Natsu glared at Nathan.
Not just a normal glare.
No — this was the kind of glare that could peel paint off walls and make grown men reconsider every life decision they'd ever made.
"…That was completely unintentional," Nathan said quickly, raising both hands in surrender as if that would somehow save him from immediate execution.
Natsu's eyes narrowed.
"Oh really?" she replied, her voice calm in a way that made it infinitely more dangerous. "Because I distinctly remember asking you to remove your hand… and the first thing you did was s—s-squeeze it!"
Her face flushed even deeper at the last word, big, white fox-ears twitching in embarrassment.
Nathan opened his mouth… and closed it again.
Then internally—
Alright, calm yourself, Nathan. Do NOT panic. Do NOT fold. Do NOT become one of those spineless rom-com protagonists who apologizes for breathing wrong.
He straightened slightly.
Stand your ground. You are NOT in the wrong.
Technically…
Probably…
"…I'm not doing anything wrong," Nathan said, forcing confidence into his voice. "When a man suddenly finds his hand on a girl's breast, the natural reaction is to squeeze it. It's instinctive — purely biological. If any healthy young guy says otherwise—"
He paused dramatically.
"I'll castrate him by myself."
Silence followed.
A very heavy silence.
Natsu stared at him — her face now fully red.
"…You're unbelievable," she muttered.
"But I'm honest," Nathan shot back immediately, seizing momentum like a man clinging to the last plank of a sinking ship. "And like I said — my intention was pure. I was trying to keep us alive. You should actually be thanking me."
Natsu's eyes twitched.
"I would've preferred staying alive without being groped!"
"You're alive, aren't you?" Nathan countered.
"You're the reason that dragon almost killed me in the first place!" she snapped back instantly.
…Tch. Nathan clicked his tongue internally.
Alright. She's not folding. Time for the nuclear option — one that can make even a certain goddess-in-distress cry like a bullied middle schooler…
He inhaled, then fired back—
"And there's someone here who kissed me relentlessly without my consent," he said sharply, gesturing at her. "Which almost suffocated me, by the way — while disguised as a guy. Do you know what that does to a man's psyche?! I almost had an identity crisis on the spot!"
"…Ghk—!"
Natsu physically recoiled as if struck.
Her gaze dropped instantly, shoulders tensing.
Critical hit! He thought triumphantly.
Nathan pressed on.
"I was fighting for my life — emotionally and physically! Meanwhile, you were out there committing assault via gratitude!"
"…Stop talking," she mumbled weakly.
"No, I will not stop talking," Nathan continued mercilessly. "Justice must be served."
"I said stop talking! Please!"
"I refuse!"
"…We're even!" Natsu blurted out suddenly, standing up abruptly.
Silence.
Nathan blinked several times.
"…We're even?" he echoed.
Natsu crossed her arms, still refusing to meet his gaze. "Yes. We're even. So stop bringing it up."
An awkward pause.
"…Thank you," Nathan finally said, placing a hand over his chest like he had just survived a courtroom trial.
Thank God.
She bought it.
Because if she didn't—
He was absolutely going to die here.
Maybe not physically.
But die nonetheless.
And not by a dragon.
"…We should get out of here," Nathan added, glancing toward the direction the dragon had flown off to. "In case that flying nuclear abomination decides to come back for round two."
Natsu nodded, quietly agreeing.
Which, honestly, was a little unsettling.
• × • × • × •
They left.
The remains of Nathan's former base — now a mere crater of memory and disappointment — faded behind them as they moved deeper into the forest.
Their destination was clear.
"The river," Nathan said as they walked. "You mentioned it earlier, right?"
Natsu gave a small nod. "Yes. It's not too far from here."
"Good," Nathan replied. "I've got some ideas. It might be easier to deal with zombies near a body of water."
Natsu didn't object.
Which meant the plan was officially accepted.
Unfortunately — the atmosphere between them was… unbearable.
Not hostile or anything.
Just… Awkward. Painfully so.
Every now and then, Nathan would glance at Natsu. And the moment she started to look back—
He'd snap his head away like he had just been caught committing a crime.
Smooth. Very smooth, me.
Meanwhile—
Natsu wasn't any better. She'd steal a glance—
Nathan would notice—
And she'd immediately turn away even faster.
Wow.
This is terrible — and funny at the same time.
Nathan let out a quiet sigh.
First near-death experience, then accidental groping, and now… this.
Great. I've officially entered rom-com territory.
He rubbed his face.
What's next? A misunderstanding arc? A festival episode?
Am I going to spend four seasons not confessing anything while dramatic music plays in the background?
Still, despite everything — Nathan found himself oddly… relieved.
Natsu could've left him.
Easily.
She had no obligation to stay — especially after he had just justified something that could absolutely be classified as sexual harassment as a 'natural bodily reaction.'
But she stayed.
And honestly?
…I appreciate that.
He wasn't exactly thrilled about being alone in a world filled with zombies… and dragons.
Company mattered.
Even if that company came with emotional damage and occasional death threats.
• × • × • × •
As they pushed deeper through the forest, the terrain grew denser, the undergrowth thicker and more stubborn — as if the valley itself was quietly resisting their attempt to leave.
Natsu moved ahead, her newly repaired sword flashing in clean, controlled arcs as she cut through tangled vines blocking their path. The blade sliced effortlessly.
She paused mid-swing, glancing down at it.
"…This sword is surprisingly good," she said, almost to herself, though just loud enough for Nathan to hear. "Where did you even get something like this?"
Nathan, walking a few steps behind her, shrugged casually. "That? It's just a Walker's sword."
Natsu blinked. "…A Walker's sword?"
"Yeah," he continued, tone completely nonchalant. "I repaired it using your bent one as material."
Silence.
Natsu slowly turned her head to look at him. "…You what?"
Nathan tilted his head. "I repaired it?"
"That's not the part I'm questioning!"
She stared at the blade again, then back at him, clearly trying to process what he had just said.
Walker weapons were notoriously terrible — rusted, chipped, barely usable. The idea that one could be restored to this level of quality… that alone was already ridiculous.
But using another weapon as material? Without tool to melt it down first?
That wasn't just rare.
That was unheard of.
"…You say things like that way too casually," she muttered, turning forward again. "Do you even realize how abnormal that is?"
Nathan scratched his cheek. Not really… feels pretty standard for a system feature.
"…I'll take that as a compliment."
Natsu opened her mouth — then closed it again.
Because honestly?
She had no idea how to respond to that.
So, once again—
Silence returned as they continued walking. Step after step.
The sound of leaves crunching beneath their feet filled the space between them, accompanied only by the occasional rustle of branches and distant cries of insects.
And the silence?
It wasn't peaceful.
Finally — after about thirty unbearably-awkward minutes of navigating the forest.
"Natsu—" "Nathan—"
They both spoke at the same time — and immediately stopped.
Another silence.
"…You go first," Nathan said, scratching the back of his head.
"No, you go first," Natsu replied quickly.
"No, no. I insist."
"…Why are you insisting?"
"I don't know…? it just feels like the polite thing to do."
"…You were not this polite earlier."
"…That was a high-pressure situation."
Natsu stared at him for a second.
She sighed. "…Fine. I'll go first."
Nathan nodded. "…Thank you."
Another small pause.
Then she asked, "…What was that magic you used earlier?"
Nathan blinked. "…Magic?"
"The one that made us like… disappear," she clarified, her brows furrowing slightly. "We were right there, within the Supreme Dragon's range — and yet she couldn't detect us at all."
She tightened her grip on the sword slightly. "…That's not normal."
Understatement of the century.
"…It's hard to believe, honestly." Nathan hesitated. "…That's… a divine blessing."
Natsu stopped walking.
"…A what?"
"…A divine blessing," he repeated, a little less confidently this time.
She turned to face him fully.
"…Didn't you say you had the blessing of Verdanessa?" she asked. "Her blessings are known to revolve around earth and nature. What you used earlier was nothing like that."
Nathan scratched the back of his head.
"…Yeah, about that…"
He paused.
Alright… this is the part where things get complicated.
"…That was a lie."
Natsu blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
"I don't even know who this 'Verdanessa' is," Nathan admitted. "I just said that so you wouldn't ask too many questions about my abilities."
She stared at him for a bit.
"…You're surprisingly honest about lying," she muttered.
"I try to maintain consistency."
"…That's not how that works."
Nathan let out a small breath. "And… there's something else."
Natsu raised a brow but didn't interrupt.
Nathan glanced at her, hesitating for a moment — Then made a decision.
…She stuck with me through all that. Even after the dragon.
I think… I can trust her.
"…I also lied about having amnesia."
Natsu's expression didn't change. "…Go on."
"…I'm not from this world," Nathan said. "I died… and then a goddess transferred me to this world."
He paused, frowning slightly.
"…At least, that's what I was told."
Natsu tilted her head.
"…'Told'?"
"I was supposed to be reincarnated," Nathan continued. "But instead, I woke up here with my body intact. So… technically, I was just moved — maybe…"
"…Huh."
That was it.
She looks as normal as she can get.
"'Huh.'" Nathan blinked. "…That's your entire reaction?"
Natsu shrugged slightly and resumed walking.
"…It's not that strange."
"…Not that strange?"
"People being summoned from another world as heroes every few decades," she said casually. "It's not common, but it's not unheard of either."
Nathan stared at her. "…I was expecting at least a little bit of concern for my mental state."
"If you were insane," Natsu replied calmly, "you wouldn't have survived this long."
"…That's fair."
She glanced back at him.
"So," she continued, "which goddess summoned you?"
Nathan hesitated. "…I don't know."
Natsu blinked. "…You don't know?"
"She never told me her name," he said, keeping his tone as natural as possible. "Just… sent me here. Left a message or two."
Sorry, Lunarinas. You're staying classified for now.
Natsu hummed softly.
"…So you're not a Hero, then."
"I don't think so," Nathan replied.
"…Hmm."
They walked in silence for a few seconds before Nathan spoke again.
"…Heroes, huh?"
Natsu nodded. "Summoned ones. Every kingdom under a goddess's protection does it."
"…Let me guess," Nathan said, a faint smirk forming. "To fight a Demon Lord?"
Natsu gave him a strange look.
"…What?" he asked.
"…No."
"…No?"
"The Demon Lord died about ten thousand years ago," she said. "Heroes aren't summoned for that purpose anymore."
Nathan blinked. "…Then why summon them?"
"To strengthen military power," she replied simply. "Summoned individuals are guaranteed to awaken powerful classes — Hero-class ones. That alone makes them valuable assets."
Nathan let out a quiet breath.
Of course. Weaponized isekai protagonists.
"…That's a disturbingly practical use of portal fantasy tropes."
"I don't know what you mean by 'portal fantasy,'" Natsu added, "but this is just how things work."
Nathan nodded slowly.
"…Right."
Another cliché confirmed.
Then something clicked in his mind.
Wait… ten thousand years ago?
Demon Lord died ten thousand years ago…
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Now where have I heard that timeline before…
A certain sealed goddess came to mind.
…Right.
Nathan glanced up at the sky for a brief moment.
I wonder who else has been 'out of commission' for ten thousand years…
Care to comment, Lunarinas?
Silence.
He'd half-hoped she would say something — like when she told him to use her blessing to hide from the Supreme Dragon.
"…Figures," he muttered under his breath.
Natsu glanced back at him.
"…What is it?"
Nathan shook his head lightly. "…Nothing. Just talking to myself."
And definitely not questioning the suspicious overlap between ancient calamities and conveniently absent goddesses.
Nope. Definitely not suspicious at all.