月亮播放器

Chapter 136: Keenly Aware

The Paru gently patted her head.

“I don’t need anyone… Comforting me.” Roka whispered as she lowered her gaze.

A moment later, she shook her head, and swatted the Paru’s hand away, causing him to chuckle.

“Seriously… What’s with you?” She asked, taking hold of the bag that lay on the ground next to her.

Just before Roka could straighten back up, her whole body was pushed forward, almost making her lose her balance and fall.

Her eyebrows twitched from the confusion as she turned around.

‘Did he just…’ Roka could barely believe it. ‘Did he just slap my ass?’

Confused, she stared at the Paru, unmoving.

The latter raised his arm, and pointed at the center of the area, at the forest of standing and fallen pillars.

“I told you already. There’s no way to do it. Even if you’re with-”

Once again, the Paru closed the distance.

“W-What?” Roka stuttered as she took a step back.

The Paru raised his gaze for a moment.

The lights that flickered through the dark clouds above made him shiver.

He placed a hand on her head for a moment, before stepping away.

“You’re not planning on… I told you that’s it’s-”

Roka’s sentence was interrupted by the roar of thunder.

The Paru brought a hand to his throat, pushing against it from the right, then from the left.

He stared at Roka for a moment, and his lips parted.

“Leave it…” He said in a deep voice. “To me.”

A second after those words had exited the Paru’s mouth, he was already walking away, into the path of crystalline pillars.

‘After that first experience, my Skills are stronger. Having it happen again wouldn’t be-‘

“You… You can talk?” Roka asked, appearing suddenly by his side.

The Paru nodded.

“Since when?”

He looked away, shrugging.

“That’s… Amazing!”

‘Well,’ The Paru sighed. ‘At least she’s taking it better than Liz did.’

Roka shook her head suddenly.

“Wait, that doesn’t change anything! You haven’t seen how many Tsero are out there! There’s no path to be taken! No way to directly get to the Tsero Crystals! You’re not planning on fighting them, are you? There are hundreds of them!”

The Paru scratched his cheek.

On one hand, she seemed worried about him.

On the other, her tone almost felt like she found him stupid for even suggesting to do it.

‘You were the first one to go here. Why is it a stupid plan now?’

The Paru suddenly felt her hand take hold of his elbow.

“No, seriously!” Roka shouted.

He turned to face her.

“How do you plan on fighting hundreds of them? Even if you manage to kill some… That’ll only attract the attention of the rest of you! Tsero aren’t predators. They stick together and-”

“I’ll fight, and you assist me.”

“Ha? That kind of simple plan isn’t going to cut it. How do you plan on…?”

The Paru stepped closer, and Roka stepped back.

“As I said, leave it to me.”

“How can I do that?”

“Just trust me. I can make it happen.” The Paru answered confidently. “Just like I did on Tyl.”

“I can’t do that. I’m the Commander. I need to… I need to be the one who…”

Roka had stepped back until there wasn’t any more space behind her. The Commander’s back was stuck to the smooth surface of a tall crystalline pillar.

“You need to be the who… What?” The Paru urged, standing inches away from her.

Roka clenched her fists, pressing her lips together.

“I can’t just… Stay back and assist you. I need to be on the front lines. I’m the Commander. I’m the one who needs to take responsibility!”

The Paru stared silently for a moment.

“Even though you’re not my Commander?”

“Just because of that doesn’t mean I can let you go there alone! Especially not with me staying behind! I have to…”

Roka’s voice faded away as the Paru’s hand slowly moved. The backside of his curled fingers stroked her left cheek.

“Because you’re a female?” The Paru asked softly. “Is that why you can’t let me? Or should I say… Because I’m a male?”

Roka immediately looked away, her cheeks blushing slightly. She remained silent.

“You want to protect the others. Raya, Liz, Rea, Kris, and the rest… You want to save your people, and become a Hero, right?”

Roka’s eyes widened as her cheeks reddened further from the embarrassment.

Telling those things to one unable to talk or repeat them was one thing. It was the same as telling them to the sea, or to the stars. But to have those things repeated to her…

Roka blushed intensely as her gaze moved back towards the Paru.

“You can count on me.” He said, moving his hand from Roka’s cheek to her head. “I’ll make sure that everything goes smoothly.”

“You want me to assist you… While you take all of the risks… For my mission?”

“Yes.” The Paru answered without a second of hesitation.

To do so was unthinkable for Roka. Firstly, because the Paru was an outsider, which meant that the mission had nothing to do with him. Why would he go this far? Secondly, because he was a male. What kind of female assists and depends on a male, leaving him to bear all of the burden? That’s not how it works. That’s… Backwards. The female is the one who should bear the burden, lead, and fight.

As Roka lowered her gaze, a dazed expression appeared on her face.

The Paru’s hand moved away from her head, and towards the lower portion of her face.

Gently but firmly, he grabbed her by the chin.

Her chin was slowly raised, forcing her gaze to meet his.

“Leave it to me.” The Paru said.

Roka couldn’t tell whether it was an order or not.

She couldn’t tell anything. She couldn’t think straight. Too many things had happened at once.

Serolia, the lost ship, the Giganto Zilla, climbing the mountain, finding the Tsero, going away from them.

She couldn’t think straight. Her mind was racing.

“A…” Her blushing grew even more intense. “Alright…” She whispered.

The Paru stepped back.

“I’ll do… As you say…” Roka whispered.

And a moment later, she gulped.

Suddenly, she found herself, for a moment, becoming keenly aware of the fact…

“Good. In that case,” He nodded. “Let’s get going.”

For a moment, keenly aware of the fact that the Paru was naked.