Across the vast plains of the Reindorf Empire, endless fields of tall grass swayed under the blazing summer sun. Small forests dotted the landscape like islands in a green ocean.
And right in the middle of all that beauty…a single young man was suffering.
He walked lazily along the dirt road with a long herb hanging between his teeth. His messy black hair brushed against his shoulders, and a long blade rested quietly at his side.
But the heroic traveler image ended there.
"Haah… haaaah…"
He wiped his forehead dramatically.
"S-so hot…"
Another step. More sweating.
"Why… WHY is it this hot?!"
He looked up at the sky like he was personally offended by the sun.
"Just because it's summer doesn't mean the planet has to turn into a frying pan!"
He squinted at the sky suspiciously.
"Did the atmosphere break or something?"
He pointed accusingly upward.
"Hello?! Who's in charge of weather maintenance?!"
A hot breeze passed as he froze.
"…this is illegal."
He dragged a hand down his face.
"I'm melting."
Another step.
"I can literally feel my organs evaporating."
Another step.
"I think my soul just filed a complaint."
He suddenly stopped. His head tilted slightly.
"…Huh?"
Somewhere inside the nearby forest—
Splash.
His eyes widened.
"…Water?"
Another splash echoed faintly. His entire mood instantly flipped. His eyes sparkled like a child discovering treasure.
"…Water."
He leaned forward slowly.
"…Beautiful… refreshing… life-saving water."
Then he grinned like a man who had just discovered paradise.
"HIHIHIHI."
He slapped his hands together.
"TIME FOR SWIIIM!"
He rushed toward the sound like a man possessed. Branches slapped his face as he pushed through the forest. Leaves flew everywhere.
"MOVE TREES!"
Then suddenly— He stopped.
Right in front of the water source. And froze. Because parked beside the water was a massive decorated carriage. Not just any carriage. A very expensive one.
Several armored knights stood nearby. And a group of robed mages calmly guarded the surroundings.
The young man blinked slowly.
"…Oh."
He quietly backed up two steps.
Then three.
Then immediately climbed a nearby tree like a panicked squirrel. From the branches he peeked down carefully.
His eyes landed on the emblem carved into the carriage door.
"…That…"
He squinted harder.
"…That is DEFINITELY a noble symbol."
He swallowed.
"Not just noble."
His eye twitched.
"…high noble."
He slowly looked at the escorts again.
Then. He nodded seriously.
"Yup."
Then he slowly turned his head away.
"…I should leave."
He started quietly crawling along the branch.
"Interfering with nobles is just…"
He turned his head slightly— And nearly died. Because there was a face right in front of him.
Just inches away. A young woman sat casually on the same branch. Long charcoal-colored hair flowed down her back, and her bright blue eyes sparkled with amusement.
She smiled widely.
"Interfering with nobles is what, kiddo~?"
…
The young man stared at her.
She stared back.
The wind blew.
A leaf fell dramatically between them.
Then he slowly blinked.
"…Oh."
He paused.
"…Am I screwed?"
His face twisted into the most desperate expression imaginable.
The woman giggled.
"Hmhmhm~"
She leaned closer.
"Yes, you are~"
---
few moments later… The young man was standing on the ground.
Well.
"Standing" was a generous word.
Because the same woman was currently holding him by the back of his neck like a disobedient cat. Knights and mages surrounded him. Even the horses looked suspicious.
He raised both hands dramatically.
"Alright! Let me explain!"
Everyone stared silently as he took a deep breath.
"So basically…"
He pointed at the sun.
"I was extremely hot."
He wiped imaginary sweat.
"Like EXTREMELY hot."
He gestured wildly.
"Like the sun personally selected me as today's barbecue."
A knight raised an eyebrow.
"So naturally!"
He pointed toward the lake.
"I heard water."
His eyes sparkled.
"And I thought… wow! Water! Amazing! Beautiful! A gift from nature!"
He placed a hand over his heart.
"But then!"
He pointed dramatically at the carriage.
"I saw YOU people!"
Silence. He nodded proudly.
"And I thought to myself…"
He tapped his temple.
"Wow. Those people look important."
He bowed slightly.
"So I decided to be generous."
Pause.
"Very generous."
Another pause.
"Extremely generous."
The knights were now visibly confused.
"So I said…"
He raised a finger.
'Wow! I should NOT disturb these very important and definitely powerful people.'
He nodded firmly.
"Yes."
"That was my noble decision."
Then he looked at the noble young woman before him.
"Which is why…"
He forced the most exaggerated smile in human history.
"…you unbelievably gorgeous, elegant, radiant, majestic young lady…"
He clasped his hands together.
"…should let me go."
Silence.
The lavender-haired noble standing before him stared quietly.
Her long hair rested neatly over her shoulders, and her calm purple eyes remained fixed on him without the slightest change in expression.
The young man swallowed.
You could hear her breathing slightly louder than everyone else in the quiet clearing.
She maintained eye contact with him.
Ten seconds passed.
Twenty.
Thirty.
The young man started sweating again.
"…Is she buffering?" he whispered under his breath.
Forty seconds.
Fifty seconds.
A full minute passed.
Finally, she spoke.
"…Are you going to the capital?"
Her voice was soft.
Almost fragile.
Like someone who rarely spoke loudly.
The young man's eyes widened.
"Y-Yes! Yes, exactly!" he said quickly, nodding like his life depended on it.
"I'm going to the capital! That's exactly where I'm going! So if you could very kindly let m—"
She raised a hand slightly.
And he shut up instantly.
"…Hmm."
She seemed to think for a moment.
Then she nodded once.
"…Then."
"…"
"…"
Silence again.
Inside the large noble carriage, several magic stones hung from the ceiling.
They glowed faintly with pale blue light, spreading a refreshing cold aura throughout the interior.
The temperature inside felt like heaven compared to the scorching plains outside.
"Hhaaaaaah…"
The young man melted into the seat like butter.
"…This is it…"
He leaned back dramatically.
"…This is what happiness feels like…"
He spread his arms.
"Cold air… shade… a comfortable seat…"
His eyes watered.
"…I think I'm about to cry."
Across from him, the lavender-haired noble sat calmly. Her posture was perfectly straight. Her expression hadn't changed even a little. She simply looked at him with the same quiet, unreadable face.
Meanwhile, the charcoal-haired woman who had caught him earlier was sitting beside him, watching with an amused smile.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Looks like you're having fun."
The young man turned slowly toward her. His expression was pure bliss.
"You have no idea."
He pointed at the glowing magic stones above.
"Do you know what those are?"
She blinked.
"…Cooling stones?"
He raised a finger dramatically.
"No, These…"
He wiped a fake tear.
"…are miracles."
He leaned back again with another exaggerated sigh.
"Two hours ago I was walking through hell."
He pointed at the ceiling again.
"Now I'm sitting in paradise."
The charcoal-haired woman laughed.
And across from him, the lavender-haired noble continued watching him quietly. Still completely expressionless. Though… for a brief moment… The corner of her lips moved ever so slightly.