TRPSG 12

After scrambling to come up with some excuse, the only thing I could vaguely see was the bed, so I blurted out whatever came to mind.

Despite my clumsy excuse, Kalion didn’t doubt me and nodded readily.

It was honestly a bit worrying how deeply he believed my “amnesia” story.

“I understand. Please wait a moment.”

Kalion asked Senez for understanding, and Senez glanced in my direction once.

For a moment I worried that that rude guy might start picking on me again, but Senez soon looked away and slung a bag over his shoulder.

“Then I’ll go. Same as usual for exchanges?”

“Thanks, brother.”

It seemed Senez was going to handle the supply run in Kalion’s place.

He walked past me with brisk steps, brushing by as if I didn’t even exist.

“……”

For some reason, his back drew my attention.

Maybe it was because this was the first time I’d properly seen Senez from behind.

“Master. Shall we go inside?”

“Oh, yes.”

When I opened the door, Kalion went in first. I followed and closed it behind me.

“Hm. Master?”

After checking the bed, Kalion spoke a little awkwardly.

“It seems the bedsheets have already been changed to new ones…”

“Sorry. That was a lie.”

“Pardon?”

“I just wanted to be alone with you, Kalion.”

My throat suddenly tightened.

Was it because I lied?

Pressing a trembling hand over my chest did nothing to calm me.

“Before we part ways, I wanted to know your feelings.”

When I looked up at Kalion, his expression stiffened.

Of course he’d be flustered. Honestly, I was too. I wasn’t the type to drag a man into a room so abruptly.

After confirming last night that Kalion also had feelings for me, I’d thought I’d properly try to seduce him once we reached the village… but what I did just now was impulsive.

“Is this… uncomfortable?”

“Pardon? N-no, not at all. I….”

Kalion’s eyes darted around in confusion. His pale face slowly began to tint pink.

Fair skin really showed everything like this. Not great for him in moments like this.

Though, from my perspective, it was kind of nice.

“Do you hate it because it was sudden?”

“I don’t hate it. But… I don’t think this is right.”

Kalion brought a hand to his mouth as if choosing his words, frowned slightly, then straightened his posture and bowed his head toward me.

“Master. I am not someone suited for you. I cannot settle in one place, nor can I promise a future. For someone like me to engage in something intimate with you would be irresponsible. So…”

He meant that because he couldn’t take responsibility for me, he shouldn’t get closer.

Very like Kalion. If I didn’t have a limited lifespan, I might have completely fallen for him after hearing that.

“I’m the same.”

“Pardon?”

“People are all like that. No one knows what will happen tomorrow. It’s not just those who fight monsters in hunting grounds who are in danger. People can die falling down stairs, or get hit by carts.”

Of course, ordinary people don’t usually think about dying tomorrow—but I didn’t have much time left.

If anything, I might die sooner than Kalion, who constantly risked his life hunting monsters.

“I’m not asking you to promise me a future. I don’t want that either.”

In fact, that would be more troublesome for me.

“I just wanted to know your feelings. Whether you feel the same way as me.”

“The same… feelings?”

“I’ll say it plainly since we’re already here. Before we part, I wanted to be with you once.”

Kalion flinched.

Was that too much for someone who could barely handle being touched? But he wasn’t naive enough not to understand.

Even I didn’t fully understand my own feelings.

Curiosity toward an attractive man. Impulsive desire. A wish to leave some memory before my short second life ended.

And the selfish hope that someone might see me as special—even though I had never been special to anyone.

And wanting that someone to be Kalion.

It probably wasn’t love.

I wasn’t the type to fall into love that easily.

I knew I was doing something unfair to Kalion.

But I still wanted it.

Not just for physical satisfaction…

I wanted to leave something between us.

If even the dead could have their wishes granted, why not someone who was dying?

“Master. What you mean is—”

“You don’t need to think about responsibility or duty.”

I stepped closer. Even without touching him, his body stiffened.

“Sometimes it’s okay to play with fire, don’t you think?”

I placed my hand on Kalion’s chest. He let out a small sound, eyes darting as if searching for an excuse. But the moment he didn’t refuse, it was already his defeat.

I slid my hand upward and touched his collarbone through his clothes.

“Ah…!”

When I grabbed his collar, he looked flustered. Even though he could have resisted, he let himself be pulled closer.

As he bent down and I rose onto my toes, our faces drew near.

Sunlight poured into the room from two windows, brightening everything.

That made it even better. I could clearly see his reddening face.

“Can I kiss you?”

“Pardon? Ah, I—”

I hadn’t intended to wait for an answer. By the time our faces were this close, my mouth was already watering.

I took his lips.

At first touch, they were soft like melting snow, but when I gently bit and sucked his lower lip, they became surprisingly firm.

Cool, sweet scent.

If snow made of sugar fell in winter, it would feel like this.

When I lightly breathed into the gap between his lips, Kalion’s eyes widened in surprise. His hands trembled in the air.

I released his collar and wrapped my arms around his neck instead.

“It’s okay. Keep going.”

As I clung to him, licking his lips gently, Kalion supported my waist. His arms were still tense, as if he didn’t know how to hold me properly.

He could lift me easily when moving, so why was he so awkward now?

He looked like a child who forgot how to breathe because he was nervous.

When I teased his lips with small flicks of my tongue, his mouth opened slightly, his breath growing more hurried.

What had been loose tension suddenly tightened.

The contact that had been light became deeper. His neck, still tense, grew damp with heat.

Kalion… he learns fast.

As I moved from his neck to his head, to his burning ears and cheeks, his hands slowly slid upward.

Clumsy touches rubbed my back, uncertain, but that awkwardness only made things more stimulating.

It was gentle, as if he was handling something precious that might break—and that, along with his desperate effort to respond despite not knowing how to touch a woman, was oddly cute.

“…Kalion.”

I stepped closer until our bodies pressed together. The air between us grew hotter. Even through clothes, the sensation of skin brushing was intense.

Rustling fabric and ragged breaths mixed together.

His grip on my back tightened. The tension in his arm muscles was clear even through clothing.

Every time I moved, I could feel him growing more tense. Was it too stimulating for him?

But I didn’t have the patience to teach him slowly.

My biting kisses swallowed his groans, his breath growing uneven. The always composed man was now trembling, trying desperately to suppress instinct.

That gave me a strange thrill.

Not conquest—but like pulling out a precariously stacked block in a game of Jenga.

Ripples spread across a still surface. When our tongues met and slid, heat burst through me.

I’d never felt this excited just from kissing.

“Kalion.”

My breathing grew heavy.

Just as I tried to steady myself, Kalion kissed me back—this time not hesitant, but instinctive, almost pleading.

He sucked lightly, then pushed his tongue inside. Saliva mixed thickly, filling my mouth.

The sweetness made me feel like I was melting. If I drowned in this pleasure, I wouldn’t even regret it.

When my strength faded and I leaned into him, Kalion finally stopped and adjusted his hold.

“Master. Are you alright?”

“…It’s a bit overwhelming.”

His eyes wavered. He must have thought I was refusing.

Before he could misunderstand further, I quickly corrected myself.

“You’re tall, so even on my tiptoes, my neck gets a bit sore.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. Just lower yourself a bit.”

I lightly pushed his chest as if asking him to lie down, but he didn’t move.

When I looked up in confusion, Kalion’s lips relaxed into a faint smile.

Why is he smiling?

Then he blinked—and suddenly lifted me into his arms.

“Eek! Kalion?”

“Is this better?”

In an instant, my feet left the ground.

Even though he supported my waist and held me securely, being lifted suddenly made me uneasy, so I grabbed his shoulders.

For the first time, I was looking down at Kalion instead of up.

His face was still red—but no longer uncertain.

He moved his lips, still wet from saliva.

“Let’s do it one more time.”

Oh my god.

So he could seduce like this too.

His eyes curved into a gentle smile, dazzling enough to make my mind go blank.