"
"Great! Thanks to you, bro, I bought medicine for my little sibs, and we're eating meat every day! I'll serve you forever, bro!"
Luke clung to my pant leg, groveling with gratitude.
I ruffled his hair and grinned.
"Good, good. I'll give you a chance to pay me back. The reason I came today is..."
I lowered my voice and glanced around.
"You know about those livestock thefts at the outlying farms lately, right?"
"Oh, you mean the 'Black Ghost' incidents? Of course! Even the back-alley slums are buzzing about it."
As expected. My hunch was right.
Kids like Luke always knew more about this stuff than the patrols with their torches.
"Guards couldn't even find footprints. You hear anything?"
Luke's eyes sparkled as he nodded eagerly.
"You came to the right place, bro. I know all about that stuff!"
He thumped his chest confidently.
"A few days ago, some wandering herbalist grandpa who was crashing in an empty house near the forest came running in, scared out of his wits."
"Herbalist grandpa? What'd he say?"
"He said a foul beast stench hit him outta nowhere in the middle of the night, waking him up. Then he saw this huge shadow slide past the window..."
Luke swallowed hard, dropping his voice lower.
"Twice the size of a man, covered head to toe in pitch-black fur—a 'furry monster'. Moved without a sound, super agile for its bulk."
"Furry monster?"
Seria, listening beside me, furrowed her brow.
"No footprints, steals livestock without a scratch... Young master, any magical beasts come to mind?"
"Hmm."
I rubbed my chin, rifling through memories of all those monster bestiaries in the study.
Silent steps, master of stealth, massive appetite, furry...
"...Could it be a Shadow Owl Bear?"
"Shadow Owl Bear?"
"Yeah. This freaky owl-bear hybrid. Its feathers are mana-infused, letting it blend into shadows, and it flies silently. Signature move: sprays sleep gas to knock out prey, then swallows 'em whole."
Luke yelped and backpedaled in horror.
"Eek! A monster like that's prowling our territory?!"
"Don't worry. We'll catch it. And for some reason, it doesn't attack people."
I flashed a grin at Seria.
She tipped up her hat brim, eyes gleaming.
"If it's a magical beast, that's my specialty. Good thing it's not a ghost."
"Right. Now we know what it is—pick a stakeout spot, and we're set."
I patted Luke's shoulder.
"Luke, can you mark the raided farms on a map? If we trace its path, we can predict the next target."
"You got it, bro! I hear all the back-alley gossip!"
He pulled out a scrap of parchment and sketched a map.
This kid was seriously capable. The factory foreman raved about him.
Gotta recruit him when he grows up.
—
"Thanks, Luke."
"No sweat! Call me anytime, bro!!"
With Luke gone, we huddled over his map, analyzing the beast's route.
The most likely next target: a remote sheep pasture at the far west edge of the territory.
"Okay, stakeout here tonight."
I pointed to a tall haystack in one corner of the pasture.
The inside was hollowed out just enough for two people—perfect cover. It blocked the wind and gave a clear view of the sheep.
"Young master, it smells a bit, but the visibility's great."
Seria slipped inside and settled in.
I squeezed in beside her.
Way too cramped for two adults to lie down, but just snug enough for a 12- and 14-year-old to scrunch up.
"Oof, tight."
I grumbled, shifting position—our shoulders pressed right together.
"Hang in there. Stakeouts are all about endurance."
"True, true."
Her body heat seeped through our touching shoulders.
Warm.
Or maybe getting hotter?
As night deepened, the north's signature chill seeped through the barn cracks.
Days were hot in early summer, but the temperature swing made nights biting.
"Brr."
I pulled my coat collar tighter, muttering.
Then I felt Seria's shoulder shiver beside me.
A glance showed her biting her lip, hugging her knees to fight the cold.
No choice.
Our detective coats looked cool but were cheap junk with zero insulation.
I snapped my fingers, drawing up a bit of mana.
Heat.
Warmth bloomed in my palm.
I flung open one side of my oversized coat.
"Seria."
"Yes? It show up, young master?"
She jerked her head up in alarm.
"Nah, not that."
I draped the coat over her shoulders and tugged her closer to me.
"If you're cold, come here. We'll share."
"...!!"
Her shoulders twitched.
The magically warmed fabric enveloped her.
"Y-Y-Young master! Wh-What is this...!"
She flailed in panic, but the tight haystack offered no escape.
"Stay still. Catch a cold on stakeout, and you miss training tomorrow. Besides, sharing body heat's basic survival, read it in a book."
I replied coolly, tucking the coat tighter.
"Th-That's for shipwrecks or something, right?"
"What's the difference? Cold, dark, waiting for a monster."
She gaped, speechless at my shameless logic.
But she didn't push away—clearly not hating the warmth inside my coat.
"...Thank you."
She whispered, voice trembling.
Her head tilted slightly toward my shoulder.
The faint lavender shampoo tickled my nose, mixing with the dry grass scent of hay in a strangely heart-fluttering way.
Thump, thump, thump.
In the silent barn, with the sheep quiet in the still night air, someone's heartbeat echoed deafeningly.
Ahem.
I swallowed dryly to myself.
Like that alley wall slam earlier, Seria looked insanely pretty up close.
Doesn't everyone look a bit off in extreme close-up, no matter how hot?
Argh, Kalian! You're on stakeout! Here to hunt a beast!
Flustered, I shook my head and turned to watch the pasture.
But against my will, my right arm stayed around her shoulder, pulling her even closer into my side.
"Y-Young master..."
Her voice shook.
She looked up at me.
Our eyes met in the dark.
Then—
Sliiiither.
"...!"
"...!"
We jolted.
So much for the mood.
Something approached silently from the deep shadows beyond the pasture fence.
"It's here."
I whispered, gripping Seria's hand under the coat.
"Yes."
She squeezed back, her other hand clamping onto the hilt of the wooden sword at her waist.
We held our breath, peering through the haystack gaps at the massive shadow.
The true form of the 'Black Ghost' was about to reveal itself before our eyes.