Gwen and Viktor stood at the doorway, looking into the room.
"Why did you agree to that? We should've asked more questions, or maybe waited a little longer…"
Viktor gave her a sideways glance, then said, "Remember why you're here."
"You didn't come here for a vacation or to sleep."
Hearing Viktor's words, Gwen shook her head and finally calmed down.
Still, the idea of a man and a woman staying together in one room at night was… a little awkward.
And there was only one bed, a big one.
Gwen frowned and hesitated for a moment before speaking up,
"I'll sleep on the floor."
Viktor nodded in agreement.
"That's fine."
Gwen froze for a second.
As a knight, wearing armor, she could sleep anywhere just the same.
But Viktor's reaction…
Somehow made her feel a bit annoyed.
She couldn't quite explain why. In her mind, there was no such thing as "ladies first" or "chivalry."
Viktor was a mage, physically weaker than she was, so he should sleep on the bed.
But after a full day of travel, Gwen could feel the sticky sweat under her armor.
Honestly…
She wanted a bath.
She'd endured long missions before, but this time felt different.
Maybe it was because there was a man in the room, for some reason, she actually started to worry about whether she smelled or not.
She patted her cheeks, trying to shake those pointless thoughts out of her head.
Gwen wasn't the kind of person to make unreasonable demands.
Given the small size of this inn and the late hour, there was clearly no way to get a hot bath.
But with all this sweat, what if she really did smell? What would she do then?
She hesitated, even forgetting that she was still wearing full armor that clanked with every little move.
While Viktor used magic to examine the surroundings and set up a soundproof barrier at the door, he suddenly heard the scraping noise of armor.
He frowned and turned around to see Gwen, looking tangled up in thought, biting her finger with a worried expression.
"Why haven't you taken off your armor?"
Hearing him, Gwen grew flustered, lowering her head slightly. Her cheeks turned faintly red.
———
"You're saying you want a bath? In a place like this?"
Viktor sat down in a chair and rubbed his forehead.
There was no partition here, much less a bathroom.
The entire room had only one big bed, two chairs, and a table.
It was ridiculously simple.
And yet, under such conditions, Gwen said she wanted a bath…
"What a willful request."
Hearing Viktor's words, Gwen grew even more embarrassed. But she had only been speaking offhandedly. She'd already resigned herself to just sleeping in her armor, though it would be uncomfortable.
She was a knight. Even if she smelled, she could bear it until she got home.
She found herself missing her warm bathroom… and her soft, comfortable bed.
Suddenly, a soft green glow lit up before her. Gwen lifted her head, seeing Viktor's raised hand sketching a mysterious magic array into the floor.
The green light circles overlapped, forming complex patterns.
[First-tier Magic: Wood Carving]
The instant the magic circle completed, vines sprouted from the floor, wooden branches growing upward.
They intertwined automatically, taking the shape of a bathtub.
The magic even polished the surface until it gleamed smooth and dark.
Gwen blinked at the sudden appearance of the very thing she'd been wishing for.
But Viktor wasn't done.
Blue and red magic circles spun between his hands, alternating their glow. The air in the room began to grow warm.
When he clapped his hands together, the two circles merged into one seamless formation.
'A dual-circle cast?'
Gwen had never seen such an advanced spell before, but then again, she wasn't a mage.
'Still… what is Viktor doing?'
The answer became clear.
The air grew humid, and water formed out of thin air inside the array, then came into contact with the heat of the red magic circle.
In an instant, the temperature rose.
Boiling hot water gushed out as if squeezed from an invisible sponge, filling the bathtub completely.
Gwen stared blankly, utterly stunned. Her eyes blinked wide in disbelief.
"This… this is something magic can do?"
She had met mages before, but never one who could use magic so casually, so effortlessly.
For the first time, she realized how convenient magic could be.
"If you trust me, then go ahead."
Viktor spoke as he snapped his fingers.
A small black array appeared on the ring at his hand, releasing a thick, dark mist that formed a curtain between them, completely dividing the space.
He couldn't see her; she couldn't see him.
Watching Viktor finish everything, Gwen suddenly felt a wave of gratitude.
'When you're on a mission… having a mage around, might actually be… pretty nice.'
She wasn't the type to overthink. Since Viktor had already gone this far, and she always kept her sense of righteousness active, Gwen took off her armor and clothes, then slipped into the tub.
At that moment, she felt pure bliss from head to toe.
Vega lifted it's eyes and gave Viktor, sitting calmly in a chair reading, a speechless, slightly scornful look.
"I can hardly believe you wasted your mana just to do something so trivial."
Viktor pulled out a bottle of blue potion and downed it in one gulp.
The mana he'd spent was instantly restored.
He had to stay alert while traveling, always in top form.
Setting the empty vial aside, he muttered to Vega, "You wouldn't understand."
"Fine, fine, I don't understand," Vega deadpanned, it's tone dry.
"I've never seen you care this much about a woman before."
Viktor shook his head, remembering Valkyrie Gwen from the game.
That fierce, unstoppable figure, cutting down gods and demons alike, was burned into his memory.
The toughest boss he'd ever fought.
If he could avoid being her enemy, who would want to fight her?
As he thought this, faint sounds rustled from behind the mist curtain.
Viktor, "..."
In some sense, he was still a normal man.
The noises next door disturbed his thoughts; he couldn't focus on his book at all. His mind was restless and irritable.
Would it be too late to cast another soundproof spell now?
She'd definitely notice.
Still… He lowered his head slightly.
[First-tier Magic: Self-Suggestion]
His eyes flickered faintly, then the inner fire dimmed.
From behind the curtain, Gwen peeked her head out.
"Um… I washed my clothes too. Could you maybe…"
Before she could finish, Viktor raised his hand again.
[First-tier Magic: Hot Wind]
A bright red magic circle flared to life on her side. Gwen glanced back and felt a wave of comforting warmth behind her.
"Thanks, I can dry them now…"
Blushing, she quickly pulled her head back behind the curtain.
"Phew."
Viktor's eyes stayed cold, clinging to the last thread of rational thought.
"By the way, don't you need a bath?"
Gwen's voice came from the other side.
Viktor rubbed his forehead, visibly irritated.
"…I have a wind barrier enchantment. I don't get dirty."
"And if you expect me to bathe in the water you just used, I'll be over there right now."
His tone was sharp. He just wanted her to hurry up and get dressed.
"Sorry… I got carried away."
'Calm down. Calm down.'
That phrase kept echoing in Viktor's head.
"Actually, I was thinking, maybe I should sleep on the bed. I just washed my clothes, and I don't want them to get dirty again."
Gwen suddenly said, as if realizing something.
'Gwen! I'm not your parent! Do you understand?! I can't take care of everything for you!'
———
Later, Gwen was fully dressed and sleeping peacefully on the one and only bed.
As for Viktor, he sat in the chair, expressionless.
He'd ended up doing it anyway…
First, he'd used a sleep spell on her. Then, he'd moved her onto the bed with magic.
"The Gwen I knew was supposed to be cold and merciless."
The Gwen he remembered had always executed royal orders without hesitation, like a soulless killing machine.
But this Gwen… she wasn't there yet.
She was still distant, yes, but she behaved like an ordinary person, someone with unnecessary emotions.
She would question the innkeeper repeatedly because there was only one room left.
And when he helped her, she'd cautiously ask for more help, never daring to cross his line.
When she made mistakes, she'd apologize. Her attitude wasn't nearly as unyielding or harsh as he remembered.
Strong, yes, but still…
'She's not the Gwen I know.'
He looked at her sleeping peacefully and shook his head.
But that thought, once it appeared, refused to fade from his mind.
———
Gwen stood before her squad, instructing the knights on their next move.
"Tomorrow we're heading to the volcano to investigate. If you spot anything unusual, don't act rashly, report it immediately!"
The knights looked at her, noticing how energetic she seemed after last night.
And somehow… cleaner?
They didn't know what had happened last night, but Gwen's eyes had already turned toward Viktor.
The knights exchanged knowing looks, "Oh~"
Viktor, seeing that Gwen had finished organizing the troops, turned to leave.
"Viktor, where are you going?"
"We can escort you to your destination, or you could travel with us."
"No need."
Viktor lifted his gaze toward the distant, silent volcano.
He knew that somewhere within it, a great monster slept, and his heart stirred with a mix of dread and anticipation.
"I'll be operating separately for now."
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