A Hero Saves With Her Body - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

i actually didn't do any revision... but i'll be updating this soon. feb or march 2025 :)

“We’re here! Ladies and gentlemen!”

At that moment, the door opened, breaking the silence. The seniors, who were silently terrified, welcomed the Black Cloak and Podrick with bright smiles. Sergi was the only one still frowning.

“What took you so long?”

Sergi’s ice-cold eyes met the Black Cloak and Podrick’s hand. Podrick finally withdrew his hand and scratched the back of his head.

“I got caught by the gatekeeper in the middle. I was delayed because I had to shut him up a bit.”

Rosé glared at Podrick. Since when did knocking someone out by hitting their neck become a way to shut them up?

“Sit down.”

Podrick chuckled and tried to move to the seat next to Sergi.

Venter, the successor of a prestigious count family who couldn’t control his bloodlust when he saw demons, grabbed him by the back.

“You over there.”

Again today? Pushed to a corner and sulking, Podrick seemed upset.

Thus, Sergi’s adjacent seat naturally became Rosé’s.

Thanks to everyone here for noticing their Leader’s intense crush.

Although he never admitted it himself, just look at him. When the Black Cloak sat next to him, Sergi’s icy body twitched for a moment.

“We should postpone the meeting.”

Sergi, who would usually listen carefully for two hours straight, easily canceled the meeting.

The time was already pointing to 10 o’clock. It was the time the newcomer, who was supposed to come as their senior, arrived. Although it was unknown what kind of influential figure he was, judging by how much attention he was receiving, he must be a remarkable talent.

A little past 10 o’clock, the door opened. A man wearing a deep hat, possibly due to the rain, entered while shaking off his coat.

Although his face was not visible as he bowed deeply, even as a field worker, he was so tall and well-built that he could be trusted.

“Sorry. I’m a bit late.”

Beth, who was sitting near the door, took his bag and gestured towards the center seat. “Please excuse me,” said the man politely as he walked slowly behind the chair to find his place.

Only after sitting down did he take off his rain-soaked hat. Small raindrops trickled down to the end of his dark gray hair.

Rosé’s eyes widened as she watched the man. Even though he was already wearing a deep cloak, Rosé pressed it deeper into her body, biting her lip to suppress a gasp.

Goodness, that man…

“I am Dr. Dain Hindley. It’s my first time in the guild, but I look forward to working with you all.”

While everyone exchanged greetings with Dain, Rosé alone froze and couldn’t say anything.

Dain knew her voice. If she greeted him unnecessarily, she might accidentally reveal that the Black Cloak was actually Rosé Mora.

“Black Cloak, aren’t you going to say hello?”

Beth asked. Rosé swallowed her saliva and only peeked at Dain from under her cloak.

Unlike a year ago when he wore a research gown, he was now dressed in a snug suit. As a result, even within his coat, his large and small muscles were visible.

Had he given up his life of bending over to research? Looking at his broad shoulders and thick chest, it seemed as though she was looking at someone else.

“I’ve occasionally heard news, even in Zaln. It’s an honor to meet you like this.”

Dain extended warm words even to the Black Cloak without greetings and requested a handshake.

A handshake… should be fine. It’s not like she had a hand f*tish, and at this level, he probably wouldn’t notice.

But contrary to Rosé’s expectations, as soon as she shook hands with Dain, his expression stiffened.

To others, it might seem expressionless, but it was different. He seemed flustered.

“Enough with the greetings. Mingus.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Open up downstairs.”

“Yes!”

Mingus hummed a tune and opened the floor door under the stairs.

The underground chamber they had created during the Prohibition Law¹ enforcement period was now being used as a social hall for the seniors. Podrick and Mingus, known for their love of women, sometimes brought women here to have fun.

Rosé could also be considered deeply connected to this place since it was where she was first brought to Pumong.

“We should hold a welcoming party.”

Before Sergi finished speaking, men and women with name tags around their necks were dragged in frighteningly. They were entertainers who were brought from the central slave market of Toman at a high price.

If it were usual Dain, he might have frowned with an immune face, but not now. He had someone else to focus on.

‘Rosé…’

Dain’s eyes, looking at the Black Cloth, turned desolate, as though he was seeing an old lover who dumped him.

* * *

Rosé looked at Dain, who was mingling with people while sipping rum mixed with lemon juice.

He easily blended in with the crowd with a more casual demeanor than usual for someone who seemed to have come for the first time today.

The eccentric Dain from the notorious research lab had vanished into thin air. The man standing over there was a nobleman disguised as Dain.

Where did that messy-haired person, who used to wander around like he just woke up, leave his disheveled appearance and transform so elegantly?

Moreover, he looked coolly handsome, even to the point of seeming dignified and elegant up to his forehead. Perhaps it was because of his naturally thick and curly hair. The perfect waves, boasting well-defined gaps, complemented well with the navy blue suit he was wearing.

Regardless of whose child he was, he was quite good-looking. Beth, who judged men by their appearance, made it clear with her overtly flirtatious smile.

“Can I have a drink too?”

After finishing a conversation with Beth, Dain approached her shortly after. Rosé nervously nodded and handed the half-filled glass of rum to Dain.

“This kind of gathering feels awkward for me since it’s my first time.”

Dain said, subtly leaning towards Rosé. Rosé unconsciously stole a glance at Dain’s chest as he drew closer.

The shirt on his buttons seemed unable to contain his large chest and looked like it would burst open soon. Did he give up on experiments and just focus on building his chest muscles?

Well, since the transportation of specimens had stopped after her visit to Zaln, it made sense.

“Does the Black Cloak also enjoy this entertainment?”

Rosé followed Dain’s gaze and saw Beth kissing one of the male attendants. It was only then that she could understand Dain’s comment about the awkwardness of such gatherings.

Rosé shook her head from side to side. This kind of thing happened last year at her welcoming party. Of course, even then, she didn’t engage in such acts.

“Oh, I’m glad. I was almost hurt if you didn’t reply.”

Dain jokingly squeezed his chest and smiled. Rosé didn’t understand.

Reply? What could the Black Cloak possibly have to reply to on the island of Zaln?

“Oh, by the way, I think I’ll be working in a research lab in Chelun starting tomorrow. I’m planning to confirm combat methods through individual consultations. Is Thursday at 3 o’clock okay?”

Podrick said the role of this senior newcomer was to create weapons and protective gear tailored to each senior officer.

Rosé nodded since she had no valid reason to refuse.

“Alright then. I’ll thoroughly review the materials provided by Sergi in the meantime.”

The materials given by Sergi…

Rosé looked at Sergi, who was sitting on the other sofa, with a bitter look in her eyes.

He believed she had some sort of ability to kill demons by harassing them.

It does seem like Dain would be really interested in an ability like that. Not realizing it was just a random obscene element without any relevance in transmigration.

So why did he hand over the materials to Dain? To make some money with this ability.

But maybe she was staring too obviously at Sergi. Just then, their eyes met.

As he put his hand into the woman’s skirt, he raised one corner of his mouth as if to show off.

Rosé’s complexion darkened like a passerby looking at floating oil on the river.

“Black Cloak?”

Dain checked Rosé, who seemed distracted from his story, and shifted his gaze along with her.

She saw Sergi sitting with a woman on his lap and sucking her chest. But his intense gaze wasn’t directed towards the attendant.

Sergi’s sluggish eyes were fixed on the Black Cloak. Dain’s hand, holding the glass of alcohol, was full of strength.

“Black Cloak, are you with that person…?”

Dain’s sharp voice was about to continue when a male attendant, with more than half of his shirt buttons undone, wrapped his arms around Rosé’s shoulders.

“May I escort you?”

Rosé casually assessed the attendant’s target card. B-tier. Although there was nothing wrong with his appearance, the rewards from men due to his status were not that great.

She wasn’t the past Rosé who would eat up anything given as long as it gave her an ability. Unlike a year ago, she wouldn’t accept anything below A-Tier now.

Not having time to be vigilant was one thing, but her fiancés were already serving as excellent sperm donors for her.

Of course, not to mention the occasional sperm from demons she devoured. So, regretfully, this time she had to reject the hands of the handsome attendant.

“I’ll take care of this person. You may go now.”

It was Dain. With a friendly smile, he grabbed the attendant’s wrist. The attendant’s hand seemed to be turning purple.

Realizing that Dain had ogre-like strength, Rosé belatedly panicked and tried to dissuade him.

“Ugh, I-I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”

In the place where the entertainer made a move on her, Dain grinned broadly as he looked down at his wrist caught by Rosé. She showed interest in him for the first time, and Dain was elated as if his heart would burst.

“You seem troubled. Did I make a mistake?”

Rosé shook her head. Dain continued trying to draw out her response.

“Are you in a relationship?”

At that moment, Rosé’s head froze. Dain felt his breath catch and made an effort to breathe deeply.

Although he had anticipated it to some extent, confirming it with the actual person made his heart sink.