Ch. 179

“Hmm.”

No matter how hard I thought about it, I still couldn’t figure out what Ash had meant.

Clearly, this was a job for Rai. That guy was annoyingly objective—he’d probably figure it out in seconds. Too bad I’d already sentenced him to temporary confinement myself.

I glared at Ash’s retreating back, still fuming with curiosity—until, like a bolt of lightning, it hit me.

Got it!

“He wants me to be his Guardian!”

As expected of me—my intuition is dazzling. What brilliance. The moment I realized the truth, my mind cleared like a sky after rain.

My deduction was flawless.

Ash must want me to help him become the Crown Prince. Usually, a Guardian doesn’t even realize who they’re protecting until the end, but since I already knew about the Path of Trial and his true identity, he probably had no choice but to ask.

“Oh, what a cute guy.”

No wonder he was so hesitant. It’s not easy to ask a famous Saint for a favor like that. Who knows how the Royal House of Dmitri would react? And besides, I’m lazy. Just like he said, there’s a good chance I’d refuse.

Still, I did owe him a bit. And owing a prince might make my future a lot smoother. Not a bad investment.

If he became Emperor someday, my “portfolio” would skyrocket in value. I do have a thing for backing powerful people.

Alright. Let’s consider this positively.

“Hah, at least he’s got good taste. I ‘am’ kind of amazing.”

Feeling smug, I clasped my hands behind my back and walked down the path in a springy step.

Lalalala. So… when’s he going to ask?

—

The men were washing up at the well.

They wrung out sweat-soaked shirts, poured buckets of water over their heads, and turned the washing area into an impromptu topless show.

The sea of flexing muscles was almost blinding.

As a modest and dignified lady, I took my time appreciating the art before me with pure, scholarly detachment.

The most muscular was, unsurprisingly, Chad. The most well-proportioned was Enk—tall, lean, and balanced, much like Ash. Even Gale, who looked smaller among them, had solid, compact muscles.

Water streaming over those bodies looked… well, beautiful, really.

Yes, this was a pure, untainted appreciation of anatomy. Muscles were just inherently good. Man’s body—God’s artwork… except for the scrawny sardine ruining the scenery.

Ah, Lox.

Instant mood killer.

“Excuse me, Miss Passing-By-With-Those-Indecent-Eyes—could you not stare so blatantly?”

“Ha! As if there’s anything worth staring at.”

“Hey! That’s uncalled for!”

I have taste, okay?

I’m not interested in bodies that flap like paper! Speaking of which—why isn’t Ash joining them?

I glanced over. He stood apart, not washing like the others. Then I understood.

They’d all done the same work, but Ash wasn’t even sweating. He looked freshly groomed, like he’d just woken up.

Completely opposite of near-death Lox.

Even Chad and Enk were panting a bit, so it was easy to tell—Ash’s stamina was on another level entirely.

I found myself wondering just how strong he actually was. Maybe not at Rovenin’s level, but certainly impressive. Nice. I should use him as a sparring partner sometime—when I’m not feeling too lazy.

“Still so relaxed, huh?”

“Jealous?”

Chad, chest muscles twitching proudly, picked a fight.

My eyes kept drifting to those muscles—purely out of instinct, of course. Maybe because his chest was bigger than mine.

“How about earning your meal for once? Everyone else worked while you lounged around.”

“What? Who are you to boss me around?”

“You ate the most! And I did all the heavy lifting! You damned woman!”

Harsh—but fair.

“You’re mistaken. I wasn’t lounging. I was training—essential daily exercise.”

“Exercise? You?”

“Yeah. Breathing practice.”

“…You’re destined for greatness in fraud.”

‘Ahem.’ I nodded proudly.

“Thanks for the compliment.”

“It was an insult! You delusional maniac!”

“Being insulted by a jerk means I’m doing something right! Hohoho!”

“Ugh!”

Ah, nothing like teasing someone to start the day right.

Chad was the perfect target. I was still smirking when Ash suddenly slipped between us, clearly to stop the bickering.

“Enough, both of you. Let’s head inside. You do realize we’re already behind schedule?”

Then, in the most graceful move possible, he draped a towel-like rag over Chad’s bare shoulders—covering those conspicuous muscles—and gave his chest a light pat.

…Wait. Why were they standing so close?

And why was Ash ‘covering’ Chad’s chest?

Could it be…

Ash doesn’t want me to look?

Why?

Unless—!

Ash and Chad…!?

“Geenie?”

“Yeah?”

“Why are your eyes that wide?”

No, but really—think about it! Ash always looked twitchy whenever I talked to Chad. And just now, he shielded Chad’s chest from view! Plus, whenever I tried to ‘kill’ Chad, Ash would stop me—like he was protecting him.

Those two had… quite the bond.

And I’m quick to notice things.

This might ‘not’ be a misunderstanding!

“You’re mistaken.”

“Oh, really?”

“I don’t know what you’re thinking, but… whatever it is, you’re wrong.”

He can be awfully firm when he wants to be.

—

The moment we entered the small common area connected to the kitchen, the smell of freshly baked bread assaulted my senses. My mouth instantly flooded with saliva.

“Please, everyone, eat up! You must be starving.”

The table was packed with thick soup and fresh fruits, so we all rushed to grab seats. Chad was already stuffing two pieces of bread into his mouth at once.

“Thank you so much. I feel bad for imposing again.”

“Not at all! It’s nothing special, but there’s plenty more if you’re still hungry.”

“This is more than enough.”

“You’ve done us a favor, really. My husband and I came to help Father with the farm, but thanks to you, there’s nothing left to do. He said what should’ve taken three weeks got done in one day!”

“We were just repaying the hospitality.”

While Ash—the embodiment of manners and decency—answered humbly, I decided to handle the shameless side of our party by eating as much as possible.

“You’ve helped us so much. I’ll pack some bread and jerky for you before you go.”

“Oh, that’s not—”

“My husband said you carried things barehanded that even our ox couldn’t pull! Adventurers truly are something else.”

Lil’s mother looked genuinely grateful, trying to repay us however she could. I half-listened, assuming it was Chad’s brute strength she was praising—until I saw Ash scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

Wait. ‘He’ was the strong one?

“And that’s not all—you even fixed the waterwheel that’s been broken for a year. No one knew what was wrong with it.”

Apparently Lox had been involved too—judging from the smug look he shot me when our eyes met.

If he’d been closer, I’d have smacked that look right off his face. It practically said, ‘We’re so competent, what did you do?’

Lox used to be my fan once… Who ruined him like this? Surely not me.

“Hmph. For the intellectual pillar of the group, that was nothing,” he bragged.

“Ugh.”

“Don’t mind that barbarian over there,” he told the family. “She solves everything with brute force. A golden-haired delinquent, you could say.”

He really wants to die, huh?

If I could kill with bread, I might’ve considered it.

Before I could test the theory, Lil’s whining voice cut through the air.

“Grandpaaa! Did you hear me? You’ll make it, right? You promised!”

“Lil, eat first, dear—”

“Hurry! I want a wooden sword! A real one! Big Brother says you have to start with one to become a swordswoman! I’m not eating till you promise!”

“Oh dear… where did you even get such ideas?”

“Wooden sword! Wooden sword!”

She was about ready to roll on the floor.

Watching her, I suddenly felt like the kind of person who caused trouble while everyone else worked hard.

A total misconception, of course. I’m elegant and noble.

“Mom and Dad said it’s too dangerous! But you’re not scared, right Grandpa? You’ll make me one?”

“I agree with your parents, Lil. Swords are dangerous for girls.”

“No! Bad men are more dangerous! You always say strangers are scary and I can’t go out alone! So learning swordsmanship would be safer!”

“Well, that’s… uh…”

The old man stammered, struggling to argue. Ash looked at me helplessly, as if asking for backup.

His guilty expression almost made me feel like an accomplice. Almost.

“I just remembered something I need to do.”

“Pardon? In the middle of a meal?”

“The field—you said it’s dying from the drought, right? Where is it?”

“What are you planning?”

The farmer—Lil’s grandfather—looked confused as I stood abruptly.

I can pull my weight too. I might not have brute strength, but I’ve got other talents.

“You gave us food and a place to sleep, so I’ll water your crops.”

“You’ll… water them?”

“I don’t need a watering can, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

They all tilted their heads, picturing it literally.

“More accurately, I’ll make it rain.”

“That’s odd. Sounds like you’re saying you can control nature.”

“Exactly. I’m a Water Spirit Mage, remember? Spirits are nature, and I command spirits—so technically, I command nature. Well, a small part of it. Still, it’s impressive. You may praise me.”

I threw Lox a smug look that far outdid his earlier boasting.

He needed to remember who he was showing off in front of.

Trying to flex in front of me? He’s ten years too early.

Wait—if that makes him the pupa… does that make me the butterfly?