Chapter 37
After the eventful three-way confrontation, I walked back to the tent.
“You were worried about me?”
Xenon’s question held a note of confusion, and I nodded affirmatively.
“Since you weren’t showing up on the map, I had no idea where you were or what you were doing.”
“……”
“It’s dark, and there are no proper landmarks. You could have gotten lost along the way.”
My logic was that even a monkey sometimes falls from a tree.
Xenon replied with a calm expression.
“You’re worrying over nothing. I’m a hunter. I’m used to finding my way through forest paths at night.”
His words didn’t seem like a boast—his expression remained unchangingly serious.
“So there’s no need for you to put yourself in danger.”
‘Well, maybe…’
Xenon might be much stronger than I thought.
But understanding that with my mind and feeling reassured in my heart were two different things.
He’d never understand what that means.
“You said you were curious about what I was doing.”
I nodded slightly at his words.
“I was watching the stars.”
Xenon began slowly, turning his gaze up toward the sky.
“Stars?”
Following his gaze, I couldn’t help but be awed.
Above us, countless stars shone brightly in a dazzling array of colors.
They felt warm and cold.
At times, they twinkled briefly and then disappeared in an instant.
The stars, endlessly being born and fading, moved slowly, as if revolving in place.
I fell silent, captivated by the breathtaking sight.
“Whether it’s a happy day or a sad one, the sky remains unchanged.”
“……”
“That’s why I like looking at the sky.”
A strange sense of emptiness flickered across Xenon’s usually expressionless face.
“When I watch it, I don’t think of anything else.”
His words sounded as though they implied that he did have thoughts distracting him.
…But does a guy like him even have such distractions?
He’s the type who’d deal with the source of the distraction before it even became a problem.
“You have thoughts that distract you?”
Hearing my question, he turned to look at me directly.
“Yes. When comrades grow closer, it’s hard to know whether to congratulate them or to remind them to focus on survival.”
His words made my heart drop suddenly.
“…What did you just say?”
“As I thought about it, I found my mind becoming strangely cluttered. So, I came out to clear away the useless thoughts.”
Wait, wait a minute…
“But still, I believe it’s best to avoid such behavior outdoors.”
‘What am I even hearing right now…?’
“We’re in life-threatening situations, and there are children present.”
And what? Life-threatening situations, children?
‘What on earth is he talking about?’
I felt dizzy.
He’s completely misunderstood!
“Anyway, I’ve decided to accept you both.”
Why is he suddenly deciding to accept things!?
At this rate, he’d probably volunteer to officiate the wedding soon.
“Hold on, Xenon, this is a misunderstanding. I mean, Yeriel and I…!”
Just as I tried to explain the huge misunderstanding that had occurred today—
Tap, tap, tap.
Rain began to pour down.
A heavy, torrential downpour.
It was such impeccable timing that even the goddess of fate would have clapped her hands.
“It’s raining.”
Xenon looked a bit troubled as the downpour gushed down as if a hole had opened in the sky.
“How well can you run?”
He glanced at my ankle.
Having spent most of my time secluded in my room after my mother’s death, Wendy’s body was quite weak.
‘It’s understandable for him to be concerned.’
My stamina, strength, and agility stats were near normal, but I looked more like a sickly heroine based on appearance alone.
But who am I? The one who outran rulers with just a sprint.
“I can handle this no prob…”
I readied myself to run as if I could dash off at any moment.
But then, a sharp pain shot up from my ankle, making me stumble.
“Huh?”
‘I was fine when I was walking slowly?’
I must have twisted my ankle slightly when I was distancing myself from Agatha earlier.
Xenon, watching me struggle to keep my balance, frowned slightly before smoothing his expression.
“In that case, hold on.”
And then, I felt my body lift into the air.
“What, what are you doing?”
“You’re heavier than I expected.”
Feeling his firm chest against my cheek, I jerked my head away in a panic.
“If I’m heavy, just put me down!”
“After holding you like this for a bit, you don’t seem that heavy.”
“…What?”
“We can discuss that misunderstanding as we go.”
Ignoring my flushed face, he adjusted his hold on me with surprising ease and whispered in my ear.
“Hold on tight unless you want to fall.”
His words sounded quite grim.
But there was a warmth in his concern.
“Worry about yourself, carrying something heavy.”
I grumbled, but I wrapped my arms around his waist, and he let out a faint chuckle.
“Sure, I’ll do that.”
He dashed through the rain, his footsteps lost in the sound of the downpour.
Maybe, just maybe, I felt grateful for the rain.
***
The Survivors’ Base we returned to was in a bit of disarray.
“What’s with this downpour!”
“All the laundry we hung out is soaked!”
In the unexpected downpour that fell in the early morning, everyone seemed taken aback, wandering around their tents with torches in hand.
Maybe it was thanks to all the lights that had been turned on.
“It looks like it’s this way.”
The way back was a bit easier.
Fortunately, the misunderstanding had been resolved as well.
It was a situation that could have been seen as just an excuse.
I was a little worried that he wouldn’t believe my story…
But Xenon accepted it without any trouble, making my worries unfounded.
“Hey, over there!”
In the distance, I saw the children and Yeriel.
From their serious faces and animated discussion, it seemed like something had happened.
“It’s okay now.”
I tapped Xenon’s arm, signaling for him to let me down, and he turned to look at me.
“I’m fine too. I’ll take you up to the front.”
“Huh? No, wait a second…”
Wait, this isn’t what I meant…?
I wasn’t seriously injured, but if I showed up like this, being carried, it would definitely cause another misunderstanding.
And on top of that, disappearing in the middle of the night and only returning now?
It would look incredibly suspicious.
‘Not that this dense guy seems to be aware of that at all.’
After attempting to get down several times, I gave up as his arm remained firm as iron.
‘Why is his arm so strong!?’
I gave up, completely.
Struggling more would just tire me out.
Resigning myself to the situation, I slumped like a piece of laundry drenched in the rain.
He glanced at my now-docile demeanor, then continued striding quickly toward our comrades.
“Sister?”
It seemed they noticed us as we drew closer.
Relief and surprise mingled on Lyria’s face when she saw me.
“You were with Xenon too, thank goodness.”
Yeriel, who was usually calm, looked visibly relieved and placed his hand on his chest.
“I was so worried… I thought you’d disappeared for good…”
Lyria, clinging to me, trailed off, her eyes welling up with tears.
“…Lyria.”
“You’re not hurt, right?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry. I should have said something before I left…”
I hadn’t expected them to worry this much.
‘I thought it would be fine if I came back quickly.’
It seemed I had been mistaken.
After getting down from Xenon’s arms, I patted Lyria’s head, giving an awkward smile.
“But at least I made it back safely—”
“There’s no ‘at least’ about it.”
Eden cut off my words with a sigh and continued.
“When I woke up, my benefactor was missing, and my robe was gone.”
“It was almost dawn, and even Xenon hadn’t returned yet…”
“They were all worried sick, thinking you’d been kidnapped or something.”
Eden, Celestine, and Sylvester spoke in turn.
Unlike Lyria, they didn’t show their emotions as openly.
But it was clear they had been worried about Xenon and me going missing.
Looking at each of their faces in turn, I spoke softly.
“I’m sorry, everyone.”
The truth was, I had been a bit overconfident.
I had read the original story and knew some of what would happen next.
‘I thought there was no way I’d die.’
That was all I had thought.
But these kids, who had no way of knowing what was coming…
They must have been terrified that something might have happened to me.
Even I had snuck out of the tent, worried about Xenon, and look what trouble it caused.
“I won’t make you worry anymore.”
“You won’t get hurt, either?”
“Of course.”
“Really?”
Lyria’s eyes sparkled as she asked.
“Yeah.”
I lightly kissed the inside of her wrist.
“Promise.”
In this place, kissing the inside of the left wrist is considered the most eternal promise.
It’s where the blood that flows closest to the heart pulses.
As my lips touched her faintly throbbing pulse, a warm sensation spread through me.
“I promise too!”
Following my example, Lyria kissed the inside of my wrist with a bright smile.
Xenon, who had been watching the two of us quietly, finally spoke.
“Now that I think about it, there’s an injury.”
Yeriel, who had been hastily gathering up laundry, rushed over at the mention of an injured person.
“Hah, Xenon! Where are you hurt?”
‘He looked perfectly fine, though…’
Muttering, she began checking Xenon’s body for injuries, her hands moving quickly. Xenon’s expression grew more rigid.
“It’s not me.”
“Huh? Then…”
Their gazes shifted quietly to me.
“…Sister, you said you weren’t hurt?”
Lyria looked at me with a pale face.
“Haha.”
With all three pairs of eyes focused on me, I turned my head away.
‘Why is the timing always like this!’
—
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