Chapter 23
Chapter 23
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 23
It was early the next morning.
Asher opened his eyes before the sun had even risen.
Did he toss and turn in his sleep...? Well, that was somewhat accurate.
It was because of what happened at the tavern the night before.
That gloomy, sticky gaze and smile would sporadically pop into his mind just as he was about to drift off deeply, making it impossible to sleep soundly.
He entered the bathroom and sank into the bathtub.
As he did, he replayed the events of the previous day.
At first, it had felt alienating.
But as he thought further, a chill crept up the back of his neck.
Asher had no idea what emotion lay behind it.
But in that moment, the feeling crawling over his skin was
'...No. Let's not think about it.'
It was mere speculation.
He brushed away the goosebumps rising on his arms.
It was probably just discomfort from being exposed to someone else's unpleasant stare.
She might have spoken that way out of consideration for him.
Asher was the same, after all.
He hated seeing her use his body for vulgar words and actions.
Likewise, Versia might simply dislike others touching her casually.
Of course, the lingering thoughts that had kept him up all night weren't about to vanish so easily now.
Versia's words had confused him in other ways too.
-It's only with me.
Splash. Asher's nose dipped below the water's surface.
His eyes narrowed, and air bubbles rose before him, bubbling up furiously.
His earlobes flushed red. Pondering those words led to thoughts like, 'Then it's okay if I touch?'
He hugged his knees and lost himself in thought for a long while before finally shaking his head vigorously.
'What nonsense.'
It was the kind of idea someone with excessive self-consciousness would have.
He finished bathing and left the bathroom.
After drying off, he slipped on a robe and sat before the mirror, towel-drying his hair.
Now he could get ready on his own without much trouble.
Makeup was still a challenge, but with such natural beauty, it wasn't really necessary.
He combed his hair as Dalin had taught him.
Then he put on undergarments, followed by his outer clothes.
They were different from yesterday's outfit.
Wearing the same thing every day would surely draw complaints.
'This should do.'
Today it was a navy dress.
Since it was sleeveless, he added a thin black cardigan and draped a shawl over it.
It was a desperate attempt to conceal the body's curves.
Self-loathing washed over him.
He only knew men's shirts and pants, yet here he was, accumulating knowledge of women's clothing like a mountain.
His body needed to return before he got any more used to it.
With that all-too-familiar worry for the umpteenth time, he stepped outside.
The twilight had just receded, and dawn was breaking.
There were still about two hours until the promised meeting time with the group, so Asher took a stroll through the streets.
Even on an undercover trip, moments like this were perfect for soaking in the city's charm.
Pured's mornings were brisk.
Miners heading to the shafts bustled along the roads, and street vendors hawked sandwiches and the like to them at full volume.
The lively streets lifted Asher's spirits.
With a soft smile on his face, he drew even more glances from the men than he had the day before.
Of course, no one approached.
There weren't many fools who would covet a fruit out of reach.
A peaceful morning filled with fresh air.
Everything was perfect, but regrettably, that mood didn't last.
"Found her! It's that bitch!"
A hoarse shout rang out.
Asher turned and furrowed his brow.
'Ah, it's those guys from yesterday.'
The furious, snarling group of men were the ones who had picked a fight at the tavern.
Had they spent the whole night searching for him?
How utterly idle could they be?
'Better change locations.'
Eyes were turning their way.
If he roughed them up here, it would stir unnecessary rumors.
Asher schooled his expression.
He addressed the approaching group.
"Got her, you rotten"
"How about we move somewhere else?"
"...What?"
"You're blocking the road. Other people can't pass. So, um..."
Asher glanced around and soon spotted a suitable spot.
"That alley over there looks good."
He pointed with his index finger, and the man's face went blank.
But after checking the narrow, dark alley, his expression shifted.
"...Ha, perfect. Right there."
Lust gleamed in the man's eyes.
Asher felt that gaze roaming over his entire body.
It was repulsive. Sickening.
His brow creased.
"Follow me."
They were the type to intimidate out-of-town women.
He had no intention of letting them off easy.
* * *
Deron was a young miner in Pured.
Not particularly handsome, not rich, just somewhat skilled.
His days were always ordinary.
Early morning, grab his tools, buy a sandwich on the way, head to the mine, and dig.
He'd assumed today would be the same.
But what was this twist of fate?
'Th-this looks dangerous...'
He'd been staring for ages at a stunning beauty with sparkling eyes walking down the street.
His mouth hung open in a goofy grin, wondering if today was his lucky day.
Then the incident unfolded.
The infamous mining gang, Armbandno second to their brutality in Puredwas dragging her into an alley.
He could have ignored it.
But as Deron turned to walk away, he found himself hesitating.
'M-maybe this is my chance...?'
Men in their prime tend to live in passionate, reckless fantasies.
Deron was no exception.
If he rescued the woman right there?
Sure, he wouldn't win a fight, but if he scooped her up and ran, they could escape.
Hey, all that miner stamina had to count for something.
Then their eyes would meet as they fled, sparks would fly, they'd marry, have kids, live happily ever after, and die together with smiles on their faces.
Even his retirement plan was flawless.
His heart pounded wildly.
That was why Deron stepped up.
"Hey! You thugs over there!"
He followed them into the alley and taunted the Armband crew.
Bonus: flashing a cool smile.
Pointing dramatically as he declared himself.
And then Deron faced reality.
"Who the hell is this guy?"
"Hey! Take him out!"
"Ack! Ack! Wait, I was wrong!!! "
They surrounded him and kicked him mercilessly.
Deron curled up on the ground, grunting "Ugh! Ugh!" as tears and snot streamed down his face.
A soft sigh came from afar.
It pierced deeper than the pain in his body.
'Deron! You idiot!'
He should have known when to step in and when to back off!
"You rotten bastard!"
"Hey! Stomp him more!"
Thud thud thudthe brutal sounds echoed through the alley.
Deron squeezed his eyes shut, praying for it to end soon.
Then, in that moment
"Gah! Ack!"
"Ack!"
"Gwaaaah!!!"
His own screams mingled with others'.
Suddenly thumps rang out too, and only later did he realize something bizarre was happening.
Deron cracked his eyes open.
And his face filled with shock.
"Uh...?"
The entire Armband gang lay sprawled on the ground, writhing in agony.
Looking closer, their limbs were twisted unnaturally, and their leader Armband was sobbing uncontrollably.
Deron was dumbfounded.
One thing was crystal clear amid the horror: this beautiful womanso stunning it was shockinghad caused it all.
She dusted off her hands.
Adjusted her shawl.
Approached Deron.
He flinched, but only for an instant.
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Ah..."
He looked up, and his heart stopped.
Deron let out a gasp.
The way she extended her hand, smiling faintly with concern and a touch of admirationit was just like
"Goddess...?"
A goddess from his dreams.
"You're a funny one. But the only god of this land is our Parent God."
A bit quirky, maybe.
Deron clutched his chest with a groan.
* * *
Versia woke a bit later.
Lying in bed, she dry-washed her face and exhaled a breath laced with displeasure.
It was because she recalled the previous day.
'Why did I do that?'
It wasn't rational.
It was something she never would have done normally.
Asher's intentions had been logical.
Even drunk and muddled, to grasp the rumors' truth from the workers on site, they had to coax them somehow.
And Asher wasn't the type to let anyone touch his body anyway.
There was nothing bad about it.
Yet she'd punched the miner in the face and stormed off.
Simply because she was disgusted.
Irritation had boiled over unbearably, and the man had been so repulsive she nearly vomited.
In that instant, the thought had struck her.
'Mine...'
Someone trying to touch what's mine.
Get rid of him.
She couldn't deny that she'd referred to Asher inhabiting her body that way.
It was laughable.
Asher's body belonged to Asher.
Yet she couldn't suppress the feeling and let it burst out.
She didn't remember thinking like that beforemaybe the male body was influencing her personality.
Eventually, Versia cleared her mind of it all.
'Excuses.'
No reason could justify that action.
Forcing one would only make it irrational and illogical.
It would merely paint that possessive urge as an even more selfish, horrific emotion.
Why? Why did she feel that way toward Asher?
Their time together hadn't been that long.
Versia found no answer.
There was no justification for it.
In conclusion, that emotion needed to be rejected.
Possessiveness without logic was the trait of someone she despised most.
To calm herself, she washed with cold water.
Only then did her mind clear.
'Right.'
She'd say she was cranky from fatigue yesterday.
An apology like that should suffice.
Asher would believe it unquestioningly and give that worried look.
His innocence would bring that pleasant warmth again.
She put on a shirt and pants.
Added an overcoat and tucked a dagger into her inner pocket.
Finally, she left the room.
But Versia
"Ah, there you are!"
couldn't hold to that resolve for long.
Asher stood at the inn's entrance.
With some battered, unknown injured man, no less.
Where had he been meddling?
...No, that didn't matter.
Squeeze
Her heart clenched.
Black, sticky something rose to her throat.
Her mouth went dry.
Even so, Asher approached with a bright smile.
Eyes shining, he whispered excitedly.
"I brought a miner! It's a long story, but... I think we can dig into the site rumors through him!"
His posture begged for praise.
That proud smile twisted her stomach.
'Ahh, what to do with this guy.'
Versia felt suffocated.