HRB 62

Eddie got enough cardio from going on long walks with Ketron, so what he needed now was strength training.

He couldn’t dare to follow Ketron’s usual workout routine, but he could at least do push-ups next to him. Or he could learn swordsmanship.

Eddie knew that teaching swordsmanship, which was like a vision for Swordsmen, was a sensitive issue, but he had a vague certainty that Ketron wouldn’t mind.

If he asked to be taught, Ketron would be an excellent teacher to Eddie, unless there was some other disqualifying reason.

Eddie hesitated for a moment. If he started exercising like this, he would get sweaty, and his shirt would be a mess. Wouldn’t it be better to take off his shirt? Like Ketron did.

If they were both shirtless, he would inevitably be compared to Ketron, but since the backyard of the inn was only frequented by staff, there wouldn’t be many people to see. After a moment’s hesitation, Eddie made up his mind.

But Ketron was faster.

Ketron, who had emptied a pack of soy milk in an instant, opened his mouth.

“You don’t have to.”

Ketron wasn’t the type to deliberately interfere or meddle in matters he considered to be someone else’s business. Even if that someone was Eddie.

But there seemed to be an inexplicable firmness in Ketron’s tone when he said, “You don’t have to exercise,” which made Eddie a little flustered.

“Why?”

“Why the sudden exercise?”

Ah, was that the problem?

Indeed, from Ketron’s point of view, it would only seem like someone who had never exercised before was suddenly rushing to work out.

But Eddie had his own reasons. Eddie scratched his cheek.

“I thought it would be good to be able to protect myself.”

Of course, he knew that it wasn’t possible with just a little exercise like in modern times. This world was truly a fantasy world, so even a regular person who exercised a little wouldn’t make much of a difference.

Still, wouldn’t it be better than doing nothing?

“Well, exercise is good for your health too!”

He deliberately swallowed those words, afraid that Ketron might be worried about what happened in the past because of what he said, but Ketron was more perceptive than Eddie thought.

Ketron, who had been looking at Eddie for a moment, opened his mouth again firmly.

“Exercise for health is good, but if it’s to protect yourself, you don’t need to do it on purpose.”

Eddie was thinking that maybe it wasn’t worth exercising now, but Ketron continued.

“I will protect you.”

It was a nonchalant tone.

But when a handsome man covered in sweat said it with a serious face, it was like watching a scene from a movie.

If you had to be specific, it was like the male lead protecting the female lead during a fierce action movie, saying that line instead of saying ‘I love you’ at the climax.

Suddenly, Eddie remembered his conversation with Ketron in the carriage.

‘What do you think is more important to me?’

That voice that said Eddie was more important than the lives of everyone in that carriage, more important than his paltry reputation.

He knew that Ketron’s words were sincere then and now, but why did he feel an even greater resonance than before?

Besides, those words made him feel strangely hot inside. He thought it was a little cold without a coat since it was the backyard, but that thought flew away in an instant.

His heart seemed to be beating faster than before.

“……?”

What’s wrong with me?

Eddie pressed down on his chest. He hadn’t realized it, but his heart was pounding heavily.

But wouldn’t anyone’s heart flutter at those words, even if they weren’t the female lead in a movie?

Ketron had changed lately. Eddie had changed since the Sandern incident, but Ketron had changed even more.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly how he had changed, but somehow he had become more, more assertive and resolute.

What was the trigger, what had changed… He wouldn’t have an answer if someone asked him, but what was certain was that he had changed.

It wasn’t a bad thing. Rather, if he had to say, it was good for Eddie, even though it was hard to explain. Wasn’t it because he trusted Eddie more and liked Eddie more than before that he had told him about his past?

And it wasn’t just Ketron who had changed.

“Tch.”

While Eddie was lost in thought about how to respond to those words, there was someone who reacted even faster than Eddie.

It was the Holy Sword.

“What’s with a guy who’s never been good at protecting anything in his life?”

Ketron only glanced at the Holy Sword he was holding in his hand and didn’t say anything in particular.

Perhaps because Ketron was quite used to ignoring him, the Holy Sword easily changed targets.

“Hey, Eddie.”

“Ah, yes?”

Of course, Eddie couldn’t ignore the Holy Sword’s words as easily as Ketron could. Ketron might call the Holy Sword ‘just a dirty sword’ and treat it like nothing, as he had done in the past, but to Eddie, the Holy Sword was still a great being.

“Don’t you have anything to bring for me?”

For ‘me’?

Eddie, who was puzzled because he didn’t know what that meant, realized belatedly that what the Holy Sword was talking about was the soy milk that Eddie had brought for Ketron.

…Soy milk, really?

“……Should I give it to you?”

Eddie asked, glancing at the soy milk he was holding in his hand. He didn’t know if the Holy Sword could be humanized so easily, but just in case.

“Not that.”

Indeed, the Holy Sword snorted as if to say, “What are you talking about?”

It wasn’t that Eddie couldn’t understand what the Holy Sword was saying at all. It meant that he should bring something for the Holy Sword, just like he brought something for Ketron every day.

But what could Eddie bring for the Holy Sword?

Should he bring an oiled cloth? Ketron would take better care of that than Eddie would. Eddie didn’t know how to answer, so he was just sweating, and Ketron sighed deeply.

“Why are you being mean? Can’t you be quiet?”

“Wasn’t talking to you?”

The Holy Sword and Ketron began to bicker childishly.

Ketron didn’t want to admit it, but Eddie thought that the Holy Sword was the person Ketron felt most comfortable with. The only person Ketron could be childish with.

Perhaps the only one who could treat the Holy Sword so comfortably was Ketron, the owner of the Holy Sword who could hear his voice.

Now Eddie could hear that voice too, so maybe it wasn’t the only one.

A small change like this. The Holy Sword had started talking to Eddie.

It was still awkward that a sword was talking, and it was very awkward that the Holy Sword would become a very, very handsome man if it were humanized, but Eddie was gradually getting used to this situation.

“It doesn’t matter if Ketron can’t do his job. I’ll protect you.”

“Ah.”

Eddie had also gotten a little used to the Holy Sword talking to him in a so-called ‘tsundere’ manner.

“Thank you.”

So if he hated that change,

“Haha.”

He didn’t hate it. It wasn’t a bad feeling.

He wished that this peaceful moment would continue as it was.

Of course, this world wasn’t so easy, so Eddie’s wish was likely to remain just a wish.

Sebastian was sitting freely in a chair, watching Eddie busily moving inside the kitchen.

“The Kimchi menu is Sebastian’s responsibility, so watch me do it once and learn well.”

Eddie, who had said that and made Sebastian sit down, was chopping the Kimchi that Sebastian had made with many twists and turns.

Sebastian, who had been watching him quietly as the preparation of the ingredients seemed to take longer than expected, soon became bored and twisted his body. Naturally, his thoughts jumped elsewhere.

“Hmm.”

Recently, Eddie had changed a little.

Of course, Ketron had also changed a little.

To be exact, the relationship between the two people that Sebastian saw had changed a little.

It had been since he came back from Sandern, where the tournament was held.

Ketron had always been quite gentle only to Eddie, and Eddie had especially cherished Ketron, so Sebastian had been thinking that the two of them might be dating.

To be exact, Eddie was a runaway Noble, and Ketron seemed to be Eddie’s hidden lover.

Because of that subtle relationship, they were trying not to openly show that they were dating in front of others.

But since coming back from Sandern, it seemed that neither of them had any intention of hiding it.

It was hard to say exactly what had changed, but if the atmosphere between the two of them had been just affectionate before, it had become strangely soft and sticky since then?

Because of the thick atmosphere that made the person watching feel anxious, Sebastian tried even harder not to get between the two of them. It was said that you should never get between a couple.

Besides, Ketron seemed to have become softer than before?

Sebastian had been inwardly impressed, watching Ketron, who had always looked sharp and fierce in the past, but had become a little more rounded at some point.

How did Eddie melt that guy?

So Sebastian tried to push his luck.

Calling that man by the title that was only allowed to Eddie.

“Hey, Ket!”

“…….”

Of course, the trying Sebastian was instantly sunk by the sharp eyes that flew at him.