“…Haah.”
He hadn’t meant for “leave traces” to mean “torment me.” Ban let out a sigh after confirming his body had become so mottled that anyone could tell he’d shared passionate love.
If it were only on the surface, that would be one thing, but why on earth had he tormented a man’s chest so much? Even the slightest touch brought stinging pain that bothered him.
Orma didn’t stop there and outright stuck his hand into Ban’s lower body, kneading his genitals as he pleased. He kept touching them with curious eyes as if he wasn’t even disgusted by another man’s genitals, and Ban resented his own body for responding to every touch. According to Orma’s words, since he rarely even masturbated, it was unavoidable that he’d be sensitive to stimulation, but…
Among everything, what bothered him most was Orma’s kisses. His kisses were scattered freely all over Ban’s body to such a degree that one couldn’t help but know that he truly liked Ban and regarded him as someone precious. Whenever their eyes met, Orma would smile with surprising tenderness, and each time Ban’s heart tickled for no reason, so much that he couldn’t even bring himself to tell him to stop touching.
Moreover, though Orma’s lower body was noticeably enraged and asserting its presence enough for Ban to notice, he only coaxed and touched Ban, focusing on leaving the ‘traces’ Ban had requested. As if only Ban’s pleasure mattered, he rejoiced as if that became his own pleasure.
‘…Since when exactly?’
Ban knew that Orma was only gentle with him. However, he’d thought that was a kind of possessiveness because he was his apostle and the only being who could give him sleep and breath.
But he liked the lie about being lovers that Ban had told to somehow avoid the situation, and seeing how he had unhesitatingly left marks upon being asked to leave traces and even promised more next time—how could he misunderstand?
No matter how much Ban had never properly dated anyone, he wasn’t so oblivious or emotionless that he couldn’t recognize deep affection.
But… if you asked what had changed because of that, nothing had changed. Ban would continue to remain as Orma’s apostle, and Orma would appreciate his devoted apostle and help him travel the world and prevent disasters.
At most, deeper emotions had been added between them—something that could be called ‘love.’
* * *
“…Jaena-ssi, could you please stop staring?”
He felt embarrassed even though it was just staring. As if Ban’s body was dried croaker, Jaena repeated taking a bite of bread and staring at him, taking a sip of water and staring at Orma while making strange expressions. When Ban, unable to bear it any longer, said something, Jaena nodded with a sly expression.
…How unpleasant.
“Ah! Why are you suddenly hitting me!”
“Your eyes are annoying.”
“How can that be! I wasn’t even noisily chattering today!”
If there was something Jaena still hadn’t learned through their travels together, it was that Orma was an Evil God who would make up reasons even when there were none if something bothered him. If you were noisy, he’d scold you for being noisy, and if your staring annoyed him, he’d flick your forehead saying your eyes were irritating. If you barked back like that in response, it rather became like catching you red-handed, and additional charges would be added as if you were insolent.
“I just don’t like you. What, got a complaint? Should I hit you more?”
“…Ugh.”
The deflated Jaena seemed to have realized that resisting further was meaningless. In that sense, Ban found Jaena more fascinating. What did he trust to act so cheeky with an Evil God who was obviously ill-tempered and fierce?
“Ahem, so did you look into the boat passage to Yeru yesterday?”
“Ah, yes. I made a reservation and came back, but they said we can’t load the horses. So I was thinking, how about leaving the horses on the floating island and then bringing them back to ride once we arrive in Yeru?”
“I see. Since living creatures like horses can’t be stored in the shadow, that seems like the best method. By the way, I walked around various places in Gillia yesterday and met several beastmen.”
“Since it’s the center of trade where people come and go from all sorts of countries and regions, it wouldn’t be strange for there to be beastmen. Were there no tiger tribe members?”
“There were no tiger tribe members at all, only those who weren’t predators like rabbits, foxes, and cats. They’re races that mainly work as intermediaries like traders because they’re light-bodied and quick… Anyway, since they’re quick with news, they told me news about Yeru.”
“Is something happening in Yeru by any chance?”
“Something happening… is a bit much to say, but if it’s strange, it is strange.”
“What is it exactly that you’re beating around the bush like that?”
Since the situation in Siol wasn’t good due to the disaster, perhaps something similar was happening in Yeru. Especially since Yeru had the temple of Muhwi, the God of Fire, it was also the region most vulnerable to disasters like overflowing sunlight. Even if he lowered his divine rank and reduced his power, it would still be hot and warm…
“Recently, Muhwi-nim returned to Yeru with an apostle, and that apostle’s eyes are said to be gold-colored.”
“What?”
“…What?”
“Ah, of course, it seems few have actually encountered them, and it’s a rumor that the apostle’s eyes are gold-colored.”
At Jaena’s words, Ban and Orma looked at each other. Golden eyes meant being a god. But… even in the game, which was set several years in the future from now, there was no content about a new god.
There were only four beings called gods. Serka, Muhwi, Banan, and Orma. Though there were minority groups who worshiped and revered strange beings as gods besides these, their true identities were ultimately false gods who had neither the power nor the qualification to possess a god’s eyes… in other words, yokai or monsters.
The possibility that Banan had fed someone the god’s liquor to make them a god also came to mind, but Banan and Muhwi didn’t get along well. It was closer to Banan unilaterally disliking Muhwi, so there was even less chance she would have made Muhwi’s apostle into a god. Unless they were a child like Orma, there was no need to make a complete stranger into a god… so in the end, when sorted out, these were all thoughts that didn’t make sense.
Orma seemed to think similarly to Ban as he frowned and snapped irritably.
“Didn’t they see wrong? They might have mistaken orange eyes like yours or pale yellow eyes and gotten confused.”
“Mm, actually I think so too. If Muhwi’s apostle were really a god, why would they be staying in Muhwi’s temple? It’s not like they’re Muhwi’s son.”
“…”
It was an unusually sharp remark from Jaena, but Ban found himself checking Orma’s mood for no reason. Did it mean that if they were Muhwi’s son, they could be a god, and it would make sense for them to stay in Yeru? When his actual son was wandering the world like this being called an Evil God…
“Well, anyway, the certain thing is that Muhwi has taken an apostle. That is a bit curious. This is only about the second time I’ve seen it, since Muhwi doesn’t take apostles easily.”
“That’s right, you said Muhwi-nim doesn’t take apostles easily. To have caught Muhwi’s eye like that, the one who newly became an apostle this time must have extremely outstanding martial arts skills.”
“Then you’ll be lightly dismissed if you go before Muhwi. You’re always skipping training and scheming how to run away.”
“Hmph! Wh-what do you mean by that! Orma-nim, I, I also do my best sincerely…”
Well, this time even Ban couldn’t take Jaena’s side. Even in Ban’s eyes, Jaena had expertise in making various excuses to avoid training or feigning illness. Just counting what he’d witnessed already exceeded five fingers. It was to the point where one wondered if they were training Jaena’s spear skills or Orma’s patience, so it was simply curious that Orma had kept Jaena alive until now.
“But Orma-nim, have you seen Muhwi-nim’s previous apostle?”
“Yeah.”
“Ooh, what kind of apostle were they? Since Muhwi-nim doesn’t take apostles so readily, there aren’t many records left, so I’m curious.”
“You’re my follower but curious about another god’s apostle?”
“…”
Even Jaena, who had been working hard to change the subject, only pursed his lips with a gloomy expression at Orma’s sharp words. Then he pointed at Ban’s neck and collarbone, which were a mess with mottled marks, and spoke with a sulky expression.
“Tch, I know very well that Orma-nim cherishes his apostle greatly. Even if I were curious about Sir Ban, you’d be displeased with that too…”
…Accurate. Ban, not Orma, nearly nodded and answered “correct.”
Orma, who usually lightly ignored Jaena’s words when he found it bothersome to answer, this time raised his head and acted smug.
“If you know that well, go out today and spread a rumor. That the wandering knight who’s been the talk of Gillia lately has a lover with whom he shares passionate love.”
“Eh? Is, is that okay?”
“Make sure to spread the rumor, make sure.”
Jaena, who had been staring blankly at Orma as he glowed his eyes fiercely and repeated the same words, belatedly realized something and answered as if muttering.
“Ah, this wasn’t permission but an order…”
