Chapter 187: God’s Blessing: His Hand Rested on Ulysses’ Shoulder, Brushing Away the Frost and Dust

The temperature inside the dryer was nothing to an SSS-rank female Zerg who could withstand the heat of a planet's core. What truly made Ulysses' face burn was the male's shirt draped over him.

The doll's clothes had been removed and washed separately. Which meant that, at the moment, the only thing covering him was the male's shirt.

Fortunately, he was inside a sealed space, with no other Zerg around.

Suppressing his embarrassment, he cleaned himself up and stepped out of the bedroom.

Sitting at the desk, Ulysses barely managed to gather his thoughts. Carrying with him the lingering warmth transmitted through the doll, he resumed his work.

Remembering the latest update he had read earlier, he opened his light screen, skimmed through it quickly, and finally stopped at the signal sent by the Heavenly Garuda Emperor in the novel.

He immediately issued an order for the rescue forces to prioritize monitoring abnormal energy fluctuations, especially those matching Heavenly Garuda weapon signatures.

A thoughtful look flashed across Ulysses' silver-gray eyes.

If it truly was the Heavenly Garuda Emperor, then neither the rescue team nor the nearby military forces would be capable of bringing the male Zerg back.

He would have to go personally.

Which also meant leaving Capital Star.

Leaving the place closest to his god.

He had just been placed inside a warm dryer by his god, wrapped in his god's clothes. Ulysses immersed himself in that warmth, making it difficult to part with.

...

The next morning, An Ruo finally remembered the doll he had forgotten in the dryer.

He hurriedly took it out and stored the clothes inside his spatial button.

When the doll was first removed from the dryer, its skin was still its usual cool pale color. But after An Ruo held it in his hands and carried it back into the bedroom, it gradually turned pink again.

An Ruo looked at it curiously and guessed it was because of the change in lighting. The bedroom lights were warmer.

The doll wasn't wearing any clothes. On its chest were two tiny pink hearts.

An Ruo pressed one with his fingertip and rubbed it.

It felt slightly firmer there than elsewhere.

He absentmindedly kneaded them for a while before suddenly realizing exactly what he was doing. He immediately withdrew his hand, feeling a little guilty.

Fortunately, no Zerg would ever find out.

He dressed the doll in its little clothes and carefully fixed its hair.

Then he gently rubbed its exposed face and legs. The fine, short plush was wonderfully soft to the touch.

Leaning closer, he gave it a sniff.

It smelled nice.

The tip of his nose brushed against the doll's forehead, and his lips lightly touched its cheek.

Elsewhere, Ulysses, who was delivering a public address, paused ever so slightly.

Facing the official news cameras, he continued speaking without revealing anything on his face, though he had already forgotten what he had been saying.

Fortunately, nothing went wrong.

That soft, feather-light touch had felt like a kiss.

Ulysses could no longer wait.

Following the coordinates within his psychic domain, he went directly to the male's side.

An Ruo had just returned from performing Psychic Soothing when Ulysses suddenly appeared in his room, startling him.

"You..."

Before he could finish speaking, he was pulled into an embrace.

The female Zerg held him tightly, as though he had endured it for a very long time.

An Ruo's hand rested on his back, uncertain whether he should push him away.

"I'm sorry for visiting so abruptly..." Ulysses said quietly. "I'll be leaving Capital Star soon for the frontier. I couldn't wait any longer. I wanted to see you one more time."

The hand that had hesitated on his back, ready to push him away, instead settled into the embrace.

A flash of understanding and joy passed through Ulysses' lowered eyes.

He knew it.

This Lord had always been soft-hearted.

Even toward him, there was tenderness and reluctance to hurt him.

"I've missed you very much," Ulysses murmured.

What else could An Ruo do?

Faced with someone who was about to leave for such a distant frontier, all he could do was give him a proper hug.

He gently patted Ulysses' back, hoping to offer some comfort.

Neither of them spoke again.

They simply remained embracing each other, as though time itself had frozen.

Ulysses buried his face against the male, restraining himself while greedily breathing in his scent, wishing the embrace could last forever.

The hand resting on the male's back tightened, longing to caress him, yet forcing itself to remain still.

After taking one final deep breath of the male's faint fragrance, he quietly asked,

"That time... I was in the wrong. Have you forgiven me now?"

He didn't believe kissing him had been wrong.

He had simply moved too fast.

He should have slowed down, given the male more time, patiently weaving an inescapable web before gradually claiming him, possessing him while being possessed in return.

He still didn't know whether everything the male had done to him yesterday had been a reward... or a punishment.

But today's almost-kiss from the male had made him unable to restrain himself any longer.

An Ruo had never truly blamed Ulysses.

There was nothing to forgive.

He had been startled.

He had been a little upset.

But it hadn't really mattered.

It was more like... a joke between friends. Not something serious enough to make a big issue out of.

Faced with Ulysses' question, An Ruo couldn't be bothered explaining such a complicated train of thought. Just imagining how much he would have to say made him tired.

In the end, he simply said,

"I wasn't angry with you."

Hearing that, Ulysses turned his head slightly.

For a brief instant, his lips brushed across An Ruo's cheek.

Their eyes met.

Ulysses paused before carefully drawing back a little, lingering over the sensation left on his lips while making sure not to show it too obviously.

"Then... may I continue visiting you in the future?" he asked.

An Ruo nodded.

He had never forbidden Ulysses from coming to see him.

He had even specifically told him before that he could come directly to him whenever he needed anything.

Ulysses' fingertips twitched.

"May I invite you out again?"

"Sure."

An Ruo nodded, then hesitated before adding,

"But the frontier is too far away. I still have Psychic Soothing duties, so I can't go with you."

He thought Ulysses wanted to take him along.

After all, Ulysses looked so reluctant to part with him, as though he wanted to stay together forever.

"That's not what I meant..."

Ulysses explained,

"How could I possibly take you to suffer on the frontier? I'll only bring you to interesting and enjoyable places."

It sounded as though he already had plenty of future outings planned.

As someone with social anxiety, An Ruo was already beginning to feel the pressure.

But... if it was Ulysses...

He trusted that Ulysses would arrange everything properly, without packing the schedule too tightly or putting too much pressure on him.

So An Ruo nodded in agreement.

Only then did he realize Ulysses was still holding him.

The hand that had been resting on his back had quietly shifted to his waist.

He raised his hand and patted Ulysses' shoulder, signaling for him to let go.

You've hugged enough, haven't you?

Time to let go.

Only then did Ulysses reluctantly withdraw his arms.

"I'll bring you a gift," he said. "What would you like?"

An Ruo couldn't think of anything in particular and simply told him to choose whatever he wanted. Then, remembering how outrageously extravagant Ulysses' previous gift had been, he added,

"Just bring some local specialties. Nothing too expensive."

Local specialties?

Ulysses pondered.

What specialties did the frontier have?

What specialties came from the uninhabited regions of deep space?

What specialties came from barren planets?

Those were questions a female Zerg had to solve himself.

He couldn't trouble the male to explain everything.

And whatever he chose had to perfectly match the male's preferences.

It was homework every female Zerg had to complete.

"I understand," Ulysses replied.

But most of his thoughts were already occupied by the two "protagonists" stranded on that barren planet.

This Lord's tastes were actually quite obvious.

Creators naturally liked things related to novels... and protagonists.

When Ulysses mentioned the frontier, An Ruo was afraid it involved military secrets, so he didn't dare ask further.

Instead, he simply asked,

"Would you like another session of Psychic Soothing?"

Ulysses hesitated before declining.

His psychic condition was excellent.

He didn't need soothing.

He couldn't let the male think that every time he visited, it was only for Psychic Soothing.

Otherwise, the male would lump him together with all the military female Zergs who came for treatment.

He would become just another task that needed completing.

"My condition is very good. I don't need Psychic Soothing. If possible... would you touch me instead?" Ulysses asked.

He had envied the doll for receiving the male's affectionate caresses for a very long time.

An Ruo was so surprised that he nearly condensed a question mark out of psychic power.

Was this... really appropriate?

But Ulysses looked as though he truly wanted it.

Well...

A young one about to leave on a long journey asking his male parent—or some other elder—for a reassuring pat on the head... that was perfectly normal, wasn't it?

An Ruo couldn't keep convincing himself.

They weren't that kind of family.

And Ulysses clearly didn't see him as an elder either.

No female Zerg kissed their elders.

In the end, An Ruo still agreed.

He raised his hand and gently stroked Ulysses' head, his hair, the back of his neck...

Then he looked up.

Meeting Ulysses' silver-gray eyes, he found them lowered, overflowing with emotions too deep to describe.

An Ruo's fingertips trembled slightly.

His hand came to rest on Ulysses' shoulder, gently brushing over it, sweeping away invisible frost and dust.

"Come back safely," he said.

He didn't know what mission Ulysses had been assigned.

But the frontier...

It sounded like something incredibly important.

Ulysses smiled softly.

"With those words from you, I'll definitely win."

As for what awaited him afterward...

Whether he would have to face his god's anger and questioning...

Even Ulysses didn't know.

But it was something he had to do.