He’s recoiling at the idea of bathing like a real cat.
Eddie chuckled to himself, halfway through undressing. It was because he remembered the expression Ketron had made when he suggested they go wash up.
Of course, Eddie knew that most people, unless they were family, weren’t exactly comfortable in spaces like bathhouses or swimming pool locker rooms where they might see each other naked, no matter how close they were. But Eddie had his own reasons.
He wanted to take this opportunity to show Ketron how to use the travel shower kit he had in his convenience store. After all, modern items were much more advanced in that regard, and it would be more convenient once he got used to it.
The condition of the bathroom wasn’t too bad. It smelled strongly of wood, but surprisingly, it was quite clean and well-maintained. The water in the communal bath was also warm and clean.
Eddie watched Ketron, who seemed to be taking a bit longer, and then said, “I’ll go in first!” and entered the bathroom.
Which one is shampoo and which one is conditioner?
As he opened the two shower kits he had brought and read the instructions, he saw the steamy mirror beyond his vision. And his own blurry reflection in it.
Hmm, ‘Eddie’ isn’t so bad either.
Eddie’s gaze, which had been admiring his slender waist with vaguely visible abs and his fairly impressive shoulders and arms in the mirror, turned to his center.
Well, this part isn’t bad either.
Eddie, looking down at his member, which was similar in size to his Lee Jeong-hoon days, wore a satisfied expression before covering his thighs with the towel he had brought. Even so, it was a little embarrassing to show it off completely raw.
Just then, Ketron entered the bathroom.
Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve seen him naked.
As Eddie waved at Ketron, thinking that, he paused involuntarily as Ketron’s body came into full view.
…Huh. Is this okay?
That thought popped into his head without him realizing it.
Going to the bathhouse or sauna together, having a meal afterward, and then parting ways was one of Lee Jeong-hoon and his friends’ regular routines.
Banana Jar Milk at the bathhouse, roasted eggs and sweet rice drink at the sauna. They were such close friends that sometimes, one of them would start it on a Friday night, and they would all go out together.
As a result, they weren’t so averse to seeing the bodies of other guys, nor did they feel particularly embarrassed.
“Hey, honestly, my thing is the biggest, right?”
“What are you talking about, Glue Stick.”
“Glue Stick? It’s bigger than a glue stick, you crazy bastard! Yours looks like a silkworm pupa, doesn’t it?”
“Silkworm pupa? If I’m a silkworm pupa, then you’re a flea?”
“Oh, you wanna measure?”
…Would there have been room to feel shy among guys who were making such noises and comparing the sizes of their junk? Of course, Lee Jeong-hoon was the type to pretend he wasn’t friends with them and distance himself, averting his gaze instead of joining in the size comparisons.
But right now, what should he say.
Even just from the way he carried himself in clothes, or even just from his appearance in a cape, it was easy to guess that Ketron was in good shape. Ketron’s physical condition was so good, as if fate had pushed him to become the Hero.
His muscles and physique, developed as if it were only natural, were superior.
The scars all over his body remained like medals, proving that his muscles weren’t just for show, and anyone with a keen eye would easily notice that most of them were traces of fatal wounds.
A body that would make anyone lower their eyes involuntarily, whether they knew about the scars or not.
Combined with a face that you could tell was handsome even if you looked at it upside down, it created a very destructive synergy.
If it were just that, he wouldn’t have thought it was dangerous.
The problem was that as soon as he saw that body, a strange feeling that made him feel ‘helpless’ took root in one part of Eddie’s body.
He had seen countless male bodies, and although this was the most impressive body he had ever seen, it was still just a man’s body, and he shouldn’t have felt anything more than that, but something was wrong.
For some reason, he felt an instinct warning him, “Oh, this is a little dangerous?”
Eddie, who had naturally urged Ketron to wash with him without thinking because he had enjoyed bathing with his friends countless times in the bathhouse, felt a sense of dismay for the first time at this moment.
What should I do? I don’t know where to look.
Whether he knew what was going on in Eddie’s mind or not, Ketron approached Eddie. Then, seeing Eddie’s somewhat dazed expression, he tilted his head.
“Is something the matter?”
Eddie snapped out of it at those words.
“Huh? Oh, no, what could be?”
Eddie, a little flustered, patted the spot next to him. Ketron, understanding the signal to sit down, took a seat next to Eddie.
Eddie couldn’t seem to make eye contact and wandered between the shower kits he had brought.
Why am I like this? Get a grip, Eddie.
He didn’t know why he was acting like this, but what would he do if the atmosphere became awkward here?
Eddie took a deep breath and took out the shampoo he had prepared in advance.
“I’ll wash your hair.”
Ketron’s eyes widened at Eddie’s suggestion.
“No, it’s alright…”
“You need to learn how to use this. I’ll do it just this once.”
Seeing his bewildered, gentle face, Eddie seemed to calm down a little and was able to smile calmly.
There were things similar to soap in this world, but there was naturally no such thing as shampoo or conditioner.
Since it was basically a world taken from the Middle Ages, it couldn’t be helped. After noticing the existence of the convenience store, Eddie had been using the products in the store all along, and naturally, modern items were better in this regard.
So, he was planning to teach him this time and make Ketron use it as well.
Since there was no such thing as a shower in this world, Eddie had brought a basin filled with water separately from the bath.
After checking the temperature with his hand to make sure it was right, he scooped up a ladle and poured it over Ketron’s head, and the soaking wet black cat only blinked.
After pouring water a few more times, Eddie squeezed out the shampoo and went behind Ketron.
Look how broad his back is, it’s the Pacific Ocean…
Eddie, secretly admiring, put shampoo on Ketron’s hair and started lathering it up. The black hair, soaked with water, absorbed the shampoo well.
When he was Lee Jeong-hoon, he had only shampooed dogs or other people, so Eddie’s touch, which was awkward at first, quickly became skillful.
When he pulled the bubbly hair straight up to make it look like a mountain, the short hair formed a small mountain.
“Ah.”
Cute.
He wanted to capture it in a photo. He regretted that he couldn’t.
As he rinsed his hair, he applied a lot of conditioner this time. Ketron was probably curious about what Eddie was doing, but he remained quiet.
In a way, he seemed a little stiff, but he didn’t think there was any reason for that, so he quickly shook off the thought.
After rinsing off the conditioner, it was time for the foam cleanser.
“Now it’s your face.”
“…”
Ketron obediently closed his eyes.
Eddie squeezed the white foam cleanser into his hand and applied it to his cheeks. It must have felt unfamiliar, but Ketron remained still. It was cold and sticky, and he could have hated it, but he was like such an obedient puppy.
He looks like a cat, but he acts like a dog. How could you not find him cute?
“Eddie only likes Ketron.”
That’s what Sebastian grumbled when he found out that Eddie had simply picked up Ketron in front of the inn.
But how could he not like him when he was so pretty and only did pretty things?
Eddie was doing things that were obviously unfamiliar, but he was so obedient without any resistance. How could he not like him when he saw that?
That was separate from how he felt about the forgotten protagonist as a devoted reader of 〈The Hero Doesn’t Hide His Power Too Well〉.
Eddie carefully rubbed Ketron’s face. Starting with his cheeks, he cleaned his handsome forehead and chin more thoroughly than he would clean his own face.
The skin that touched his fingertips was smooth, like touching a child’s skin, and he felt strangely excited.
Once again, he drew water and poured it from above his head, and Ketron swept back his wet hair. His neatly exposed forehead and the face with dewy eyelashes slowly opening his eyes were still gentle.
He’s so big, so innocent, how did he fight?
Eddie tilted his head because there was quite a difference between the Ketron he had seen in writing and the Ketron he had actually seen.
Eddie reached out and caressed Ketron’s cheeks.
“How is it, all squeaky clean?”
Now all I have to do is go in and show him how to apply skin lotion. Ketron nodded at Eddie’s satisfied face.
Then, he quietly looked at Eddie. Perhaps because he had swept back his bangs, his gaze, which was clearly exposed, was quite intense.
Perhaps that was why, the moment he met those two eyes, Eddie felt the awkwardness from earlier, which he had forgotten because he was so busy washing him, resurface.