"Weren't you the one who told to drive her away? If we let her know about Aqua she'd only stick around, wouldn't she?"
"That's true…" gumin nodded, then added, "But I still feel like you're hiding sothing from ."
"Fine, I'll tell you straight: Aqua really is that very sa Water Goddess."
Shichen looked at her solemnly.
"Tch—whatever, keep it if you don't want to talk."
gumin turned away with a pout.
Shichen could only shake his head.
These days telling the truth just makes people doubt you. After all, who would believe a goddess is right beside them—and acting so silly, no less?
"Okay, put down already. How long are you planning to hug ?"
"Hey, it's your fault for being as comfy as a body-pillow."
"So you're calling small, aren't you!"
"Aren't you small?"
"Ugh! Then stop hugging and hug Yunyun—she's bigger!"
"gumin!"
"No problem."
Shichen promptly set gumin aside and pulled Yunyun into his arms, loosely encircling her waist.
"S-Shichen?!"
Yunyun's face turned scarlet; she froze, unable to move.
"gumin told to hug you, so take it up with her."
Shichen rested his chin on Yunyun's shoulder, quietly taking in her scent.
"Mm…"
His warm breath on her neck made Yunyun shrink back involuntarily.
"You two…" gumin glowered at them.
"What? I'm only doing what you asked."
Shichen grinned.
"You can't do that right in front of ! Isn't this a bit… not for kids?"
"Oh? So you admit you are a kid?"
gumin choked, then glared. "You two definitely did sothing today!"
"And why do you think that?"
"Isn't it obvious? Just look at you—Yunyun can't stop smiling."
"I-I'm not smiling!"
Yunyun denied, lacking conviction.
gumin snorted.
Yunyun lowered her head, embarrassed.
"So even if sothing happened, what of it?"
"Ugh! You beat till I couldn't move and then snuck off to have fun. Keep this up and you'll lose !"
"Hmph, I'd say you can't live without ."
"Wh-who can't live without you?"
"You've been here for days—by now you must realize the limits of your Explosion Magic. A normal party would never take you."
"That's what you ant!"
gumin's cheeks burned.
"What else could I an? Where did your mind go?"
Shichen winked.
"None of your business!"
gumin turned her back.
Seeing that, Shichen gave Yunyun a quick peck on the cheek and released her.
"All right—ti for dinner."
Yunyun sat on the bed, motionless.
"Hmph."
gumin climbed down but instantly noticed Yunyun's odd look.
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing…" Yunyun shook her head and walked toward the door.
gumin shrugged.
"Tch, what's there to be shy about? Isn't this what you wanted?"
"Mm…"
Yunyun hurried out.
"Wow, one short hug and she's that embarrassed," gumin sighed.
"Exactly—unlike you. I held you forever and you didn't react at all," Shichen teased.
gumin stayed silent, put on her shoes, and hurried out.
Shichen smiled at their retreating backs. A shy girl really brightens your day.
…
Outside, both girls had already gone downstairs.
Shichen first returned to his room to wake Aqua. She was still dead drunk; no matter how he called, she didn't stir, so he lightly smacked her backside.
Very different from gumin's—Aqua's was half-exposed, after all.
Pretty soft, actually.
"Mm?" Aqua finally opened her eyes, bleary-eyed.
"Shichen? What is it?"
"Dinner ti. You've slept the whole afternoon."
"Really? Haa~"
She sat up and let out an unladylike yawn, the sll of alcohol wafting out.
"Co on, get up. gumin and the others will start without us."
"Oh… Huh? Why does my butt hurt?"
Sitting up, she felt a burning pain on her right side.
"I gave it a pat to wake you."
Shichen started to scratch his nose but rembered it was the sa hand and let it drop.
"Eh? Why'd you hit ?" Aqua asked blankly.
"You wouldn't wake up—don't worry, it wasn't punishnt."
"Really… but it still hurts."
She pouted.
"Want … to rub it?"
"Would that help? Won't touching make it worse?"
Aqua asked innocently.
"…How about you just heal yourself."
Her clueless look killed the mood.
"Okay… Heal."
"Let's go."
"Yeah, yeah—hurry! gumin'll finish dinner without us!"
Pain gone, Aqua seized his hand and ran.
"Aren't you still drunk?"
"I'm the Water Goddess! A little booze is nothing. Dinner's more important—I'm starving!"
…
At the dining hall, gumin and Yunyun had already ordered. Kazuma wasn't back yet; with a few minutes to spare, Shichen and Aqua waited—he insisted the whole party eat their three als together.
Kazuma was punctual, arriving in no ti.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Big bro."
"No worries—perfect timing. Sit."
"Aah, I'm starving!" Kazuma sat opposite and started wolfing food.
The rest picked up their knives and forks.
Dinner passed quietly.
Afterward Shichen gathered everyone in his room. Aqua, true to form, dove onto his bed and yawned—full stomach, sleepy again.
gumin noticed the empty bottle.
"Shichen, were you drinking?"
"Hm?" He followed her gaze.
"Oh—just a little…"
Kazuma arched a brow, giving a knowing look—he'd guessed who really drank it.
"What?"
"Nothing…"
"Alcohol's nothing special. You should cut back," gumin scolded.
"Fine, but no sneaking drinks. You're under-age."
"Mind your own business…"
"Yunyun too."
"O-okay."
"All right, down to business. You all rember Darkness?"
"That blonde beauty?" Kazuma asked.
"That's her."
"What about her?" gumin frowned.
"For various reasons she's joining our party. From now on she's one of us."
"Whoa! Big bro, you actually reeled in the blonde babe!" Kazuma cheered.
"Various reasons?" gumin caught the phrase.
"Yes. That thief Chris taught so skills on condition that Darkness join us."
"I see. So Chris herself isn't joining?"
"She declined."
"Why?"
"She just doesn't want to."
"Then why does darkness want in? Aren't they always together?"
"So many questions." Shichen rolled his eyes.
"I'm a mber of this party—I have the right to know."
"Fair. Actually, I'm thinking of all of you."
Shichen's face turned serious.
"?
"Think about it—a crusader like Darkness gives us the front-line we lack; the rest of us are all rear-line."
"Now that you ntion it…"
"Her defense is insane. With her up front, you can unleash Explosion without fear."
"Explosion…?" Just hearing the word made gumin's heart race.
"No more objections?" Shichen smiled.
"Hmph—do whatever you like."
gumin looked away, cheeks flushed.
"Big bro, when do we et her?" Kazuma asked.
"Tomorrow morning at the guild. So everyone, up early."
"Okay—does that an we can finally take harder quests tomorrow?"
"Not yet. Your level's too low—you don't want to just watch from the sidelines, right?"
"Darn it…"
~~~
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