Chapter 188: Promotion
"Shido-san," Rumia called out as she walked toward him, her voice laced with concern.
Although she trusted Shido and knew just how strong he was, she couldn’t help but worry, especially now that he was going up against an army of tens of thousands of undead.
"Careful!" Shido said quickly as Rumia stumbled slightly. He caught her in his arms before she could fall, steadying her with ease. Rumia’s face was flushed, both shy and quietly happy in his embrace.
"...Sorry." she murmured, but made no effort to pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer, allowing herself to feel the warmth of his presence.
Her emotions had started to shift over time. What began as a relationship of master and summon slowly deepened. Over the past three months together, that bond had grown, first into friendship, and now... something more. Strange, unfamiliar and fluffy feelings had begun to blossom in her heart for the man who had once simply summoned her into this world.
Although their time together hadn’t been very long, Rumia already knew she could trust Shido. She wanted to stay by his side for as long as she could. Deep down, she also understood that a man like Shido wouldn’t be bound to just one woman, but she didn’t mind. As long as she had a place in his heart, that was enough for her. If possible, she wanted Sistine to also have the same man as her so they could monopolize him together.
"Why are you apologizing?" Shido asked gently. "You were a great help earlier. I was able to defeat all those undead swiftly because of your support. So don’t apologize. You are strong, Rumia."
He reached out and patted her head, his touch gentle and reassuring. His words weren’t just comfort, he really meant them. Rumia had been an invaluable support, offering buffs, healing, and even well-timed distractions during the battle.
"Mn!" Rumia nodded, her eyes shining up with joy. Even if part of her knew he was consoling her, she treasured every word. That was more than enough. With renewed determination, she decided to work hard in the future to help Shido better.
"Well, let’s head back and report the quest completion," Shido said, releasing Rumia from his arms.
"Ah! Un!" Rumia nodded quickly. "You’re going to be promoted to Adamantite after this, right, Shido-san?" she added, her voice filled with excitement. The thought made her genuinely happy.