Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 52
I fiddled absentmindedly with the magic stone in my pocket. Was the reason it had vibrated because ‘that person’ was the one who made this magic stone?
“Then who made that hole?”
“After the mercenary company was annihilated, the rats forced a hole open and started taking the tributes whenever they pleased.”
With this, we’d gotten a rough idea of the situation. Some being inside that dungeon was threatening the villagers and extorting tributes. It seemed that thing was using magic stones to create and control monsters.
“I’m truly sorry for not being honest from the beginning. I acted that way out of desperation, so I sincerely ask for your forgiveness. I heard you’re on your way to find the Black Flame Dragon, so if you choose to give up here, I’ll understand.”
“No.”
Kyle cut Tallin off cleanly, stopping his rambling. He stood up abruptly and looked down at Tallin.
“We’ll handle this. But this is for the sake of the suffering villagers, and nothing else.”
“Is… is that really true?”
Tallin jumped up from his seat with wide eyes and grabbed both of Kyle’s hands.
“Please, I beg you, Hero!”
It was the first time Tallin had called Kyle a hero. Looking uncomfortable, Kyle quickly pulled his hands free.
“In that case, I’ll serve you dinner, so let’s head to the dining hall. I’ll also prepare clean bathwater and a comfortable bed for you!”
With a face full of emotion, Tallin called out to the party. It was a bit uncomfortable, but there was no real reason to refuse what was being offered.
Thanks to that, the hero’s party received lavish hospitality for the first time in a long while. Not only a plentiful meal, but they were able to wash themselves clean in hot water for the first time in ages.
And, clean beds were provided as well. Three guest rooms were prepared, but Gerard insisted adamantly on having a room to himself.
“Then I’ll have to share a room with Lysian.”
I hadn’t said a word, but Kyle spoke as if there was no other way.
“We’ll leave early tomorrow morning, so let’s all get some rest for tonight. Good night, everyone.”
Elonen was the first to say goodnight and head into his room. The other members of the party also scattered to the other room.
Left behind, I reluctantly entered the same room as Kyle. I felt relieved for a moment seeing how spacious the room was.
“…There’s only one bed.”
In the middle of the large room stood a single bed.
“Well, guest rooms usually only have one bed.”
Kyle replied matter-of-factly, as if wondering why I’d point out the obvious.
I had no intention of fighting over who got the bed, so I naturally pointed to the floor and said,
“Then I’ll sleep on the floor…”
“No way, if you sleep on the cold floor you’ll wake up with a twisted mouth.”
Kyle seemed to have forgotten that we’d been camping on the cold, bare ground every day.
“So you’re saying we should sleep under the same blanket together?”
Somehow, it felt really uncomfortable. I knew it was just sharing a sleeping space, but sleeping in the same bed seemed like something people did only after building a certain level of closeness.
“What’s the problem? We always sleep under the same blanket. Haven’t you heard the saying? ‘The vast earth is my bed, and the night sky like a tent is my blanket.’”
In a low, exaggerated voice, Kyle spouted nonsense, patting the spot next to him.
Watching him made me hesitate, but it had been so long since I’d slept in a soft bed that I couldn’t give it up easily.
Right, whether I lay on the bare ground or on top of a bed, it was the same. It wasn’t the first time we’d slept side by side, anyway.
“Guess I have no choice.”
Cautiously, I perched on the edge of the bed. There weren’t even any springs, but the soft blanket wrapped around me so warmly that I almost let out a gasp of admiration without realizing it.
“The cushion’s pretty nice, right? Lie down and get some rest.”
I glanced at Kyle, who spoke shamelessly, then lay down.
Covered by a soft goose down blanket, it really felt like lying on a cloud.
“You look comfortable for the first time since we met.”
When I turned my head at the voice beside me, I saw Kyle propped up on his arm, lying on his side and looking down at me.
