Chapter 12: Vulgar Matters

“… ”

Faced with a situation far beyond her expectations, Emil fell silent for a long moment.

She looked Histrie up and down, then took a deep breath and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her fingers.

“…Sorry, Histrie. That was just my reflex when facing danger. Next time, be more careful if you come close to me while I’m asleep.”

“Mm! I understand!”

Histrie pursed her lips lightly, nodded seriously at Emil, and forced a bright smile onto her face.

“But since the Hero is already awake, please have this cake!”

“If you keep eating that kind of awful dried meat, even if your body can handle it, your mind will gradually become exhausted!”

“…Mm.”

After politely handing the cake to Emil, Histrie carefully lifted her thigh, trying to move off of Emil’s body.

However, at that very moment, Emil’s fingers suddenly climbed up and grabbed Histrie’s ankle without warning, freezing her mid-motion.

“Oh right, Histrie.”

Emil casually placed the cake on a nearby tree stump, then blinked lightly at Histrie as she asked calmly—

“Why were you climbing onto me just now?”

“… ”

Though it was just a simple question, the moment Histrie understood its meaning, her smile froze, and cold sweat instantly soaked her back.

“…Y-yeah… why was I?”

She awkwardly scratched the tip of her nose and tilted her head at Emil in confusion.

—So why was that!?

If it was just to give Emil the cake, she could have simply stood beside her and woken her up, right!?

In this strange position…

Unless she intended to attack her, the only other possibility was—

…a night assault!!!

Looking at Emil’s faintly smiling face, Histrie clenched her hands tightly, took a deep breath, and quickly clasped her hands together.

“I’m sorry, Hero!”

“Oh? ‘Sorry’? What are you sorry for?”

As Emil asked with a smile, her fingers quietly moved toward the hilt of her sword.

“Because your sleeping face looked so cute, I couldn’t help myself. I climbed onto you to look at your face up close!”

“… ”

Emil’s hand froze halfway to the sword.

“My… face?”

“Yes!”

Histrie bit her lower lip and nervously intertwined her fingers.

“In all these years since I was captured by the demons, I’ve never seen a woman as beautiful as you, Hero.”

“You looked so peaceful while sleeping—I meant to wait until tomorrow to give you the cake, but before I knew it… I got lost staring at your face.”

With that, Histrie clapped her hands together and bowed deeply to Emil.

“I’m sorry, Hero! It’s all because I was too greedy! You’ve already treated me so well, yet I still did something so improper without your permission. Please punish me severely!”

After patiently listening to Histrie’s explanation, Emil gently rubbed her chin with her fingers, then gave a slight smile.

“…It’s fine, Histrie. I don’t mind.”

“Really!?”

“Mm.”

Emil gently patted the top of Histrie’s head and smiled.

“It’s already very late. You should go to sleep soon.”

“Okay! Thank you, kind and generous Hero!”

Histrie let out a relieved sigh in her heart.

She obediently climbed down from Emil and waved cheerfully at her.

“Oh, right! Before you sleep, please make sure to try that cake! I carefully picked it out—I hope it suits your taste!”