Chapter 48: High Fever
The sun gradually sank below the horizon.
The temperature also became increasingly colder — it wasn't summer yet, so the wind blowing from the river was still bone-chilling.
In a situation like this, the wisest thing to do was to keep running at a steady pace to make the water on the body evaporate quickly.
Barghest and Eikou were doing the same.
But Eikou felt his steps growing heavier and heavier, his head as if weighed down by tons of lead, unable to lift it up.
And that wasn't even the worst part — he felt like he and Barghest were just running in circles. Even though they had followed the riverbank for a long time, there was still no sign of any people.
Could it be… they were really lost?
Why does it have to be at a time like this? Barely eaten a few bites, now freezing cold, soaked like a drowned rat, and lost deep in the mountains.
"..."
The sky gradually darkened.
"Eikou-san, can you still hold on?"
Barghest noticed his steps slowing down more and more; she couldn't help but stop and ask.
"I'm fine, let's keep going…"
Eikou really wanted to act like nothing was wrong in front of her, but his throat had no strength at all, and even he himself could hear how weak his voice sounded.
Although Barghest was tall and looked strong and imposing, she was extremely perceptive — she immediately noticed that his condition was worsening. That abnormal flush on his face, his weak voice, all signs that the illness was getting worse.
She stepped forward, pressed her forehead against his to feel his body temperature.
Immediately, she felt the burning heat radiating from Eikou's forehead.
"You have a fever!"
"Boys are always passionate."
"Stop joking, Eikou-san! This is a high fever!"
Then she muttered:
"…It's just, normally you're always so lively and noisy, but suddenly showing such weakness like this… it's kind of… a little cute, isn't it…"
How can she even feel moved in this situation!?
"I'm really fine, I don't feel that bad…"
Eikou mumbled in his dizziness, then suddenly looked toward the empty riverbank and said with a laugh: "Oh, aren't those two over there waving at us Olga Marie and Doctor Roman? Looks like they came to pick us up."
"Don't go there! Once you go, you can't come back!"
Barghest hurriedly stopped him.
She immediately carried the feverish Eikou on her back and quickly ran along the riverbank, hoping to find Gawain's group.
But the sky had almost completely darkened, and the breeze that had been refreshing earlier had now turned into gusts of icy wind, as if the night had finally bared its cruel fangs.
No sign of any students or anyone else, but on the riverbank appeared an old wooden hut — seemingly a place where fishermen usually stored their gear.
The main door of the hut was only loosely locked.
At this point, Barghest no longer had the mind to maintain the manners of a knight — she immediately kicked the lock open and carried Eikou inside.
She quickly glanced around the layout of the hut: things were scattered everywhere, but almost nothing useful. At best, there was only a crude wooden bed to rest on, but no blankets and no sheets.
No alcohol to reduce fever, no kettle, not even a single match — just a bunch of fishing gear left lying around.
Barghest hesitated for a moment, but in the end decided to give up on trying to find the team, and laid Eikou down on the bed.
Because judging from his current condition, if he stayed out in the wind any longer, they might really have to send him straight to the Throne of Heroes!
Barghest looked at him, still soaking wet, hesitated for a while, then finally spoke up:
"Let me help you take off your clothes…"
Eikou was startled when he heard that, and hurriedly waved his hands in panic,
"Even if I take off the wet clothes, I'll still be cold. I'm already sick anyway, but at least I still want to keep a little dignity!"
If it were in front of Baobhan Sith or the other girls, he wouldn't mind taking them off — in an emergency situation, there's nothing to be embarrassed about.
But Barghest was clearly craving his body, and anything Eikou did would make her waver. If he stripped completely in front of her, the consequences were absolutely unimaginable! With a feverish body like this, he definitely couldn't handle any high-level physical activities!
"Eikou-san, I completely understand what you're worried about. To be honest, I'm a little embarrassed too…"
Barghest said seriously.
"But for the sake of your life, I'll hold you tight to transfer heat."
"Your clothes are wet too. If you hold me, won't that just make us both colder!" he said.
"Of course I know that."
She slowly began unbuttoning her shirt, revealing her ample chest soaked through and only covered by a bra, her expression serious as she said to him:
"That's why we both take everything off, and share body heat together."
"???"
Eikou was completely stunned.
"Eikou-san… you should hurry and take off your clothes too,"
Then Barghest started stripping his clothes off, "Or have you lost all your strength already and want me to take them off for you?"
"Wait wait wait wait, Barghest, this isn't like the elegant lady you're supposed to be! You're supposed to be someone who knows how to be reserved!"
Eikou said in a panic.
"Umu, can't deny that, but right now it's a life-or-death situation, so I can't care about the pride of a knight anymore! If you're a man, then take your clothes off decisively!" Barghest said sternly, "R-Rest assured, I'll try my best to hold back, I won't do anything bad to you! Don't underestimate the self-control of a knight!"
A moment later, she couldn't help but wipe away her drool:
"Mm… these muscles, so you're the type that looks skinny in clothes but really firm underneath, huh… but I'll endure."
Eikou thought to himself, what the hell is she saying, her drool is about to drip on me, her beastly instincts as a fairy black dog must be waking up right now!
Is she about to pounce on me and devour me whole, in every sense of the word!?
It's over. Today I really might have to leave my virginity behind here, and any resistance left is just a candle flickering in the wind.
Not taken down by Sesshouin Kiara, but by a woman dangerous in an entirely different way!
"Wait, Barghest, at least let me say something—"
Thud!
Just as Barghest began to strip his clothes, a sudden noise came from outside the door.
It sounded like something had fallen.
The two people on the bed immediately turned their heads.
Outside, the sky was completely dark, the light dim, but the silhouette of a girl could still be seen clearly.
They saw a small, drenched figure.
Eikou's vision was blurry from the high fever, but there was no way he couldn't recognize that fiery red hair even in the dark, nor fail to recognize the posture of someone hugging a pair of high heels.
That was definitely Baobhan Sith!
No, it could only be Baobhan Sith!
"You two…"
Baobhan Sith hugged the soaked high heels in her arms, looking at the two struggling on the bed, and couldn't help feeling utterly shocked.