Don’t Be Holy! - Chapter 102

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Dinner was grilled fish.

Rubel had skipped stones across the water and managed to hit a few fish, which floated to the surface after dying.

At first, Eir thought it was divine punishment finally being inflicted upon her. A disaster—what else could it be?

But when she realized that the horrifying scene wasn’t a divine disaster but just fish tragically killed by stones, her fear of Rubel only grew.

After killing them, Rubel, seemingly unwilling to step into the water, broke off a long branch and tried to fish them out.

“Are you serious?”

When Eir asked, he looked at her as if he didn’t understand the question. In the end, Eir took off her shoes and waded into the water to retrieve the dead fish one by one.

The hem of her skirt got soaked, and as night fell, she felt a bit cold. Eir sat by the fire Rubel had built, warming her bare feet as she shivered.

“Why did you go in? I would’ve gotten them out eventually.”

“Why do you hate going into the water? Do you hate bathing too?”

“That’s different. I just don’t like cold water.”

Of course, he’s a noble.

No wonder the bathroom was always filled with warm water whenever he bathed.

Eir tried to laugh, but instead, a sneeze burst out.

“Achoo!”

“You shouldn’t have gone in either.”

“It’s just a momentary thing. I’m not catching a cold.”

Eir stubbornly insisted, and Rubel sighed as he stood up.

“Wait a moment. It’d be good to boil some water for you to drink.”

“Do you have a kettle?”

“There’s always a way.”

With that, he went inside to find bamboo. Eir remembered seeing a small bamboo grove earlier on their way.

But it didn’t seem close enough to walk there and back. Of course, someone with his stamina could manage it.

Since she wasn’t the one going, Eir didn’t care much and continued warming herself by the fire.

She sat with her arms crossed, pointing the wet hem of her skirt and her feet toward the fire. As she stared at the flames, she strangely began to feel drowsy. She wasn’t foolish enough to fall asleep peacefully in the mountains, so she pinched her thigh to stay awake.

Suddenly, the bushes nearby rustled, and a black rabbit hopped out.

Eir was startled and tried to get up, but when she realized it was just a cute rabbit, she carefully sat back down.

Whether it was a careless rabbit or one abandoned by humans, it didn’t run away even with a person sitting nearby. It just looked around curiously.

The rabbit’s red eyes darted around busily before stopping on Eir.

“You look very happy.”

At that moment, a high-pitched, inhuman voice came from somewhere. Eir wondered if she was hallucinating or if she had fallen asleep and was dreaming.

When she pinched her cheek, the rabbit clicked its tongue.

“Typical, pinching your cheek. I wish humans would try something different for once.”

“Wh-what are you?”

Eir rubbed her stinging cheek and asked blankly. The black rabbit turned its head this way and that before speaking.

“It’s me, Chrome. Don’t you recognize me?”

How could she?

Did he not realize he had turned into a black rabbit?

Eir was so amazed that she reached out her hand, mouth agape.

“R-really? It’s you? Chrome?”

“Yeah. I came disguised as a rabbit so Rubel Shinote wouldn’t notice. Ah, this is exhausting. Can I sit next to you?”

With that, the small, adorable black rabbit plopped down beside Eir.

Its fluffy tail sticking out behind it and its round hind legs resting on the ground were unbearably cute. Eir was utterly captivated by Chrome’s rabbit form, her eyes glistening with tears.

“Th-this is unbelievable. You’re so cute. Why didn’t you show me this sooner?”

“Why would I? It drains my energy.”

“But you’re so cute. Can you spin around or lie down for me?”

Her earnest, shining eyes made it clear she wasn’t joking. Chrome seriously wondered if he had made the right choice by betting everything on this girl.