Arknightcraft Modpack
Chapter 460: A Sudden Premonition
Steven couldn't really tell whether the porridge tasted good or not.
But Alina's little tongue—that, he could absolutely evaluate.
It was exquisitely delicious, with a rich and layered texture, beyond reproach.
After another stretch of silence so thick it was almost suffocating, Steven finally released Alina from his arms, still savoring the moment as he licked the corner of his lips.
"Absolutely delicious."
The sigh of satisfaction he let out seemed to restore at least ten or so HP, but what he got in return was a weak, half-hearted counterattack—Alina's tiny fist lightly tapping his chest.
Ever since they'd confirmed their relationship, this guy had been getting more and more proactive. Alina genuinely worried that one day, Steven might just swallow her whole.
And yet, what amused her most was that she didn't really resist these thoughts at all.
In fact… somewhere deep down, there was even a hint of… anticipation?
"Thanks for the treat. Though I have to say, there's one flaw with this porridge. I think you could improve it next time."
Steven stroked his chin, putting on a serious expression as he looked down at the girl in his arms—who was even softer than Shoggy—and offered his advice in a solemn tone.
"That is, you shouldn't go out alone to pick mushrooms anymore. It's genuinely dangerous."
"You don't just need to watch out for wild beasts and the Infected patrols. Even the Infected around you can't be said to be completely trustworthy."
"You've said it yourself before, some people really aren't worth trusting."
Steven wasn't nagging for no reason. This was simply the truth. A beautiful, unarmed ordinary girl like her—he genuinely couldn't stop worrying about what might happen if she went out alone.
"But this is near the Infected camp," Alina tried to argue. "There are guerrilla fighters patrolling nearby too. If I stay close, it should be fine—"
She didn't get to finish.
Steven's unusually serious expression pressed down on her words, silencing her mid-sentence. It was the first time she'd ever seen him look like this.
There was no doubt about it—this time, he was dead serious.
"…Alright. If you say it's not okay, then I'll listen."
"That's better." Steven nodded. "Anyway, my sixth sense is telling me that something bad might happen."
"I don't know if I can trust this feeling or not, but I really don't want anything to happen to you at a time like this."
He wasn't lying. He truly did have a premonition.
And anything that could give him a bad feeling definitely wasn't something aimed at him. Steven had absolute confidence in his own strength. The only thing he could imagine being in danger was the people around him.
More specifically, the girl right in front of him.
For some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that something might happen—something that would cause her to leave him forever.
"I understand."
Alina nodded gently, her expression serene. Sensing the faint turmoil in her boyfriend's heart, she quietly placed her small hand over the back of his.
It was a simple gesture, but she hoped that, even if only a little, it would convey warmth to him.
Steven noticed her small gesture as well. After letting out a long breath, he quickly adjusted his mindset.
Truth be told, this kind of premonition hadn't surfaced in a long time—and when it did, it was usually aimed at the people he cared about. That was why it affected him so strongly.
But when he thought about it carefully, there really wasn't much to worry about.
Steven had never been someone who believed in fate. If a bad future truly awaited them, then all he had to do was change it with his own hands.
Having steadied himself, Steven turned his hand over and clasped Alina's small hand in his palm. As he gently pressed and rubbed it, he felt the warmth spreading from her skin into his own.
Her hand wasn't as soft and delicate as those of Gladiia or Centaurea, whom he had held before. Years of working in the village had left a thin layer of calluses on her palm. It didn't diminish its warmth in the slightest, but it did stir a deep ache in Steven's heart.
Such a gentle, adorable girl should have been treated like a little princess, cherished in someone's hands.
Why did she have to face such a cruel world?
"I'll protect you."
Taking a deep breath, Steven straightened up and placed his hands on Alina's shoulders, looking straight into her eyes as he spoke with unwavering seriousness.
"I never doubted that, not even once."
Alina smiled softly in response. She raised her fingers and gently smoothed out the slight crease between Steven's brows, little by little.
And after feeling the light touch of her fingers pass over his forehead, Steven turned around and began walking toward the guerrilla camp.
"Eh? Where are you going?" Alina asked, confused by his sudden departure.
What she got in response was an answer that immediately brought the smile back to her face.
"I'm going to make some necessary preparations. Also, to pick out some 'toys' for when I sneak into a certain little drake room tonight," Steven said jokingly, without even turning his head. "Just wait here for me. And don't you dare stand me up tonight."
With that, he disappeared from Alina's sight.
Of course, Steven wasn't actually going to prepare anything for a 'night party'.
The real reason was that his premonition carried an oddly strong sense of inevitability—as though interfering personally might cause things to spiral in strange directions. In situations like that, borrowing the strength of the world's natives was often the wiser choice.
Fortunately, on this land, Steven didn't lack allies. In fact, he had quite a few friends with whom he shared decent relationships.
And more importantly, the number of favors people owed him had long since grown too large to keep track of.
Now was the perfect time to start collecting on some of those debts.
In the blink of an eye, Steven arrived at the guerrilla camp's command room. He pushed the door open without hesitation and stepped inside, looking toward the father and daughter who were in the middle of discussing their next route of advance with a very friendly smile on his face.
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Note: Character Illustration is in this Google Drive:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1iuyfwNVFHzIi9H4rWNT_lAm7jTSiah_M
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[1] https://www.patreon.com/collection/55713?view=condensed
[2] https://www.patreon.com/posts/152281351?collection=55713
[3] https://www.patreon.com/posts/152281351?collection=55713
[4] https://www.patreon.com/collection/55713?view=condensed