novelraw Chapter 59
Chapter 59
Ch.59 I Brush Her Cheek
Selena washed up and lay down on the bed.
—Flop.
“Ugh… what do I do?”
She buried her face in embarrassment, kicking the bed weakly with her slender legs while lying face-down.
—Thump thump!
“Why did I almost trip there…?!”
Thankfully, Hans had caught her before she fell like a fool—but the near-mishap still left her mortified.
Lately, Selena had begun seeing Hans as more than just a man.
‘When did it start?’
She tried to recall the exact moment she’d begun viewing him as a potential romantic interest.
‘Was it that day at the lighthouse?’
She was certain it was.
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Ever since that incident at the lighthouse, she’d stopped attempting her daily assassination attempts altogether.
His subtle kindness had slowly, inevitably drawn her in.
And today—when she’d felt unwell—he’d sat beside her, massaging her hand until she fell asleep.
She couldn’t forget the moment she’d stumbled and he’d pulled her into his arms.
Compared to the cold autumn sea breeze, his embrace had been warm and comforting.
Honestly, Selena was embarrassed.
Within her organization, she was among the youngest, and she’d rarely socialized with boys her age—let alone spent so much time so close to one.
‘Does he like me? He must, if he’s being this kind…’
Of course, she assumed his kindness meant he was interested…
‘But Hans is my enemy.’
She’d deliberately smiled more around him, trying to grow closer— originally, to find his weakness, kill him, and reclaim the divine power.
“Sigh… what should I do?”
The closer she got to him, the more her heart wavered.
The prophecy stated his hand would bring ruin to her organization.
Yet he was the first person to ever make her feel this fluttering emotion called excitement.
‘What am I supposed to do?’
Selena was utterly confused.
***
Thus came a new morning.
—Creak.
Just as I stepped out of my room for breakfast…
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
My eyes met Selena’s as she exited her room.
After a brief pause…
“Hi?”
I greeted her, and she responded with a faintly blushing smile.
“Hi?”
Was she shy? How cute.
After a simple meal in the dining area, boredom set in.
The sea was only fun for the first few views—after staring at nothing but the ocean since yesterday, it was starting to feel tedious.
And as expected…
I called out to Selena just as she headed back to her room.
“Selena. Want to play a game?”
“A game?”
“Yeah. I brought some fun stuff just in case.”
“Really? Then I’ll freshen up quickly.”
***
While waiting for Selena to return, I pulled a deck of cards and a board game from my spatial bag.
“Do you know how to play card games?”
This world had cards similar to playing cards.
Though sometimes used for gambling during long travels, most card games here were wholesome and family-friendly.
“A little?”
“Good.”
—Shuffle shuffle.
As I shuffled the deck, I casually suggested:
“It’d be boring to play for nothing—how about a little bet?”
“A bet?”
“Yeah. Chocolate bet.”
I pulled out a bar of chocolate from my spatial bag.
“Ta-da?”
I’d prepared chocolate as stakes—plain card games felt too dull otherwise.
So we spent our days playing cards and board games aboard the ship,
and our nights on the deck beneath the stars.
Because the voyage was long—too long to pass with games alone—
and because the moonlit sea beneath an endless night sky was breathtakingly beautiful.
Wanting to soak in that beauty a little longer, I leaned against the railing and said:
“Staying inside the cabin all day feels a bit stifling, doesn’t it?”
Selena pushed her wind-blown hair back and gave a soft smile.
“A little? But it’s been fun enough.”
“Really? I was worried you’d get bored. Glad to hear it.”
I’d made this voyage several times before—I knew exactly how dull it could get.
That’s why I’d packed all sorts of entertainment this time.
“Pff… what was that? Still, it was fun. First time in my life doing something like this.”
Selena gazed out at the night sea.
Her melancholic eyes looked mesmerizing.
But soon, that familiar playful glint returned.
“It’s also my first time playing cards with a guy my age—and losing a bet! And I’ve never seen someone stuff chocolate into their mouth like a squirrel to keep from losing.”
“Heh heh. Eat it while you can—that’s the way.”
She let out a quiet laugh.
“Now that you mention it, you kept losing at drinking games too. Were you just trying to drink more?”
That was a misunderstanding.
Recently, I’ve been playing drinking games with the crew.
Since it was my first time, I kept losing and ended up drinking heavily.
I could’ve refused—but a man’s pride, you know?
I kept challenging them until I passed out drunk…and Selena had carried me back to my room.
The next day, she scolded me fiercely.
Anyway, drinking games here were just very different from what I was used to.
It wasn’t that I was bad at games.
So I put on my best poker face and said:
“That’s not it—I just wasn’t used to the rules.”
“I wasn’t either. Guess sailors’ drinking games are just rougher.”
—Swish.
Selena sat on the railing.
I followed and sat beside her.
Was it the wind tousling her long hair?
She reached up to smooth it, then slowly turned to look at me.
How could I describe her?
‘Pretty’ or ‘beautiful’ felt too cliché—there was something more.
I truly didn’t know.
“Hans…”
Her slightly flushed cheeks and delicate lips looked especially lovely tonight.
The cool, pleasant breeze brushed past us.
Our eyes met—hers a deep crimson, mine locked onto hers.
…Was this the moment for a kiss?
In dramas and movies, this was always when the kiss happened.
—Gulp.
I was so tense I could hear my own swallow echoing around me.
My heart pounded like it might burst—this was my first time feeling this way.
I leaned slowly toward her lips.
It’s my first kiss… how should I do it?
Just a light touch? Or…?
As I hesitated, Selena gently closed her eyes.
That was permission.
Just as our lips were about to meet—
—Squelch?
—Squelch?
A noise came from below the railing—but I ignored it, leaning closer.
—SQUELCH?!
—SKREE?!
I didn’t know what it was, but this was my first kiss—
I couldn’t let some trivial sound ruin the moment.
With iron will, I focused only on her lips.
Just as they were about to touch—
She opened her eyes.
“Wait… did you hear that?”
Selena looked around, puzzled.
Damn it.
Probably just some fish or bird tapping the hull.
To salvage the mood, I gave her a tender look.
“It’s probably nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Nothing in this world—not even its collapse—could interrupt my first kiss.
But before I could say more, Selena peered over the railing…
“Gah! Merfolk?!”
—Screech?
I hurriedly looked down—and saw hundreds of Merfolk climbing the ship.
Grotesque creatures, like deep-sea fish fused with humans.
Merfolk—the goblins of the sea.
Their fish-like faces filled me with rage.
Seriously?! You dare interrupt my first kiss?! You insignificant pests?!
It felt like a squad of lonely singles sabotaging my attempt to escape singledom.
“You damn sea ghosts.”
I drew Equality and fired with cold precision.
—Bang! Bang!
“No! Let me get a girlfriend too, you lonely bastards!”
I shouted in fury—and Selena’s face turned crimson.
“What… what are you saying, you idiot?!”
“Selena—go inside and get the others.”
She nodded and ran to the cabin.
Only then did I coat myself in holy magic and mutter:
“Oh, really?! I was in a great mood—do you have to ruin it?! You leeches!”
The Merfolk climbed aboard, their eyes burning with jealousy—as if they absolutely refused to let me escape singledom.
—Bang!
—Bang!
I kept firing, but there were more than I’d expected.
If I switched to a shotgun… the ship might get damaged.
I wanted to change ammo, but a stray bullet could puncture the hull—disastrous at sea.
And using Levi’s Dagger was risky—necromancy made people here deeply uncomfortable.
Just as I hesitated—
—Swish!
A black-haired woman appeared, gracefully cutting down Merfolk with a longsword.
Her swift movements and light footwork made her seem like she was dancing—her lustrous hair flowing as she sliced through enemies.
Was that Selena?
Wait… she fights this well?
“Gah! Hans! Stop gawking and do something!”
“Oh! Sorry.”
I shot the Merfolk trying to surround her.
There were more than I thought—
I’d already killed dozens, yet they kept coming.
Then—
Selena conjured blue lightning in one hand and struck the Merfolk.
—Kraaak!
—Gurk!
As they collapsed limply, I thought:
‘A magic swordsman? That’s a trash class.’
It looked cool—wielding both magic and sword—but in reality, it was mediocre.
In theory, it combined explosive magical firepower with precise swordsmanship—
a perfectly balanced, peak-tier class that compensated for each other’s weaknesses…
But in practice, mastering both magic and swordsmanship to their limits required insane grinding, making it unpopular.
After all, maxing out just one was enough for balance—why bother with both?
And even if you did grind it out, it was still less efficient than a Holy Knight of similar effort.
Still, it was a rare class—and reliably strong, since no monster had both high physical and magical resistance.
As I pondered this—
—Waaah!
—Kill the Merfolk!
—Wipe them out!
Armed crew members poured from the cabins, driving back the enemies.
—Bang!
—Bang!
Dozens—hundreds—of Merfolk.
Numerous, but not particularly strong.
—Gurgh!
—Kreeek!
By the time the deck was soaked in their bluish blood, the Merfolk began retreating one by one.
—Woooh! We won!
—Next time, we’ll stew you in seafood soup!
—How dare Merfolk show their faces here?!
Selena, breathing heavily, stood victorious.
I approached her.
“You’re not hurt, are you?”
She turned slightly and smiled.
“No, I’m fine.”
But I spotted a small scratch on her cheek and gave a wry smile.
“You’re hurt here.”
I cast a healing spell and gently brushed her cheek.
“Aah?”
Her eyes widened, her face flushing crimson at my touch.
“Stay still—it’s just healing.”
She rolled her eyes, then weakly murmured:
“Mmm…”
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