I, Murmur, honestly thought I’d enjoy my conversation with Citrine with a pretty light heart.
I was pretty sure the chances of experiencing this “hunger” event were low since I always managed my hunger well, even if I ate a lot of leftovers.
Even if I did face this random “hunger” event, I thought it wouldn’t be a problem.
Of course.
When playing the game, as long as the conditions were met, I could endure it by just pressing a choice once.
“Ugh… ah…!”
【Stamina 99, Magic 100, Hunger 101, Stress 54】
「Murmur feels hunger!」
“Murmur-nim, you don’t have to hold back.”
Citrine, who couldn’t read my mind, exposed her snow-white neck to me.
A neck as white and pretty as a snow-covered field.
The sweet and delicious scent of fruit wafted up.
“Ugh…”
I was a fool to think I could endure it so easily.
Even though I knew how hard and painful it would be for Murmur to endure this hunger, I thought I could just bear it.
I underestimated hunger.
I arrogantly thought I could endure it by just closing my eyes tightly, even in moments like this.
“I’m fine, Murmur-nim.”
Citrine, with a humble expression, as if she had tasted all the happiness in the world.
This girl is sincere.
But I can’t eat her.
I don’t intend to proceed with that horrifying, relentless, and cruel story of the Demon Lord route!
“Ah…”
My mouth watered, and my stomach growled.
Now I understand what it means for your stomach and back skin to stick together.
So this is hunger.
Citrine in front of me looks so delicious.
She looks like a fluffy donut covered in powdered sugar.
「Murmur feels hunger!」
「Enjoy your feast!」
“I was born to be eaten by you, Murmur-nim.”
“Don’t say that.”
“So please… eat me to your heart’s content.”
I don’t want to do anything bad to Citrine.
I don’t want to ruin her body just to satisfy my hunger.
I don’t want to bite her arm today, her thigh next, her chest after that, and finally her neck.
“That’s… not… what Murmur…”
Invisible hands grabbed my, Murmur’s, head.
Against my will, my lips touched her sweet-smelling neck.
Her skin was soft, like a fluffy cake.
“Ah… Murmur-nim…”
Don’t let out such a determined sigh.
“Ci… Citrine…”
I stuck out my tongue.
I licked her snow-white neck.
I could feel the dangerous heartbeat from Citrine’s chest, which I was gripping tightly.
「Murmur feels hunger!」
It must be delicious.
Citrine’s heart must be so delicious.
“Murmur is…”
Thinking.
Recalling.
This isn’t about avoiding the main story.
In the Demon Lord route, Murmur can refuse hunger.
It’s a choice with no merit, but it’s a choice.
“Murmur is…!”
There’s no massive experience.
No skills are given.
No knowledge.
But I like this story.
“… I won’t… eat Citrine.”
“You don’t have to hold back.”
“Murmur! I’ll eat… something sweet… with Citrine!”
“Huh?”
My fingers trembled.
I felt like the whole world was laughing at me.
“Murmur… hates meat. Likes… sweet things.”
“What are you talking about…?”
“I want to eat… the pancakes Citrine made… I want to eat the cream puffs Citrine made, and later, I want to eat cake together…!”
Citrine’s pupils shook faintly.
“I’ll eat… the macarons Citrine likes too. Don’t get mad if Murmur… steals them… okay?”
“Murmur-nim… …”
“You… only talked about desserts…? I want to eat… the lobster Citrine likes too… I’ll… peel the shell for you…”
I let out a hollow laugh.
This wasn’t the dialogue I was supposed to have.
“You don’t have to say such things! Eat me now!”
“Murmur… has… plans to have… strawberry shakes… with Citrine in New Helheim. That’s what we decided.”
“You don’t have to hold back! Look at your body, Murmur-nim!”
Citrine grabbed my shoulders.
“You haven’t grown at all! You can’t stay this small forever! It’s because you don’t eat us! It’s because you don’t eat us that you’re so small and petite!”
So you know.
You know about that cruel story.
Is that why we’re on this date today?
You’re… a bit sly…
“You’re still a head shorter than me!”
“But… it’s fine… Murmur is still strong. Will get stronger. Can protect Nicasia, and can protect Citrine, my bride… too.”
My fingers trembled.
I was gripping Citrine’s chest so tightly that it might start bleeding.
“Why… why are you suffering like this?!”
Citrine shook her head.
“Murmur-nim is the flesh and blood of the Demon God! The twelfth voice that the descendants of Nectar prayed for and awaited!!! You have the right to eat me!”
“That’s… right. Citrine… is Murmur’s bride… right?”
“Yes! That’s why I’m prepared like this!”
“So… Murmur is saying. Citrine is Murmur’s bride.”
I mustered the last bit of strength in my body.
“Where is there a groom… who eats his bride…?”
“… Huh?”
“Murmur… has… plans. If Citrine really becomes Murmur’s bride… we’ll… get married.”
I smiled faintly.
The one reward given to players who walked the thorny path of the Demon Lord route without ever satisfying their hunger.
“Murmur… loves Citrine.”
“I… I do too…!”
“Loves you… a lot. Really… loves you. I didn’t take the pouch of gold coins back then… because I was afraid Citrine would get hurt.”
Citrine opened her eyes wide and looked at me.
“So… since it’s come to this. I’ll… take responsibility. Murmur will marry Citrine… since she’s my bride.”
“Murmur-nim…”
“After graduating from the Academy… I’ll see Citrine in a pretty dress. I’ll see Citrine smiling brightly, saying she’s happy to be a bride.”
Effort doesn’t betray.
Players who endure pain are always rewarded.
I don’t want to see Citrine dying coldly, smiling.
I want to see Citrine smiling happily, saying thank you.
“Murmur… will go on dates too. We promised to go to Hedone Lake… right?”
“Yes, we promised. I promised Murmur-nim.”
“So. We have to… keep it, right?”
Citrine trembled and shook her head.
“Even if Murmur-nim says that! It’s… it’s not something that can be done!!”
“Citrine… liar… Murmur said you’d listen to anything?”
“That… that’s…”
Citrine’s firm expression finally broke.
Tears dripped down her soft cheeks from her black eyes.
“And… look. Murmur already… ate Citrine.”
With boiling strength, I pushed Citrine’s chest and climbed on top of her.
“Murmu… Kyah!”
“Eating… means…”
To deceive my body, I rubbed my face against Citrine’s neck.
The sweet, good smell.
The soft skin that stimulates my appetite.
My, Murmur’s, body started to heat up.
“This… also counts. Ci… Citrine, you’ve… done what you wanted today.”
Struggling to speak, I tightly held Citrine’s hands and forced our fingers to interlock.
I’m really sorry for the blood flowing from her white chest because of my nails, but this is the best I can do.
Sitting on Citrine’s thighs, I couldn’t hold back anymore.
「Enjoy your feast!」
“If Citrine is… Murmur’s… bride… stop me.”
“Murmur-nim? Your… your horns! Magic is…!!!”
“Murmur doesn’t want to eat Citrine! Murmur wants to be a hero! I want to protect my precious friend! I want to protect Citrine!”
Citrine’s eyes sparkled with starlight.
“So stop me! Let me endure this hunger…!”
My, Murmur’s, rationality ended there.
* * *
“Mu… Murmur-nim…?!”
Citrine looked at Murmur, who was sitting on top of her, with a panicked expression.
Murmur, whose crimson horns began to emit purple magic.
The black shadow that flowed out of Murmur’s body, whom she truly loved, filled the surroundings.
Even though the moonlight above was shining so brightly, the shadow from Murmur’s body was devouring the light.
‘This… this darkness…! This power! As expected, Murmur-nim is truly the flesh and blood of the Demon God!’
Citrine admired her but also felt heartache.
The Murmur-nim she truly loved.
The request she made at the end and the conversation they had just shared didn’t leave her mind.
“Ugh…!”
Holding Murmur’s hand tightly, Citrine recalled.
‘Murmur-nim said she wanted to eat desserts with me…’
Feeling the presence of the being emitting darkness with her whole body, Citrine made a decision.
‘I am Murmur-nim’s bride…! I promised to do anything Murmur-nim wants!’
It’s a request from someone she truly loves.
That being, with a desperate expression, asked her to stop her hunger.
Murmur, who always kept a slight distance, even kissed her neck and entrusted her with this mission!
“Really…! What do you think of me, Murmur-nim?!”
Citrine smiled as she embraced Murmur, who was roughly pushing into her arms.
“Ci■rine…! ■■ ■■!”
Murmur, shouting incomprehensible ancient Demon Language, was gently received by Citrine.
If Nicasia saw this, she’d be shocked and scream, but that didn’t matter now.
“Murmur-nim! I, I also! There are foods I want to eat with Murmur-nim!”
Citrine followed along.
The Murmur-nim she truly loved.
“I want to share sweet foods with Murmur-nim, but I also want to eat spicy foods! Do you know? The soup made with spices from the southern lands is very spicy!”
Citrine imagined it for the first time.
“I want to see Murmur-nim cry a little because it’s too spicy…! But don’t worry! I’ll definitely give you a cool and sweet drink!”
“■■ ■■!”
“Ugh… Hah! I intend to grant Murmur-nim’s requests! I’m sorry, but, so! I don’t intend to be eaten here today!”
Murmur, emitting black energy, opened her mouth wide to bite Citrine’s neck.
Citrine barely turned her face to avoid it.
If she wanted.
If she wished.
She could have been eaten here and now, but she did her best to avoid the bite.
“■■ ■■! ■■ ■■!! ■■ ■■!!!”
With a fierce momentum, Murmur opened her mouth again.
“Murmur-nim…! You must! Take responsibility! You promised to go on another date with me!”
Citrine’s slender arms trembled.
“There are so many places I want to go! I want to visit Katerinburg, where it snows every day! I want to go to Hermania too…!”
Citrine shouted until her voice was hoarse.
“I want to go on more dates with Murmur-nim! I want to be happier! I want to marry Murmur-nim!”
Murmur’s promise.
A beautiful wedding dress.
The promise she had never even imagined burned Citrine.
“So…! So! Please endure this hunger for me!”
The lamb prepared to sacrifice herself for the flesh and blood of the Demon God.
Citrine shouted.
Under the constellation of Armonia, where the lambs await their return.
Under the constellation of Vergilia, which guides the lost lambs.
“I will become Murmur-nim’s bride…! I can’t be eaten here!!”
There was no longer any firm but misguided belief.
As if blessing that choice, the starlight sparkled, and the darkness flowing from Murmur’s body gradually disappeared.
The horns that were emitting heat also quickly calmed down.
“Citrine… Ugh…”
Murmur, who had barely regained her senses, mumbled and rubbed her face against Citrine’s chest.
‘Did she really? Did she really endure it? Without eating anything, she could resist the urge…’
Murmur, rubbing her face against the snow-white chest to cool down.
Citrine looked at her with a face full of admiration.
‘… As expected, Murmur-nim is someone who can become the Demon Lord. The only being who can save the descendants of Nectar.’
To be the bride of such a being.
Citrine, who had even been promised marriage, felt her heart flutter.
“Citrine… I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I was the one who brought up the meal first.”
“But Citrine almost got hurt.”
Citrine smiled and gently stroked the back of their interlocked hands.
Even though they were both drenched in sweat and it felt strangely sticky, Citrine and Murmur had no intention of letting go.
“I intend to become Murmur-nim’s bride. I’m not a fool who can’t endure this level of trial.”
“Really?”
Citrine gave Murmur, who was looking up at her, a kiss on the forehead.
Murmur, whose strength had left her body this time, didn’t refuse it.
Instead, she gave a faint smile, as if relieved.
“B, but Murmur-nim? If you could move your face a little to another place…”
“Huh? Ah? Does it hurt…?”
Murmur looked at Citrine for a moment, then suddenly stuck out her tongue.
“Hi, Kyah?!”
Murmur licked the bleeding skin.
That act was solely for the purpose of using ‘Healing Magic.’
“Mu, Murmur-nim! Murmur-nim! I, I! Am supposed to become your bride! But I want to do this kind of thing in bed!”
“Bed? What are you talking about?”
Citrine’s face turned as red as her hair and trembled.
She was the only one conscious of their position.
Murmur sitting on top of her small body.
The snow-white skin clearly visible.
The warmth they could feel from each other.
“D, don’t pretend you don’t know?!”
In the end, Citrine couldn’t overcome her embarrassment and tried to cover her face with both hands. The moonlight highlighted her bright red ears.
“… Citrine, are you a pervert?”
At Murmur’s teasing words, Citrine shook her even redder face.
“Murmur-nim made me like this?!”
“Murmur didn’t do anything…”
“Y, you’re saying that after seeing my legs and posture?!”
Murmur chuckled.
Citrine’s posture was indeed quite bold.
Her legs were spread, and Murmur was sitting on top of her, so it was natural.
“Citrine has gone wild…”
The tension from earlier had completely disappeared, and the usual playful atmosphere returned.
“N, no!! Absolutely not?!”
Citrine, startled, hugged Murmur tightly and sat up.
Even though she was drenched in sweat, she felt strangely refreshed.
“But don’t worry, Citrine.”
“What is it?”
“Murmur wants to do it in bed next time.”
Murmur said with a charming smile.
“So…”
Citrine, suffering from her pounding heart, covered her face with both hands.
“Murmur-nim is saying things that make me misunderstand… …”
Citrine couldn’t bring herself to say what kind of imagination she had.
