T/N : Sorry, I’m busy reading other web novel so I didn’t have time to update quickly. Teehee.
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“This.. what is happening…?”
I woke up from my nap but I can’t move my body even for an inch.
I can feel a pressure from my back though, seems like someone is hugging me from behind even though I’m sure I went to sleep alone.
Well I know who’s the culprit behind this bear hug though.
I try to free my hands but Chris-san doesn’t even budge.
“Wow.. I can’t wriggle free at all..”
It looks like Chris-san doesn’t show any sign of waking up too.
“Ah.. What should I do..?”
Feeling numb, I try to move my hand which is settled between my stomach to let my blood circulation flow more freely.
Looking at the gap between the tent’s opening, I notice the sun is turning into yellowish orange.
“The sky is getting dark too.. We have to wake up soon..” I murmur solemnly.
I try to nudge Chris-san and says,” Chris-san, hey.. Chris-san wake up now.”
“Pfft..”
I hear Chris-san trying to stifle his laughter.
He’s..!
“You’re already awake from aren’t you?!” I yell out at Chris-san who’s trembling while laughing his heart out.
“I can’t help myself!~ Afterall, Ren-chan looks super adorable, desperately calling to me like that!~”
I’m not cute!
Has Chris-san been watching me while I sleep?
For how long?!
“Geez Chris-san! Since when did you wake up?”
“Hmm~ When huh?~ I don’t know~”
Ah, he didn’t want to tell me. Not fair.
“Ah you.. Anyway you’re already awake, right? Can you please release me now?”
Chris-san is still holding me ah, more like he’s hugging me even tighter now.
“Hugging Ren-chan feels wonderful~ So comfy~ I don’t want to let go~ Won’t you please let me indulge myself for a little bit more?~” Chris-san whispers to me with his husky voice.
Hearing his voice in close proximity like this makes me remember ‘that time’ (T/N: You know, when Ren-chan m.a.s.t.u.r.b.a.t.es to Chris-san’s voice)
I can feel my face turning red but I try to ignore those memories for now.
Judging from his voice, Chris-san seems to be really satisfied. I also get up and fold the blanket I’ve been using and put it on the corner.
I walk toward the tarp and push the cover away, revealing a sleeping William there.
“William~ So this is where you’re napping.” I call out to William.
It looks like William is sleeping here to avoid the sunlight.
Afterwards, me and Chris-san start to tidy everything. From the tent to the tableware and portable chair. I put everything inside my magic bag and in no less than 5 minutes, we’re already done tidying up.
“Well then, please do the usual.” I hold my hands up to Chris-san who happily takes it.
“Okay, there you go!~”
In one swift move, Chris-san puts me in the front seat and take the leash.
Then, we continue our journey.
“Since it’s dark, we can’t move as fast as we did this morning.” Chris-san says.
“I see. Although it seems like William has no problem seeing in the dark, huh?”
“Yes, because William is a magical horse so he has good eyesight even in the dark.”
“Magical horse sure is amazing.”
“Do you feel cold, Ren-chan? Even though it’s summer now, the night is still a little bit cold.” Chris-san asks out of concern.
“Ah it’s a bit chilly but my back feels warm because I’m stuck to you, Chris-san.”
Even though Chris-san is wearing a breastplate somehow he still radiates warmth so I don’t feel uncomfortable even though the night breeze is a little bit chilly.
“Ah I see~ You know, when I’m holding Ren-chan real close, I feel really warm too so won’t you come closer?”
With his left hand on my stomach, Chris-san lifts me up a little to scoot me closer to him.
“W-What? It’s dangerous Chris-san!” I yelp. It feels like I’m going to fall out of the horse and since William is so tall, the idea of falling scares me a lot.
“Fufu, I’m sorry Ren-chan~ But you will feel warmer if there’s no distance between us, right?”
“T-That is true but I’m afraid you will feel heavy if I lean all my body weight on you..”
“If it’s Ren-chan, I don’t mind at all~” Chris-san says nonchalantly.
Well since Chris-san gives me his permission I guess it’s okay?
“Then.. only for a little bit ‘kay?”
This time I put all of my body weight on Chris-san.
Ah, it’s true. Chris-san is so warm.
Though I can feel my own body temperature increasing too.
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We took several breaks here and there.
As we progress even further, the surrounding trees becomes larger too.
Tonight is a full moon. The moonlight s.h.i.+ne through between the trees, illuminating the forest with its gentle light.
Right in front of us, there’s a really large tree, it’s the largest tree I’ve ever seen.
“What a big tree.. I can’t see the top at all.”
“Yes, this is largest tree in the vicinity.”
I see.. Amazing that a tree can grow this big..
“Well then! Let’s quickly set up our tent and go to sleep~”
“Yes! I will take out my tent now.”
That’s right, it’s already late so we need to hurry up and sleep so we can start our journey before the sun’s up. With Chris-san’s help, I set our tent up in a flash.
“I’m not hungry yet so let’s go straight to sleep. We’re going to arrive in Calhea tomorrow noon so let’s take our time to rest properly before we start our subjugation quest, ‘kay?” Chris-san says.
“Okay, I’m not hungry yet either.”
The both of us already had dinner before we arrived here.
Dinner was Malik-san’s favorite, a chicken teriyaki sandwich with ham and cuc.u.mber.
For dessert, we had strawberries and cream sandwich (T/N : google it, it’s like shortcake but with bread instead of cake)
Seems like Chris-san has a sweet tooth because he munched on the strawberry sandwich delightfully.
I also ate my fill so I’m still full now.
“We’re finally going to reach Calhea tomorrow! My heart won’t stop pounding!”
“Beyond this forest, we will finally reach the village and begin the subjugation quest. Don’t worry Ren-chan, I will definitely protect you. I won’t let even a single monster touch you. For now since it’s getting late, let’s clean ourselves and rest. [Clean]!”
We take off our shoes and using magic, Chris-san clean both of our bodies.
“Yeah, that’s right. I will be counting on your help, Chris-san.” I say as we both enter the tent.
“Leave it to me!~” Chris-san replies with a smile.
I know Chris-san is really strong but I never see him in combat before and since I’ve spent all my time gathering lulu gra.s.s I’ve never encounter a monster before too.
Aside from Chris-san, there’s also the safety of the camp.
If I may be honest, I’m both excited and scared at the same time but since I already made up my mind to become an adventurer, I have to brace myself!
“Here’s your blanket. Good night Ren-chan~” Chris-san gives me a thin blanket to cover myself.
“Ah, thank you. Good night.”
With this, I’ve been away from Pedrell City for a whole day long.
Let’s do our best again tomorrow!
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“This…it happened again..”
I wake up early today, the sun hasn’t even up yet but once again I’m being buried in Chris-san’s tight embrace.
“Chris-san! Please wake up already!” I lightly tap on Chris-san arms.
This time too, Chris-san is hugging me so tight and he doesn’t give me any response at all.
“Here we go!”
Bracing myself, I push Chris-san away with all my might and I’m finally free!
I take a glance at Chris-san sleeping figure.
Because he’s sleeping I can’t see his deep amethyst eyes but even so his face is really beautiful.
Ah what am I thinking !
“For now, let’s start preparing breakfast before Chris-san wakes up.”
I leave Chris-san alone and go out to the tarp area in front of our tent.
Even though it’s in the middle of the summer, the morning breeze feels cool on my skin.
“Good morning, William.”
“Buruuruu” (T/N: This is how the horse sound like okay. Don’t judge me D:< just="" imagine="" william="" neigh="" back="" to="" ren!)="">
William is resting inside the tarp again today, he neighs back when I greeted him.
I stroke his sleek fur and he nudge back at me but William is doing it so gently. Since yesterday Chris-san scolded him because he used too much force, William now able to restrain his power to not overwhelm me.
“William is really smart~” I praise him.
After I finish stroking William’s fur, I set up the folding chair and table from my magic bag.
“Hmm what shall we have today? … Ah, let’s have traditional j.a.panese breakfast!~ Now that I think about it, why Alsar people can use chopstick so easily? I thought since the setting of this world is similar to western country, they’re not used to chopstick but in reality everyone that I know can use chopstick! Perhaps it’s because thanks to the influence of other another worlder?”
While I was busy muttering to myself, Chris-san finally wakes up.
“Good morning Ren-chan.. Today’s menu is another worlder meal, huh? Looks delicious~”
On the table, there’s white rice, miso soup, tamagoyaki (T/N: j.a.panese fried egg), grilled mackerel and pickled vegetables.
“Yes, is there anything that you don’t like? Don’t hesitate and tell me.”
“Nope, everything looks delicious~ Itadakimasu~”
The two of us eat silently, enjoying the morning glow.
“Ah that’s right! When the quest begin, we won’t be able to take a bath so let’s take our time to enjoy the bath when we reach the village. We can rent a room in an inn and soak there, okay?”
“Okay but why don’t we just go to public bath house?”
Bath!
Ah since I’m a j.a.panese person, having a bath is a must.
Even though I can clean myself using [Clean] magic but I feel like something is missing after all.
Since I won’t be able to take a bath during subjugation quest, I’m going to enjoy my precious bath time when we reach the village !
But I wonder why Chris-san wants us to take a bath in an inn?
“I told you yesterday, right? It’s dangerous to share a tent with other man, the same applies when you are naked in public bath house with other man ogling at your body! Your chast.i.ty will be in great danger!”
“Ah! Is that so?! So dangerous.. Okay then I will enter the bath in inn instead.”
I don’t want to be a.s.saulted !
So many dangerous things to watch out for during this quest..
Aside from monster, even fellow adventurer can a.s.sault you.
Being an adventurer is really a dangerous job huh..
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“Well then, shall we get going? It’ll be a couple of hours before we reach the village I think.”
“Okay, let’s go Chris-san.”
And then, William starts to run through the forest.
Chapter 19 (Who knows when? I’m busy reading web novels and playing games.)