"Tell . Dont hold back. Why did you save ?"
"..."
After a long silence in response to Lillys inquiry, Godhand let out a quiet sigh.
"May I be frank with you?"
"Of course. I wont forgive you if youre not honest."
"..."
After hesitating for a long while, Godhand opened his mouth.
"Theres no great reason. Its just that when the Gargoyle Chieftain was charging towards you, I was reminded of my mother."
It was an unexpected answer. Lilly furrowed her brows.
"Your mother?"
"My mother... was like you, unable to use both her legs."
Lillys body trembled slightly.
"She was crippled when she was captured by slave hunters. She spent her whole life sitting."
Godhands eyes scanned the empty space in front of him.
"Even when she couldnt stand, every ti the human master tried to beat , she would hold and shield with her body."
"..."
"For so reason, I was reminded of that. In your figure standing in front of the Gargoyle Chieftain, I saw my mother."
Lilly, who had her mouth slightly open, pointed to her legs in irritation.
"So because of these legs, you saw overlap with your mother. Is that your story?"
"Are you upset?"
"Im not thrilled."
"But Lilly, you were the one who asked to speak honestly."
"Thats one thing, this is another."
Lilly let out a deep sigh.
"So you lost both your arms for such a reason?"
"Theres the strategic reason I ntioned earlier from a logical point of view. And then theres the emotional side, where I was reminded of my mother. I think these are enough to explain why I protected you."
"..."
Resting her head in her hands, Lilly shook her head slowly.
"I thought you were a more rational type."
"I thought Lilly was a more emotional type."
Who would have guessed that she would doubt the motive behind soone risking their life to save her?
Lilly was more rational than he thought.
"Lilly."
Godhand spoke in a low voice.
"We cannot understand each other. The wounds each of our races has inflicted on the other are undeniably... too deep to heal."
"..."
"But even though we may not understand each other..."
Godhand offered a faint smile, gesturing out the window.
"Cant we at least celebrate our survival together?"
Loud, boisterous singing ca from outside.
The drunken soldiers from the victory celebration were probably arm-in-arm, singing together.
The slurred military song filled the air around them. Comrades, together we will break through the enemys waves...
"..."
"..."
Following an awkward silence, Lilly blurted out.
"I dislike you."
There was deep sincerity in her voice.
"Im annoyed by your scheming to impose a debt on at your own whim."
"Isnt that a bit too cold to say to soone who lost both arms defending you...?"
"Enough, try to sit up."
Lilly, who brought the food tray back, shrugged her shoulders.
"Why dont you eat sothing? Its a feast for others, and its sad if you starve alone."
"I just feel like resting. I dont have an appetite..."
"Thats why youre so thin. Wouldnt you recover faster if you ate? Co on, Ill help you sit up."
Groaning, Lilly caught hold of Godhands upper body and lifted him up.
After placing the food tray on the bed table, she set down two cups and poured different liquids into each.
Godhand, watching the clear liquid being poured into his cup, frowned.
"Is this just plain water?"
"Do you think the person who just lost his arm today would try to drink alcohol?"
"Isnt it okay to have at least a drink on the day I lose an arm?"
"You unexpectedly know how to joke around, dont you?"
Lilly, who poured water into Godhands cup, filled her own cup with alcohol.
"Well... shall we at least toast?"
"I cant lift a cup because I dont have arms."
"Ill take care of that for you."
Holding a cup in each hand, Lilly clinked them together on behalf of Godhand.
She then brought the cup of water to Godhands lips.
Godhand emptied his cup with a clean gulp. Chuckling, Lilly downed her glass of alcohol.
"Its a pitiful sight. A human woman who cant use her legs and an elf man who cant use his arms, cant even join the feast, and were moping in the hospital room."
"But it will be morable."
Godhand looked up at the window.
"If it was an ordinary feast, it would be easily forgotten, but todays scene will remain for a long ti."
"..."
The moonlight poured in from the window. The sky was so clear that it felt like the past few cloudy days were a lie.
Godhands voice reached Lilly, who was idly gazing at the moon and sipping her alcohol.
"I know its ridiculous to say this now."
"...?"
"Can I ask you to take good care of from now on, Lilly?"
Lilly stared at Godhand quietly, then,
"You better recover quickly, Godhand. And get a prosthetic arm as soon as possible."
With a snort, she turned her gaze back out the window.
"Because if youre okay, I can comfortably doubt you, hate you, and treat you roughly."
Godhand chuckled softly.
"Then Ill have to stay unwell for a while."
"No, I an, dont say stupid things with that face..."
After that, the two didnt have any more conversation.
Lilly fed Godhand cold vegetable dishes one by one. Godhand ate quietly without complaint.
In the distance, the continued singing of drunken soldiers could be heard.
The night of victory... was deepening.
***
Chirp, chirp.
...The cliched sound of birds announcing the morning is heard.
"Ugh, ooooh."
A ghastly groan like that of a zombie escaped my lips.
My head was heavy and spinning. My stomach churned. Classic symptoms of a hangover.
"Ugh, my poor head..."
I must have really drunk a lot. Ugh, I feel like Im going to die.
As I painfully lifted my heavy eyelids, sothing... fleshy ca into my blurry view.
Soone was lying next to , their top discarded.
What the heck?!
Was this going to be so clichd scenario where I drank too much and woke up next to a woman Id never seen before?!
In a state of half-worry and half-anticipation(?), I rubbed my eyes and looked at the other person. Who is it!
And next to ... an old man with a protruding belly was nodding off.
The old man, upon catching my eye, yawned lazily.
"Ah. Youre awake, Prince."
"Who are you?!"
Surprised, I quickly sat up and scanned the room.
It was a spacious room filled with middle-aged n and grandfathers exuding a hefty aura, all laying around topless. What on earth was this?!
"Were the Twilight Brigade."
On the opposite side, a sprawled out old man yawned lazily and spoke to .
Looking closely, it was the leader of the Twilight Brigade.
"Are you feeling a bit better, Your Highness? You had quite a lot to drink last night."
"Well, yeah, Im okay. But can I ask one thing?"
With a shaky voice, I tossed out a fundantal question about the situation.
"Why are you all topless and taking a nap...?"
"You ordered it, Your Highness. You said, lets have a real drink, man to man, without any pretenses. You shouted for everyone to take off their clothes and they all agreed."
I did that?! Do I have a terrible habit of ordering people to strip when Im drunk?!
Feeling startled, I touched my body and realized I too was shirtless.
What the heck are you doing, Ash! You drunk lunatic!
Trying my best to restore my lost mory, the soldiers of the Twilight Brigade who surrounded threw in their two cents.
"Prince, last night was really... incredible."
"Ive never been to such a party in my life."
"Ill never forget it... the precious mory of last night..."
"Hey, stop using such ambiguous language, its making uncomfortable!"
These muscle-bound old n with bushy beards arent supposed to have lines like that! What exactly happened?! When did my mory blackout?
"Ah, youre awake. My lord."
Just then, a refreshing voice ca to my rescue.
"Lucas!"
The protagonist of this ga and my bodyguard! As always, youre the only one who can save ! I looked at him with a smile on my face.
Lucas walked into the room, not only shirtless but also pantless, wearing only boxer shorts.
"Why are you stripped down to your underwear toooo!"
As I scread while pulling my hair out, Lucas scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"But, Lord, it was you who asked the main party mbers to remove their pants..."
"I did what?!"
In surprise, I stumbled and realized I too was missing my pants.
I was in my underwear. This crazy Ash, always ssing things up, damn it!
"Brrr, its cold..."
From a corner of the room, a faint groan echoed, and there I saw Damien, huddled and shivering in nothing but his underwear...
"...Im sorry. Im not sure what happened, but regardless, I apologize."
What kind of wild party took place last night?
The more I tried to rember, the more unpleasant it felt, so I gave up trying to restore the lost mory.
Sitting on the floor, I covered my face with my hands and muttered.
"Isnt seeing naked n in the bathhouse enough..."
"I was just about to say the sa."
Lucas gestured towards the door.
"Lets go, my Lord."
"Huh? Go where?"
"Didnt you just say sothing, my Lord?"
Lucas offered a refreshing smile. Dressed only in underwear and smiling so brightly, he looked outright perverted.
"Its a public bathhouse. Its right next door."
My eyes widened.
"A public bathhouse?"
***
The place I stayed was the Empires barracks.
Originally, it was a facility used by the Empires soldiers, but currently, its almost deserted.
Instead, it also served as accommodations for rcenaries.
"Soldiers get drenched in monster blood almost every day, wouldnt they need facilities to clean up?"
Lucas said as he led to the public bathhouse. Thankfully, he was wearing sothing now.
"So theres a public bathhouse in Crossroad. It was initially ant for soldiers only."
"As the city expanded, it beca accessible to the citizens as well. Is that so?"
"Exactly, my Lord. As the city grew, the public bathhouse expanded its facilities and now its quite large."
Nodding, I looked back.
Damien, shivering and following . He must have caught a cold.
"Lets get you into so warm water soon, Damien. Itll make you feel better."
"Yes, Your Highness..."
Damien responded in a feeble voice, sniffling. What did I do to him yesterday...?
The public bathhouse was a short walk from the barracks. As we arrived at the entrance, I exclaid.
"Its quite big?!"
"Indeed. Its designed to accommodate as many soldiers as possible."
The entrance to the bathhouse was large, suggesting the interior would be spacious as well.
"I didnt know such a facility existed. Ive never been here before."
Now that I think about it, I used to upgrade the bathhouse in the ga to maintain the citys hygiene.
I never thought I would actually use it.
"According to history, our emperors often visited the public bathhouse on the Imperial Road. They used it as a ans to interact with the citizens and gauge the mood of the nation," Lucas inford calmly.
"As the lord of this place, your Highness, you might find it beneficial to follow in the footsteps of your predecessors. Regular visits to the public bathhouse would help you grasp the current issues of the city."
That sounds like solid advice.
"But wont it be hard for the guards if the emperor visits the bathhouse often? You should be careful, being my guard and all."
"I am already struggling..."
"What was that?!"
"No, nothing at all."
Lucas, turning his head away, coughed. Does this kids tongue grow longer when he drinks?
Upon entering the public bathhouse, there were separate sections for n and won right from the entrance.
Its interesting that the bathhouse feels the sa, even in a different world.
Or is it that the bathhouse culture is universally common among humans?
Bathhouse culture has been prevalent on Earth since ancient tis, in Ro or Islamic civilizations for example.
In a world with such advanced magical civilization, it isnt strange to have such sophisticated bathhouses.
Wait.
I stopped at the entrance which led to separate sections for n and won.
Lucas and Damien, who were headed towards the ns bathhouse, looked at in confusion.
"My Lord?"
"Your Highness? Whats wrong?"
"Well..."
After a monts hesitation, I confessed honestly.
"Isnt there usually, you know... an event or sothing with... female characters when we visit a bathhouse?!"
Honestly, it seems like sothing to look forward to, right?!
Reviews
All reviews (0)