TRPG 06

Chapter 06

Listening to his sleeping master’s soft, even breaths, Kalion sank into a complicated state of mind.

‘What was that feeling?’

He slowly rubbed the center of his chest, where his wound had once been. The injury torn open by a monster’s claws was now gone—no scar, no trace, as if it had been nothing more than a dream. Rubbing the smooth skin made him feel strangely unsettled.

‘Is it because my injury healed like a miracle and it feels unreal… or…’

He raised his left hand and looked at the back of it. It still felt as though her lips lingered there. Kalion quietly clenched and unclenched his hand.

An urge arose—to press his lips against that very spot—but he barely managed to suppress it.

‘What is wrong with me?’

Trying to steady his restless heart, he turned his gaze outward.

The mountain, now swallowed by darkness, was silent. There were no traces of monsters nearby, so they would not be attacked for the time being.

Only when the distant chirping of insects gradually faded did he finally turn back toward his companion.

She was asleep, curled up and lightly leaning against him. A small, warm body. How could such a fragile frame contain such extraordinary power?

Kalion stared at the crown of her small head and recalled the moment he first met her.

He had been wandering the mountains as usual, hunting monsters, when he noticed something unusual.

A trace of someone who had passed through.

Crushed leaves where someone had sat, scattered soil grains along faint footprints.

It didn’t look like a traveler crossing the mountain. It felt more like something had fallen from the sky, lingered briefly, and then wandered off.

The trace drew his attention. Kalion found himself standing still, staring at the empty space.

How long had he stood there?

Just when he thought the presence was gone, he felt it again in the distance—uneven footsteps, trudging closer. It wasn’t long before the owner of those steps appeared.

“…A—person?”

It was a small woman. She wore worn traveling clothes, but her posture and expression didn’t resemble a wanderer at all.

She looked like a transcendent being, isolated from the world, awkwardly dressed in human clothes and placed down in this place. Even though she stood right there, she felt like she could vanish at any moment.

In a mountain filled with monsters, her naïve and innocent appearance was, paradoxically, the most suspicious thing of all.

It wouldn’t have been strange to assume she was a monster disguised as a human. And yet, Kalion did not feel the desire to draw his sword.

“Why are you in a place like this?”

“I don’t know either. I lost consciousness for a moment, and when I woke up…”

Strange. If she wasn’t a traveler or a runaway, there was no way a woman like her—unable to even protect herself—would be here alone. By all logic, approaching her was suicidal. He should have drawn his sword immediately and left. That was a monster hunter’s rule.

But Kalion did not draw his sword. Instead, he extended his hand.

In this barren landscape, she did not belong. She looked like something that would dissolve into mist if touched too strongly. He wanted to hold onto her.

To let her exist here.

It wasn’t a protective instinct toward something fragile—it was closer to desire, the urge to grasp something beautiful found in fog, afraid it might be an illusion.

He didn’t know why he thought such absurd things about a suspicious woman he had just met.

But the answer came quickly.

“My name is Master.”

The moment he heard that name, Kalion understood completely why he had been acting so unlike himself.

It was because she was Master.

“I’m sorry. If only I could take your pain instead…”

Being injured didn’t frighten him. A wound to the chest wouldn’t make Kalion collapse. Pain was bearable. He had to protect Master.

But when she grabbed his hand, his entire body froze. The moment her lips touched the back of his hand, all thought disappeared.

It felt as if his body had been taken out of his control.

He couldn’t even look away, staring at the small head pressing her lips against his hand. His heart pounded so violently he thought he might be dead if not for the sound.

Then—only then—did his chest begin to ache as the wound rapidly healed.

It felt as though something was kneading his body, sealing the injury and extracting the pain in an instant.

Even as he felt the impossible speed of healing, he could not look away from her.

Finally, when the pain completely vanished, he forced his lips to move.

“…Master.”

At the sound of her name, her soft lips left his hand. She looked up at him. Relief briefly crossed her flushed face—only to fade as she collapsed into his arms like a puppet with its strings cut.

“Master!”

Kalion hurriedly caught her. She pressed a hand to his chest, breathing unevenly.

Why had she collapsed?

Had his injury transferred to her?

Panicking at her earlier words, he tried to check her body—but the moment he touched her small, soft frame, he froze again.

She was too small, too delicate. It felt like he might break her bones if he touched her carelessly.

“Master… Master…”

In the end, Kalion could only call her name anxiously.

Her breathing slowly steadied as she nestled against his chest. The sensation of her warm, soft face rubbing against him left him dazed.

Like a newborn animal seeking its mother, she buried her face in his chest and exhaled softly. Her breath brushed slowly across his skin.

Her soft body, even through clothing. The steady pulse beneath it traveled through his palm.

Kalion forgot even to check her condition, intoxicated by the sensation.

What brought him back was her voice.

“…Kalion… sorry…”

The moment their eyes met after his consciousness cleared, his face burned. It felt like it was on fire. He couldn’t think, couldn’t speak properly.

She panicked and pulled away. The warmth left his arms, leaving his chest hollow.

Something surged inside him. He turned his head away, biting his lip. His heart raced, his skin burned, and an inexplicable restlessness lingered.

He wanted to touch her again.

‘No. I cannot harbor such indecent feelings toward someone who healed me.’

Such a powerful healing ability must have taken a toll on her. She collapsed right after using it on him.

She had knowingly hurt herself to save him. He had to repay that kindness.

Kalion untied his cloak and gently placed it over her sleeping body. The large cloak swallowed her small form, and his chest tingled strangely at the sight.

He lightly touched her hair—just enough to straighten it, a convenient excuse to satisfy his selfish impulse briefly. Once he confirmed she was comfortable, he turned back toward the night sky.

Even without sleep, he could recover his stamina. He stayed awake through the night, the warmth beside him easing his exhaustion.

The next day, the belief that he would recover after a night’s sleep proved false.

“Master. Are you alright?”

“Yes… huff… I’m fine… I can walk…”

Every step felt like her body was screaming in pain.

She was struggling down the slope, suffering from sudden muscle soreness.

She hadn’t noticed it last night because she had been sitting still after healing, but the aftereffects of her healing skill were far worse than she expected.

Standing still was tolerable, but moving felt like her body wasn’t her own.

She didn’t want to discover how weak her stamina actually was in this way.

“If you’re uncomfortable, should we take a break?”

“No. Let’s keep going.”

They should have reached the village the previous night, but a monster attack forced them to take shelter, and today they had barely moved because of her condition.

‘Am I going to die before we even reach the village?’

Even if this world was a game, it was real to her. Monsters were real. Healing skills were real.

Then her limited lifespan was also very likely real.

It was absurd that instead of worrying about impending death, she was more concerned about immediate survival.

…No, actually, it wasn’t funny at all.

She rubbed her eyes with a sigh.

Kalion spoke awkwardly.

“I apologize. If I could carry you…”

“No, it’s fine. It’s not your fault. If anything, it’s mine.”

Kalion looked apologetic for not being able to carry her, but she wasn’t shameless enough to accept being carried in this situation.

Besides, with monsters possibly nearby, he needed both hands free.

“Please take my hand, Master.”