As soon as I left the dungeon, I quickly moved and hid behind my designated rock pile.
Then I opened my inventory and checked the decorated weapon.
What was tied to the tassel attached to the Yin-Yang Jade was.
[Red Ribbon]
[Decorative Item]
[Can be decorated on weapon handles etc.]
“Heh.”
I smiled brightly.
A pretty red ribbon would surely suit Chris’s red hair color well.
A weapon with this attached is wholly Chris’s.
Would it be better to send a message?
Oh, is Chris unnie still clearing the dungeon? If so, she’d still be busy.
Peek.
When I was sticking my head out and looking for Chris’s figure while gazing at the dungeon entrance.
Tap tap.
“Eek!?”
I screamed and jumped in surprise at the sensation of something tapping my shoulder.
I was so focused on looking for Chris that I didn’t pay attention to my surroundings.
Someone touched me!
I got scared suddenly.
I closed my eyes tightly, hugged my head, and curled up my body.
A crying sound leaked out without me realizing.
“Hii, hii.”
“Oh, Ra-Rain!? Did I scare you? I’m sorry!”
A familiar voice was heard.
I slightly opened my eyes and checked who had touched my shoulder.
“Ch… Chris unnie.”
When the red hair and worried face came into view, I sighed in relief and wiped my chest.
Strangely, my human wariness radar didn’t react to Chris. I couldn’t help having my rear taken.
I was so surprised that tears came out a bit.
I timidly glared at her with a sulky expression, tears welling up in my eyes.
She scratched her head and smiled awkwardly.
“I thought Rain would be here. Um. Unnie just finished clearing too.”
“Wow, good work.”
I soon relaxed my expression and smiled broadly at Chris.
Chris’s hand twitches, and hesitates. It moves erratically.
I tilted my head. Chris, who was looking at my puzzled expression, spoke as if sighing.
“Well, I know Rain doesn’t like receiving things for free, umm… What should I do… Ah! Would you consider buying if unnie sells something? It might be something Rain needs.”
“Something? Ah!”
Come to think of it, I had something to sell to Chris too.
Rather than selling, since we’ve been running buses together and plan to continue doing so. Actually, if I just give this, it’s a gain for me in the long run.
It’s a kind of bribe. A bribe meaning: please take care of me in the future too.
“I have one too. I’ll give it to unnie.”
I took out an item from my inventory and hesitated for a moment while hiding it behind my back.
I giggled as I suddenly found it funny that Chris and I were hesitating at the same time.
“Th-then shall we check the items at the same time?”
“Yes.”
Chris smiled brightly and held out the item hidden behind her back.
I also held out my gift to her.
When I checked her gift, I opened my mouth wide in surprise.
“Aah…!”
[Demon General Aspero’s Sword]
[Elite Grade]
[Attack Power 270]
[‘Moonlight Slash’ skill damage increased by 40%]
[Socket1 : EMPTY]
[Socket2 : EMPTY]
(Bound when equipped)
It’s a sword, the weapon for my Swordsman class. The new weapon from this dungeon.
Moreover, it’s the option I want, increasing the damage of my main skill.
It’s a much more expensive item than the 1 gold costume at the time.
Since it hasn’t been released in the market yet, I’d get at least 500 gold, over 5 million won in current cash value if I sell it now.
I shook my head without realizing.
“Su-such an expensive thing…”
Then, it occurred to me that the item I was going to give her had similar value.
But exchanging them wasn’t good for me. The meaning of gratitude and please take care of me in the future could fade.
Still, for now.
I sighed and took out my gift hidden behind my back.
Chris’s eyes widened.
At the same time, her gaze went to the red ribbon attached to the Yin-Yang Jade’s tassel.
She covered her mouth and looked at the Yin-Yang Jade with trembling eyes.
“Ahh…! Rain…!”
I timidly spoke while avoiding her gaze.
“We-well, I thought it might be an item unnie needs. Would you like to exchange it for the sword?”
“Uhuhuhuung!”
Suddenly, Chris burst into tears. At this unexpected reaction, I stared at her blankly.
“What should I do, I’m so grateful? What’s this ribbon? Kyaa…!”
Chris squealed while fiddling with the red ribbon attached to the Yin-Yang Jade.
Seeing her happy made me feel good, too.
It’s my first time giving and receiving gifts with someone. But it wasn’t a bad feeling.
I looked at her bright expression with a smile, feeling awkward at the unfamiliar warm feeling welling up in my chest.
Still, I felt indebted.
I’ve only been receiving kindness and haven’t given anything, but it ended up looking like we exchanged the sword and Yin-Yang Jade.
I don’t know how to express my feelings.
How should I express my gratitude?
“Unnie, um.”
Chris, who had been happily fiddling with the Yin-Yang Jade for a while, looked at me with a puzzled expression.
I closed my eyes tightly and spoke as if making excuses.
“Well, I’m grateful that unnie always takes care of me, I wanted to give it out of gratitude, and we’ll keep running buses together, so I’m more grateful, but, then I received the sword too. So my heart feels a little…”
Rain, you fool. What on earth are you rambling about?
I don’t even know what I’m saying.
What if Chris unnie thinks I’m a weird kid?
“Hmm~?”
Mischief settled in Chris’s eyes.
“So, Rain wanted to express gratitude for everything so far and please take care of me in the future by giving a gift, but since it became like exchanging weapons, you feel uncomfortable?”
Nod nod.
I nodded vigorously.
Wow, even I don’t know what I’m saying, but Chris unnie interpreted those words.
Chris, who had been grinning at me for a moment, slapped her palm with her fist.
“Then, how about this? Since unnie has been accompanying Rain so far, next time Rain accompanies unnie to a place she wants to go.”
“Aha.”
Is that enough?
Of course I have my own schedule, but given Chris’s personality, she won’t forcibly take me to places I don’t want to go.
Chris observed my reaction and carefully added one more word.
“And, um, it’s okay if Rain refuses this if you don’t like it.”
“…?”
Chris suddenly avoids my gaze and fidgets with her hands. Why is she doing that?
“Um, ca-can I pat your head? O-of course, la-last time I touched it a bit, but it was very briefly, I want to pat it properly.”
“Oh…”
I drew in a sharp breath.
My hair? Why suddenly?
Is there enough value in patting my head to ask for it so difficultly?
But, it’s undoubtedly difficult for me too.
It took a lot of courage for me to directly hold someone else’s hand.
I nodded with a hardened expression, clenching my fists.
And slightly, I approached Chris’s side and tilted my head.
“Phew! Phew!”
Chris’s face turned red, and it seemed like steam was coming out of her nose.
I backed away slightly in horror.
“U-unnie. Your expression is strange.”
“Wh-wh-wh-what! I-I didn’t make a strange expression!”
Chris, who had been taking deep breaths for a moment to calm herself, raised her trembling hand and brought it towards my head.
Finally, Chris’s hand touched my hair.
Pat pat, her gentle touch brushed over my head.
Flinch.
My body shrank at the unfamiliar sensation I felt for the first time.
It’s strange. My chest tickles even though she’s just patting my head.
A sensation similar to the emotion I felt when I received warm gazes from comrades in the past, no, a slightly more ticklish feeling in my chest.
Before I knew it, I was narrowing my eyes and savoring that sensation.
“Hut!”
I, who was being consumed by the strange feeling, pulled my head back in surprise.
I felt fear at the incomprehensible sensation.
Chris fidgeted with her hand that had lost its place with a regretful expression.
“So-sorry. That’s all for today!”
Thump thump.
My heart kept beating.
An awkward silence hung between us two who were avoiding each other’s gazes for a moment.
I mustered up courage and spoke first.
“U-unnie needs to keep farming too, right? I need to go farming again soon too.”
“Th-that’s right? Hehe, I wonder if I took up too much time?”
“It’s okay.”
Chris fanned her reddened face with her hand as if it was hot while going to where her party members were gathered.
And, she waved her hand at me with a bright smile in front of the dungeon.
“Rain! Farm hard!”
“You too, unnie.”
I waved my hand slightly at Chris while still sticking out only my head from behind the rock pile.
Chris’s smiling figure soon disappeared into the dungeon.
* * *
Boom boom!
“Ch-Chris! Please control your DPS! The aggro is shaking!”
“Ah, sorry.”
Kaaaak-!
As Bloodfang collapsed, Deathly Death sighed.
“Phew, even if you’re wearing the Yin-Yang Master Aspero weapon, it’s really hard to maintain aggro.”
“But normally Chris unnie would have controlled her DPS on her own, she’s a bit strange today?”
Bae Merong gave Chris a doubtful look.
Chris, with a dazed look as if wandering in a dream, muttered while fiddling with the cute ribbon attached to the Yin-Yang Jade.
“Bae Merong, what should I do?”
“…Unnie?”
“I don’t think I can live without Rain now. What should I do? Anyway, the No Name party members seem to be just business relationships for farming, so if I just snatch Rain from there. Death, should I increase your company work? Right, we put Rain in our party excluding Death who’s busy with company work…!”
“Wh-why am I getting caught in the crossfire suddenly!”
“Ah… Aah! Synchronization rate benefits…! This damn synchronization rate! I lost 80% of Rain’s hair touch sensation! Uwaaaaak!”
“Wow…”
Bae Merong broke out in cold sweat and distanced herself from Chris, who was tearing at her hair with trembling hands in a frenzied manner.
Bae Merong grabbed Cherni’s collar and whispered while keeping a distance.
“Hey, Jaewook. Is it really okay to entrust the real Rain to Chris unnie?”
“…It might be more dangerous than we thought.”