Chapter 19 - Can I Touch You?

Chapter 19 – Can I Touch You?

Kaligo silently swung the dagger in the direction Ashia gave. The path was cleared swiftly as he cut the branches and grass.

Was this the difference between a person who was used to swordsmanship and one who wasn’t? Thanks to this, they were able to get to their final destination quickly.

“Are we here?”

“Yes. We have to go inside.”

Deep in the forest, through the bushes, a vacant lot appeared. There was a mysteriously shining golden door standing undisturbed and unsupported in the middle of the vacant lot.

“Can I have the bag, please?”

“Ah, yes.” Kaligo handed her the bag he was carrying on his shoulder.

Rummaging through the bag, Ashia pulled out a fist-sized wad of cloth that quickly grew bigger in the palm of her hand.

“…”

It was volume-controlling magic… Kaligo’s brows raised slightly but he didn’t say anything.

“I don’t know if this would be okay. You suddenly said that you wanted to go with me so I made it in a hurry.”

The bundle on her palm suddenly became a thick and heavy cloak, dropping to the floor.

“It’s a cloak.”

“Yes.”

Kaligo took the coat he was handed and draped it over his body, then the warmth of the cloak wrapped around him. Ashia’s hand reached out to his face unexpectedly without him having time yet to feel the warmth.

“…”

His neck muscles stiffened at her sudden approach.

Without noticing his reaction, Ashia carefully touched the cloak and patted the shoulder part. Her hands were meticulous and gentle so that there were no gaps where the cold wind could penetrate. “This is an enchanted cloak. It is especially essential because it’s a harsh winter here all year round.”

“Yes…”

“Speaking of that, what’s with your shirt under the cloak? All of your clothes were thin…”

“…”

Kaligo’s gaze on her turned to her hand as he opened the cloak. Her fingertips, flushed from the cold, moved diligently.

In fact, Kaligo didn’t feel cold. It wasn’t that he was numb and did not feel the change in the temperature; it was just that it was not to the point where he would shiver or suffer from the chill. Fire attribute auroras filled his body. It was one of the few strengths of those who ran rampant without trying. Maybe Ashia didn’t even know that.

So the cloak she had prepared was useless to him, but he didn’t take it off. He really liked this cloak she said was tailored for him.

“…Thank you.” A faint smile appeared on his face.

Looking up at him, Ashia smiled back. “Oh? But I’m not giving it to you.”

“Ah.” Kaligo let out a short gasp.

As if his reaction was funny, Ashia’s lips under the hood burst into laughter. “I’m just joking, I can’t even wear something that big.”

His lips curled up at her playful smile. And that smile stayed on his lips, even for a short time.

Until another man’s name came out of her mouth.

“Ah, so you have the same size as Tero.”

Kaligo’s expression slowly hardened at the strange man’s name. “…Tero?”

“Yes?”

Ashia, still tying the bag closed, looked back up at him.

“You just said Tero…”

“Oh, my brother.”

“Did you have a brother?”

“Um, not a blood-related brother.”

Not a blood-related brother? Wrinkles formed on Kaligo’s forehead. “…Was he at the store yesterday?”

“That’s right, but… do you remember? But you were unconscious.”

“…”

She tilted her head and continued talking. “At that time, it was Tero who helped you and carried you to my bedroom.”

Kaligo recalled his memories in the confusion.

Tero! Help me!

Y-yes!

I need to move him to my bed.

…Yes?

Hurry.

Ah yes.

Lay him down here.

…Yes.

The voice of the man who was always answering ‘yes, yes, yes’.

“…He’s not your real brother, but you seemed to get along quite well.”

“Yes, he is a good boy.”

“He didn’t look like a boy. What makes him a child?”

“I didn’t mean it that way.” Ashia handed back the bag to Kaligo.

“Does he frequent your store?”

“About four days a week?”

“Is he unemployed?”

“No, he belongs to the Imperial Knights Temple. Ah, he will be a member of the Holy Knights in a few days. Anyway, he’s a responsible and diligent child.”

“Child, again…” Kaligo was still frowning, muttering to himself.

“…”

“…”

Silence fell over the two of them again. After a moment’s hesitation, Kaligo pulled the bag over his shoulder once more and walked past her without a word. He walked towards the door leading to the Fairy Forest and looked back at Ashia. “Aren’t you coming? Shall I open the door?”

“Yes? Oh, no! I will do it.” Ashia stopped Kaligo who was trying to grab the knob. “It will be quite cold. Tighten your cloak.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Hearing his answer, Ashia turned the handle as she looked up at his face. “But why have you been frowning since earlier?”

“I am? No way. I’m the same as usual.”

“Look at you now.”

“I said I’m not.”

Even as they slowly opened the golden door, the two bickered.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

“Aauu…”

The situation inside the fairy forest was markedly different from the situation outside the door, which had a warm spring vibe. She wore her cloak and tightly covered her face with the hood, but the strong blizzard made her feel like she was submerged in ice-cold water while naked.

“Aauuu…”

“…Are you very cold?”

“Uuuh, i-i-it is b-b-bearable.”

Unlike Ashia, who trembled as if her whole body was convulsing, Kaligo was the same as usual. “…I don’t normally get cold.”

“B-b-but th-th-this cold is u-u-unbearable…”

Her teeth clattered with each other as her jaw trembled.

Kaligo frowned, seeing Ashia shivering. “So, how did you get the ingredients?”

“What do you mean, h-h-how? I g-g-get it while trembling l-l-like this.” As if to set an example, she reached out with a trembling hand towards a small fruit she had just encountered.

Since the fruits were small, it was not easy to get them all at once. After several unsuccessful attempts, she managed to knock off one.

“S-s-see? It’s th-this s-s-simple.” Ashia’s lips stretched into a proud smile. She then put the freshly picked fruit into the small pouch tied on her waist and returned. She crouched down and hurried down the road.

“You mean you spent a week in a place like this?”

“This is a w-w-water zone so it’s e-e-especially cold, b-b-but you can survive if y-y-you set up a tent in an area where there are fire materials g-g-gathered… L-l-let’s go quickly.” She took the lead, fastening the collar of her cloak. After looking at her for a moment, Kaligo took off his own and placed it on her.

“Ack!”

She almost fell on the snowfield with the sudden weight. Almost buried in his large and heavy cloak, she looked back with difficulty. “Wh-what?”

“Take that too.”

“What about you?”

“I told you before that I don’t get cold…”

“With those clothes?”

Kaligo only had a see-through shirt and thin trousers. Anyone would see that he was wearing clothes for summer. There was no change in his expression though he was dressed like that in the freezing weather.

‘You’re fine like that?’

Ashia rolled up the cloak again and handed it to him. “You’re going to freeze to death!”

“Ah.”

“What if you faint in this cold? How can I handle someone with a body as big as yours?!” Her figure shook, words stuttering as her jaws trembled through her nagging.

Kaligo’s size wasn’t a big deal for her because she could use magic to move him easily. The problem was if his body froze. She couldn’t use fire magic, so there was no way she could thaw him.

“Ashia.”

“What?!”

When she screamed her answer in anger, his large hands slipped through Ashia’s hood and covered her cheeks without warning.

“What are you doing…?” She could feel the heat of his palms before she could even push him away. The heat seeped into her cheeks and began to spread slowly into every inch of her body after a while.

“Haa…”

The tip of her nose and both cheeks, which had been frozen red by the cold wind, were now red with warmth. She could feel the heat running through her body.

“…This is what fills my body.”

Ashia’s lips parted slightly as if something came to mind at his words. “…Aura?”

“Yes.”

The freezing cold was gone, but in another sense, she was frozen.

“I can share with you the warmth if you want, but that would mean…” His fingertips on her cheeks moved gently, rubbing her skin. “Can I touch you?”

Ashia’s breath caught.

“With this as an excuse, I don’t know where I will touch you but still… Can I?”

“…”

‘Touch me? Oh my, does this man know what he is talking about right now?’

She bit her lips and swallowed dry saliva. “…I think it’s possible… even with fingertips…”

Kaligo’s head tilted to the side at her answer. “What if I say no?”

“…”

“What if I, especially…” Kaligo’s palm slowly slid down, skimming her neckline, and stopped. “Want to touch you like this?”

“Hic…”

Her hair raised. It was definitely there. The day he had a seizure, when his lips stayed there for a long time and left a mark. A place where the tingling sensation and the intense heat still lingered.

A large hand slipped in, and even the string that was tying the collar of the cloak came loose.

Surprised, Asha hurriedly grabbed the cloak strap and his hand together. “Ah!”

“…”

Kaligo’s breathing stopped for a moment when she grabbed his hand.