Chapter 179: Little Jealousy

Viktor became somewhat emotional whenever Qiu Tailang was involved. Seeing how strongly he felt about Qiu Tailang left Qiu Nuoya with complicated feelings.

Ah, that’s right. He is at least a little jealous of the relationship between Viktor and Qiu Tailang.

Viktor had been the first person in this world to accept Qiu Nuoya completely after he arrived here. Qiu Nuoya realized that he had probably been attracted to him, at least to some extent.

But learning that Viktor’s affection had not actually been directed at Qiu Nuoya himself, but at someone who resembled him, had still come as a shock.

Apparently, there was not much discrimination against same sex relationships in this world. In fact, Warren had told Qiu Nuoya that he liked him many times. Viktor was the same in that regard, but there was a difference between Viktor and Warren.

Viktor saw Qiu Tailang in Qiu Nuoya and Qiu Nuoya could not accept that.

Would it be easier if he simply admitted how he felt...?

But if he did, Qiu Nuoya feared that the relationship between the four of them might fall apart completely.

Unable to say anything, Qiu Nuoya remained silent.

...

The last place they visited was the Adventurer’s Guild. Once they said their farewells to Guild Master Rogue and returned the key to their house, they would finally be ready to leave.

As always, Qiu Nuoya and the others were the center of attention at the Adventurer’s Guild. Several days had already passed since they conquered Dungeon Castle, so Qiu Nuoya thought people would have settled down by now.

Apparently, that was not going to happen anytime soon.

"Hey, kid. Where’s your dragon today?"

"Huh? Oh, he’s staying home today."

Long stood out no matter whether he was in his dragon form or his demi-human form. Qiu Nuoya had entered into a tamed monster contract with him so they could conquer the dungeon, but this world was not exactly a comfortable place for Long to live.

It would be one thing if people merely found him unusual, but after seeing what had happened with that child the other day, Qiu Nuoya realized there was a chance someone might attack Long for no reason. As his master, Qiu Nuoya felt that he needed to take proper precautions to protect him.

Long’s adoptive grandfather, the elder dragon, had once asked Qiu Nuoya whether he could really protect Long without making him a tamed monster.

Dragons were among the strongest species of monsters, and Long was certainly not so fragile that he needed someone to protect him. Even so, dragons could be attacked regardless of whether they did anything to provoke people.

After having stones thrown at Long by that child, Qiu Nuoya had finally understood the elder dragon’s words. There was a shared belief in this world that dragons were enemies and that any strange or unknown monster should simply be eliminated.

At the very least, when a monster became someone’s tamed monster, people felt reassured when they saw the proof.

That was probably the purpose of the collars worn by tamed monsters. A collar was not only proof that a monster was tamed, but also served as a kind of protective charm for the monster.

Long disliked wearing a collar, but Qiu Nuoya realized that he needed some kind of identifying mark.

"Nuoya, what are you thinking so hard about?"

"Huh?"

Warren suddenly leaned over from the side and peered into Qiu Nuoya’s face, making him jump.

"What? There’s no need to be that surprised. That hurts, you know."

"Ah, no... Um..."

"Hmm. You two had something happen between you, didn’t you?"

"Huh!? N-No, nothing happened!"

This time, Igor leaned over and peered into Qiu Nuoya’s face.

Igor really is incredibly perceptive. But he doesn’t have to use that perceptiveness on something like this!

"Didn’t I tell you not to get ahead of the rest of us, Warren?"

"I didn’t get ahead of anyone. If anything, isn’t it unfair that I was the only one kept in the dark about Nuoya’s circumstances? That’s not fair, is it? I’ve only just managed to catch up to the starting line, so don’t complain."

With that, Warren took a lock of Qiu Nuoya’s hair, which had grown to about the middle of his back, and gently kissed it.

What!? What was that smooth, natural movement!? Warren wasn’t like this before, was he!? Has something about him changed?

"If you’re going to play it that way, then I won’t hold back either."

As soon as Igor said that, he casually scooped Qiu Nuoya up into his arms.

"Wha... Huhhh...?"

Qiu Nuoya had grown quite a bit taller over the past three years, so he had rarely been picked up like this lately. Yet Igor lifted him effortlessly, as though he were still a small child, leaving Qiu Nuoya completely flustered.

"Wait, stop, Igor! This is seriously embarrassing!"

Igor was already tall enough to stand out in a crowd. Being lifted so high that Qiu Nuoya was practically perched on his shoulder made it painfully obvious just how many people around them were staring at him.

"I can’t help feeling like I’m the only one who got left behind, so surely I’m allowed a little something, right? And don’t grow up too quickly, Nuoya. It would make me lonely."

Even if he tells him not to grow up, what is he supposed to do? He has been an adult on the inside from the very beginning. What is he supposed to say to that...?

"Igor, you sometimes seem like Nuoya’s father. Would it be all right if I called you Father-in-law?"

"Huh? I’m not letting my daughter marry off just yet! You can say that after you’ve defeated me!"

"What...!? Then I accept the challenge! Father-in-law!"

They’ve started some kind of little skit... And everyone around them is laughing too. What is he even supposed to do in a situation like this!?

"What exactly are you people doing?" Viktor had returned after giving the Guild Master the key to their rental house and was now staring at them in exasperation.