TYND 114 END

Three days had passed, and it was time to return to the mansion. Before leaving the villa, Theon and Rothy strolled along the walking path. Rothy had already made a solid plan to climb the gentle hill at the end of the path, watch the sunset, then return to the mansion at night.

While walking, Rothy occasionally went “oof” and patted his lower back.

Because of this, Theon received reproachful glances from his subordinates… though he felt wronged.

If he had really devoured Rothy thoroughly and wildly as they thought, it would be one thing.

For three days, they had only caressed each other or spent time touching and rubbing against each other, and the actual act of penetration had happened only once per day.

Of course, there was no need to tell them this.

“Rothy, shall we rest for a moment?”

“Yeah. My butt and thighs are sore, so walking is a bit difficult.”

Thinking that the ground might turn into marshland in the dark and they should be careful, Theon seated Rothy on a bench. A field spread out in front of the bench.

While fiddling with Chi-chi and thinking about something, Rothy suddenly stood up.

“I have a good idea.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s build a campfire.”

“Mm.”

“We’ll build a campfire and sit around it in a circle. Theon will sharpen his sword… Jay, Seon, and Chungnip will talk. Ultje and Naran will sit beside them and listen to their conversation.”

“I might not be able to sharpen my sword.”

“Why?”

“Because I need to hold Rothy.”

“I have a separate plan.”

To the curious Theon, Rothy explained his plan.

A short while later, the group built a campfire and sat around it in a circle.

Theon sharpened his sword, Jay, Chungnip, and Seon chatted, while Ultje and Naran listened attentively to their chatter.

And Rothy walked alone from a distance, holding Chi-chi in his arms.

When Rothy came somewhat close, Theon sheathed his sword and stood up.

“Rothy. Will you join us?”

“Yes!”

When Rothy came bouncing over but stumbled, Theon rose like the wind and caught him.

This was Rothy’s plan. While they spent time together, he would pass by so they should call him over.

Theon sat down with Rothy in his arms.

Though he had become a young man, there was still over a 30cm height difference, making it perfect for holding and being held.

Chiiik.

Chi-chi struggled in Rothy’s arms. Rothy caught the ferret trying to escape and put him back in his embrace.

“Chi-chi, stay still. We need to warm ourselves by the fire.”

Chiiik.

“Even if it’s hot, there’s nothing we can do. Just bear with it a little…”

Chiiiik…

Rothy gave up and slumped down.

“What were you all talking about?”

“I was telling them about the giant sea creature I witnessed at Wydal Beach long ago. Are you curious too, Lord Rothy?”

“I’m curious.”

“It was a night when a crescent moon had risen.”

Jay set the mood and began his heroic tale.

“Only the sound of crashing waves could be heard, but the sea fog was so thick you couldn’t even see the waves with the naked eye. I was patrolling the coastline with this fellow Seon.”

“That must have been scary…”

“I’m someone who doesn’t know what fear is. Seon was scared though. (Seon interjected that this was nonsense.) Anyway, I was walking with my senses sharpened and scanning the surroundings with fierce eyes, when the ground beneath started rumbling with a ‘woooong’ sound. Seon didn’t notice (Seon said “bullsh—” but stopped at Ultje’s silent reproach) only I felt it.”

“Really? Amazing.”

“Actually, my martial prowess is a bit higher than Seon’s. It’s not just once or twice that I’ve noticed things first when Seon let his guard down.”

By this point, Seon couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled out his gloves. But seeing Rothy’s fascinated expression, he gave up on stopping it.

“I quickly drew my sword and took a defensive stance, so when the monster burst from the sand, I could face it without panic. But could you call that thing a monster? Its entire body was covered in blue scales, its tail was like a scorpion’s tail, and it had bat-like wings on its back. I’d never seen such a monster.”

“I’ve never seen one either. How fascinating.”

Rothy’s round eyes sparkled with curiosity and interest.

The others had heard Jay’s Wydal Beach heroic tale more than once or twice and weren’t interested. Naran, hearing it for the first time, didn’t even seem to be listening.

Only Rothy was an excellent audience.

Jay told his tale only for Rothy, modulating his tone like a minstrel on stage.

The story ended with “when we came back to tell people about it, it had disappeared.” Jay’s heroic tales always ended this way.

“That was such an interesting story. Theon, have you ever encountered strange animals?”

“I don’t recall.”

“Then you must envy Jay.”

“Rothy. Don’t forget that Jay is a braggart.”

“Maybe one of them is true?”

Jay grumbled about why people would slander him.

“Just one? I’m always serious about everything—”

“You’re bragging.”

“Seon, not as much as you.”

“Actually, showing off is a disease caused by lack of muscle. If you exercise, muscles fill your brain so you don’t spout nonsense.”

“If your brain fills with only muscle, you would die…”

“Nonsense tainted by weakness. If the body is good, the head doesn’t suffer.”

“Something seems to have changed.”

“You’re both greatly mistaken. What saves people’s lives is basic cleanliness. This is real. No one can deny it.”

Jay, Chungnip, and Seon’s comedy routine began.

This was always happening on the battlefield.

Theon chuckled at this situation he was experiencing after a very long time.

Then, a huing sound made his heart drop.

“Rothy?”

When he checked the person in his arms, contrary to his worry, Rothy was looking at Theon’s expression with a moved face.

“Really amazing. This is how Theon must have smiled back then…”

It wasn’t a whine from sadness but one that flowed from being moved.

Rothy smiled bashfully while embraced in Theon’s arms. Stroking his rosy cheeks, Theon said,

“Jay, tell a different story.”

“Yes. Anytime you wish. My list of heroic tales has no limits.”

Jay immediately launched into more bragging, Seon shook his head, Chungnip kept throwing jabs, Ultje smiled kindly, Naran yawned…

And Rothy’s eyes sparkled.

Massaging Chi-chi, who was sleeping peacefully on its back, he listened to the conversation with eyes that held stars.

Theon knew.

Rothy was doing what he couldn’t do on the battlefield.

He was finally resolving the regret of having to look wistfully and then turn away when they gathered around campfires like this in the past.

This was the reward Rothy rightfully deserved.

Epilogue

“Rothy. Answer me. What connection is there between your scars disappearing and your growth? How exactly did you grow?”

Rothy tilted his head while looking at Theon’s face looking down at him.

It was far too random a question to hear in the current situation.

He was already thinking that his head seemed to go strange every time he mingled bodies with Theon, and now he had the idle thought of whether Theon had already gone strange.

How did he grow… it was so long ago he’d forgotten.

Theon had sat him down and said he knew how he grew, what was it he said? Where and how did he say he found out? It was a really long time ago.

“Mmph.”

Then Theon touched around his waist. When Rothy shrank from the tickling, without giving him time to stop it, he spread his legs and took Rothy’s penis in his mouth.

“Theon. I said I can’t do more. Mmph…”

He was relieved when Theon said he’d wash him!

He asked such a strange and random question with such an intense gaze as if he absolutely had to hear the answer!

Was this a plan to catch him off guard?

Rothy even felt betrayed, but soon was familiarly moaning beneath Theon.

After another round of sex and being washed by Theon again, this time Rothy completely left the bed and sat at the table.

Theon lay slanted on the bed wearing only his lower garment. Rothy flipped through magical academic books to avoid being seduced.

“Rothy. You’re not thinking of working even during vacation, are you?”

“I’m not working. I’m reading because it’s interesting.”

“Read it on the bed.”

“If I lie on the bed now, I feel like I’ll get devoured again.”

“You’re the one who devoured mine.”

“Seriously.”

Rothy glared, but his eyes were so round that rather than being sharp, he was just cute and lovable.

Theon got up from the bed, opened the bedroom door, and sat across from Rothy. A white ferret entered through the open door.

“Chi-chi, come here.”

Chiiik.

Chi-chi climbed up Rothy’s leg and rolled around in his embrace. Rothy massaged Chi-chi’s plump belly.

“Look at this belly. He must have gotten food from somewhere again.”

“It must be Erhen. I definitely told him not to give Chi-chi snacks, but he doesn’t listen.”

“It is hard not to give snacks when Chi-chi looks at you like this…”

Rothy was petting Chi-chi when he suddenly remembered something and asked,

“Theon. But why did you suddenly ask about my scars?”

“…What did I ask?”

“About scars and growth. My growth stopped a long time ago, and the scar disappeared back then too. Why did you suddenly ask about something so long ago?”

“……”

Theon’s expression became blank. Rothy was puzzled but observed that face well. Such a blank Theon wasn’t something he could see often. Even after being together this long, it was still precious.

“I see.”

“What?”

“That time has come.”

“What time?”

Theon, who had only been talking about vague things, looked at Rothy and smiled.

It was a smile that seemed very happy, though he couldn’t understand why. Rothy wanted to keep asking what was so funny, but Theon suddenly got up, grabbed his chin, and kissed him, so he couldn’t ask anymore. And he forgot about the conversation, so it became a secret that only Theon knew.

<The End>