Chapter 106

R‍e‌a​d‍ ‌o‌​n‍ K‍​a​t‍R‌e‌a‌​d‍​i​ng‍​C​af​e‌

Yes, I understand it now.

Logically speaking, this is the natural course of action, right?

Isn’t that right? I may have laughed it off, but if it were an ordinary person, it would have been a lifelong trauma.

Her cheeks were slapped until they were a mess, and her teeth were pulled out one by one with pliers.

That alone would have been enough to make anyone snap, but she was also knocked down, crushed, and choked until she wet herself and passed out.

All this was done by someone who had volunteered to help.

Even if the other person agreed, it was excessive violence.

Under the pretext of waking Alice, Frey cruelly abused me.

If she had done this to someone else, they would have sued her without a second thought.

It was a reward for Lucia, but for an ordinary person, it would have been a punishment.

It was a horrific act of violence and abuse that would have left a lifelong scar.

That’s why I understood Frey’s apology.

In fact, it was wrong to think she came here to abuse me again.

Did she really come to the ward just to relieve stress by hitting Lucia?

Isn’t that a bit too much of a fantasy? Is Lucia the fool here?

Frey’s sadism makes it easy to forget, but Frey is also Alice.

Alice is kind. She’s like a princess from a fairy tale.

As such, Frey, being Alice’s other half, couldn’t be fundamentally unkind.

She may have acted on impulse due to Alice’s absence and a momentary lapse, but once she regained her composure, she must have regretted it.

I know.

Yes, I know.

But still…

I believed… I believed Frey was different from Eugene…!

I believed in Frey!

This is too much. You betrayed me.

You betrayed my heart!

Why did you act so mysteriously and provoke misunderstandings?

Why did you lock the door? Why did you ask if I was scared?

Why did you come so close as if you were going to kiss me?

You set the mood so heavily, and all you had to say was “sorry”?

“I’m not asking for forgiveness. You can hate me if you want. But I was the only one who made a mistake, so I hope you don’t hate Alice.”

I tried to hold back the sigh that naturally came from disappointment, but I managed to suppress it.

Well, what can I do? It’s similar to what happened with Eugene. No, it’s the same.

I had unreasonable expectations and was disappointed on my own.

Frey came to apologize for her past mistake.

It was me who misinterpreted it and blew it out of proportion.

In the end, the one at fault wasn’t Frey, but Lucia.

Though provoking the misunderstanding was a bit annoying!

“Lu──”

I gently pushed away Frey’s hand that was holding my shoulder.

With my free arm, I hugged Frey tightly.

Her small frame nestled into my embrace like a doll.

A pleasant scent wafted from her silky blue hair.

“I told you, I don’t hate Frey. I like you.”

Of course, I can’t hate her.

How could I hate Frey, who gave me such a wonderful time?

“You don’t have to blame yourself. I said it earlier, didn’t I? Alice is my most important friend. Frey is also Alice, right? Frey is also my most important friend. I want to continue getting along well with Frey in the future. So it’s okay. I’m completely fine.”

This isn’t just empty consolation.

I really am fine.

In fact, I was happy.

“I don’t need forgiveness. I never hated Frey to begin with, so how could I forgive you?”

“…You’re too kind, that’s your problem.”

“Hehe, thank you.”

“That’s not a compliment.”

“Thank you!”

“I said it’s not a compliment!”

I pretended not to hear the deep sigh filled with many meanings.

I hugged Frey and nuzzled my cheek against her head.

I’ve done this with Alice before, but this is the first time with Frey.

Even though their personalities are different, their bodies are the same. Small. Soft. Squishy.

“…Thank you.”

Frey said in a voice that was barely audible.

If I hadn’t been paying attention, I wouldn’t have heard it.

I couldn’t hold back the smile that escaped my lips.

I hugged Frey even tighter and stroked her hair.

Yes, how cute. My Frey. Good job. You had the courage to apologize.

She’s truly a lovable girl. No wonder Eugene fell in love with her.

What a kind child. Really kind. A kind child deserves a reward, right?

Since she gave me disappointment along with her mistake… okay, I’ll balance the reward and punishment.

“Hey, Frey.”

I carefully let go of her from my embrace.

She had a sulky expression, probably thinking I would hug her more.

But at my next words, her cute face turned pale, and all the color drained from it.

“Do you like hitting people?”

“Wh-what…?”

Frey’s eyes filled with confusion.

“Sadism, I think it’s called? A sexual preference where you get pleasure from hitting others. I read about it in a book.”

“Lu, Lucia…”

“So, Frey, you’re a sadist, right?”

“Wh, wh, what, suddenly, what…”

She gasped and widened her pupils.

Her reaction was more intense than I expected.

I thought she would just raise an eyebrow, but…

She looked more shocked by my few words now than by the black knight’s attack.

“I thought about it. All the things you did to me.”

Every time I recalled it, I felt a pleasant tingle.

My lower abdomen grew hot, and I even looked in the mirror and choked myself.

But nothing felt as good as what Frey did.

“It was too emotional for an act to wake Alice. It was impulsive, and it seemed like the purpose was just to torment me.”

“…”

Frey trembled and looked up at me.

Was it that shocking to be found out about her sadism?

Isn’t it weirder that she didn’t realize it after doing those things?

Even if I hadn’t read the novel, I would have figured it out instantly.

“You slapped my cheek, pulled out my teeth, choked me… and humiliated me by making me wet myself…”

“…”

I grabbed Frey’s shoulder as she slowly took a step back.

A moment ago, Frey was the one holding me, but the situation had reversed in an instant.

Looking at Frey, who was trembling pitifully, I smiled faintly and said,

“I saw it. The way you smiled while choking me. You seemed to be enjoying it so much.”

“…”

“You enjoyed my suffering, didn’t you?”

If I were to say, “I’m disappointed.” like I did to Eugene, how would Frey react?

Would she, having been caught, decide not to hold back anymore and hit me?

Would she sever my limbs with heat rays to prevent me from resisting?

Would she push me down like a caterpillar, choke me, and toy with me?

Each possibility was exciting, but if that happened, Frey and Alice’s relationship would collapse.

I don’t want that.

I want Alice and Frey to continue getting along well.

They are one person, sisters, and most important of all, family.

Family should be harmonious.

“Frey.”

I called her.

I gently caressed Frey’s cheek, unable to meet my gaze.

After being kind for a while, I suddenly pulled her cheek.

Her soft, squishy cheek stretched out beautifully.

Frey, shrinking back, barely looked up at me.

“I don’t care what kind of tendencies you have.”

That’s a lie.

In fact, I do care.

A girl who enjoys oppressing others.

She’s the best, isn’t she?

“I have a request. Will you listen?”

Since I acted a bit spoiled, it’s time to give her a reward.

No, in fact, it’s a reward for me, isn’t it? Hehe, whatever.

A good child deserves a reward.

Lucia is a good child too, right?

“I realized something because of this incident.”

Frey’s hair was a bit messy after being hugged and stroked.

I smiled faintly and ran my hand through Frey’s blue hair.

Without a comb, I couldn’t arrange it properly, but I could at least tidy it up a bit.

“I really am weak.”

“…Lucia, you’re not weak!”

“No, I am. I couldn’t do anything on my own.”

It’s true. Eugene and Frey did almost all the work defeating the monsters. I only managed to hold the black knight for a moment.

That was a significant contribution, but objectively, I was weak.

I was much weaker than Eugene and Frey. Their growth rate is too fast. At this rate, I wouldn’t even be classified as part of the same Golden Generation.

To catch up with the two of them, who are growing at an astonishing pace compared to the novel, Lucia also needs to progress faster than the novel.

“I don’t want to be a burden. I want to become as strong as you two.”

“…Do you want me to help with your training?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

I carefully grabbed Frey’s wrist. Lucia’s hand is not large, but Frey’s small, delicate arm fits entirely in my grasp. I slowly raised my hand, and Frey’s hand, caught by me, rose along with it. She could easily shake off my hand, but Frey followed without resistance.

“Frey, I have a request.”

Both hands reached above my shoulders.

Frey’s hand, caught by me, touched my neck.

If she just applied a little force with her fingertips, she could choke me.

“Hit me.”

“…What?”

Frey’s voice came out in a dumbfounded gasp.

Her round eyes widened like a candle flame.

Her wrist trembled. Frey looked at me with an expression of disbelief.

“Wh, what, what are you saying…”

“You see… my supernatural ability is super regeneration, right?”

“What does that have to do with hitting you…? Wait, could it be…?”

“Supernatural abilities grow the more you use them. Just like human body parts. The more you use a muscle, the stronger it becomes. Similarly, supernatural abilities need to be used to be trained.”

“To grow your regeneration ability…”

“To train super regeneration, I first need to get hurt.”

Of course, that’s not the only way to train.

If I achieve mental growth, I can evolve super regeneration without getting hurt.

Like Eugene.

But such revolutionary growth isn’t easy, is it?

If it were, there would be many supernaturals at Eugene’s level.

So I’ll train steadily.

I won’t rely on luck and will take one step at a time.

…That’s actually an excuse.

Training super regeneration is just a side benefit.

My true intention is different.

I’m giving Frey a legal ticket to use violence.

Special discount service! Here’s a brand-new Lucia punching bag. Would you like to use it?

If you like it, it can be yours forever.

“I know. It’s a strange request, right? I’m sorry. You’re the only one I can ask this of.”

“…”

Frey alternated between looking at her hand on my neck and my face.

What emotions were in her mismatched eyes?

My supernatural ability isn’t telepathy, so I can’t tell in detail.

But I could guess from her gaze.

“You can refuse if you want. Don’t feel pressured.”

Her trembling eyes were filled with a strange brilliance.

I felt her fingertips gradually gaining strength.

Slowly, the pressure began to choke my neck.

“…You’ll regret it. I’m not kind. Do you know who you’re making this request to?”

My body trembled with anticipation.

I wanted to answer her question, but I stopped myself, fearing a laugh would escape.

I relaxed my body.

I collapsed onto the bedsheets.

Frey’s hand was still on my neck.

No, she was gripping my neck.

As I fell backward, Frey had already straddled me.

I recalled the scene from the dormitory that day. It was just like then.

The place was different, but her gaze was the same.

“…”

Frey exhaled hot breath.

It was gloomy yet carried a strange heat.

After silently staring down at me for a while, Frey…

“Ugh…”

…began to choke me.

Frey’s palm was soaked with sweat, making my neck sticky.

Her trembling hand gripped the sheets.

I couldn’t breathe.

Only occasional animalistic sounds escaped through my throat.

The blood flow to my brain was blocked due to the pressure on my veins.

Dizziness set in, and my vision darkened.

“Ha…”

A faint laugh escaped Frey’s lips.

I decided to smile too.

Hehe.

I feel amazing~♡

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
It’s the completion of a world where everyone is happy.

Isn’t it really special that Lucia gives Frey a reward?

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
Eugene squad is in shambles, heh.