Chapter 106
I quickly checked Hexion’s affection window.
[Hexion]’s current affection level: 131
Until the next bomb: D-1
If he’s going to call himself my lover, I wish he’d get rid of that terrifying bomb first.
Looking at Hexion through half-open eyes, he rose from his position and placed both hands on the bed where I was sitting.
“Shin Joo.”
Whoa, wait!
“…?”
When I urgently pushed away Hexion’s lips as he approached me, he blinked with visible puzzlement. To think I’ve developed the nerve to refuse a kiss from a handsome man—I’ve certainly taken a step closer to becoming a sultan.
“Hexion. You’re moving too fast.”
“I apologize. I mistakenly thought Shin Joo shared the same feelings and couldn’t control my impulse.”
It was surprising that Hexion had taken bait that wasn’t even thrown, though I don’t think I gave him any particular reason to. I stroked his head with a mix of slight guilt and awkwardness, and Hexion smiled, clearly pleased.
“Shin Joo. Do you have something to tell me?”
“Hmm? Ah. The Admiral and his siblings stayed at the temple last night. I wonder if everything was alright?”
I’m not sure if the temple food suited the children’s taste. Kaint would probably eat anything well, but the younger ones are still little and would likely prefer sweet things.
‘Since temple meals are generally simple and plain, it’s not the kind of taste children would like.’
I hope they provided some snacks or fruits for dessert, but judging by the priests’ mental state, I doubt they have that kind of sense.
I think there were some edible items among the gifts I received, but I’m not sure if any remain since those frauds—I mean, priests—probably embezzled everything along the way.
“I should go see off the Admiral and his siblings.”
“Shin Joo…”
Hexion trailed off with obvious disappointment and grasped my hand. Though the gesture was clearly meant as an escort, he was pulling my hand toward himself, revealing his desire for me to stay in the room.
“Hexion?”
“Is there nothing else you wish to tell me?”
Something else to tell Hexion? What could there be?
Ah, yesterday he got drunk and collapsed while drinking with Marvis, and I left the cleanup to the servants. It was disconcerting, but thanks to that, I filled the mission completion bars for both men. I should at least acknowledge Hexion’s contribution for this.
“Hexion, thank you for drinking in my place yesterday. I’m sorry. Are you feeling alright from the hangover?”
“I’m fine since Shin Joo is concerned about me.”
“Don’t drink that much next time. I didn’t know there was so much alcohol in the prayer room… I should tell the priests to organize it a bit.”
“I’ll take care of it. But Shin Joo, is there nothing else you wish to tell me?”
What else to say? Something to say.
‘While we’re at it, would you like me to take care of your bomb too?’
…I couldn’t say that. I rolled my eyes hard, but nothing came to mind.
There was no benefit in mentioning that Marvis had visited my bedroom, and since there wasn’t any particularly serious problem, there was no need to bring it up.
“Is there something you want to hear from me?”
Let’s just ask directly. Beating around the bush doesn’t suit my temperament.
“I have been by Shin Joo’s side the longest.”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
According to the setting, Shin Joo has been at the temple for quite some time. If Hexion has been by her side as a guardian knight since then, he would indeed be the one who has been with her the longest. In reality, he’s been with me since the beginning of the game, so he’s the most familiar to me as well.
“But I have been lacking, and I don’t know what to do since I haven’t been reliable enough for Shin Joo to confide in me.”
I feel like I’ve already confided my heart, my shame, my s****l harassment, and even things I shouldn’t have confided, so what more could he possibly want?
“That’s not true. Hexion has always been a reliable presence by my side.”
“Then does Shin Joo trust a passing acquaintance more than me, your foremost guardian knight?”
“What?”
“I’ve heard that it’s sometimes easier to confide in strangers than in people you know.”
That’s not wrong, but I don’t remember confiding in any strangers, so I don’t understand why he’s saying this.
Hexion, did you have a dream or something?
“Hexion. If you have something to say to me, say it properly.”
“I cannot. I might touch on wounds in Shin Joo’s heart due to my inadequacy.”
“I’ll filter what I hear, so just tell me.”
“The Admiral knew about our past as lovers.”
“…Who was in what kind of relationship?”
“You and I, in the past.”
“Did I have such a past?”
It wasn’t in the guidebook—were the player and Hexion originally in that kind of relationship?
“Didn’t Shin Joo say so?”
“When did I ever say that?”
“To the Admiral, last night.”
“What I said to Kaint last night was… ah.”
I closed my mouth. The memory of the disappeared previous playthrough. The excuse I added while pushing him away, finding it difficult even to superimpose the image of Kaint that only I remembered.
That he resembled someone I liked.
‘…So he thought I had a lover in the past? But why Hexion?’
I clearly said he resembled Kaint.
“Hexion. What did you talk about with Kaint, I mean, the Admiral?”
“We didn’t discuss anything in particular.”
“Then how did you know I had a past lover?”
“Because I have memories too.”
“What?”
Hexion has memories of the erased second playthrough?
“Then do you remember coming to find me covered in blood, or kicking the iron door and shouting in the underground prison?”
“….”
Hexion’s expression darkened momentarily, then he replied as if he hadn’t heard anything.
“I remember wandering alone in darkness searching for you, then hearing your voice.”
“Hmm? The underground prison had lights, so it wouldn’t have been dark…”
“You spoke to me in a warm voice and sent me many items for my sake.”
“I think I only treated your wounds… did I give you something?”
“So I could tell that the demon items you sent me were not to put me in difficulty but to guide me.”
“What? What time period are you talking about?”
“When Shin Joo was first kidnapped by the demons.”
“I was in Niflheim then, what… oh?”
I remembered. The purple jewel I received as a quest reward. Soul fragment, was it? When I touched it, I heard Hexion’s voice. He said it was so dark he couldn’t see anything, so I remember sending him everything from lighting to completely emptying my room of items.
That’s what Hexion is talking about.
But that has nothing to do with being lovers. I don’t understand how he interpreted Kaint’s story to misunderstand that he was my lover.
“Shin Joo. There’s no need to feel regret. I will make you happier than the lost time of the past.”
“Uh, hmm…”
It seems Hexion has completely misunderstood, as the message got distorted somewhere along the way, but it was difficult to correct him.
He’s already fully conquered and on my side, so how could I possibly tell him that I was actually married to Kaint in a past he can’t even remember?
“Let’s go see off the Admiral and his party for now.”
I decided to change the subject. Hexion seemed to notice my intention to gloss over it and led me with a gentle smile without pressing further.
There was such warm emotion in his violet eyes that it was almost burdensome, making my chest ache slightly.
Hexion was the one who misunderstood on his own, so I don’t know why I should feel guilty about it.
***
Fortunately, the temple priests weren’t completely ruthless, and Kaint’s ten siblings greeted me with bright faces.
Thanks to the cover story that I had used divine power to drive away the demon who had intruded last night, the children’s eyes sparkled even more as they looked at me.
Since I was the one who made Marvis upset, I did effectively drive him away… but there’s no heroic tale suitable to tell the children, so I hope they don’t ask for an explanation.
“Did you rest well last night, Admiral?”
“I was concerned about the Divine Master.”
“I’m glad if everything was fine… What?”
As I raised my head to look up, intending to respond appropriately to what I thought was a courteous greeting, Kaint stepped away from his siblings and extended his hand toward me.
“Divine Master.”
Led by his urging call, I reflexively took his hand. I thought we were going to shake hands, but Kaint applied pressure to our joined hands and pulled me toward him.
“Huh?”
“Will you come with me?”
“What?”
What’s this all about now?
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