PMEVBO 38

I cleared my throat a couple of times before speaking coldly.

“If you’ve done wrong, you must face the consequences.”

“Yes, I suppose so…”

Like a hamster facing a cat, Human Paf trembled, hands clasped together. I barely managed to stifle a laugh at that pathetic sight, forcing a stern expression. 

“First, go get someone to fix the door.”

“Yes…”

“And get yourself treated.”

“Yes, I will… Huh?”

Human Paf, who had been nodding with a completely defeated look, suddenly opened her eyes wide. I pointed at her left arm with my hand outside the blanket.

“You’re hurt.”

Indeed, a trace of blood was visible at her elbow. She must have injured herself while breaking down the door.

Turning my gaze away from Paf, who was frantically checking her arm, I addressed the man who appeared to be the physician that Paf had brought.

“I’m fine, just treat her wound. Is that alright?”

“Ah… Yes, that’s fine.”

The physician nodded with a subdued expression. But even after I listed every punishment she deserved, Paf didn’t move.

“What are you doing? If you heard me, move already.”

“Huh, but you haven’t told me what the punishment is yet…”

“I did. Call the carpenter. Get treated.”

“Th-that isn’t a punishment…”

If it were me, I’d just cast ‘No Regrets’ in this situation. How diligent.

I sighed and opened my mouth.

“That’s enough.”

“Huh?”

“You’re worried about me.”

“……”

“Thanks for worrying. But don’t do this next time. If I’m hurt, I’ll handle paying the price myself.”

The expression on her face, staring at me with her mouth agape, looked like a hamster’s and was cute.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

And then it happened. Iser let out a small sigh in my arms.

A breeze brushed past my neck, making my body reflexively shiver.

“Huh? Are you cold?”

“……No, I’m not cold.”

“W-wasn’t that just a shiver from the cold? ……What should I do? Y-your fever still hasn’t gone down.”

No, it wasn’t the cold… it was the tickling that made me shiver. But I couldn’t very well tell her it was because of the other person under the covers.

The physician took a step closer and placed a thermometer in my mouth. I had to stay still to avoid arousing unnecessary suspicion.

The physician nodded after removing the thermometer from my mouth.

“Ah, you don’t have a fever.”

…Of course. It was the most obvious result.

“You heard me? Go get treated quickly. Oh, and tell the carpenter I broke that door.”

Even though I said I was fine, Paf closed every window in the room tightly before leaving for treatment.

That kid and the physician left the room, but I couldn’t relax right away.

The room without a door could no longer function as a room. Now it was just like a hallway. Anyone passing by this room could see me lying there.

This really kills the sense of privacy.

Is this how someone performing a live art piece lying in the middle of a subway feels?

A moment later, all sound in the hallway vanished completely. Only then did I slip my face back under the blanket and whisper.

“…Are you alright?”

There was no answer from Iser. Instead, he hugged me tighter. His arms wrapped around my waist, his body pressed close felt cool.

It’s a relief he’s not running a fever again. But what does this mean…?

I laughed at the thought of what might be going through that unreadable head of his.

“Looks like we’ll have to stay like this until the door gets fixed…”

“……”

“Are you feeling stuffy? Should I lift the blanket for a bit?”

Iser silently shook his head just a little.

“Why not? Let’s lift it for a moment. If anyone comes, I’ll quickly hide you again.”

But this time, Iser’s response was the same.

Truthfully, I wanted to lift the blanket, even for a short while. While the thick blanket was good for hiding the fact I was holding Iser, it was just too hot.

Well, lifting the blanket is too risky.

That was probably why Iser was enduring the stuffiness too. The reason he pressed his body so close to mine was likely the same.

…Come to think of it, this must be a very unsettling situation for Iser. I’ve been so inconsiderate.

He’d been kidnapped and barely made it back, only to find the hideout destroyed, his guardian suddenly passed out and then woke up, and the door was broken…

I didn’t suggest pulling back the blanket to Iser anymore.

At least Iser’s body temperature is on the lower side, so I survived.

As a bonus, he smelled nice too.

It’s surprising he even smells good…

Iser was still wearing clothes covered in bloodstains. Yet, not a trace of blood scent emanated from him. Instead, only the usual subtle herbal fragrance wafted from him. Did the Power of Life have such a function too?

Fortunately, the door repair was finished quickly. Apparently, there was a spare door left over from when this annex was built. Thanks to that, this place, which had been demoted to a hallway, could be upgraded back to a room in less than an hour.

I’d worried they might find it strange that I’d just lain there while the door was being fixed, but it was a needless worry. Word had spread that I’d gotten fever medicine from Human Paf this morning, so it seemed everyone thought I was sick.

Well, if they choose to believe that, I suppose I should be grateful.

As the carpenter left, Human Paf hurried over to me.

“P-Priest, I’ll be going now. Get some rest.”

“Alright, you go rest too.”

“Yes!”

The kid nodded vigorously.

You’ll break your neck, you little rascal.

She’d been pacing restlessly around the carpenter while he worked, and now she finally seemed relieved. Good.

Just as Human Paf was about to leave the room, she suddenly turned back, as if remembering something.

“Ah! You asked me to tell you if the Tirovis Merchant Guild visited, right? I heard about it while bringing the carpenter here. Oh! They arrived this morning!”

…Ah, damn it.

Right. There was that praise quest.

Sub quest: In Progress

Seriha belonged to the Tirovis Merchant Guild, and I heard from him that they would visit Hayut Castle in half a month.

I planned to continue the quest once Seriha arrived. That’s why I asked Paf beforehand to let me know when they arrived. But with incidents and accidents happening nonstop since dawn, I’d completely forgotten about the praise quest.

In that moment, I must have unconsciously tightened my grip on Iser’s arm. With our bodies pressed close, I felt him take a deep breath. Only then did I realize I’d been treating him like a stress ball, and I quickly loosened my hold.

“…Thanks for letting me know.”

As Human Paf left the room, I quickly pulled back the covers. Simultaneously, Iser slipped out of my embrace as if he’d been waiting for it. Then he moved all the way to the corner of the bed, curled up into a ball, and sat with his back to me.

I spoke cautiously.

“Did I scare you just now by hugging you too tightly? I’m sorry. …Did it hurt a lot?”

Iser didn’t answer. Only after a moment did the child’s head slowly shake from side to side. The ears and cheeks peeking out were unnaturally red.

“Look at me for a second.”

“Why…”

Iser didn’t turn his head back on his own. I ended up reaching out with my gloved hand and forcibly turned his head.

Just as I thought…

“Your face is so red. You’re not getting a fever again, right?”

“……”

Iser, his cheeks held by my hands, frowned and bit his lip. I thought he’d grab my wrist and yank it away, but he just tapped my hand lightly. With a thoroughly displeased expression.

Seems like he wants me to let go. I quickly pulled my hand away. I tried to control my strength so it wouldn’t hurt, but just in case.

His freedom regained, Iser turned his head away from me again and muttered.

“…I’m not feverish. I’m just hot.”

“Oh, is that it?”

But for someone whose face was bright red from the heat, his skin felt surprisingly dry. I was the one actually sweating.

Guess he doesn’t sweat much even when it’s hot.

Anyway, it was a relief he wasn’t actually running a fever again. I got up from my seat and locked the door. Then I checked the status window.

────【 Sub Quest 】────

Praise ‘Seriha Kal Macelan Levana’!

(5/15)

D-5 (121h 32m 57s)

Reward: Skill Draw Ticket (1x)

──────────────────

I still couldn’t believe I had to get 10 compliments within 5 days, 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 57 seconds.

D-5 (121h 32m 56s)

Another second ticked away while I was looking. This is driving me crazy.

I clutched my forehead and sighed. Every minute and second counts, so first I need to take Iser to the hideout and then find Seriha…

Ah, right, the hideout collapsed…

Come to think of it, I hadn’t checked the hideout’s condition yet.

What the hell happened for it to collapse…?

I grabbed the lamp and descended into the pit beneath the storage cabinet. It didn’t take long to understand what Iser meant.

The underground passage leading to the hideout had vanished entirely. A pile of rubble now filled the space. I could tell at a glance that those rocks had once been the walls and ceiling of the underground passageway.

“Damn it…”

It was fine just this morning. Why is this happening…?

In that moment, the memory of when my divine power was out of control and the realization that Iser had been kidnapped flashed through my mind.

Could it be… because of me…?