Even Shasha didn’t know about typhoons. That meant she couldn’t even provide hints with her ambiguous words. She didn’t even reveal whether a typhoon would come this year or not. Typhoons were truly an unpredictable domain.

“…I just know.”

Iska lowered his head, seemingly uncomfortable with Rudis’s question. This gave her a clear view of his fluffy, perky ears. His abundant black-furred ears twitched slightly.

Of course, Iska was a beast-person. Though she wasn’t sure what kind, his animal instincts were apparently not to be ignored. Moreover, Iska would hole up in his room and refuse to come out on rainy days. That alone suggested he was particularly sensitive to weather.

Thinking about this, she suddenly felt concerned for Iska. After the typhoon passes in a week, the rainy season would begin. Rain would fall for about a third of summer.

“Iska. Do you dislike rain?”

“It’s not that I dislike it… I’m afraid of it.”

After hesitating for a while, Iska answered in a low voice.

The question of why he was afraid lingered in her throat. But Rudis swallowed it back.

That makes sense!

Some people fear heights even knowing there’s no danger of falling, while others fear meaningless circles. Being afraid of rain was perfectly reasonable, even without a specific cause.

“So that’s why you don’t come out on rainy days?”

Iska silently nodded.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you this year.”

Rudis thumped her chest, telling him to trust her. Iska crouched down and lowered his head, blushing with embarrassment. Even the tips of his ears turned bright red.

Finding this adorable, Rudis couldn’t resist stroking his head.

“It’s okay. I’ll make sure you’re not scared even on rainy days.”

Summer sunlight stretched through the window gap, gently enveloping the two of them. In the warm, subtle light, Iska hesitated for a while before finally closing his eyes slowly and resting his face on Rudis’s lap.

In that moment, Rudis felt a stillness like she had stopped breathing.

Iska’s movements resembled those of a large dog. They seemed to contain an instinct for wanting protection. His perky ears with short, soft fur fluttered following Rudis’s touch. Though his body was somewhat large and heavy, each small movement was so lovable and cute that it spread a gentle smile across her face.

Rudis spent a long time absentmindedly stroking his ears with her fingertips. Time to simply exist without any thoughts under the warm sunlight. This peace was unfamiliar to her after living such a busy, intense life. Perhaps this was the first time she had experienced such a precious moment.

After a while, Iska had fallen asleep, tightly hugging Rudis’s knees. His deep, steady breathing quietly resonated. His broad shoulders rose and fell slowly with each soft breath.

Rudis carefully reached out to brush away the black hair tickling the bridge of his nose.

He looks handsome even while sleeping.

This gave Rudis a chance to examine Iska carefully. His seemingly sharply sculpted nose bridge, elongated eyes, firmly closed lips, and smooth jawline that looked like it could cut. Even his thick body lines were perfect like a sculpture. His face, drawn with rough and distinct lines without a single round curve, shone even more vividly in the sunlight.

His long, dense eyelashes caught the sunlight, casting small shadows that created a scene like a captivating work of art.

The problem is that it looks less like a fairy tale and more like a suggestive service cut from a game.

Gulp.

Rudis swallowed dryly and quickly averted her gaze. Without realizing it, her eyes had lingered on the firm chest muscles revealed through the gap in Iska’s crumpled shirt.

No. This isn’t right.

Rudis collected her thoughts and composed herself. Someday, she might need to seduce Iska and sleep with him for the quest. But now, she shouldn’t look at Iska this way. That would be wrong.

Rudis carefully stood up and laid Iska on the floor. She didn’t forget to place an exceptionally fluffy cushion under his head. Though she couldn’t enjoy this peaceful summer afternoon because of her impure thoughts, she brought a thin blanket to cover Iska, hoping at least he could savor it.

Sleep well, Iska. I’ll be back soon.

Rudis whispered as she stepped out, muffling her footsteps.

Swish.

The door closed quietly, leaving a peaceful silence in the house. However, as the door closed, blue eyes that had been closed slowly opened.

Those eyes were far from the haziness of someone who had just awakened. Rather, they were sharp and blazing. Though he still appeared to be breathing calmly, that blue light burned like flames, containing a searing coldness.

The gentle atmosphere that had glowed softly in the sunlight disappeared, and an even deeper heat intensified in the silence.

Iska’s blue eyes swirled with emotions unknown to Rudis. Longing, vigilance, and something intense beyond words.

His gaze, hotter yet cooler than ever, was directed at where the door had closed, almost as if he was endlessly tracking Rudis beyond the door.

* * *

After leaving the house, Rudis moved with quick steps. The peaceful summer afternoon air was nice, but she was in a hurry. With a typhoon coming in a week, there was much to prepare.

The most urgent need was a growth accelerator. Though she had stockpiled some in her storage, it would be tight to spray premium growth accelerators on all crops every day before the typhoon hit. Additionally, there were purchase limits on top-grade potions for certain periods. Even if she bought everything available now, she might have to give up on some crops.

“It would be nice if they sold more at once. Charging ridiculously high prices. So stingy.”

As she grumbled and was about to knock on the tower door, it swung open without delay.

“Come in.”

What? That startled me.

Rudis hesitated. Noah was standing at the door. Her surprise was natural. Normally, she would knock and only after a long wait would the door creak open, with Noah nowhere to be seen. But now, the door opened, suggesting that he had been waiting.

Wait, did I actually knock?

Her mind was full of questions. She had clearly intended to knock, but the door seemed to open before her hand made contact. Even if she had knocked, Noah’s speed in opening the door was abnormally fast. Perhaps he had been about to go out? But she had never seen Noah leave the tower.

How strange today is.

Rudis tilted her head and followed Noah into the tower.

“Um…”

Just as she was about to place her order for growth accelerator—

“Ah- open up.”

Noah suddenly extended his gloved hand and put it in Rudis’s mouth.

“Eek?!”

Wide-eyed, Rudis instinctively tried to back away, but she couldn’t do anything about the gloved hand already in her mouth. Noah examined her teeth like a dentist.

What is this? A sudden dental examination?

It was too vivid to be a dream but too incomprehensible to be reality. Bewildered, Rudis couldn’t respond and just opened her mouth in surprise.

“Hmm… not yet.”

Noah muttered as he withdrew his glove. Then he removed the glove and threw it into the fireplace, which finally brought Rudis back to her senses.

“What on earth—!”

Just as she was about to protest, Noah pulled out numerous premium growth accelerators from the shelf and piled them on the table.

“You came for these, right?”

The words about to burst from Rudis’s mouth stopped instantly. The quantity of accelerator was enormous. He had never sold this many at once before.

Did he hear what I said?

Her face flushed slightly as she recalled her grumbling in front of the door. If he had heard, perhaps she should apologize. Just as she was about to speak—

“You should go now. I have things to do.”

Noah said firmly. Then he pushed her back, shoving her out the door.

“Wait, I haven’t yet…”

I haven’t paid…

SLAM.

The door closed before Rudis could finish speaking. Even when she knocked again, there was no sign of the door opening.

What? Why did this happen?

With her arms full of accelerator, Rudis stood still for a long time, blinking in confusion.