Night fell upon us, bringing with it a rather unpleasant responsibility: finishing off the troll and its nest of goblins.
That wasn't what I had imagined when I obtained the [SSS-Gacha Summons] skill.
I had imagined myself riding a legendary beast, conquering territories with an army of extraordinary beings, or at least having a companion who obeyed my orders to the letter.
Instead, I had this.
I turned my head.
Goliath walked calmly beside me, illuminated by the faint light of the moon. The night breeze carried the scent of damp leaves and wild herbs, mixing it with that sweet fragrance that seemed to follow him everywhere.
I frowned.
"How the hell does he keep that smell after everything we've been through?"
"Ho, ho! We're here!" the old man announced, pointing to a small wooden cabin. "This is one of the houses the village reserves for travelers. It's not exactly spacious, but I'm sure you'll manage. Although, if you have any discomfort, we could always look for an alternative... right, young lady?"
"Thank you very much!" Goliath responded with a radiant smile, without noticing the strange emphasis on the last words.
"Ho, ho! You don't have to thank me. It's the least we can do for those who have offered to help us. After all, it would be a shame if our guests weren't comfortable... especially someone as charming as you."
The old man kept the affable smile of a grandfather welcoming his grandchildren after a long journey. However, his eyes betrayed him.
As he spoke, his gaze descended over Goliath's body again and again, pausing longer than necessary before returning to his face. He didn't even bother to hide it much; every time the boy smiled or moved, those lust-filled eyes seemed to light up a little more.
"Well, well... So the old man pretends to play the good Samaritan."
"I understand. We'll sleep here," I intervened, cutting off that conversation. "Thank you for guiding us. You may leave now."
The old man's smile faltered for just an instant.
"Ho, ho! There's no rush, young man. If you need anything during the night, you need only call me. I live very close... and I tend to stay up late."
His gaze slid toward Goliath again.
"Master, don't be so rude!" Goliath scolded me.
I ignored him and opened the cabin door.
Goliath hurried to follow me, though before entering he turned toward the old man and brought his hands together in an apologetic gesture.
"I'm very sorry about my master."
"Ho, ho, you have nothing to apologize for, young lady."
I closed the door before I had to listen to more of that conversation.
Finally, I could let myself fall onto the bed. I closed my eyes, ready to sleep.
"Master."
I opened one eye.
Goliath was standing in front of me, hands on his hips and brow slightly furrowed.
"Why were you so rude to the village chief?"
I shrugged.
"What do you want me to tell you? That that old man hasn't stopped looking at you with lust since he met us?"
Of course, I didn't say those words.
Instead, I closed my eyes and settled onto the pillow.
When we announced that we would help the village, its inhabitants were incredibly generous. They offered us food, clothes, and even a place to rest.
I had finally gotten rid of that loincloth and looked like a civilized person.
Everything seemed to be going quite well.
Until they began competing among themselves to decide who would have the privilege of hosting Goliath.
Some claimed their house was more comfortable. Others bragged about having better beds. And more than one seemed willing to offer even their own room if it meant he would agree to stay with them.
That was when I lost my patience.
I let out a laugh and told them Goliath would sleep with me.
Not because I particularly cared what they did with him, but because I was quite sure that anyone who tried to take advantage of my summon would end up with several broken bones and an endless sermon about good and evil.
And, honestly, I didn't feel like listening to the villagers' complaints the next day.
"Master? Are you ignoring me?"
I waved a hand dismissively.
"I'm tired. I didn't sleep last night because I had to take care of you."
"You didn't sleep?" he asked with evident surprise.
"It's not a big deal. Go to bed. Tomorrow we have to deal with some monsters, all thanks to you."
For a few seconds, the room fell silent.
I narrowed my eyes.
Goliath was looking around, as if searching for something.
"What are you looking for?"
"Uh... Master."
"What?"
"There are no more beds."
I frowned and sat up.
I looked around.
The room was tiny. There was a single bed, a small table, and barely enough space to walk without stumbling over the furniture. There wasn't even a decent corner to spread out a blanket.
Indeed, there were no more beds.
"So that was the old man's plan..."
Suddenly, the old man's insistence on offering his house to Lia took on a rather unpleasant meaning.
"What an ingenious way to disguise lust as hospitality."
I sighed.
Well, if the space was so small that barely one person fit, there was no reason to complicate things.
Someone would have to make a sacrifice.
I looked at Goliath and gave him a sincere smile.
"Well, someone will have to sleep outside."
"Huh?"
His expression froze.
"W-why outside?"
I lay back down, stretched my legs, and waved a hand to downplay the matter.
"Let's see... you have a defense of eighteen thousand points and I barely have six. Besides, you're already dry, so spending a night outdoors shouldn't hurt you."
"..."
Goliath fell silent.
His brow furrowed slightly.
"I still see space on that bed," he murmured.
"Enough space for me."
"Master, maybe I've caused some problems, but... would you really not let me sleep beside you?"
His eyes opened slightly. The way he looked at me reminded me of a puppy begging for permission to play with its favorite toy.
I wasn't fooled.
"No. Besides, I'm married."
I raised a hand and extended my ring finger solemnly.
Goliath narrowed his eyes and examined my hand.
"Master, there's nothing there."
I frowned.
I looked at my finger.
Indeed, there was nothing.
The ring I had worn for so many years, the symbol of my commitment to the woman I had loved, had disappeared.
"Tch... It stayed in the other body," I murmured.
For a few moments, I stared at my hand.
"What happened to it?"
Maybe Reinhard had recovered it from my corpse.
"I hope he kept it."
It was nothing more than an object, but it was one of the few memories I still had of her.
I was so absorbed in my thoughts that I didn't notice the movement beside my legs.
Something slid across the mattress.
I turned my head.
Thump!
"What the hell?!"
A sudden blow struck my jaw.
I blinked, dazed, and looked beside me.
Goliath had crawled across the bed until he was next to me, with a smile as satisfied as that of a thief who had just completed a perfect heist.
"Heh, heh. You got distracted, Master. So I took advantage."
I stared at him in silence.
I tried to push him toward the other end of the bed, but his body barely moved.
"Even if I try, it'll be impossible to move him."
Before I could devise another strategy, I noticed his eyelids beginning to close.
His smile slowly faded and, without further ado, he fell asleep.
I let out a long sigh.
"What nerve..."
However, having him so close, I couldn't help but notice his face.
His pink hair spread across the pillow, interwoven with a few golden strands that could barely be distinguished under the moonlight. His pale cheeks retained a faint blush, and his lips, a soft crimson tone, remained slightly parted as he breathed calmly.
Even asleep, he had a strangely delicate appearance.
I shook my head.
For some reason, my gaze lingered on his face again.
It was undeniable that Goliath possessed an extraordinary beauty. He had features that many women would envy and an appearance capable of attracting glances without even trying.
Though he was still missing a certain part of the bust.
Just as I was beginning to lose myself in my thoughts, a window appeared before my eyes.
[Summon: Goliath the Titan]
[Affinity with the summoner]
[Trust: 40/100]
[Desire: 10/100]
[Love: 5/100]
[Jealousy: 25/100]
[Respect: 50/100]
I blinked for a few moments at that sudden appearance.
Then I read the window again.
"And what the hell is this good for?"