#060
But he’s clearly human, so how could that be possible? The Administrator of the Sacred Tree obviously didn’t know that Raon would have such an effect on him either. If they had known, instead of regretting not being able to provide enough medicine and cigarettes, they would have told him to use Raon.
“……”
He had thought about using Raon once he learned of his efficacy. The dying Sacred Tree couldn’t produce more than a certain amount of sap, and naturally the Priest couldn’t make enough medicine to block Carlisle’s contamination and cigarettes that served as painkillers. In the midst of this, since they were going on an expedition at Raon’s request, there was nothing to feel sorry about using him for his own benefit.
Of course, that didn’t mean he had planned to kiss him. His role as a painkiller was sufficient just by sleeping pressed against each other at night. Kissing him at the lake was purely an impulsive action. No, perhaps he wanted to kiss him because he felt the pain dramatically decrease momentarily while passing the breathing item down his throat.
“……”
That impulse still held Carlisle captive. No, even now, he was having thoughts like this.
‘What would it be like if we actually slept together?’
Carlisle stared at Raon’s tightly closed door. The reasons for wanting to kiss him, for wanting to sleep with him, didn’t matter. It might be his unconscious mind that couldn’t forget the past wanting his body. What mattered was that Carlisle needed him and that Raon hadn’t rejected his desires.
Carlisle stood there for a while, lost in thought. It was much later when he finally moved toward his study.
***
As expected, the memories from last night that surfaced the moment I woke up in the morning had me kicking off the covers and rolling around on the bed. My face turned bright red as I punched the pillow, but the shame didn’t easily disappear. Alcohol really was the root of all evil.
“Honestly, it’s not like I did it – that bastard did it, so why do I have to be so embarrassed?”
I suddenly felt wronged, but the problem wasn’t yesterday’s incident, but the past where I’d harbored dark thoughts about that guy since my game character days. Not just because of yesterday’s kiss, but because of the memories I’d unnecessarily recalled, now whenever I see his face, my face will probably keep turning bright red.
That bastard Carlisle will obviously act shamelessly as if nothing happened, which makes it even more unfair. I need to maintain a poker face too, but it’s impossible without the Tranquility Potion.
“To get the Tranquility Potion, I first need to bring Halmite to Seiz…”
But even if I received it, I couldn’t drink it right away. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get a new one, so if I drink it now and then don’t have a potion during combat in the next expedition, I’ll die crushed by fear before even fighting.
I sighed deeply enough to make the ground cave in and opened my inventory to check the harvest from this expedition.
Last night I had a mountain of things to organize after returning, but I ended up tossing and turning with my head in a mess over something ridiculous and fell asleep without doing anything. (I just couldn’t divert my attention elsewhere.) Somehow my mental state wasn’t clear either, as if I’d been tormented by restless dreams all night. Even today, 24 hours wouldn’t be enough to do everything I need to do.
First, I confirmed that Essence of Water had come in. Same as the Essence of Earth. What exactly am I supposed to do with this small amount of water? Even when I pressed it, no particular explanation appeared. Since the glass bottle I got from the settlement box was now empty, I wondered whether to put both the Essence of Earth and Essence of Water in there together… but I just left it for now.
A pickaxe appeared, so now I have farming tools including a hoe, axe, and pickaxe. Among basic farming tools, what’s left is maybe a sickle and watering can? Will something happen when I collect them all? Thanks to getting the pickaxe, I could mine ores like Halmite more easily… but even so, it wasn’t very moving, so I passed over it with an indifferent feeling.
I’ll decide what to do with the sand strawberries when I meet Elmer, and there’s quite a bit that Seiz and Eira could use. As for the bread tree fruits and coffee tree fruits… I’ll hand most over to the village, but I’m thinking of keeping some as seeds. I don’t know when I’ll be able to plant and grow them, but let’s have hope since I have the Essence of Water and Essence of Earth.
And there’s a lot of other miscellaneous stuff… Huh?
In a corner of my inventory was an item I’d never expected. It was a bracelet with a blue stone hanging from a braided leather cord.
[Midsummer Night’s Memory Bracelet]
“This was an item?”
It’s the gift I received from the boy version of Carlisle at the beach event. Since it didn’t particularly sparkle or glow or anything, I didn’t know it was an item. Though it’s natural to get something since it was an event. Somehow I felt like I was waking up from a dream, so I didn’t think I could actually receive this as an item.
The name appears but there’s no particular explanation of its function.
“What is this…”
There are too many items in here whose identity I can’t figure out at all.
“Someday there’ll be a time to use it…”
I have to hope so. I just hope it’s not a junk item that only takes up space uselessly. Thinking that, I closed the inventory, then changed my mind.
“If I wear it, it won’t take up space, right?”
I muttered and put on the bracelet. Doing it alone was a bit difficult, and naturally the memory of Carlisle affectionately putting the bracelet on me in the event came to mind, making my mood a bit strange.
“The boy version character was so cute, even knew how to blush. Why did he grow up to look like that now?”
I grumbled while barely managing to put the bracelet on my wrist. Of course, the boy version might be a product of my delusion (did the system read my delusion and materialize it?), but anyway, growing up to be as terrifying and fierce as now was definitely a negative transformation…
Suddenly, Carlisle’s face looking into my eyes as if to pierce through me just before the kiss came to mind. My face, which had barely calmed down, instantly heated up again. No matter how twisted my mouth was, the words “negative transformation” wouldn’t come out.
“Get it together, get it together! Even after entering the game, you’re floundering around unable to get your head straight. Do you want to die and disappear, Kang Raon?”
I banged my head against the pillow and then ran to the bathroom to take a cold shower to come to my senses. Even though it’s spring, the weather is still cold, so I thought I’d freeze to death.
***
Carlisle visited the Administrator of the Sacred Tree through the underground passage connected to the mansion only after morning came. Like last time, the Priest was gazing at the Sacred Tree model as if praying, with the display case in front of them. They must be waiting for Raon to bring the second fragment.
“You look well.”
At the cynical voice, the Priest turned around. As Carlisle said, the Priest’s face, which had been pale, now had a gentle warmth rising on it with a faint smile.
“You’ve worked hard, Carlisle-nim. I’m glad you returned safely.”
“You must be glad. You’ll get your hands on the Fragment of the Sacred Tree, and it would be troublesome if servants who still have work to do died.”
Even to words that could only be called thorny, the Priest just smiled gently.
“Your harsh words must be due to pain, right? I’ve prepared medicine. Actually, I waited expecting you to come immediately after returning yesterday.”
“……”
That would be right. Originally, after expeditions ended, fever would rise and pain would amplify. If not for Raon, this time too he would have cursed and pressured the Priest to immediately provide medicine.
Carlisle gazed steadily at the Priest’s face. It was a face that looked both clean and wise. Would they know the answer if he asked? Why Raon had such an effect on him? But if they knew, they would have told him in advance. Does not saying anything mean they didn’t know? Or…
‘Is there something they’re hiding from me?’
“Right before opening the hidden dungeon.”
Carlisle opened his mouth. And asked something else. Somehow he didn’t want to bring up the topic of Raon first.
“Kang Raon suddenly lost consciousness in front of it, but it didn’t seem like he was sick. He seemed bewildered too. Was there a particular reason?”
The Priest tilted their head.
“Before opening the hidden dungeon? No. There shouldn’t have been any special events or quests. Anyway, inserting new things after entering this world is difficult with my power.”
“Right… That’s what you said.”
“Did you notice something strange?”
“…No, nothing. It’s probably nothing. He’s such a weak human that he collapses at least once every day.”
“That’s why Carlisle-nim’s existence is necessary.”
At the words said with a smile, Carlisle snorted.
“Stop talking nonsense and give me the medicine.”
“Come this way. I’ve prepared it.”
Carlisle took only what he needed and immediately left the Priest’s dungeon. It wasn’t a place he wanted to stay long anyway.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
