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“Reshi?”

Eugene tilted his head, looking at me curiously. It was obvious to anyone that our hand-holding was awkward, so an explanation seemed necessary.

‘But I can’t just say it’s because of a quest.’

If it were Axel or Bael, I would have been honest and waited for time to pass. But right now, it was Eugene in front of me. I couldn’t start rambling about quests to someone who had no idea about the strange reincarnation subscription I was involved in.

‘But it’s weird to just stay like this without saying anything.’

I reflexively grabbed his hand again, but it had only been three minutes. To complete the task, I had to keep holding Eugene’s hand for over 20 more minutes. So, I couldn’t just stay silent and hope the time would pass.

Progress: 4 minutes / 30 minutes

I glanced at the air, and the warning had disappeared, leaving only the progress bar floating there.

“Hmmm…?”

Following my gaze, Eugene looked at the empty space, blinking in confusion. It was a natural reaction. Unlike me, Eugene couldn’t see anything.

“No way…”

Eugene’s expression quickly shifted to one of concern after blinking a few more times.

“You’re not sick, are you?”

He tried to pull his hand away as if to check my condition.

“No, wait!”

I hurriedly gripped Eugene’s hand tighter and shook my head.

“Um… could you just stay like this for a moment? I need you, Eugene.”

More specifically, I need your hand!

I looked at him with as much earnestness as I could muster, and the worry on his face gave way to a look of bewilderment.

“Well, if Reshi needs it, I’ll give it to you. Whatever it is.”

I could feel Eugene’s pretty eyes scrutinizing me thoroughly.

“But if something’s wrong, you have to tell me.”

“There’s nothing wrong.”

“Alright, then.”

Eugene smiled broadly, looking reassured. That smile made me feel uneasy again.

“You shouldn’t just accept everything people ask of you like this, Eugene.”

“Haha.”

Eugene chuckled as if finding my stern warning amusing.

“You’re just like a parent, Reshi.”

“In spirit, I’m not so different from one. You’re too soft-hearted, Eugene, and it worries me. You’ll be an adult soon, starting work and all that…”

With his personality, it was clear that he wouldn’t be able to refuse others’ requests and would accept them all.

“Do you even know how to say no?”

“Do you really think I don’t? How young do you think I am, Reshi?”

“I don’t think you’re a child. I just think you’re overly kind.”

To be honest, even calling him kind wasn’t quite right. Bael was kind and good-hearted too, but I never worried that he wouldn’t be able to turn someone down.

‘Eugene isn’t just kind…’

He felt more like a puppet without free will… Maybe it was that bleak aura around him that made me even more concerned.

“Liar. You do think of me as a child,” Eugene muttered, his shoulders slumping as he pouted.

“You’re holding my hand like this because you think I’m a kid, aren’t you?”

He stared at our joined hands and lightly brushed his thumb across the back of mine. As his soft fingers grazed my skin, a strange sensation traveled up my arm and settled in my chest. The tingling feeling was utterly unfamiliar.

“And I’m even older than you, Reshi,” Eugene murmured, almost to himself, yet his voice echoed loudly in my ears.

I swallowed unconsciously. Eugene’s gaze, which had been fixed on our intertwined hands, slowly rose until it met mine. The usual casual exchange of glances now felt oddly heated.

“I want to grow up quickly, to become an adult who Reshi can’t treat like a child.”

Eugene raised our clasped hands to his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the back of my hand. The unexpected sensation made my shoulders jolt, and his eyes curved gently in response.

“Do I feel a bit more like an adult now?”

“T-this isn’t what I meant! I meant you should learn to say no!” I stammered, shaking my head as I pulled our hands back down.

I glanced at the floating progress bar again…

Progress: 20 minutes / 30 minutes

‘There’s still 10 minutes left?’

How could 30 minutes feel so long? 

‘I should have given up after the first 3 minutes and gone to hold Axel’s hand instead…’

Then this weird atmosphere wouldn’t have happened! But of course, it was too late for regrets.

As I nervously darted my eyes around, Eugene let out a small laugh and leaned in closer, narrowing the distance between us. He was so close now that I could see my reflection in his eyes.

“Alright. If Reshi insists, I’ll work hard on saying no. I’ll make sure to clearly refuse things I don’t want to do.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

His answer came easily, but it didn’t sound convincing at all. I squinted at Eugene and said,

“Then let’s practice. I’ll ask for something, and you try refusing it.”

“Okay.”

“Good.”

I cleared my throat, deliberately raised my chin a bit arrogantly, and spoke.

“Eugene, come to my room today and clean my desk.”

“Alright. I’ll do it.”

“?”

I was stunned, my mouth falling open as Eugene nodded immediately.

“Wait… Weren’t you supposed to refuse?”

“I was supposed to refuse if it was something I didn’t want to do.”

“Do you like cleaning?”

“If it’s Reshi’s desk, I’ll do it gladly.”

“…”

We were back to square one.

As the frustration welled up again, I stomped my foot and began giving Eugene a lecture. But then, a new message window popped up in front of me.

[Message from Heaven]

(Notification) Hold hands firmly and sit facing each other with a partner for over 30 minutes, 30 minutes have passed!

[Message from Heaven]

(Notification) Quest ‘Without Asking or Questioning!’ Success!

The ‘Goddess of Love’ says:

However, regardless of the reaction from the ‘Goddess of Love’, you have successfully completed the quest conditions.

[Message from Heaven]

(Notification) Card Return Instructions

Please open your card inventory and return one card.

Returns cannot be reversed, so please choose carefully.

If you do not select a card to return within the time limit, a random card will be returned to Heaven.

– Time limit: 1 hour

‘Phew, done!’

The ‘Goddess of Love’ who gave the quest looked very dissatisfied, but whatever.

I quickly released Eugene’s hand and took a step back. Eugene, who was looking at my now free hand with somewhat regretful eyes, looked up and asked me,

“So, we’re still going to the main hall together, Reshi?”

“Yeah, sure. I promised to guide you.”

Then Eugene started walking with a broad smile, looking relieved. I quickly followed beside him. Right, left, right again. The annex of Elpinard where the guests stayed was quite complex. It was intentionally designed to be difficult so that outsiders couldn’t easily understand the interior.

‘But…’ Eugene was walking forward without hesitation, choosing the correct directions. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but after choosing the right path three times in a row, I became very suspicious.

“Euugeenee…”

“Yes?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t know the way? We’re walking side by side, and even before I can speak, you’re heading the right way?”

“Ah.” Eugene let out a short sigh, as if he hadn’t thought of that, then smiled again and said, “Maybe I have a good sense like you, Reshi?”

“……” Of course, he would say that! “You’re lying about not knowing the way! You memorized the paths before and still remember them all!”

“…I refuse.”

“What?”

“I refuse to respond.”

Eugene shrugged his shoulders confidently. “Like you said, Reshi. If you dislike something, it’s necessary to refuse clearly.”

“But now…” I was so astonished I couldn’t respond properly, my mouth agape, so Eugene naturally grabbed my hand and pulled me along.

“How is it? Am I good at refusing? So there’s no need to worry.”