“Wow, this is some good cheese. I was thinking of leaving it, but I personally picked it up. But you know what?”

“?”

“Now that I look at it, it doesn’t suit you.”

“Huh?”

“Who gave this to you?”

The humor disappeared from Levian’s tone. Egru’s lips sealed tightly at the chilling question.

“Ah—”

It was an exclamation as if he understood without being told. Levian took a stance as if he was about to throw like a pitcher.

“No!”

Egru was horrified. He leaped up like a frog and clung to Levian’s forearm.

‘No, no…’

But he had no strength left. His clinging body seemed about to slip off at any moment.

It was then that luscious red hair reflected in his anxious eyes. Egru grabbed Levian’s hair as a temporary measure.

“Shit! Let go of this!”

“D-don’t! Don’t do it!”

Levian’s eyelids stretched upwards. His already sharp eyes became even more frighteningly slitted.

“Do you think this is your brother? Making such a fuss over mere cheese!”

“I-if it’s just cheese, then give it back! I said give it back right now!”

“Huh!”

Levian aimed the cloth pouch far away.

‘Ah…!’

Egru despaired. Words weren’t getting through. He was no match in strength either.

‘D’Élysée, D’Élysée gave that to me…!’

The pouch! And the mana stone! I need to keep them safe and return them!

Egru had no choice but to resort to his last option. He opened his mouth as wide as he could. And then clamped down with all his might.

“Ah, fuck.”

Levian muttered lowly. He looked thoroughly displeased. The cloth pouch was thrown hard onto the dirt ground. As the loosely tied opening came undone, pieces of cheese tumbled out.

Egru immediately squatted down and frantically gathered the cheese. With trembling hands, he counted them one by one…

Twelve pieces.

It was exactly as it had been originally. Though a bit dirty, it was fine. The black mana stone was also safely inside. Only then did Egru feel relieved, and he tightly tied up the cloth pouch again.

“Hey.”

Startled by the growling call, he hugged the pouch tightly to his chest. Seeing Egru’s posture, trying not to let the cloth pouch be taken away, Levian looked exasperated.

“You bit me?”

“S-sorry…”

Levian showed his own shoulder. There was a small red teeth mark on his shirt.

“Give me one piece as compensation.”

“N-no…”

“Fuck, I even rescued it for you and you can’t give me one piece?”

“T-this is not possible. I’ll give you money later…”

“As if. You broke bastard.”

Levian kicked a nearby pile of dirt and strode forward. The dirt pile collapsed next to Egru.

Avoiding the falling dirt, Egru raised his heavy body. His breath caught. His joints ached as if rusted.

Drinking the healing potion didn’t heal all wounds. For now, his condition had only improved slightly, but Egru was grateful even for that. It seemed there wouldn’t be a problem going to work tomorrow.

‘No…’

He might not be able to go anymore.

Egru rubbed his eyes and looked straight ahead. Levian was moving ahead at an incredible speed. His legs were already long, and he was a fast walker too.

‘Judging by the direction…’

Is he going to the guild? Egru followed diligently, still slow but trying hard. With each step, he moved his sore feet busily.

“…Tch, with those short legs.”

It was then that Levian strode back. His thick arm suddenly scooped up Egru.

“Do I look like someone who goes around getting bitten to you?”

“S-sorry. And thank you.”

“You think a few words will make it even? Just make sure to clean your nape well.”

“W-why?”

“There’s a reason. You don’t need to know.”

“Mmm.”

Egru hesitantly asked.

“Um, Levian.”

“What.”

“Did you bring a gun in your pants pocket today?”

“No.”

“?”

“…Ah, I did. I misspoke.”

“I-I see.”

Egru understood. So the hard thing at his waistband was a gun. Though it was uncomfortable pressing against his lower body, he had to endure it.

***

“Egru. What did I tell you to aim for when you’re at a disadvantage fighting a man?”

“T-the groin.”

“Then why didn’t you do it? You’re just the right height to smash it with your forehead. Instead, you just got beaten up like an idiot. Is that how I taught you?”

Egru’s nose stung at Levian’s scolding.

“Y-you never taught me how to fight…”

“There’s no special way to fight. You should have at least picked up the gravel next to you.”

“I-I don’t like that sort of thing…”

“Forget it. This kind of thing is innate anyway.”

It was late at night. The two were crossing the grounds of the eastern inn. It was a shortcut to the guild. They planned to use the side door behind the barn.

“T-this is private property. We could just go around. Or climb over the fence…”

“Shut up. It’s like a goat whining in my ear.”

It was simple to enter the barn with its loose latch. Despite Egru’s protests, Levian ducked his head and stepped over the threshold.

The interior was dim. Only the rough breathing of sleeping horses could be heard. There was a damp yet fresh smell of straw wafting through the air.

Pale moonlight filtered through the gaps in the ceiling. Boisterous laughter drifted in from the inn building, not even ten steps away.

“Fuck, that smell.”

Levian suddenly frowned and muttered.

“I wondered where that smell was coming from.”

Levian buried his nose in Egru’s robe and then made a disgusted face.

“We’ll have to wash it in water as soon as we get back. You spineless bastard, already picking up another guy’s pheromones.”

“D-do I smell? What kind of smell?”

Egru was startled. D’Élysée had also said he smelled. Was he really not bathing enough?

“No, that’s not it. Anyway…”

Levian’s thumb gently stroked Egru’s green nape. At the ticklish sensation, Egru tucked in his neck like a turtle.

“L-Levian…”

“What.”

“I think the gun got bigger.”

Levian stopped walking and stared down at Egru. As if pondering, he licked the inside of his cheek and smacked his lips. Even in the dark space, his amber eyes between his red hair gleamed like those of a beast.

‘It hurts because it’s pressing…’

Meanwhile, Egru squirmed his lower body. After trying to find a comfortable position, he finally achieved comfort.

He had come to a good agreement with the gun in Levian’s pants. Their positions no longer interfered with each other. Rather, it now felt like it was supporting his thighs well with its reassuring bulk.

“This is too nerve-wracking to live with…”

Levian muttered. He sighed while looking at the ceiling, then started walking again. As they closed the barn’s side door and came out, the crescent moon in the night sky greeted the tops of their heads.

“Didn’t they give you anything to eat?”

At Levian’s question, Egru shook his head.

“Are you saying they gave you something, or they didn’t?”

“T-they did…”

“Then why is your stomach empty? You’ve gotten lighter than the day before you entered the Papal Headquarters.”

“I dropped it…”

“Who did?”

“I-I did…”

Seeing Egru’s flustered appearance, Levian snorted. His eyes seemed to say he understood the situation.

“It’s quite a sight. Raising a kid for nothing.”

“N-no. Whatever you’re thinking, that’s not…”

“Forget it. Did you take your medicine properly?”

“Mmm.”

“Good, that’s expensive stuff. Don’t waste a single pill.”

Suddenly, the corners of Levian’s mouth curved up into a smile.

“Well, you won’t need to take it from tomorrow anyway.”

“Why?”

“There’s a reason.”

Because I’ll be sold to someone else from tomorrow? Egru swallowed the words he couldn’t bring himself to ask.

His anxious hands repeatedly grasped and released Levian’s shirt. With worry he couldn’t shake off, his chest tightened painfully.

“I thought you’d been stolen when you didn’t come crawling out of the Papal Headquarters. You should scurry out quickly once your business is done.”

“L-Levian. If I c-can’t pay back the money, who will I be sold to?”

Levian just rolled his leopard-like eyes to look at Egru.

“Why, couldn’t you get it?”

“N-no! I’m just curious…!”

Levian answered, looking straight ahead again.

“There’s someone who’s made a reservation in advance.”

“W-what kind of person?”

“Well. It’s hard for me to say, but they’re a perfect person.”

“?”

Levian, adjusting his hold on Egru with one arm, counted off on his thick fingers.

“Handsome, rich, and even has an outstanding character. They’re especially knowledgeable in the arts. They even have a villa by the sea you wanted to see.”

“A-are they kind?”

“Is that important? Let’s see…”

Levian grinned.

“Incredibly kind. No matter how many times I think about it, they’re nothing short of a saint.”

“Wow…”

“You look really happy about that?”

“N-no, I’m not.”

It was then that one of his red, thick eyebrows twitched. Levian’s eyes half-closed lazily.

“What a shame. Actually, it was all a lie.”