Night arrived earlier than expected. As the sun began to set so rapidly that it startled the people preparing for the party, they moved about frantically, too busy to notice anyone staring blankly at them.
“……Did Orma-nim do this?”
“Who knows.”
He hadn’t even properly asked what Orma had done, and the answer was vague. Did it look to Orma’s eyes like he was really looking forward to the party?
As the sky visibly and clearly darkened, other passengers who had been hiding from the scorching sunlight gradually came outside, only to hesitate at the front upon seeing the not-yet-ready venue, chatting amongst themselves.
The pleasantly cool sea breeze felt like it was refreshingly clearing out his head that had been dizzy from thinking about this and that, so Ban walked toward the railing at the edge to savor the feeling. When he closed both eyes and concentrated on the sound of the waves splashing… the conversations of other people and miscellaneous noises seemed to soon sink deeply into the sea. It felt like immersing himself in a peaceful everyday life completely unrelated to disasters or destruction.
And right at that moment, Orma, who had been silently following behind Ban, lightly tapped Ban’s arm.
Ban, who had been half-meditating, detected that gentle touch and opened his eyes wide to look, and Orma muttered as if making an excuse with an expressionless face.
“You had your eyes closed like you were about to jump in.”
“As if. Um… are you bored?”
Though things were somewhat better now, Orma originally hated humans. There was no way he would like a party swarming with people like this. Thinking about it belatedly, Ban thought Orma might be uncomfortable, so he quietly took Orma’s hand and led him to a more secluded spot.
The place they arrived at was similar to a balcony. Feeling unnecessarily embarrassed by the atmosphere of a space that seemed like where lovers would be, Ban hesitated. It looked like he had some prepared action but was feeling awkward for no reason.
“Why here?”
…Well, did he bring him here to share a kiss or something? Orma stared intently at Ban while trying hard to calm his lips that were twitching with unnecessary anticipation. However, after taking a deep breath for a moment, Ban didn’t kiss him but instead…….
“……What the?”
“How is it?”
He had transformed into Gail. No, fuck, what is this. My pretty apostle transforming into the human appearance of that pig dragon! Of course, since the voice remained the same, he realized Ban had used a spell, but…… why Gail of all people?
Orma was about to tell him with a displeased look to stop imitating that horrible appearance right now, but at those eyes sparkling brightly with anticipation, he barely managed to maintain his rationality and hastily revised what he was about to say.
“How is it, fuck…… I mean, ah, truly amazing……”
“I can do other appearances too! Shall I try transforming into Orma-nim’s appearance? I can’t replicate the God’s eyes though.”
It seemed like a good choice to barely smooth over his words. Ban, not noticing Orma’s expression, chattered cutely in excitement. Though his face was expressionless, Orma could tell Ban’s mood was elevated thanks to his observations so far. But why was he doing this in the appearance of that pig dragon of all things?
Orma rolled his eyes slightly and nodded his head as if asking to see other appearances. Yeah, it would be better to imitate my appearance instead.
“Since I can’t replicate the God’s eyes, I substituted them with the gem color in this ring. How is it?”
How is it, it’s creepy…… He thought it would be better to see his own appearance rather than the pig dragon, but when Ban actually imitated his appearance, he felt a strange feeling again. When those lively green eyes that weren’t the God’s eyes stared at him clearly, he was at a loss for words.
It wasn’t like looking in a mirror, but it exactly reminded him of himself from when he was human. Himself from the days when he would laugh, saying it was embarrassing to be called a hero. Not only could he die at any time, but his weak self who feared death. His vibrant self full of zest for life.
That appearance is annoying. No, I’m jealous. Ah, that’s not it either.
I just want to die……
At these thoughts that came in broken pieces, Orma pressed his lips tightly together and furrowed his brow. The shadows imbued with their master’s anxiety began to swell and gradually increase in size. Ban, discovering the darkness slowly extending like branches or grotesque tentacles, hastily returned to his original appearance.
“……Orma-nim.”
Ah, I made a mistake. Orma has severe self-loathing, and I showed him his human appearance of all things, I shouldn’t have done that. What if he goes berserk or self-harms again?
His anxious inner feelings were fully reflected in his trembling, clear sky-blue eyes. Orma, who had been watching that appearance, let out a chuckle, contrasting with his earlier silent state. He looked at Ban with eyes that seemed to say he was at a loss for what to do with him.
“Why did you suddenly transform into a different appearance? Did you dislike your own appearance or something?”
“It’s not that. Just…… I wanted to show you that I could also use the spell Gail-nim showed me.”
“So why?”
“……You looked bored.”
In other words, he’d tried showing off a trick for a God who looked unoccupied. How could he get angry at such a devoted apostle. Orma exhaled something like a sigh, pulled Ban into an embrace and confined him in his arms, then spoke in a low, quiet voice.
“Let’s not do that next time.”
“Yes.”
Why do you only pick shitty people to show off your transformation to, huh? Meaning that his original appearance was the prettiest and there was no need to imitate strange things, he raised his hand to stroke the back of Ban’s head and fiddled with the soft silver hair.
Ban, who had been quietly nestled in his embrace, bit his lip at the embarrassment that came belatedly, then carefully opened his mouth to ask.
“But aren’t you curious that I can use spells?”
“Weren’t you going to make Gail try this and that because you thought you could imitate it after seeing it once?”
So how did he know that. Ban, about to ask again, moved his lips then closed his mouth again. Thinking about it, even if Orma asked, he didn’t have confidence in answering properly either.
Perhaps, just as Ban had questions for Orma but didn’t bother asking, Orma might be doing the same. Let’s consider it consideration in its own way…… As he thought that, at the same time, far away, the place where the party was being held became noisy.
“……They must be starting the party.”
Even at those words, Orma pretended not to hear and buried his forehead in Ban’s shoulder, slowly nuzzling. When he plays dumb like this, he’s just like a coy cat…….
I wonder if the cat I secretly fed at the temple is doing well, pretending not to know even though it knew I was talking to it?
“Haah…… let’s go.”
Still, if there’s one thing Orma has over cats, it’s that even though he openly shows he doesn’t want to do something, he follows along with what I want to do. Ban smiled brightly and took Orma’s hand, slowly leaving the balcony.
“Mm, come to think of it, they said it’s a party…… but it seems I’m the only one who came dressed like this.”
Looking around, it seemed everyone had dressed up quite nicely. A party in these desolate times with disasters approaching. For the first time in a while, everyone had taken out their best clothes and their eyes sparkled with anticipation. Only Ban and Orma were shabbily mixed in among them in travel clothes full of dirt and dust.
If he’d known this, should he have worn something that looked cleaner? When traveling, comfortable and durable clothes were enough…… He felt awkward, like an uninvited guest standing inconsiderately among them.
“You’re the prettiest even without dressing up.”
“…….”
“Haven’t you ever felt it living with that face? The thought that you’d only stand out even if you dressed up?”
It wasn’t wrong. Ban’s appearance born in this world was objectively quite decent. But…… was it enough for Orma to say that?
Moreover, if he had to be honest, Ban was a bit pale…… wasn’t he not exactly overflowing with masculinity? Orma, who was half a hand-span taller than him, had broader shoulders, and whose features were all so distinct they were fierce, establishing their presence—when Orma said “pretty, pretty” with such a serious face, it was rather embarrassing.
“But if you insist on dressing up, I’ll go get those unnecessarily flashy clothes that Gail carries around.”
Though he said “I’ll get,” it was no different from saying he’d go steal them. Ban hastily waved both hands and shook his head, stopping Orma.
“N-no. I don’t think I need clothes. As Orma-nim said, if I dress up I’ll only stand out and someone might recognize me.”
“Right……”
Orma stopped talking mid-sentence and turned his head somewhere. From the way he grimaced, there seemed to be something uncomfortable, but from the way he looked around, it seemed even he didn’t know exactly where the source of discomfort was.
“What’s wrong? Is something uncomfortable?”
“……A smell.”
“Pardon?”
“I smell fish.”
Since the sea was all around them, and they were currently standing on the sea itself, it would be natural for there to be a fishy smell, but…… if he was suddenly saying this, it wouldn’t be an ordinary fishy smell.
Just as Ban was also looking around, at that moment, his eyes met with a man in flashy clothes made of expensive fabric with an affable impression. The moment he saw the brown-haired, green-eyed man smiling with curved eyes, Ban realized that this was the son of the Kinsha Trading Company head that Jaena had mentioned, and the protagonist of this birthday party.
