Swoooosh——!!!
Thick raindrops lashed against their skin with a rough intensity.
In an instant, the rain poured down as if a bucket had been overturned, drenching them completely within seconds.
A torrential downpour made it nearly impossible to keep their eyes open.
Even so, Rohan and Ichinose remained in place.
There was no point in rushing to find shelter. They had nowhere to go.
“This is just going to slow us down even more.”
“……”
The weather affected not just Rohan but Ichinose as well.
Even if she didn’t rely on her sight, extreme weather like this would inevitably disrupt her other senses.
This wasn’t good.
“For now, let’s keep moving.”
Rohan slashed at a tree with his sword, leaving a rough mark before pressing forward.
Ichinose nodded her head and followed closely behind.
…It feels refreshing.
Raindrops slipped between her lips, slightly easing her thirst.
Her soaked hair and clothing clung heavily to her body, yet oddly enough, just that tiny bit of water made her feel lighter than before.
For the first time, she didn’t mind being caught in the rain.
Splish! Splash! Splish!
They trudged through the muddy ground, pushing forward through the dark forest.
Then, up ahead, they spotted a place where huge boulders overlapped, forming a natural shelter.
Once they stepped inside, the downpour was mostly kept at bay.
It wasn’t quite a cave, but it was more than enough.
Both of them let out a sigh of relief at the same time.
“Hoo…”
“Phew…”
They looked at each other and chuckled.
The situation was ridiculous, and their completely drenched state only made it funnier.
“The wind is mostly blocked too. Considering we just stumbled upon this place, this isn’t bad at all.”
“This should be enough to use as a base.”
While Ichinose drew her sword to shake off the moisture, Rohan took off his jacket, wrung out the water with a firm squeeze, and spread it out on the ground.
“Sit here.”
“…How could I sit on someone else’s jacket? I’ll use my own, so put yours back on.”
When Ichinose reached to take off her outerwear, Rohan quickly stopped her.
“Your clothes are barely half my size.”
“This is more than enough for me to sit on.”
“Forget it. Take off your shoes and socks. Go rinse them in the rain.”
“…What?”
His firm words were followed by an additional request, leaving her no room to argue about whose clothes should be used as a seat.
“They’re covered in mud. If you want to dry them properly, it’s best to wash them first. You wouldn’t want to deal with grains of sand rolling around in your shoes tomorrow, would you?”
“I’ll handle that myself. I’m an equal student here, not someone who needs to be looked after.”
Ichinose’s voice dropped slightly as if she was offended.
Seeing this, Rohan let out a quiet chuckle.
She was someone who took great pride in her identity as a warrior.
“No, it’s not like I’m trying to… protect or coddle you. I’m just saying we should split tasks efficiently.”
With that, Rohan channeled his magic and summoned a small flame at the tip of his finger.
It was an application made possible by the fire-attribute unique skill, “Sword of the Holy Judgement of the Heavenly Sun”.
“Can you keep the fire going while I’m gone? If you’ve never done it before, I can handle it.”
“I can do it. Fire is just… as long as I keep adding things to burn, right? And fan it a bit.”
The space carved from rock was deeper and wider than expected.
In the section where the wind was blocked, there were dry grass, twigs, and even clumps of old animal fur scattered around. They were all suitable as kindling.
“You’re not exactly wrong, but keeping a fire going is harder than you think.”
“…….”
Ichinose sensed something peculiar and opened her eyes.
Rohan’s tone and expression weren’t dismissive or condescending.
“I was thinking of tending the fire myself, but I also need to prepare the hornbird and set up something to collect rainwater.”
He was different from those who unconsciously let scorn slip into their words and gazes.
He wasn’t laughing at her small stature or femininity, which had always been a source of insecurity for her.
If anything, he resembled a father doting on his daughter during a camping trip.
There was a level of kindness so unexpected that it left her feeling almost bewildered.
“First, take off your socks and shoes. Hurry up.”
“D-Don’t rush me… Just turn around for a moment.”
Still smiling, Rohan propped his longsword against the uneven rock wall.
He picked up a standard-issue dagger he had brought as a spare.
Ichinose stole several glances at Rohan, making sure he was only focused on gathering firewood ahead of her.
Then, keeping her bottom firmly on the ground, she removed her mud-stained shoes and peeled off her damp socks.
Even when she was soaked, her small, pale feet stood out.
For some reason, it felt inappropriate to show this part of herself to the opposite sex, and she kept wiggling her toes unconsciously.
“Ahem…! Here.”
“Alright, I’ll leave the embers going before I head out.”
“Okay.”
Ichinose tried to help, but Rohan’s skillful hands left no room for her to step in.
No matter what she attempted, she only ended up hovering uselessly nearby.
Without a word, Rohan gathered kindling and built the foundation for the fire. Then, he tucked his muddy shoes and socks under his arm.
He picked up the hornbill and the dagger and headed outside.
He had been complaining about wanting to wash off the blood, and now that he had the perfect opportunity, he looked visibly excited.
Striding toward the entrance, he suddenly seemed to remember something and added a remark.
“If your clothes get wrinkled, it’s still better to wring them out once. Relying too much on magic will only get you sick.”
The sound of his footsteps gradually faded into the distance.
Ichinose watched over the embers and quietly rose to her feet.
He’s right… To keep my body temperature up, I really should wring out my clothes…
She stepped away from the fire Rohan had built and grabbed the hem of her skirt, twisting it tightly. Water streamed down in thin rivulets.
And then, she realized something.
A sight that could only be perceived by those relying on vision.
A white shirt… My underwear is…
Even though she had a T-shirt on underneath, its faint outline still showed through.
It was dark, but for someone with magic, the view would have been clear enough.
Had Rohan been seeing her like this all along?
“…….”
Her hands which were still working to unfasten her shirt began to tremble.
Was that why he had cut himself off earlier and told her not to undress?
Plop! Plop!
She undid the buttons one by one, her thoughts swirling.
Despite the embarrassment welling up inside her, she couldn’t afford to let her guard down.
Standing outside in nothing but her underwear? There were limits to how reckless one could be.
“Huuuuu…”
Even so, she had to keep her mind as clear as still water.
She let out the rising heat with a steady breath, trying to regain her composure.
I have to act like nothing’s wrong…
Before being a woman, she was the proud successor of Tenkaichen and a warrior.
Would she shrink back just because her clothes were torn in battle? That would be no different from inviting death.
Stay calm.
She needed to steady her mind.
If she made a fuss and showed her discomfort, it would only make things awkward for both her and Rohan.
***
“Hoo.”
Rohan moved swiftly under the falling rain.
He cleaned his shoes and socks as much as possible and placed them in a dry spot.
Then, he quickly prepared to collect rainwater, cutting off sturdy leaves reminiscent of banana leaves.
Now, he picked up his dagger and began dismantling the hornbird.
He cut it into large pieces and washed them thoroughly. There was quite a lot.
I have no idea how this will taste.
For him, as long as it filled his stomach, he could chew on just about anything.
But for Ichinose, it probably needed to taste like something familiar. Chicken or turkey, perhaps.
He piled the chopped hornbird meat onto a large leaf and grabbed Ichinose’s socks and shoes in one hand.
Standing at the entrance, he called out.
“Ichinose, is it okay if I come in?”
– Uh… Y-Yes, come in!
Even as she gave permission, her voice sounded flustered.
It wasn’t until he stepped inside that Rohan understood why.
“!”
A fire, smothered to death by an excessive pile of firewood, lay before him.
Only ashen smoke rose faintly into the air.
“Th-This is… I mean…”
Ichinose who had been crouched down blowing frantically on the fire with a “huff, huff,” lifted her head.
Golden eyes flickered with guilt. Her tiny toes were curled up and dried out.
At the sight of her, Rohan couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
…
…
The campfire came to life under Rohan’s touch.
Without delay, he moved straight to cooking.
He skewered chunks of hornbird meat onto his longsword, using it like a skewer.
Then he started cooking with Blazing Blade and the campfire.
Ichinose had quenched her thirst with the water Rohan had brought, but now, she couldn’t take her eyes off the meat as it sizzled and browned.
Though her gaze carried hesitation at the thought of eating a monster…
Her throat betrayed her as she audibly gulped down saliva much to Rohan’s endless amusement.
She was the only one unaware of how obvious it was.
Time passed as Ichinose remained completely focused.
Rohan sliced into the meat with his dagger while checking that it was cooked to perfection.
He carved off a hornbird leg and placed it on a leaf, setting it down in front of Ichinose.
Taking the first bite himself, he even played the role of a royal food taster.
“It’s not as good as chicken, but it’s decent enough. Try it.”
“Th-Thank you for the meal.”
She hesitated before finally picking up the meat and slowly bringing it to her mouth.
She nibbled it like a tiny hamster and chewed cautiously.
After a few bites, her eyes blinked in surprise. As if it wasn’t as bad as she had expected. She chewed a little more before swallowing.
“How is it?”
“…….”
Maybe she felt embarrassed by how hesitant she had been at first.
With her face slightly flushed, Ichinose gave a timid nod.
“Eat as much as you want. Even if it’s just meat, hunger makes the best seasoning.”
“…I can definitely understand that now.”
With a quiet thanks to Rohan, Ichinose sat beside him and continued eating.
She had come to realize just how precious the things she once took for granted truly were. And how terrifying hunger and thirst could be.
He really never rests, does he?
That was Ichinose’s final thought on the matter.
Rohan was diligent. He continued working without taking a single break.
She wanted to do something as well, but she had no idea what.
Unable to make up her mind, Ichinose decided to clean the moisture and oil off Rohan’s longsword.
After finishing, she called out to him, who was still busy with his work.
“Rohan.”
“Hm?”
The way he turned at the sound of his name somehow reminded her of a large dog.
Ichinose let out a faint smile before shifting her butt to the side and lightly patting the spot on the clothes.
“Sit here.”
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