MTLNOVEL 64
Kyle waited for my answer. Uncharacteristically, he looked tense.
However, I was just as frozen, unable to give him the answer he was so anxiously waiting for. My lips refused to move, my body remained motionless… Even breathing felt awkward and unfamiliar.
What do I do?
Seriously, what the hell do I do? I must be making a really stupid face right now.
Kyle neither stepped back nor came closer. He simply stared at me with those crimson eyes, flickering with a strange intensity.
After a brief silence, he whispered,
“Do you not want this?”
Thunk.
It felt like something had dropped, or maybe like an arrow had struck the center of its target.
The sound came from close by. No—It was coming from my heart. But even as my lips parted to answer, no words came out.
I didn’t think about rejecting him. No, to be precise, I didn’t want to reject him. On the contrary, I wanted to be closer to him, to feel his warmth, different from my own.
But… was that really okay?
Right now, with war looming ahead, as I willingly stepped into a place where I might die at any moment—was it really alright for me to give in to my selfish desire and accept him?
“…….”
However, the hesitation didn’t last long.
I liked Kyle.
For the first time in my life, in a life where I had never once been able to confidently say I liked anything, I had found something I could say it about.
And maybe that’s why—I didn’t want to let him go.
For now, I wanted to set aside everything else. The situation we were facing, the complications surrounding us—I wanted to push all of that away and just think about Kyle.
He was looking at me. As if he could do so forever, as if he would willingly do just that.
“…Why ask when you already know the answer?”
His gaze, his voice, his touch, his expression—
When someone pleads so desperately, when they beg in a way that leaves no room for resistance—how is anyone supposed to refuse?
I nodded. Heat crept up my face, so I remained silent, but that much of a signal seemed to be enough for Kyle.
Kyle pulled me by the hand. Then, lifting me up into his arms, he carried me away.
He took me to his room. He looked a little impatient, desperate even… and also, just a little happy.
***
Thunk. The door closed behind me.
That was all the signal needed.
I tightened my grip on his cheeks and pulled him closer. Kyle followed without any resistance, his gaze lowering. He even had a faint, gentle smile, making him seem almost obedient.
And then, our lips met.
At first, that was all.
Unfortunately, I was inexperienced. I had never in my life been this close to someone, so of course, I was bound to be clumsy.
Just the sensation of his soft, slightly hot lips against mine made me freeze up completely, even forgetting to close my eyes.
‘Too close…’
He was so, so close.
My vision was filled entirely with Kyle—so much so that it felt like there was no room for anything else.
He was close enough that I couldn’t even focus my gaze. Then, his eyes opened.
He looked at me while our lips were still touching. Then, he smiled faintly, tightening his arms around my waist. One of his hands came up, cradling the back of my neck, pressing down gently as if to soothe me.
His fingers, which had been rubbing lightly against my skin, moved up, cupping the back of my head. Then, he tilted his head.
“Close your eyes.”
I didn’t even think to resist.
I shut my eyes tightly and placed my hands on his shoulders.
His lips sealed against mine completely, leaving no space between us.
His breath, the sensation of him against me—everything felt strange and feverish.
Naturally, the tension in my body melted away.
Fortunately, with the wall at my back and Kyle’s body pressing against me, there was no risk of me collapsing.
‘…I can’t breathe…’
I didn’t know how to breathe properly.
I squeezed my eyes shut and clung to Kyle’s shoulders, gasping softly.
Dizzy, I had no choice but to lean into him completely.
“…….”
How much time had passed?
In the end, I was the one who pulled away first.
Turning my head slightly, I panted heavily, struggling to catch my breath.
Kyle cupped my chin, brushing a few kisses along the corner of my lips before pulling me close, his hand stroking my back gently.
“Haaa…”
“Are you alright?”
How could I be alright?
I still felt lightheaded, my vision spinning.
And yet, the firm arms holding my weakened body in place felt so good that I had no desire to push them away.
I glanced at him with a slightly sulky look before resting my forehead against his shoulder.
“Um…”
At my small voice, Kyle listened attentively, waiting patiently for me to continue.
However, before I could find the right words, a system window popped up.
[Reload will be deactivated in 20 seconds.]
No, come on, at least give me a warning about this in advance!
[(￣へ￣)+]
What? Why? What’s happening?
Did they tell me earlier, but I was too distracted kissing to notice…?
[(￣へ￣)++++]
…Seems like that’s exactly what happened.
Feeling awkward for no reason, I cleared my throat with a small cough and loosened my arms around Kyle’s waist.
“Uh, time’s up.”
Kyle’s eyes widened in genuine surprise.
“Already?”
“Yeah, turns out it is. So, um….”
I paused for a moment to steady my breath before continuing.
“My clothes, please….”
This was always such a hassle whenever Reload ended. I couldn’t just leave my clothes behind. At least this time, since we were in a room, I could gather them properly.
Thankfully, Kyle immediately understood what I meant and gave a small nod. He extended his palm, signaling for me to come over.
Normally, I would have just returned to my hamster form without hesitation, but with him standing there waiting expectantly, I felt oddly reluctant.
Ah… what a life.
Sighing in resignation, I transformed back into a hamster and settled onto his palm.
“…….”
He stared at the small creature in his hand as if he were a child seeing something fascinating for the first time. A soft glow of white light shimmered over his palm before solidifying into the tiny form of a magical beast.
Then, as exhaustion took over and I slumped against his hand, he let out a quiet chuckle and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t said it yet.”
—Squeak? (Said what?)
“I like you.”
As he murmured those words, pressing another kiss to my forehead, he looked utterly content. Happy. As if he adored me beyond words.
And in that moment, I thought—maybe it wasn’t so bad to be a hamster.
***
Time passed faster than expected.
We prepared for the war in every way possible. I pestered the system endlessly until it finally introduced new products in the nut shop.
NEW! [Emergency Escape Pumpkin Seed Stick | Costs 8% Miracle Energy | Instantly teleport within a 10-meter radius.]
NEW! [Freeze Tag! Sunflower Seed Chocolate | Costs 5% Miracle Energy | Stops time for 1 minute.]
The effectiveness of these items was directly proportional to their insane price.
What the hell… 8%? The economy is inflating at a ridiculous rate!
[<(＿ ＿)>]
Well, I guess it’s only natural since they allow me to interfere with this world’s reality. Still, the thought of using them multiple times sent a shiver down my spine. But teleportation and time-stopping? Their utility was undeniable.
Since I also stocked up on painkillers and healing ointments, this should be enough.
[Current Miracle Energy: 48.2%]
I had gathered a decent amount.
It seemed like my growing feelings for Kyle—and the fact that he was moving for my sake—had significantly altered his fate.
When we first kissed, when I told him I liked him, and even after that—each time, my Miracle Energy slightly increased. Thanks to that, I no longer had to bother with small side quests.
The more Miracle Energy, the better—especially since I had no idea what might happen during the hunt.
“Come here for a moment.”
Kyle’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. I dismissed the system window and walked over to him.
He rummaged through a large chest, taking out various items before finally holding up a suit of armor and draping it over my shoulders.
“This might be a bit too big for you.”
He lifted it so effortlessly that I hadn’t realized its weight, but the moment it settled on my shoulders, my upper body pitched forward under the unexpected burden.
Of course, Kyle caught my shoulders and waist before I could stumble.
“Wh-what is this…?”
“A brigandine. I selected the lightest one possible, but it still seems too much for you.”
“But why am I suddenly wearing this?”
“You’ll need it for the hunt. It can at least block arrows—though probably not spears.”
“…….”
With his words, reality crashed down on me like a rising tide—something I had been avoiding thinking about.
We weren’t simply going on a hunt.
It wasn’t just beasts we’d be facing—there would be humans, possibly even more terrifying than the monsters.
Because this was war.
In just a few days, we would enter a battlefield where a single spear or arrow could end our lives.
“And this as well.”
Kyle handed me a dagger.
The blade was a sharp, cold blue, honed so finely that I felt like even the slightest mistake would cut through me as easily as butter.
“It’s best to be armed. We don’t know what we’ll encounter.”
“…….”
“If those bastards from the Mage Corps unleash an enhanced magical beast, you must run without looking back. Understood?”
I didn’t answer right away.
Instead, I stubbornly stared up at him, still wearing the heavy armor.
I was going there to save him—so how could I possibly abandon him and run?
“I don’t want you to die because of me.”
Kyle’s voice was cold, firm, and unwavering.
“Confirming the Mage Corps’ movements and protecting the prince are important, but… what matters most to me is keeping you safe, Shu. So…”
I narrowed my eyes and gazed at him for a long moment. Then, reaching out, I grabbed his cheek and stretched it.
“Like hell I don’t know that. Do you think I don’t feel the same way?”
“Shu, wait—let go of—”
“If you get hurt trying to protect me, do you think I’ll be okay with that? How can you tell me to just run and leave you behind? You should be saying we’ll survive together!”
“…….”
“We’re in this together.”
I was so tired of being alone.
“I have my own preparations, too, you know…”
I tried to sound confident, but my words came out more like an excuse. Groaning under my breath, I quickly added,
“Anyway! We’ll both return safely—to the North.”
Kyle looked at me, slightly startled.
Was what I said so unexpected?
He silently stared at me for a long moment, then carefully reached out and brushed his fingers against my forehead.
His touch was gentle.
For someone who had endured the harsh cold of the North his entire life, his warmth was surprising. His fingertips brushed against my forehead briefly before pulling away.
“Yeah.”
Kyle nodded.
“We’ll survive.”
“Yes, we will.”
“And we’ll go back together.”
In that moment, I forgot where I was supposed to return to. I forgot why I had come to this world in the first place.
All that remained clear in my mind was that promise—our shared future.