Holy Night: My Husband is Definitely a Paladin - Chapter 320
TL: Elphie / PR: Mikan
It wasnât surprising that their appearances easily drew either admiration or hostility from people, but it was still unpleasant to see others clinging to them just because of their looks.
Then, one time, a particularly crude man tried to hit on Irene.
Annoyed, she hurried out of the village, but the man, along with his group, came after her.
“That woman? Sheâs pretty enough to spend years with without getting bored. Hey, donât you think itâd be fun to mess around with a few of us? I could treat you better than your husband.”
Of course, before the man even took a step toward Irene, the situation was quickly dealt with.
[Humans must be crazy. I donât ever think about getting into a fight just by looking at you twoâŚ]
Chomp-chomp would coil its tentacles around the arms or legs of the humans after Michael had knocked them unconscious, breaking one of their limbs before discarding them far away. This was to ensure they received punishment for their actions.
Anyway, they didnât want to cause any disturbances in the place they had finally settled.
So, Irene asked Chomp-chomp to use an artifact regularly to make the villagers forget about them whenever they thought of the two.
Chomp-chomp responded with a voice more serious than ever before.
[Five plates of salad, including fruit, on the days I work.]
Irene accepted the terms.
Thanks to that, they had peaceful days afterward.
âStill, I should find an artifact to change our appearance. Or at least something to blur our presence.â
In the past, a few artifacts that could alter oneâs appearance had been discovered and sold at auctions. However, as the owners changed a few times, the whereabouts of these artifacts became unknown.
While Michael and Chomp-chomp could trace their remnants, it was difficult to find their exact locations.
Not only that, but Irene also realized that other artifacts had been sent back to the monster realm, and there were likely some hidden away, trying to conceal their presence. She would need to search for those soon as well.
While Irene was lost in thought, Michael finished preparing for their trip to the beach. The two of them left the house with light steps.
As they were about to leave, Michael spoke to Chomp-chomp, who was trying to follow them.
“You stay here.”
[Hmph.]
Chomp-chomp extended its tentacles, looking disappointed, but Michael was firm.
“If anything happens, call out with your voice.”
[Nueh.]
Chomp-chomp grumbled in response, then curled its tentacles like a snake, wrapping itself around the sofa and lying down.
Seeing how dramatically Chomp-chomp was pouting, Michael spoke up.
“I’ll buy a bag of apples from the village in the afternoon.”
[Please be on your way, Your Majesty. This Chomp-chomp will guard your rest with all its heart, ensuring no one disturbs you.]
Chomp-chomp, as if to say it had never pouted, straightened its body and bent its tentacles at a very formal 90-degree angle.
* * *
Irene and Michael descended the stairs carved into the cliffside. The previous resident had roughly cut the rocks, but Michael had smoothed them out to make it easier to climb, and even installed a rope alongside.
Thanks to his efforts to make the stairs safer whenever he had the chance, they could now comfortably descend to the beach between the cliffs.
Swoosh.
The waves, created by the wind from the distant sea, crashed against the white sand, constantly generating foam.
Michael skillfully took a large cloth from the basket he had brought and spread it out in the shade beneath the cliff. He continued pulling out the things he had prepared.
A bottle of cool water, fruit he had cut into easy-to-eat slices, simple sandwiches to stave off hunger, and towels to dry their wet bodies.
When Irene moved to help him, Michael waved his hand.
“Please, go ahead and get in the water first.”
If it were anything else, she would have stayed and helped Michael, but at his words, she turned her head and looked out to sea.
Seeing the clear blue water, she hesitated, then turned and ran toward the ocean.
She jumped into the incoming waves.
The sound of her leap was drowned out by the crashing of the waves.
As the cool water soaked her entire body, the lingering drowsiness evaporated in an instant. Irene waved her arms and ventured further into the water. The refreshing sea, the warm sunlight, and the gentle breeze.
She turned around and then called out.
“Michael!”
At her voice, Michael stopped what he was doing and looked toward her.
In the sea, Irene was smiling as she waved her hand toward him, always beaming with joy.
Michael felt his chest swell with emotion as he watched her.
“I want to go to the sea.”
When she had said that a long time ago, he had thought it was nothing difficult.
But now he understood. This was the sea she had wished for.
