You! Don’t Press that Button! - Chap 105

With that firm resolve, I didn’t avert my gaze from Doel’s eyes. Though his expression remained fierce with furrowed brows, I knew it was all out of concern for me, so I wasn’t frightened at all.

We stared at each other for quite a while without saying a word. Neither Doel nor I would budge from our positions. As I looked at Doel’s deeply furrowed brow, I creased my own in response. He let out a sigh and lowered his head.

“Ah…”

Doel fidgeted with the fingers I was holding and then raised his head sharply.

“Alright. Fine. I’ll tell you.”

“Really? Thank you!”

Yes! My eyes widened as I broke into a big smile, and Doel’s eyes softened into gentle crescents as he looked at me. Then, opening his mouth wide, he enunciated clearly:

“But I’m coming with you.”

Huh?

“…Don’t tell me you were planning to send me alone?”

Oh, come on. I didn’t think he’d assume that. Did he really think I’d go alone into those deep mountains? This is why humans… Tsk tsk. I narrowed my eyes and shook my head, causing Doel’s eyebrows to furrow in displeasure.

With a hint of playfulness, I opened my eyes innocently, and his hands, which had been on my shoulders, moved to my cheeks.

“Ow, ow!”

My cheeks ended up thoroughly kneaded by Doel. To put it kindly, they were kneaded, but to be frank, they were abused. I placed a small mirror on the table and turned my head this way and that to examine my cheeks, which had swollen and turned red.

“That’s too much.”

I pouted and rubbed my cheeks with my warm palms. The culprit who had done this to my face showed no sign of guilt, still narrowing his eyes and looking at me with dissatisfaction.

Tch. It was just a little joke, and he had to go and pinch my cheeks so roughly. I grumbled inwardly and lowered my gaze. If I said one more word, I might end up with a small lump on my forehead. After cautiously reading the atmosphere, I opened my mouth.

“What should we tell Karhan?”

“Well… Don’t you think it’s best to just tell him the truth?”

“No, no! I’m worried about Karhan.”

He already looked like he had a headache from dealing with countless documents; I didn’t want to add my problems on top of that. I slammed both hands on the table, showing a firm attitude. Doel sighed, his face full of things he wanted to say.

“Do you have a plan in mind?”

He asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Um…”

Right. What excuse should I give Karhan to get permission to go out? Even if I said I was going with Doel, I didn’t think Karhan would easily allow it. Lost in deep thought, I tilted my head and stroked my chin with my thumb.

I had to make Karhan have no choice but to let me go. In that case… there was one way.

“I guess I’ll have to use my handsome face to seduce him.”

“Pffft!”

That was refreshing.

Doel, who had been busy gulping down tea, sprayed the liquid from his mouth. He was so surprised that he hurriedly got up, grabbed some tissues from the corner, and started dabbing at my face.

“Cough, s-sorry.”

He apologized to me with a small cough, his throat seemingly sore. I shook my head and snatched the tissue from Doel’s hand to wipe myself.

“It’s okay. It was kind of refreshing.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Doel apologized again as he returned to his seat. The hair that had been gently swaying above my forehead now decorated it uniquely, like strands of seaweed. After absorbing most of the moisture with the tissue, it soon started to become fluffy again.

Perhaps because of the refreshing shower, my worried heart calmed down a bit. For some reason, I felt a groundless confidence that I could now get Karhan’s permission for an overnight stay.

“Do you want to come along, Doel?”

“I… well. Wouldn’t it be less effective if I went? That… seduction plan…”

Doel stumbled over the word ‘seduction.’ I guess he’s shy about these things because he hasn’t dated before. I put on a mature smile and gently shook my head. His brown eyes, full of things he wanted to say, trembled slightly as they looked at me.

Can’t be helped. This adult world is for adults only. I patted Doel’s shoulder.

“Alright. I’ll succeed and come back, so pack your bags and wait. You trust your big bro, right?”

Despite appearances, I’ve done all sorts of things before. Yesterday was quite something too. I winked at him, and Doel nodded slowly.

After sending the trusting Doel back to his quarters, I walked confidently towards Karhan’s office. Surprisingly, as if he knew I was coming, Karhan was sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room instead of at his desk. My mood soared when I saw that Luzel wasn’t sitting across from him.

Ahem, I cleared my throat as I stepped in, and Karhan turned his head to look at me.

Seduction. I need to succeed in seducing him. Moistening my dry throat with saliva, I sat down next to Karhan. The plush sofa sank beneath me.

“Were you resting?”

“I’m a bit tired.”

Karhan said with a voice tinged with exhaustion. He must be very tired. It seems it would be better not to bring up the issue of Asmil’s blood to Karhan right now. Maybe I can resolve it on my own without Karhan’s help. If that happens, I should surprise Karhan with the news. Ah, come to think of it, I haven’t gotten him a birthday present yet… I absolutely must go out without Karhan.

“Are you very tired?”

“Not enough to worry about. Why did you come?”

Karhan’s large, warm hand covered mine. His firm hand wriggled and then intertwined our fingers. Come to think of it, Karhan’s hands are quite large. Even though I’m a man too, Karhan’s hand completely envelops mine.

I stared intently at the sight, which looked as if my hand had been devoured by a carnivorous plant. Then I raised my free hand to compare it with my other hand, and the difference seemed even more extreme. The back of my hand was smooth and well-formed, while Karhan’s hand had rough, protruding veins and joints.

After observing closely, I opened my mouth slightly and said:

“Can I go out with Doel tomorrow? It might take a few days.”

As I said this, I glanced up to gauge his reaction. As expected, he was looking down at me with a furrowed brow. From that expression, I could tell he had no intention of giving permission.

Hmm… But I really need to go out. I stubbornly closed my lips and rolled my eyes to the side, staying still. Karhan then used his other hand to grasp my chin and turn it towards him. His fingers, which had been pressing firmly on my sturdy chin, moved up to squeeze my cheeks from the sides, making my lips pucker like a fish’s mouth.

“What are you up to?”

Even after making me look ridiculous, his tone was still short, indicating his mood hadn’t improved.

“Just, you know… nothing much. Going out for fun?”

“May I ask why that’s a question?”

“Ah, no reason.”

I shook my head gently with my face still held, and Karhan’s eyes looked at me as if to say, “Oh really?” His navy eyebrows shot up, urging me to say more.

“Don’t look at me like that…”

I have my pride too, you know. I gathered my fish-like lips in one spot and moved them discontentedly, but the hand that had been holding my cheeks suddenly pinched my lips.

“Mwha.”

With my lips pinched between his fingers, I couldn’t speak properly. Instead, I expressed my opinion by wrinkling my nose, causing Karhan’s eyes to narrow. Finally, he released my lips and turned to sit up straight.

I stared into empty space for a moment before sneaking a glance at Karhan’s face. He was leaning his head against the plush sofa backrest with his eyes closed, still holding my hand tightly. How could I manage to go outside?

Though my lips were free, my fingers were still trapped. I wiggled them, gently scratching the back of Karhan’s hand. Karhan spoke with a hint of laughter in his voice:

“It tickles, so stop moving.”

“Huh?”

I tilted my head to look at Karhan and saw the corners of his mouth curled up in a hook-like smile.

Oh no. Being told not to move made a rebellious feeling rise from deep within me, urging me to misbehave. My eyes, which had been wide open, curved into deep crescents as I smiled. Karhan’s eyes mirrored mine, curving beautifully.

As I wiggled our intertwined fingers playfully again, he tightened his grip on my hand.

“Karhan. You’re quite ticklish, aren’t you?”

My voice came out cheerfully, feeling as if I’d discovered a weakness in this seemingly perfect man. Now that I knew he was sensitive to tickling, I needed to change my strategy. Instead of seduction, I’d become a tickle terrorist.

With a mischievous grin on my lips, I shook my arm free from his large hand. I finished preparing to threaten Karhan, wiggling all ten fingers like a demon. Then, immediately turning my body towards Karhan sitting beside me, I said in a wicked voice:

“Give me permission for my overnight stay obediently!”

I furrowed my eyebrows fiercely and put on a grave expression. Karhan looked at me with a sly face before raising the corners of his mouth in a cool smile.

“And what happens if I don’t allow it?”

“I don’t want to use rough methods between close friends.”

You’ll have to prepare yourself. At my final words, Karhan’s lips curved even more, holding back a deep laugh. He looked at me with challenging eyes, as if daring me to try. Oh yeah! I’ll turn those confident silver-gray eyes into a mess.

“I won’t show mercy even if you regret it.”

I wrinkled my nose slightly like a fierce beast. I used my stiff fingers to undo the buttons of Karhan’s vest one by one. After spreading it wide open, I placed my hands on Karhan’s sides.

Still not surrendering? I raised my eyes to look at Karhan, but he was still looking down at me with an intrigued expression. This guy, he’s so stubborn. Shaking my head, I couldn’t hide my lament for the cruel situation about to unfold.