Chapter 20

Abelin was waiting not far away.

But upon hearing the sound of my approaching footsteps, she flinched slightly and sharply turned her head away from me.

For some reason, she seemed a bit angry.

“You’re late.”

“I came right after you stormed off…?”

“Late is late! I was waiting, you know.”

Abelin shot me a glare and finally turned to look at me.

But for some reason, her face was slightly red.

Fortunately, it didn’t seem like she was angry because I was late.

But that expression didn’t last long.

Abelin stared at me intently, then tilted her head with a worried look and asked,

“What’s with your face, Kairon? Did something happen while I was gone?”

“What’s wrong with my face?”

“If you don’t know, what can I do? Don’t you realize how strange your expression looks right now?”

“Hmm…”

Without a mirror, I couldn’t see what expression I was making.

Abelin asked again,

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.”

“Really?”

“…… Really. It’s nothing.”

Actually, I wasn’t fine.

My head was a mess because I had been invited to Commander Balthazar’s house for dinner.

But I didn’t want to worry Abelin by explaining everything in detail.

Rather, with my thoughts so tangled, it seemed better to clear my head by moving my body.

“……Alright. If you say so, then it must be true.”

Abelin didn’t press further after I insisted twice that I was fine.

We just ran silently along the edge of the training ground.

Matching our pace lightly, checking on each other’s condition…

For over two hours without a single break.

“Huu, haa…”

The sound of Abelin’s breathing gradually growing heavier.

Listening to that sound as I ran beside her, the countless messy thoughts in my head strangely quieted down.

It was a light workout, so it wasn’t burdensome, but even without any conversation, I felt comfortable and happy.

Why did we always pick fights over every little thing when we could get along like this?

“Should we stop here for the morning?”

“Haa, haa… I agree.”

As I slowed my pace and started walking, Abelin also slowed down to match me.

“By the way, you’re amazing, Abelin.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re not using mana to enhance your body right now, but even after running for so long, your posture hasn’t faltered.”

“Huu… What’s so great about this? Tomorrow, we’ll have an even more intense session. You said I’m amazing, but the truly amazing one is you.”

Abelin took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat and shook her head.

“Kairon, you didn’t even lose your breath. You didn’t sweat much either.”

“Oh, really?”

“What kind of reaction is that? No wonder people say you’re just a muscle-headed fool…”

Abelin was right.

Even in my previous life, I had better stamina than Abelin.

But now, it wasn’t just a matter of having better stamina—after running for two hours without a break, I was still perfectly fine.

“Anyway, let’s go eat lunch. Should we wash up first?”

“I think we’ll be fine. We didn’t sweat that much, and we’ll probably sweat more later.”

“I think I might smell a bit though…”

“Let me check.”

Abelin suddenly got close to me and sniffed.

“W-what are you doing?”

“You said you were worried, so I’m checking. You do smell a bit.”

“Right? I should wash up…”

“But it’s fine.”

After saying it was fine, Abelin sniffed a few more times and nodded confidently.

“It’s a bit musky, but it’s not a bad smell… No, it’s not unpleasant. Yeah, I’m fine with it.”

“What do you mean it’s musky but not a bad smell…?”

It was a bit awkward, but since Abelin said it was fine…

As I walked to the dining hall with Abelin, a faint scent tickled my nose.

“I get what you mean, Abelin.”

“What do you mean?”

“You smell too. But it’s musky and not a bad smell.”

“W-what…!”

Abelin immediately distanced herself from me upon hearing that.

“I smell? From me?”

“You were sweating, so of course you do. But like I said, it’s not a bad smell, so don’t worry too much.”

“Ugh… Can’t we go wash up now?”

“We’re almost at the dining hall. What’s the point now?”

It was almost lunchtime, so more and more people were passing by.

But everyone who saw us was startled…

“Oh my, what’s this!”

“Am I seeing things? Captain Kairon and Abelin walking together…!”

Their reactions were as if they couldn’t believe it.

“……Abelin, is it really that surprising for us to be walking together?”

“Now that you mention it, I’m surprised too.”

Abelin glanced at me sideways and grumbled.

“I don’t know how I ended up training with you.”

“What? You’re the one who asked me to help with training. Why are you acting like this now?”

“I’m joking, obviously.”

Abelin smiled contentedly as she saw my bewildered expression.

“I don’t dislike it. I don’t dislike it…”

But an unexpected problem arose as soon as we entered the dining hall.

“Welcome, Captain. We’ve been waiting for you… Huh?”

“Abelin, over here! The Silver Guards are all lined up, waiting for you… Huh?”

The Black Iron Vanguard was waiting for me, and the Silver Guards were waiting for Abelin.

“What’s going on, Captain! Why are you with that cranky woman!”

“This is disgraceful, utterly sacrilegious! Abelin, come over here! You might get tainted by that filthy presence!”

The Black Iron Vanguard and the Silver Guards each tried to pull their respective leaders to their sides.

Abelin and I were flustered by the sudden situation.

“Why are you all acting like this? Didn’t Plymus tell you anything?”

“We weren’t told anything!”

“Abelin, come over here quickly! That filthy, uncultured thing might rub off on you!”

“Th-that’s… a misunderstanding!”

This kind of situation seemed familiar, like it had happened before.

But today, I wasn’t in the mood to play along with this weird flow.

“Annoying, you guys. Move!”

“Uwaaak…!”

I lightly swung my arm to shake off my subordinates.

Then, I grabbed Abelin’s hand, who was surrounded by her subordinates, and pulled her out.

“Huh? Ah…!”

“Let’s leave these idiots and go eat. We have more training in the afternoon, right?”

I tried to take Abelin to get our meals, but the Silver Guards quickly blocked our path.

“Kairon, you muscle-headed brute! Let go of Abelin right now!”

“Take your hands off her! We can’t let your unculturedness taint Abelin!”

“Seriously…”

The Silver Guards were grinding their teeth, determined to get Abelin back.

But I didn’t want things to escalate further, so I decided to give them a cold dose of reality.

“So, which one of you can beat me?”

“Th-that’s…!”

“If you want to take her, try it. I’ll accept the challenge. But you’ll take full responsibility, right?”

At my bold declaration, the Silver Guards hesitated.

And as I walked briskly, still holding Abelin’s hand, the guards eventually had to step aside and let us pass.

I only let go of Abelin’s hand after we joined the line to get our meals.

“There, now we can eat in peace. Are you okay, Abelin?”

“……”

“Huh? What’s wrong?”

For some reason, Abelin was silent, her head bowed low.

She didn’t answer my question, just stared at the hand I had grabbed.

“……I didn’t give you permission.”

“Huh? Permission for what?”

“I didn’t say you could hold my hand!”

“We got out of there, didn’t we? That’s what matters. Let’s just eat and get our strength up.”

I left it at that and started filling my plate.

“Seems like the food’s a bit better than usual today, maybe because of the storm coming tomorrow. What do you think?”

“Ugh…”

Abelin, who had slightly raised her head, stared at me and then let out a long sigh.

“Huu, you really are a fool.”

“If I hadn’t pulled you out, your subordinates would be enjoying the noble scent of your sweat right now.”

As I said that while filling my plate…

Thud-

“Ugh.”

Abelin headbutted my back.

It didn’t hurt, but since I was holding a plate, I almost spilled the precious food.

“Why are you attacking me all of a sudden? What did I do wrong?”

“Not knowing is the bigger crime! Telling a lady she smells of sweat so bluntly is bad manners!”

“It really wasn’t a bad smell! And what do you mean, lady…?”

“Say one more word, and I’ll hit you with the edge of this tray!”

“……I won’t say anything. Let’s just get our food and sit down.”

I had no choice but to shut up under her terrifying threat.

But like Abelin always says, I can’t lie.

Still, how could I say this?

The truth is, while walking beside her, Abelin’s strong scent…

Had faintly lingered in my nose too.