CH 30

“Thank you, you’re a lifesaver.”

Synovidos took the hammer and swung it down with all his might, and the bones that I couldn’t break no matter how hard I tried were cracking and breaking one after another.

“Wow. . .you’re amazing, you’re really strong for a man.”

Even with Synovidos’ slender build, he was much stronger than me when he rolled up his black robe and swung the hammer.

Seeing me applaud, Synovidos made a shy gesture.

“Well, the size of my hands and my arm strength are completely different.”

I took Synovidos’ free left hand and compared the size of our hands.

“Wow, they’re really big after all.”

His long, knobby fingers were more than two sizes larger than mine even when our palms were overlapped. Even when I spread my fingers as wide as possible, my fingertips barely reached the second joint of his fingers. When our hands were overlapped like this, the color and shape of our skin, and even the hardness were completely different. Men are amazing.

As I was comparing the size of our hands, Synovidos made a perplexed voice.

“Hiira-dono, I can’t work like this.”

“Oh, sorry.”

Suddenly, I felt like Synovidos’ slightly exposed neck was turning red. I realized that I had forgotten that we were always together like a family and had become too familiar and clingy. Synovidos is a man after all.

“I-I’m sorry. . .”

“N-No, it’s okay, it’s my fault. . .”

After that, I kept a safe distance and worked alongside him, breaking small bones and preparing for bloodletting in a large pot. 

I couldn’t help but feel nervous about the muscular arms below the rolled-up black outfit. I thought the shape of his arm was beautiful when he swung and hit.

“. . ..”

“. . ..”

The room was filled with the sound of bones being chopped, and both Synovidos and I were silent. Normally, we could chat endlessly, but for some reason, nothing came to mind. My face felt hot, just like when I was in front of the oven. Maybe it was also because of the heat.

I put the bones in the pot and prepared to remove the scum.

While I was working, Synovidos washed the tools with a clatter.

“. . .We’re done. Thank you.”

“N-No. . .I’m glad I could help. . .”

I felt like our voices were trembling.

Awkwardly, I suddenly remembered.

“Ah, Synovidos!! Dinner tomorrow!!! Do you want to eat dinner?!”

“O-Okay!! I’ll just ventilate the room a bit with my wind technique! Byaaah!”

“Yeah, byaaah! Please!”

Synovidos disappeared like the wind. I went to the kitchen and drank some water from a glass.

“. . .What’s wrong with me? Am I tired?”

Thanks to Synovidos, a pleasant breeze blew from the dining terrace to the kitchen. I watched my halo sway gently in the wind, a little away from my head. 

It had been a while since I didn’t feel scared of someone I perceived as a man. 

Of course, I had been subjected to Kasdar’s violent treatment on a daily basis, and since joining the subjugation party and visiting the Demon King’s castle, I had often felt my body tense up at the roughness of the adventurers I encountered.

Of course, I know that there are many kind and reliable people out there. I know that people like Kasdar are a minority.

However, whenever I recognize a man as “oh, this person is a man,” I can’t help but feel a little scared.

So when I became aware of Synovidos’ physical strength and the size of his hands――I should have been scared if I were my usual self.

The wind feels pleasant. I drank two cups of water. Yet, this strange sensation of heat won’t go away.

“. . .What kind of face should I make to get through tonight?”

As I muttered to myself, footsteps approached.

I hurriedly came to my senses and started cooking dinner by opening the magic refrigerator.

――Then, I decided to simmer the beast orc bones soup overnight. The next morning, I planned to make noodles that would go well with the soup in the kitchen, which was filled with the choking smell of the beast orc bones soup.

“Tomorrow is going to be something else. . .”

Before going to bed, I talked to the halo on my bed, unaware of what was to come.

I never imagined that the next day, he would come to the saint’s cafeteria, which was filled with the choking smell of the beast orc bone soup.