By the time the meeting ended, the sun had already set.
The shadows cast on the floor were heating the ground in place of the sun that had dipped below the horizon, and Aslan stepped out while treading on the shadowy carpet.
Aslan had requested everything needed and prepared plans while tweaking their tactics as much as possible.
It felt like everything that could be done, had been done.
Still, once the day of execution approached, things might turn out differently, but for now, Aslan felt a mix of relief and satisfaction.
Perhaps it was the comfort derived from having meticulously laid out plans.
Or maybe it was because he had finally found his rightful place.
Whichever it was, the sense of satisfaction was undeniable.
With that deep satisfaction curling his lips into a smile, Aslan strolled along.
“…Ereta?”
Near the hall used for meetings, specifically at the bench along the path leading to the hall, someone asleep was found.
A woman with hair that seemed to shimmer under the moonlight, dressed in something akin to a black nun’s habit.
It was Ereta.
“Why… are you sleeping here?”
There was no response. The woman sitting on the bench nodded off slightly.
Only then did Aslan recall that Ereta was prone to sleepiness, and he took a few more steps closer.
At the sound of his footsteps, the woman opened her eyes. Even though he hadn’t taken many steps, the woman looked up at Aslan as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Her half-closed, sleepy eyes. Her hazy expression.
In that state, the woman blinked her eyes.
“Ereta, why are you sleeping here?”
“I was… waiting for Aslan…”
The woman answered while rubbing her eyes sleepily. When Aslan wore an expression of confusion, the woman smiled gently and added,
“Aslan hasn’t rested well either…”
The lingering pronunciation exuded sleepiness and kindness. Thus, Aslan responded with a troubled expression.
“Of course. Go inside and rest. I’ll soon go to rest too.”
“It’s obvious you won’t.”
Though it seemed that wasn’t the case for Ereta herself.
Instead, Ereta made a mischievous face and glared at Aslan with half-opened eyes.
Aslan couldn’t respond to the question or the look, only managing an awkward smile.
‘That is true.’
Aslan would likely say that he managed to sleep after meditating briefly. Ereta, perhaps knowing this about Aslan, soon smiled faintly.
“I knew it.”
That strange sense of triumph in her smile, the smug expression, stirred some kind of impulse within Aslan.
He barely restrained himself as Ereta extended her arms.
“Pick me up so I can wake up properly.”
The woman who was weak against sleep couldn’t maintain her balance upon waking, and Aslan, fully aware of this fact, silently embraced Ereta to help her stand.
Immediately upon embracing her, he regretted it when he felt her soft bosom and smooth skin.
“Mm, my legs don’t have much strength. My hand…”
While helping her up despite his hesitation, her hand followed. Aslan grabbed it, and she linked her fingers with his as if she’d planned it all along.
With a “hehe” chuckle, the woman said with a sleepy, languid expression,
“Now let’s go to bed.”
Aslan had no chance to refuse. With a troubled smile, he followed Ereta as she led the way.
The group had accommodations, but there were none prepared for Aslan and Ereta.
This was due to the difference between the group that had already been staying at the fortress and the two who had just arrived.
Thus, the imperial army hastily provided them with two guest rooms.
The room Ereta led Aslan to was one allocated to her.
Apparently, she had visited it once before; her double-handed axe was placed inside.
Aslan carried Ereta into the room and immediately intended to leave, but he was stopped by Ereta’s firm grip.
“Where are you going…?”
Ereta asked curiously. Before Aslan could answer, Ereta cut off any possible response he might give.
“You’ll have nightmares anyway without me. So, let’s sleep together.”
Is there anything else to discuss?
With that remark, Aslan had no way to refuse. With all escape routes blocked, all he could do was endure.
Aslan hesitated, and almost instantly, a pleading gaze emerged, prompting him to sigh.
“…Alright. Let’s sleep together.”
Approaching the bed, Aslan sat down, and Ereta smiled sweetly before sitting beside him.
Then, as if she had been waiting for it, she leaned her head on him.
The rustling hair. The fine strands shining white under the moonlight streaming through the window.
On Aslan’s shoulder, her hair draped lazily. Along with that, Ereta began to rub her leaning head.
What followed was her skin.
From her ankles to her thighs, Ereta pressed her legs close to Aslan.
Afterward, she buried her face in Aslan’s arm, naturally inhaling his scent.
The tickling breath grazing his skin. Aslan found this situation very uncomfortable.
Sensations were already heightened, and the high luck was transforming into pure sensation.
“Isn’t it too close…?”
Aslan hoped to create some distance by citing the closeness, but Ereta merely blinked her eyes.
“Didn’t you say it’s alright since it’s Aslan?”
She frowned slightly as if dissatisfied and poked Aslan’s arm with her index finger.
It was self-inflicted trouble. Aslan tried to laugh awkwardly.
“That’s what happened…”
“That’s what happened, right? You’ve forgotten?”
“No, not really…”
So, Ereta continued her physical affection without any resistance.
Aslan felt uneasy receiving Ereta’s affection.
For instance, kissing his palm, nibbling on his fingers, intertwining their fingers and rubbing cheeks—these actions were nothing but stimulation and temptation to Aslan whose senses had awakened.
Whether Ereta realized it or not, she was clinging tightly to him.
Watching Ereta’s abundant display of affection, Aslan felt the need for conversation.
If he didn’t address the current situation, he feared he wouldn’t be able to restrain himself.
Thus, when Aslan was about to ask if there was anything she wanted to talk about, Ereta played with his hand and said,
“Do you really need me, Aslan?”
It was an unexpected and unforeseen question. Startled, Aslan watched as Ereta touched his hand expressionlessly.
She softly rubbed their intertwined fingers and continued,
“The reason I guarded your grave after you died wasn’t solely because your body turned to white steel.”
Suddenly lifting her head, the moonlight danced in her pink irises.
“It was also because I lacked the confidence to travel with others.”
It was an incomprehensible statement. There were various ways to interpret it.
“What do you mean?”
Ereta chuckled quietly.
“I’m a priest.”
It remained an enigmatic statement. Had there been no further explanation, Aslan might never have understood.
“When you died, I realized it again. Ah, I am a priest.”
Under Aslan’s steady gaze, staring into his emerald eyes, Ereta spoke.
“At one point, there was… a scar on your corpse from when I was still the Saintess of Slaughter.”
“That…”
“At that time, I was stronger than I am now.”
Contrary to expectations, Aslan closed his mouth.
Now, Aslan understood what Ereta was talking about. There was no room for Aslan to interject.
“I am a priest. A priest whose deity has died.”
Ereta released his hand and, seemingly naturally, sat on Aslan’s lap.
“I cannot become stronger anymore.”
Yet, strangely, a distance was felt.
“I won’t be able to help the group.”
Though their bodies were close, their hearts were distant.
“And yet, Aslan, do you still need me?”
Even as they met each other’s eyes, Aslan felt as if Ereta was far away.
Their twin pink irises locked. In them was the emotion of a woman hoping for him to say otherwise.
An emotion paired with a desperate plea, knowing full well that such hope was futile.
Recalling these emotions, Aslan thought about Ereta.
Ereta always sought confirmation of her own worth.
Perhaps it was due to her past as a priest, chosen by “mother.”
The reason she volunteered to guard Aslan’s grave was that she believed following the group wouldn’t be helpful.
This was the only path she thought could be of use.
Like when she inscribed magical tattoos and grew anxious.
When she found the group again, she must have remembered that fact.
Therefore, Ereta’s emotions were dualistic.
She wished for him to tell her she was needed, yet simultaneously desired confirmation that she wasn’t.
Her pink eyes glistened with moisture. Aslan saw a woman ready to leave at the slightest hint of being unnecessary.
Clamping her lips, she stared at Aslan mutely.
Truthfully, Aslan couldn’t be certain either.
He didn’t know if Ereta could be a useful companion.
The leveling up of companions depended on the divine power of ancient gods.
Thus, whether Ereta could become a companion was uncertain—it could happen, or it might not.
Either way, there was a possibility. Therefore, Ereta’s utility couldn’t be definitively determined.
Nevertheless, Aslan couldn’t abandon Ereta regardless.
Soon, Aslan spoke.
“You… might not be necessary.”
Upon hearing this, Ereta’s expression resembled the collapse of the world as she lowered her head. Her forehead bumped lightly against Aslan’s chest.
However, before her head completely fell, Aslan placed his hand on her cheek.
The heat emanating from her tears soaked his insides.
Lifting her head, seeing the single tear streaking down her face, Aslan spoke.
“But… does that matter?”
Ereta blinked, confused.
Aslan observed her and extended his hand.
“Give me your hand.”
Without questioning the reason and without hesitation, Ereta handed over her hand. Aslan overlaid his hand on hers and channeled mana.
The magic he employed was wild magic. Enhancement magic.
As the mana flowed through his veins, awakening his muscles, Aslan gripped Ereta’s hand firmly.
Probably estimating around 3.
Currently, Aslan was gripping Ereta’s hand with a strength of 3, but
Ereta merely felt numbness and stared at Aslan in bewilderment.
“Aslan…?”
Tilting her head, her voice tinged with a slight quiver. Watching such Ereta, Aslan spoke.
“Can you feel it?”
Blinking her eyes, revealing and concealing the pink.
“This is my full strength.”
Startled, her pink eyes widened, and Aslan smiled bitterly as he continued.
“My strength is weaker than anyone else in the group.”
This was likely unknown before Lumel became a companion, but now it was certain.
Purely in terms of strength, Aslan was the weakest in the group.
Thus,
“Do I appear weak to you?”
Shaking her head.
“Can you imagine me losing?”
Again shaking her head, her white hair fluttering. The woman stared at Aslan intently.
“Can you think that I lost in the end?”
Aslan convinced Ereta.
“No.”
As the woman closed her mouth after uttering those words, Aslan reached out and wiped her tear-streaked cheek with his thumb.
Feeling the warmth of the tears, Aslan spoke.
“You may feel useless right now. You may seem weak at the moment. But… we don’t know the future. If I can fight, anyone can fight.”
His smiling words were comforting, sincere comfort.
Words that Ereta recognized Aslan would say.
Only then did Ereta softly smile.
“I…”
Seeing that gentle smile, Aslan quickly added with a bashful tone.
“And I don’t want to differentiate who is more valuable based on someone’s usefulness.”
People he wanted to be with.
People he wanted to spend time with.
People who gave him strength when together.
“I want to have such people by my side.”
Saying this, Aslan told Ereta something he had mentioned before.
“I’ll repeat what I said back then.”
It was what he had told her after defeating the artist.
“I need you.”
Looking directly into her eyes, Aslan spoke.
“I need Ereta.”
Confronted with the vivid sincerity, Ereta gazed deeply into Aslan’s eyes for a long time.
Her damp, pink eyes held fervent emotion.
Soon, the woman melted that emotion and whispered in a sweet voice.
“Aslan.”
And only then did Aslan snap back to reality.
Once he regained his senses, Aslan was somewhat flustered.
After all, the atmosphere was quite intense and sticky.
“Huh.”
An atmosphere where something was bound to happen soon.
Aslan’s fluster didn’t last long as the woman wrapped her arms around his neck.
Then, she pulled her body close.
The thin fabric of Ereta’s clothing made her navel feel as if it touched Aslan’s through his linen shirt.
The initial shock subsided slowly. The clear temptation right before him.
Aslan lacked the ability to resist that temptation.
The refined senses delivered every piece of information unfiltered.
For example, the moist warmth between Ereta’s legs.
The hot body temperature from their close contact.
The rough and rapid heartbeat felt through the aligned navels.
Sharing the same excitement, Ereta’s face gradually drew closer.
Ereta intended to kiss.
She wanted to melt her burning emotions into her breath and convey them to Aslan.
The impulse pushing forward. Barely suppressing the heavy breathing, the woman moved her lips.
Aslan thought while watching the approaching lips.
Clearly, if they kissed now, he wouldn’t be able to hold back.
Even if Ereta lacked complete knowledge of the consequences of such actions.
She would undoubtedly push forward with her desires.
But Aslan was being pushed as well. Closing his eyes slowly, Aslan was about to kiss when
The approaching face of Ereta paused, her eyes wide open, causing him to flinch.
Stopping the hand that had been naturally massaging Ereta’s bottom, Aslan froze in an awkward position, neither removing nor touching it.
Confused by this sudden change, Aslan followed Ereta’s gaze with his eyes and
There he saw Lewena, the woman with black hair and violet eyes standing expressionlessly by the window.
As Aslan startled at the sight of Lewena, she opened her mouth expressionlessly.
“Hyunwoo.”
Her voice lacked not only vitality but any emotion whatsoever.
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
That question made Aslan break out in a cold sweat.
