TOPWL 94

“The author of that book also struggled a lot because of monsters,” Yudit explained. “But he managed to deal with it by cultivating herbs that monsters hate. And apparently, the herbs grow well even in barren soil…”

He trailed off as he noticed Brown’s face flush red, tears streaming down his cheeks again. Wondering if he’d said something wrong, Yudit glanced over at Huyan and Wadiram—but they only smiled gently.

“When I lost my arm and was stuck at home, nothing but a burden, I felt like the most useless person in the world,” Brown said, clutching the papers to his chest. “So I swore I’d learn to farm. But when I said I would… no one supported me. Not even my own son.”

He held the papers even tighter, like they were sacred.

“I’ll succeed, Your Highness. Even if I fail, I’ll keep trying until I do. And if—no, when I succeed, may I be bold enough to offer the first harvest to you?”

Tears brimming in his eyes, he looked at Yudit, who gave a warm smile and nodded.

“I’ll accept it gladly.”

***

That night, Yudit returned late from inspecting the district. The moment he sat on the bed, a dull ache throbbed through his calves and ankles. Khalid gave him a disapproving look.

“I told you not to push yourself. It’s not like today was the only day.”

“I’ll be fine once I soak in some hot water. It’s really nothing.”

Khalid shook his head, clearly unconvinced.

“Assuming there’s even hot water in this rundown inn.”

“Oh—Khalid, did you know there’s a hot spring near the woods? Just ten minutes away. Want to come?”

The unexpected suggestion made Khalid blink.

“It’s supposed to be really good for sore muscles.”

“Just the two of us?”

“No, no. Shane, Huyan, and Wadiram will come too.”

Of course. Khalid let out a soft sigh. Yudit tilted his head, thinking he was about to refuse—but then Khalid stood up.

“Let’s get ready and go.”

When Yudit came down with his bath supplies, Khalid and Shane were already waiting.

“I’ll carry that for you.”

“It’s fine. It’s light,” Yudit replied, swinging the basket playfully as he walked ahead, holding the map.

“What about the other two?”

“Oh, they’re still at the shop. Might stay there all night.”

After seeing the monster-leather armor, Huyan and Wadiram had been pulled into a deep conversation with the shopkeeper. Herut, short on resources, often made armor and accessories using monster hides and tendons—and that little comment sparked the shopkeeper’s wild interest. Realizing the knowledge exchange was valuable, they gladly stayed.

“This way, I think.”

Yudit pointed into the woods. Hess had even drawn a map, so the path wasn’t hard to find. Sure enough, they eventually stumbled upon the steaming waters of the hidden hot spring. White, milky water shimmered in the dark. Yudit let out a soft gasp—this place was beautiful, and apparently not very crowded because most people preferred the larger springs elsewhere.

“I’ll stand guard.”

“Come on, just get in.”

“If all three of us are naked, who’s going to keep watch?”

Yudit blinked, flustered by Khalid’s blunt question. His face and neck lit up like a fire on a snowy plain. Khalid raised an eyebrow.

“Bathing usually involves being naked, doesn’t it?”

“Y-yeah, but… I just wasn’t thinking about that part…”

“So that’s what caught you off guard?”

Khalid smirked knowingly. Embarrassed, Yudit held out his bath supplies.

“I’ll just stay here with Shane—”

“Not happening.”

Without warning, Khalid scooped him up. Yudit flailed in surprise, feet dangling.

“Put me down…!”

“Hold still. If you wriggle too much, one of us is going to fall and get hurt.”

That quieted Yudit. His cold cheeks now flushed with warmth, he stopped struggling. Pleased with the result, Khalid smiled and stepped into the spring barefoot.

With a loud splash, water erupted and rippled outward. Now fully clothed and suddenly in the hot spring, Yudit surfaced, spluttering.

“W-what was that for?!”

“You’d have run away if I made you strip first.”

Yudit shot him a fierce glare.

“You’re seriously the worst—”

“Even your tantrums are kind of cute, you know.”

Khalid didn’t seem fazed at all. As he slipped out of his own thick bathrobe and placed it outside the spring, Yudit noticed that Khalid had entered the water fully clothed too. He sank deeper into the spring, water up to his chest.

“Come here. You’ll catch a cold like that.”

His voice was gentle—so much so that it was hard to believe this was the same man who had just flung him into the water.

“Ah-choo!”

Yudit sneezed. The wet clothes clung coldly to his skin, making him shiver. With a sigh, he finally slipped out of his own bathrobe and set it aside, sliding into the warm water.

He cast a sideways glance at Khalid. The man didn’t seem cold at all, sitting there casually with his chest above water. Meanwhile, Yudit had tucked himself in up to the neck. Even though he tried to keep some distance, the spring wasn’t big—just a slight move and their toes brushed.

“Come to think of it, this is the second time I’ve seen you naked.”

Yudit blinked. “When was the first…?”

And then it hit him—the steam bath. That memory rushed in, vivid and uninvited. Embarrassed, Yudit covered his face and looked away. A quiet chuckle came from beside him.

“Pretty dangerous behavior, if you think about it.”

“…What?”

Before he could ask what Khalid meant, the man suddenly rose. Water sloshed and rippled as Khalid moved closer, until he was practically nose to nose with Yudit. The tension prickled over Yudit’s skin like static.

“Don’t you think so?”

“I… trust you, Khalid.”

Yudit barely managed to get the words out. Khalid’s expression shifted subtly.

“Trust me? With what, exactly?”

Before Yudit could answer, Khalid pulled him into a sudden hug. The spring rippled again as Yudit was pulled against him.

“Let go—someone might hear, Shane’s outside—” Yudit whispered, panicking.

Khalid leaned in, smirking. “So if he wasn’t out there, this would be fine?”

Yudit shook his head wildly, which only made Khalid laugh.

“You worry too much about your guards.”

“They’re people, too.”

“True. And it’s not just them. You even treated the wife of a man who tried to kill you.”

“Can we… just keep a little more distance—”

“Come now, spare me a little kindness. Would you really push away someone shivering from the cold?”

“You’re the one who’s hot, not cold.”

“Exactly. And hot things cool faster.”

Khalid could probably talk his way out of a battlefield with that mouth alone. Resigned, Yudit sighed and leaned back slightly.

“…Fine.”

There was a pause.

“Can I kiss you?”

“No.”

That was fast. Too fast. Dangerous. Way too dangerous.

Yudit started to pull away again, but Khalid raised his hands in surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave.”

Yudit gave him a suspicious glare, but Khalid—true to his word—didn’t cross the line. At least, above the water, everything remained calm. What might be going on below… Yudit chose not to think about it.

Instead, he closed his eyes and let the warmth soak in. From somewhere deeper in the woods, night birds called softly. Khalid reached over and gently swept Yudit’s wet hair back, his touch light and unintrusive.

Yudit, lost in the comfort of the moment, let his thoughts drift.

He remembered the talk with Brown. After calming down, Brown had opened up even more—mentioning that he was also participating in the road construction.

“How are things with the people from the slums?”

“Ah… I guess it’s fine? Neither good nor bad, really.”

Yudit gave him a look, silently urging honesty. Brown waved his hands.

“I swear! We started on our own, but when we were struggling from being short-staffed, they came to help. It was a huge relief.”

“I see. I’d been worried. There are quite a few Lirut people there…”

“Oh! That? There’s actually a Lirut who’s been settled here for over ten years. Quiet type, but honest and hardworking. Maybe that helped?”

Brown’s careful answer rang true. And Yudit couldn’t help but think—how a single person could change an entire village’s perception of an entire group. Whoever that Lirut settler was, he owed them thanks.

Yudit’s mind wandered to everything else he still had to do. Some problems had obvious solutions. Others didn’t—until something completely unrelated sparked the answer, like a light flicking on in a dark room.

One by one, he sorted through the thoughts… until, like waking from a dream, he opened his eyes again.

It was late. The sky above the trees was dark and quiet. Khalid was still there, watching him with a smile.