Chapter 343: Guwon Strikes Back
Chapter 343: Guwon Strikes Back
“Guwon. Isn’t it time to switch?”
As I was standing watch, Sara, the next in line for guard duty, emerged from her tent.
For her to wake up before I even went to get her… you could say she’s a bit too diligent.
“Ah, it’s that time already. But you’re up so early. Did you not sleep well?”
“I’m fine. I slept enough. More importantly, you must be tired from being out here for so long, Guwon. Go get some rest.”
Despite my worried words, Sara was the one who looked apologetic.
Of course, we always stood watch, so normally there would be no reason for her to make such a face.
The reason she looked that way was because I had, quite literally, been out here for a very long time.
After teasing Silvia, I’d earned a smack on the back from Sara and ended up taking over the watch from her.
And I’d been standing guard ever since.
Still, there was no need for Sara to feel sorry.
Guard duty wasn’t just about standing still and staring into the distance.
Besides, with all the snow, my field of vision was narrow and I couldn’t see much anyway. Diana had even set up an alarm spell to warn us of any monster attacks in advance.
So, all I really had to do was stay awake to react to the alarm.
I’d been using the downtime to summon a spirit, letting it rest on my palm while I reviewed the spirit language.
Even if it was a language made of mana, I believed the shortcut to mastering any language was to speak it as much as possible, so I’d been practicing constantly.
It consumed a lot of mana—maintaining the summon and then using more mana to converse—but the time passed surprisingly quickly.
So quickly, in fact, that I’d forgotten to wake Sara when it was time for the shift change.
“I’m not tired at all. I could keep going if you wanted me to.”
“You idiot. If you overdo it, what will you do tomorrow? We have to protect those people on the way to the village. We need to be even more focused than usual.”
“That won’t be a problem if you just let me use Healing Sex on you all night…” “Geez! You pervert!”
But even as Sara said that, she only gave my cheek a light, playful pinch before crouching down beside me.
Normally, a comment like that would have earned me another smack on the back.
It seemed she felt quite guilty for making me stand watch for so long.
“No, think about it. You already gave your next turn to Diana, right? So if we don’t do it when we have the chance, you and I won’t be able to for a very long time, you know?”
Taking advantage of her softened attitude, I tried to tempt her once more.
“Ngh… I-It’s fine. No, this happened because I was in the wrong. If I slept with you in the meantime, it would mean I haven’t reflected on my actions at all. I’ll hold back.”
Sara seemed to hesitate for a moment, not answering right away, but it appeared her steadfast nature won out against the temptation.
Then, as if to change the subject, she looked at the spirit on my palm.
“So, have you gotten used to that spirit conversation thing?”
“Yep. I’ve completely mastered how to ask it to wash a specific spot for me.”
“Why on earth would you master that of all things…?” Sara muttered, looking dumbfounded as I gently stroked the head of the water spirit on my palm with my finger.
“Because it’s the most useful. In many ways.”
“Honestly. This pervert…”
“Hm? A pervert? What are you talking about? How does washing connect to something like that? Miss Sara, what exactly were you thinking that made you immediately jump to calling me a pervert just from hearing I mastered how to ask to be washed? Hmm?”
“Th-That’s… because you were practicing it with that in mind, weren’t you?!”
Sara’s face flushed slightly as she grew flustered, but she quickly went on the offensive, turning the tables on me.
Well, she was right. I was practicing with exactly that in mind.
But I couldn’t just admit it.
“Hm? I don’t know what you’re talking about. What could Sara possibly have been thinking? Won’t you please tell me? My dear perverted Sara?”
“Y-You! Seriously! You’re the pervert!”
“I’d rather not be called that by the pervert who can’t even properly explain what she was thinking about when I mentioned washing… Ah, no. Wait. I guess it makes sense. Yeah. I get it. I’ll acknowledge it.”
“Wh-What? All of a sudden?”
Now that I had suddenly stopped teasing her, Sara looked even more anxious as she asked.
What do you mean, what? I was just taking a knee to gain momentum.
I had no doubt you’d ask.
“It’s because you like me so much. So much that when you get drunk and honest, you’ll even raid someone’s bed at night. So it’s only natural that when you’re talking with me, your thoughts keep drifting in that direction. Isn’t that right? Sa-ra-a-a-a.”
I drew out her name in a languid tone, just like how she called my name when she was drunk.
“Y-You, ba—I told you that’s not what happened!”
“Shhh. Don’t shout. You’ll wake everyone up.”
“Ngh! You… you idiot… I told you, it wasn’t like that.”
When I put a finger to my lips, Sara lowered her voice, but she continued to glare at me as she protested.
“Okay. I get it. I’ll pretend that’s true. Sa-ra-a-a-a.”
“Y-Y-You… ugh…”
In the end, all Sara could do was glare at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
“It’s a joke, just a joke. Don’t be mad.”
“I’m not… not mad.”
Sara turned her head away with a huff.
But when I placed a hand on her cheek, turned her face back towards me, and kissed her, she didn’t resist at all, accepting it fully.
“Honestly, you just get smoother and smoother at handling a woman’s heart, like a sly old snake.”
When our lips parted, Sara muttered, sounding a little vexed.
No, I think you’re just too easy for this to work on, I thought.
Of course, unlike a certain Cardinal, Sara was a woman who was only easy for me.
Anyway, she’s so cute.
“You’re not mad anymore?”
“I’m still a little mad.”
When I spoke softly, Sara pouted her lips defiantly.
But I brought my face close enough for our lips to touch again and whispered gently.
“But Sara.”
“Yeah?”
As if drawn in by my voice, Sara’s pout softened and she answered quietly.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t mad?”
“Y-You! Just get in the tent and go to sleep!”
In the end, I received one more smack on the back before I had to return to the tent.
But I got to see Sara’s cute face, and the smack didn’t do any damage. A complete win.
It makes me feel like raising my defense stat because of Sara was worth it.
*
The next morning.
The adventurers we rescued finally regained consciousness.
Since our two priestesses had already used up all their divine power to heal their bodies, it was only natural that they would wake up.
“I see. So we… we survived…”
But it didn’t seem to be a purely joyous occasion.
Right. They said four of their seven members had already died. If I were in their shoes, I wouldn’t be able to feel purely happy either.
Especially this Tigerkin, the only man in their party.
Even if they weren’t all lovers like us, they would have built a bond by sleeping together.
The women seemed to have been quite close as well; the Rabbitkin and Dogkin were hugging each other and sobbing their eyes out.
“No. Forgive my rudeness in front of our saviors. I apologize. And thank you so much for helping us. My name is Greg.”
But the Tigerkin quickly shook his head, then offered me a handshake.
Male adventurers usually treat each other like friends, but this Tigerkin’s tone was polite, likely because he saw me as his savior.
When I took his hand, I felt a considerable, heavy strength.
Didn’t they say he was a bard? Is this a racial trait or something?
Come to think of it, he’s bigger than me, too. And I’m not exactly a small guy.
“If you want to thank someone, thank Elder Sister Rachel over there. If she hadn’t found you first, we wouldn’t have been able to save you.”
“Hm? Oh. Miss Guide. Thank you so much.”
“Ah, no. I didn’t do anything. If anything, I was the one who was rescued…”
Elder Sister Rachel smiled a little shyly, holding her hands up in front of her chest and waving them from side to side.
For someone who had been so desperate to save them, they didn’t seem particularly close.
Huh? They’re not even that close, yet she was that desperate to save them? Then could it be…
Not that who Elder Sister Rachel likes has anything to do with me.
In any case, now that everyone was conscious, we found ourselves in the position of having to protect them on the way back to the village on the 3rd floor.
The return trip was peaceful, with no incidents worth mentioning.
It was so peaceful that I was even able to get lessons on the spirit language from Diana from time to time while we were moving.
Of course, just because it was peaceful didn’t mean there were no battles. It’s just that they were over in an instant, so they barely registered.
“Amazing. I heard you were active on the 2nd floor, but I’ve never seen you on the 3rd. To handle 3rd-floor monsters so easily…”
The Tigerkin, Greg, seemed deeply impressed as he watched us.
He was watching us with sparkling eyes that didn’t suit his large frame, and I found his expression quite displeasing.
How dare you look at my women with those eyes?
He sure knows how to spot pretty women.
Do you know a guy named Kyle? How about I make you sing while beating a monk’s wooden block instead of a harp?
Eventually, the Tigerkin’s gaze caused an incident.
“For all of you to be so strong and beautiful. It’s incredible.”
“B-Beautiful…”
Matilda reacted to the Tigerkin’s words.
It didn’t seem like the guy was trying to seduce her; he was just expressing pure admiration.
But it appeared that made no difference to our dear Cardinal.
“Hm? Are you perhaps not used to such words? That can’t be. Someone as beautiful as you…” “Stop right there!”
I hurriedly cut in, grabbing Matilda’s chin.
“Matilda. Look me in the eyes. Who is it that you love?”
“Ah…”
Her gaze, which had been about to turn to the Tigerkin, thankfully shifted to me, and her expression became dazed.
Phew. I guess I saved another one.
“Hey. You, Tigerkin.”
“Ah, you can call me Greg…”
“Why the hell would I care about some dude’s name? Anyway, just shut your mouth and don’t say anything stupid. This is Cardinal Matilda.”
“…What?”
“Cardinal Matilda of the church. The one famous for the man-castrating curse. If you don’t want to be castrated, just shut up.”
Fortunately, the Tigerkin had heard of Matilda’s name. He immediately closed his mouth and nodded.
Then, for some reason, he started looking at me with eyes full of adoration.
No, I didn’t tell you to look at me, either. Get those sparkling eyes off me!
Why are you looking at me, a man, with those eyes? Stop it right now! What if my girls get the wrong idea!
“Ah… um… about that…”
Having snapped out of the pink-tinted mood, Matilda mumbled, looking at the ground as if she was too embarrassed to look at my face.
“It’s fine. You don’t have to make excuses. It’s not like I don’t know what you’re like.”
“Ah…”
At my words, Matilda seemed to let out a small sigh of relief, but also of regret. She opened her mouth as if to mumble something, then gave up.
I was aware that I’d spoken harshly out of anger, but apologizing for it didn’t feel right either, so I said nothing and started walking again.
Even after that small commotion, the Tigerkin’s endlessly favorable gaze towards me was quite burdensome, but at least he learned to keep his mouth shut.
And so, we arrived at the village without any further trouble.
“Thank you so much for saving us.”
The Tigerkin spoke on behalf of his party, and the Rabbitkin and Dogkin bowed their heads in unison.
It seemed the two women behind him were deeply shocked by the incident, as I barely saw them speak the entire way to the village.
Yeah, yeah. Get going. Go and comfort your gloomy women.
I waved my hand dismissively, accepting their thanks perfunctorily, and quickly put some distance between us and them—or rather, between me and that burdensome Tigerkin.