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~Chapter 23~
I must be crazy. What did I just say?
This time, my heart was pounding for an entirely different reason.
My face burned red, and a cold sweat ran down my back from embarrassment.
‘Asking to be hugged out of nowhere! What nonsense is this!’
I hastily tried to sit up. I tried to explain it was just a mistake made half-asleep, opening my mouth to make amends.
“…!”
Before I could even react, strong arms reached out and pulled me into a tight embrace.
A fresh scent of soap wafted over me—it smelled just like me.
Thump-thump—
My eyes widened, my body stiffened, and I could feel my heart racing uncontrollably.
A brief worry flickered—what if he could hear my heartbeat?—but it was quickly drowned out by the firm pressure of his arms holding me closer.
I drew in a breath and flinched slightly.
Not from fear or surprise, but from some inexplicable reason my body was trembling.
“It’s alright, Muriel.”
Lysian’s quiet voice spoke as he gently stroked my back.
“As long as I’m here, no one can harm you.”
“…….”
That feeling… of having someone by my side. Of not being alone.
Even if this connection might one day vanish like a bubble… the warmth flowing in this space was real.
“Li—”
I opened my mouth to call him…
“Waaah~! Master~!!”
…Ah, I had forgotten. That little rascal was here too.
A wet little splash hit my face. I wriggled free from Lysian’s embrace, flailing my hands like swatting an annoying fly.
“Calm down…”
“Waaah, Master~! I was so worried! You didn’t wake up even when Nini called…! I shook you, but you didn’t react…!!”
Because I had fallen asleep naturally during the ‘Memory Synchronization’ process on the bed, Nina-bel had probably sensed something was off.
“You were sleeping as if you were dead…! I was so scared! Waaah~!!”
From what they said, it sounded like my situation had been more serious than I had thought. Lysian and Ninabel were probably worried that I had lost consciousness.
Feeling apologetic, I forced a small, embarrassed smile and explained.
“Sorry… it’s nothing, I was just… receiving a vision for a moment.”
“A vision?!”
Startled, Ninabel repeated in surprise. I smiled and answered.
“Yes. It happens sometimes, so don’t worry.”
Though my words were vague, Ninabel was the only one who seemed satisfied.
While the foolish spirit nodded, saying, “I see,” Lysian watched me quietly, his expression unreadable.
After a moment, he finally spoke.
“Are you always so defenseless when receiving visions?”
“Uh… I guess so? I’m unconscious…”
“I understand.”
Lysian nodded with a serious expression, as if making a decision.
“I will not leave your side for even a single second from now on, Muriel.”
“…?”
Isn’t that practically impossible? What about when you need to shower?
I let out a disbelieving laugh.
“That’s unnecessary. Nothing’s going to happen while you’re receiving visions. God will protect you.”
Right, system? The quest only triggers when I’m safe to synchronize, doesn’t it?
(˘◡˘)
Why does this guy always try to communicate with emoticons? I guess it’s a positive expression…
Then I heard Lysian’s soft sigh.
“I don’t mean to question God’s will, but… I can’t help worrying. I must never leave your side, Muriel.”
“…No, really, you don’t have to do that.”
He seems a little overprotective. He’s not actually going to follow me into the bathroom, right…?
“But… if something were to happen to you…”
With a shadowed expression, he slumped his shoulders, then grabbed my hand and pulled me toward him.
Before I could react, my upper body was drawn close, and I blinked rapidly at him.
“I would never forgive myself.”
The seriousness in his gaze, expression, and voice left me speechless. I barely managed to move my lips.
While I hesitated, Lysian carefully pressed his lips to my hand. It was solemn, almost like a vow.
“I told you, didn’t I? You can trust me.”
“…….”
I stayed silent, looking away. Lysian didn’t seem to demand an answer. He let go of my hand and took a step back.
Glancing sideways, he smiled gently at me.
About half an hour later, we turned off the lights and lay down in our respective beds. But sleep wouldn’t come. At least, it wouldn’t for me.
I was hyper-aware of the faint breathing from the bed beside me. Try as I might, I couldn’t stop thinking about Lysian.
‘This is insane…’
I vaguely realized that today had caused a subtle shift in our relationship.
Where this change would lead me, I didn’t yet know, and it frightened me a little.
The next morning.
I woke to find Lysian sitting on the bed across from me, quietly watching.
“…….”
Why is he just sitting there…? It’s kind of scary.
When our eyes met, he smiled gently. I quickly looked away and sat up.
“When did you wake up? Why were you… just sitting there?”
“An hour ago. Did you sleep well?”
“You were just sitting there for an hour…?”
“About 50 minutes. I spent 10 minutes washing up and dressing.”
“….”
Fifty minutes just sitting there like a statue… that’s terrifying in its own way.
Avoiding his lingering gaze, I dashed to the bathroom.
Please tell me he wasn’t planning to stay there the whole time…
“Good, you’re fine.”
After breakfast at the inn and paying for lodging, we headed back to the alley where we’d parked the cart yesterday.
The cart was intact, not a scratch, and nothing had been stolen.
Seems like the town really is that safe.
After loading the luggage, Lysian prepared to pull the cart and looked back at me with a smile.
Feeling oddly giddy, I forced a small smile and said,
“Shall we… go?”
It was time to return home.
About an hour into our journey through the forest road…
“Master, something’s wrong with the flow of magical energy.”
Ninabel’s anxious voice made Lysian stop in his tracks.
Since we entered the secluded forest path, Ninabel had left my pocket and was now pulling the cart.
I… was again riding on Lysian’s back.
‘I had no choice… my legs and back hurt too much…’
I felt guilty using someone else as a mount, but this was the fastest way to get back to the farm.
And the one being used as a mount… didn’t seem tired in the slightest.
‘Human stamina isn’t like this…’
I tapped Lysian’s shoulder to ask to be put down and asked Ninabel,
“What do you mean the magical flow is off?”
“Literally! The magic of nature normally flows in a regular pattern, but now… it’s all tangled and chaotic.”
“Hmm…”
With zero magic ability, I couldn’t sense a thing. Understandable… Muriel wasn’t really gifted in magic.
But Lysian’s magic was 891. Considering 999 is the maximum, that’s enormous.
He must have sensed something too. I turned to speak,
“Li—”
“Wait, Master. Be quiet…”
He suddenly pulled me to hide me in his arms and stared straight down the path ahead.
Not just him—Ninabel also seemed tense. I swallowed hard, nerves spiking.
What’s going on? What is happening?
‘Right… this forest nearby… monsters live here, don’t they?’
No way…
A bad premonition crept up.
“…!”
Suddenly, a bizarre sight entered my vision. A grotesque horde rushing toward us.
They resembled animals, yet were not natural creatures.
“Gasp…”
They were monsters, creatures mutated by magical energy!
