MTM 61

Harto stayed in Zed’s arms for a long time. The noise around them slowly faded, and his tears stopped at some point. When he finally calmed down, he thought he might have cried too much like a child, and he felt embarrassed.

“I, I’m fine now…”

Swish.

When Harto tried to pull away from Zed, a sound made him flinch and tremble.

“A rat.”

It was true. A small rat seemed to have stepped on leaves while searching for food. Its gray tail swayed as it scurried away with squeaks.

“……”

Zed silently looked down at Harto in his arms. Harto had stopped crying, but he was still trembling a little as if he was anxious. Zed wanted to leave this place, but he didn’t know what might happen outside. In the end, he held Harto tightly and went deeper into the alley.

At the end of the alley covered in thick vines, there was an abandoned house that seemed to have been empty for a long time. After confirming that there was no sign of anyone, Zed carefully pushed the wooden door open and went inside.

Clack.

Unlike the warm and dry air outside, the inside was damp and cold. Rats ran across the floor but disappeared quickly after the two entered. There was only one window, but the foggy glass made it impossible to see inside from outside.

Fortunately, the moonlight coming through the window spread softly, lighting the interior with a dim glow. Maybe because it was similar to the cabin where he had lived with Harto, he started to feel a bit of comfort.

“It’s fine here.”

When Zed whispered in a low voice, Harto raised his head and looked around. His face reflected in the moonlight that seeped through the window. His tears had stopped, but his eyes and nose were red. Feeling sorry, Zed kissed those spots. Harto’s eyes widened in surprise and he looked up at Zed.

Zed felt fulfilled when he saw his face completely captured in those large, gentle blue eyes.

“Your eyes will swell tomorrow.”

“R, really?”

Harto tried to touch his face, then realized the restraints were still locked on his wrists, and he panicked.

“Sorry. I’ll release them.”

Zed reached behind Harto’s back and twisted the restraints. They broke with a sound, and Harto’s hands became free. As if he had been waiting, Harto wrapped his arms around Zed’s neck. He buried his face in Zed’s chest and took in the familiar scent deeply.

‘Zed’s scent…’

He was so relieved that it felt like his chest would explode. He felt tears about to fall again, but he held them back.

Zed patted Harto’s back to soothe him, then suddenly noticed something on his sleeve.

“This is…”

When he raised his sleeve, golden dust shimmered in the dark. A sweet floral scent exuded from him.

“Harto? Wait a moment.”

Zed gently pulled Harto away and lifted the cloth covering him. Then he gathered holy power in his palm and let it shine. A soft glow spread over Harto’s white skin. The small nipples centered around his chest glowed.

“…Ah!”

Harto gasped and covered his chest with both hands.

“T, this… that’s…”

“……”

While Harto stammered, Zed didn’t rush him for an answer. He lowered his hand filled with holy power. Harto’s smooth lower stomach shone brightly. When Harto followed his gaze down, he was startled. Without realizing it, the perfumed oil had flowed down to his lower body, and his genitals and inner thighs sparkled.

“Ah! D, don’t look. Zed…!”

Harto’s face turned red, and he tried to wipe off what was on his body with his hand. But for some reason, the perfumed oil neither stuck to his hand nor came off.

“W, why… doesn’t it come off…?”

Zed quietly watched Harto fluster alone, then gently placed his hand on Harto’s shoulder. He spoke in a low voice.

“Who… touched your body?”

“Huh? Well… that is…”

Harto’s mouth went dry. He didn’t know where to start or how to explain. If he began with sneaking out of the inn with Leon, it would take too long… and only now did he remember that he had forgotten about Leon in all the chaos.

When Zed saw Harto fall silent, he raised his hand and placed it above Harto’s head.

“If it’s hard to say… then I can find out myself.”

“……!”

In that instant, Harto was startled and blocked Zed’s hand with both of his hands.

Zed’s eyes turned cold for a brief moment.

“Why are you blocking me? Don’t tell me… there’s someone else you’re trying to protect?”

“N, no! It’s not like that…”

Harto quickly denied it, but he couldn’t stop his voice from trembling. He remembered the fortune teller’s horrifying words.

‘A soul that should’ve long crumbled now clings to life, wearing the shell of a monster!’

The fortune teller’s voice still echoed in his ears. Harto didn’t want Zed to know about such a thing. But if he rejected Zed’s touch, he didn’t know what misunderstanding Zed might have.

“S, so… what happened was…”

As Harto bit his lip in nervousness,

Clack.

“…Zed? Harto? Are you here?”

At the sudden voice, Harto raised his head in surprise. It was Leon. Zed hid the light that had been glowing in his hand and pulled Harto into his arms as he answered.

“Yes, we’re here.”

“Ah… thank goodness…”

Leon looked relieved that he had managed to find Harto and Zed. He entered the abandoned house and crouched beside them, whispering softly.

“…Shh. Please stay quiet for a moment.”

“……?”

While Harto looked confused, heavy footsteps echoed outside, boots thudding on the ground. Through the small window, people holding torches ran hurriedly down the alley.

“…What’s going on?”

After the brief commotion passed, Zed asked, and Leon answered in a serious voice.

“They were knights wearing armor engraved with the insignia of the Regnovar Empire.”

“Knights of Regnovar?”

“Yes, they appeared suddenly, and I was startled… but the group isn’t very large, so I think they might have come to arrest a wanted person…”

At Leon’s words, Zed narrowed his eyes. The wanted order for the Night Rage Mercenary group had been nothing but a fake, made to hunt him down. Even if a warrant had really been issued, imperial knights would never have come all the way to such a small village.

Maybe because he had risked his life in Belnock to gather his scattered members, Zed could sense that Leon was still burdened by the shadow of that false warrant.

‘It might be better to tell Leon the truth. But where should I start, and how much should I say…’

“……!”

Zed thought that for a moment, then remembered the harsh words he had carelessly said to Harto earlier. He had said he didn’t want to make things hard for him, yet he had done exactly that.

Feeling guilty, Zed held Harto tightly in his arms.

“If they’re sending soldiers here in the middle of the night… it’s not just because of a wanted person. There must be something much more secret and urgent behind it.”

Even if Hipora was a small border village, imperial troops couldn’t just enter Belgarde’s territory. Zed’s gaze turned cold. The ominous feeling he had tried to ignore was rising again.

“I see… Ah. Is Harto all right?”

Leon nodded as he looked at Harto clinging to Zed with a relieved expression and asked.

“Leon…”

Harto answered in a small voice, glad to see him, but he was evidently exhausted.

“Ha… I’m so glad you’re safe. Earlier, I thought my heart would stop… huh? Harto? That’s not clothing, what are you wearing…?”

When Leon reached out in confusion toward Harto, who was only wrapped in cloth, Zed stretched out his arm to stop him.

“Leon. If possible, I want you to use a teleportation spell now.”

“Ah… actually, I was thinking the same. This place is too desolate. It would be safer to use magic than to walk back. Then I’ll begin preparations and teleport us once everything is ready.”

“We’re ready.”

At Zed’s firm reply, Leon didn’t ask anything more and began chanting the spell. A magic circle appeared on the floor, and blue light surrounded the group.