Ch.129129. Confession (2)

“Have you heard of… a possessor?”

I didn’t miss the small ripple that formed in her eyes, blue as a lake, at that one word. Possessor. Her pupils trembled slightly.

After my magic had spread throughout the world, as discussions about the origin of my power reached my ears, I had been contemplating bit by bit.

Since I’d already made such a big move, I wondered whether it would be better to reveal my true identity to Sione now or to remain silent and let it pass quietly.

In the end, I seemed to be leaning more toward revealing my identity to her.

‘At first, I wasn’t very pleased about it.’

If a slave starts babbling about being a possessor from another world and that this world is about to be destroyed, they’d only be treated as a madman. Obviously, no one would believe it. When I first taught Sione about archery, I avoided answering her curiosity.

‘And then…’

The reason is vague.

Perhaps I was still afraid my words would be dismissed as nonsense and denied, or maybe I lacked faith in Sione… or maybe I didn’t want to create variables by bringing it up unnecessarily.

Or if not that, maybe I habitually avoided the answer, thinking I would tell her when the time was right.

It’s ambiguous. Complex thoughts form and disappear. It would be difficult to define specifically, but.

‘And now.’

I just felt that this was the time for me to reveal my identity to Sione.

“A possessor…”

Sione murmured the word that had come from my mouth.

The trailing end of her words. It seemed she was having difficulty grasping the unfamiliar term.

At this rate, I thought I would need to explain the concept of a possessor, so I opened my mouth.

“A possessor is—”

“Yes, a possessor, so you were a possessor.”

But Sione seemed to know the concept of a possessor quite well.

The expression she showed was one of admiration. I glimpsed the childlike wonder of a little kid seeing a fairy tale protagonist.

“Do you know about possessors?”

“…Yes. Possessors appear as protagonists in some fairy tales.”

Sione pointed to the bookshelf in her room.

“Possessors often appeared in the novels I read alone in my room every day.”

“Ah.”

Well, Sione had been cooped up in her room before I came.

It seemed that even in a life of sleeping and snacking to kill time, she had read quite a lot of novels to find small pleasures.

In fact, I had read the titles of the books on her bookshelf while cleaning her room.

Her bookshelf was filled with a few dictionaries about flower meanings and flowers, and novels with fancy titles. Writings meant for entertainment rather than conveying information or accumulating knowledge.

Indeed, people are the same everywhere. Seeing how easily she accepted the concept of a possessor. It seems people in this world also use concepts like possession and reincarnation quite readily.

When I nodded slightly at her words, Sione gave a faint small eye-smile.

“So what you’re saying.”

Sione’s bright expression gradually became calmer.

She had already put away that bright smile and was looking at me carefully.

“Is that you are some hero who has taken over that body, aren’t you?”

Sione had replaced her gentle tone with a somewhat tense, stiff one.

She wanted my answer.

“A hero… I suppose that could be one way to look at it.”

Hunters must show heroic epic aspects to conquer dungeons, the remnants of a ruined world.

Depending on the type of dungeon, sometimes we even have to act like real heroes. So while the word “hero” might sound childish, I don’t think it’s that far from who I am.

Flinch.

When I slightly affirmed her words, Sione trembled a little.

“…Can I know the timing?”

“The timing?”

“When you took over that body. When you began to be entangled with me.”

Sione was worried.

I could clearly see what she was thinking.

So without hesitation, I reached out to stroke her hair to answer her, but.

Thump.

Sione’s small hand briefly blocked my hand from advancing closer.

She looked quite confused.

I gently took her hand and said.

“What are you so worried about? Have you ever felt any sense of discomfort while staying with me until now?”

She thought for a moment and then shook her head.

“…No.”

“Of course not. I first entered this body a few days before being locked behind iron bars and sold to Lord Ainel.”

“Then—”

“It’s been only me who has been with Sione all this time, so there’s no need to worry.”

I reached out again and started stroking her head. Sione slightly raised her head to look up at me.

“…Really?”

“Really.”

“Truly?”

“If you don’t believe me… it wouldn’t be a bad idea to use magic to determine the truth. Would you like to try?”

Nevertheless, this suspicious person was still harboring distrust of my words, which was vexing.

Well, I could understand her reaction, so I just continued speaking slowly.

“I was the man who warned that the fat Sione wouldn’t be as annoying as the other servants, and I was the one who taught Sione archery.”

“……”

It was me who clicked my tongue at the sharp irritability of that fat fallen noble lady, and it was me who reformed that pig by putting a bow in her hands.

“It was me who got on the carriage with you, making small talk, and it was none other than me who protected Sione, sometimes sacrificing my left arm. I wonder if you know how much that arm hurt at that time….”

“Th-that’s……”

It was me who took on most of the chores for her, from getting on the carriage to traveling that long road together, camping and simple cooking.

And it was me who beat up the Arachne that attacked us in the past and protected Sione, who was constantly in danger of dying. The sensation of that damn spider’s jaw piercing my left arm was quite something. The feeling of bone being punctured through was not very pleasant.

“There’s a lot more than that. Ray, who tried to pounce on Sione after getting drunk on wine at the banquet hall.”

“W-wait…!”

“Ray, whom Sione hugged tightly while saying, ‘Please look only at me.'”

“Ray…!”

Sione suddenly stood up, embarrassed by my words.

Her ears had turned red. Though her physical strength had increased, she hadn’t developed the mental fortitude to withstand her own dark history.

I smirked at her demonstratively.

“You…!”

She clearly looked like she was about to smack me on the back. Having been hit by her smash once before, which was unexpectedly painful… I couldn’t just stand there and take it.

I stepped back and said.

“I am the Ray that Sione likes so much.”

Sione stared at me.

“And I am the Ray who likes Sione… even after saying all this, you still can’t believe me?”

Sione’s steps, as she was approaching me while stomping her feet, stopped right there.

She stared at me blankly for a moment. Her slightly parted lips revealed how surprised she was.

I just watched quietly, knowing she would start functioning properly soon.

Sione remained frozen like a statue, showing no reaction and just blankly holding my face in her eyes.

“…Sione? Why are you suddenly like this?”

“…It’s the first time.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s the first time you’ve directly said you like me first.”

After saying that, Sione walked over and hugged me.

Looking down at the top of her head as she quietly nestled in my arms, seeing the strength of her arms tightly embracing me.

“Hmm….”

For a while, she seemed to have no intention of letting go.

Then she suddenly glanced up at me.

“Everything you just said is true…right?”

“…Of course, I don’t mind if you want to verify the truth with magic.”

“Then—”

“…?”

She roughly grabbed my collar and pulled me down.

Whether she failed to control her strength due to nervousness or not, with that force stronger than expected gripping my collar and pulling me down, my upper body bent helplessly.

And this foolish Sione crashed her lips against mine.

In this romantic atmosphere and timing, my master gifted me with pain felt on my lips and front teeth.

“Ssip……”

I glared at Sione while touching my mouth.

“…That hurt.”

Sione looked at me with trembling eyes and then shrieked.

“I-it was a mistake…! D-do it again!”

…If I make another mistake like that, I’ll lose both my front teeth.

I placed my hand on the back of her head faster than her right hand trying to grab my collar again, and pulled her toward me.

“Ugh……”

“……”

The taste I felt from the kiss with Sione was the strong taste of blood on my lips.

* * *

Sione and I sat facing each other at the table again like before, and we continued our conversation for a while.

And finally, Sione’s rambling emotions settled down, and we reached a state where we could have a proper conversation.

“So do you believe me now? That it’s been me talking with Sione all this time.”

Sione stared at me intently and then just nodded.

“Then let’s move on to the next topic.”

“Next topic?”

“About me. I’ve only told you when I entered this body. You haven’t heard my story yet, have you?”

I smiled slightly at Sione, whose eyes were sparkling brightly, and said.

“You can ask me anything you’re curious about.”

Sione’s question time began.