Chapter 51

When my eyes served their purpose again, my body was in the second floor of the dilapidated tavern that serves as our base.

It was probably night. Moonlight gently touched the room from the window.

There was no sound around, and silence enveloped the world. But my heart was the opposite. As if disliking the night's silence, confusion and chaos intertwined within my chest.

What happened, and how did it end? I can trace my memory up to the point where I clashed swords with Helt Stanley and, in the end, shattered the lizard's jaw, giving it a face much worse than usual.

But after that. It's unclear how I managed to escape from the scene. Even I, who was at the center of the scene, didn't think I could escape alone unscathed. In other words, someone must have rescued me from there and brought me here.

Who could it be? Could there be someone capable of such a feat? The last thing I felt was the wind. Yes, the wind's howl. And in my hazy consciousness, I remembered a voice calling me and a sensation of being enveloped by something. The wind must have embraced and saved me.

—Ah, it must be Fiart.

Even after considering several possibilities, the only logical person who could have rescued me from that arena of malice and dust was her.

Of course, there was a slim chance that it was all a dream, a daydream I had. But the moment I tried to move my fingers to sit up, that possibility was denied.

Severe pain originated from my right side and spread rapidly throughout my body.

My clenched teeth creaked, and I had to wait, jaw trembling, for the pain to pass. The moment the pain coursed through my body felt as if it had been stretched out by some mischief, making it seem much longer.

Cold sweat dripped from my forehead.

"…You shouldn't get up. Even wild beasts and dragons rest when they are injured, you know."

"Dragons, if they're not careful, can take centuries to heal," Fiart said, emerging from the shadows as if to hide from the moonlight. Her words were unusually polite and formal.

The sudden shock of her voice made my spine jump, and my body was once again wracked with pain.

"Ah, u… If you're there, say so, okay? Why are you hiding like that—"

"…Gratitude?"

Fiart's words were tinged with a sulky tone, as if she was biting back my words. Blinking in surprise at the unexpected response, she continued, sounding impatient.

"So, I think it's fine to be thanked. Do you know how hard it was to save you? And… I've been through a lot myself. Anyway, thank you! For being saved, and for being there for me!"

In the shadows, I could see Fiart bow her head.

I opened my eyes wide, rolling the incomprehensible emotions in my chest.

The reason is, the Fiart standing before me, who seemed like a sulking child, was far from the calm, excellent, and sharp Fiart La Borgograd I had seen during our travels.

Of course, her behavior had deviated from her former self to some extent, but this time, it was a much greater deviation.

At the very least, she was not someone who would show weakness to someone like me.

"Yeah. Ruis, you should thank your sister. She hasn't slept for days, keeping watch over you."

A somewhat gentle voice accompanied the creak of the door opening. The giant, Wood, who had to lower his head to enter the room, and his sister, Cereal, who followed him, entered the room. Cereal's lips were closed, and her eyes seemed uneasy.

Indeed. A few days. That means the night I'm experiencing now is not a continuation of that day, but rather a few days later.

It seems the succubus must have really liked my dream.

"—Of course, the only words I have are gratitude, Fiart. If it weren't for you, I'd be lying next to Death right now."

So, with heartfelt respect and gratitude, I moistened my lips and spoke.

Moreover, being saved by Fiart is not a first. She saved my life in the underground temple as well.

Without her, I would have been dead long ago. While the goddess of fortune had abandoned me, the black-haired goddess had not.

With these thoughts, I let my words resonate in the room. They were undoubtedly words that rose from the depths of my heart, without any pretense.

However, it was embarrassing. It's not often that one speaks so directly from the heart.

But it was better than owing a favor to Celia. With her, who knows what she might make me do. It's certain that it wouldn't just be words.

For a moment, a strangely stifled sigh, like Fiart's embarrassment, escaped, and then—

"…One more time. No, until I'm satisfied."

You've got to be kidding me.

And for some reason, I ended up repeatedly embarrassing myself until Fiart was satisfied, in front of Wood and Cereal.

It became clear that Fiart was not necessarily better than Celia.

*

"Ah… Then, I should thank you too, brother and sister."

After my throat had lost much of its moisture and Fiart had sighed in satisfaction, Wood spoke hesitantly.

Wood bent his massive body and bowed his head.

"Thank you for saving Cereal… Brother and sister. I can't thank you enough…"

His voice was on the verge of tears. I squinted, not just from gratitude but also from regret and shame.

Cereal, who remained silent, frowned at her brother's attitude and bowed her head slightly.

"I should have… I should have gone instead."

It was a voice of frustration. Something he had buried deep in his gut, unable to bear the pain, had risen to the surface.

He bit his lip slightly, choosing his words carefully.

"Fiart aside, Wood, you don't need to thank me. This is a contract, after all."

Yes, this is a contract.

My relationship with this brother and sister is nothing more than a contract.