Chapter 54: A Chance Encounter

The blade came closer and closer. And only at that point did Muen realize—Scarface wasn’t swinging with the edge of the sword.

He was using the flat side. Just like Muen had once done to Anne.

Even after I smashed his face in with that punch... he’s just trying to knock me out?

He’s trying to keep me intact?

He warms my heart—no wait, what the hell am I thinking?!

If this keeps up, I will get knocked out and become this bear-man’s bandit bride! I don’t want that life!

Just as Muen was twisting his brain into knots trying to find a way out, he heard a voice—a gentle chant so warm it nearly brought him to tears.

“Merciful Mother of Earth, grant me your blessing—”

A soft, earthen glow enveloped him. The back of the steel blade slammed into it with a dull boom, but didn’t so much as ripple the barrier.

“What the—?”

Scarface’s expression twitched. He turned to look at the girl he’d ignored this entire time.

“You wanna get in the way of my beautiful moment?”

“That’s the price of overlooking a mage.”

The girl lightly waved her wand, a teasing smile curling on her lips.

“Besides, I don’t think abducting an innocent... civilian male counts as some beautiful moment.”

“Damn it.”

Scarface ground his teeth.

Should’ve dealt with this chick first!

“You lot! Get rid of that little brat!”

He barked orders at his men—

But no one responded.

Whipping around, Scarface saw that Bandits A, B, C, and D were all sprawled on the ground, snoring away.

“Don’t tell me you thought I was as stupid as you,” the girl said with a wink.

“Knowing when to shut up is a core quality of any decent mage.”

“You saved my life!”

Muen burst out laughing, utterly overjoyed. He was this close to throwing himself at her in a grateful hug and planting a big kiss on her face.

But he didn’t waste the opportunity. While Scarface was still howling in frustration, Muen surged forward and landed another explosive uppercut to his jaw.

“Defense Boost!”

“Speed Boost!”

“Aura Recovery Boost!”

“Reflex Boost!”

“—”

As Scarface stumbled back a few steps, no fewer than a dozen buffs were cast on Muen in rapid-fire succession. In that moment, he lit up like the brightest raver in the wildest nightclub—glowing with every color of the rainbow.

“I feel like I’m bursting with power!”

Muen clenched his fists, excitement radiating from his every pore.

So this is what it’s like to have a top-tier support? Damn! Even if you were walking a dog, you’d still steamroll everyone!

With this kind of backup, what was there to fear from a gay pervert?

“Alright! Round two, let’s go!”

Riding high on his rainbow-aura power trip, Muen let out a wild scream and charged straight at Scarface with his stolen greatsword.

Scarface raised his own blade to defend, waiting for an opening to counter—

But Muen never gave him one.

His attacks were wild, unrestrained, and powerful—completely unpredictable.

—In other words, he was just swinging wildly like a lunatic.

No real technique to speak of, but as they say: A chaotic flurry can beat a seasoned master. And with all those crazy buffs supporting him, Scarface was being pushed back, step by step.

“This it? This is what you’ve got?! You thought this would be enough to make me your bride? What a joke!”

“Wake the hell up, man! You need a reality check! Look in the mirror sometime—do you even qualify to touch a single leg hair of the glorious and handsome Muen Campbell?! Huh?!”

“...”

As Muen, glowing like a Christmas tree and swinging like a madman, charged forward, Scarface suddenly began to doubt his own orientation.

He liked freaks.

But this golden-haired naked maniac—

Was he... too freaky?

Right now, the way things looked...

Who was really the villain here, trying to forcibly abduct some poor, helpless civilian male?

“This is bullshit! You win this time!”

Sensing the tide turning, Scarface made a clean break for it. No hesitation. Didn’t even look back for his men—he just turned and bolted.

“I’ll be back for you, my beautiful darling—Muen Campbell, right?! I’ll remember that name!”

He threw the threat over his shoulder before disappearing into the dense forest.

“Eh? Wait!”

Muen’s outstretched hand froze mid-air.

“He ran that fast?!”

Staring at the spot where Scarface had just been, Muen scratched his cheek. For a second, he seriously considered chasing him.

“I’d advise against it.”

The girl had quietly walked up beside him at some point.

“Eh? Why not? Shouldn’t I finish him off while he’s weak?”

Muen looked puzzled. He really didn’t want some gay bandit lurking in the shadows, scheming about his body.

“Three,” the girl said, ignoring the question.

“Two.”

“Huh? What’re you counting—?”

“One.”

And the moment the last word left her mouth—

Muen’s vision went dark. It felt like every ounce of strength was drained from his limbs, and he collapsed onto the ground.

A tsunami of exhaustion crushed down on him.

“This is...”

“Support magic can boost strength and block pain,” the girl said matter-of-factly, “but your ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) stamina is still your own. Use your body like that, and of course it’ll break down.”

“Oh, that’s all?”

Muen sighed in relief and gave up struggling, lying flat on his back.

“I thought someone poisoned me again.”

“...Why would you think someone would poison you the first time they meet you?”

The girl tilted her head, genuinely confused.

“Haha, that’s... a long story.”

Muen chuckled awkwardly and didn’t elaborate.

“...”

“...”

The silence between them grew increasingly awkward.

After a long pause, Muen finally couldn’t take it anymore. Testing the waters, he said:

“Um... miss?”

“Mm?”

“This might sound sudden, but... could I trouble you to strip one of those bandits for clothes? I’m, uh, suddenly feeling a little chilly.”

—Muen, who had been completely naked for several days now, made his humble request.

“No,” the girl replied immediately, without hesitation.

“Why not?!”

Muen stared at her, wide-eyed. “It’s not that hard, is it?!”

“It’s not,” she replied, turning her face away. “But my mom always told me—never approach a pervert.”

“I’m not a pervert! Why would you say that?!”

“You’re wandering around naked in the middle of nowhere,” she said flatly. “What else am I supposed to think?”

“That’s because some evil woman stole my clothes!”

“Public flashing in the wild, huh? You city folk sure play dirty.”

She subtly stepped further back. “This is bad. I definitely can’t go near you. I might get pregnant. I have a lover, you know. What would I do if you defiled me? Sob sob sob...”

“You’re the one saying disturbing shit, not me!!”

Muen cried out, practically in tears.

Just as he opened his mouth to yell again, something hit him in the face.

A beast-hide skirt.

“Thanks.”

Muen forced himself upright and tied the garment around his waist.

“Huh?”

Looking down at his makeshift outfit, Muen stroked his chin thoughtfully.

It covered the important parts, sure—but somehow... something felt off.

It kind of looked like... a naked apron?

No, no, no. That’s gotta be in my head. Beast-hide skirt and apron are totally different things.

Besides, those bandits were way smaller than him. It wasn’t like he could wear their full outfits anyway. This would have to do for now.

“Anyway...”

Now confident that he was no longer suspected of perversion, Muen extended a hand to the girl and smiled.

“Let’s introduce ourselves properly. I’m Muen. Currently, let’s say... an unemployed drifter.”

“I’m Ailuka.”

The girl—no, woman—hesitated, staring at his outstretched hand for a long while, as if checking it for lingering pervert residue.

Eventually, she took it and shook.

“Former adventurer. Currently, newlywed wife, training hard.”