Right now, I’ve got two big problems.

First, my soul doesn’t have enough life force.

And second… my constitution is missing something important—a second “heart” to keep it running properly.

I’m beyond fucked.

But yeah, I guess I should be grateful I’m still breathing or whatever.

“Aestrea…? Hello?”

Yara waved a hand in front of my face, snapping me out of my thoughts.

I blinked.

“Huh? Did you say something?”

“Not really. Just called your name,” she said with a shrug. Then, without warning, her hand started moving along my leg—slowly, deliberately.

I sighed and reached down to push her hand away.

I couldn’t.

Fucking gorilla grip.

“…Fufu~,” she giggled, her eyes sparkling mischievously, “Looks like you’re not strong enough~.”

I frowned at her words.

“…Tomorrow is the final match, so I need to rest…” I warned her, however, she didn’t seem bothered by my words.

Instead, she rested her chin on her palm, still lazily stroking my leg.

“So what? You can sleep here…” She gave me a slow, teasing smile before leaning in and whispering, “With me~.”

Then she blew softly against my ear as if to seal the deal.

I scowled.

But then, my eyes turned to her bed.

Damn.

That thing looked comfortable.

“Sure.”

Her smirk instantly faltered.

“Huh?”

Before she could react, I grabbed her wrist, removed her hand from my leg, and climbed into her bed.

Head on the pillow.

Blanket over me.

Done.

“Ah…?”

I glanced up at her frozen expression.

“What?” I asked with a neutral yey confused expression.

“Didn’t you want to sleep together?”

I mean, she was the one who suggested it.

Yara just stood there, staring at me like I was some kind of interesting creature.

I raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

She blinked.

“Uh…”

Then, out of nowhere, she pouted: “You’re no fun, you know that?”

I rolled onto my side, facing away from her.

“Then stop messing with me.”

For a second, there was silence. I almost thought she had given up—until I felt the bed dip beside me.

I tensed.

Then, warmth.

She slid under the covers.

I sighed. “Seriously?”

“What? I said I wanted to sleep together,” she said with a smug tone.

“You agreed.”

I exhaled through my nose. “Yeah. To sleep. Not whatever you’re thinking.”

“Hmn…” She hummed in amusement, then shuffled closer.

Too close.

I felt her breath on the back of my neck.

“Relax,” she murmured, her voice soft. “I won’t do anything. Probably.”

“Probably?” I deadpaned.

She laughed. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding~.”

I didn’t trust that for a second.

But I was too tired to fight her on it. Tomorrow was the final match, and I needed every bit of rest I could get, especially when I was mentally tired.

So I ignored her, shut my eyes, and let the warmth of the blankets pull me in.

Then—

A hand.

On my waist.

I froze.

“…What are you doing?”

Yara’s voice was way too innocent. “Getting comfortable.”

“Go to sleep.”

She giggled but didn’t move her hand.

I stayed still, pretending I didn’t care. Maybe if I ignored her, she’d get bored and actually go to sleep.

But then—she started drawing circles on my waist with her fingers.

Slow, lazy, teasing.

I twitched.

“Yara.”

“Hmm?”

“Stop.”

She let out a soft hum, like she was thinking about it. And then—yep.

She kept going.

“What part of ‘I need to rest’ do you not understand?”

“The part where I have to listen to you,” she said, clearly smiling.

I sighed, gripping the blanket tighter.

Silence fell again. Just for a moment.

Then she shifted.

And suddenly, her whole leg was draped over mine.

“Are you serious right now?”

“Mhmm~.”

“…Why?”

“Because I’m cold,” she said, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I stared at the wall. “Then use the blanket.”

“But you feel warmer,” she whined, squeezing my waist just a little.

I exhaled slowly.

“Yara.”

“Yes~?”

“Move your leg.”

“No~.”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

Patience.

I needed patience.

“Tomorrow is the final match. I am the one fighting. I need sleep.”

Yara just snuggled closer, completely ignoring my words. “I am also fighting… in bets,” she reminded me. “And yet, here I am, still full of energy~.”

I turned my head slightly. “Maybe because you keep stealing mine.”

She laughed. “Hmm. Maybe~.”

I glared at her.

She just smiled back, looking way too pleased with herself.

I wanted to argue. Maybe even push her off.

But… I was too damn tired.

And annoyingly enough, her warmth was kinda nice.

So I gave up.

“Fine. Do whatever you want,” I muttered.

Her fingers, which had still been absentmindedly tracing over my skin, finally stopped.

“…Really?” she asked, sounding almost surprised.

I sighed. “Yes. Just let me sleep.”

She was quiet for a moment. Then, softly—

“Okay.”

And just like that, she stilled. No more teasing, no more messing around.

Just warmth.

I felt her breathing slow, her body relaxing against mine.

And for the first time tonight—so did I.

Besides, I was too tired to even ask why she was acting so weirdly.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“Haagh…”

I let out a long yawn, stretching my arms above my head until I heard a satisfying crack.

My eyes drifted to the side.

Yara was gone.

I blinked, then shrugged.

Not really surprising.

Getting out of bed, I spotted a fresh set of clothes neatly placed on a small sofa in the corner of her room.

On top of them sat a folded note.

Curious, I picked it up.

| There’s a bathroom on the right, you can use it to take a bath. I also made sure to also get some underwear for you.

From your most precious, Yara.

P.S: Sleeping with you was really comfortable. We should do it more often ♡. |

This woman…

Shaking my head, I grabbed the clothes and made my way to the bathroom.

The moment I stepped inside, I paused.

Damn.

The place looked like it belonged in a luxury resort—polished floors, spotless mirrors, and a massive bathtub that could probably fit three people.

Everything sparkled like it had been cleaned just this morning.

I turned on the water.

Instantly, the scent of flowers filled the air, and the temperature was perfect.

Not too hot, not too cold.

Just warm enough to make my muscles relax the moment I stepped in.

I sank into the water with a quiet sigh.

…I need to buy one of these someday.

In the future.

After a long, satisfying soak, I got out, dried off, and reached for the clothes Yara left me.

They fit perfectly.

Which made me pause.

How the hell does she know my size?

My original clothes had been ruined—at least, that’s what she told me.

I stared at myself in the mirror, adjusting the fabric.

Should I be concerned?

…Probably.

But I was too well-rested to care.

“Mhn.. it’s only 11:51?” I checked the time.

I had plenty of time to kill.

Normally, I’d be training, but today?

Nah.

Today, I felt like having some fun.

And since I was still in the black market, there was no way I was gonna waste this chance.

Time to go clubbing!

Shrrsk!

But then, a sudden movement made me freeze.

I looked down at my hand as my eyes widened slightly in deep surprise.

“…Lumi?”

A soft glow pulsed from the tattoo on my finger.

That was unexpected. Lumi had been asleep for a while—probably because we needed to renew our contract or something.

But now, she was waking up.

Without wasting a second, I channeled mana into the mark, and—

Poof!

A small figure appeared in front of me.

“Master~”

Before I could react, she launched herself at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso.

I blinked, then instinctively patted her head.

She let out a happy hum, pressing her face against my chest.

“I miiiiiissssssseeeddd yoooouuu…” she whined groggily.

Her head nuzzled against me, rubbing gently.

Then—

“Haaaa…”

She took a deep breath.

I stiffened.

Did she… just sniff me?

I glanced down at Lumi, who was still clinging to me like a sleepy kitten. Her face was buried against my chest, her soft breaths tickling my skin.

“…Lumi?” I called, poking her cheek.

She let out a slow, content sigh. “Mmm… you smell nice, Master~”

I blinked.

“…Okay.”

That was weird.

But at the same time, Lumi was always a bit weird, so I let it slide.

Instead, I patted her head again. “You were asleep for a while. Feeling better now?”

She gave a small nod, her slimy ears twitching. “Mhm… but I still feel a little… dizzy.”

“Probably because of the contract renewal,” I muttered, gently prying her off me. She made a small noise of protest but didn’t resist when I set her down on the sofa.

Her green eyes blinked up at me, still hazy with sleep.

“Are we going somewhere?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.

Ah.

Now I cannot go to the club.

Unfortunately.

“Not really,” I muttered to myself.

Lumi let out a small, disappointed sound.

“Ahhh…” Her voice dropped slightly, and I couldn’t help but smile faintly.

She really wanted to go, huh?

Then, a thought hit me.

Didn’t she say she wanted to try human food before?

The black market had to have those mysterious food stalls, right?

I glanced down at her.

“Actually… didn’t you say you wanted to try human food? Let’s go have lunch outside.”

I tapped her head lightly, and the moment my words sank in—

Her eyes lit up.

Like, literally sparkled. It was like someone had set off fireworks inside them.

Puh!

In a flash, she launched herself at me, wrapping her tiny arms around my torso, practically vibrating with excitement.

“Master, you’re the best! You’re the best, you’re the best… You’re the best master ever!”

She squeezed me tighter, her voice getting faster and more high-pitched with every repetition.

“You’rethebestYou’rethebestYou’rethebestYou’rethebestYou’rethebestYou’rethebest!”

I chuckled, patting her head. “Alright, alright, I get it.”

Still clinging to me, she let out a happy hum.

I sighed playfully.

“Okay, shrink down. I’m not walking around with you glued to me like this.”

Lumi huffed but obeyed, shifting into her smaller form. I carefully tucked her into the pocket of my shirt, leaving only her little green head peeking out.

Before stepping out, I placed a presence-deleting spell on her. No way was I letting people notice the tiny creature hiding in my pocket.

With everything set, I left Yara’s residence.

And immediately ran into him again.

The same burly man from before stood at his post.

He glanced at me, gave a small nod, and silently stepped aside to let me pass.

…Huh.

He seemed more respectful than last time.

Somehow.

I didn’t question it.

Just kept walking, while taking a look around.

The black market was as chaotic as ever.

The streets had the same dark atmosphere—dim lighting, hushed voices, people haggling over stolen goods, and rare items sold way below market price.

And, of course, drugs.

Plenty of them.

The most popular kind?

Fucking aphrodisiacs.

That’s disgusting.

Shaking off the thought, I kept walking.

A few minutes later, the scent of sizzling meat and freshly baked bread hit me.

I turned my head—

There.

A food stall.

Finally.

I didn’t waste a second and walked straight toward it.

The food stall was small, tucked between two sketchy-looking shops. A simple cart with a metal grill, sizzling meat, and a few baskets of fresh bread.

The smell alone was enough to make my stomach growl.

Lumi wiggled excitedly in my pocket.

“Masteeer…” she whispered. “It smells so goood…”

I chuckled.

“Hold on, we haven’t even ordered yet.”

Stepping closer, I glanced at the vendor. He was an older man, probably in his late forties, with a scar running down his cheek and a cigarette hanging loosely from his lips.

His apron was stained with grease, and his arms were covered in faded tattoos.

He eyed me up and down, then exhaled a puff of smoke.

“What’ll it be?”

I glanced at the grill. There were skewers of marinated meat, some kind of grilled fish, and thick, fluffy bread that looked freshly baked. Simple, but it smelled amazing.

I pointed. “Two skewers and a loaf of bread.”

The vendor nodded and started working.

As I waited, Lumi fidgeted in my pocket again.

“Masteeer… hurry up…” she whined softly. “I wanna eaaaat…”

I smirked.

“Patience.”

“But it smells too good to wait…” she pouted.

The vendor chuckled.

“Your girl getting hungry?”

I blinked.

Wait. Did he notice Lumi?

I quickly glanced down, but my presence-deleting spell was still active. No way he could see her.

He must’ve thought I was talking to myself.

“…Something like that,” I muttered, deciding not to explain.

The man just shrugged and handed me the food wrapped in paper.

“That’ll be fifteen bronze coins.”

I fished out the coins and passed them over.

With the food in hand, I stepped aside and moved toward a quieter spot near an alleyway. Lumi immediately started squirming again.

“Masteeer, pleaaase…”

I sighed.

“Alright, alright.”

I reached into my pocket and carefully pulled her out. She stretched, her tiny arms reaching up like she’d just woken up from a nap.

Then, the moment she locked eyes on the food—

She pounced.

In one smooth motion, she grabbed the skewer of meat with both hands and bit into it.

Her whole body shivered.

“…Mmmhhhnnn~!”

I raised an eyebrow.

“…Good?”

She nodded furiously, eyes practically sparkling.

“Soooo good…!”

She took another bite, kicking her feet happily.

I chuckled and tore off a piece of bread for myself, leaning back against the wall as I ate.

The food really was good. The meat was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and had just the right amount of char. The bread was soft on the inside, crispy on the outside.

Simple, but satisfying.

Lumi, meanwhile, was absolutely devouring her food.

At one point, she paused, cheeks stuffed, and pointed at my bread.

“Can I try?”

“You’re already eating my food.”

“Pleaseee?” she gave me the biggest, most innocent eyes possible.

“Fine.” I sighed.

Tearing off another piece, I handed it to her. She took it with both hands and nibbled on it, her face lighting up like she’d just discovered the meaning of life.

“Masteeer…” she whispered. “Human food is amazing…”

“Told you.”

After finishing the skewers and bread, I dusted off my hands and glanced around. The black market had tons of food stalls—there had to be something else worth trying.

Lumi, still perched in my pocket, licked her fingers clean, looking completely satisfied.

“Masteer~” she hummed. “That was so good… Can we get more?”

“Yeah, yeah. Let’s see what else is around.” I replied, letting out a small laugh.

We started walking again, weaving through the crowd. People were still haggling, whispering deals in dark corners, and exchanging goods that were definitely illegal.

The usual black market stuff.

Then, I spotted another food stall.

It was smaller than the last one, tucked between a weapon vendor and some kind of potion shop.

The setup was simple—just a wooden counter, a few trays of food, and a small grill in the back.

A single girl stood behind the counter.

She was young, maybe around my age, with dark hair tied into a loose ponytail.

Her clothes were plain, but her eyes had a sharpness to them, like someone who’d seen their fair share of fights.

I stepped forward.

“Hey, what kind of food do you have here?”

The girl’s expression didn’t change.

For a second.

Then—

Her eyes hardened.

Like steel.

Her fingers twitched slightly—so fast I barely noticed.

And then—

“Death.”

The word left her lips like ice.

Before I could react, she moved.

Two daggers flashed in the dim light, already slicing through the air—

Straight for my chest.

‘Fuck…!’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep