Chapter 5
“Uh, I’m just gonna grab that bucket…”
“Why?!”
“In case you throw up…”
“I’m not gonna throw up!”
Can’t really trust that…
“Come here! B-Because I’m the m-m-master, Adam needs to be by my side!”
Even while drunk, calling herself the “master” seems kinda embarrassing. And despite talking all tough, she looks scared her master won’t come over and has teary eyes.
If she throws up, I’ll just clean it up later.
So I sat back down, but Lucy loudly complained like she was still upset.
“Why are you sitting there!”
“Where should I sit then?”
“Sit right there!”
“Huh?”
Confused, I stayed still and suddenly Lucy wobbled over and shoved her butt between my legs.
“There! That’s better!”
“Is it though…”
The sweet scent from Lucy’s hair tickled my nose.
That awful smell when I first summoned her is completely gone now.
She’s too skinny from malnutrition, but as long as she keeps eating well, she’ll recover in time. No need to rush.
What’s more concerning is how suddenly quiet she’s gotten.
“Lucy?”
“…”
Not gonna throw up, huh?
Suddenly, Lucy started trembling and turned around to cling to me while crying.
“Waaaah! Sorry for being such a bother! I’ll be good, so please don’t abandon me!”
What a massive mood swing. Is she emotionally unstable? She’s not particularly annoying or anything, but this isn’t great for her mental health. Probably best not to let her drink anymore going forward.
“Not annoying. Not abandoning you. Stop worrying.”
“R-Really? You’re not gonna leave?”
“Not leaving.”
As I hugged her tightly like comforting a child and patted her back, her trembling gradually subsided.
I have a rough idea why Lucy’s so anxious.
Must be the sudden change in environment.
She went from being a slum resident to living the dream life after summoning me overnight.
There’s no way she’d ever want to return to her previous miserable existence.
“Let’s get some sleep.”
Deciding to clean up tomorrow morning, I carried Lucy, who had already fallen asleep in my arms, upstairs to the bedroom.
—
“Haaat!”
Lucy woke up sometime before dawn.
Her eyes shot open and darted around quickly.
Thanks to the faint moonlight coming through the window, Lucy confirmed she was indeed in the bed of her new home and let out a sigh of relief.
“Phew. It wasn’t a dream.”
Ever since summoning Adam, Lucy has been repeating this routine every morning upon waking up.
Can’t blame her. The past few days have been unbelievably wonderful.
“Eh?”
Trying to get up for a drink of water, Lucy noticed the warmth coming from beside her and paused.
Adam was sleeping next to her.
Just seeing him made her thirst disappear instantly. Instead, she felt an intense craving for more warmth.
Slowly slipping back under the covers, Lucy snuggled up next to Adam.
“So warm~”
Having never experienced human warmth before summoning him, Lucy initially worried if he’d mind when she first clung to him at the inn. But once she did it, she couldn’t get enough and wanted to stay close all the time.
Like an addiction.
“A little more…”
Humans are creatures who never know satisfaction.
Though simply being close was enough for Lucy before, eventually she started craving more direct warmth.
Sitting up slightly, Lucy tried pulling Adam’s other arm toward her.
After struggling for a while with her lack of strength and the significant size difference, Lucy gave up with a frustrated “Hiiiing.”
But then Adam started sleep-talking, and his arm slid around her on its own.
Even better, his other arm wrapped around her head, creating a makeshift pillow.
Worried if he might be uncomfortable, Lucy checked his breathing and, finding it steady, snuggled closer into his embrace.
“Hehe~”
She was happy. Feeling warmth and comfort she’d never experienced before, Lucy’s eyes slowly began to close…
…then snapped back open.
Realizing the embarrassing things she’d done made her cheeks turn bright red with shame and guilt for bothering Adam while he slept.
Trying to squirm away, she found she couldn’t move thanks to Adam’s arms around her.
Staying curled up for a while, unsure what to do, Lucy finally lifted her head to breathe.
Her gaze locked onto Adam’s lips.
A strong urge arose, but Lucy told herself no. Kissing someone while they’re asleep is wrong, she kept reminding herself…
But it was useless.
As if pulled by an invisible force, Lucy’s face drew closer to Adam’s.
Soon their lips met.
—
Hmm…
Should I open my eyes?
While sleeping, she fidgeted and tried moving my arm like she wanted something, so I gave her what she wanted, and now we’re kissing.
Not that I minded, but the problem is how amateurish the kiss is.
Clearly a first-timer, Lucy’s just repeatedly pressing and releasing her lips against mine.
Can this even be called kissing? It’s more like pecks.
To be honest, it’s kind of frustrating.
Wondering what to do, I considered opening my eyes and teaching her proper kissing techniques, but then Lucy seemed satisfied and stopped to snuggle back into my arms.
“If this was some cruel plan to kill me with frustration, it worked.”
Since she seemed embarrassed to look at me directly after waking up, I just held her and went back to sleep.
When Lucy woke up the next morning, she couldn’t meet my eyes.
After cleaning up from yesterday’s meal, we headed out to casually discuss our plans for the day while having breakfast.
“Oh, what are we doing today?”
“They said the furniture we ordered yesterday would be delivered around lunchtime, so after that we can go to the bookstore.”
“Bookstore…? Do you like reading, Adam?”
“Kinda. Though I’m not buying books for myself.”
“For?”
“To buy study materials for you.”
“Me?!”
First, I plan to teach her how to read at home. Knowing at least how to read will help her study whatever she wants to in the future.
Even if not, knowing basic reading and math skills is useful for everyday life.
“But I’ve never studied before…”
I’m not planning to teach anything too difficult, so you’ll get used to it soon. We have plenty of time, so taking a while is fine.
Once her health improves a bit more, I’ll teach her physical training and swordsmanship too. Even if not for actual combat, it’d be good to know basic self-defense.
After finishing breakfast and taking a light walk, Lucy and I returned home to wait for the furniture delivery.
When the agreed-upon time arrived, the furniture started arriving one by one. Arranging everything took longer than expected.
“Having furniture really makes it feel like a real home.”
“THIS is Adam and my home!”
Maybe because of that, it feels like we truly have our own home now.
After finishing arranging the furniture, we headed to the bookstore. Despite being scared of the word “study” earlier, Lucy’s eyes started sparkling when she saw the various books in the gacha machines and catalogs.
“What does this say?”
“The ‘Chronicles of the Barfulus Kingdom.’ Seems to be about kingdom history?”
“And this?”
“<Lascivious Dragon Maid> It’s smut.”
“Smut…?”
After explaining what smut meant, Lucy’s face turned red as she quietly put the catalog back.
By the way, what’s with this dragon maid thing? What kind of weird kink is that?
Especially saying dragons are lascivious?
Them? Really?
“Adam? You don’t look so good. Are you okay?”
“Hm? Oh, just imagining it made me a little nauseous. Nothing serious.”
“? …Hey, isn’t that you on that book cover?”
Excitedly pointing with her finger, Lucy was referring to one of the new release posters stuck on the bookstore wall.
Yeah, that’s me. Even says “Adam Idinga” under the cover art.
“Wow, Adam! What’s that book?”
“<17 Exemplars of Heretical Blasphemy Designated for Annihilation by the Marta Holy Kingdom>”
Already got a new edition? Time flies.
“Annihilation…Designation…Blasphemy…?”
Simply put, it’s basically a wanted poster issued by the Marta Holy Kingdom. It’s quite interesting, explaining why I was marked for annihilation and offering various critiques.
For reference, the bounty on my head is still valid even now that I’ve become a gacha character after death.
Probably because they couldn’t kill me when I was alive.
“Why would the Holy Kingdom put a bounty on Adam?!”
“Well, because I committed heresy.”
“What did you DO?!”
It’s fine. Not knowing is normal.
Later, after picking out a few textbooks for Lucy and some novels for leisure reading, we picked up dinner and returned home.
—
Training grounds of the Barfulus Kingdom Knights.
Normally each knight squadron has its own designated training area, so it’s rare for knights to gather in one place unless there’s special training.
But today is different.
Knights surround an empty training ground, forming walls on all sides.
Unlike usual, there’s no sound of wooden swords clashing.
It’s silent. Not even a single person dares to breathe too loudly.
Of course.
They’re waiting for Adam Idinggo.
A name impossible for any warrior to not know.
He left countless legends during his lifetime and etched immeasurable achievements as a gacha character after death.
Just last year, he saved the Heroides Empire, and the world again, by dying together with the Catastrophe Dragon.
Now they get to see such a figure in person. Who could blame them for abandoning training to come here?
Finally, responding to the knights’ wishes who’ve been waiting since three hours before the appointed time, the training ground doors opened.
He walked in.
“Uh, didn’t hear this was 1st Knight Squadron’s training day?”
Walking in with the carefree face of a young man lacking any spirit.
Tapping his wooden sword against his shoulder.
“Are all these people part of the 1st Knight Squadron…?”
“Nah, doubt it.”
With a woman by his side.
Completely relaxed.
Joking around.
Calmly walking in as if it were nothing.
Upon seeing this, the knights’ mouths simultaneously opened wide.
“WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAA!!!!!!!”
“What, what is it? Why?”
Because this very scene represents the true nature of Adam Idinggo, the wandering hero they’d only heard stories about.
