ODKO | Chapter 21

Jack clicked his tongue and took off his coat, draping it over Cayenne’s shoulders. Then he grabbed Cayenne’s cold hands and kneaded them firmly. Cayenne frowned at the strong grip, but he didn’t seem to mind. He just stared blankly at Jack’s hands pressing down on his own.efcd4cf0b6cf28dc

“Are you sick or something?”2b43c1d03bc40742

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“…I don’t know.”49e260ef81a2709a

His voice was completely defenseless. Jack looked at Cayenne with a mix of worry and confusion. Even though Cayenne’s voice was weak, his pupils were clear, so he didn’t seem unconscious. Nonetheless, Cayenne dodged giving a clear answer and allowed Jack’s familiar touch to press between his fingers.63e05716676c0000

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“…You’re used to this. Is it because you have a lot of younger siblings?”c35deafe85c41e6e

“That’s part of it. The youngest used to get sick often when he was little….”2864104efa39e4b3

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Jack was trying to figure out just how unwell Cayenne was and whether he should call a doctor as soon as they got back. He paused in his thoughts as he responded to Cayenne’s words.1efba9d079751e7e

“Did you investigate me too?”6907ef8adc688280

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He remembered when they were catching Viper, Cayenne already knew he was from the countryside. Knowing about his siblings meant Cayenne had looked into his personal details. The realization wasn’t exactly pleasant. But once again, Cayenne just let out a hollow laugh as if he found it ridiculous.3a76203439637499

“What do you think I am? I don’t need to investigate; I have all the personnel files of the Repelz Knights Order.”ed0c3358ca65afbb

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“…Ah.”bef2cfb1d062d259

Jack let out 648791889e a low exclamation. He realized 20405a6517 he had a393ed44d0 forgotten. It was only natural 0a887a927b for the overall commander 831334df48 of the knights.3e2506be3913db1a

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“So it was a front investigation, not a background check….”e487bcd2cc4e87a8

“…….”4daf21f3eaf580a7

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The awkward silence that d8970b6256 followed his careless remark cfe5868a52 was chillingly cold. The temperature of 5e70f33635 the stillness was 6d2f80c4a0 unusually biting.7900ed3137209e53

“I thought this before, but when you have nothing to say, you just blurt out anything like an old man….”02f2df7dd7f7f201

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Cayenne spoke with a light laugh when he felt warmth returning to the hand he was holding. Jack looked up at the sound of his voice and met Cayenne’s face, smiling beside him.e6beaf38add27812

The reddish twilight seemed to paint over his tousled black hair. His complexion was still pale, but seeing his eyes crinkle with a smile made Jack’s heart drop with a thud.d89a97cea12ab1ab

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I want to 85fcd0cce6 kiss him….18cb02ab8e7f501d

A dangerous impulse surged through him. Suddenly feeling his mouth go dry, Jack lowered his head. He had just gotten rid of the scars of glory from a light kiss attempt. If he messed up again here, it wouldn’t end with just a threat, and the sense of crisis was as intense as the perilous impulse.e656dbccbffe7759

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Hold it in, hold it in. It’s all just the dangerous allure of the sunset, the cool breeze, and the tranquil atmosphere. Jack suppressed his precarious feelings and pressed Cayenne’s hand firmly. Despite his appearance, the calloused hand was rough, filled with countless scars from rigorous training.4f1b9099abe07315

Suddenly remembering their first meeting, Jack stifled a laugh. To think he had mistaken such a clear knight’s hand for a musician’s, he found his own stupidity absurd. But who would have imagined the newly appointed knight commander was an Omega, burning incense in such a humble place?d318cb0700976b2a

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“Hey, that hurts.”e060c84ed3b90995

Lost in unwanted memories, Jack was brought back to reality by Cayenne’s sharp voice as he absentmindedly massaged his hand.30b9fa71c2ab06e8

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“Oh, I’m sorry.”5a420b203da62f39

Looking down at 63bfd94501 the hand he 726193b290 was gripping tightly, df9cfc6e97 he saw the 07cf640b14 palm was bright 09d0b03177 red. The once 2706282a94 cold temperature e5c3689896 was now 05e8028ece hot. He had 7287f7d1f4 no idea c2457f73f0 how long 9342a22860 he had 83e076201a been kneading 934cca6b23 it. Jack swallowed 76a843b705 nervously, belatedly 32cc26dafa realizing his 6b4f3069ef mistake.894693d85fbd41d0

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“Your grip is refreshing…. Since you’ve started, why not try my shoulder too?”cbc48239830bc90b

Jack felt a af40275b88 bit deflated, expecting 115e4956ae a sharp reaction. But Cayenne, despite frowning, b440134caf only rubbed his sore f58131c8e6 hand with a faint 9134c4c093 smile on his lips. Then he casually aada9f6ff4 pointed to his eadd769368 shoulder.b838c6a3bf3e68e4

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Like a trained dog, Jack responded with a “Yes, sir,” and went to work. Cayenne, whose complexion had slightly improved, leaned back comfortably, leaving his shoulder to Jack’s hands. When Jack placed his hands on the shoulder, the muscles were more tense than he had expected.aae7b483720eca02

“Your shoulders are really stiff.”11ad597c8f655d2b

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“I haven’t been moving my body much lately.”f50b22aac5145eb9

“Well, you’ve been buried in paperwork all the time.”8b412f1b42f2bce5

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Cayenne responded with a nod to Jack’s comment. Jack diligently pressed and kneaded the stiff shoulders with all his heart.12a455c9a30ca1bf

“Ah, that’s good….”b0a77151ae7d3c49

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Cayenne, who 0b5e8e3b87 had remarked 8e2d3a5036 that Jack 9647579d95 seemed like 802ec01eda an old ae836e0b34 man, let 6d565b0a47 out a 06d16f6a0c drawn-out groan. It was the 8e123e6770 very sound of 95c8c29fc3 a middle-aged man. Yet, hearing 6179e91927 that it a2f5a9fba2 felt good, 91bc3d5f37 Jack got bec2579181 a bit a078323405 excited and 6b882d839b happily massaged 390ec591d4 the neck 1b5f4ac014 and shoulder 5711d5adf2 line. But then he suddenly 4701335351 realized the cruel reality.8b01d069a7a2000b

…Why am I doing 59cb58871e this?ddf4323f8d05552d

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He hadn’t done anything befitting a knight’s secretary, and now he was working tirelessly to become a perfect personal masseur. He couldn’t even remember the last time he wielded a sword. At least under Rick Wyatt, he had never missed a training session….3736164c10018828

“Hey, there, a bit lower….”77333fa33cf64e54

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Despite feeling a dizzying identity crisis, Jack diligently followed Cayenne’s orders, massaging his shoulders, arms, and back thoroughly.202b4e64dd78e9ba

“Ah, that’s refreshing.”590334cead1a743e

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Even though Cayenne kept expressing how good it felt like an old man, Jack didn’t mind hearing it. Instead, he felt a bit resentful of the sunset turning from red to purple faster than he thought.69758a0d6bb25423

“By the way, don’t you think you’re being a bit much?”72ffed5f8b1ade52

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Recalling the saying “If you can’t avoid it, enjoy it,” Jack worked his hands tirelessly until they hurt, then suddenly spoke up.069ea83858c376d4

“What now?”ea4b7e14443556ee

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“When you call us. You say not to rank us by our origins, but you call us ‘hey,’ ‘you,’ ‘that guy,’ isn’t that a bit too much?”55cba5d5712c9f44

Thinking it might be c074dd8be6 okay to voice such 01ad5a03e9 a complaint by now, be73a6acb5 Jack mustered the courage 7989718acc to express the dissatisfaction 0d1c20e9d4 he had been holding dc82275ff7 back. Cayenne turned his 74e69c1579 head to look b48dfa96d4 at Jack standing de8d02147f behind him.e4a41a35dc603e03

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“Is that something you’re unhappy about?”aadca153d88bb2ef

“It’s not really a complaint….”6e8551e61e77aaee

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“You’re young, yet you worry about everything.”c6df4951e7e1dae7

Cayenne said bluntly. Jack frowned f3a721da28 slightly at c37b711433 the dismissive 84d404be26 tone, feeling 892adc4b9a a subtle 23faaca960 discomfort, then 0b9da95d1f became curious.d6f5c56adf7b0587

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“…Am I young? Me?”7342655172053e53

Of course, he wasn’t old enough to be treated with respect everywhere, but he wasn’t particularly young for the average age of the knights either. Jack, who had thought Cayenne was around his age or a year or two younger, widened his eyes at the unexpected comment.f80f9724d80985c1

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“Do I seem like the kind of person who would disrespect an elder, even if they’re my secretary?”ad76e726432340fb

What kind of 3db8ee3361 image do I f9ab89e79d have, Cayenne grumbled b0b7bcc4f6 as he massaged 2010d0e3dc his languid arm. Jack was quite taken fdbe05dc8d aback. It was somehow more d5a24fb964 shocking than the confusion facf13e86c over his identity as 03309f5dd6 a knight or the 5ba1f7d7e6 wall he faced when 59062b4665 ranked by class. To think that 13d9f5be86 face was older 2d40027c8b than him.cb6c1385c4140679

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“May I ask how old you are…?”fbf64043c0293d9f

“I’m not telling you, man.”aedca07ac2fd187a

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Jack, who hadn’t even considered the possibility of Cayenne’s age being higher, was filled with curiosity up to the top of his head, but Cayenne was cold.0ad48eed7716208f

“I should join the training tomorrow. My body is in bad shape from just looking at all the paperwork.”0b3f822d52b82359

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With a grunt, Cayenne ade4d2d043 got up from his cfa273645d seat. Jack was dazed cd7dcc8fb5 from the shock eed8ece536 about the age.03ad233f84483002

“…Hey, Sir Jack Carlson.”5b24ba6d4967603f

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Even though Cayenne stood facing him, indicating it was time to go, Jack remained in a daze. Cayenne leaned his face close to Jack’s and called him politely. Jack snapped back to reality with a start, blinking as he responded, “Yes, yes.” Cayenne’s brow furrowed slightly.24c2a0af6cfe5706

“Are you listening? I asked you to schedule training for tomorrow.”42edc74d507671df

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“Oh, yes. I got it.”f9147ae324e617cf

Jack hurriedly replied. However, the 29b9b70fd1 bewildered expression a895ce6247 still lingered be5add6d7a on his dd65b3cfb1 face. Cayenne let out 101bfa9ad6 a hollow laugh fcc1ff5cf7 as if he 507551cf19 found it ridiculous.8a5267f76a057ef3

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“Why is it so shocking that I’m older, Secretary? Did you think I’d be younger than you with this career?”c80dd07295da7fbf

“…Well, it’s just that your appearance… I naturally thought you’d be younger than me.”5b946968c2943df5

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Jack blushed with embarrassment. Given his prestigious family background, he had assumed Cayenne’s career was built on water like Rick Wyatt’s. Of course, there must be some influence. Lower-ranking nobles or commoners like Jack have limits on how far they can rise, no matter how much they roll on the battlefield.7dc5fe0898683a65

“Is that your type?”45505c68056a206e

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“Sorry?”06b6e1970ffbf782

Jack absentmindedly repeated Cayenne’s question, thinking his voice sounded quite dumb.a653ad275ca37625

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“My face.”e7a0d03c55b24f03

Cayenne was smiling. The corners of his aede11f7b9 mouth were drawn up 2b1c7e72b4 mischievously.cd26c85af95d7145

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It was clearly meant to make him laugh, but Jack didn’t feel like laughing. He found himself staring at Cayenne as if entranced.c15514788913d7e2

The idea of a “type” seemed absurd. Even without considering his family or the position of knight commander, his well-defined and handsome features were objectively attractive enough to make anyone want to take a second look. Jack didn’t know how to respond and just had his gaze captured.5317f58b46e26994

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