Chapter 7: Ceth

She has long black hair that reaches down to her back. The same color of her eyes seems to see through one's mind.

Although her left eye is hidden by her bangs, it only adds to her mystery and charming air that surrounds around her.

Judging from Juan's point of view, she should be around 157 cm tall.

And she wore common clothing around here like the others that could be called 'Eura Dress'  from his previous world.

"Hello." She bowed a little as a show of courtesy.

Her voice was very pleasant to hear, it immediately attracted him.

Juan calmed his restless heart and mind as he started thinking himself. Is he that excited to see a lady that looks the same age as him?

'Damn, this body is instinctively lusting after the opposite sex before me! '

Despite his inner turmoil, Juan didn't show anything weird outside, as he also returned the bow and greetings.

"Hello, Ceth, I'm Juan. Nice to meet you."

Garu nodded, satisfied with their introduction.

"Well then, Ceth will help you tour the village today, so don't be shy to ask her along the way."

Garu laughed as he patted Juan subconsciously.

"Oh right, you haven't had your breakfast, right? Those fish you brought yesterday should have gone bad already. Here, I had some so first fill your empty belly."

Juan soon received a piece of bread in his hand along with a water pouch made from animal skin.

"Although I'm embarrassed to accept this, I really appreciate your help, Village Chief. Thank you very much."

There's no need to deny the blessing; since it's already in his hands, he should just accept it.

Returning it could be seen as disrespectful after all. He also knew his body is really in need of new nutrients.

"No problem; you're new to the village after all. As the village chief, I will do my best to help you integrate with the village more quickly."

Garu seems to be thinking of something again, as he continue.

"Right, after this tour, you will need to work; how about I give you a job instead of finding one?"

Juan nodded and immediately told him.

"I need a job," he said expectantly. This is actually his true reason for coming here. But he couldn't say it until now.

Garu nodded and then smiled as he waved his hands before placing one on his waist and the other pointing on himself.

"No problem! But we'll only talk about it after your tour. For now, just enjoy the village with Ceth."

Garu turned around and gave his daughter a meaningful glance while laughing. Juan hadn't seen it because he was facing the former's back.

"Well then, I'm still busy, so I leave first."

With that said, Juan and Ceth look at him and leave with their eyes.

Soon, it was just the two of them that remained.

Juan was a bit shy inside.

He hated this feeling of his; it's making his judgment reckless if he's not careful.

That's why he was using all of his focus to remain calm and amiable on the surface.

Lest he let his passionate youth overtake his reason and become an idiot.

"Well then, Miss Ceth, where should we start to go?"

Juan calmly initiated the conversation with a normal expression.

Because Miss Ceth seems to be a quiet and serious type of person. Juan made sure what he said wouldn't cause her to misunderstand.

He didn't want to be hated after all.

Ceth glanced at him calmly, making Juan feel a little nervous inside. Still, his expression didn't change as he glanced back stiffly.

"How about we go to the farm first? Is it okay with you?"

Ceth finally said something after a few seconds of prolonged silence.

Juan almost couldn't stand just now.

He even sweated bullets as though he had just returned from running a ten-kilometer track field alone.

Thankfully, he received a reply before his nervous and anxious heart could burst out from all the shame he was feeling inside.

This is the reason why he hated dealing with ladies with his current body.

It's making him subservient to the other party's mood subconsciously.

"Are you alright?"

Ceth's voice pulled him back from his inner thoughts. The words of concern shook his heart a little.

'Damn it. Have I really fallen so low?!'

Juan cursed in his heart, but he still showed a friendly face outside as he wiped his sweat off with a cloth from his hand like nothing happened.

"It's nothing." He shook his head before he continued. "To the farm then, let's go."

Ceth said nothing more as she nodded in response and started to lead the way with Juan behind.

The two walked not far apart, just enough distance for Juan's conscious mind to feel a little peace at the start.

'Although it's a little awkward to say nothing in this silence, It's even more so if I say things I might find shameful later on. I'd better remain quiet.'

So Juan hardened his heart and mind. Let the awkward atmosphere continue; he doesn't give a care at all.

However, such little peace soon shattered after a while.

The reason is very simple: Ceth, who had been leading him for a while, suddenly took a step back and walked beside him shoulder to shoulder.

'Ahhhhhhh—!'

Juan could hear himself screaming with all his might inwardly.

He almost stopped breathing just now, making him want to slap this woman beside him with his palm. The cause of all his current suffering.

He could also hear his heart beating much faster and louder in his ears right now.

'Just when did I become this weak in front of the opposite sex? '

From what he could remember, he had always been like this.

He had this silly reaction every time he became conscious of a man and woman's relationship.

Juan sighed at his shortcomings; he didn't expect this part of him to still be with him, even in this world and his youthful body.

No, it's because he had a youthful body that it magnified his current shyness to a huge degree.

Then Ceth, who had been walking beside him shoulder to shoulder, would sometimes have their clothes touch each other.

Juan's heart flutters and grumbles in between two opposite and complicated emotions everytime.

'Curse you, Ceth! '

Still, he gritted his teeth and continued his journey without showing a reaction that he had been conscious of all along.

Ceth turned her pretty face to look at Juan's calm yet sweating face silently. She seems to be observing him quietly and carefully.

And Juan could feel her penetrating gaze poking at his already stiff face.

'Oi, oi, oi, Ceth! ... Aren't you a little close with me right now?! Don't you feel embarrassed around me?!!'

'Oi Ceth, just look around you instead of looking at me! We've just met! Damn it!'

Juan could already feel his mind on the verge of collapsing right now.

This Ceth seems to be doing it on purpose, making him want to really hit her with all his might and end the suffering he was having.

"U-um." Juan wanted to make some excuse to escape this predicament, but he made a mistake instead.

'Damn it! I stuttered! It's over."

He inwardly felt his heart collapse instead of his mind just now. Could his heart be much more fragile than he expected?

"Hmm? Juan?"

Ceth's warm and pleasant voice once again enveloped his broken heart. Healing it despite the appearance it has right now.

'She called me my name... Ceth! I won't forgive you! '

Although he was happy, it was his body's happiness, not his mind.

Because of this, Juan somehow finds some calmness in between his inner clashes.

"Ah ha ha ha. I'm just wondering why you're so close to me right now." He said it!

Juan didn't care about shame anymore. He just wants this lady to move a little space away from him right now.

He could feel his heart almost couldn't take it just now.

As for why he didn't do the action instead, well, his body is quite honest.

Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be close to a pretty lady?

Not to mention, he did this to understand just what the heck Ceth thought on this matter.

'Intentional? Bah! Such a stupid illusion. This might be Garu's method to control me within his grasp.'

'They must have thought I lied about what I said to them yesterday. And here I thought how easily they accepted his story.'

'So from the start, they didn't believe in what I said. They made me let down my guard instead and use honey traps to bait me.'

'Garu, Jura, and Ceth! '

Although he was cursing inwardly because of his realization, He didn't notice the redness that failed to hide on Ceth's ears.

Yet she didn't move even an inch away after hearing that.

"Well, my father said we should stick together lest you get lost along the way."

Ceth softly replied, yet it only made Juan glance at her dazedly, as though he were looking at a new world he had just discovered.

'Is there still such a father in this world? Although I know this is all planned, But it shouldn't be worrying if I say nothing.'

Juan thought strangely, both happy and furious inwardly.