CHAPTER 55: CLICHE

As nighttime fell, the Sixth Department had to settle into tents and take some rest after a whole day of intense battle with Voidlings led by ’Magnarok’.

Most of the people in this department were mid to low ranks, so they’re not used to actual field work. A lot complained about their backs and their minor injuries.

Though these are very minor injuries, since this was just a phony war after all. Ymir ordered Magni to take it easy on his people, but not so easy as they do deserve it for being ’lazy bums’.

"Everyone, stay in your tents in pairs." Ymir instructed as they set up their settlement. "We will do rotations for guarding duty. Each pair will stay awake for 2 hours. Now group yourselves, chop chop!"

The people immediately grouped themselves into two.

As Hermes expected, nobody grouped with him. His co-workers sneered, whispering to themselves.

"Maybe Potentia can sleep on a tree. He’s Copy Cat after all."

"He got an A-class in his RAM test, right? He can handle sleeping without a tent."

"He could eat a rock and try to pretend to be one of those rock lava monsters!"

Hermes gritted his teeth, some of his spikes protruding a little in his forearm. Luckily it was dark so nobody noticed.

Ymir blew his whistle.

"Enough fooling around. Since Potentia has no tent to sleep in... He can share with me."

The people immediately went quiet. Their jibes turned into jealous complaints, and they murmured gossip to themselves.

"Looks like this tom cat got its claws on our boss."

"First Director Somner, then Mr. Glace. Someone better neuter this kitty cat."

"I mean hey, I can’t blame them. A tall man with a big bulge and behaves like a valet? Sign me up."

Hermes tried to ignore these words and just carried his things to Ymir’s tent.

The schedule for guarding duty was arranged through picking random numbers, and Ymir and Hermes got the last round. Which was a pretty good deal since they’ll get uninterrupted sleep.

Or at least, that’s the case for Ymir.

"SNOREEEE...."

Hermes covered his ears with his pillows as the ’ice prince’ started snoring like a farm truck. Ymir was also a very mobile sleeper, and many times Hermes had to push his foot off his face.

He tried to endure it and catch a wink, but he really could not.

Eventually, he gave up and left the tent.

He stared at the skies, looking for the Orion constellation. As he did, he saw a comet fall down.

Hermes followed the direction of that comet. He wondered if he was also a comet. Maybe he did have parents, but he just fell from the sky like that fictional hero he watched in the movies. The one who was actually from another planet—

"Why are you up so early?"

Hermes was rudely snapped out of his daydreaming by Ymir’s cold touch on his shoulder.

Ymir just gave him a judging look. "You’re not taking their ’cat’ comments to heart, are you? Come back to bed."

"... In a bit." Hermes said. "I can’t sleep."

Ymir sighed. "Well, I can’t sleep now either. So scoot over."

Hermes was surprised as Ymir sat beside him outside the tent. The pair that was on guarding duty was far ahead, so there was practically nobody around but the two of them.

There was an awkward silence between Hermes and his ex-former-now-current boss.

Thinking of anything to break the ice, Hermes said:

"Ahem. I saw a comet."

"Huh?"

"Yeah... To that direction. It was pretty bright."

He pointed, and Ymir followed it. "Hm. Interesting. And you’re telling me this because?"

"...Nothing. Nevermind." Hermes hugged his knees. "I just remembered a story that my elders told me. About Ceasar’s comet."

"Ah. The one named after that emperor that got stabbed many times." Ymir grinned. "I bet you’ve imagined doing that to me too, huh?"

Hermes’ expression darkened. "I have. But I didn’t, did I?"

"You almost did."

"Well, can you blame me!?" Hermes stood up, fists clenched. "You always act like you’re above everyone else! Like it’s my fault for not being like you! When all I ever did was try to be like you!"

Ymir flicked his forehead. "Well, who in the Void told you to try to be like me?"

Hermes’ anger subsided.

He sat back down, feeling like he was splashed with cold water. "No one... But you were just... So perfect. Like your life is so good, and everyone likes you just for existing."

"You’re so cliche, you know that?" Ymir sighed, sitting back next to him. "What, you think you’re the first one who hated me because of envy?"

Hermes looked up, and saw the change in Ymir’s expression.

"Didn’t you hear them earlier? How they talk about you, can’t stop thinking about you? That’s not something to be upset about." Ymir smiled bitterly. "That’s a sign that you’re getting better than them. You never reach the top of the mountain without someone from below wishing you’d fall down."

He punched Hermes’ shoulder. "So toughen up, soldier. Quit moping around like some whiny bitch. Your life is not like before. You have allies, you have real enemies to defeat. A bunch of haters is nothing."

Hermes had never heard words that truly inspired him before. He had been given support many times, yes but... To receive something raw and mean, but still motivational...

"...Thank you."

Ymir’s eyes widened, then he looked away. He’s not wearing his aviator glasses anymore, so his piercing blue eyes shone in the darkness like sapphires.

"Good. You finally listened to me." Ymir tried to maintain his coldness, but failed miserably.

Hermes placed his hand on his shoulder. "You don’t actually think you’re the best, do you? In fact, I think all this pressure... Made you hate the fact that you are part of the Void even more. And that must be really difficult."

Ymir’s lips parted a little. "Hah... You talk like you know me..."

"I don’t. But will you let me? Will you let me know you more than the ice prince that you choose to act like?"

The sound of crickets, the twinkling fireflies, the meteor shower overhead...This whole scene seems to come from a very predictable romance flick.

And it infuriated Ymir so much.

"Fuck... I hate cliches." Ymir muttered—

And pulled Hermes in for a kiss.