44 – Boy’s Charm (2)
“Isn’t it boring to just walk down mountain paths?”
Suddenly, the words were said.
Right next to you.
We’ve only been hiking together for a few days, but Mr. Luterrier’s attitude has become much softer than when we first started.
To the point where it’s hard to remember the time when he was telling me not to even touch him.
“It’s more like not being able to wash.”
“Is that so? Still, I can’t help it.
I don’t want to be caught by the tracking team until I get to the city.”
Then I suddenly felt something strange.
Dirt and dust stuck to the skin, creating an unpleasant sight.
Thanks to the sunlight, the sweat dried and even pure white powder was visible.
Despite the miserable situation, surprisingly, the body did not smell too bad.
“There is no need to be so obsessed with body odor.
I’m spraying this on whenever I get the chance.”
Mr. Luterrier looks at me and shakes his thick pockets.
Inside it was finely ground green powder.
“This only happens in dungeons.
It’s quite precious, but it completely removes the scent… So I try to save it often.
How do you feel?”
When I actually put my nose close to it, I was surprised to see that the smell had completely disappeared.
A bright smile as he looks at me.
It looked somewhat familiar.
I felt as if it resembled the smile my ‘mother’ had when looking at me.
As the strange feeling passed, the words I had passed by suddenly began to strongly appear in my mind.
“What is a dungeon?”
“Ah, well, you haven’t traveled around the world that much.
How should I say it… Should I say that it is a space where a lot of strange things pop out?
I guess it would be easier to understand if I said that it is like a treasure trove where some things can only be found there and precious things can be easily found…”
“Treasure warehouse?”
“A dangerous treasure trove.
There are a lot of warehouse keepers carrying valuable items in their arms.
Of course, if you have the skills, you can save a lot of money and live comfortably in the city –
If you are unlucky, you will get seriously injured or die. “It’s a place I don’t want to go to often.”
That explanation was a little insufficient.
No matter how hard I tried to imagine, that scene did not easily come to mind.
What would a treasure trove look like?
Will I be going into a building with a big door?
Or is it possible to move by taking the stairs going down to the basement?
A maze to be explored along a winding path?
Or the endless hallway where ‘Mom’ held me?
“It’s okay if you don’t get upset like that.
If you go there anyway, you will stop by at least once.”
A hand was placed on top of the head again.
Then, as if he was trying to tickle my head directly by going through my hair, his fingers went in quite deep.
“Ugh.”
The guard captain was rough.
Mom was gentle.
And Mr. Luterrier seemed to be in the middle.
It was soft yet strong,
But rather than saying it hurt, I felt a tingling sensation of satisfaction where something was touched.
Enough to make my ears burn slightly.
“…I wonder, what am I doing?”
“Are you stroking…?”
“Are you even going to answer my complaints?
Puh, you’re cute.”
The hand that was attached to her head had no intention of coming off.
From Noble mtl dot com
Those blue eyes that were shining at me only became more and more relaxed.
That’s why I had to step back first.
“Ah.”
“Hey, didn’t you clearly say at first that you didn’t want to be touched…?”
My eyes widened for a moment at that question, and then,
He sighed and put his hand up again.
“I wonder what it would be like.
If I’m going to die anyway, I think I should try everything I want.”
“What on earth does that have to do with stroking my head?”
I was so anxious that everyone I met couldn’t stop petting me.
His face frowned because he felt like he was being treated like a child, but he didn’t hate the touch.
During the short break, he had no choice but to give his head over and over again.
… In the meantime, I was able to keep an eye on his tail, which was gently swaying.
The fluffy, golden tail that had begun to shine again was buzzing as it cut through the air.
Now that I see it, what appears to be a white border is white fur.
“I guess you’re interested in this as expected.”
Sureuk.
With a soft touch, the tail reached my hand so easily.
“Eh, huh?”
“You’re staring at me intently. How about touching it?”
That one word.
Even though it was just a simple word, for some reason it stuck in my head and I didn’t think about leaving.
I’m sure he hugged his ‘mom’s’ tail countless times and even went to sleep with it.
For some reason, Mr. Luterrier’s seemed even more special than that.
“Ugh… Ugh…”
“It’s not like it’s worn out, so what?”
But I kept thinking about the promise I made to her mother.
And the state before leaving continued to flash before my eyes.
When we meet again, if Mr. Luterrier remains by my side…
Will this matter be overlooked?
“It’s all revealed in your facial expression.”
He lightly tickled his hand and it withdrew.
The hand that had been caressing me carefully returned to its original position.
“Thank you for your concern. But… That’s right.
Maybe I’ve given up now.”
I didn’t say what I had let go of, but I knew what it was.
Are you relieved, or have you completely let go?
That blank face looked as dark as the shadow cast on my mother as she watched me leave.
Therefore,
“Ik?!”
I gently placed my hand on her sunken tail.
The hairs that had stood up started to subside when I gently stroked them –
Soon it began to shake strongly from side to side.
“Something… It might be uncomfortable to pet.”
When I brought my hand a little closer, the tail actually wrapped itself around my outstretched hand.
As expected, the fluffy and soft texture made me smile –
“Ugh…!”
My arm lost its place as the tail was taken away as if by force.
The fluffy warmth that felt like being covered with a blanket certainly seemed quite different from the one my mother had embraced.
“…”
A back completely turned with its tail hugged.
Only the sound of rough breathing could be heard beyond.
“Well, maybe…”
“No, it’s nothing, so – “
Is it because I hugged him tightly?
The tip of the tail was visible sticking out over the shoulder.
It was still gently swaying, but soon it was completely covered by her hand and sank down.
“Hey, are you all rested now? Let’s leave quickly!”
While saying that, Ms. Luterrier opened her pockets and started to sprinkle powder on me.
Green grains like sand pouring down towards my hand.
It could be said that it was seasoning the food, and it scattered it on its moving tail.
“…I hit it. I…”
The yellow dog, Suin, mumbled to himself as he moved forward, his fluffy fur still shaking.
The scent may have disappeared, but the warmth still remained.
***
“…”
The streets of Ruzek Village began to become crowded with people once again.
A dragon appeared and harmed two guards, threatened the adventurers, and drove the guard captain to the brink of retirement –
Nevertheless, people returned to their normal daily lives.
The biggest reason was that the dragon who did this was locked in the guild building, waiting for news.
“Quite a few letters have arrived from adventurers saying they will receive missions.”
“…I guess no one has found it yet.”
“Yes.”
As time passed, the red dragon’s color became increasingly darker.
Even though the sun was in the sky, it could not contain the light.
Because I lost my own light.
“I think it’s better to wait calmly.
I couldn’t figure out where I was going or where I was going.
I don’t think the results will come out that quickly.”
“I didn’t even expect it.”
– Tdu-duk.
There was another crack in the railing.
Although it was shaped like a human hand, the tremendous power it contained was beyond imagination.
That’s why the old man’s heart began to feel uncomfortable little by little.
Of course, I could have solved everything with the money I had, but
It was never pleasant to have scratches in one’s space over and over again.
“… I’m really… Really… Angry about the current situation where I have to bet on even the faintest hope.”
“If there is anything I can bring you, please let me know.
Perhaps even tea that calms the mind and body – “
“Don’t do anything useless, just keep chasing that b*tch.
Everything else is a waste of time.
…Still no news from the tracking team sent to the mountains?”
“The hunting dogs have been unleashed. If the results come out, I’ll tell you something.
I’m afraid it will take time too – “
“Time, time, that damn time…!”
– Wajikkeun.
With a loud noise, chairs scattered to the floor.
Fragments were scattered around, and he was with his colleagues.
“I would have given enough money.
Do it as quickly as possible…!”
“They left today.
Common sense tells us that there is no way the results will come out right away – “
“I gave you treasures to solve that problem, didn’t I?”
The tip of the sharp tail was suddenly pointed.
Unlike when he hit people with the blunt side, this time the sharp end touched the old man’s rough chin.
“…I will send a message urging you to do so.”
The top of the guild building, which was a bit noisy for a while.
However, the outside scenery does not change.
It was clearly the effort of one person.
Enduring irrationality,
Selecting and delivering countless letters, pouring cold water into the boiling cauldron over and over again.
Despite knowing that it would boil over one day, it contained this person’s dedication to delaying that time as much as possible for everyone’s sake.
“…Damn it.”
The old man who left the room uttered a swear word that did not fit his lips.
A rough hand swept across my wrinkled face.
Although this was not the first time he had received an unreasonable request, he was steadily being worn out.
Unlike all the absurdities I had experienced, this time the planned destruction was approaching very steadily and quickly.
