HPV 110

Extra 2-6

Riarun’s fury was enough to blast through the walls. It was a relief that the nearby servants had already been dismissed.

Banwes obediently lowered both hands beneath the table and listened in silence.

“Didn’t I tell you that you’re handsome? I did!”

Of course he had. But Banwes hadn’t quite registered it. He was probably too focused on thinking how beautiful Riarun looked while saying it to actually hear the words.

“And also, what do you think it means when I gulp every time I look at you? Do you really not know how sexy you look? I like your face, your scent, everything about your body. It’s all mine! So don’t go trimming or cutting anything.”

Banwes kept his mouth shut like a scolded child. Riarun, his face red, vented every last thing he wanted to say.

“…Got it. I’m sorry.”

Banwes forced himself to breathe evenly. There was no way, but… it felt like his heart might explode. And there was no way a hybrid could die from something like that.

He thought that would be the end of it, but in the middle of the meal, Riarun suddenly put a hand to his forehead and sighed.

“Is it the way I express things? Am I too vague, so it doesn’t get across?”

That wasn’t it. Banwes quickly reached out.

“You did say it. I just didn’t listen. I’ll start paying attention. It’s my fault.”

Maybe it came across as sincere. Riarun slowly withdrew his suspicious stare, seeming to accept it.

“Even if you weren’t objectively handsome, I’d still feel the same. Seriously. Even if you went into berserk mode, I’d still kiss you. So don’t worry.”

Banwes was honestly touched by the clarity in his eyes and voice.

At least until Riarun, visibly hesitating, finally admitted what he’d been imagining.

“…But if you put it in while you’re berserk, wouldn’t I really get torn apart? That thing’s probably even bigger then…”

Banwes lowered his gaze to the table as if he’d been stabbed in the back by a blade of sunlight.

Suddenly everything felt hot and sticky. He caught the sight of Riarun’s flushed skin out of the corner of his eye. Despite thinking he’d grown used to it, his ears turned bright red all the way to the tips.

The two of them ate in silence, stiff with awkwardness. It was the quietest meal they’d had in months.

***

The most expensive item in our estate began to buzz faintly.

A long-range communication artifact, each one worth the price of an entire city building. It had been a gift from Penzey. I put my book down and walked over to check who had sent the message.

“Pao, what’s going on?”

Paronai, the dragonslayer and retired hero, greeted me warmly and got to the point.

The southern region of the Ekinair Kingdom bordered the sea, and at its edge was a small island under the kingdom’s domain.

[A request came in to eliminate monster spores that appeared there. I’ll be heading south, and I think I’ll pass by your territory on the way. Is that alright?]

Ah. A long-winded way of saying he wanted to come visit.

“Sure, drop by. I’ll treat you like a proper guest.”

[Thanks… But now you’ll probably say, ‘Ugh, if you thank me like that, the High Priest will hate me again,’ right?]

“What?”

I snapped back, openly annoyed. Paronai chuckled.

A southern island. Instantly, vivid images bloomed in my mind.

The southern island where emerald-clear waters revealed brilliantly colored coral reefs just beneath the surface.

Before I could even ask Banwes, I blurted it out on the spot.

“Hey, would it be okay if Wes-I mean, Banwes came with me too?”

Paronai sounded even more excited and replied enthusiastically.

[Perfect. Let’s ask the others too! We can reunite the hero party!]

I hadn’t thought that far ahead… but now that he said it, I was tempted.

***

One day, the High Priest received a ridiculous letter.

A short note, essentially saying that if he didn’t willingly join them on the trip, they’d kidnap him.

The handwriting was a mess, every word misspelled, probably written by the man himself. Of course, the High Priest couldn’t see the handwriting, but still.

Despite reading like a child’s warning note, the final line actually presented a somewhat practical threat:

“You wouldn’t throw me in prison for kidnapping the High Priest and make Riarun sad, would you?”

The High Priest was utterly dumbfounded. Instead of having a subordinate scribe a reply, he personally picked up a quill and ink for the first time in a while and wrote back:

[You call that a threat? It’s so laughable, even my blind eyes popped open. That is the lowest-quality letter I have ever received.]

The writing was perfectly spaced and straight, impossible to believe it came from someone without sight.

At the same time, Riarun was speaking remotely with Penzey. Penzey’s tone turned round with disappointment.

[What a shame. I’m seriously drowning in work. You know seventh-circle spells don’t just grow out of the ground, right?]

“Really? Honestly, I don’t mind.”

[Could you mind, please…]

Riarun ended the call feeling a little lonely but soon brushed it off.

“Four of us going is fine.”

Meanwhile, Banwes, who had just lost three full weeks of alone time with Riarun, was not happy in the slightest.

But the soft blush of anticipation and the smile on Riarun’s face were worth more than his own heart. Banwes eventually smiled along.

A week later, Paronai arrived in Chiacan with a young man Riarun didn’t recognize at first.

Riarun’s eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“How did you grow this fast?!”

He was no longer a boy. The youth, now looking about sixteen or seventeen, was taller than Riarun, his forehead revealed by a clean haircut, his shoulders and chest lean and defined.

He had been traveling with Paronai and learning swordsmanship, growing rapidly. He now looked like he could be Paronai or Riarun’s peer. Bzhan bowed and hugged Riarun.

“It’s good to see you again.”

“Huh? Uh… yeah…”

His tone and expressions had become natural too. He had returned as a tall, attractive young man sure to win admiration from women. Riarun, dazed, let the hug happen.

For a brief moment, a warm atmosphere filled the room, until Banwes brusquely peeled Bzhan off Riarun’s shoulder. Riarun turned to look, only to find Banwes pretending he hadn’t done anything.

That night, the estate welcomed the guests with meals and rooms. They planned to depart the next day. But something unexpected occurred.

The carriage door opened, and the High Priest’s white shoes appeared.

And the seventh-circle mage Penzey slipped in through the front gate like a wandering traveler.

“What, both of you came? After all that fuss about not being able to?”

Paronai asked in surprise. The High Priest and mage both averted their gazes (though the High Priest couldn’t actually see).

Riarun ran out to greet them with a happy smile. Fond memories surfaced, and joy welled up.

“Welcome, High Priest. Penzey, you too.”

It felt like time had rewound. Penzey unfolded a map, and he and Yurichen began discussing teleportation circles and travel routes.

The only real difference: Banwes stayed glued to Riarun’s side, whispering to him nonstop.

Yurichen couldn’t see the map. Instead of hiding his hands in his sleeves, he held a staff.

“I can see… but my vision is still very dim. I can only distinguish light, shadow, and faint outlines.”

Riarun felt relieved to hear he was expected to recover full vision within the year.

Though he had spoken calmly, being suddenly placed in unfamiliar surroundings—without the comfort of a temple he knew like the back of his hand—was a real risk for someone who hadn’t always been blind.

Yurichen’s pale face looked even paler than before, and he spoke less. It was clear he was hyperaware of his surroundings.

And this would be his first time boarding a ship. It wasn’t solid ground, and he had no sight.

The massive vessel extended a boarding ramp. Bzhan and Paronai jumped aboard nimbly.

Yurichen said nothing aloud, but his clenched lips and hesitant steps revealed his fear.

Penzey boarded first, then took Yurichen’s arm and guided one of his feet onto his own to help him up.

“Thank you.”

Tapping the ground ahead with his staff, Yurichen suddenly leaned close and examined Penzey.

Their noses accidentally bumped.

“So it was you.”

He’d thought it was Paronai. Yurichen stepped back nonchalantly after greeting him, but Penzey stood frozen for a moment.