TRPG 16

CHAPTER 16……………………………………..

I bought a few clothes I could wear for the time being and left the shop.

Nothing like my friend’s romance fantasy webtoon happened—no sweeping the entire store clean.

Honestly, I didn’t even want that. I was only going to live for about three more weeks anyway—what was the point of owning a bunch of clothes?

We walked along the main street while I looked around to get familiar with the area.

To the south were blacksmiths and weapon shops. In the center were grocery stores—fruit stands, vegetable shops, butcher shops, bakeries—and restaurants.

Further north were general stores and various unusual specialty shops. What stood out the most were artifacts made by processing mana stones. They seemed to be geared toward travelers, with lots of protective gear. According to Callion’s explanation, for anyone who wasn’t a monster hunter, carrying mana stone protection talismans like those was actually more useful.

Well, monster hunters fought monsters directly, so they needed equipment for protection. But travelers’ priority was to avoid encountering monsters in the first place.

Apparently, those artifacts could conceal presence or emit scents monsters disliked so they wouldn’t come close. But since I was inside the village, it didn’t seem that necessary, so I didn’t look into them closely.

What caught my eye was a pair of earrings.

They looked too crude to be jewelry. Was this also a protection talisman?

“What are these black earrings?”

“They’re communication devices.”

“Communication devices?”

“If two people each hold a matching piece, they can sense each other’s location. The ones I share with my brother are also communication devices made from black mana stone.”

So that’s what it was—the thing they used to send signals in emergencies.

I looked up at Callion.

‘When Callion leaves… he won’t be coming back here, right?’

Callion and Senes both said they never visit the same village twice. Since it’s impossible to attack a monster lair alone, they hunt monsters that have split off from groups, but there aren’t many of those. So they keep moving from place to place while hunting.

‘They don’t even stay in one place long enough to rest properly… why do they work so hard? It feels like they’ve been hunters for a very long time.’

If they weren’t settling anywhere, it must be hard to save money—and even if they did, there wouldn’t be anything to spend it on.

I couldn’t understand Callion, who seemed to have no attachment to settling down.

From how intensely he focused when we were together, it didn’t seem like he disliked human warmth.

‘So why does he avoid forming relationships with people?’

Unless there’s some unavoidable reason involving life-or-death battles, he could just settle somewhere and build connections with others.

“Master. Would you like to choose this?”

“Huh? No!”

Callion pointed at the earrings, apparently thinking I was staring because I wanted them.

I quickly shook my head.

Why would I buy something like that? I don’t even have anyone to contact.

‘Callion… is leaving anyway.’

Even though we had been physically intimate so passionately, Callion never said he would stay here. He never said he wanted to stay with me.

I don’t think his desire to be close to me is a lie. That’s just the kind of person he is.

Someone who doesn’t want to stay beside the person they like.

‘Then there’s even less reason to have a communication device.’

In this village, the only thing that could happen to me is dying when my lifespan ends—and even then, calling Callion wouldn’t help.

Still, he was the first man I’d ever slept with here. I didn’t want to give him trauma by dying in front of him.

It was just a fleeting affair, after all.

Better to end it cleanly without lingering feelings.

That would be easier for both of us.

“I was just looking because it was interesting. Let’s go to the antique shop. Senes said he found a job for me.”

“You were complaining earlier that you didn’t like the job. You change your mind quickly. You’re as fickle as reeds.”

That rude bastard is out.

‘To be honest, I’m not that excited about the job either.’

With this Charm skill bothering me, working face-to-face with people is uncomfortable.

The effect would probably end tomorrow morning, but who knew what other trouble might happen before then.

It was best to avoid men as much as possible. Inns and restaurants were full of male customers, which made me uneasy.

So an antique shop on a hill—where I could just count items and manage ledgers without meeting people—seemed perfect.

Of course, I had no intention of sleeping in the storage room. I refused to become a live-in slave on 24-hour standby.

‘I’ll commute from the inn.’

If I kept my hood on, it should be fine.

As expected, the antique shop was quiet. It made sense—there weren’t many interesting-looking items.

The pay was low, but I didn’t need to save money for anything big. Callion was paying for the inn, and I only needed to cover food and small expenses for three weeks.

I decided to start work tomorrow and returned to the inn.

‘I wanted to explore the village, but the Charm skill keeps getting in the way.’

Thanks to Senes’s cooking, I wasn’t tired, but staying in the room with nothing to do was boring. I was just about to sleep when—

Knock, knock.

“Master.”

It was Callion.

When I opened the door, he stood there with a tense expression.

He suddenly held something out with his large hand.

The black mana stone earrings I had been looking at earlier.

“Callion? This is…”

“Please accept it.”

I took it in confusion, surprised.

Wasn’t Callion leaving? He said he wouldn’t return to the same village twice. Giving me something like this…

“And I also have something to say.”

“Yes?”

“I will come back to see you.”

Callion spoke seriously.

“Master. I still cannot promise a future. I cannot settle in one place, and I know that wanting to see you again is selfish. But I don’t want to part like this.”

“Callion…”

“Will you wait for me?”

Wait for him? I never expected him to say something like this.

‘I appreciate that he’s taking this seriously… but…’

I can’t promise a future either.

“I can’t wait long.”

I only have three weeks before I die.

“I understand. While I am gone… you may change your mind, or even meet another man and start a family here.”

I’ve only been in this village for two days—what family is he talking about?

Callion, where are you taking this imagination?

“If you refuse, I will step back.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“!”

Before we could define anything or decide what we were to each other, my lips moved first.

And Callion’s hands moved just as quickly. He lifted me up and kissed me urgently.

His breath was rough, as if he were tense and anxious.

I grabbed his silky hair tightly. I wasn’t calm enough to steady him either.

He pressed into me, almost devouring my lips.

It was different from yesterday’s shy hesitation—this kiss was intense and passionate.

“Master.”

A heated whisper slipped between our lips. I didn’t answer and kept kissing him.

No words were needed. No need for eye contact. Eyes closed, breath shared through overlapping lips.

The excitement from last night returned, sharp and electrifying. I clung to his neck. Even while lifted off the ground, I didn’t feel unstable anymore.

I just wanted to drown in this moment.

He shifted my weight and pressed me against the wall. Trapped between him and the wall, we kissed wildly.

A cool, sweet scent.

Even with my eyes closed, I felt like I could find his lips.

When I finally pulled back for breath, he set me down. He pulled me into his arms again, holding me tightly as my legs wavered.

My heart was pounding. I would never forget this heat.

“Callion… when will you return?”

“When I circle the opposite mountain range… about a month.”

By then, I’ll already be dead, you idiot.

“I can’t wait that long. Sooner.”

Callion looked momentarily flustered, then nodded firmly as if making a decision.

“I will return in two weeks.”

Callion left that night. I stayed in my room and watched from the window as the two of them departed.

Senes didn’t look at me even once. Not surprising. As expected. The Charm skill must have only affected him temporarily; he’d probably be fine by tomorrow evening.

Callion occasionally stopped and looked back. I stood by the window and waved. He bowed slightly and continued walking, then stopped again. I waved once more.

We repeated that farewell until he became a tiny dot and disappeared.

‘So he really left.’

I flopped onto the bed and rubbed my empty chest. It was my first night sleeping alone.

Since arriving here, I met Callion on the first day and always stayed with him. After meeting Senes, the three of us traveled together.

‘Even last night… Callion was in this room with me.’

Now I was alone.

I should feel relieved after finally getting time alone, but instead my chest felt hollow.

‘Did I get attached that quickly?’

I had only spent a few days with him. I had lived alone just fine until now.

Lying in the dark room, I stared at the ceiling.

“System window.”

As if responding to my call, a holographic window appeared in midair.