PRSR | Chapter 9.4

Rio intervened in the conversation as soon as Kim Myung-seok asked for my contact. His expression was cold, a look I hadn’t seen before, and his voice was chilling. It should have felt strange seeing Rio like this, but oddly, I didn’t mind it.

Really, nothing has changed since he was a mouse. Cute, affectionate, and fiercely protective of any life form other than me.

Thinking this made Rio seem like a giant mouse standing on guard to protect me. Imagining him begging for praise when we returned to the inn made me smile.

That’s when Rio’s expression darkened.

“…!”

Suddenly, the noisy surroundings fell silent as if time had stopped. Not only Kim Myung-seok but also the other Awakened around us froze and stared at Rio.

Their shocked eyes seemed to face a giant foe rather than a fellow Awakened.

‘Did Rio do something?’

Seeing that I was fine, it was clear Rio had done something. What exactly had he done to make so many people tremble as if they were prey in front of a predator?

The legendary presence? Perhaps Awakened with a level gap can intimidate others with just a look.

“Let’s go, Soul.”

While Rio was pulling at my sleeve, the other Awakened couldn’t even move a finger and continued to tremble. Thinking someone might collapse, I nodded in agreement.

As soon as I gave my permission, Rio scooped me up as if he had been waiting for it.

“Woah!”

With his arms securely around me, Rio stretched his long legs and ran powerfully.

“Just a moment, please!”

Ignoring Kim Myung-seok’s shouts from behind, Rio successfully escaped the field.

We were just entering the city when we caught the eyes of a group of Awakened standing nearby.

These were low-level Awakened who hardly participated in the battle. They were from different hunting grounds and knew nothing about the rumors or what had happened during the monster wave.

They would all know about today’s events by tomorrow. Maybe new rumors would start spreading among them.

Haha. I don’t know. Let’s think about tomorrow when it comes.

“Uh…? Mr. Soul?”

Just my luck, there was a familiar face among the group. I covered my face with both hands to avoid Shin Youngho’s gaze. Interpreting my action in his own way, Rio held me even tighter.

“It’s okay, Soul. I’ll protect you.”

It’s all because of you, really.

* * *

After we got back to the inn, Rio finally let me down. Once I regained my freedom on two feet, I stretched my arms wide and flopped down on the bed.

“What was that all about earlier?”

“Princess carry.”

“I wasn’t asking what the posture is called.”

“Sorry. I just wanted us to be alone quickly.”

Rio knelt in front of me, resting his head on my lap, and asked in the most pitiful voice he could muster.

“Did you hate it?”

His big frame curled up, making him look like a mouse squeaking for its owner on a rainy day. How did he know that I have a soft spot for this pitiful act? Eventually, I couldn’t help but stroke Rio’s head.

“It wasn’t that I hated it, I was just startled.”

“I’ll warn you next time.”

Rio hugged my legs and rubbed his forehead against my pajama pants. It was something Jjikjjiki did when he wanted to show affection.

It was really cute and lovable, but the feeling of hair brushing against my knees and thighs through the thin fabric was ticklish.

“Soul.”

Rio lifted his head and looked up at me with his big, shiny black eyes. His eyes were sparkling, but I could tell.

Kang Rio. You’re full of complaints now.

“Do you like that kind of face?”

“What? Whose face?”

“The person we met earlier. Was it Kim Myunsik?”

“It’s Kim Myung-seok.”

“I don’t care. Whatever the name.”

Rio buried his face in my lap in a sulk.

“Do you prefer his face over mine?”

“98% of humanity would probably find his face attractive. What are you talking about?”

“I don’t need the approval of 98% of humanity. I just need to be appealing to Soul.”

“My standards of beauty aren’t that different from everyone else’s.”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“It means that to my eyes, you look better.”

“Soul, even the way you beat around the bush is charming.”

Rio pressed a quick kiss on my lap.

It was just a peck as usual, but it felt strangely significant. I wanted to pull away my leg, but Rio was holding it tight, making it impossible.

“I was a bit jealous when you were talking and laughing with someone else.”

“Was I laughing?”

“Yes, you looked incredibly happy.”

“That wasn’t happiness, that was probably an expression of transcendence.”

“I know when you force a smile just by looking at the back of your head.”

How can you tell by looking at the back of my head?

“But that was a smile you only make when you’re happy.”

It was a smile I showed only to you.

His muttering voice trembled slightly. Perhaps fearing I’d vanish suddenly, Rio tightened his grip around my leg.

“Ah. You mean the smile at the end?”

I did smile, but it wasn’t because the conversation was enjoyable. It was because Rio, trying to protect me, looked so adorable.

Unaware of this, Rio muttered disappointedly, showing he felt left out.

“I want to only show you good sides of me, but jealousy keeps getting the better of me. They say this is pathetic. What if Soul stops thinking of me as a good husband material?”

“We aren’t even lovers yet, and you’re already thinking about marriage?”

“I always imagine marrying Soul.”

I ruffled Rio’s soft gray hair vigorously. When he was a mouse, I used to rub his warm, soft belly like this, but now that wouldn’t feel the same, so I chose to mess with his hair instead.

Realizing the meaning behind my action, Rio looked up at me again.

“I was smiling because I was thinking about you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“I imagined you asking for praise.”

Rio’s gloominess vanished, replaced by a bright, sunny expression. It was as if he personified the word happiness.

“You were expecting me to ask for a kiss?”

“Not expecting, just imagining.”

“So, you liked imagining me kissing you enough to smile like that?”

How did it come to that interpretation?

“Really, were you really thinking of me?”

“That’s what I said.”

Rio gradually straightened up to meet my eye level, still holding onto my legs. His arms pressed down on the edge of the bed, and my body shifted forward.

I barely avoided falling forward but now faced Rio’s face at a breath’s distance.

“You did that on purpose.”

“I just wanted to lean on the bed.”

“Lies.”

“It’s actually a lie. But this way, it’s easier to kiss.”

Rio closed his eyes and leaned forward.

“Soul, give me a kiss.”

Not praise, but a kiss. Just one word changed, but it felt so different.

Usually, I would have just let him do what he wanted while he beamed at me, but this time, instead of rushing in, Rio sat quietly with his eyes closed, waiting for a kiss.

“…”

After a moment of hesitation, I grabbed Rio’s cheek with my right hand and placed my thumb over his lips.

Then I kissed him over it.

Smack.

Even though he must have felt the touch of my thumb on his lips, Rio smiled brightly.

“I like it.”

“Good.”

“You know I like you too, Soul.”

“Yeah. Want a snack?”

“Yes.”

I got up abruptly and turned my back on Rio.

‘Why is my face so hot after that?’

This inn is great, but it’s a bit warm.

I fanned myself and laid out some fruit and sweet potatoes I had packed for snacks on the table. I also put down the lunch and dinner boxes I had prepared, not knowing when the quest would end.

“Ah.”

As if he had forgotten how to move his hands, Rio opened his mouth like a baby bird begging for food, instead of using his perfectly good hands.

“Good grief.”

I pretended to sigh but picked a grape and offered it to Rio.

Instead of taking the grape, he grabbed my hand and kissed my thumb.

“Indirect kiss.”

What a crafty mouse.

* * *

“…Huh.”

I woke up with a big breath, realizing I had dozed off. When I opened my eyes, everything was pitch black around me.

I remember having dinner while arguing playfully with Rio about who should feed the grapes, and we both ended up lying down on the bed together. It seems I fell asleep without realizing it, overwhelmed by the fatigue from roaming the field earlier.

Though I feel like I slept deeply, my body felt heavy, like cotton soaked in water. Maybe I’m still tired.

As I tossed and turned, I noticed something wrapped around my waist. It was thick, solid, and warm.

It was Rio’s arm.

‘The only thing similar to when he was a rat is the warmth.’

How am I supposed to escape from this, with the person woken up tightly holding onto my waist with his arm? I tried to get up but failed.

‘It’s heavy.’

The more I wriggled, the tighter his arm clung to me.

“Rio.”

No response came back.

He’s always been a heavy sleeper, and it seemed he was especially short on sleep these past few days due to waking up early for morning events. Even poking his arm elicited nothing but some mumbling.

‘I’m thirsty.’

I’d need to move his arm to go get some water. But, how could I, a non-Awakened, possibly overcome the strength of Rio who could outmatch even monsters?

After several futile attempts, I gave up on getting water and just stared at the ceiling. As I lay there, my eyes gradually adjusted to the dark. Using the moonlight streaming through the window as my light, I observed Rio’s face.

Even if I couldn’t see anything else, Rio’s face was clear in front of me. With his top off, his broadly spread shoulders and a physique that seemed sculpted by the gods, Rio slept with his mouth slightly open in a small triangle.

‘He looks just like when he was a rat.’

Rio, unimaginable as a rat, had beautiful teeth. When he was a rat, I always worried whether he could properly chew seeds since his front teeth didn’t protrude like other rats. I used to soak hard feed in water because I worried he might not eat it well.

“So that’s why you hated the feed so much?”

Yet, when I fed him directly, he would chew even the tasteless feed thoroughly. He must have really enjoyed being fed by me.

“…”

Just thinking about it made me remember how Rio used to press his lips to my fingers. A feeling of embarrassment washed over me, prompting me to poke Rio’s cheek.

“Mmm…”

Rio still mumbled in his sleep, a habit he kept from his days as a rat.

‘Looks like a huge rat.’

Not just big, but very big. A rat bigger than me.

‘Kinda cute, though.’

As I continued to poke his cheek, a wrinkle formed on his forehead. Tapping it lightly, it smoothed out again.

Rio is simple.

‘He’s not waking up.’