“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”

Erica, who had lain down on the bed where Roderick slept, twisted her body this way and that before sitting up abruptly again. Come to think of it, she also felt the inside of the barracks was chilly.

“There’s no fireplace? Oh, Roderick doesn’t need one.”

Because he’s a Winterborn who doesn’t feel cold. But Erica wasn’t a Winterborn.

“Excuse me. Sorry, but could I borrow a thick blanket?”

While borrowing a blanket, Erica also peeked into the neighboring barracks. The interiors of the other barracks were empty and shabby, much like Roderick’s. Well, this was a battlefield. When they didn’t know when they’d have to move, how could they live as comfortably as at home?

“Everyone’s having a hard time.”

Erica covered herself with the borrowed fur blanket and lay down on Roderick’s bed. It was because she still felt nauseous from motion sickness.

‘I’ll just lie down and rest a bit, then get up and……’

Erica closed her eyes and made plans to spend her time productively. Once the motion sickness disappeared, she would go out and ask if there was anything she could help with.

‘Maybe I could help treat the wounded……’

Judging by how Roderick, who had gone out on reconnaissance, hadn’t returned yet, he had surely joined combat along the way. Then as soon as she heard news that the army was returning, she should come to the barracks and prepare a birthday feast.

‘Should I hide and surprise him?’

Erica imagined Roderick being surprised, then frowned.

‘He wouldn’t draw his sword in surprise, would he?’

Then should she give up on surprising him and just greet him with something like “Honey, you’re back?” when he entered the barracks? The kind of embarrassing words Erica would absolutely never say.

‘It’s his birthday today.’

The day before yesterday, she had sent a Sylph to Roderick through Elodie to ask what he wanted as a birthday present. Then what came back was a simple yet heart-fluttering answer: “You.”

He probably meant he wanted to hurry home and see her. But she thought it would also be nice to appear at the battlefield as a birthday surprise. Since Grandma was going to deliver mana bombs on Roderick’s birthday anyway, she thought it would be perfect to come along and give him a birthday cake before returning home.

‘I should also deliver the children’s kisses……’

The blanket borrowed from a servant of the Holy Knight Order barracks was so warm and cozy that it felt like what God’s embrace might be like. Because of this, what was supposed to be just a brief rest turned into Erica falling asleep without realizing it.

‘……Huh?’

She woke up when something touched her forehead. She realized it was fingers only when they brushed away the hair covering her eyes and tucked it behind her ear. Erica’s eyes snapped open. Even though her vision was blurry, that familiar smile was somehow clearly visible.

“This is the first time I’ve been happy about someone using my bed without permission at a military camp.”

“……Roderick?”

Roderick looked like he had just returned, wearing armor and fully armed.

“You came back early?”

As Erica said this while sitting up, she suddenly realized it was dark inside the tent and was startled.

“Gasp, what time is it now?”

“Dinner time.”

“……Then how many hours did I sleep?”

She had slept soundly without waking even once, making her complaints about it being uncomfortable seem pointless.

“So while you were risking your life fighting outside the castle, I was sleeping comfortably?”

“That’s what I’m fighting for.”

Roderick laughed, finding Erica’s uncharacteristic embarrassment cute. Then he approached as if to kiss her, but……

“Ah.”

He remembered his condition and stepped back. Blood and dust were caked on his armor. At least his face and hands weren’t stained with blood thanks to his gloves and helmet protecting them, but they were equally dusty.

“I’ll help you.”

With Erica’s help, Roderick removed his armor, then took off his sweat-soaked clothes as well, becoming n*ked as he headed to the bathtub in one corner of the barracks.

Roderick immediately immersed his body, stained with sweat and dust, in the bathtub half-filled with clean water. She still couldn’t get used to how he was fine washing his body with unheated cold water.

While Erica organized the armor in a corner and put the dirty clothes in a laundry sack, Roderick finished bathing in an instant like someone being chased by enemies and got out of the bathtub. Erica approached Roderick, who was drying his body with a towel.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

The answer was too quick. Answering immediately without thinking even once. She couldn’t believe it.

Erica approached Roderick and stood facing him. She first checked if there were any scratches on his face, then gradually moved downward. Her fingers that traced down his nape passed his collarbone and brushed past his chest where his pectorals stood out prominently.

“Broken ribs could be confused with muscle pain.”

Roderick knew that feeling better, having actually broken ribs before. So he knew well that nothing was broken, but Roderick didn’t remove the fingers that were feeling around as if counting his ribs and just watched silently. He had completely forgotten that he was in the middle of drying the water from his body.

Drip. Drip.

At some point, water began dripping from Roderick’s hair. Water droplets that flowed down his chest slid down the clear grooves of his abs below. Erica’s eyes, which had been unconsciously following them, widened when they reached the point where the muscle contours ended.

“Ah……”

She really hadn’t intended this. The moment she tried to pull her hand away, it was firmly grasped. She raised her head abruptly and their eyes met. Roderick’s gaze had changed in the meantime. Erica had experienced countless times what happened when he had such dangerous eyes.

“Ah!”

Roderick lifted Erica up in his arms. In two steps, Erica was laid down on the bed. Before getting started, he was like a gentle puppy that followed her around, but once he got going, he transformed into such a rough beast. Erica felt like she was being devoured by Roderick, who climbed on top, showered her with kisses, and burrowed into her skirt.

“Erica.”

“Mmm?”

Even if he was a beast, he hadn’t lost his last bit of human reason, so Roderick asked.

“Contraceptive?”

“Ah, that’s……”

Erica hadn’t intended this at all. She had planned to just come, congratulate him on his birthday, and return home immediately, so there was no way she would have brought contraceptives.

“Ah……”

Roderick, who understood from Erica’s expression without her saying anything, tried to pull away as if doused with cold water.

“Wait!”

Erica wrapped her arms around Roderick’s neck. She really hadn’t come intending this, but if they were going to do it, they had to see it through to the end.

“If you’ve drawn your sword, you should smash the bed to pieces. Where do you put it back?”

“But if you get pregnant……”

The war wasn’t over yet. Moreover, even after the war ended, they would surely be busy with various matters. So they had decided to have a second child after the situation was completely stable.

“You’re a swordsman. Isn’t drawing your sword at the decisive moment your specialty?”

At the clever and suggestive joke comparing it to Roderick’s profession, he laughed at first, but gradually his smile showed a more troubled expression.

“Did you forget what happened nine years ago?”

“Ah.”

Erica, who suddenly remembered the night they conceived Eric, giggled and laughed, then tightened her loosened arms around Roderick’s neck again.

“Should we see if your skills have improved?”

Touch. The two lips, already moistened with saliva, touched softly and then parted. One short kiss was enough to chase away the reason that had returned to Roderick upon hearing there were no contraceptives.

“Ha…… I don’t know either.”

The beast pounced on Erica again. Stripped clothes flew in all directions, and Erica also became more beast-like than human. Amid only heavy breathing and wet sounds continuing for a long time, Roderick nibbled Erica’s nape with his lips and whispered.

“……Erica, I thought I’d go crazy missing you.”

Having not seen her for just a few days, Roderick was as happy as someone who hadn’t seen her for years. And he was like someone who had starved for years.

“Happy birthday, Roderick.”

Having taken care of other ‘business’ first, it was almost the end of his birthday when Roderick could finally face his birthday cake. On the small table in the barracks was only the cake she had baked and decorated with the children yesterday. Erica stuck candles in the cake and lit them as she spoke.

“Let’s celebrate your next birthday with a table groaning under the weight of food.”

“I just need you.”

Roderick pulled Erica, who was about to sit across the table, and seated her on his lap. Then he buried his head in her nape and whispered.

“Sorry. You’re suffering because of me.”

“That story again.”

Roderick often said that Erica could have lived an ordinary and peaceful life, but she was suffering because she got involved with him.

“I told you. The reason I was reborn here was probably God’s will.”

The intention to change the oracle. Erica believed so.

“So our suffering is God’s fault. So don’t feel sorry and boldly demand compensation from God.”

Roderick closed his eyes. Then after a moment, he blew out the candles all at once. He didn’t say what his wish was, but Erica thought she knew.

After blowing out the birthday candles, next came receiving presents.

“This is Eric’s kiss, this is Elodie’s kiss.”

Erica alternately kissed both of Roderick’s cheeks, then……

“And this is the kiss I’m giving you.”

She pressed her lips to Roderick’s lips. The candles were out, but the two lovers caught fire again like that.

“Ah, really……”

The next morning, Erica clutched her head.

“Grandma, I’m really sorry.”

She had planned to spend just a hot night appropriately and then go home, but she fell asleep in Roderick’s arms.

“You don’t need to be sorry. I’m just happy that you two are so passionate.”

Grandma smiled kindly as usual, but somehow she felt like she was being teased.

“My expectations are high too.”

“……Expectations?”

“Let me have a second grandchild.”

“Ahhh, Grandma!”

Erica’s face grew redder and redder as she helped Grandma Greta pack in the barracks where Grandma had spent the night.

“Don’t worry about the children. I contacted them saying I planned to spend one night before going.”

“Thank you…… And I’m sorry.”

“I said there’s nothing to be sorry about. I was pressed for time anyway, so thanks to you I could stay longer, which worked out well.”

The chief mage learning undead destruction magic from Grandma was especially delighted. It seemed that even an experienced chief mage couldn’t understand and use magic formulas devised by a Grand Mage after just a few lessons.

“So now, can the chief mage use undead destruction magic too?”

“No, it will take a bit more time.”