Kazuki sat outside the cabin shirtless, chewing on the edge of a piece of bread that Mia left behind. The crust was soft, sweet. She made it with care. He didn't even like bread that much. But right now, he was eating guilt. Bite by bite.
Inside, Lila was still asleep. Or pretending to be. After six hours of sin, either was believable.
The sky was gray today. Clouds heavy. Like the world already knew things were about to shift.
Then he heard footsteps.
Fast. Angry.
He didn't even look up.
"Mia."
She stopped in front of him. Arms crossed. Eyes sharp enough to cut steel.
"You slept with her."
He chewed the bread a little slower. "Good morning to you too."
"Don't play dumb."
"I never play dumb. I just don't explain myself."
She stepped closer. Real close. The air between them was fire and ice.
"I came to check on you," she said, voice tight. "I made you breakfast. I defended you to the other villagers. I told them you were just a lost traveler with kind eyes."
Kazuki raised a brow. "You think I have kind eyes?"
She slapped the bread out of his hand.
It fell in the dirt.
He didn't flinch.
"You think this is a game?" she snapped. "She has a husband."
"And?"
"You're disgusting."
Kazuki stood up slowly. Didn't touch her. Didn't raise his voice. Just stared down at her with those eyes—calm, unreadable, the kind that made girls nervous for reasons they couldn't name.
"She came to me," he said softly. "She walked in. She kissed me. I just didn't stop her."
"That's the problem," Mia hissed. "You never stop."
There was a silence between them. Thick. Sharp.
Then Kazuki leaned down just a bit. His lips brushed close to her ear.
"You jealous?"
She shoved him.
But he caught her wrist mid-push.
His fingers closed around it gently.
"You want me to stop?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
He pulled her closer, not rough—just enough to make her heart skip.
"You came back," he whispered.
"I came to warn you," she said, voice cracking. "You're not safe. Lila's husband… he's back in the village."
Kazuki's smile dropped.
Ah. There it is.
"Did he ask about her?"
"He's looking for her now."
He let her wrist go. Sat back down like nothing was wrong. Picked up the bread again. Brushed it off. Took a bite.
"Mmm."
Mia stared at him like he was insane.
"You should leave," she said. "Today."
He nodded, chewing.
"Maybe I will."
Then he looked up at her.
"Or maybe I'll make you mine too. Just to see what kind of noises you make when you're mad and under me."
Her face went red.
Not from shame.
From heat.
She turned and walked away before she did something stupid.
He watched her go.
The system chimed.
{Mia Affection: 47% – Flames Ignited}
{New Passive: Jealousy Aura – Others fight harder for what you already took}
{Quest Updated: Survive Lila's Husband. Bonus: Make Mia fall before he finds you.}
Kazuki leaned back.
Smirked to himself.
"This world's got flavor."
Kazuki didn't move for a long time after she left. Just sat there with the half-eaten bread and that unreadable look in his eyes. The kind that said he was thinking twelve moves ahead—and still didn't care if the world burned.
He wasn't scared of Lila's husband.
But he wasn't stupid either.
"Six hours," he muttered. "That's gotta leave marks."
The door creaked behind him. Bare feet on wood. The soft sound of a guilty woman with messy hair and bruised lips walking into the morning.
"You're already up?" Lila asked, voice hushed.
"Didn't sleep."
She wrapped the blanket tighter around her body. But he didn't turn to look. He let the silence sit. Heavy.
"I… I should go back soon."
"Yeah. Probably."
He still didn't look.
"I don't regret it," she said.
"I know."
Then he finally turned. Eyes cold again. No charm now. Just the strategist waking up.
"You told me he was gone for a month."
"He was supposed to be."
Kazuki stood. Walked past her. Grabbed his coat from the hook. Brushed past her shoulder on purpose. She shivered.
"He'll come here," she whispered.
"I know."
"If he finds out—"
"He won't."
"But—"
Kazuki turned, hand on the door, looking over his shoulder with a smirk so casual it almost made her knees weak.
"Relax," he said. "You weren't the first married woman I've touched."
Then he walked out.
Back in the village, Kazuki kept his hood up. The mood was off. Eyes watched him now. Whispers crawled behind his back.
The system pinged softly in his ear.
{New Threat Detected: Markus – Class: Soldier, Husband, Rage Level: 89%}
{Recommended Action: Tease or Run. No in-between.}
Kazuki walked straight toward the tavern. He didn't care.
Inside, he spotted Mia again. She was behind the counter, pretending to clean a mug, but really just trying to avoid looking up.
He leaned against the bar.
She glanced at him. "You're brave."
"I prefer efficient."
"Then efficiently leave the village. Now."
Kazuki leaned in, voice low. "Or what?"
She didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
The tavern door creaked open.
A shadow stepped in.
Broad. Scarred. Eyes full of war and suspicion.
Markus.
Lila's husband.
Kazuki smiled.
He always liked the part where the game started.