Chapter 10
Kalion picked up some branches, quickly assembled a rough frame, and used a wide cloth from his inventory to create a makeshift screen.
“I will stand guard at the entrance. Please do not worry.”
In other words, he wouldn’t watch her while she bathed, so she could relax.
His consideration, so protective and polite, made warmth swell in her chest again, almost like warm water filling her heart.
Kalion was like the embodiment of an honorable knight—so courteous, so proper, so dutiful—yet her so-called “older brother” was… better left unspoken.
She stepped behind the screen and began unbuttoning her clothes.
Even though it was just a thin piece of cloth separating her from a man’s presence, it felt strangely embarrassing to undress.
She didn’t think Kalion, that ascetic holy-knight type, would lift the screen and peek while she bathed…
‘Ha. Right. I’m probably going to die within a month anyway—what’s there to be ashamed of? Let’s just bathe.’
She had expected cold spring water, but it was surprisingly warm.
Looking closer, she noticed small red mana stones embedded at the four corners of the tub, releasing heat and steam.
Come to think of it, Senes had also broken a red mana stone when lighting a fire. So these red stones must heat water.
‘Mana stones… convenient. If I could bring these to my world, they’d make a fortune.’
Not that it mattered to her anymore.
Sinking into the warm water, she felt her body relax.
Even though Senes’s cooking had already eased her fatigue, the healing effect of a bath was undeniable.
Human beings really did need tools—civilization’s comforts were sweet.
After finishing her bath, her body felt warm and her tension had melted away into drowsy relaxation.
If she dove into a blanket now, it would feel like boarding an express train to paradise.
She dried herself with the towel Kalion had left and got dressed again.
Her outer clothes were dirty with soil and leaves, so she shook them off and laid them on a rock, wearing only her shirt for now.
‘Kalion… is he still there?’
She slightly lifted the edge of the screen and peeked out. Kalion was standing near the cave entrance with his back turned.
The sky outside had already darkened. His silver-white hair shimmered under the moonlight.
How could even his back look so striking?
A faint ache spread through her chest. It wasn’t just gratitude.
He had fetched water for her, set up the screen, even stood guard while she bathed.
If that was only kindness, nothing more, then why did it feel so disappointing?
‘We’ll probably reach the village tomorrow.’
Kalion had promised to escort her there. But he was a monster hunter—he would likely leave again afterward. Then they would part ways.
‘What does Kalion think of me?’
A suspicious stranger he nevertheless protected, someone whose life he risked to save. Could such behavior exist purely from kindness?
She remembered the night she had healed him—his flushed face, flustered and helpless.
Maybe he simply wasn’t used to women… but it didn’t feel like there was absolutely no interest either.
‘He doesn’t seem to dislike me… and I…’
She was drawn to Kalion.
She wasn’t sure if it was love.
They hadn’t known each other long enough for emotional intimacy.
If she had to define the feeling, it was closer to desire than love.
‘It’s all because of that damn healing skill.’
That guide marker appearing in such an inconvenient place…
Back then she had been too embarrassed to do anything beyond kissing his hand. Now she slightly regretted it.
She still didn’t have the courage to do anything bold like that again, but at least she wished she had kissed him properly.
[Skill Acquisition Chance!]
The ally “Kalion” feels a faint affection toward you.
Try to capture his heart.
If his ??? exceeds its limit, you will succeed.
Success reward: Skill [Charm] acquisition.
What terrible timing. It completely ruined the mood.
‘But one thing is certain.’
It gave her courage to actually try.
‘Harassment or seduction.’
If this were a game, it would be the latter. If it were reality…
‘It depends on Kalion’s feelings.’
She made up her mind and undid another button on her shirt.
“Kalion. I’m done bathing.”
“Yes, my master.”
Kalion’s footsteps approached, and the screen was lifted.
“Ah…”
The moment their eyes met, Kalion’s expression wavered slightly. He froze in place as he looked up at her.
She had unbuttoned two buttons.
From the front, it looked like she had simply loosened her shirt because of the heat—but the important thing was that the shirt hung quite loosely.
So when a tall man like Kalion, who towered over her by nearly two heads, looked down…
It meant her cleavage was visible.
“……”
His face slowly began to flush.
Like ripples disturbing a calm lake, his blue-silver eyes trembled.
“M-my apologies… my lady…”
Only belatedly realizing he had been staring too openly at the exposed skin, Kalion turned his head away in panic.
He covered his mouth, looking utterly flustered.
A man with no experience in matters of intimacy reacted with complete honesty.
A faint curiosity rose within her.
At the same time, an inexplicable courage surged.
“Kalion.”
She gently grabbed his hand.
His entire body visibly trembled.
His closed eyes snapped open, looking at her in shock.
His parted lips were visible through his fingers.
His long lashes quivered, and his watery blue-silver eyes were moist with emotion, his cheeks flushed red.
‘Wow… damn.’
She was turned on.
So this was desire.
Heat rose inside her, tension tightening her whole body.
Even though she knew she should look away, she couldn’t.
His expression—like a pure knight struggling against desire while trying to maintain restraint—was too striking.
‘If you don’t react to that face, you’re not human.’
The quest window had pushed her forward, but honestly, she wouldn’t have acted this boldly before.
If this were reality, she would have worried about reputation, norms, consequences… and never approached a man she had known for only a few days like this.
But she had already died once and come back. This wasn’t modern Korea—it was another world. Maybe even a game.
She checked the system window showing her remaining lifespan.
[Time remaining: 23 days]
She didn’t doubt it. The skills and descriptions had all been real—there was no reason this would be fake.
‘Only a month left to live.’
People change when they’re close to death.
Terminal patients suddenly shift—seeking out estranged people, chasing forgotten dreams, acting with urgency.
Now she understood.
“Just do everything you want before you die.”
“Master… I…”
Kalion’s face was bright red, his eyes darting helplessly.
Seeing him tremble like a newborn deer…
Something darker surged inside her.
‘Why are you so shy? That just makes me want to tease you more.’
If he had truly been innocent and unaware, he wouldn’t react like this. But he clearly understood her intent—and still wasn’t pushing her away.
‘So he does feel something too.’
She stepped closer.
Their bodies touched, and Kalion jerked back in shock.
Even though contact was brief, she couldn’t ignore the solid warmth pressing against her lower abdomen.
‘Whoa.’
It was substantial.
She looked up at him, narrowing her eyes. She wanted to close her eyes, but she didn’t want to miss his expression.
His long lashes trembled; his blue-silver gaze couldn’t escape hers. His lips parted slightly as he struggled to breathe.
Her mouth went dry.
Watching him resist made her desire grow even stronger—like she wanted to snap the last thread of his restraint.
“Master… please… stay a little farther away.”
“Why?”
“I… I don’t think I can.”
“What do you mean you can’t?”
She smiled and asked again. Kalion looked like he was about to cry.
This is dangerous.
Seeing that expression made her want to make him cry for real.
When something is forbidden, it only becomes more tempting.
“We… we’ve only just met…”
His words broke off.
Just a light brush of her chest against him, and he lost his train of thought.
If he truly hated it, he would have pushed her away—but instead, he kept making excuses. Such a timid little deer.
“Time doesn’t matter, does it?”
It did matter—but not in the way he thought.
They had only known each other for a week.
If this were Romeo and Juliet, that would have been enough time to fall madly in love and die together.
This was the perfect moment for reckless emotions.
Seven days was exactly enough to act on impulse—seven years would have made her hesitate instead.
She silently mouthed the words:
Come closer.
“……”
Kalion’s eyes trembled violently.
But there was no resistance in them.
His lashes slowly lowered, and his head tilted slightly forward.
Good. Come closer.
Her deer. It’s okay. I won’t hurt you.
Her heart pounding, she stood on her toes, closing the distance between them.
Their breath mingled, warm and fragile.
His breath felt almost sweet.
Her chest tightened with nervous heat, turning into something aching and tender.
She rose on tiptoe, mouth parting as if searching for air.
And then—
A soft, melting sensation seeped in.
