With each step, Luke’s footsteps echoed resoundingly, a metallic clang reverberating through the air. Occasionally, a peculiar scraping sound of metal against metal accompanied the symphony, forcing Luke to furrow his brow in mild irritation. Casting a sidelong glance, he sternly inquired, “Do you have something to say?”
…Truly befitting of a hero, such noises were but feeble attempts at disrupting the courageous Luke.
As we arrived home, lo and behold, there sat Kamian, crouched on the front steps. Spotting me, Kamian swiftly rose to his feet.
“Luke, please wait here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Leaving Luke behind, I hurriedly approached Kamian, who descended the steps with agility.
“What’s the matter?”
“What?”
He scanned me from head to toe, a displeased expression forming on his face. Kamian gestured towards Luke with a nod of his chin.
…He was about to say, “He’s the new swordsmanship professor joining our academy and the protagonist you’ll torment to no end.” However, unable to utter those words, I merely shrugged my shoulders.
“I happened to run into him on the way and it seems he’s lost. He asked for directions to the academy.”
“What kind of imbecile gets lost on the way to the academy? It’s the opposite direction.”
Hey, that’s a bit much, you imbecile. I glanced behind me. Luke offered a slight bow in response.
“…He may be a little naive, but he seemed like a genuinely kind person.”
“Aren’t you being reckless? What makes you think you can guide him?”
“He’s not that kind of person. If you talked to him for a bit, you’d understand.”
“Why bother and make a fuss?”
“Why are you acting so crooked? I didn’t blindly follow you alone; I came here to talk to you.”
Exhaling a sigh, Kamian roughly ran his fingers through his hair.
“Just go inside. I’ll take him to the academy and come back.”
I found his attitude, akin to a grumbling child burdened with an inconvenient task, rather irksome. It almost appeared as if he were a naive child being taken advantage of. No, if I were a suspicious person, I wouldn’t entertain such a request. But it was because of Luke. It was because of Luke! However, no matter how I phrased it, Kamian remained oblivious. My inner turmoil bubbled.
“I’ll go too.”
If I left you and Luke alone, who knows what trouble might arise. You may not realize it, but you will turn that upright and righteous young man into a complete wreck. You heartless rascal.
Shifting his weight to one leg, Kamian stood defiantly. Determined not to succumb to his defiant stance, I straightened my posture, holding my chin high.
“Why do you have such a gaze in your eyes?”
“What’s wrong with my gaze?”
And just like that, he pointed out my gaze without hesitation. Kamian lowered his knees and waist, meeting my eye level.
“It’s a gaze filled with curses in my mind.”
“Do demons possess a sense of aesthetics? How does that rascal always seem to discern my innermost thoughts? I refused to back down and opened my eyes wide, daringly. Since I was already caught, I decided to unleash a stream of profanity. Kamian narrowed his eyes and brushed his thumb over my eyelids. As his hand touched my eyelids, they involuntarily closed and then reopened.
“Regardless, only your eyes will ache.”
I pushed his hand away forcefully and firmly replied, “Anyway, I’m going with you, so don’t try to stop me.”
Kamian sighed and lowered his head in exhaustion. I didn’t appreciate his response, which seemed to convey utter fatigue, so I held his face and forced him to look at me. One of Kamian’s eyebrows twitched.
“If you hate it that much, then you should stay home.”
“Do you think I can’t handle being alone, knowing that you can’t leave me?”
“Then don’t show your annoyance. You’re irritating. Why can’t I guide my own path? Why do I have to be mindful of you? You also help the townspeople with their work. I just want to guide that person too, why is it so extraordinary?”
As I spoke, I realized it was true. Even today, when I was going to meet Leo, I had been considerate of Kamian. But it seemed like I didn’t have any privacy anymore. Despite Kamian spending so much time with me to take care of my injured self… wasn’t this going too far?
“You’re the same as the neighbours and that bastard?”
As expected, Kamian couldn’t retreat.
“That person is good.”
“What makes you say that?”
“My intuition tells me so.”
“Your intuition has never been right. That bastard has clearly proven to be a bad person.”
What audacity for a genuinely bad person to criticize the virtuous protagonist. However, since I had no way of explaining events that hadn’t even occurred yet, I bit my lower lip and gently grabbed Kamian’s cheeks, stretching them sideways. Even with his cheeks stretched, Kamian spoke with an imprecise pronunciation.
“Don’t get angry.”
“If I’m angry with you, who else would I vent my anger to?”
While I tormented his cheeks, Kamian remained still, but his gaze on me was icy. Well, it didn’t frighten me in the slightest, with his cheeks as plump as a crucian carp.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that I had been at odds with Kamian for far too long, neglecting Luke. I lightly tapped Kamian’s flushed cheeks and firmly conveyed my intention.
“Make your choice. Either come with me as a guide or quietly wait at home.”
“I only have one option to choose from, so what are you asking me to decide?”
“Then come along quietly.”
With a slight touch of my forehead, I spoke resolutely. I interrupted Kamian’s once again. It was evident that his words would surely turn my insides upside down.
I grasped Kamian’s sleeve and briskly walked towards Luke.
“Ah, I refuse to be carried.”
With each step, Luke’s footsteps echoed resoundingly, a metallic clang reverberating through the air. Occasionally, a peculiar scraping sound of metal against metal accompanied the symphony, forcing Luke to furrow his brow in mild irritation. Casting a sidelong glance, he sternly inquired, “Do you have something to say?”
…Truly befitting of a hero, such noises were but feeble attempts at disrupting the courageous Luke.
As we arrived home, lo and behold, there sat Kamian, crouched on the front steps. Spotting me, Kamian swiftly rose to his feet.
“Luke, please wait here for a moment.”
“Yes.”
Leaving Luke behind, I hurriedly approached Kamian, who descended the steps with agility.
“What’s the matter?”
“What?”
He scanned me from head to toe, a displeased expression forming on his face. Kamian gestured towards Luke with a nod of his chin.
…He was about to say, “He’s the new swordsmanship professor joining our academy and the protagonist you’ll torment to no end.” However, unable to utter those words, I merely shrugged my shoulders.
“I happened to run into him on the way and it seems he’s lost. He asked for directions to the academy.”
“What kind of imbecile gets lost on the way to the academy? It’s the opposite direction.”
Hey, that’s a bit much, you imbecile. I glanced behind me. Luke offered a slight bow in response.
“…He may be a little naive, but he seemed like a genuinely kind person.”
“Aren’t you being reckless? What makes you think you can guide him?”
“He’s not that kind of person. If you talked to him for a bit, you’d understand.”
“Why bother and make a fuss?”
“Why are you acting so crooked? I didn’t blindly follow you alone; I came here to talk to you.”
Exhaling a sigh, Kamian roughly ran his fingers through his hair.
“Just go inside. I’ll take him to the academy and come back.”
I found his attitude, akin to a grumbling child burdened with an inconvenient task, rather irksome. It almost appeared as if he were a naive child being taken advantage of. No, if I were a suspicious person, I wouldn’t entertain such a request. But it was because of Luke. It was because of Luke! However, no matter how I phrased it, Kamian remained oblivious. My inner turmoil bubbled.
“I’ll go too.”
If I left you and Luke alone, who knows what trouble might arise. You may not realize it, but you will turn that upright and righteous young man into a complete wreck. You heartless rascal.
Shifting his weight to one leg, Kamian stood defiantly. Determined not to succumb to his defiant stance, I straightened my posture, holding my chin high.
“Why do you have such a gaze in your eyes?”
“What’s wrong with my gaze?”
And just like that, he pointed out my gaze without hesitation. Kamian lowered his knees and waist, meeting my eye level.
“It’s a gaze filled with curses in my mind.”
“Do demons possess a sense of aesthetics? How does that rascal always seem to discern my innermost thoughts? I refused to back down and opened my eyes wide, daringly. Since I was already caught, I decided to unleash a stream of profanity. Kamian narrowed his eyes and brushed his thumb over my eyelids. As his hand touched my eyelids, they involuntarily closed and then reopened.
“Regardless, only your eyes will ache.”
I pushed his hand away forcefully and firmly replied, “Anyway, I’m going with you, so don’t try to stop me.”
Kamian sighed and lowered his head in exhaustion. I didn’t appreciate his response, which seemed to convey utter fatigue, so I held his face and forced him to look at me. One of Kamian’s eyebrows twitched.
“If you hate it that much, then you should stay home.”
“Do you think I can’t handle being alone, knowing that you can’t leave me?”
“Then don’t show your annoyance. You’re irritating. Why can’t I guide my own path? Why do I have to be mindful of you? You also help the townspeople with their work. I just want to guide that person too, why is it so extraordinary?”
As I spoke, I realized it was true. Even today, when I was going to meet Leo, I had been considerate of Kamian. But it seemed like I didn’t have any privacy anymore. Despite Kamian spending so much time with me to take care of my injured self… wasn’t this going too far?
“You’re the same as the neighbours and that bastard?”
As expected, Kamian couldn’t retreat.
“That person is good.”
“What makes you say that?”
“My intuition tells me so.”
“Your intuition has never been right. That bastard has clearly proven to be a bad person.”
What audacity for a genuinely bad person to criticize the virtuous protagonist. However, since I had no way of explaining events that hadn’t even occurred yet, I bit my lower lip and gently grabbed Kamian’s cheeks, stretching them sideways. Even with his cheeks stretched, Kamian spoke with an imprecise pronunciation.
“Don’t get angry.”
“If I’m angry with you, who else would I vent my anger to?”
While I tormented his cheeks, Kamian remained still, but his gaze on me was icy. Well, it didn’t frighten me in the slightest, with his cheeks as plump as a crucian carp.
Suddenly, it dawned on me that I had been at odds with Kamian for far too long, neglecting Luke. I lightly tapped Kamian’s flushed cheeks and firmly conveyed my intention.
“Make your choice. Either come with me as a guide or quietly wait at home.”
“I only have one option to choose from, so what are you asking me to decide?”
“Then come along quietly.”
With a slight touch of my forehead, I spoke resolutely. I interrupted Kamian’s once again. It was evident that his words would surely turn my insides upside down.
I grasped Kamian’s sleeve and briskly walked towards Luke.
“Ah, I refuse to be carried.”
