Chapter 56 (1/2)

Chapter 56

When the sensation of our lips has become wholly clear, so has my consciousness . But hardly any time had pa.s.sed . Almost none . A few seconds .

“Hhh…aa…Asagi…?”

“Uh, no…this…well, I mean…”

Daniela’s face was like a boiling pot that was getting hotter by the second . I could see from the corner of my vision that her hand had been gripped into a tight fist .

“Le-let me explain!”

“Ve…very well . I will listen to what you have to say…”

I was somehow given an opportunity to explain, and so I took in a deep breath . I couldn’t even remember what the dream had been about . I just remembered that I was scared . Scared… I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like I was also not scared at the same time . I was just terribly confused . But what I felt right after waking up was something that I had honestly felt . What I truly thought . And I needed to explain it to Daniela .

“Recently, you have been helping me a lot . I don’t know if it’s something that you think about, but you have really helped me . ”

“Hmm…”

“Now, I have started to feel that your presence near me as something very comforting . It’s become natural for me to think that you will always be with me . But I also know that I can’t take you for granted and rest on my laurels either . I try my best to do my part as well . ”

“That is commendable…”

She was mostly silent but occasionally nodded and muttered . I thanked her for this and continued to lay my feelings bare .

“I have come to feel that you are not only comforting to have by my side, but also very precious . ”

“Pre-precious…”

I see that her cheeks have become slightly flushed, and think ‘Ah, yes, that is how it is’ with realization once again . And so I continue . It wasn’t an explanation . It was a confession .

“Ah, at first I thought of you as a reliable comrade . But when we fought against Beowulf, and I saw that you cried for me, I realized that it was not enough for me to just rely on you . I wanted to push myself so that I could one day stand beside you . And as I pursued you in hopes of catching up, I started to really like you . ”

“Asagi…is this true?”

“Yes, I’m not lying . This has been a long explanation, but to put it simply, I had a nightmare of a dream and when I frantically woke up, a face that I longed to see was in front of me . And I kissed you without thinking… I hope that you can somehow understand it . ”

I told her what needed to be told . The timing was not ideal, there was no mood to help me here . But I felt like I had to say it now, or stay silent forever . Daniela slowly moved away from the bed . I looked at her without moving, waiting for a reply .

“I, could you…allow me to think about this a little?”

The answer was withheld . Well, it really was quite sudden… It was obvious .

“I understand . I’m sorry for springing this on you so suddenly . ”

“Yes, I am sorry as well… It was unusual for you to stay in so late . I came to call you . ”

I had stayed up very late last night…and there was drinking as well . Of course, I was not drunk at all now .

“I’m sorry . What will you do today? I had planned to visit the armor shop…”

“Aye, let us go . Meet me in front of the inn in an hour?”

“Okay, got it . ”

I nod and get out of the bed . Daniela took one last look towards me before leaving the room . I listened to the door close before exhaling all the air within my body .

“Hhhhaaa…what am I going to do…If she says no…”

I crash back into the bed . I wasn’t sleepy at all, so there was no risk of falling back to sleep . If anything, I felt more alert than usual . I felt as if I could fight a thousand goblins without letting my guard down even once . But there was no use in regretting my actions now . For now, I just needed to get ready . I moved my heavy body back up and took out a change of clothes from my bag and headed for the baths . I didn’t meet anyone on the way there, probably because I had overslept . The bathing pool in the empty room seemed a lot bigger than usual .