*
Today's request couldn't be done with just two people, so I decided to go with some other guys.
It's obvious, but the more people needed for a request, the bigger the reward. Plus, it was related to the recent disappearances, so I took it on.
I don't like having to move with guys I've never met before, but I can't just stay cooped up here forever.
A guy with an axe and another with a bow walked towards me from a distance.
"Are you Kim Si-woo? Is that right?"
"Yeah. I'm Kim Si-woo, the swordsman. Nice to meet you."
"Pleased to meet you. And is that...?"
"Park Hye-ji. My wife doesn't speak the Imperial language, so I'd appreciate it if you could understand."
"Your wife? Hmm..."
Hearing that Park Hye-ji was my wife, the guy clicked his tongue as if he was disappointed. I need to nip this in the bud before he starts acting up.
To emphasize that she was my wife, I hugged Park Hye-ji and pretended to grope her chest.
"So... you two were always together, and she was your wife..."
Zeke muttered in a gloomy voice, and Park Hye-ji suddenly looked surprised and glared at me.
"W-What are you doing all of a sudden!"
"I introduced you as my wife."
"W-Wife? What wife!"
"There are a lot of guys hitting on you in the Adventurer's Guild these days, right? It's better to nip this in the bud."
Adventurers never know when they're going to die, so there were a lot of passionate guys, or guys who lived like there was no tomorrow.
She's an exotic beauty who's a bit different from the people here. There were so many guys constantly approaching her that it was easier to just say she was my wife.
Well, even if I say she's my wife, there will still be guys who try, but it should at least reduce the number to some extent.
"I-Is that why you're doing this?"
Park Hye-ji seemed to be aware of the many lecherous gazes she was getting at the Adventurer's Guild, and she seemed to agree.
You can't ignore the influence of the environment. We're together every day, so even if you're not interested, feelings will build up.
Judging by the fact that she's not strongly resisting, it doesn't seem like she hates it that much. I can still feel her heart pounding.
I can assume that Park Hye-ji is aware of me too.
"So, pretend to be my wife in front of the adventurers."
"Wife... Y-You mean acting?"
"Yeah."
After saying that, I lightly kissed Park Hye-ji on the cheek.
Park Hye-ji's face turned red as if time had stopped. Zeke, who was watching, complained.
"W-What is he saying?"
"He said to save the lovey-dovey stuff for when you're alone?"
"..."
"He said let's get going?"
"Y-Yes... dear..."
"Huh?"
"Y-You told me to act! It'll be awkward if I just call you by your name..."
"Heeung? Is that so?"
I responded with a smile and wrapped my arm around Park Hye-ji's waist, pulling her closer.
"Hey, you fuckers. Are you going to keep doing that?"
"Ah, sorry. My wife gets lonely easily."
"You're good at being lovey-dovey, it's fucking annoying. If you slow us down, we're leaving you behind."
"Don't worry, I'll take care of it. Where should we start investigating?"
The archer, who had been silent, opened his mouth to my question.
"They told us to start investigating a small village called Lavin nearby. Our mission is to find even the smallest clue."
"Then shall we get going?"
*
The mission to find clues about the missing people.
According to Kim Si-woo, the suspects were a cult called the Eternal Life Church.
He was guessing that the cult that summoned the demon back then was also the Eternal Life Church, a crazy group that offered humans as sacrifices.
Knowing the language of this world, and knowing so much about adventurers and cults, it seemed like he had been here more than once or twice.
'Strange man...'
The swordsmanship he showed in the swordsmanship test, he was truly a man with many secrets.
He was sometimes rude and had a strong tendency to do things his way, but I guess I've gotten used to it now.
'That's beside the point... Suddenly telling me to act like his wife. Is he really in his right mind...?'
I was just acting like his wife, but I couldn't help but be conscious of him.
We're together all the time, so there's no way I can't be conscious of him.
'Marriage, huh?'
If I really can't go back, that wouldn't be so bad.
If I were to evaluate Kim Si-woo based on what I've seen so far, I would honestly think positively of him.
You might be able to act like a good person for a short time, but if you spend 24 hours together, your true nature will come out.
'No matter how good you are at acting... it's impossible to deceive someone every moment.'
He's capable enough to solve difficult problems, and he's more considerate and takes care of me better than he looks.
I thought he was just a playful guy who said weird things, but he's surprisingly a solid person.
The only problem is his sleeping habits, but that's not a big deal if we get married.
"What are you doing not eating? Do you want me to feed you?"
"A-I'll eat on my own. Th-Thank you."
"Huh? Oh... okay."
When I leaned against Kim Si-woo, he naturally pulled me into his arms.
I'm a bit bothered by how skilled he is in these things, but it's easier for me if he leads since I don't know anything.
Because I feel comfortable when I'm in his arms like this.
As a woman, I've naturally imagined getting married and starting a family.
I've only imagined having a rabbit-like daughter and a son, and living happily with my husband.
It didn't seem so bad to have Kim Si-woo in that place.
'D-Don't keep thinking strange things... Hooo...'
Come to think of it, he was freely fondling a grown woman's body, wasn't he?
If he freely fondled my body, which was all new to me, it might be natural for him to take responsibility as a man.
"What are you thinking about that you're spacing out like that?"
"W-What makes you think I was thinking about something?! I-I was just looking at the pretty night sky!"
"Is that so? Well, the night sky is pretty here since there are no buildings."
"Yes..."
Kim Si-woo, looking at the night sky with a melancholic expression, his face shining in the moonlight, was enough to steal my gaze.
"You... if... if, hypothetically speaking."
"Yeah. Tell me."
"If... if we can't go back... what are you going to do?"
"Hmm... then I guess I'll have to live here?"
"A-Alone?"
"What's this? You were worried about that? Don't worry. I'll take full responsibility for you."
"..."
My face flushed at Kim Si-woo's answer, and I turned my head away.
Does this guy know what he's saying?
But it wasn't just a casual remark. I could feel the sincerity in it, and my lips curled up without me realizing it.
My heart was beating fast enough to burst, and I kept thinking about him. Could this be love?
"..."
I realized it when I looked at Kim Si-woo's face as he admired the night sky.
There were bugs everywhere, the sleeping arrangements were uncomfortable, and there was nothing good about this place, but I felt comfortable when I was in Kim Si-woo's arms.
The person I keep wanting to be with and thinking about.
Ah, I've come to like this guy.
*
[Park Hye-ji's favorability has increased.]
[Park Hye-ji has been registered as a heroine.]
[Achievement unlocked.]
[Achievement unlocked.]
'Oh.'
I thought it would take longer, but Park Hye-ji's favorability limit has been lifted.
[Name: Park Hye-ji]
[Favorability: 62]
The favorability, which seemed to be blocked by something, suddenly skyrocketed and reached the 60s.
It seems like there's been a change in her feelings, and Park Hye-ji, who had been left unattended, could be said to have safely entered my arms.
Tae-soo pushed me so hard, I had to do at least this much.
When I stroked Park Hye-ji's hair as she was in my arms, she slowly snuggled into my arms without saying anything.
She was pretending to be nonchalant, but the fact that only her ears turned red was a cute point.
I haven't marked her as mine for sure, but Park Hye-ji isn't the type to easily give her heart to another man, so I can consider her half mine.
I gently grabbed Park Hye-ji's chin and turned her face, and her face followed my touch.
I could definitely feel that her resistance had weakened.
Park Hye-ji's face was flushed and dazed, and her soft-looking lips looked tempting, so I kissed her.
Just a light kiss that barely touched her lips, a peck that was barely even a kiss, and Park Hye-ji trembled.
Her face turned as red as a tomato, and she couldn't bear to look at my face, so she lowered her head.
'Judging by her reaction, it seems like it's her first time.'
If she reacts like this to a peck, approaching her too quickly would be counterproductive.
She had a strong image of being a model student, but it seemed like she had absolutely no experience with men.
A blank canvas with nothing on it.
I could say that I was now coloring that pure white space with my colors.
I was curious to see how Park Hye-ji would change when she became completely mine.
'Well... now I really have to think about going back...'
Park Hye-ji's capture was going smoothly, so I felt like I needed to speed up the search for that bastard.
Even if time flows slowly, I can't just stay here indefinitely. If I'm going to do it, it's best to kill two birds with one stone.
Until now, there was no evidence because those guys were moving secretly, but traces were slowly starting to appear.
If their movements have become so active that the Adventurer's Guild is offering requests, I could think of the current situation in one of two ways.
Either they're so desperate that they don't have time to care about what others think, or they don't need to care anymore.
'Whatever it is, it means I can't give them any more time.'
Now that it's been revealed that that bastard can cross dimensions, it's clear that I can't let him get any stronger.
I don't know what kind of influence he'll have if he builds up his strength here, and it would be the worst if my kids got hurt because I was too late.