TOPWL 98

Even Yasin, who had been cooped up indoors, came out today to eat and drink. His injuries were nearly healed. Yudit had deliberately placed Yasin with a group skilled in sewing and knitting. Yasin, nursing a drink, kept sneaking glances at their knitwear as if curious about the stitching techniques.

Wadiram, as usual, was glued to the shopkeeper. Anyone would believe they were lovers in a past life. They were proudly showing off a whip made from a Bloodwhip stem. The villagers stared at it with fascination.

Wadiram and the shopkeeper were also wearing armor made from orc leather. It was clear they were itching for someone to ask about it.

“I’ll have a drink too,” said Yudit, unable to just watch from afar, and sat at their table for a moment. He took a sip of beer, then looked at the shopkeeper’s armor.

“That armor used to have such a strong stench you could smell it from a mile away, but now it’s fine?”

“You were there when we treated it…”

“Oh, really? I was honestly shocked, too! It’s all thanks to this Bloodwhip!”

Wadiram quickly chimed in on the shopkeeper’s behalf, who looked confused. Yudit was relieved that at least one of the two had some tact, and he continued the conversation.

“Bloodwhip? Isn’t that the plant-type monster that gives off a sweet scent?”

“That’s right. We hunted one down recently, and I got drenched in its bodily fluids during the process. When I went to wash up, I noticed the awful stench the armor used to have was completely gone!”

Wadiram spoke with effortless flair. Being a foreigner, his manner of speaking had a slightly unusual cadence compared to locals, which somehow made him all the more captivating.

“Wow, that’s incredible. But wouldn’t the scent fade after another wash?”

“I’ve washed it five more times since, and it still holds! So we decided to try using the Bloodwhip’s fluids during the leathercrafting process. The result? It not only kills the smell but leaves a pleasant fragrance. It’s a bit of a sweet, strawberry-like scent—not exactly ideal for rough, burly men—but it suits someone like me quite well.”

Wadiram shrugged with a smirk. Yudit glanced sideways. The villagers were now fully focused on the conversation.

“That really suits you. Orc leather is light and tough, but people tend to avoid it because of the smell. Now we can finally buy it without worry.”

Yudit praised the leather armor with an awkward tone.

“Since monster attacks are getting more frequent, it’d be good to have armor for everyday wear. How much does it cost?”

“Seventy thousand kes for the top, forty thousand for the bottom—together, just a hundred thousand!”

That was about a day’s wage for the laborers working on the roads. Even those doing odd jobs at inns or shops could afford it after two or three days of work. The people around them looked visibly tempted.

“Wow, that’s really cheap. I’ll take one.”

Wadiram leaned in and whispered, unable to watch anymore.

“Yudit, you’re so stiff it hurts.”

“I can’t help it. I am trying my best, you know.”

Yudit whispered back, ears flushed red. He was hopeless when it came to acting—but at least he was earnest about it. He paid for the armor on the spot.

“Thank you! Come by tomorrow to get measured.”

“Alright. How long will it take to make?”

“It used to take just a day, but with so many orders now, it’ll take about three.”

It was a lie. After the measurements, Yudit would probably get to try on the armor the very next day. Wadiram had originally planned to gift it to him earlier, but waited to stage this little performance. It felt a bit like a con, but Yudit didn’t think it was a bad thing if the villagers ended up buying the armor. With monsters growing bolder due to a lack of food, attacks on villages had become more frequent. Monster hunts would resume soon, but having light armor for emergencies wasn’t a bad idea.

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Feeling like any more acting would give him away, Yudit beat a hasty retreat. As he glanced back, he saw people slowly scooting their chairs closer to Wadiram’s table, clearly intrigued.

Seemed like it was a success.

“Thanks for the great show,” Khalid said the moment Yudit sat back down, unmistakably mocking his awful acting.

“…I’ll give you an encore sometime.”

“Looking forward to it.”

Yudit turned to Diego and Eden seated across from him.

“How’s the food? Is it alright?”

“It’s decent.”

“I wish there were more kinds of booze,” Eden slurred, completely drunk.

Diego looked uncomfortable with Khalid and Shane sitting nearby. Yudit was aware that those three didn’t get along well, and had tried to seat them apart—but the two had insisted on sitting here, so he had no choice.

“Yuli. Are you personally competing for the swordsmanship tournament?”

Eden poured a bit of strong liquor into his apple wine as he asked. Yudit shook his head.

“No. I’m planning to send in a representative.”

“Then how about me?”

Eden smiled sweetly. He was an assassin—and a skilled one at that.

“If it doesn’t have to be done honorably, I’m confident I could place near the top.”

Yudit imagined Eden’s opponents collapsing for no apparent reason and quickly banished the thought.

“That won’t be necessary. I already agreed to do it.”

Before Yudit could even refuse, Khalid spoke up first. Eden blinked in surprise and hiccuped.

“Your Grace, you?”

“Yes.”

“Hm…”

Yudit eyed him doubtfully. Khalid smiled lazily and added,

“I don’t plan to fight particularly honorably either.”

What in the world did he mean by that? Yudit and the others nearby gave him curious looks.

“When you’re a duke, even a tiny scratch is enough to make your opponent tremble in fear. That makes me realize how remarkable Rozier is.”

Yudit took a moment before realizing Khalid meant Rozier, the physician stationed at the ducal residence—someone even he had relied on from time to time.

“Surely not everyone is like that.”

Diego, who had been quietly listening, spoke up.

“Shall we test that theory?”

“If you’re willing to fight honorably,” Diego replied as if he’d been waiting for the challenge. Tension rose between the two.

“Good. I look forward to seeing what the back-alley version of ‘honor’ looks like,” Khalid said with a smile.

“Then let’s set the date for two days from now. Anyone who wants to join is welcome.”

“If Diego’s participating, then I’ll pass,” Eden said, shaking his head.

Yudit, growing more alarmed at the turn of events, glanced at Shane as if to plead for help. But Shane, seemingly resolute, opened his mouth.

“Then I will participate as well.”

***

“What were you thinking, making a mess of things like that?”

Yudit confronted Khalid as soon as they were in their room. Once word spread that the duke himself would represent the prince, drunken men had started rushing to submit applications in a frenzy. Khalid casually loosened his cravat.

“Is it because too many signed up? Most of them applied while drunk. They’ll back out in two days.”

“Still…!”

“I didn’t want to crush those with good intentions under the weight of my authority.”

This wasn’t what Yudit had wanted. He had never had high expectations for the tournament in the first place.

Khalid, having taken off his coat, pulled Yudit into his arms and lay down on the bed. His body was warm from the alcohol, radiating heat. Held in his embrace, Yudit stiffened. Khalid nuzzled his face into Yudit’s neck.

“You smell sweet.”

“It’s the fruit wine… you drank.”

“I don’t think that’s all of it.”

Yudit flinched each time Khalid’s breath touched the back of his neck.

“I need to wash…”

“Just a moment. Let me hold you like this for a bit.”

“Ugh, don’t breathe on my neck…”

Khalid obediently turned his head and held Yudit close. Except for the breath on his neck, Yudit found his embrace warm and comforting and finally began to settle down.

“Whew…”

The alcohol made his head swim. After being in the cold all day, sliding into a warm bed brought a wave of sleepiness. Truthfully, he had been on the edge of exhaustion for a while now.

As Yudit dozed off, Khalid toyed with his hair and asked,

“Come to think of it, your hair’s pretty long. Any special reason you’re growing it out?”

Half-asleep, Yudit murmured,

“Because I wanted to see it…”

“See what?”

“My mother’s hair… it was long…”

Khalid’s hand froze for a brief moment. Then Yudit continued, voice slurred and drowsy.

“And when I have long hair… it feels like someone’s there beside me…”

Before he could finish, Yudit drifted into sleep.

Khalid poked his soft cheek.

“Hmm…”

“Wake up. I want to kiss you.”

“……”

“If you don’t wake up, I’ll do worse.”

Still no answer. Khalid pulled on his cheek. Yudit let out a small groan. Khalid sighed and wrapped his arms around him. A strangled sound escaped Yudit’s throat—he was being squeezed too tightly. Khalid liked the sound, but worried Yudit might wake up if he went too far, so he stopped.

As he relaxed his grip, calm breathing followed.

He kissed Yudit’s round forehead and slowly closed his eyes.