I Became the Burden of a Conscienceless Party

82 – The Demon King and Lilith (8)

Demon King and Lilith (8)

Esmeralda was watching the bonfire with a relieved heart.

Nothing had changed, but for some reason I felt a little relieved.

Yeah, maybe it’s because of Jim’s stupid but consistent attitude.

The enormous amount of stress that has accumulated in a short period of time recently. And the release of it. What I had forgotten because of it.

Esmeralda realized.

‘Oh, but this kid right now… … .’

Jim said he was going to the bathroom for a moment and never came back.

Considering that Jim’s purpose was to escape, he shouldn’t have been sent alone.

I should have at least kept a minimum level of surveillance, but in the relaxed atmosphere, I carelessly let it go.

‘If I get caught for this… … .’

A drop of cold sweat runs down Esmeralda’s cheek.

It’s already painful to be watched by colleagues who have been suspicious of her recently, so let’s see if Jim escapes while she’s guarding him.

There’s a good chance he’ll be suspicious of her.

They will be watching her every move, suspecting that she has stolen it.

Honestly, it’s okay to be watched. She’s innocent. But what comes after that is the inevitable rampage and party destruction.

Tina may have some room for negotiation, but it’s clear that Millia and Irina will definitely leave the warrior party and go find their luggage.

‘I have to find it… … !’

It’s okay so far. I haven’t been caught.

Esmeralda jumped up from her seat with firm resolve.

“Phew, I’m back.”

I sat down again.

Fortunately, it seems to have been a blessing.

Jim must have had a conscience because he didn’t do something like run away after shaking her up so much.

‘No, what the hell are you talking about? I wasn’t shaken. Why would I be shaken by that kid? Absolutely not!’

Esmeralda shook her head quickly from side to side, as if denying to herself the reason for her relief.

Beep beep───!

As Esmeralda was wasting her time denying and cursing herself, the magical tool wrapped around her wrist began to make a sound and glow faintly.

“Oh, it’s time.”

Esmeralda muttered in frustration at the fact that her worries had lasted so long and headed towards the tent.

Now it’s time to wake up Irina, who is next in line.

“Irina, wake up. It’s time to change shifts.”

“Haam… … . Yes.”

Irina woke up in a daze at Esmeralda’s call and crawled out of the tent.

It was the second round, which was the most difficult, so it was natural that she was in a daze and couldn’t come to her senses.

However, the fact that she got up right away after waking up shows how steady her daily life is.

Esmeralda waited for Irina to come to her senses, secretly thinking that it would be easier for her to be next. She wanted to lie down right away, but at least she had to wait until Irina came to her senses so that her night watch duty would be over.

“what?”

And it happened faster than I thought.

This is because Irina, who was staggering out of the tent, caught sight of Jim standing next to Esmeralda.

“… … .”

Irina glared at Esmeralda with a suspicious gaze.

Esmeralda had to calm down the anger rising deep inside her as she saw the gaze that seemed to indicate that she was the most suspicious person even though she pretended not to be.

“They say he woke up in the middle of the night. Nothing happened, so don’t think of it that way.”

“I wonder if that’s really true… … .”

“Believe it or not, that’s Irina’s mind, but would you step aside for now? I’m going to sleep now.”

Esmeralda waved her hand as if she was having a hard time dealing with Irina, who was blocking the entrance to the tent, and kicked her out.

“Oh, I should go back to sleep too.”

And then Jim moved, following Esmeralda.

For a moment, Irina debated whether to stop Jim and ask him to stay with her, or to let the tired Jim go.

“Well, good night, Mr. Jim.”

However, she eventually decided to send Jim away. Although she wanted to ask him every single question about what he did with Esmeralda, that was too greedy.

Irina knew full well that Jim’s favor towards her would only decrease, so she had no choice but to let Jim go.

On that quiet night when the two people had disappeared, Irina sat quietly in front of the campfire, holding a poker and poking the firewood in the campfire.

‘Should I have tried some skinship?’

The regret that came too late was shaking her heart.

***

As soon as Esmeralda entered the tent, she collapsed on her back.

My body wasn’t tired, but as always, my mind was tired.

Besides, I have to get up again later to watch over the luggage, so I need to get as much sleep as possible now.

However, the tent was only for four people. It wasn’t that small, but now there were outsiders named Lilith and Jim.

Esmeralda realized too late that the space would inevitably become cramped.

Yes, she knew. Hadn’t she taken turns lying down in order to appease Lilith and the other party members who had all been demanding to lie down next to Jim?

So now that Irina is out, she has to fill the void.

Who should be sitting next to her?

“It’s narrow. But still, isn’t this part of the fun of traveling?”

“… … .”

Esmeralda couldn’t help but feel burdened by the face of Jim that was right in front of her.

By the way, why are you looking this way? Esmeralda turned her head and looked up at the sky, but she couldn’t avoid the gaze she felt from the side.

Of course, Jim didn’t do anything.

I did not commit s*xual harassment and I am not having any bad thoughts right now.

It just feels like Esmeralda is awake and I’m watching her.

However, Esmeralda couldn’t help but feel burdened by such burdensome gazes, even if it was due to the troubles from before.

“Mr. Jim.”

“yes.”

“Irina might be lonely, so if you can’t sleep yet, why don’t you go out and talk?”

“Well, that makes sense.”

Jim agreed with Esmeralda. He was a popular man.

It would not be surprising if Irina became jealous, since she seemed to have spent time only with Esmeralda.

Esmeralda sighed at the strange self-consciousness, but since there was nothing particularly wrong with it, she said nothing.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

“Ah yes.”

Esmeralda was finally able to calm her pounding heart as she watched Jim’s back as he left the tent again.

***

Irina, who was blankly staring at the campfire, turned her head when she felt a presence behind her.

“ah.”

And then he laughed bashfully.

That’s because the luggage that I had put in while sleeping came out again.

No matter what, Irina loves Jim. Whether he is a god or not, isn’t he someone to be thankful for just breaking her stubbornness?

That’s why Irina was happy just being with Jim.

Of course, I would be happier if there were no more trash around me trying to carry my luggage.

“Here, sit here.”

Irina patted the seat next to her and called out for luggage.

Jim sat down next to Irina, smiling faintly.

“… … .”

Irina just glanced at Jim’s face and smiled.

As usual, I didn’t even think about trying to charm him with words, or kidnapping him, or pouring holy water on him. I didn’t even think about using my divine powers.

After all, she was just a girl of that age when it came to love.

Instead, Irina waved her hands as boldly as she could.

“Ahem!”

“Ah, I see what you mean.”

Jim quickly figured out what Irina meant when she coughed in vain and gave him a look, and he grabbed her hand that was close to his own.

Irina blushed and muttered quietly at the sight of Jim being unusually quick-witted today.

“Oh, I didn’t tell you to put your finger in it… … .”

“Oh, excuse me.”

Even as he said that, Jim did not let go of Irina’s hand.

Instead, he just made excuses as if he was joking.

“But it’s still cold, so let’s stay like this a little longer.”

“Is that so?”

Jim is strangely adept at slapping women today.

No one thought it was strange, because everyone who should have thought it was strange was possessed.

“Hehe… … huff! Hehe… … .”

Irina repeatedly tense her facial muscles, which were loosening on their own.

It was a dreamlike time.

Today, Jim’s sinister side was not there and he was showing her the steady side she had only dreamed of.

Irina was happy.

Just holding hands makes my head heat up.

Could that be why Irina was gradually closing the distance between herself and Jim?

I moved little by little, just a distance where my fingertips could barely touch, until my shoulders were touching.

Now, if you just muster up the courage, you can look forward to the next distance.

But that wasn’t the case.

A time to silently watch the flames of a campfire burning at a distance where our shoulders touch each other.

Irina felt like that alone was compensation for the jealousy she had felt watching Liris that day.

Beep beep───!

And then a sound breaks the silence.

“ah…….”

Irina realized that this was the sound signaling the end of the night watch and let out a sound of regret.

I wondered if I could just pretend not to know any longer, but Irina saw Jim getting up from his seat and eventually had no choice but to get up with him.

“Then let’s wake up Lady Milia.”

“Yes, let’s do that… … .”

Irina nodded with regret, but then felt herself being dragged away and looked back at her hand.

Jim was still holding her hand. Irina felt embarrassed, her lips pursed as she thought about walking together while holding each other’s hands, forgetting that it had been like that all along.

But, I don’t let go of your hand.

I just wished this moment could last a little longer.

However, despite her wishes, the distance to the tent was less than two seconds. In the end, Irina woke up Milia with a regretful heart.

“Lady Milia. It’s your turn to be on night watch.”

“huh…….”

At Irina’s call, Milia also woke up with a shaky feeling.

She looked even worse than Irina. Irina was just half-asleep, but Milia was frowning.

She got up from her seat like a ghost, frowning as if she had a headache.

“… … .”

And the first thing she saw was the worst scene.

This is a scene where none other than Jim and Irina are holding each other’s hands.

Milia stared blankly at him for a moment, then quickly approached him with her usual expressionless face and grabbed Jim’s free hand.

“Oh, by the way, I forgot. Didn’t you say that if you came to me instead of Tina at the ruins, you’d let me touch your chest?”

And without hesitation, she guided Jim’s hand towards her chest.

“ruler.”

“Oh oh……!”

The utopia finally reached.

Today, Jim’s face, which had been unusually sweet, begins to show a clear expression of desire once again.

Overwhelming sense of volume.

The moment it fell into my hand. No, it would be closer to say that my hand was sucked in.

Even if he stretched his hand out as wide as possible, he couldn’t reach the entire expanse, so Jim’s other arm naturally let go of Irina’s hand.

“Ugh… … It’ll hurt if you hold on so tightly, Jim. A little more gently… … .”

Milia blushed and looked at Irina with a cold expression.

There was a clear mockery on his profile.

Milia’s special measure after discovering Irina holding hands with Jim.

A warning that only she can give in a warrior party.

“… … Are you going to try it now?”

“What? You can’t do something like this. Someone like me… … Ugh, I’m not that big.”

At that moment, the atmosphere in front of the warrior party’s tent was surprisingly cold.