Chapter 40: I Can Explain Why Roxy Is in My Bed

The next morning, Rudeus had barely stepped out of his bedroom when he went to look for Allen, as they had agreed the previous day to wake up early and review their combat performance in the courtyard to summarize and improve.

He walked down the hallway rubbing his eyes, still heavy with sleep. For some reason, however, the floor below was noisier than usual; it was the sound of Zenith and Lilia bustling about in the kitchen, chatting happily about something.

Rudeus didn't pay it any mind. He walked up to Allen’s door and pushed it open directly. The door swung open smoothly—Allen didn't have the habit of locking his room.

Unlike usual, the curtains were not drawn early in the morning; they were tightly shut, leaving the room in dim darkness. Rudeus looked toward the bed and saw the thin blanket Allen usually used bundled into a heap, still rising and falling slightly.

*“Allen is actually sleeping in for once... did yesterday’s battle drain him of all his energy?”*
*“He was the one who suggested waking up early, yet here he is, lingering in bed... heh heh...”*

With that thought, Rudeus tiptoed to the bedside, grabbed a corner of the blanket, and yanked it away!

"Wake up! You naked man!"

As the blanket flew into the air, a gust of wind from outside billowed the curtains, letting a shaft of light fall onto Roxy’s hazy, sleeping face.

Rudeus stared at Roxy’s face with dazed eyes, falling into a long silence. Then, he raised his hand and slapped himself across the face.

*“Am I still dreaming? I actually mistook Allen for Roxy, heh... heh... how strange...”*
*“But wait, why is Allen wearing Roxy’s clothes...”*

He rubbed his face vigorously and looked at the bed again. Roxy—no, Allen—seemed disturbed by the slap. His long, beautiful eyelashes fluttered, as if about to open.

Footsteps echoed at the door, and someone pushed their way in.

"Roxy, it’s really time to get up. If you don't rise soon, Rudeus will be coming over..."

Rudeus watched the familiar figure of Allen walk in, then slowly turned his head to look at the groggily waking Roxy, and finally turned his head again to look at the horrified expression on Allen’s face.

The air froze.

Allen stared at Rudeus, his entire body going numb. He blinked rapidly.

"Rudeus... stay calm, I can explain..."

Rudeus looked at Allen with a blank expression, radiating a killing intent that only appeared in the original story when a child called the Dragon God "Daddy." He forced a cold, temperature-less smile and spoke.

"...Please, do explain. I’m listening."

"Ah... is that you, Rudeus? Where is Allen?"

At that moment, Roxy opened her eyes. She propped herself up, looked toward the door at Allen with a confused expression, and said, "Oh... Allen, you’re here... Good morning. Thank you for last night. If you hadn't called me this morning, I wouldn't have even known when I went to bed last night... Though I do remember we were at the table... Anyway, I haven't slept this comfortably in a long time... You really helped me out. And you even helped me heat up bathwater this morning..."

*‘Mama Blue, do you even realize what you’re saying right now?!’*

A giant "DANGER" sign appeared on Allen’s forehead. *‘Save me, save me!’*

The next moment, Rudeus’s roar shook the Greyrat household.

"ALLEN!!!"

"Listen to me! First of all, she’s wearing clothes! Wait! Wait!"

"Water Ball!"

"Flowing Sword Style Secret Technique! Hey, hey, hey, wait! The bed is wet! Roxy is still on the bed!"

"Water... huh?"

The two of them stiffened and turned their necks in unison to look at Roxy, who was drenched from head to toe by the diverted water ball. She hugged her head and blinked, still too groggy to realize what had just happened.

Just then, Zenith and Lilia, having already been informed by Allen that Roxy had returned, rushed to the doorway. The former took in the sight of the soaking wet Roxy, then looked at the two "children" whose faces were a magnificent shade of distress. She narrowed her eyes, clenched her fists, and squeezed words out through her teeth with terrifying gentleness.

"Allen, Rudeus, you two... seem to have a very close relationship... it’s truly reassuring..."

—

At breakfast, Allen and Rudeus sat at the table with panda-like dark circles under their eyes, behaving very obediently. Zenith was still furious and kept muttering.

"Before Allen came, I always thought Rudeus was so easy to manage, such a well-behaved child. It turns out it was just because he lacked a peer to play with... Heh... And you, Allen, you’re four years older than Rudeus, why are you acting like a little child too..."

"We're sorry!" they said in unison.

The two, who were actually the same age, exchanged a silent glance and turned simultaneously to look at Roxy across the table. She had gone from being a guest who wanted a bath to someone who had been forced to take one, and was now drinking tea with an air of "seeing no evil, hearing no evil." Only the faint hint of a smile at the corner of her eyes betrayed her true thoughts.

Paul, on the other hand, laughed happily and said, "Since Roxy happens to be passing by, stay for a few more days. We’ll clear out the storage room next door for... uh, for Allen to stay in."

Roxy glanced at Allen. This was the alibi they had coordinated that morning—partly to avoid making the Paul family worry, and partly because Rudeus did not yet know Allen’s true identity. In Roxy’s mind, Rudeus was still young, and it was better for him not to know about these family feuds.

Allen was simply worried that if Rudeus knew he was Eris’s brother, he might accidentally let it slip later when he reached his teenage tutoring years in Roa. Exposing his identity and drawing James into the mix didn't matter much, but triggering a butterfly effect could lead to a massive disaster.

"But to have your money stolen by a pickpocket and have to walk here on foot, arriving in the middle of the night... hmm, that sounds exactly like something Roxy would do."

Roxy choked on her tea, and Zenith naturally reached out to pat her back. Roxy clutched her chest and glared at Allen with half-closed eyes.

This pathetic excuse was also thought up by Allen, who claimed it fit her character...

*‘What is that supposed to mean... am I really that careless?’*

"Oh, dear, being careless is part of what makes Roxy so lovable~"

"Oh... I suppose that's true."

Roxy: ...
Allen: ...

Rudeus watched Allen and Roxy exchanging glances and revealed a sorrowful expression.

*‘How does this guy Allen have such good luck with the opposite sex... I’m so jealous... My God... I must get revenge on Allen... Wait, hold on...’*

He froze, his eyes widening as he looked at Allen.

*‘He has the goods on me regarding the shrine... Damn it... that insidious man!’*

Allen felt Rudeus’s burning gaze, but he couldn't say anything more and could only helplessly cover his forehead. As he shoveled food into his mouth, he felt as if he had forgotten something... but he couldn't recall it for the life of him.

Allen shook his head and continued eating.

*‘...Whatever, it’ll come to me eventually.’*