Chapter 39
The Flower That Was Swallowed by the Beast
Chapter 39
Iris became flustered as soon as that realization struck. She had never felt this way before, so she didnât know how to react.
Unknowingly, she pushed Keivrandâs head away with both hands, enough to tilt his head back completely.
âDamn, I wanted to keep going.â
She hadnât meant to reject him.
Fortunately, Keivrand turned around and laid down next to her without showing any sign of displeasure. Then, stretching out one arm toward her, she wondered what he was trying to do as they made eye contact.
She didnât know what Keivrand wanted her to do, so she stared blankly at him. Seeing her like that, Keivrand nudged his arm and spoke.
âArenât you going to lie down?â
However, Keivrandâs arm crossed her spot and there was no room for her to lie down.
While trying to figure out where to lie, she went to a corner where his arm didnât reach.
Keivrand, who was watching this, burst into laughter.
âIrie, do you know that sometimes youâre really weird?â
Iris had no idea why he was laughing, so she gave him a curious look.
Keivrand came close to Iris and placed his arm under her head as he pulled her into his arms.
âI meant to lie down like this, Irie. Donât you know of an arm pillow?â
Of course she knows.
But she doesnât remember doing such a sweet thing with a sober mind.
Her face was pressed against Keivrandâs chest, and his body odor strongly stimulated her sense of smell.
The earthy smell of forest and grass.
A refreshing scent of a clear lake.
âYou smell like the earth, Kei.â
âYou didnât know? Before I go to bed, I change into a wolf and roll around in the dirt.â
âReally? If so, Iâd love to see it.â
âIâm just joking, Irie.â
He kissed the top of her head.
His arms were tight enough to embrace her, but he wanted to hold her tighter.
If he hugs her harder than this, Iris might feel suffocated, but even so, he felt like something was missing.
âGo to sleep, Irie.â
âI canât sleep.â
âThenâ¦â
He took the Sleep Stone out of his pocket.
Iris didnât want to go to sleep yet. She wanted to feel this way a little more in his arms.
But before she could say so, the Sleep Stone brushed her forehead. In an instant, her whole body relaxed and she fell into a deep sleep.
Keivrand placed the Sleep Stone back into his back pocket and stared at the defenseless Iris who had fallen asleep in his arms.
Even when he was holding her, he felt that it wasnât enough.
He wondered, will his needs be satisfied if he hugged her as hard as he wanted?
âNo, itâll break Irie.â
Her flesh was soft and tender, so it felt like she would break like pudding if he hugged her even a little bit harder. It was the first time he held such a tender existence in his arms, so he didnât know how far he could go. He wanted to hug her stronger than this, but it would be a big problem if she breaks.
Iris had a light smile on her face as if she were having a good dream.
Keivrand lost track of time as he looked down at Iris, happily watching her sleep like this.
His shadows were waiting for him, but it wasnât easy to get out of bed.
âWhy isnât the boss coming?â
âMaybe he fell asleep with his wife?â
âNo way. The boss told us to stay up and wait. Heâs not so lousy as to have slept on his own.â
With Keivrandâs acute hearing, he heard the conversations between his shadows.
âI really need to get up.â
He carefully pulled his arm out of bed so that Iris wouldnât wake up. Still, he stood next to the bed and looked down at her before turning around.
âAhâ¦â
A cute nasal sound caught Keivrandâs ankle.
âAh?â
He turned his head around.
Irisâ eyes were still closed but there was a deeper smile than before.
âAh, no you canât do this.â
Irisâ red, plump lips murmured.
A cute voice that Keivrand had never heard before.
âYou canât do this, huh?â
Gulp-
Keivrand swallowed his saliva.
What kind of dream was his wife having for her to make such a cute sound?
âOf course itâs a dream about me.â
Keivrand was confident.
Dreams are the product of the unconscious mind.
He believed that he was the only one who could make Iris show this cute side of her.
One day, Iris will be just as sweet to him in real life.
âIâll make it happen soon.â
As he turned around with renewed determination,
âAh, youâre so cute, Windy.â
* * *
Keivrand, the guardian of the sacred relics, was a very busy man.
The former guardian of the sacred relics, Count Wyvern Green, wasnât very active in finding and collecting the sacred relics.
[If you gather all of these dangerous things in one place, bad things will surely happen.]
Even if he knew the location of a sacred relic, he would leave it untouched unless it was very dangerous.
Keivrand had a similar policy, but he was active in finding the location of the sacred relics.
The sacred relics will be of great help if there comes a day he has to fight for the freedom of beastmen. Although he hasnât found anyone else who could handle the sacred relics, if he scours the continent, thereâs bound to be a person who can handle it.
And if thatâs the case, since there are almost no wizards left, it will benefit Keivrand greatly.
It was natural for Keivrandâs shadows to find out where strange phenomenons had occurred on the continent and hold meetings late at night to locate the sacred relics.
Tonight, there was one thing that wasnât natural in the conference room where the meeting was held.
It was Keivrandâs gloomy expression.
Keivrand, who made the shadows wait a very long time, looked sullen from the moment he entered.
âWhatâs wrong with him?â
Nathan asked Jamie with his eyes.
âYou donât know, how would I know?â
Jamie also answered with his eyes.
Eugene sat silently as always, waiting for Keivrand to speak.
Then, Wallace spoke.
âBoss. Did you get dumped by your wife?â
He was as tactless as ever.
A deep wrinkle was carved between Keivrandâs eyebrows.
Nathan poked Wallace in the ribs so he would stop talking nonsense. However, Wallace took it in a different way.
âWhat is it? Tell us. Sister-in-law doesnât like you, boss? Or did you force sister-in-law to do somethingâ¦â
âWallace, you need to shut up.â
As Keivrandâs expression grew darker, Jamie interrupted Wallace.
Wallace looked back at everyone with his eyes, âWhy? What? Did I say something wrong?â
âBoss, what the hell is going on?â
Jamie asked as he looked at Keivrand.
Keivrand, who was staring at the table with gloomy eyes, slowly opened his mouth.
âI lost to Windy.â
âWhat?â
âI used a Sleep Stone on Iris, and she dreamed of Windy.â
ââ¦Huh?â
âShe looked very happy. She made a sound that even I had never heard beforeâ¦â
Keivrand stared at the table and didnât realize the shadowsâ expressions were turning gloomy.
âWhat does my wife like about a unicorn that I donât have?â
âA punch, boss.â
At Jamieâs words, Keivrand lifted his head.
âJamie, you canât hit Iris no matter whatâ¦!â
âNot Miss Iris, boss. Boss. Iâm talking about you. I want to whack you on the back of the head!â
Jamieâs blue eyes were blazing as if they were about to explode.
Only then did Keivrand notice that the eyes of the other shadows were no different from Jamieâs.
Everyone here. They had a look in their eyes that said they wanted to take out their weapon and hit Keivrand.
âYou kept us waiting until this late hourâ¦For what? Were you sulking because Miss Iris dreamed of Windy? Did you really? Were you so upset that your wife was happily dreaming about a unicorn? Huh?â
âNo, itâsâ¦Itâs a voice that I had never heard before.â
âOh, I see. Our boss was so sad that his charms couldnât even show up in his wifeâs dreams.â
âJamie. Thatâs a bit harsh.â
âAm I being harsh?â
Jamie looked back at the other shadows.
They shook their heads.
âWhat he said isnât wrong, boss.â
Even Eugene, who usually doesnât show his feelings, was giving Keivrand the look of âsuch a pathetic little man,â which wasnât much different from the other shadows.
Keivrand sighed deeply.
âSorry.â
Jamie put back the dagger that was half taken out of his arms.
âJamie, did you really intend to cut me?â
âWhy, you donât think I wouldnât?â
ââ¦Okay. Iâm sorry. This is my fault.â
âAs long as you know.â
âHahahahaha!â
Suddenly Wallace burst into laughter.
âWhy are you laughing again?â
âHahahaha. Bossâ¦youâre jealous of a unicorn. The bossâ¦hahahaha. Really⦠Hahahaha. You look so silly, boss. Hahahaha. Oh, thatâs hilarious.â
Nathan and Eugeneâs lips also twitched.
Keivrand, who became a laughing stock, quickly opened up a map of the continent to change the mood.
âAccording to the information this timeâ¦â
ââ¦Bwahaha. Sister-in-law had a dream about a unicornâ¦kukuâ¦thatâs funny.â
âWallace, stop laughing, will you?
âItâs no use pretending to be dignified, boss. A unicorn⦠Hahahaha, jealous of that little Windyâ¦hahahaha. Iâll tell Cel tomorrow.â
âWallace! I thought I told you what happens in the conference room cannot be disclosed outside.â
Keivrand scolded with dignity.
âBoss, what are you pretending to be dignified about now? Youâre jealous of a little unicorn and were caught.â
Nathan sided with Wallace.
Eugene, who sat silently and held back his laughter, finally spoke.
âIâm going to meet with the late Count tomorrow.â
âWhyâ¦? â
âBecause I need to let him know how his son has grown up.â
âHaa.â
Keivrand grabbed his head with both hands.
âYou guys, once you find something to tease me about, you plan on making fun of me for the rest of your life, right?â
âCome on, boss. Not for the rest of our lives. This timeâ¦um. Nathan, how long will this one last?â
As if to reassure Keivrand, Wallace looked back at Nathan.
âAbout five years? But Cel will tease him for ten years.â
âIt wonât last for ten years.â
Jamie said firmly.
âI think the boss will do more stupid things in the future.â
It was as Jamie said. Even while Keivrand was being teased, he was thinking of something foolish.
âWhat can I do to make her dream of me?â
Keivrand looked back at his shadows who were making fun of him.
Even though his shadows were popular with women, they didnât start a family because of Keivrandâs future plans.
âRight, todayâs meeting is over anyway.â
The important thing right now wasnât to find the location of the sacred relics.
Keivrand slammed the table with his hands.
âEveryone, listen up!â
The giggling shadows stopped laughing and looked back at Keivrand.
Looking around at his dear and trustworthy men, Keivrand spoke.
âWhat do women like?â
== Translatorâs Note ==
1. Please report any typos, grammatical/spelling errors, sentences you find weird, and other etcâ¦in the comment section .