Overpowered Reincarnation Perks! - Chapter 16.2
“Come in, Callion. We were just about to have breakfast. If it’s before your meal, join us.”
“Ju-in. I only made enough for two.”
Arvan’s gruff voice came from the kitchen. He was clearly doing this on purpose.
‘Didn’t you just say it was natural to have concubines!’
Is he already trying to establish dominance? But I don’t know why it’s my insides that are burning up instead of Callion’s.
***
Arvan really did only set out dishes for me and himself on the table. He had clearly been cooking stew in a large pot, but he must have put away the leftovers somewhere, as the countertop was clean.
“Callion, sit with me. There are only two chairs……”
“I’m fine standing, Ju-in.”
A steaming, spicy, and savory duck stew. Tomato salad and white bread. Arvan’s menu, which carefully included carbohydrates, protein, and dietary fiber, was flawless. That’s why even I, who usually skipped breakfast, always cleaned my plate.
“Callion. Have you had breakfast?”
“I’m not hungry. I’ll wait until you finish your meal, Ju-in.”
What do you mean, it’s fine? We can’t let our Callion go hungry!
I tore off a piece of white bread, dipped it slightly in the stew, and held it out to Callion.
“This is delicious, Callion. Just try one bite.”
“I can’t. If I eat, there will be less for you, Ju-in.”
Callion stubbornly refused. Judging by how he didn’t seem to want to eat at all, it appeared he really wasn’t hungry. But I couldn’t eat alone while Callion, who had come early in the morning, just stood there.
“Callion. This is something I like.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t you want to know what my favorite taste is like?”
Callion’s eyes widened, then he rolled his eyes to the side as if pondering.
“Callion, say ‘ah’.”
As I waved the fork and blinked, Callion’s face turned slightly red. Finally, he gave in and awkwardly bent down, opening his mouth.
For a moment, I thought I might have cut the bread too small for Callion’s large mouth, but seeing him take the stew-soaked bread from the fork, a smile involuntarily spread across my face.
He chews so neatly. He’s eating well.
“……Ju-in.”
Arvan’s uncomfortable voice came from across the table. Startled, I looked up, but he avoided eye contact with me and silently began eating.
With his pretty face, slender body, and even wearing a chick-yellow apron, Arvan should certainly look cute, but strangely, a fierce atmosphere emanated from him.
Feeling a bit intimidated, I waved a piece of duck meat.
“A-Arvan, do you want a bite too?”
“I made it, didn’t I?”
Come to think of it, that’s right.
I was at a loss for words. Let’s just shut up and eat.
I quietly ate the stew.
Beside me, Callion was watching me eat as if it were fascinating. I wanted to give him another bite, but I decided to restrain myself, thinking it might be difficult to deal with the aftermath if I did.
***
After finishing breakfast and changing clothes, I went outside with Callion. Since Arvan and I had made sufficient plans last night, I could leave it to him to gather our colleagues and explain the situation.
I was assigned the role of patrolling the outskirts of the 12th district with Callion. In fact, it would be quicker and safer if Callion went around alone, but since he didn’t want to be separated from me, I accompanied him.
“I don’t sense any unusual presence, Ju-in.”
“After what happened yesterday, everyone’s probably trying to lay low.”
“Even so, it’s too quiet. I think it would be better to survey the whole area from a higher place.”
Callion bent slightly towards me and held out his hand. It meant for me to embrace him.
Perhaps because of what happened with Arvan this morning, I felt a bit reluctant to embrace Callion. When I hesitated, his expression wavered anxiously.
“Do you dislike touching me?”
“Ah, no! That’s not it.”
Arvan had accepted it while joking about being a heroic lecher, but what about Callion? Saying I’d stay by his side doesn’t mean I’ve accepted Arvan. If I don’t want to hurt Callion anymore, I need to be clear about this.
“I’ve done things with Arvan that I did with Callion.”
“I know that you sought comfort from that man when I couldn’t be by your side while you were struggling alone, Ju-in.”
“It’s not just about seeking comfort. Arvan is an important person to me.”
“Important, you say.”
My face heated up, feeling like I was too boldly admitting to cheating. I lowered my head deeply.
Is this something a person should do? No. Let’s just stop being human. That would be better.
“I’m being too shameless after asking you to stay by my side. I want to apologize to Callion.”
“There’s no need to apologize. If it’s what you want, Ju-in, I’ll gladly follow whatever it is.”
“I’m sorry. You must have been hurt because of me─.”
Callion’s fingertips brushed my lips. Startled, I looked up to find his face right in front of mine.
“Please don’t abandon me, Ju-in.”
“I won’t abandon you……”
Callion smiled as if pleased. He gave me a quick kiss and then lifted me up in his arms.
“It’s better to patrol from a higher place.”
I chuckled and wrapped my arms around Callion’s neck. As he leaped, I felt my body float, and the surrounding scenery changed rapidly.
‘Wow.’
The clustered houses grew distant, the blocks surrounded by long roads shrank like toys, and the cool air of the bright blue sky gently enveloped us. When Callion landed again, we were on top of a high castle wall.
“What if the patrol guards spot us?”
“No one patrols at this hour.”
I knew the soldiers’ discipline was terrible, but it’s amazing that the castle still stands with such sloppy work. Seeing that they still haven’t gotten their act together even after the lord’s control has ended, they’re truly beyond hope.
I looked down at the city landscape where buildings appeared as small as fingernails, then turned my head to the opposite side. Beyond the castle walls, the gently rolling hills stretched out, tinged with a pale green under the morning sun. From this view alone, it’s an incredibly peaceful scene.
“The castle’s control has ended, but we don’t see any magical monsters yet.”
“Unless they’re abnormal individuals… magical monsters rarely stray far from their habitats.”
“How long do you think it will take for the magical monsters to expand their territory to here?”
“……”
“Callion?”
“……Usually, about a week to ten days.”
That’s similar to my prediction. So, it means this castle’s peace will be maintained for at least a week. Within that time, we need to negotiate with the headquarters and find a way to prepare for the magical monsters’ attack.
‘But how do we get to the headquarters……’
I looked up at Callion. He had spread his fur cloak wide as if to block the wind coming towards me.
“Callion. I have something to ask.”
“Please speak, Ju-in.”
“Among the magical beast hunters who came with you, is there anyone skilled enough to kill the lord?”
Callion’s expression hardened.
“Wasn’t the lord’s death due to his illness worsening?”
“No. He was murdered.”
I don’t know where the lord was, but he must have been in the safest place in the castle. To infiltrate there, it would take someone with considerable skill.
“I heard that hunters are mostly people who were exiled from the castle. There’s a high chance they hold a grudge against the lord, so the motive for murder is sufficient.”
“Ju-in. I have no grudge against the lord. I don’t even know what kind of person he was……”
“I know. I’m not saying this because I suspect Callion.”
From the start, there’s no way Callion would harm someone without reason, so if he had killed, there would surely be a justifiable circumstance. In that case, he wouldn’t hide it from me, so I never considered Callion as a suspect in the first place.
