Chapter 32: Assistance from Pandora!
Roy supported Amatsuki Toki as they entered the cabin. The absence of sunlight immediately made the room feel cooler and more comfortable.
Guiding her to the bedside, Roy helped her sit down before climbing onto the bed himself to open the window, letting in a gentle breeze. The air that flowed in made the space feel fresher.
"Lie down and rest for a while. I'll get you some water," Roy said, then stepped out of the room to gather what he needed—a basin, towel, and a cup.
Ever since acquiring Linlin's talent, Roy's body had grown incredibly resilient. He hadn't been sick or injured once, but he still remembered basic first-aid measures from his past life.
"Alright," Toki replied softly. She lay down obediently but shifted after a moment, finding a more comfortable position on her side.
In this world, even with superhuman powers, people still had normal physical limits. And when it came to caring for women, Roy knew these small gestures mattered.
One day, if Toki became accustomed to his attention and care—if that warmth became something she expected—then she would no longer be far from falling for him.
After all, when someone starts feeling uneasy the moment you leave… that's when you've already succeeded.
A short while later, Roy returned with a basin of cold water and a glass of lightly salted water, placing them on the small table near the bed.
He stirred the salt into the cup and glanced at her. People suffering from heatstroke needed to replenish both water and salt—basic knowledge, nothing special.
"Lie down and rest. You've got heatstroke, so don't move around too much," Roy said, dipping a towel into the cool water and wringing it out.
"Mhm…" Toki nodded, lying still.
Roy looked at her pink kimono-style outfit and frowned slightly. Her upper body was tightly covered, which must have been unbearable in the heat. The lower half—short skirt and white thighs exposed—allowed better ventilation, though the thick orange shoes didn't help.
He sighed quietly to himself. Where exactly is the heat supposed to escape from?
"Here, wipe yourself," Roy said, placing the damp towel on her forehead. "It'll help cool you down."
"Oh~ Roy, won't you help your sister?" Toki murmured teasingly. "I feel dizzy and weak…"
"That's not appropriate…" Roy quickly deflected, handing her the cup. "Drink this. It'll help you recover faster. Sister Toki, your body's really fragile. You need to train more in the future."
"Alright, alright, I'll drink it. Stop scolding me," Toki said with a helpless smile. She folded the towel with one hand, knelt on the bed, and rested it on her legs. With both hands, she lifted the cup and took a few delicate sips.
She caught herself thinking how strange it was that she had already grown so comfortable around Roy. They'd only known each other for a short time, yet she trusted him as if they'd been together for years.
"Are you really not going to help me wipe? We already slept together, didn't we?"
"T-that's enough!" Roy's face flushed red as he turned sharply and left the room.
Slept together?!
They'd both been fully clothed! And she had just used him as a pillow!
Unbelievable—she was teasing him now.
Roy, the so-called "master of theory," almost lost his composure entirely. Some theorists, after all, had no real-life experience.
"It seems even a young boy can get shy," Toki said with a soft laugh, watching his retreating figure. For some reason, she felt a little proud of herself.
She slowly untied her kimono, letting the silky fabric slide down. Taking the towel, she began gently wiping the sweat from her body. Cool water glided over her smooth collarbone, then down her sides, easing the burning heat.
Wipe wherever it's hot, she thought faintly.
Outside the room, Roy sat at the dining table with a newspaper in hand, pretending to read.
Just then, Pandora floated in through the window, its small fiery form glowing faintly. "It's hot today, isn't it?" the flame spirit said playfully.
"Yeah, a little," Roy answered casually.
To him, heat barely mattered. Even Pandora's fire couldn't burn him now. His problem wasn't physical heat—it was the kind that came from being too close to someone, the kind that made your thoughts start wandering.
"Hehehe~ why not take advantage of this chance?" Pandora teased, flashing a mischievous grin. "Hot weather, shared cabin—it's practically fate!"
Roy frowned. "Wait… where were you earlier?"
"Hehe, nowhere special! I just flew around for a bit. Didn't do anything!" Pandora quickly said, feigning innocence before darting away with suspicious speed.
Roy narrowed his eyes, glancing toward the bedroom door, then sighed. Something wasn't adding up.
...
Earlier, while the giants were watching and laughing, Pandora had been doing the same—but unlike them, it decided to participate.
After observing Roy closely, Pandora had drawn one conclusion: Roy liked Toki.
He'd never acted this strange before—not with Linlin, Gerth, or anyone else.
So Pandora flew high into the clouds, where no one would notice. There, it expanded into a blazing orb of fire, radiating heat across the sky.
Moments later, the already hot weather became unbearable. The air shimmered, the temperature soared, and not long after—Toki fainted from heatstroke.
Pandora was thrilled.
It considered itself the "matchmaker among pirates."
Now, back at the cabin door, Pandora peeked inside and grinned. "Hehehe~ aren't you going to check on her? She might need your care…"
"Ahem. Get out," Roy muttered, glaring at it.
He had been about to check on Toki—to see if she needed more water or rest—but thanks to Pandora's meddling, he'd completely lost his timing.
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