Chapter 109

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“Wh, what, what are you saying…”

I must have misheard.

Maybe my hearing was affected by today’s battle.

That’s the only explanation.

Lucia chuckled awkwardly, as if she expected Frey’s flustered reaction.

Still, she didn’t let go of Frey’s wrist.

Frey’s hand was in a position where, with just a little force, she could choke Lucia’s neck.

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

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

Frey’s spine shivered at the sudden realization.

Her shocked eyes filled with horror.

She understood what Lucia was implying.

“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.”

Yes, in a way, it made sense.

Just as the human body grows stronger through training,

and muscles develop with frequent use,

supernatural abilities also become more proficient with practice.

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

Frey finally began to understand Lucia’s intentions, at least partially.

To grow as a regenerator, Lucia needed to be injured first.

That’s why she was making this request.

To ask Frey to inflict wounds on her.

Because she needed to be injured to regenerate.

“…”

On the surface, there was nothing wrong with this.

Today’s events had made her realize her own shortcomings, and she was seeking help to overcome them.

While it might seem strange for a regenerator to ask for this, it was undoubtedly a method of training her ability.

But Frey wasn’t foolish.

Was Lucia’s request truly just about training her ability?

Did she really just want help with her ability?

It was too clumsy.

This method was inefficient.

It would have been far more beneficial to use her regeneration ability in a different way.

The fact that she didn’t need recovery time was an undeniable advantage in training.

If she had asked for sparring that involved injuries, Frey wouldn’t have been so confused.

But Lucia was asking for one-sided violence.

She was practically saying, “Go ahead and torment me, I won’t resist.”

Why?

Frey could guess, but Lucia, the user of super regeneration, couldn’t possibly be unaware.

Lucia would have studied her ability more meticulously than Frey.

Yet she was making this flawed, inefficient request───

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

Lucia said with an awkward smile that didn’t suit the situation.

What did that smile mean?

What was the intention behind her words?

Frey pretended not to know, asking herself these questions.

The answer was already within her.

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

Fingers slowly tightened.

Even though she knew this was wrong, her body acted on its own.

She grabbed Lucia’s delicate neck with both hands and began to squeeze slowly.

Lucia’s smile remained unchanged, but the corners of her lips trembled.

She collapsed backward, lying on the bed.

By the time Frey regained her senses, she was already on top of Lucia.

The sensations from that day resurfaced.

Just like then, she was looking down at Lucia from above.

Just like then, she had climbed on top and choked her neck with all her strength.

“Ugh…”

Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on Lucia’s neck.

A painful moan escaped Lucia’s lips.

Was she scared now, after asking for this?

Her trembling hands clutching the white sheets made her look pitiful.

I understand. You’re a fool.

“Hit me”, she said.

It was the most absurd request in the world.

The reason was even more ridiculous.

It was a pardon.

She was giving Frey the right to legally exercise violence.

Knowing Frey’s sadistic tendencies.

No, precisely because she knew, she made this foolish move.

The reason was obvious, wasn’t it? It was so typical of the kind Lucia.

‘You’re offering yourself as a tool to satisfy my desires…aren’t you?’

There was no other explanation.

She had declared herself as a channel to release Frey’s violent urges.

Why would she go this far? Because she’s a friend? Because she really likes Alice?

Countless thoughts surged, but a growing heat quickly took over Frey’s mind.

She had experienced this before.

Just like last time, her desires were consuming her reason.

Her heartbeat was heavy. Blood boiled through her veins.

Frey felt like her entire body was on fire. Her palms were soaked with sweat.

Still, her hands gripping Lucia’s neck didn’t slip. They remained steady.

“Ha…”

She laughed unintentionally. Even though she knew this was wrong, her actions contradicted her thoughts. Her remaining reason screamed at her to stop, to apologize, to let go, but Frey ignored it. She covered her ears as if the desperate pleas of her conscience were annoying.

I should refuse.

Don’t you learn from your mistakes?

Did you forget what you were thinking just minutes ago?

Stop. Snap out of it. Don’t hurt Lucia.

Please. I know you’ll regret this.

But refusing here would be disrespectful to Lucia, who made a difficult decision, wouldn’t it?

Right? Lucia didn’t make this decision lightly.

It must have been a long, agonizing choice.

If I refuse, it would be no different from crushing Lucia’s courage.

For Lucia’s sake… yes, I’m not wrong.

“It’s all your fault. I’ve been holding back with what kind of feelings….”

I was given permission. Permission from Lucia, of all people.

So now, wouldn’t it be okay to do anything?

Lucia would forgive even the worst things.

I’m not wrong.

Yes, I’m not.

This is all Lucia’s doing.

The abnormal sadism I had suppressed began to surface.

A grin, as if it would tear Frey’s lips, appeared on her face.

“Eugh, uh, eugh, he…”

Lucia’s smile began to distort slightly. She tried to smile as if enduring the pain, but transparent tears welled up in her pink eyes.

Did Lucia know? That her tender expression was crushing Frey’s reason with cruelty.

I’ve read about it in a book.

Sometimes, when excitement reaches its peak, one becomes calm instead.

I thought it was an exaggerated expression often used in novels.

Frey experienced that it was possible.

“…”

Frey loosened her grip on Lucia’s neck.

How strongly she had squeezed and twisted, leaving red handprints on Lucia’s pale neck.

If she had applied just a little more force, bruises would have formed.

No, considering Frey’s grip strength, her neck bones might have broken like crackers.

“Ke, keuk, ha, uh, ah…?”

As the blocked airway was freed, Lucia gasped desperately for air.

She looked up at Frey with a puzzled expression.

It seemed she hadn’t expected Frey to let go so suddenly.

“Fr, Frey…?”

“…This is too much. It’s too excessive. The place isn’t right, and Alice might wake up.”

Unlike last time in the dormitory, doing this in the academy’s affiliated hospital room was risky. Someone could come in at any moment. The cleanup wouldn’t be easy. If Lucia had an accident like last time and wet the bed, the sheets would be ruined. If there was bleeding, it would be hard to manage.

Most importantly, there was Alice as a variable. Excessive stimulation would be transmitted to Alice. Didn’t that principle wake Alice that day? Although she had set up a mental barrier to block external events, Frey didn’t want to be despised by Alice.

“Thanks for understanding. Lucia, you’re really a good person.”

“Uh, uh-huh…”

Frey gently stroked Lucia’s flushed neck.

Every time her fingertips touched, Lucia flinched.

Lucia reacted awkwardly.

It seemed she found Frey’s sudden change of attitude suspicious.

“I’ll help with your supernatural training. But not like this.”

The price for momentary pleasure was too heavy.

Frey made a rational judgment.

However, one thing to keep in mind.

Her reason had already been shattered for a long time.

This conclusion was drawn by gathering the scattered remnants of her reason.

“Lucia, what is a supernatural ability?”

“Wh, what do you mean all of a sudden…”

Lucia couldn’t hide her confusion at the abrupt question.

But Frey didn’t care.

As she helped Lucia sit up, she continued without waiting for an answer.

“Supernatural abilities are the power of the mind. They reside not in the body, but in the spirit.”

That’s why, like Alice (Frey), special cases occur.

One body, two personalities.

One body, but two minds.

Since supernatural abilities are the power of the mind, a dual-ability user was born.

“So you don’t necessarily have to use your supernatural ability for it to develop. If the source of the ability, the mind, grows stronger, the supernatural ability will also develop.”

Frey already knew this example.

Eugene. After the field training, she grew rapidly.

Alice. As her mind matured, her ability also strengthened.

It’s a rare case, but there are instances where mental training leads to the evolution of abilities.

“Lucia, you asked me to hit you. But you didn’t want to be hit, right?”

“Th, that’s right…”

“It was all for the growth of your supernatural ability, wasn’t it? If there’s another way to train without getting hit, wouldn’t that be better?”

“I, I guess…?”

Lucia nodded hesitantly.

Frey seemed satisfied and nodded.

She crossed her legs and folded her arms.

With a dark shadow under her eyes, Frey said,

“Take it off.”

“…Huh?”

“Your clothes, take them all off.”

“Wh, what do you mean…?”

Snap!

Lucia’s head turned abruptly.

The handprint that was only on her neck now appeared on her cheek.

Frey muttered, “Oops.” but quickly forgot.

She had intended to avoid violence, but it slipped out unconsciously.

“Your lip is bleeding. That must hurt.”

“Ahg, ugh…”

“I’ll explain as an apology.”

Frey smiled cheerfully, swinging her legs.

In a solemn voice, as if revealing a great secret, she said,

“Regeneration is really annoying, right? Getting injured and regenerating to train. It’s too troublesome and painful, isn’t it? Let’s grow your supernatural ability in a different way.”

“A different, way…?”

“Supernatural abilities are the power of the mind.”

In other words, train your mind.

Simple, right?

“I’m going to humiliate you now. It’ll be tough, but you can endure it, right? It’s better than pain. If you overcome humiliation, your mental strength will improve, won’t it?”

Nonsense. It was sophistry. Frey was aware of it.

Even if it were possible, the efficiency would be extremely low.

It might even result in a worse situation.

But regardless of the truth, it didn’t matter to Frey.

“Take it off. Everything. Don’t leave any underwear.”

“…”

Lucia looked at Frey with a hazy gaze.

She touched her cheek absentmindedly, her expression dazed.

Her face was red, but not just because of the slap.

“A, alright, I g-got it…”

Lucia’s trembling hands grabbed the hem of her patient gown.

The sound of the fabric brushing against her skin was soft.

Her trembling intensified with each button she undid.

The pink patient gown fell to the floor in disarray.

“Is, is this enough…?”

“Do I have to say it three times?”

The weak resistance was instantly dismissed.

Lucia, hesitating and checking Frey’s expression, eventually squeezed her eyes shut.

Swoosh. Swoosh. 

The plain underwear provided by the hospital fell to the floor, and Lucia was finally left in her natural state.

She trembled, trying to cover her body with her arms and hands. She pressed her forearms against her chest, wrapped her thighs, and tried to hide her private parts. Her gaze couldn’t meet Frey’s. Her golden hair was sucked into the valley between her breasts. Her innocent eyes glistened with tears, and her nose and cheeks were red like ripe apples.

She looked so pitiful that Frey wanted to torment her.

I want to ruin that embarrassed face.

It’s okay. No problem. This is something Lucia agreed to.

Seeing Lucia completely naked, Frey felt a sense of conquest boiling in her chest.

I’m the only one who can do whatever I want with this girl.

No one else will see Lucia like this.

Except for her closest friend, Alice (Frey).

“…”

However, the exhilaration didn’t last long.

The events from a few hours ago in the park came to mind.

Eugene’s back as she headed toward the dangerous battlefield to help.

Whether Lucia likes someone or not is her freedom.

Frey had no right to interfere.

Still..

‘I’m annoyed.’

‘She’s mine. We were closer to Lucia first.’

Alice and I got close to Lucia a month earlier than Eugene.

Yet this latecomer… is trying to take Lucia away.

“Fr, Frey… I, um, what should I… do…?”

As Frey fell into a momentary silence, Lucia cautiously asked, unable to endure the waiting.

Frey smoothed her furrowed brow at the fragile, almost breaking voice.

Right, now wasn’t the time to worry about Eugene.

What should I make Lucia do?

In truth, Frey hadn’t deeply considered this part.

Humiliation. What could she do to give her humiliation and shame?

There were so many ideas. Too many, to the point where counting them was exhausting.

Should I make her masturbate here? Or have her lie face down on the floor like doing push-ups?

Just imagining it made her mouth water, but it was too extreme.

Lucia’s heart might not be able to handle it.

Something moderate… ah, that’s right.

“Lucia.”

“Uh, yes….”

“Bark.”

Woof.

On all fours.

 

Author Note

A/N (Author’s note):
Nothing obscene is allowed…

The family friendly me is in control, cheer up!

Translator Note

T/N (Translator’s note):
You know, I’m not really sure if I notice the difference between this chapter and the ending of the first IF side story, heh.