chapter 6
Listening to the soft, steady breathing of his sleeping master, Kalion fell into a tangle of complicated thoughts.
What was that feeling…?
He slowly rubbed his chest, now completely healed. The place that had once been torn open by a monster’s claws was now smooth, unscarred—as if it had all been a dream. Running his hand over the flawless skin left him feeling strangely unsettled.
Is it because such a miraculous recovery doesn’t feel real… or…?
He lifted his left hand and looked down at the back of it. It still felt as though the touch of his master’s lips lingered there. Carefully, Kalion clenched and unclenched his hand.
An urge rose within him to press his own lips to that spot, but he barely managed to suppress it.
What’s wrong with me?
Trying to calm his restless heart, he turned his gaze outward.
The mountain, swallowed in darkness, was silent. There were no signs of monsters nearby, so they likely wouldn’t be attacked for a while.
Only when the distant chirping of insects began to fade did he finally turn his head back and look down at the master beside him.
She was curled up into a small ball, leaning lightly against him as she slept. Such a small, warm body. How could such incredible power be hidden within something so fragile—something that felt as though it might break at the slightest touch?
Gazing at the back of her tiny head, Kalion found himself recalling the first time they met.
.
.
.
It had been by chance.
While wandering the mountains as usual to hunt monsters, Kalion came across unfamiliar traces.
Signs that someone had stayed there briefly.
Crushed fallen leaves where someone had sat, scattered grains of dirt trailing along a set of footprints.
It didn’t feel like a traveler crossing the mountain. Rather, it was as if something had dropped from the sky, paused there for a moment, then trudged off elsewhere.
For some reason, the traces caught his attention. Kalion couldn’t even think to move, simply staring at the empty spot.
How long had he stood there?
Just as he thought the presence had completely vanished, he sensed it again in the distance.
Step… step…
It didn’t take long for the owner of the slightly unsteady footsteps to appear.
—
“Uh… a person?”
—
She was a small woman. Though she wore worn travel clothes, her posture and expression were nothing like those of a wanderer.
It felt as though a transcendent being, detached from everything in the world, had awkwardly put on human clothing and descended here. Even standing right before him, she seemed so fleeting, as if she might disappear at any moment.
In this barren mountain where monsters roamed, such an innocent, defenseless appearance was the most suspicious—and the most dangerous.
It wouldn’t have been strange to assume she was a monster disguised as a human. And yet, Kalion felt no desire to attack her.
—
“Why are you in a place like this?”
“I don’t know either. I lost consciousness for a moment, and when I woke up…”
—
It was strange. If she wasn’t wandering or fleeing, there was no way a woman who couldn’t even protect herself would be alone in such a place. Approaching such a suspicious figure was practically suicide. The rule of a monster hunter was simple: draw your sword and strike first.
But Kalion didn’t draw his blade.
Instead, he extended his hand.
She didn’t belong in this desolate landscape. She looked like she might scatter into mist at any moment, as though she had no place here. He wanted to hold onto her—to keep her here.
So that she could remain.
So that she could somehow belong in this alien world surrounding her… he wanted to become her shelter.
It wasn’t a protective instinct toward the weak. It was closer to the yearning one feels upon discovering a mysterious treasure in the fog—reaching out in hopes that it isn’t an illusion.
He didn’t understand why he had such absurd thoughts upon seeing a suspicious stranger for the first time.
But that question was soon answered.
—
“My name is Joo-in.”
—
Joo-in. The moment he heard that name, Kalion completely understood why he was acting so unlike himself.
Because she was his master.
.
.
.
—
“I’m sorry. If only I could take your pain instead…”
—
Kalion wasn’t afraid of being injured. He wasn’t so weak as to lose consciousness from a mere chest wound. He could endure the pain—because he had to protect his master.
But the moment she grabbed his hand, his entire body froze.
When her lips touched the back of his hand, all thought vanished.
It felt as though control over his body had been taken away.
Unable to even avert his gaze, he stared down at the small head pressing her lips against his hand, feeling as though time itself had stopped. If not for the violent pounding of his heart, he might have thought himself dead.
It was then that a sharp, tingling pain spread through his chest as the wound began to heal. It felt as though his body were being kneaded like dough, the torn flesh being mended and the pain carefully drawn out.
Even as he felt the unbelievable speed of his recovery, Kalion couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Only after the pain had completely subsided and the wound fully healed did he manage to move his lips.
—
“…Joo-in.”
—
At the sound of her name, her soft lips lifted from the back of his hand. She raised her head to look at him. A relieved smile briefly appeared on her flushed face—
And then, like a puppet with its strings cut, she closed her eyes and collapsed into his arms.
—
“Joo-in!”
—
Startled, Kalion quickly caught her. She pressed a hand to his chest, her brows furrowed as she struggled to catch her breath.
Why would someone who had been perfectly fine suddenly collapse?
Had his wound somehow transferred to her?
Remembering what she had said before kissing the back of his hand, fear gripped him as he tried to check her body for injuries.
But the moment his hands touched her soft, light body, he froze again.
She was too small. Too soft. It felt as though her bones might break if he touched her carelessly.
—
“Joo-in… Joo-in…”
—
Unable to do anything else, Kalion could only call her name anxiously.
He felt her uneven breathing gradually steady against his chest. She buried her face into him, her small head rubbing lightly against his chest as she caught her breath. The sensation of her fine hair brushing against his skin made his mind go blank.
Like a newborn puppy burrowing into its mother, she nestled into him and slowly exhaled. Her soft, warm breath drifted across his skin.
Even through his clothes, he could feel the softness of her body. Beneath it, the steady thump of her heartbeat pulsed against his palm.
Kalion forgot entirely that he should be checking her condition, becoming intoxicated by the sensation.
What finally brought him back to reality was her voice.
—
“Ugh… Kalion. I’m sorry…”
—
As his hazy mind snapped back, and their eyes met, his face flushed instantly. It burned as though it had caught fire, leaving him unable to think straight. He didn’t even know if he had spoken or what he might have said.
Flustered, she pulled away from him. As the warmth left his arms, his chest felt hollow and empty.
Something churned inside him. Turning his head, Kalion bit his lip. Despite his racing heart and heated skin, an unfamiliar restlessness and emptiness continued to stir within him.
He wanted to touch her just once more.
No. I can’t. To someone who healed me… I must not harbor such improper thoughts…
Such extraordinary healing must come at a cost to the caster. Proof of that was how she had collapsed immediately after healing him.
Even knowing she would suffer for it, she had healed him out of concern.
So he had to repay her.
Kalion untied his fur cloak and draped it over his sleeping master. The cloak was large enough to swallow her whole, and the sight made his heart itch strangely.
Just for a moment, he reached out and touched her hair—under the excuse of brushing it back into place, satisfying his private desire in that brief instant.
After confirming she was sleeping comfortably, he turned his gaze back to the night sky.
Even without sleep, recovering stamina wasn’t a problem. Feeling his fatigue melt away from the warmth beside him, Kalion stayed awake through the night.
Thinking she would recover after a night’s sleep had been a mistake.
“Joo-in. Are you alright?”
“Yes—huff… I’m fine… I can walk…”
With each step, her whole body screamed in pain.
I was carefully making my way down the slope, suffering from unexpected muscle soreness.
Since I had been sitting still after using the healing skill, I hadn’t realized it—but the aftereffects were far worse than I’d expected.
If I stayed still, it was bearable. But the moment I tried to move, my body creaked as though it wasn’t mine, making it hard even to keep my balance.
I didn’t want to learn just how terrible my stamina was like this.
“If it’s too difficult, shall we rest for a while?”
“No. Let’s keep going.”
We should have reached the village last night, but we had to hide after encountering a group of monsters. And today, we hadn’t made much progress because I was slowing us down.
At this rate… am I going to die before we even reach the village?
Even if this world really was part of a game, it was reality to me. The monsters were real. The healing skill was real.
Then my limited lifespan must be real too.
It was almost laughable that, as someone with a terminal condition, I had to worry more about immediate survival than my approaching death.
…No, it wasn’t funny at all.
As I rubbed my eyes, unsure whether I was laughing or sighing, Kalion spoke with an awkward expression.
“I’m ashamed. I would carry you if I could, but there’s a high chance monsters are nearby, so I must stay alert.”
“I know. It’s not something you should apologize for. If anything, I’m the one who should be sorry.”
He looked regretful about not carrying me, but I wasn’t shameless enough to ask that of him in this situation.
Besides, if monsters appeared, he’d need both hands free.
I’d heard that bodyguards prioritize vigilance over comfort, even if it inconveniences the person they’re protecting. Maybe that was what he was doing too.
“Please, take my hand, Joo-in.”
“My hand?”
“It should be safe until we get down there.”
After scanning the surroundings and deciding it was safe, Kalion extended his hand. I thought he meant to steady me—
But in the next moment, my body was suddenly lifted.
“Ah—Kalion!”
“Excuse me for a moment.”
With that, he leapt down from a large rock in one smooth motion.
