CH 26.1

Chapter 26. Main Event Semifinals, Day 2

In the waiting room, Primera stood in front of Bash with a tense look on her face. The orc was wearing the repaired armor, holding the sword he had been given and looking at Primera.

Primera could not make out the emotion behind his expression.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t prepare proper armor.” Primera was not confident. Even more so than yesterday, before the first round began. The last few days had shown her how inexperienced she was.

Last night, without sleeping a wink, she went back to reconditioning Bash’s sword and armor. But even so, she could not match the Hero’s beloved sword. Compared to that mighty sword, hers was but a twig. If Bash were to wield it, it would surely break easily.

“No, in fact, it’s easier to hold than yesterday.” Bash said as he lightly swung the sword.

“Re-Really?”

“Yes.”

Primera celebrated with her fist subtly. But she immediately shook her head and hid her clenched fist behind her back. The fact that the sword was easier to swing didn’t take away from the fact that it was still unrefined.

“…”

Bash, for his part, was more attentive to the dwarf’s chest, which now stood out more thanks to the fact that Primera had hidden her hands behind her back. Primera was aware of that look. She didn’t know what was good about looking at her there, but she still didn’t feel bad about it.

“But, still…” Primera looked at Bash again. When she first met him, she didn’t really understand who he was. He asked her to have his child and she refused. She thought he was just talking nonsense. But now she saw him a little differently. He’s an orc, but he’s a good guy.

He was honest, strong and manly. He used the sword she gave him, and even when Primera insulted him, he never complained. And in the end, he made her realize how immature she was.

Being an orc, his common sense and hers differed. For one, he hadn’t attacked her. But the reason he kept looking at Primera’s cleavage and not touching her was because he felt lust for her, but had sworn by his loyalty to the Orc King.

He was a man who was loyal, patient and also strong.

Such a man was courting her.

Reconfirming this fact, Primera felt her cheeks heat up. Then the words escaped spontaneously from her mouth.

“Well, goddammit! If you win, I’ll think about it!”

“You’ll think about it? About what?”

“You idiot! Don’t make me say it! That!”

“…”

Bash became inwardly impatient. He didn’t understand what it meant. What was the point of her saying that now? What was she thinking about?  Even if he wanted to ask someone, there was no fairy he could trust here.

Bash’s keen intuition now felt a tremendous “hunch” about something. Whether this “hunch” was good or bad, he did not know. He had not had such a hunch since the decisive battle of the Lemium Highlands. It had been a bad premonition. Bash did not believe it and continued to fight on the spot, and when he received the order from the Orc King to come to the spot, it was too late. And the Demon King Gediguz died.

What would it be this time…?

“Sir Bash. It’s time for the 4th match!”

And then there was a knock on the door of the anteroom.

“…! Th-There’ll be time! Go on, go!”

“…Sure.”

He didn’t know what kind of hunch it was. He didn’t even know what he should do. Bash went to his first match with an inexplicable feeling.