Let's Sleep in the Same Bed

Six in the morning. A little early to call it dawn.

Kyle sat on the rooftop of the Ares Guild building with a cup of coffee in hand, turning over yesterday's dungeon raid with Sera. A buff that amplified his strength and speed by half again. A shield that let him shrug off incoming attacks. Purification that snuffed out those irritating orc-shaman curses the instant they landed. The way she tailored every bit of her care to him—he couldn't imagine a raid without her anymore.

When he'd thanked her for those abilities, Sera had gotten flustered and tried to wave it off. But Kyle had caught the flicker of joy tucked underneath all that panic and protest. If she'd had a tail, it would have given a shy little wag, side to side. The image spread a smile across his face that he couldn't quite hide.

Click...Step. Step.

Footsteps shattered the daydream. Kyle wiped the smile from his lips and turned around.

Sera was coming toward him in a thin button-up sleep shirt and shorts ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠just tight enough to trace the curve of her hips. Kyle stared, dazed, the same as every other morning. That outfit of hers, stoking his desire before the day had even begun.

Yesterday morning she'd stood there in that same getup, glancing at him nervously, asking if there was anything he wanted. The sight had made him seriously wonder if she was trying to seduce him. But then, in the dungeon—her reaction hadn't been seduction. She'd looked like a girl who'd never even held a man's hand.

I don't think I can hold back...

She had no idea what she was doing to him. Could he really keep from pouncing on her until he'd won her heart? Kyle wasn't so sure anymore.

His voice had echoed through my head all night. I opened my door with hollow eyes, cursing him under my breath, and stepped out into the living room. There he was again—staring at me without a word.

That gaze used to make me walk on eggshells. But I remembered yesterday's resolution, and today I greeted him without flinching.

"Good morning."

"Good morning... though you look too tired to call it that, Sera."

He'd clocked my condition immediately. And he was calling me Sera again.

I'm not Sera...

A name I'd never get used to, not even if I died and came back. I denied it inwardly and answered him.

"I... didn't sleep well."

Kyle let out a short laugh.

"Why? Couldn't stop thinking about what I said yesterday?"

"...!!!"

Bullseye. How did he know? I froze, my mouth hanging open. But silence would only confirm it, so I tried to deny it as calmly as I could—

"N-no I didn't! Wh-what kind of delusion is—"

My mouth wouldn't cooperate. Anyone could see I'd been hit dead-on.

"Absolu—! ...Absolutely not."

So I shouted it even louder, denying it harder.

"Alright. Alright, just don't yell."

He said it like he already knew the truth, soothing me the way you'd soothe a startled animal. Then he started walking toward me, just like yesterday. He was going to grab my shoulder again the second I panicked. I read the intent and stumbled backward, shouting.

"Stay back!!! Y-you're imagining things! Your compliments don't even make me happy, so don't you dare try to touch me!"

He stopped, looking startled. I bolted back to my room and locked the door.

No. I hadn't lost sleep because I liked his praise and gratitude. I'd just slept too much the night before. That was all. I repeated it to myself as I changed clothes and fled the house.

One month after that incident.

Inside an A-class dungeon in Washington, D.C., an awkward man and woman walked toward the exit, keeping a wide berth between them.

"Sera, I won't touch you. Come closer."

"..."

Sera didn't drop her guard, even at that. For the past month she had answered him in clipped replies and kept her distance, holding the line she'd drawn—she would not let his words get to her.

By this point, Kyle was at a loss.

Should I just force her...

Every time he tried to get closer, to win her heart, she recoiled like she'd been shocked and fled. A whole month had passed without him getting anywhere, and Kyle was getting desperate. If he pinned her down right now and flooded her with physical pleasure, maybe she'd start opening up to him. People talked about fucking someone into love for a reason.

No... still... haah...

Watching himself rationalize it, Kyle felt how little patience he had left. He was thinking he needed to find another way when the opportunity fell right into his lap.

Back in my room after clearing the dungeon, I lay there peacefully scrolling through my phone. I'd gotten used to America, the guild, and Kyle by now. The cohabitation had thrown me at first, but once I started saying only what needed saying and keeping my distance, it was bearable.

Let's just keep it this way.

Hold out for two years and ten months, and I'd be free. With that thought, I pulled up the Korean news.

Huh?

The headline was so unbelievable I tapped it, needing to see more. The article loaded.

Reading it more carefully, the contents were shocking.

A Dungeon Break happens when a dungeon's boss isn't defeated within seventy-two hours of the gate appearing—monsters flood out into the real world. If one hits, the area around the dungeon gets razed. Casualties and property damage become inevitable. If this article was right, a Dungeon Break would tear through Seongnam in twenty-four hours, and people would be in danger.

Hunters exist to clear dungeons and keep people safe from those threats. That's our duty. I'd come to America for that very reason—and now people were in danger again.

I have to go.

I needed to get to Korea, fast. I left my room and headed for Kyle's.

Knock knock.

"Come in."

I opened the door and stepped inside. Kyle sat on the edge of a massive bed, looking at me.

"What's going on, Sera?"

He asked what I wanted, showing up out of nowhere like this. I held up the article I'd just read and got to the point.

"Korea's in danger. Please let me go."

"No."

The answer came instantly. He wouldn't let me go to Korea. I frowned.

"...Why not?"

"You're an American hunter now. Whatever happens in Korea has nothing to do with you."

"I became an American hunter to protect them. It has everything to do with me."

"Enough!! Did you forget our contract? You don't use your abilities on anyone but me—"

"I'll pay the penalty!!! I'll pay it... just... let me go... people are in danger..."

All he had to do was let me go for a little while, and he just kept saying no. I was so angry I dropped the formal speech and shouted at him.

"..."

Kyle held his silence even through my outburst. I thought back to the contract we'd signed when I first became an American hunter.

"You said you'd protect them... you promised you'd help Korea for the three years ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I was gone..."

"I said I'd help if an S-class dungeon appeared again."

"..."

He was right. He was keeping our contract. I was the one being unreasonable. So I begged him.

"Please... please, just send me. Just me."

"...Haaah. So as long as the dungeon gets cleared, that's all that matters?"

"...?"

He let out a sigh and said something I didn't follow.

"If I get the dungeon cleared, you won't go to Korea. Is that right?"

"Th-that's right!"

It sounded like he might actually grant my request, so I slipped back into formal speech.

"Alright. I'll send hunters over right now. But in exchange..."

"Let's add one more clause to our contract."

"Yes, yes, okay. What do I need to—"

"For the remaining two years and ten months, you stay in my room. Every day."

"...What?"

"..."

The demand was so unexpected I just sat there, speechless.

"If you don't like it, forget it. I don't want you sacrificing yourself for those idiots either."

He took my silence as a refusal and started to leave, tossing the words over his shoulder.

"W-wait, no... I understand. I'll do it."

I grabbed his hand before he could walk away and blurted it out, afraid that if I waited even a second he might change his mind.

"Alright. I'll call and send them to Korea right now. Stay here a minute."

Kyle left the room, already on the phone. A few minutes later he came back with a sheet of paper and handed it to me. One new clause, added to the contract we'd already signed.

Living in the same room when things were already this uncomfortable—I hated the clause. But I had no choice. I signed.

It's fine. People will be safe...

A hunter is someone who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠accepts sacrifice for the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠sake of people's safety. A sacrifice like this? I could make it a hundred times over.