Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Rainy Night in the Suite
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(7)
12.
Clunk!
With the sound of the room door closing,
the magic lamp affixed to the ceiling automatically flickered to life. The light swiftly banished the darkness, unveiling the suite's lavish interior before their eyes.
"Spacious."
Ullan let out a short murmur of admiration.
It was far larger and more comfortable than the dormitory.
If he had to guess, it seemed three or four times the size. Since it was his first time in a place like this, he curiously scanned the room.
Ivela's reaction, however, was entirely different.
'...We actually ended up here.'
Tension was plain on her face.
She gripped the hem of her soaked skirt tightly and swallowed hard.
'I never planned on using it...'
No, correction.
To be honest, she had imagined it a little.
She swore to the heavens, just a little. But an unexpected downpour and the resulting halt of carriage services had forced them here.
It was better than camping outside, at least.
'Ugh, what do I do now?'
Up until check-in, all she could think about was getting to a warm place quickly. But now that they were in the room, reality hit her like a bolt.
Tension, fluster, a strange sense of anticipation.
All sorts of emotions swirled in her mind when
Ullan suddenly turned to her.
"Ivela."
"Y-Yes?! "
Was she that tense?
Strange formal speech slipped out. Ullan noticed and gave her a puzzled look.
"What's with the sudden formality?"
"It's just, um..."
She wanted to say it was a slip from nerves.
But her tongue felt frozen; words wouldn't come. Her flustered state was obvious to anyone. Ullan got back to the point.
"You should wash up first."
"W-Wash up?"
"Yeah. You'll catch a cold sleeping like that."
Fair enough.
She looked like a drowned rat right now.
The rain had intensified, ruining her umbrella and soaking her through.
"Go on ahead."
"O-Okay."
With Ullan's consideration,
Ivela hurried to the bathroom. As the sliding door shut, fully separating her from the room, she finally let out the sigh she'd been holding.
"Haaah."
A sigh of relief.
She placed a hand on her chest and felt her heart pounding fiercely. It meant she was intensely aware of Ullan.
Of course she was.
This was the first time she'd spent so long alone with a man—and into the night, no less.
'Still, I can't stay like this.'
She had to relax somehow.
As she lightly patted her cheeks, her eyes fell on the bathtub. Right—a hot bath would thaw her frozen body and ease her tension.
Decision made.
Shh! Shhh!
She first stripped off her rain-drenched dress.
Then removed her undergarments completely before stepping into the tub.
"Haaah."
Warmth seeped back into her chilled body.
A languid feeling soon followed. As she soaked leisurely with a pleasant smile,
Ivela's expression grew subtly strained.
'I thought this would relax me...'
It hadn't at all.
If anything, she worried more about what came after washing up.
Being alone in the room with Ullan was one thing, but how could she face him? What should they talk about?
'L-Let's change my mindset.'
This was nothing, really.
They'd come to the hotel to escape a sudden rainstorm and were just spending the night like anyone else.
Yeah, like everyone does.
So, no big deal.
"..."
No, it wasn't.
Her flushing cheeks proved it. No matter how she thought about it, the situation wasn't ordinary.
'I-Is this really okay?!'
By her standards, it was absolutely not normal. Instead of regaining composure, she became even more aware of it.
Ivela shook her head vigorously.
'But I had no choice.'
Predicting this much rain or the carriage shutdown was impossible.
In other words, an act of God.
'Right, force majeure!'
Not intentional, so no need to overthink.
With that thought settled,
Ivela's eyes sparkled.
She'd successfully shifted her mindset. No more panicking from overawareness—just act normal, like always.
Calming her heart,
Ivela stepped out of the tub.
As she dried off with a fluffy towel, something she'd forgotten hit her.
"...Ah."
She had no change of clothes.
Obviously. This outing hadn't planned for an overnight stay. Wearing the wet dress again was out of the question.
'W-What now?'
Panicking and glancing around, she spotted a bathrobe. Perfectly loose-fitting. Enough to cover her.
She tied the waist belt securely.
Then stepped out of the bathroom.
"D-Did I keep you waiting?"
A strange tension gripped her.
Clutching her pounding chest, she turned toward the living room where she sensed his presence.
"I'm all clean now, so you can go in..."
Her words trailed off.
The sight before her.
Ullan, intensely focused on bodyweight exercises. Probably bored sitting still, his body feeling stiff.
But that wasn't what held her gaze.
His heated muscles from the prolonged workout, thick veins bulging prominently—they captivated her eyes.
Gulp!
Ivela swallowed unconsciously.
The composure she'd barely regained shattered the moment she saw his muscles. Heat rushed back to her face when
"All done?"
"...Huh? Y-Yeah."
Their eyes met.
Her delayed response came from staring at his muscles like she was entranced.
"Your face is red."
"Th-That's..."
"Short baths are better."
He must think the prolonged soak flushed her skin.
"Get some air by the window. Cool breeze will help."
Ivela nodded silently. Only after Ullan entered the bathroom did she exhale the held breath.
But it was fleeting.
Recalling those muscles made her face burn red again.
'Th-Think of something else!'
Fanning herself to clear her mind, she remembered Ullan's words.
The window breeze would cool her.
Approaching the half-open window, a cool gust tickled her cheek.
'Oh, he's right.'
A refreshing wind carrying the scent of rain.
Her facial heat began to fade. Stray thoughts washed away like sand in waves.
As calm gradually settled,
Rattle!
The bathroom door opened.
Ivela slowly turned.
She felt confident now—even seeing Ullan wouldn't faze her. But that confidence crumbled instantly.
"...!?"
Ullan emerged in a bathrobe, just like her.
That much she'd expected.
The problem was elsewhere.
His body was far too massive compared to the robe's size.
As a result,
his firm chest muscles peeked out uncovered, striking her gaze.
Her breath caught for a moment.
Perfectly sculpted muscles. She couldn't tear her eyes away. But she pinched her thigh and barely turned her head.
'T-Too stimulating.'
Staring longer might've made her nosebleed. Unconsciously clutching her collar, she glared fixedly out the window.
Meanwhile,
fresh from his shower, Ullan quenched his throat with cool water before sitting opposite her.
A comfortably plush sofa. Leaning back, he gazed out the window like her.
Whoosh!
The downpour raged fiercely.
As if the sky had a hole punched through it.
Staring blankly at it, the awkward silence broke when Ivela ventured,
"Th-The rain's really coming down, huh."
"Seems so."
Ullan nodded in agreement.
His thoughts drifted to Pertisha, a comrade from his past life he'd briefly met earlier that evening.
"Her predictions are spot-on as always."
"Huh? Spot-on what?"
"No, nothing."
Ullan shook his head.
Not something to explain now. He could tell her after reuniting with Pertisha someday.
"More importantly, Ivela."
"Wh-What?"
She turned at the sudden call.
In that instant, she saw his eyes.
'That look...!'
Eyes craving something.
As if primal human urges were surfacing. Tense, Ivela wondered what he'd say.
As she swallowed,
"Can I eat that?"
"...What?"
"The fruit on the table there."
Ullan pointed to the apple and banana on the side table beside her. Realizing, Ivela looked deflated.
"Probably fine?"
"Good. I was getting hungry."
Grinning, Ullan devoured the fruit.
Crunch crunch. The fruits vanished amid chewing sounds. Watching, Ivela sighed softly.
'Phew, somehow since earlier...'
She kept misreading things.
Like earlier that afternoon.
'Of course Ullan wouldn't.'
The Ullan she'd seen at the academy was considerate and gentlemanly.
A bit dense, sure, but better than being ruled by desires.
So tonight would be fine too.
Ivela was convinced. But her conviction shattered in under a minute.
"Eek!"
Her teal eyes widened with a yelp.
Her body jolted as if struck by lightning.
Ullan had approached unnoticed and grabbed her nape. Sudden action. Flustered, Ivela cried out.
"U-Ullan?! What are you...!"
"Hold still."
His low voice tickled her ear.
Ullan began kneading her nape gently, like molding clay.
Then,
"Ahht!"
A weird sound escaped.
Realizing, Ivela clamped her mouth. Ullan kept massaging.
Soon after,
was it the large palm's heat?
Her body felt increasingly warm.
All strength drained from her limbs when
Ullan spoke.
"Your muscles are knotted."
"...M-Muscles?"
Her words tangled in panic.
Ullan nodded.
"Yeah. You must tense up a lot."
Half-right.
Not usually, but today from leaving the dorm had been nonstop tension.
"Better to loosen knots right away. Leave them, and it'll lead to soreness."
Especially if combat arose.
To respond instantly, loosen muscles when you can. Stay in peak condition anywhere, anytime.
As Ullan explained,
Ivela sighed inwardly.
'Oh, it was a massage.'
Her face mixed relief and disappointment.
Shortly after,
Ullan released her nape.
"That should do it. Try moving."
Ivela rotated gently.
Her eyes widened. Definitely smoother than before.
"Whoa, really? Feels much better."
"Right?"
"How do you fix it so fast...?"
"Injected Spirit, that's how."
"Spirit?"
"The power they call 'aura' here."
Ullan added briefly.
Injecting Spirit while loosening lets recovery happen much faster than normal.
"Amazing. So Masters never get sore muscles?"
"Mostly."
Unless an extremely intense battle, soreness rarely occurs.
From there,
Ivela fired questions with sparkling eyes. Things she'd always wondered about the Master realm.
Questions only a Master could answer, so perfect chance to satisfy curiosity.
And break the awkward silence.
Luckily, Ullan answered patiently without boredom.
How much time passed?
"Yaaawn."
Curiosity sated,
Ivela stretched with a big yawn.
Massage or late hour? Drowsiness flooded her.
Ullan noticed.
"Sleepy? Time for bed."
Right after replying,
his eyes turned to the bed.
Chapter 24. Events in the Capital