Chapter 54

Suddenly.

When I came to, the situation was familiar.

Erica and I were pressed together at an impossibly close distance, and the warmth of her hand was caressing my chest.

“Ah… Ugh.”

“Ah, does it hurt?”

“No… I’m fine.”

I wanted her to hurt me more.

I wanted to be abused while restrained, as if it were the punishment I deserved from you.

But I couldn’t bring myself to say those words.

She would’ve only worried.

Or worse, she might have used her kindness as a weapon to soothe me.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Naughty thoughts.”

“—–Are you using me for that?”

“—–.”

I said nothing.

Suddenly, a stinging sensation arose. Her rough hand was ravaging my chest.

“No, no. It hurts. Stop, stop.”

“Hmph.”

I averted my drowsy gaze, glancing around the area.

It was chaotic.

There were medical personnel helping injured people onto stretchers and agents searching the surroundings.

There was some noise, but it wasn’t overly loud.

It was peaceful. A cool breeze swept through.

And then, I felt warmth again.

This time, a faint pain rippled through my abdomen.

“Ah, ouch… Ugh…”

“Did it hurt? Just bear with it a little… Just a bit more…”

“I’m fine. Hur… Hurry up and make it worse…”

“Stop saying weird things.”

It seemed like the aftereffects of the nine daggers embedded in my abdomen had resurfaced.

Erica was clumsily treating my abdomen, claiming it was an emergency measure, but there really wasn’t a need. Still, I didn’t say anything.

Because this moment was too precious.

Being cared for by the person I loved felt so surreal and wonderful.

It was so good that I couldn’t stop the silly laughter from escaping.

“Heh, hehe.”

“—–Is this your kink? Your facial expression definitely suggests you’re hurting a lot…”

“Do you have any kinks?”

Erica flinched and averted her gaze.

“Mmm… Ah, no! Why are you asking me this?”

“It’s natural for people to have a unique kink they want to hide.”

“I don’t have anything like that.”

“Really?”

I smirked slightly.

“I’m in so much pain from your touch, yet I manage to endure it.”

Erica quickly retracted her hand.

“I thought you were deliberately causing pain.”

“Arg… This spell was supposed to only hurt a little at first… What did I do wrong…”

“You look cute when you’re flustered.”

“Hey, stop with the weird comments. I’m trying to find another way.”

As she fumbled, holding her head, I grabbed her hands.

She looked taken aback.

“I’m fine.”

“It doesn’t hurt…?”

“If it’s you, I’m fine. Hurt me more.”

Her trembling hand lightly tormented my abdomen. The pain returned, but it was bearable.

“Just a little longer. This kind of rupture requires time… But if you bear with it just a little more…”

Huh. She must not have much talent in healing, even though she’s a swordswoman. She must be a hardworking type. That’s kind of similar to me.

“Ah… Ugh… Haaak.”

A moan escaped my lips.

It shouldn’t take more than a few hours to recover. Maybe she doesn’t know my body well. Or maybe she’s doing this intentionally even though she knows better.

Anyway, there’ll come a time when she kills me. So having a sadistic side isn’t such a bad thing.

It hurts.

So much.

“Aaah…! I touched the wrong place! What should I do…!”

But it’s nice. Just like this, I wish time could stop.

Our gazes met. I smiled lightly.

“Ah, no. It’s going to be fine. You can trust me, right?”

“Yeah. I trust you, Erica.”

Her hands flailed in the air, looking uncertain.

Her reliability seems questionable.

“Haaak. Ah. Do you want to hear my moans…? Haaak… How about at my bed…? Ahh!”

“Not at all! It’s not like that! But, um… why is this so…?!”

She’s competent at her usual job, but with this kind of stuff, she’s like a fool.

That’s also kind of cute, but it hurts.

So much.

“Please wait. You can do it. Endure it, alright? Can’t you endure it? Are you enduring, Orri?”

I looked into her pupils, which were darting around endlessly, and realized.

This is dangerous.

I quickly grabbed both of Erica’s arms and pulled her away from my body.

“It’ll heal cleanly in a few hours.”

“Is that true?”

“Yeah.”

Looking at her delicate hands, they were stained with blood.

I felt sorry for it.

I placed my lips on them. I gently kissed her palm and started licking it from the bottom upward, and then reversed my direction.

“Wh, what? Huh!? W-What are you doing?!”

“Haaep. Uh.”

The soft sensation stimulated my tongue. Even the taste of blood felt incredibly sweet.

My brain buzzed and quivered. It was exhilarating.

It would have been even better if it was Erica’s blood.

“Hold on! There are too m-many people around…!”

“But it’s fine for them to hear my moans…?”

“The noise! It was quiet, so it’s fine…”

Since you hurt me, I think this level of tantrum should be returned.

As I sensed her resistance, I held her tighter.

She reluctantly allowed her trembling hand to be guided toward my mouth.

“Ah…!”

I slid her index finger into my mouth and rolled it with my tongue. The ticklish sensation was ecstatic.

“Mmph… I’ve eaten well…”

“—–You’re a real pervert.”

My lips were pinched by her fingers. Our gazes clashed as I smirked.

The look in her eyes was teasing. It was a pleasure different from usual, seeing her cool image crumble.

A brief silence.

I felt nauseous. A thick, dark liquid spilled out, soiling the floor.

Clutching Erica’s shoulder as she frantically called my name,

My body was convulsing again.

It’s fine since I’ve already stockpiled enough today.

Why does this happen at times like this?

It always happens when I’m under her gaze.

Next time, I’ll be more careful.

If I try, there’s no way I’ll be discovered.

“Erica.”

That’s why I called her name.

“Yes?”

“I believe you’ll kill me someday.”

I truly hoped for that.

She tilted her head. A moment of confusion flashed across her face.

The commotion around us grew louder. The scent of healing energy brushed against my nose, and the groans of the injured reverberated inside the room.

“People are suffering because of me.”

Suddenly,

When my heart felt a brief pang of pain, I didn’t want to think about anything.

“I don’t know.”

Because I wasn’t ready for her questions that followed. Her voice transformed into a faint, wavering tone.

“I don’t know anything about the you who says such things.”

“Don’t worry about someone you dislike. Since our relationship defines your duty.”

“That’s just frustrating.”

What is this about?

“To continue hiding like this and not saying anything will resolve nothing. We’re just being pulled along by this connection, aimlessly.”

“The steps and outcomes are set.”

A small argument began. An invisible blade was swung.

Looking at Erica who turned her head toward me, I felt a pang of sadness all of a sudden.

I had no choice but to open my mouth.

“What should I say?”

I longed to hear any story from her.

“Some story, please.”

Erica smiled faintly, her gaze warm.

“I don’t expect much. Even just something small is fine. Like what you like or how you usually spend your time.”

She didn’t tackle the fundamental queries. She might have realized that I won’t answer.

Instead, she plagued me with her intimate care and warmth.

I resisted.

“There’s nothing.”

“You’ve been filled with question marks since the very beginning.”

Erica crushed me. It felt like being trapped in a dead-end.

“I just want to know a little something.”

“Isn’t this just another way to flatter my whims?”

“No.”

Her voice was determined. Suddenly, I wanted to act spoiled.

But I held back.

“I merely wish it. Just plain curiosity.”

“That’s not how it started.”

“Relationships don’t start with concern for the other person.”

That’s true.

Her words didn’t deeply resonate with me, as I’ve never been one to mingle with others since my gaming days.

“Connections and destinies gradually grow within each other, knowingly or unknowingly.”

“What are you asking me to do?”

“Are you throwing a tantrum?”

“Will you be mad?”

Erica sighed. I wanted to savor the very air she breathed.

“I won’t be angry over this.”

Grasping her hand, longing to be caressed, but she evaded.

“Isn’t ignoring what I’m saying and doing this considered bad?”

“—-What was the subject again?”

“To tell me about you.”

Until moments ago, I was enthusiastically pushing forward. But now, I don’t know why I was avoiding her.

“I’m Orri.”

“And?”

“I’m a woman.”

“And?”

“I like Erica.”

“…And?”

“I love her.”

A brief silence fell.

“—–Where did it all go wrong?”

It sounded like she was muttering to herself, but I heard it clearly.

“—–This old trick won’t work anymore. You keep trying to escape our conversations. Didn’t you think I’d notice?”

“Yeah.”

“Geez. It’s hopeless.”

Erica’s cheeks were slightly flushed.

I quietly observed her for a moment.

“Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“What do you mean?”

“Why are you doing something you’ve never done before?”

There was a slight sharpness to her voice. Sorry.

“People sometimes act like that, you know.”

Erica said, meeting my gaze again.

“—–And that face. Looks like you’re about to cry. Is it possible for me, someone you can’t coldly ignore, to…”

I didn’t particularly feel like crying. Sometimes, during convulsions, my face must look distorted from the pain.

“Orri. It’s because of you that my wound in the abdomen hurts.”

“That’s… I’m sorry.”

“If you’re sorry, caress me.”

I tugged her hand for the second time.

But she evaded my hand. Nothing was caressed.

“I’m not finished talking yet. You were asked to tell me about yourself.”

“That’s borderline obsession.”

“Wasn’t it you who started obsessing over me in the first place?”

That’s true.

Erica sighed. During the brief silence, I slowly processed my thoughts.

“I…”

“Yes.”

“I like Americanos.”

“Yes.”

“I like taking walks.”

“And?”

Gently tapping Erica’s fingertips, I exhaled softly, and our fingers intertwined.

“Sometimes… I also study magic.”

“Is that a hobby?”

“Something like that.”

Her interest made me feel oddly happy momentarily. Perhaps because of the residual effects of the battle, Erica’s mood seemed lifted.

People are like that, I guess. Even though I hadn’t truly known another person, I had realized the notion of love a bit late.

It looked like Erica had her whims too.

“I also study species.”

“Do you like studying?”

“Not exactly. It’s just the only thing I can do.”

“I see.”

Erica nodded. Normally, she might’ve taken out a notebook, but she didn’t today.

A fleeting memory of walking in the past came to mind. What had I been thinking then?

“So many things…”

“Many things?”

“A bit more, something… More…”

Although the words I used were vague, I didn’t even know what exactly I wanted to say.

I was so young and foolish.

Our fingers were completely intertwined now. The sensation of her palm stimulated my nerves.

It feels good.

“Let’s do it from now on, with me.”

I unconsciously shut my mouth.

A baffled voice came from somewhere.

“Ah, of course. That… This, this is in terms of handling you, right? Aligning with your tastes…”

“That’s right. If you don’t handle me well, the association could be in danger.”

I felt her touch. My cheek was caressed, and then my ear was tickled.

I closed my eyes and leaned into Erica’s embrace.