Chapter 44: I’ve discovered that it’s quite comfortable not to be a tsundere.

Thud.

Falling from mid-air, Katy landed squarely on her rear.

Ouch!

Her tailbone felt like it was going to crack!

But she had no time to rub her poor bottom right now, because less than 2 meters away, Gray was staring at her in shock, holding a long blade.

The lightning-flickering blade in his hand was clearly drawn because he had sensed the remnants of Noctiluca’s massive Mana.

It was over.

She was truly exposed this time.

In a moment of crisis, the brain’s processing speed often surpasses its limits.

This was true for the Demon Race as well; Katy’s brain worked frantically within 0.01 seconds.

‘I remembered to de-materialize the Abyssal Magic Armor, and I remembered to change my slitted demon pupils back into round human ones, but… why is the timing and location of exiting Eternal Vision so awkward? I spawned right in front of Gray’s face!’

By the moonlight, she saw the young man’s appearance.

He looked quite disheveled.

His black clothes were covered in scratches and holes of various sizes, and there were even some dried bloodstains.

They were likely left over from protecting them from that massive Battery Monster during the day.

She was getting distracted; she needed to think of something fast!

‘If this guy finds out I’m a demon, he’ll definitely lose it, right? Should I just turn back into Noctiluca and knock him unconscious?’

Katy considered this option for less than 0.1 seconds before discarding it.

One had to realize her transformation had a damn refractory period; right now, she was no different from a pathetic little white flower.

As she debated, the future scene she had just witnessed in the Demon King’s prophetic magic somehow replayed before her eyes like a revolving lantern.

That realistic sense of suffocation, the desperate pleading, the fading consciousness, and that “Gray” who gripped her throat with eyes full of madness and despair.

“Ugh…”

Physiological fear and grievance surged into her heart instantly.

Tears fell from the corners of the girl’s eyes like broken strings of pearls, uncontrollable.

“Mr. Gray… waaah — !!”

While Gray’s brain was still stalled, deeply pondering “why did Katy fall from the sky” and “was the Noctiluca Mana I felt just now an illusion,” the girl who had been sitting dumbfounded on the ground suddenly dove into his arms.

“M — Ms. Katy?! What’s wrong?!”

Gray was caught off guard by the collision.

The killing intent directed toward Noctiluca vanished instantly, replaced by a face full of panic.

As if the fear of the life-and-death edge she had experienced in Future Sight had completely erupted, Katy cried so much that she looked like a pear blossom in the rain, heart-broken.

“Where did you go? I was so scared… truly so scared…”

Holding the trembling girl in his arms, Gray explained with a mix of shock and heartache:

“I — I’m sorry! After Ingram and I finished off that giant Battery Monster, we only found an unconscious Lily under the tree. Ingram was afraid her injuries would worsen, so he took her back to the city for treatment first. But I… I was worried something happened to you, so I’ve been searching around here until now…”

‘Okay, intelligence gathered. Now’s the time!’

Before his brain could catch up and before he could shout the name Noctiluca, she had to strike first and steer the plot away!

The girl lifted her head from Gray’s chest.

Her blue eyes, red from crying, were brimming with tears, making her look incredibly pitiable.

“Ugh, a big guy wearing really scary armor suddenly appeared and took me away!”

Sobbing, she began to weave a story of half-truths.

“He locked me in a terrifying Space filled with darkness. I even felt like I was going to die… if the Crown of Thorns gifted by the Goddess hadn’t suddenly glowed and formed a shield in that black space…”

“What?!”

Gray’s pupils shrank, and an overwhelming rage instantly ignited his reason.

A big guy in scary armor?

A dark Space that could snatch people from reality?

Wasn’t that Noctiluca!?

That damn Calamity Pillar!

Poor Gray didn’t doubt the truth of the girl’s words at all.

After all, in his heart, Ms. Katy was a pure, gentle, and kind — if occasionally mischievous — Angel.

How could she possibly lie?

Much less have anything to do with that atrocious henchman of the Demon King.

Combined with the fragrant, soft, and trembling beautiful girl in his arms, Gray’s hatred was instantly locked and transferred.

NOC — TI — LU — CA!!!

In his mind, in addition to this monster designing the incredibly disgusting 13th Dungeon to torture him and having outrageously broken mechanics, another unforgivable capital crime was added — how dare she lay a hand on the fragile Ms. Katy and scare her like this?

Unforgivable!!

Filled with guilt and self-reproach, Gray held the girl tightly.

The blonde girl, still tearing up, huddled closer into his arms.

But in reality, the person buried in Gray’s chest had already let a smug smile curl at the corners of her mouth.

‘Hehe, my acting is indeed flawless. Oh, foolish Hero, drown in my lies!’

As they embraced under the moonlight, feeling the girl’s body still trembling occasionally, Gray hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed his instincts.

His somewhat rough, large hand gently circled Katy’s waist, trying to give her more of a sense of security.

‘So thin,’ was his first thought.

The girl’s waist could be described as a handful, incredibly slender.

Although it was usually hidden under her somewhat baggy Nun’s habit and wasn’t obvious, the soft and slender sensation became quite vivid once he held her like this.

Moreover… she was so soft.

Not just her waist, but her soft body pressed against his chest, and that faint milky scent lingering at the tip of his nose…

‘Wait, stop thinking, Gray!!’

Feeling his heart racing, Gray quickly bit the inside of his cheek, using the pain to clear his head.

‘Ms. Katy is still in the middle of a life-after-death fear! How can you think of such indecent things?! Are you even human?’

However…

Ms. Katy, who always acted composed and sometimes even so mature that she seemed like the senior, also had such a fragile side.

It felt as if he could break her if he used just a little too much strength.

Gray silently held her a bit tighter.

This urge to protect her with all his might was stronger than ever.

After a long while, the girl’s breathing gradually stabilized.

“Shall we go back?”

Gray asked softly and tentatively.

“The night wind is getting a bit cold.”

“Mhm.”

Katy responded with a nasal tone.

The two of them walked one after the other under the brilliant galaxy of stars.

“Um, I lost my composure just now.”

Katy lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her skirt.

“I’m sorry for causing trouble for Mr. Gray. Please forget about me crying just now.”

“How could I?”

Gray smiled gently.

“Ms. Katy has no need to apologize. It’s all the fault of that wretched Noctiluca. It’s normal to be afraid — “

“I mean — “

Katy suddenly turned around, her cheeks flushed red as she interrupted him.

“I mean! Please forget the feeling of when you touched my waist! That was… that was a special gift for Member Gray for comforting the Captain! Don’t think too much about it!”

Seeing the girl regain her energetic spirit, Gray couldn’t help but laugh.

However, he accidentally agitated his wound, and the laugh turned into a sharp intake of breath from the pain.

“Sss — “

The young man stumbled, forced to lean against a road sign to stay upright.

“Gray?!”

Katy, who had been focused on her persona to build affection, immediately changed her expression.

She rushed over to support him.

“I — I’m fine,” Gray said, clutching his chest.

A layer of cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he forced a smile.

“I just accidentally pulled the wound from earlier today…”

“Let me see!”

Without another word, Katy reached out and pulled open the gap in his breastplate.

Under the moonlight, she discovered the shirt underneath was soaked with blood.

Although the wound had been treated, the bandaging was so crude it was practically primitive — clearly done in a hurry.

“You… did you treat this wound yourself?”

Gray scratched his head sheepishly.

“Yeah, as an A-rank Hero, I still know how to do this kind of first aid…”

“I’m asking why you didn’t go to the Church for treatment, you idiot!”

Katy’s voice unconsciously rose, laced with clear anger.

But then, looking at Gray’s pale face that still wore a forced smile, the nameless fire in her heart was instantly extinguished, replaced by a bittersweet feeling.

‘This guy… did he ignore his own injuries just to find me?’

Even though the future version of him was so terrifying she could barely breathe, the current him…

What exactly happened in that future world to turn this green warrior, who would ignore his own wounds for her, into such a tyrant?

“…It’s getting late.”

Katy sighed, turning her head away somewhat awkwardly.

“The Church might already be closed. If Mr. Gray doesn’t mind… please come to my house to treat your wounds. I have some medicine stored there.”

“Huh?”

Gray was stunned.

“Go… to Ms. Katy’s house?”

“What? You don’t want to?”

Katy glared at him, but her ears were bright red.

It wasn’t because she felt bad for him — alright, she did feel bad for the guy, so what?!

In any case, he was stupid enough to be fooled by a little bit of acting, so what was wrong with giving him a little sweetness?