When I came to, I could feel myself lying down on a hard surface.
"You were totally out of it," a voice informed me.
Opening my eyes, I saw a strong-willed pair of sky-blue eyes peering down at my face.
"Ngh… Morning already?"
It felt like there was a haze clouding my head. I wondered if perhaps I'd slept a bit too
long.
Ummm, where is this? I wondered. That's right, I recalled after a moment. Rit and I had
defeated a scissorhands demon and set up camp on the way back to the capital of
Loggervia.
"Sheesh, why'd I have to end up sleeping in the same tent as you?" Rit pouted.
"I mean it's not like I intended for it to end up like this, but your party ran off, and the
demon lord's army is patrolling around these parts, so letting you go alone would be
dangerous, you know?" I said.
Rit had temporarily formed a party with us, and we were traveling together. That
didn't mean that Rit was on our side, however, which was why Ares had been against
her joining up. He was suspicious that she was planning to hinder us in some way.
After having it out with each other for a while, Ares finally gave in on the condition
that I would stay close to Rit at all times and keep an eye out for anything untoward.
When it became clear that meant that the two of us would be sharing a tent, Ruti was
annoyed, and I got an earful from Rit about it, too. It was a never-ending stream of
complaints from all sides.
I let out a long sigh.
Rit's pouting face clouded over when she heard that.
"…What are you sighing about?" she asked.
"Ah, that… I'm just a bit worn out from the consecutive battles. Maybe I should see
about renting a bath when we get to the capital, so I can take a night and just relax a
bit."
It was a lie. I was trying to bluff my way through the question. Rit didn't seem to buy
it as she continued to look at me with the same murky expression.
"Also, um, I didn't think Ares would be that stubborn about you joining. I suggested us
moving together because it would've been dangerous for you to go on your own. We
can make a stop at another town along the way if you want to split off. I'm sure there
will be some adventurers or guards there who'd join up with you. A detour like that
would take an extra night of camping, though. What would you prefer? I'm sure I could
get Theodora to switch and take over for me. She's more the standard stoic fighter
than I am, so she won't talk your ear off."
"I never said I hated being with you," Rit interjected, her cheeks looking a little red.
"Eh? Uh, I…"
I was at a loss for how to respond. I never would've expected that reaction from Rit.
"Your argument was perfectly reasonable. I'm an adventurer; I'm not going to whine
about having to share a tent with someone."
"I'm pretty sure you did complain about having to stay in the same tent as me…"
"That's… um…" Rit turned away. I could hear a quiet stammering as if she was trying
to figure out how best to respond.
"Anyway, I never said I hated being with you!… So you don't have to look like that."
"Like what?"
"It's not like I don't understand that I'm causing you a lot of unnecessary effort and
trouble, okay? I'm sorry."
"D-don't worry about it. Lately, Ares always has something to say about everything I
do. I'm used to it by now."
Rit's attitude had shifted out of nowhere.
"Hey, is something wrong? Am I making a weird face?" I asked.
"…You looked heartbroken."
"Ah. Well, it's been nonstop fights for a while now. It just sort of gets to me from time
to time. It's not like it's your fault," I assured.
"…I-if you need someone to lend an ear so you can vent a bit, I can listen." Rit's voice
sounded restless as she sat there still facing away from me. "It's not like I'm really in
your party; that makes me the perfect person to complain to. Plus, we've got some
time until the rest of them wake up."
The chirps of nocturnal insects could still be heard from beyond our tent. The morning
was still a way off. I was a little unsure, but I thought I could sense a hint of concern
for me in Rit's words. It was true that I was a bit worried about being able to keep up
in the coming fights, what with getting overtaken in terms of blessing level.
I'd stewed over the problem of my Guide blessing for a while now, and the only natural
conclusion seemed to be that my job was done. While I considered it often, I'd never
once hit upon anything I could provide to overcome the limitations of my role.
Truthfully, I wasn't sure if something like that even existed, but I had to keep trying. If
I didn't come up with something, I wouldn't be able to continue with Ruti on her
journey.
"…Yeah, I guess so. If you don't mind just nodding along a bit while I talk…," I admitted.
"Sure."
I probably just wanted someone to lean on for a bit. Rit turned back to face me and
quietly listened to what I had to say at first. As I kept going, however, she began taking
my side. Rit got indignant and annoyed when I told her of Ares's various complaints.
She even started to argue as though she were in my position.
"How do you put up with that?! Those things are all his fault!" Rit declared, as incensed
as if she herself had been wronged. Seeing her like that, I smiled… and…
That was where I woke up.
"A dream? That sure brings back memories."
It had been a memory of that night in the Loggervian forest.
"Rit was at my side back then, too," I whispered.
Our two beds had been pushed neatly together. Rit was sleeping close enough to me
that if I reached out my hand, I could caress her cute cheek. I gently touched her hand
that was sticking out of the light summer blanket.
"Red…"
When she called my name, I froze up. I was afraid I'd woken her, but she was still
asleep, a look of bliss on her face.
Is she dreaming about me?
She showed up in my dream, and I showed up in hers. That alone wasn't really all that
special, but my face started to heat up when I thought about it.
The reason I'd dreamed of Rit was likely because of what Storm had said earlier that
day after that commotion with Bighawk's flunkies.
"A double bed, eh? Starting to regret getting a single? All I want is for Miss Rit to have
the best bed possible. It hasn't been long, so if you want to switch for the double, I'll take
a trade-in at full value, and you can just pay the price difference."
Rit and I had slept together in a tent so small our shoulders were touching on that
Loggervian night. Now we were lying on two beds pushed together. If I reached out, I
could touch her, but we weren't close enough that we'd rub up unintentionally.
On top of that, Rit seemed to be a bit worried lately about our simple life together
coming to an end.
"I guess we should go get a double bed," I muttered.
Getting closer to Rit had to become more of a priority. I didn't want her fretting about
stuff like that anymore.
Taking care not to rouse her, I quietly made my plans for the day.
Come morning, Rit and I went by Stormthunder's furniture store. As I'd decided last
night, the plan was to purchase a double bed.
"What, here already?" Storm's gruff face broke into a grin tinged with exasperation. "I
was sure you were only going to stop by once things settled down."
"It'd be a shame to get so absorbed in all the trouble that I forgot about my wonderful
life with Rit here in Zoltan."
Us buying the double bed today was also meant to demonstrate my taking a more
proactive position. It was still a bit embarrassing, though, since Storm was an
acquaintance.
"Oooooh, looks like things have been moving pretty fast since you first came in to get
a bed. You should have just gotten the double bed to begin with, ya wuss," Storm
prodded.
"I'm getting the double bed now, aren't I? Let me clear my good name here," I shot back.
"Hey, Red! Which one should we get? I want one that looks nice and solid!"
Paying no heed to the two of us, Rit had started comparing the beds lined up before
her. She looked excited but also entirely serious about the task at hand.
"You've got quite the eye for quality, Miss Rit." Storm's gruff craftsman expression
transformed in the blink of an eye to a sparkling salesman smile as he hurried over to
Rit.
"That one was made using Whitehorse wood. It comes from a tree that's said to only
grow in forests inhabited by unicorns! It has an elegant texture and just the faintest
natural scent to it. It's both stout and flexible, just like a unicorn's horn. It's a truly
exquisite material that even I rarely get a chance to work with."
Rit seemed to be enjoying herself as she listened to the sales pitch.
Wait, isn't that going to be super expensive?
"…Well, that's fine I guess," I muttered to myself.
Even if it was expensive, compared to what Rit had at her disposal, it was little more
than pocket change. What's more, I felt bad about the fact that my pride had kept Rit
from getting the bed that she'd wanted before. Rather than compromising this time, I
wanted her to pick her favorite. That way, there'd be no regrets.
"Come here, Red," Rit beckoned.
"Sure, just a second."
A grin spread across my face as I approached the new bed Rit stood beside. She wore
an equally excited smile.
After arranging for the delivery, we headed to the guard station on the north side of
town.
"We're back, Al."
"Mr. Red!"
While Rit and I had been off picking out the new piece of furniture, we'd left Al with
the guards, as it seemed unsafe to leave the boy to himself.
Actually, that wasn't the only reason.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. There weren't any issues, were there?" I asked.
"No. I was a little scared, but the two who looked after me were nice, so it was fine."
The two guards behind Al waved.
"They don't live in Southmarsh, but apparently, they just moved here a few years ago.
That's why they don't hate Southmarsh as much as the other guards do," Al said with
a smile.
I made a point of remembering the faces of the two men who had so kindly watched
out for the half-elf boy. With a nod of thanks in their direction, Al and I left for home.
That night, it was just the one double bed and the two of us. One and two. The math
wouldn't work unless the two of us could fit in the one. We couldn't split the thing
apart anymore. After getting caught in spiraling thoughts like that for a moment, I
eventually decided to set them aside for the time being.
"Red," Rit called.
"U-uh, yeah?"
"Hurry up."
Rit was sitting quietly on the bed and gesturing for me to join her. She was wearing
her soft pajamas. The bandanna she usually wore around her neck had already been
removed. Her golden hair swayed as she patted the spot next to her.
"Okay, okay," I said.
Right, what's the point of this if I'm going to revert to being a wuss now? I cleared my
mind and joined Rit. The two of sat there, not lying down, just looking at each other.
"Khhh!" Rit was the one who gave first. She was assertive but had a shy side to her. Her
legs fidgeted as she turned bright red and grabbed her pillow to cover her face.
It just makes her look all the cuter! I thought.
"Should we go to sleep early?" Rit asked with a muffled voice.
"Yeah, I guess we should," I replied.
I blew out the candlestick. Now the room was only lit by what little moonlight came
through the window. Rit slowly removed the pillow covering her face. Her cheeks were
red, and she was looking up at me ever so slightly. Beautiful sky-blue eyes watched
me, trembling all the while.
"Look how red you are," Rit said with a giggle, looking beet red herself.
I responded by lying down on the bed. "Come on," I said, spreading my arms.
Rit's eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with both hands, trying to hide her
joy.
"Y-yay!"
"Oof."
Rit squeezed her eyes shut as she leaped into my arms. The two of us bounced a little
on the mattress from the force of her dive.
"Someone's heart is racing." Rit was lying with her chest pressed tightly to mine as a
grin spread across her face.
"My heart or yours?" I asked.
The answer was obvious—it was both of ours.
Rit rested her chin against my shoulder, and I slid my hands behind her back and gave
a little squeeze. Our chests thundered in sync with each other.
The way Rit's beautiful golden hair felt when I caressed it was amazing, almost like
silk. Rit's lips brushed against my neck. There was an endearing warmth that came
from her body as we lay entangled.
Rit's hands touching my back through my pajamas slid down to my waist and then
back up beneath my clothes. Her fingers brushed directly against my skin, causing me
to quiver raptly.
"Rit."
After hearing me call her name, Rit looked up at me. A hesitant exhale slipped from
between her lips.
"Red… I…"
I pressed my brow to hers as I reached for the buttons of her pajamas with both hands.
One popped open, revealing a slender collarbone. As the next came undone, Rit's wellendowed and beautiful breasts came into view. There was a bead of sweat trickling
perfectly down between them.
Rit removed my clothes as well, her fingers crawling across my chest as she undid the
fastenings of my shirt. Her hand was hot and just a little bit sweaty.
"Sorry, my hands must be rough from all the calluses… It's because I've been training
with swords ever since I was little…," Rit mumbled, looking down as though
embarrassed.
I took Rit's right hand in my left and placed it on my cheek.
"I like your hands."
Rit looked up, her face flushed again. She caressed my cheek with her hand as her face
drew near. Our lips gently met.
With my right hand, I undid another button on Rit's pajamas, and her breasts popped
free with a slight bounce. Rit's body trembled with a start, her eyes narrowing
rapturously even as we continued to kiss.
With one hand, I began to reach out toward Rit's chest.
"!"
Suddenly, I sensed movement outside the room. Rit and I broke our kiss and
instinctively froze.
"I guess Al went to get some water to drink," I said with a hushed voice.
"Sounds like he's trying not to disturb us," Rit replied.
The two of us blushed and smiled as we continued staring into each other's eyes.
"Rit, maybe we shouldn't today…"
"Ugh, even though you're so cool, you're so hopeless," Rit said playfully.
She kissed me one more time, as if pecking at me. Wrapping my arms around her, I
pulled Rit in close such that both of our bare chests were pressing against each other.
"Sorry, I only meant to flirt a little at first, but I got a bit carried away," Rit admitted.
"It was the same for me," I said back.
"I see. Eh-heh-heh… Should we go to sleep then?"
"Yeah, I guess so. Tomorrow seems like it's going to be pretty busy. Good night, Rit."
After kissing Rit's forehead, I reluctantly shifted away from her.
"Nfh… I'm going to burst from all of these feelings! Good night… I hope the trouble in
town ends soon." Rit smiled happily, took a deep breath, fixed her pajamas, and closed
her eyes.