Chapter 7: Passionate eyes in the morning

TL: Liz PR: May

“Captain.”

A man who read Lavella’s countenance opened his mouth.

“There’s a bet at stake…… Who are you going to bet on?”

He asked with a face filled with expectations as if he had waited for the opportunity to ask.

“It’s a secret.”

“Captain, can’t you just give me a hint?”

“No. Then you’ll bet on the same person as me.”

Lavella laughed and wrinkled the tip of her nose as the men whose intentions were discovered closed their mouths.

I have to win by myself and take all your money.

Lavella’s eyes that were filled with excitement at the thought of extorting money scanned the crowd.

“You’re all here, aren’t you?”

The densely packed area seemed to have attracted all the guild members.

“By the way, can you keep it a secret that I came to watch?”

“Yes!”

After Lavella asked the men before she left, she climbed up a tree in a blind spot. Sitting on a thick branch, there was a visible panoramic view of the training facility.

“Oh.”

Beyond the guild members who were huddled together, Iska and Pessini were fighting against each other.

‘Canpiden?’

Lavella looked at Canpiden standing between the two with an unexpected look. He seemed to be the judge of the match.

If there was no one to stop them in the middle, it could lead to a big accident. She wasn’t sure about Iska but Pessini’s temper was a problem.

Canpiden was second only to Lavella in the guild, so even if it was difficult to overpower them at the same time, he could at least get into the fight.

“Wow, you managed to allow it.”

Even so, he was not interested in such childish behavior. Perhaps Canpiden was curious about Iska’s skills.

‘Cute guy.’

Lavella held back her laughter and looked at Pessini and Iska alternately. Pessini looked grim as if he would end Iska’s life at any moment.

‘Well, it wasn’t simple.’

It was Pessini’s strength and weakness to only look straight like a racehorse. Lavella flicked her tongue and turned to Iska in front of her.

Leaning on one leg, Iska was waiting for the start signal, he yawned from time to time and twirled a dagger in his hand.

Iska’s attitude made Pessini even angrier. Lavella could clearly see his shoulders moving up and down.

‘That guy. You already understand Pessini.’

The match hadn’t even started yet, but it was fun to watch. Since the two first quarreled at the inn, Lavella had a good idea of who the winner of this match would be. Lavella became convinced that her guess wasn’t wrong.

The showdown would end in Iska’s victory.

Whistle.

At the signal from Canpiden, Pessini made a strike at Iska. The heavy ax blade, that many of them could not lift, moved loudly through the air.

Iska did not use any ounce of effort, but still avoided it with a light movement. Iska, who moved like a fairy dancing, was like a cat playing with a small mouse. Of course, if you look at the size, Iska was the mouse and Pessini was more like the cat.

“…….”

Before she realized it, Lavella followed Iska’s movements with her eyes. The hazy noise faded from her ears before she realized it. Pessini’s size alone would overwhelm him, but there was a presence that surpassed him.

She didn’t know when it happened but Lavella became a spectator herself. Iska wasn’t using all his energy at the moment.

How was it when you were with me….

Although Lavella briefly conflicted with Iska, she replayed the scenes one by one. And she came to one conclusion. Maybe Iska didn’t go all out then either.

“Haha.”

A thrilling chill flowed down Lavella’s back.

‘I want to stay together.’

She felt a tickle somewhere deep inside her stomach.

The only one who Lavella wanted to surpass while she lived as a killer, was her teacher, her father. It was the day when she first won against such a father. The thrill of that time was still engraved deep inside her brain.

Would she be able to feel the pleasure of that time again?

Lavella, who became excited, engraved Iska’s every single movement in her eyes. Perhaps because he wanted to move in moderation, Iska kicked Pessini on the shoulder and aimed at his back.

The end of the dagger that was already in Iska’s hand was right at Pessini’s neck. The dagger was close enough to cut his throat right away if he gave just a little force.

Lavella could tell that Iska took a little more time in the fight in order to consider Pessini’s reputation. It was Pessini’s perfect defeat.

“It is Iska’s victory.”

When the results came out of Canpiden’s mouth, a thunderous roar erupted from the mouths of the men who were holding their breath.

Pessini still seemed to be angry, but he shook Iska’s hand. He was not narrow-minded enough to go against the official results. Lavella looked at Pessini with a keen eye.

However, she could not hide her surprise at Iska. It was just like this brief confrontation was recognized by all the guild members.

‘Was this your aim? Well, it was fun to watch anyway.’

Lavella, who was sitting cross-legged on a branch, stretched out. And Iska’s eyes as he was exiting the training ground turned toward Lavella.

“!”

Lavella, who flinched momentarily as if their eyes had met, reaffirmed Iska’s gaze.

She wasn’t mistaken.

Iska was looking exactly where she was. It was quite a distance to sense her presence.

‘You saw me now, didn’t you?’

As Lavella was admiring him, Iska stopped walking and put the dagger that was in his hand into his waistline like a dance. It was a beautiful gesture that captured her gaze.

Still fixed on Lavella, Iska’s lips widened and formed a gentle smile.

“…….”

She wondered why.

Lavella couldn’t take her eyes off Iska.

A cool wind blew from somewhere, blowing Lavella’s platinum blonde hair. The loud rustling of the leaves echoed in her ears.

* * *

“What are you so excited about, Argen?”

“Captain, did I tell you?”

“What?”

“I really love you so much, Captain.”

“Why, what is it this time?”

Lavella looked up at Argen with the sound of the wind blowing.

“You’ve brought a very good one.”

“Oh, Iska? Aren’t you giving him too much from the start? What if he runs away?”

“He said he’d do it all.”

“…Really?”

“Thanks to Iska, we have more requests. Of course, it’s a huge increase in income.”

After the match against Pessini, Iska blended into the guild very easily.

It was funny that Iska got close to Pessini, but it was a wonder how he got Argen’s interest who was second to none.

“……I didn’t mean to.”

To be honest, it was Lavella, who didn’t know that Iska would work to this extent and wouldn’t make a fuss. She thought they would just get along and he would disappear, so she even signed a ridiculous contract that meant her life. But… she was really going to have to date him.

“Make sure you pay him well.”

“Don’t worry. I’m offering him a bonus in addition to the fixed amount.”

“Well, I’m sure you’ll take care of it.”

Lavella nodded leisurely. She didn’t intend to be greedy for Iska’s bonus.

‘Hmm, Iska….’

He was a guy who kept bothering her.

She wondered who he really was. What was his real intention?

Lavella was genuinely curious.

* * *

On her way back to her room, Lavella stopped walking when she saw Iska’s door was open.

Iska was sitting on the window frame in his room polishing his sword.

“Welcome, Lavella.”

Iska, who had already sensed Lavella’s presence, greeted her without looking up.

At his greeting, Lavella leaned against the doorframe and watched the scene without replying.

‘…You’re handsome.’

Even though the window frame was quite high, his long legs reached the floor without any strain thanks to his tall height.

His hard muscles that were revealed through only the thin tunic proved that he had been training himself for quite some time.

The long, black hair covering his ears was so shiny that she wanted to touch it, and the sharp nose and red lips added to Iska’s mystique.

‘No matter how hard I look, he doesn’t look like he’s rolling on the floor…’

(TL/N: she means he doesn’t look like someone with a low status)

Was he a child of a fallen noble, or was he born between a certain noble and a low-ranking person so he was hiding his identity?

With Iska in front of her, various scenarios were flowing through Lavella’s mind.

“Why are you looking at me like that? It makes my heart flutter.”

Before Lavella knew it, Iska, who had come down from the window frame, came closer to her.

“Ah, Argen really likes you. I heard you’ve increased the income.”

Lavella who straightened her body, grinned.

“Really?”

Iska, who leaned on the doorframe with his arm, bowed his head. He was so close that the tip of her nose could reach him.

“I’m trying hard to impress you, Lavella. What do you think? Is it working?”

The purple eyes that contained Lavella had a dense glow.

“How about you?”

“What?”

“Living in Kirah.”

Lavella, who changed the topic of conversation, lightly pushed Iska’s body with her hands. Jokes were not worth replying to.

Smiling, Iska turned to the side and opened the way for Lavella.

Lavella sat on Iska’s bed, crossed her legs, and leaned back leisurely.

“I think you’re quite satisfied.”

“Oh, well, it’s not bad.”

Iska sitting at the table next to the bed, shrugged and straightened his chin. Lavella was completely captured in his eyes.

“That doesn’t sound very good, does it?”

“Any interpretation is convenient for you.”

“What can I do? I’d like to keep you here as long as possible.”

Lavella licked her lips with the tip of her tongue, seductively raising her eyes from bottom to top.

“…Whew, that was dangerous.”

Iska, who hardened like a stone, breathed a deep sigh.

“I almost kissed you.”

Iska collapsed on the table with a frustrated face. Then looked up at Lavella with resentful eyes.

“Don’t do that in front of me. I want to touch it without realizing it.”

Lavella, giggling at Iska’s knuckles, straightened her body by releasing her hand that was holding the bed.

Lavella: “Honestly.”

Iska: “I’m warning you.”

Lavella: “Huh?”

Iska: “Lock your door well. I don’t trust myself.”

Iska gave a grim look.

Lavella: “Oh, that’s a scary threat.”

Lavella responded with a funny face and snorted.

Iska: “If I do that, I’ll be kicked out of the guild, right?”

Lavella: “Well, you won’t be kicked out.”

Iska: “Another surprise?”

Lavella: “I’m not going to let anything like that happen when you sneak into my room.”

Iska: “Hah.”

Iska stretched his mouth, hurt again by Lavella’s confident attitude.

“Lavella, you can’t guarantee anything. Maybe you’ll open the door for me yourself?”

Lavella raised her body with an enchanting smile and slowly approached Iska.

She gently pressed Iska’s shoulders affectionately with both hands and slowly lowered her upper body.

Lavella’s fragrant blonde hair streamed down and brushed against Iska’s chest.

“Try your best. You never know if I’ll beg you to come in.”

Lavella’s sweet breath tickled his ears and tensed Iska’s body. Lavella, who had been sneaking up like a whisper, pushed and moved away again.

“And…”

A thin finger tapped Iska’s forehead.

“Call me Captain.”

“…….”

The sound of Iska’s tiredness leaked out through his lips.

“I’m leaving.”

Lavella giggled out of the room.

Click.

As if teasing him, the door opened and closed right after.

“Oh, come on.”

Iska fell down in a chair and leaned back.

“I love it a lot.”

Whoever she is, the more I see her, the more I want her.

* * *

Boom boom.

“Wake up, Iska.”

After returning from a late night mission, Iska woke up to a knock on the door.

Boom boom……Boom!

“Come on out.”

It was Lavella’s voice that came after pounding on the door so hard that it was annoying.

Iska, who rose with a groan, walked slowly and opened the door.

“Hurry up and…!”

After opening the door, Lavella, who saw Iska standing in the way, curled her lips and asked.

“…What’s been going on since morning?”

“…….”

“…Lavella?”

Iska yawned and noticed Lavella had become quiet as she gazed blankly.

“Captain.”

“Ahem.”

When he called one more time, Lavella responded. Iska’s eyes quickly widened as he tried to laugh at her reaction when he changed her title.

“Yeah. It’s hard to see something with such passionate eyes in the morning.”

Iska pulled up the corners of his mouth when he confirmed where Lavella’s eyes were looking.

“What should I do, take off the bottom too?”