Chapter 66
**
As the room slowly brightened, Enya blinked.
Clear sunlight was filtering low into the room.
Enya glanced at the slanted ceiling, puzzled for a moment.
Then she realized it was because she was lying sideways in a corner of the bed, and turned her head.
Beside her, a man was sprawled across the middle of the bed, snoring.
Tarmin Alchin.
A hunter who had inherited the Demon Bow, and her childhood friend.
Enya was lying with her head on his arm.
She gazed absently at Tarmin’s jet-black hair and the eyelashes peeking out between the strands, then giggled.
Winter sunlight sparkling against his black lashes was beautiful.
“Hehehehe…”
Then she realized they were pressed together naked, and her heart began to pound.
Beneath the blanket they shared, she could feel Tarmin’s hand wrapped around her waist.
As her hazy memories gradually returned, she began to recall what had happened last night.
It hadn’t been a dream.
The two of them had become one yesterday.
Enya sighed, overwhelmed with emotion.
“Huaaah…”
“Rrrrr!”
…
Regardless of the complicated expression on Enya’s face, Tarmin slept on, oblivious to the world.
He looked as if he were sleeping comfortably, utterly at ease.
“Rrr, kh, krrk.”
She twisted his nose to stop the mood-ruining snoring, then lay back down with her head on his arm.
Tarmin’s slack-jawed expression was irritating, but when she thought of it as the face he wore after pouring all his love into her, it wasn’t so bad.
Just as she was convincing herself that even the pain in her lower back and groin, as if she’d been beaten, was bearable for Tarmin’s sake—
Last night’s memories suddenly came back.
‘Hah, hah, haaah…!’
‘Enya, how does it feel here? Does it feel good?’
‘Ah, I don’t know, ha, no, I don’t like it.’
‘Really?’
‘Hk, ha, hng…’
She kicked off the blanket and sat bolt upright.
“Kyaaa!”
Clutching her face, she let out a stifled shriek.
Who was that, moaning beneath Tarmin?
Could the holy sword’s side effects be making her hallucinate?
She grabbed at her hair and squeezed her eyes shut.
But the more she cried out, the clearer the memories became.
Enya shook her head wildly, then looked up.
“This is crazy, crazy…”
Last night had gone completely differently from what Enya had expected.
To feel the pain, happiness, and sense of loss of her first time, wearing a wistful smile tinged with tears.
That was Enya’s ideal image of a maiden.
And Tarmin was supposed to be flustered in front of her, then feel sorry for her for a very long time—perhaps even for the rest of his life.
She’d seduced him with that in mind, never imagining that one “I love you” would disarm her and leave her being teased all night.
After taking a deep breath, she tentatively spread her legs.
She regretted it immediately.
“Ahhhh…”
Enya let out a sound that could have been a scream or a sob, and carefully massaged the aching muscles around her thighs.
Despite the cold morning air, she didn’t feel cold.
Just remembering last night had made her whole body burn hot.
Tarmin’s hand resting on her thigh felt hot enough to scald.
She gently removed it with both hands and sat up.
The room was filled with the smell of sweat and all sorts of other suggestive scents.
She thought she should at least open the window to air it out.
Turning her head, she saw damp, blotchy stains on the pillow and blanket.
Below them, a vivid bloodstain remained at the edge of the bedsheet.
She let out another overwhelmed sigh.
“Haaah…”
Enya picked up her wet underwear from the corner.
She considered putting it on for a moment, then gave up and set it back down.
Planning to change later, she simply shook out her rumpled dress, pulled it on, and tried to get out of bed.
Just then, Tarmin, who’d been asleep, suddenly grabbed her arm and yanked her back.
“Kyaa! Taal!?”
Enya let out a shrill scream and toppled onto Tarmin’s chest.
“Mmm… Enya. Sleep well? Hehehe.”
Tarmin was only half-awake and could barely open his eyes, but he hugged Enya tightly with a creepy grin.
Flustered, Enya squirmed.
She tried to get up, but trapped in Tarmin’s arms, she couldn’t move an inch.
“T-Taal, if you’re awake, put some clothes on. We have to clean up and change the sheets.”
“Huh? Why are you suddenly being so cold? Yesterday, you liked it when I held you.”
“…Tarmin! Are you getting up or not?”
“O-okay. I know, I know, just a second. Hahaha.”
Tarmin slyly slid one hand down and grabbed Enya’s butt.
“Hwaah…”
He kneaded it as if it were his own, shamelessly grinning as though there were nothing wrong with it while Enya moaned.
That confident, relaxed expression made Enya’s face suddenly grow hot for no reason.
In the end, she couldn’t say anything more and hid her face against his chest.
“Even your butt is soft, Enya. I think I could get addicted.”
“…How could that be addictive? It’s not like alcohol.”
“No, after touching it just now, I’m sure it’s possible.”
Feeling his palm stroke down her back, Enya gently rubbed her cheek against Tarmin’s firm chest.
The sunlight outside had climbed much higher than when she’d first woken, and the room was growing warm.
Thinking idly that the blanket would dry nicely if she washed it, she let herself enjoy Tarmin’s touch for a while.
It was a peaceful moment.
…
…Peaceful?
Enya felt uneasy as she dredged up her memories of yesterday.
A moment later, she recalled something troubling and lifted her head.
“Tarmin, ah—mmph… Pwah, could you stop for a bit?”
As soon as they faced each other, Tarmin had kissed her, forcing Enya to push his face away.
Even with his chin squashed under her palm, Tarmin smiled blissfully.
“What’s wrong?”
“Didn’t you say yesterday that you had to leave before sunrise?”
Tarmin abruptly froze.
A sound that might or might not have been an answer slipped from his mouth.
"Uh, uhh?"
“It’s been ages since sunrise… Could it be…?”
A moment later, Tarmin’s complexion gradually paled, as if he’d remembered something.
He looked at Enya with trembling eyes and shouted.
“Agh, I’m screwed! No wonder I feel so refreshed!”
“Kya!”
Tarmin sprang up, sending Enya, who’d been sprawled on top of him, rolling across the bed.
The peace vanished without a trace, and chaos broke out.
Tarmin tried desperately to get dressed quickly, but he stuck his feet into his shirt and put his boots on the wrong feet, so it took even longer than usual.
Enya hurried after him, helping by wiping his drool-streaked face with a damp towel and combing his disheveled hair.
Tarmin finished getting ready in a rough fashion, then looked at Enya as she combed his hair.
He seemed conflicted for a moment at her scanty clothes, then couldn’t resist reaching beneath her skirt.
“Well, I’m already late anyway…”
Then Enya smacked the back of his hand with a sharp crack, and he put on a truly pitiful expression.
Enya scolded Tarmin sternly.
“Taal! Are you really going to say something so disappointing? They might still be waiting for you.”
“I’m definitely at fault for being late, but would a noble still be waiting this long? By now, they might be busy with something else.”
“A noble? Then you should hurry over and apologize right away. What if they won’t let you work as a hunter?”
“Then I’ll quit.”
“…Taal!”
Tarmin slung his bow over his shoulder and stood up, looking as dejected as a child.
Enya gazed at him with concern.
It was funny, even cute, to see such a big guy cling to her, but she worried he might act this lovesick outside, too.
If Tarmin got so wrapped up in a woman that he couldn’t do his job properly, Enya would share a considerable amount of the blame.
And besides, wasn’t she the one who’d seduced busy Tarmin in the first place?
Enya let out a small sigh, then wrapped her arms around Tarmin’s as he trudged toward the door.
“E-Enya?”
That alone made Tarmin’s face melt into a stupid grin, but Enya decided to be a little more generous while she was at it.
“You said you’d be really busy today, right? Make sure you get everything done. …I-I’ll wash up and wait for you.”
Naturally, her voice trembled as she said something so embarrassing.
She rose onto her toes and gave Tarmin a light kiss on the cheek, then let go of his arm and stepped away.
Tarmin’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he dashed out the door.
“I’ll be back!”
Watching Tarmin disappear into the distance, Enya shouted after him, her belated embarrassment making it sound like a threat.
“If you get fired as a hunter, I’m absolutely not letting you in!”
**
Elenora stared in bewilderment at Tarmin, who had abruptly bowed his head.
“I’m sorry I’m late! Please, just don’t fire me!”
She sat behind the desk in her office, considered it briefly, then replied.
“…Did someone say they were going to?”
“N-no? I thought I’d get ahead of it… You’re not going to fire me?”
“You’re fine for now. At least, I have no intention of firing you.”
“Oh, is that so? What a relief.”
Tarmin sighed in relief and glanced around.
He’d run into Elenora many times outside, usually by the north gate, but this was his first time entering her office.
Although Tarmin’s lateness meant it was already nearly noon, Elenora calmly wrote something at her desk.
Tarmin waited, examining the luxurious sofa and the carpet on the floor, but eventually couldn’t stand it and spoke first.
“Um, so, uh, why did you call me here?”
Elenora finally stood up.
With a practiced motion, she put on the coat hanging on the coat rack and said to Tarmin,
"Shall we take a walk?"
*****