Ch.128128. Promises Must Be Kept (4)

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Darwood was thrown against the wall, raising a cloud of dust, while Riru struggled to her feet, gasping for breath.

[…It’s the first time I’ve seen someone so spectacularly kick away a meal that was served right in front of them.]

Though those words drifted from nearby, Riru glared in that direction with tears in her eyes.

“No matter how I think about it, this isn’t right!”

At the very least.

Neither she nor that man should have their first experience like this.

In this way, how is it any different from a crime?

[…You shouldn’t be saying such soft things, you know?]

The spirit entity spoke those words.

Until just now, it had spoken with a flat tone regardless of what was said.

But now, when it spoke, there was a strangely cold edge to its voice.

[It’s because you’re always so soft that you keep losing things, Riru.]

“What?”

[Shall I be honest with you?]

The spirit entity smoothly moved in front of her.

It still had that relaxed appearance with drooping eyes, but.

The leisurely smile that had been there earlier was completely gone.

[Do you think you can outdo the other women?]

“…”

Several images flashed through her mind.

Women who undoubtedly knew this man earlier, more deeply, and more extensively than she did.

People who were demanding to have Darwood Campbell exclusively to themselves, much more forcefully than she was.

[And it’s not just those women. More people will be drawn to the master in the future, you know?]

“…”

[You have no experience with men, don’t know how to get along with them, don’t know how to dress up, don’t know what this man likes… do you think you can compete with those types?]

But.

“So.”

Riru looked up with determined eyes and spoke with a voice filled with firm resolve.

“So what.”

[…]

At those boldly spoken words, the spirit entity’s eyes widened.

“What do I care about the others.”

Certainly, as this entity said.

She didn’t think she could compete equally with others for this popular guy’s attention.

She might fall behind. She might suffer a crushing defeat and have to bitterly watch other women get ahead.

But still.

“At least he’s never stabbed me in the back. One shouldn’t betray, right?”

She didn’t want to do anything ‘against his will’ through dishonest means.

Even if she did, it would be in her own way. Fair and square.

She would capture his ‘true’ heart.

Not with deception like this!

[…]

At those words.

The spirit entity looked down at her with a grin.

[…Hmm. I see it’s still impossible. I was testing to see if things might go differently this quarter. But you’re just as stubborn now as you will be later.]

“…? What does that mean?”

When she looked at the spirit entity and asked that, it grinned and replied.

[Well, most of ‘us’ are like this… but I’m particularly twisted in terms of time axis. I already know that you’ll maintain that stubborn personality until your death.]

“Are you saying you can see the future?”

[Rather than that, I’ve already experienced it… I should say. Among the many ‘branches,’ there are things that never change. One of them is that you will never have intercourse with the master up to a certain point.]

It was a statement containing content so complex that she couldn’t understand what it meant.

But there was one thing she could understand clearly.

“…Intercourse?”

[Yes.]

“What does that mean-“

[It means sleeping together, Riru. Later, you’ll even bear his child. Hee-hee.]

“…”

Riru’s face turned bright red as if she was about to explode, and she stammered.

“…I, I’ll do such a thing, later?”

[You’ll do it a lot, actually.]

“…”

[Even when the master asks if you really have to do it today because he’s physically tired, you’ll frequently beg him to have just one more child and forcibly drag him to the bedroom.]

“…D-d-don’t, don’t be ridiculous. Y-y-you’re just making things up as you go, aren’t you?!”

[Hmm. Like a virgin who’s never even held a man’s hand, you immediately doubt when such things are mentioned.]

Riru’s body stiffened as the spirit hit the mark.

“Sh-shut up…!”

As she protested, Riru’s eyes began to spin.

She was embarrassed.

Beyond her face burning, she felt like she might cry.

[Even the first time you sleep together. You’ll put on airs pretending to be experienced because of your pride. But once you get to the main event, you won’t be able to resist at all, lying beneath the master, your face completely melting.]

“…Y-you-“

[Your heart will race tremendously just from being called cute by the master, and you’ll endlessly beg him to hold you tighter-]

“Sh-shut up! SHUT UUUUP!”

Riru almost screamed in response to the mental assault that came without any filter.

Seeing this, the spirit entity chuckled and floated up around her again.

[…But still, I truly mean it when I say this is for your own good. I don’t want you to get hurt if possible.]

“…”

Riru glared at the other party with incredulous eyes.

How on earth was behaving like this supposed to help her?

What kind of regrets would she have?

[…You will have them.]

But.

The voice that followed carried a conviction similar to Riru’s earlier determination.

[You’ll regret it, Riru. When that time comes, you’ll regret it beyond words. That you couldn’t create deeper memories with the master.]

Remorse.

A voice mixed with pain like salt being sprinkled on a barely healed wound that’s been torn open again.

“…”

Unconsciously silenced by the depth of emotion contained there, Riru remained quiet.

[…But, you’ll have one more chance, so.]

The spirit entity’s face broke into a bright smile again.

After saying that, it floated up and approached right in front of Riru’s nose.

Though it had no physical form, it playfully tapped her nose.

[Three months from now, Riru. That’s when your chance to shine will come.]

“…Shine?”

[Yes. An opportunity to shine so brilliantly that you’ll stick in the master’s heart with a ‘thunk.’]

“Couldn’t you explain that in more detail?”

[That would violate the rules. Scary guys would come after me, so I can’t.]

“…?”

[I can chase away most of them, but… still, there are things I must uphold.]

Saying that with a bitter smile, the spirit entity chuckled again and continued.

[Still, I can give you one piece of advice.]

“…What is it?”

[Do you know a person called Elia Krisanax?]

“…”

Know her… I do.

I’ve crossed paths with her a few times in passing. A hero candidate, wasn’t she?

But why is that person’s name suddenly coming up?

[Hang out with her. Try to become as close as possible.]

“…What? Why?”

[So you can help each other later. That’s the only way to hurt less when the white one openly causes trouble.]

“…Can’t you explain in a way I can understand a little better?”

[That’s all for now. It’s getting hard for me to maintain this form any longer. I think I’ve used up about a week’s worth of allocation?]

Indeed, the spirit entity’s form was becoming increasingly blurry.

As if maintaining its appearance any longer was a burden.

[I’ll come back to check on you soon. Until then, try to keep what I said in mind.]

“…Tch. It’s funny that I should trust everything you say when I don’t even know what kind of being you are.”

[Even if you say that, you’ll diligently do what I told you, won’t you? That’s the kind of person you are.]

“…You’ve been just teasing me all this time.”

As Riru said that with pouting lips.

The spirit entity nodded with another bright smile.

Seems like it had no intention of denying that.

[Anyway, three months from now. Something will happen. It’s a great crisis for everyone, but it could also be an opportunity for you. Remember that much for sure.]

But, only when saying such things.

[At that time, you absolutely must not fail, okay?]

It was a warm voice, like that of an older sister.

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My jaw hurts terribly.

The back of my head hurts about the same.

“…”

I glance sideways and open my mouth.

“…Excuse me, Riru.”

“What.”

“What happened yesterday?”

Riru, who was walking nervously beside me, blushed all over her face and glared at me.

“…I told you not to ask.”

“No, but I should at least be able to ask why I suddenly lost consciousness, and when I came to, my jaw was half-broken—”

“Shut up.”

“…”

Yes.

Judging by her demeanor, if I ask any more questions, my jaw will hurt much worse than it does now, so I keep my mouth shut.

“…Anyway, go pack up.”

I sigh and say that to Riru.

There have been many chaotic events, but the exchange student program that brought her to the Crucible of Struggle ends today. The period ends exactly today.

“Next time, come to Elphante properly, not as an illegal immigrant.”

I’ve heard that Kasa’s reinstatement as the Great Chief will cause quite an aftermath and administrative turmoil.

This person needs to stay by her side to help sort things out.

It won’t take long, but until then, it’s farewell.

“Wait for me.”

Riru scratched her head awkwardly and replied.

“…I’ll bring you a gift or something.”

“Oh. Can I look forward to it?”

“…”

At those words, Riru stared at me silently.

Her face was slightly flushed again.

“…Riru?”

What kind of gift is it?

Why are you acting so uneasy?

“…It’s nothing.”

After saying that, Riru quickly turned around and ran toward the Crucible of Struggle.

As if talking any more would lead to something she couldn’t handle.

“…?”

Why is she like that?

I’m suspicious, but since she doesn’t seem likely to answer any questions, I give up and enter the train.

It’s bustling. Everyone looks so peaceful that it’s hard to believe they were in an academy under attack by terrifying beasts just a few days ago.

[You can be proud, kid. They’re this peaceful because you worked hard.]

What’s with the empty flattery now?

I chuckle at Calivan’s words and enter my assigned compartment.

Sitting alone in the peaceful train compartment, I absentmindedly look out the window.

“…Hmm.”

How long has it been since I’ve sat quietly alone like this?

< System Log >

[ Target ‘Yuria’ is in extreme despair! ]

[ Target ‘Lucien’ is in extreme guilt! ]

[ Target ‘Elnore’ is in extreme helplessness! ]

[ Target ‘Faynol’ seems to have something to ask of you! ]

[ Find a way to comfort them! ]

I guess that’s why I’m alone—all the people who would normally rush to me are in such states.

“…”

Still, I should comfort them all.

Recently, I’ve tried to approach them a few times to talk, but they all ran away as soon as our eyes met, so I never succeeded.

They seem to feel guilty just by facing me.

If people who would normally cling to me are deliberately avoiding me, it means they’re really quite dejected.

Where should I start?

I scratch my head as I ponder this.

‘…I should talk to them one by one, slowly.’

I sigh as I think that.

At least they’re not people who won’t communicate. I just need to find the right timing to attempt communication.

“Ah, here you are.”

“…”

Except for this one.

I narrow my eyes at the person who barges into the compartment without invitation.

“…Hello, Faynol.”

Faynol Leiphec.

A magician from the Heresy Inquisition with fiery red hair.

“Hello, Darwood Campbell. I have something to ask of you.”

With such a business-like greeting, she smiled brightly.

“You remember what I said before? About seducing me.”

“…I remember, but.”

“Yes. It’s related to that.”

Then.

Out of nowhere, she dropped a bombshell.

“Actually, I didn’t mention this, but there’s a time limit on that.”

“…Pardon?”

“You need to seduce me within a month from now.”

< System Message >

[ A new quest related to ‘Chapter 4 – Red Night’ has been updated! ]

[ You must raise target ‘Faynol’s’ affection to ‘Affection Level 1’ within a month! ]

[ Failure results in Game Over! ]

…A month?

I blink at the sudden time limit.

Wait a minute.

Didn’t this one definitely have…

< System Log >

[ ‘Skill: Fatal Charm’ cannot be applied to target ‘Faynol’! ]

…something like this?

So I have to.

Really, within a month, this woman. Without the help of skills.

She’s telling me to seduce her to the point where she’s almost as infatuated with me as Elnore is.

“You need to make my heart race uncontrollably whenever I see you. Otherwise…”

“…Otherwise?”

Faynol smiled again and answered.

“Well.”

The words that followed didn’t match that expression at all.

“Something terrible will happen, I think?”

Said the Vessel who possesses all three pieces of the Red Demon.

The person with 100% demon fusion rate, who can bring out the ‘main body’ of the Red Demon if she goes berserk.

I don’t know exactly what that terrible thing would be, but I’m certain it’s not something I could handle.

“You promised me.”

“…”

“You should keep your promise, right?”

That’s right.

Promises should be kept.

“…”

I clutch my head as a headache comes on.

Just as I thought.

My journey so far has been one mountain after another.

How could I, of all people, think I could have a peaceful time just because one incident was over?

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