His gaze is fixed on the pervert’s terrified face, so I don’t think he’s aware that I’m gripping the perv’s arm with so much force that his bones are creaking. But my white-hot fury and urge to destroy the bastard quickly subsides.
Because this guy, this guy right next to me, is blisteringly hot! He’s blond, tanned, and his beautiful ice-blue eyes look pretty grim while he’s glaring at the molester, but I can still tell his face is well-proportioned and handsome. Even though he’s slender, his muscles are toned and his pecs are perfect. And most of all, he called me a ‘defenseless girl’!
When I let go of the molester’s arm, the handsome blond twists his grip harder and steps forward as if to protect me.
“Oi, damn it! That hurts! What are you doing?! Coming out of nowhere?! And hey, this woman’s not defenseless!” the pervert protests.
So rude. Just being a molester is rude, but his words are beyond rude, too. He’s the ultimate gross bad guy.
My hot rescuer doesn’t bat an eye at the molester’s lies, and releases him so curtly that the molester falls on his butt.
“You scoundrel! How dare you! Why don’t you face me?” The molester’s friend steps forward, but as soon as he sees the hot guy’s face, he pales and freezes in place. “It’s you? The Gold Lion?!”
‘Gold Lion’?
“I think you should leave before you get hurt,” the hot guy warns them.
The two losers look at each other, then scurry off, yelping “We’re sorry!”
What? Why’d they react like that? Is the hot guy famous or something? Yeah, he’s so cool, he has to be famous. Maybe he’s an idol? If he is, I should get his autograph. Wait, no, I mean, yes, an autograph would be great, but right now I need to thank him!
“Excuse me! Thank you so much!”
“Please, don’t thank me. I couldn’t sit idly by and watch. Don’t worry about it…” The moment the hot guy turns to me, his eyes widen, and his face goes red.
“Wh-what’s wrong?” I ask, curious at the sudden change. His face is bright red!
“Oh! Uh, um, nothing. I’m fine.” He shakes his head. He doesn’t look fine to me, but regardless, he recovers enough to ask, “Anyway, are you all right? You’re not hurt?” When he was angry, he seemed more mature, but now that he has a boyish smile on, he seems more youthful and awkward. Maybe one year older than me? Or close to my age, at least.
And he’s so hot. I bet he really is an idol! I need to get his autograph! I wanna shake his hand! “Yes! I’m fine.”
“A young lady like you shouldn’t be alone somewhere like this. Bad things can happen at the Guild.”
“Oh, um, I’m not alone.”
“Sakurako! What happened?!” Just as I’m about to point out that I’m with someone, Kazuya rushes up, flustered. Glancing around, I see that the ruckus has drawn a lot of attention. Whoops. All eyes are on us.
For some reason, Kazuya shoves himself between me and the blond and stares him down. Oh, no. Does Kazuya think the idol’s a baddie?!
Down, boy!
He’s just a very kind, hot idol! “Kazuya, hey! You’ve got it wrong. He saved me from a drunk.”
“What drunk?” Kazuya turns to me.
The hot guy cuts in. “…Good. You have someone with you.”
“Yes, um, but thank you so much! For helping me.” And for calling me a defenseless girl!
“It was my pleasure. If you don’t mind, may I ask your name? I’m Luke. I’m an adventurer with the Evenfall Lions party.”
Oooh, his name is Luke! And he’s an adventurer, so probably not an idol. Makes sense. If there are no TVs, how could there be idols? He was just so cool that I got mixed up. Now that I know he’s not famous, I feel more at ease and can look him in the eye again.
“I’m Sakurako! I’m an adventurer, too. Although I haven’t been on an adventure yet.”
“You are?! You’re an adventurer? Does that mean you are, too?” Luke turns to Kazuya.
Kazuya has been watching us warily this whole time. “Yeah, what’s it to you?”
Aw. I wish he wouldn’t come off scary like that.
Luckily, Luke brushes it off and looks at our outfits without judgment. “But your clothes are cloth, aren’t they?” Actually, no, he looks slightly worried. “Won’t it be hard to go out on an adventure dressed like that?”
“We won’t set out like this. Not that it’s got anything to do with you.”
“Kazuya! Don’t be like that!”
Kazuya looks down at me, seriously grumpy. He’s freaking me out!
“What’s all this, then? Luke! What are you up to?” Lo and behold, a flushed woman with a huge chest and a flagon in one hand drapes herself over Luke from behind.
Both me and Kazuya reel in surprise. You would, too. Because she’s wearing nothing but a bra and panties—no, a bikini? Lord knows why, but she’s in a bikini! With nothing but a black cape over the top?!
Her blond hair is luxuriously long and curly, and her eyes are a clear, pale purple like amethyst crystals. She’s a stunner.
And her big breasts are pressed against Luke!
“Nothing much. I just helped this girl who was being harassed by some ruffians, and it turns out she’s an adventurer, too.”
“Is she, now? And then what, you fell like a sack of bricks for her? That’s our Luke!”
“Don’t tease me! Ugh, you stink of booze!” Luke tries to shake her off, but she doesn’t budge.
She looks us up and down and smiles. “Well, well. Aren’t you two as cute as buttons! Tell me, what’re your jobs?”
“Um, I’m a cook. And Kazuya’s a merchant.” I answer for Kazuya, who’s still in shock at the sight of the bikini-clad woman. Her smile widens. She disentangles herself from Luke and steps closer to us.
Wow. Yep, it’s a bikini, all right. That’s all she’s wearing. A cape over a bikini.
“Perfect! Why don’t you join our party? We’re called the Evenfall Lions. We’ll teach you how to adventure. Leave. It. To. Us!” she says with a suggestive wink.