Chapter 47: Disaster Strikes
Barghest's cherry blossom lips were pressed against him.
Eikou could clearly feel the soft sensation at the corners of her lips, as if his own were sinking into heavenly cotton.
"..."
His first reaction was: Where am I?
The second reaction: Looks like I've been saved… Thanks, Barghest. Just as I thought, in critical moments, she's the most reliable.
But immediately after that, Eikou's eyes snapped wide open.
Wait a minute… She's giving me CPR?!
"!!!!"
As soon as he realized that, his only remaining thought was: Thanks for the treat!
Seeing that he had woken up safely, Barghest let out a sigh of relief and pulled away from his lips, a thin silver string trailing from her soft pink mouth.
"Y-you… are you okay…"
Barghest wasn't overly flustered, but her heterochromatic eyes were filled with concern as she looked intently at him sitting up.
"Even though I've been a firefighter and a forest ranger… this is my first time resuscitating someone who nearly drowned… a-a-a, what am I even saying, that has nothing to do with this…"
The blonde female knight didn't take her eyes off him. Her breath was rapid with panic, and her soaked clothes were lightly steaming under the sunlight.
Since she had jumped into the water to save him, her whole body was drenched too. Her smooth golden hair drooped over her face, making her look just like a loyal golden retriever.
"Anyway, are you really okay? I followed my memory and might've used too much force… Is your body alright?"
Eikou coughed a few times, confirming there was no water left in his throat.
He rubbed his sore chest — maybe it counted as life-saving, but it felt more like he had been pressed so hard it shocked him back to life.
"…I'm fine now."
Though he really wanted to say: I think there's still some water in my lungs, just to be safe maybe you should give me CPR one more time!, this wasn't the time to joke — because she was genuinely worried about him.
"…Thanks, Barghest."
"It's nothing! It's a knight's duty!"
The Fairy Knight responded solemnly.
But then, she turned her head away, the tips of her ears flushed red, and muttered softly:
"…It's just that, Eikou-san… the situation was really urgent back then, I honestly didn't think much about it, and there was no other way… You… understand, right?"
"You mean the CPR thing."
"P-please don't say it so bluntly!!"
Barghest shouted, her face beet red. Though her body was still drenched, it looked like she was about to catch fire from embarrassment.
She was clearly a tall, mature, and strong Onee-san… so why did she keep showing the shy reactions of a teenage girl like this?
For a moment, Eikou didn't know whether he should speak seriously… or take the chance to tease her a bit more.
…Nah, better to properly praise her.
"Don't be shy about it, Barghest. Your emergency response was timely and professional. If it were me in that situation, I'd be incredibly proud."
It was true — if she hadn't pulled him up and performed first aid, he'd probably be waving back at his great-grandmother (and Tezcatlipoca-sensei) on the other side of the river by now.
"Don't flatter me like that… this was just a duty within my responsibility."
Barghest quickly waved her hands.
C-calm down, Barghest. I'm not the kind of woman who gets moved that easily. I'm way past the age where a few compliments could make my heart race!
She reassured herself like that.
[Barghest's Affection toward you has reached a very high level.]
[From her, you've discovered a few special traits.]
[You have acquired a new skill: "Numeral of the Saint D."]
["Numeral of the Saint D": When in sunlit areas, your Strength stat will be enhanced.]
Dear god, her affection is about to max out...
'...Honestly, from the time we met until now, has there been even a sliver of romance involved?' Eikou thought helplessly.
This girl falls too easily. I didn't even get a chance to use a basic attack, and Crystal on the other side just blew up.
"Wait… what about the others?" Eikou quickly asked.
Now that he thought about it — just where the hell had he drifted to? Was this place even still within the same country?
"You mean Finn-sensei and Baobhan Sith, right? Gawain's gone to look for them. Hopefully they're okay…" Barghest looked up at the gradually darkening sky, "At that time I saw you floating on the surface, your clothes caught on a branch which kept you from sinking — you could say it was luck amidst misfortune."
"So… that means I'd been soaking in the water for quite a while?"
"Umu, probably for some time already. It's already 5 PM, the sun is setting."
"I see…"
He didn't remember much about that moment, but Eikou still had a vague feeling that he'd sunk straight to the bottom of the river.
In that hazy moment, he thought he saw some strange visions — but now, he couldn't recall them at all.
His head hurt…
"Eikou-san, are you alright?"
Seeing him suddenly place a hand on his forehead, Barghest hurriedly asked in concern.
"Could it be that your body is acting up from soaking in cold water too long…"
"I'm fine."
The headache came fast and went away just as quickly, leaving Eikou back with his usual smug grin.
"That just proves I'm one hell of a cool guy, so cool I drip water!"
"You really are handsome, after all."
"You're supposed to deny that part…"
That serious affirmation made Eikou a little embarrassed.
Barghest stared intently at Eikou, his whole body drenched, hair still dripping water — her eyes gradually grew dreamy.
Those heterochromatic eyes looked like they were about to shoot out pink hearts.
"..."
Eikou felt like he really shouldn't tease Barghest anymore — it was like he had accidentally triggered some extremely dangerous switch.
To be frank, he found Barghest at her most alluring when wet — her soaked clothes clung tightly to her tall, athletic body, especially that full bust, through which he could faintly make out the skin beneath.
Eikou couldn't help but sneak a few extra glances.
He thought he was the one with an indecent mind, but apparently the other side was even more thirsty for his body.
Eikou was certain — Barghest, like Morgan, was a "predator-type woman" — only difference being she had a thinner skin.
"…Let's hurry up and regroup with everyone," Eikou said. "Do you still remember the way back?"
"This is embarrassing to admit…"
Barghest blushed and turned away, trying not to look at his soaking-wet collar, "Things were too urgent at the time, so I didn't mark the path…"
So, she'd just been running around the outskirts and stumbled upon him by accident.
In that case, following the riverbank should be a safe bet.
[You and Barghest begin searching for the way back.]
[After soaking in cold water for an extended time, your cold symptoms worsen, and all your stats have further decreased.]
[Sensing the danger of continuing like this, you've activated the skill "Instinct C."]
A die is cast.
[Check failed. Your instincts have dulled. In the thick forest without signs of smoke or fire, the two of you are now lost.]
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