Re:Zero: No Job, No Magic, Just a Stupid Romance System

"I was wondering why you suddenly came out by yourself, Alan, and said you wanted to give me a ride. Turns out you came to eliminate the base of the thieves' group. But why didn't you tell me? You sent me back first and then returned alone? After you left, I realized something was wrong. Looking back, what happened yesterday was at the place where you slipped away in the middle of the night."

Just now, when Luo Qixi and Alan met again, Alan had wanted to explain, but before he could say a word, Luo Qixi glared at him and began using fire magic to dispose of the bodies.

Alan watched her efficiently handle the corpses, and before long, she dragged him away from the scene. Only now did the two begin to speak properly.

In the woods, Luo Qixi heated water with magic while standing on a boulder behind Alan, washing his hair.

A ball of water floated in the air, and flames heated it until a hole formed at the bottom. Warm water poured over Alan's body from head to toe, washing away the blood and pooling on the ground.

Of course, Alan was still clothed. He was simply too soaked in blood. The two decided it was best to let the water rinse everything at once.

"Honestly, that was too dangerous."

"Wouldn't it have been just as dangerous if you went alone?"

Luo Qixi half-squinted as her fingers moved gently through Alan's blood-matted hair.

Alan sat on the ground, his back to Luo Qixi, looking slightly helpless. He had thought he'd successfully snuck away, but Luo Qixi figured it out the moment they separated.

Why didn't she notice while they were still together?

Strange.

"Well, I had confidence in myself."

Luo Qixi rapped his head unhappily—bang, bang, bang—like she was knocking a watermelon.

Alan felt bad for treating her like a tool and didn't resist, but after a few more knocks, he started to feel like a turtle getting its head smacked in a seafood market.

He quickly raised his hand to shield himself, and Luo Qixi finally stopped. She folded her palm again and resumed scrubbing his hair.

Then, their fingers became entangled.

Alan froze and instinctively pinched her hand.

"It's soft, smooth, and warm... not much flesh on the fingers... feels like it could break with a little force..."

"No! Wait—what am I doing?!"

Alan snapped out of it, and through his touch, he realized Luo Qixi's hand had frozen.

He looked up slowly.

Under the flickering flame-light, Luo Qixi's face shimmered. She stared blankly at the fingers Alan had grabbed. Noticing his gaze, she glanced at him briefly—then quickly looked away.

Her voice, caught in the night wind, trembled slightly.

"Next time, if something like this happens, write to me. Maybe I can help. After all, we promised to become adventurers together, right?"

"Okay."

"If it's an emergency, ask Master Paul for help. He's a superior in all three sword schools. It's dangerous to act alone. Everyone worries about you. You should apologize to them when you return."

"Okay."

"Your hands aren't hurt, but what about your body? Need healing?"

"Okay. Uh—no, no."

"But I remember you once said combining twenty cuts puts a huge burden on the body. Did you use a secret technique to stack them? You've been training lately..."

"Uh, yeah, it's a burden... but it's fine."

"So you were lying to me before?"

"No! I just meant... it's not a big deal now."

"Motherly goddess of love, please heal this person's wounds and restore him to health. Healing technique!"

"Thank you."

"...You're welcome. Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere else?"

"Not at all."

Luo Qixi returned her gaze to Alan's face. In the night, she lowered her head while Alan looked up.

The two locked eyes and said nothing.

At some point, the water flow above Alan's head had stopped. Perhaps Luo Qixi had lost focus, unable to maintain the magic—or maybe she stopped so she could better inspect Alan for injuries...

...or to see his face more clearly.

But who could say what she was thinking?

She just stared at Alan, her blue eyes flickering with concern in the firelight.

Then, she gently pulled her hand out of Alan's.

Only then did Alan realize he'd been holding onto her hand the entire time. He stared at his own hand, blankly stunned.

Back when he was six, he had fled into a brothel to escape Kita-ni-zo and ended up the "pet" of the older girls. Yet now, he was as pure and innocent as a three-year-old.

Luo Qixi took a deep breath, turned her back to Alan, and summoned another large water sphere beside her. Flames surrounded it, making a bubbling, boiling sound.

"By the way, the forest air is really fresh at night."

"Ah... yeah."

She pointed to the water ball behind her.

"Go. Take a proper shower. You still smell like blood."

"Okay."

After washing up and rinsing his clothes, Alan completed the long, inefficient drying process while Luo Qixi turned away, covering her face the entire time.

By then, morning had already arrived.

The two walked through the forest and came to a roadside.

"Don't forget to write."

"Okay."

Wearing a slightly wrinkled outfit, Alan waved goodbye.

Birdsong rang out. Luo Qixi smiled brightly at him.

"Then—see you again."

At that moment, Alan remembered that he had left in such a hurry yesterday that he never gave her a chance to reply.

Scratching his face awkwardly, he watched her wave while walking backward.

Her lips moved slightly, as if wanting to say something—but when she saw his sluggish wave, she paused, pursed her lips, and swallowed her words.

She simply gave him a faint smile, then turned away toward Rigate City.

Alan watched her leave until her figure disappeared from view. He then looked down at his hands.

The golden light of dawn bathed his hands in warmth, but even so... they felt cold.

Was it just a chilly summer morning?

But why was he sweating all over?

Was it the heat in the forest from last night?

Then why were only his palms sweating?

Alan thought hard but found no answer.

He still had to rush back to the Greylat family, so he gave up thinking and began his journey.

It must be...

The summer morning sunlight was warm—

But not as warm as Luo Qixi's hand.

That much was easy to tell.