TRPSG 9

“The current location is not suitable for shelter creation. Searching for a suitable location.”

The loading bar spun, then the window disappeared and a green dot appeared somewhere in my field of vision.

It marked a cave on a slope piled with large rocks.

“Kalion, there’s a cave over there!”

“Your eyesight is quite good.”

I had spoken to Kalion, but Senes cut in instead.

Why are you answering?

“I’ll go check inside. Please wait a moment, Master.”

Kalion—Kalion—hopped lightly across the rocks like a bouncing ball, entered the cave, and after confirming it was safe, signaled back to us.

Well. It should be safe.

It was a shelter created with a fortification skill, after all!

Just as I was about to head toward the cave, my body suddenly lifted upward instead of moving forward.

“At this rate, we’ll lose daylight before you even reach the cave.”

“P-put me down!”

“Down? The cave is above us. You should be asking to be lifted, not lowered. Seems your vocabulary left along with your memory.”

No—put me down!

Calling me “cargo” this and “cargo” that, Senes—Senes—had actually slung me over his shoulder like luggage and leapt onto the rocks.

The boulder was as tall as I was, but he climbed it effortlessly without even a running start, then set me down at the cave entrance.

Was he helping because he thought I’d struggle climbing?

Despite his rude words, his actions were unexpectedly considerate.

While I hesitated, I missed the timing to thank him, and Senes didn’t care at all—he casually walked inside and brushed dust off a flat rock.

He took out a clean cloth, folded it in half, spread it over the stone, and looked at me.

“Oh. Thank you.”

“For what? I’m the one sitting here.”

Senes sneered at me and plopped down on the cloth.

“…What an obnoxious guy.”

He’d arranged the seat and looked at me—I thought he was offering it, but apparently not.

If he hadn’t looked at me like that, I wouldn’t have misunderstood.

“What are you staring at me like I’m delusional for?”

While I glared at him, Kalion called me over from where he was wiping a wide rock and spreading his cloak over it.

“Master. Please sit here.”

“I’m fine. I’ll make my own place.”

“You’re shameless, but also completely oblivious. My brother went to the trouble of preparing a seat for you. Is ignoring kindness your personality?”

Shut up, you rude bastard.

I thanked Kalion and sat where he had prepared.

I thought the uneven rock would be uncomfortable, but his cloak was soft enough that it wasn’t bad at all.

“Master. Are you uncomfortable?”

“I’m fine. But Kalion, is it okay for me to sit on your cloak?”

“Of course.”

He explained he had laid it down because the rough surface would be uncomfortable even with just a blanket.

Warmth spread in my chest at his consideration.

They were brothers, yet so different. Not just in appearance—but in character too.

I felt a little sorry for their parents, but honestly, one of them felt like he must’ve been picked up somewhere.

“Then, Master, please stay here with my brother.”

“Huh? Where are you going when it’s already dark?”

“There’s a spring across the way. I’ll wash quickly and return.”

Kalion—Kalion—you smell fine already…

Don’t leave me alone with this rude jerk.

But even seeing my pleading eyes, Kalion avoided my gaze with reddened eyes and left without mercy.

Right. It’s just because he’s clean-minded.

Now that I think about it, he never even smelled of sweat despite cutting down monsters all day.

A neat man like that—how wonderful.

There’s no flaw in Kalion!

“Hey, luggage.”

“Don’t talk to luggage. Just rest. I’m going to sleep too.”

“You’re going to sleep without even washing? And stink up my brother’s cloak? Unbelievable.”

Someone, anyone—please shut this guy up.

Is there a “silence rude bastard” skill or something?

Even the system that usually freaks out over everything was completely silent right now.

Ally [Kalion] has left the formation!

No allies within 10 meters.

Fortification skill canceled.

Not that kind of message!

I glared at the system window.

Then, mockingly, a familiar notification popped up with a cuckoo-like mechanical sound.

[The Lazy Saint Again]

You have stayed in the shelter too long.

The shelter will collapse in 40 seconds.

Are you insane? Too long? It’s been less than five minutes!

Just as I was about to lose my mind, the countdown began obediently.

39 seconds. 38. 37…

I quickly opened all the minimized windows.

First, my skill status—Fortification.

[Condition 2: At least one ally must be within 10m]

• No allies nearby. Skill inactive.

Next, the party invitation window I’d been ignoring.

Accept party invitation?

No choice. I don’t need another collapsing cave-induced PTSD episode.

‘Accept! Accept party!’

As I shouted internally, the (1/1) slot disappeared, and a new message popped up.

[Ally [Senes] has joined your party.]

Once conditions were met, the fortification button activated.

[Establish fortification]

I pressed it.

Green grid lines spread across the cave walls like blueprints being drawn.

Then—ding!

The earlier “Lazy Saint Again” window flickered.

[Quest Canceled]

The shelter has been recognized as your fortification.

Unless subjected to physical force exceeding its defense capacity, the fortification will not collapse.

The countdown stopped.

The window closed.

“…I survived.”

So it only collapses if attacked. Not from random quests.

I sighed in relief.

“Why are you sitting there panting like that? Did you get short of breath?”

That rude guy spoke again.

Just stay quiet if you don’t know anything.

“I was just worried the cave might collapse.”

“…Hah.”

He scoffed.

“No common sense, but a very active imagination. Why would a perfectly fine cave collapse? It’s not like there’s a monster attack or an earthquake. Kalion already checked everything…”

“It collapsed on me before. I almost died under it.”

“….”

He went silent. He looked slightly surprised.

So I told him what happened a few days ago.

“I thought it was safe, but the cave collapsed. I barely escaped and then ran into monsters. I nearly died.”

“….”

“But yeah, it doesn’t look like it’ll collapse now. You were right, Senes.”

After finishing my explanation, I casually ended it with a “okay okay, you win” tone.

But Senes looked serious.

What? Was he actually worried now?

I didn’t think he had enough conscience for that.

“…Master.”

“Yeah?”

He called me—but didn’t continue.

He just looked at me silently.

I didn’t push him. The cave was quiet, the sun had set, and darkness spread around us.

Strangely, his golden eyes shone faintly.

“Kalion is back.”

“Huh?”

Looking outside, I saw a white figure approaching.

Kalion had returned from washing, his hair still damp.

Wet-haired handsome man—blessings upon this world.

Before he could say anything, Senes stood up.

He said he’d go wash and left in Kalion’s place without another word.

I wasn’t sure what he wanted to say, but I didn’t care enough to follow.

Kalion called me anyway.

“Master, I brought water for your bath.”

“…Bath water?”

He set down a water container.

It looked different from the one used for drinking.

When he pressed the dark green mana stone attached to it, it suddenly expanded.

“…Wow. Some kind of expansion magic? Like an inverted inventory?”

It had been a bottle-sized container, but now it expanded into something like a small inflatable pool.

Not luxurious, but large enough to sit and soak in comfortably.

“Please enter, Master.”

“…You want me to bathe here?”

Here? Now?

It was thoughtful, but still!

“I confirmed there are no monsters near the spring, but it cannot be guaranteed completely safe. I couldn’t let you go alone… Please understand the inconvenience.”

“Ah, I get it.”

Honestly, I did want to wash up.

Even though I didn’t smell much—maybe because I had revived or my body had adjusted to this world—it felt uncomfortable skipping my usual bath.

The problem was that Kalion was here too.

As I stood hesitating, Kalion tilted his head slightly, as if understanding what I was worried about.