Chapter 51: The Wild Feast and a Whispered Promise

Qing Yu harbored a deep fondness for outdoor feasts. Every night on their journey, as the members of the knight order pitched their tents and gathered around the bonfire to eat meat and drink wine, it was Qing Yu’s most cherished time.

Having few interesting experiences himself, he would lean against Aldoran during these moments, either listening to Roalsa recite her poetry or hearing the knights recount their battles against the ‘Giants’.

From the knights’ tales, Qing Yu learned that this world was also home to creatures known as ‘Giants’, beings of immense size and formidable combat prowess.

It was said that at least twenty well-trained knights, fighting with all their might, were required to fell a single Giant.

Fortunately, these Giants typically appeared in remote, sparsely populated areas, and their numbers were always small.

The most significant incident involved three Giants appearing in the same region, a battle that reportedly claimed the lives of a hundred knights.

However, since that encounter, the frequency of Giant appearances had significantly decreased.

Previously, the entire nation would see approximately eight to twelve Giants each year, whereas now, a year might see no more than four.

The knights drank heartily, their armor strewn carelessly across the ground.

Some, caught up in the fervor of their stories, even shed their tunics, baring their upper bodies as they continued to drink and feast with boisterous abandon, seemingly oblivious to Qing Yu’s presence.

During these times, Qing Yu would often turn his face away in embarrassment or fix his gaze directly on Aldoran.

Aldoran would typically hand him a cup of juice and then lead him away from the crowd for a walk.

For reasons unknown, over the past few months spent with Aldoran, Qing Yu seemed to have fully embraced his role as Aldoran’s ‘wife’.

Initially, thoughts of ‘pushing down’ Aldoran occasionally flickered through his mind, but now, Qing Yu found himself somewhat anticipating being ‘pushed down’ by her.

In all this time, he had never truly experienced anything intimate with Aldoran.

He seemed to have grown accustomed to the feeling of relying on Aldoran.

Throughout their time together, Aldoran’s care for Qing Yu had been meticulous and incredibly thoughtful.

Just like now, Qing Yu held a cup of warm juice, and Aldoran walked beside him.

The night wind in the central courtyard was always cool, and Qing Yu, feeling a slight chill, let out a sneeze.

“You’re sniffling,” Aldoran said, offering Qing Yu a tissue.

Qing Yu took the tissue, wiped his nose, and then twitched his nose.

“Thank you.”

Aldoran said nothing, merely taking Qing Yu’s arm.

As a faint blue glow emanated from her, a surge of warmth instantly enveloped Qing Yu’s body.

“Phew~ Aldoran’s ability is so convenient~” Qing Yu exhaled contentedly, then took a sip of juice, a radiant smile gracing his lips.

“Oh, by the way, how’s your magic practice been lately? With the knights’ help, it should be improving quickly, right?”

Hearing Qing Yu praise her abilities, Aldoran casually inquired about his progress in magic.

However, Qing Yu seemed a little embarrassed, letting out an awkward, dry laugh.

“What’s wrong? Is there something you can’t tell me?”

“No, no, no, it’s not that, it’s just…” Qing Yu raised a hand, and a faint golden glow danced at his fingertips, like a tiny firefly emitting a soft light in the silent darkness.

“I’ve practiced for a long time, but I haven’t made much progress.

It’s just that the light I emit is slightly stronger than usual.”

Qing Yu’s voice sounded somewhat disappointed.

When Aldoran turned to look at him, Qing Yu lowered his head like a child who had made a mistake, avoiding her gaze.

Despite knowing Aldoran wouldn’t scold him, Qing Yu still felt a pang of guilt towards her.

‘Aldoran even specifically asked everyone to help me, preparing food to replenish my magic every day.’

“I see.”

Aldoran said nothing, merely gently pinching Qing Yu’s fingertip and blowing on it.

The warmth was incredibly comforting.

“It’s alright, as long as there’s progress, no matter how slight.

If you keep at it, one day you’ll be able to do anything you wish.”

Aldoran pointed to the light at Qing Yu’s fingertip.

“Like this light, even the smallest glow can illuminate the night, can’t it?”

“Besides, if you truly can’t become stronger, then just rely on me completely.

I’ll be your shield.”

“Mmm…” Qing Yu paused slightly, taken aback by Aldoran’s assurance.

The next moment, his heart seemed to fill with something, a gentle sense of contentment.

Qing Yu had never before experienced the feeling of being able to rely on someone so fully.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Seeing Qing Yu’s face flush, Aldoran cupped his face, looking up at him.

Her tone was placid, yet Qing Yu alone detected the faint trace of worry within it.

Aldoran was considered quite short in this world; in a place where the shortest women were at least one meter seventy-five centimeters tall, the petite Aldoran appeared delicate.

Yet, this seemingly fragile young woman was the very person Qing Yu could rely on most.

“No, no, no, it’s not that, it’s just… it feels so wonderful to be able to rely on Aldoran!” Qing Yu waved his hands, his face as red as a ripe apple, looking so dewy and tempting that one might want to take a bite.

“Is that so? That’s good.” Aldoran smiled.

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Qing Yu.

Since being with Qing Yu, Aldoran’s smiles seemed to have become more frequent than before.

Qing Yu’s face deepened in color.

Aldoran’s lips were so soft, Qing Yu found himself unconsciously swallowing.

For a fleeting moment, he was suddenly overcome with an urge to be ‘pushed down’ by Aldoran.

Meeting Aldoran’s clear, watery blue eyes, Qing Yu felt a strange heat rising within his body.

“Uh… Aldoran…” Qing Yu took another sip of juice to moisten his dry throat, his voice trembling slightly, his breathing a little hurried.

“Yes, I’m here.”

‘Anyway, we’re husband and wife, so that kind of thing, it wouldn’t be out of the question, would it?’

‘But, but this is the wilderness, if we were discovered, it might not be good?’

‘However, Aldoran, this… such a gentle, such a lovely person, if she were to ‘push me down’…’

“Th-that… Aldoran…” Qing Yu grasped Aldoran’s hand, and the juice slipped from his grasp, the crisp sound echoing in his ears.

Qing Yu’s hand trembled slightly.

Though she didn’t know what was happening, Aldoran patiently waited for Qing Yu, for him to voice his thoughts.

“Th-that… it’s just… it’s just…” Qing Yu’s legs twitched uncomfortably.

He swallowed repeatedly, his eyes darting everywhere but at Aldoran.

“Th-that… Aldoran… have… have you ever…”

“Had s*x outdoors?”

Finally, in a moment of utter desperation, Qing Yu blurted out the question involuntarily.

“What?” Aldoran narrowed her eyes, looking at Qing Yu.

“What is ‘s*x outdoors’?”

“An outdoor battle? But I don’t sense any danger.”

Despite her words, Aldoran instinctively shielded Qing Yu with her energy.

Simultaneously, Aldoran swiftly used her abilities to search her mind for the meaning of ‘s*x outdoors’.

Qing Yu’s face was beet red, but the words were out.

As the saying goes, words spoken are like water spilled; they cannot be easily retrieved.

“A-Aldoran?”

Seconds later, the patterns in Aldoran’s eyes faded.

“Um… that… I…” Qing Yu stammered, looking at Aldoran, unsure how to continue.

“I can.”

The next moment, Aldoran spoke, interrupting Qing Yu.

‘W-what?!’

“A-Aldoran?” Qing Yu’s throat bobbed.

He stared at Aldoran, his hand trembling even more violently.

‘A-Aldoran, she… she agreed?’

“I can, if you wish.

I happen to know a little shielding magic,” Aldoran said, taking Qing Yu’s hand, her tone serious.

“If that’s what you want, I have no objections.”

Th-th-this… this…

Qing Yu’s mind reeled, leaving him speechless.

‘I’m going to be ‘pushed down’ by Aldoran, I’m going to be…’

“So, what do you wish for me to use to enter your body?” Aldoran asked.

Qing Yu felt Aldoran’s hand grow slightly damp.

‘Wait, enter my body?’

Qing Yu froze, his eyes widening, his mind instantly clearing.

“I can use my hand, or if you prefer, I can use magic to make myself…”

“B-but, it shouldn’t be…” Qing Yu’s eyes widened further, and he panicked.

“I know, I was just teasing you.” Seeing Qing Yu’s panicked expression, Aldoran smiled faintly.

With a slight exertion of force, she gently pushed Qing Yu to the ground.

Moonlight dappled her hair, and the wind tickled Qing Yu’s nose.

“Are you truly decided?

Will you not regret this?”

Aldoran’s hand was warm, resting on Qing Yu’s wrist, filling him with an inexplicable sense of security.

“Th-that… y-yes, I can…” Qing Yu averted his gaze, his face almost fully flushed.

“Aldoran… is… so gentle… and… and so cute… and treats me so well…”

“Being ‘pushed down’ by Aldoran isn’t so bad after all…”

“Very well, then.

Since it is your wish…”

A faint glow shimmered.

Aldoran leaned down, gently licking Qing Yu’s neck.

Qing Yu’s body trembled slightly, then Aldoran softly bit his earlobe, whispering beside his ear.

“I’ll be gentle…”

The wind was cold, but because Aldoran’s power enveloped him, Qing Yu felt no chill at all.

He remained with Aldoran in the dense forest until dawn.

Only after everyone else had woken up did Aldoran return to the camp, cradling the deeply sleeping Qing Yu.

From that day on, Aldoran personally took over the task of teaching Qing Yu, meticulously guiding his every practice.

By the week before their arrival in Alastor, Qing Yu was already capable of treating simple, minor wounds.

Concurrently, after that night, Qing Yu also found himself able to express his desires to Aldoran more directly.