PRB | Chapter 15

The market, he said.

Even though Ketron was a hero, he was used to living like a mercenary, so being a bodyguard was a familiar task.

Having guarded nobles and even foreign royalty, Ketron was a veteran among veterans.

But even for him, being asked to guard someone on a trip to the market was a first. And it really seemed like a market selling vegetables, not a metaphor.

“You’ll come with me, right?”

“……”

Eddie’s smiling face seemed to expect no refusal. Of course, Ketron was someone who would refuse regardless of the other person’s expression if he didn’t want to, but for some reason, he couldn’t refuse this man.

No matter how trivial the task, the other person had shown him kindness and helped him.

Besides, yesterday he had tried to help with the meal and ended up creating food waste instead.

Recalling the overcooked, mushy noodles and cloudy broth, Ketron frowned. Yet, the man in front of him hadn’t gotten angry and had even praised him while giving him new noodles.

After a moment of hesitation, Ketron couldn’t reject the smiling face in front of him and nodded.

“Thanks.”

The man looked pleased. Seeing that face didn’t feel bad, so Ketron quietly brushed back his sweat-drenched hair.

He rationalized that this small favor was a way to repay for the mess he made with the noodles yesterday.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a reason to step up for such a trivial matter.

𐙚 𐙚 𐙚

While Ketron washed up and prepared to go out, Eddie went down to the convenience store in the basement and brewed a cup of coffee. The familiar sound of the machine filled the store with the rich aroma of coffee beans.

“Ah, iced Americano is the best.”

As a proud member of the “Iced Coffee Forever” club, Eddie opted for an iced Americano, even as the weather turned colder.

“Gerald, I’m heading to the market with Ket.”

Eddie informed Gerald, who was cleaning the first floor. Gerald, unaware that Ketron would accompany Eddie, frowned.

“With that outsider?”

“His name is Ketron.”

Gerald still seemed displeased with Ketron’s presence in the inn. He wouldn’t even call him by name and didn’t hide his dissatisfaction with his presence. But since it was Eddie’s decision, he had to endure it.

I wonder when these two will get along.

Unaware that his wish might never come true, Eddie sipped his coffee.

By then, Ketron had finished preparing and came down. He wasn’t carrying the holy sword on his back.

For a local market, the holy sword—or any weapon—wasn’t really necessary. Besides, the sword’s grandeur and distinct appearance would draw attention, so it was better left behind.

Of course, whether he held a sword or not, or even if he was unarmed, Ketron could easily protect Eddie.

“Gerald, we’re off!”

To avoid another potential clash between Gerald and Ketron, Eddie quickly grabbed Ketron’s arm and led him outside.

The fresh air felt nice after a long time. It was a bit chilly with winter approaching.

Worried that Ketron might leave him behind or that he might lose him, Eddie timidly held onto Ketron’s sleeve.

“……”

Ketron glanced at the hand holding his sleeve but left it alone. It didn’t matter much to him.

“Brr, it’s a bit cold.”

“If you’re cold, why are you drinking something cold?”

“Because I’m an iced coffee lover.”

“……?”

Ketron couldn’t understand. Naturally, he had no idea about coffee, especially iced Americano, which even Italians supposedly disliked.

With a playful smile, Eddie offered his cup to Ketron.

“Want to try?”

“What is it?”

“It’s called Americano… Hmm. Never mind. It might not suit a kid’s taste.”

Ketron had a sweet tooth like a kid.

Eddie casually poked at Ketron’s preferences.

Having never been misunderstood like this in his life, Ketron found it unfair. Before meeting this man, he had never indulged in sweets.

Frowning, Ketron reached out his hand.

“Give it to me.”

Eddie handed over his coffee with a curious smile. Ketron, wanting to shake off the “kid who likes sweets” image, took a big gulp without hesitation.

Whoa, drinking that much at once would be bitter even for me. I added extra shots.

Indeed, Ketron took a large gulp, enough to puff out his cheeks, then swallowed it all at once, grimacing and muttering softly.

“……Tastes awful…”

Then, as if discarding something hideous, he tossed the coffee cup into the bushes with a swift motion.

“Huh?”

Eddie watched the ice cup disappear into the bushes, mouth agape.

Well, he knew that items from the convenience store would disappear after a few days once they became trash, so the plastic cup wouldn’t be a problem.

But losing his precious HP potion so suddenly made Eddie tilt his head.

It wasn’t that he minded losing it, as it was replenished daily, but Ketron didn’t seem like the type to throw away someone else’s belongings so carelessly.

As if confirming Eddie’s thoughts, Ketron looked a bit embarrassed. It seemed he hadn’t meant to throw it.

However, Ketron soon spoke firmly.

“I threw it away because it seemed poisoned.”

His voice and demeanor were unnecessarily confident.

Eddie was momentarily stunned. Poison…?

But soon, understanding Ketron’s meaning, Eddie couldn’t hold back and burst into laughter.

Of course, Ketron probably wasn’t serious. If he truly thought it was poison, both Eddie and Ketron would have immediately tried to spit it out.

So his words meant it tasted so bad it might as well have been poison. Whether he liked it or not, he was admitting to having a sweet tooth.

Eddie laughed for quite a while. It wasn’t until Ketron, with a sulky face, tried to walk ahead that Eddie managed to calm down and say, “Let’s go together!” grabbing Ketron’s sleeve to walk alongside him.

Yet he couldn’t stop the occasional chuckle from escaping.

He said it was poison, not spoiled, but poison… How cute.

The situation was funny, but his confident demeanor after throwing it was even more amusing. Eddie felt that Ketron’s words about throwing it away because it seemed poisoned would stick with him for a long time. He couldn’t stop laughing.

“Please stop laughing.”

Ketron, unable to bear it, finally said.

If Ketron got upset and went back to the inn, it would be a problem, so Eddie desperately tried to suppress his laughter. No, no. I have to go to the market today.

As they started walking towards the market, Ketron, still frowning from the lingering bitterness, glanced at Eddie, who was struggling to hold back laughter, and suddenly grabbed the back of his neck.

Eddie, thinking he might get hit for laughing too much, widened his eyes.

“……? Ket?”

“It’s nothing.”

Ketron’s gaze turned to the man who had been watching them from the second floor of the inn. His gaze was cold.

“There was a bug.”

Crunch.

Ketron crushed what he held in his hand, and the man who met his gaze frowned deeply. At the same time, the man’s mana fluctuated.

As a top-tier combat mage and swordsman, Ketron could see it all at a glance.

Ketron continued walking. Eddie, still holding Ketron’s sleeve, matched his steps, unaware of what had happened.

Left alone, Gerald watched them with disapproval before turning away.

He had no choice but to accept it. If Eddie chose that man as his guard instead of him, he had to comply.

But aside from that, Gerald leaned against the wall, catching his breath.

The shock of the magic spirit he had placed near Eddie being dismantled in an instant made his heart’s mana rings tremble. It wasn’t an injury, but it wasn’t a trivial shock either.

“……Arrogant fool.”

Gerald’s face was pale as he spat out the words.