The Story Continues, Tina & Tanha (3)

“I understand what you mean.”

“You do?”

“Because you did the same.”

“…Let’s not talk about that.”

Tanha lowered her eyes bashfully and grumbled.

In the past.

The marital bond formed when Lug briefly paused his ascetic journey.

One of the three apostles sent by Mara-papiyas, who tried to bind his feet with the carnal desire of the seven emotions.

Tanha, the embodiment of greed.

She was ultimately moved by Lug and let him go.

And all those actions required a fundamental prerequisite.

“Yes…, just like back then.”

Because in bed, Lug was skilled enough to defeat those three apostles.

Tanha eventually surrendered to Lug, and ironically, only then could she truly see his real self.

He was far from a transcendent being. He was more human than anyone, and it was through that humanity that he approached transcendence.

Yes, he was a being who became divine only through what humans could do.

How could she not feel respect for such a person? That’s why Tanha never regretted letting Lug go.

She loved him because of who he was.

“Tanha?”

“Hm? Oh, what is it?”

“Your expression doesn’t look good. Is there a problem?”

“…Haha, I really can’t hide anything from you, my husband. But don’t worry. This is something I need to resolve myself. Didn’t you say there are times when one must use only oneself as a guiding light?”

“That’s… true.”

Tanha wonders.

Whether it’s truly right for her to be here now.

Even as she speaks with him, she can’t help but feel guilty toward Tina. Isn’t this Tina’s one and only life? She’s essentially an intruder in that life.

That’s why she kept quiet.

She never once thought of taking Tina’s body for herself.

She only intended to live quietly, barely noticeable, as if she weren’t there at all.

A world where her absence was natural.

She’s satisfied just being able to witness such a world.

She will never live as her mother wishes.

That was her decision after watching Lug’s journey of asceticism.

But her mother is the most wicked evil god in this world, the first demon lord, the embodiment of wealth bearing all manner of unholy titles.

Knowing that she still loves Lug, her mother must have placed her in Tina’s heart.

She won’t be manipulated.

“So I’m fine, Lug.”

“…”

And so she draws the line.

A separation from her past self, addressing him by a name that means not looking back at the past.

Not by the name of the person she knew and loved, but by his current name.

“I see now.”

Lug could notice this fact. Of course, how could he not, having once been married to her?

But he didn’t point it out.

Because Tanha needs to determine the answer to her current feelings herself.

No, more precisely, she needs to share her feelings and their resolution with Tina, reaching a compromise.

If Lug were to intervene and force an answer, their relationship would inevitably become strained, potentially harming both of them.

“I may have been too neglectful of you.”

“You couldn’t help it given the circumstances. I can see that. I know the situation is even more difficult than before. Well, back then, we approached you to seduce you, so I suppose the situation is different now.”

Rather than feeling jealous, she tried her best to please Lug. That was the love of the sisters who came to seduce him under La•Pa’s orders.

There was no time to feel jealous.

And by the time she truly fell in love with him, it was too late for jealousy.

So perhaps both Lug and Tanha share responsibility for being unfamiliar with this situation.

“Still, if I may add one thing…”

Having seen everything from within Tina’s consciousness, Tanha knows.

The constant vigilance from the entire hero party.

The daily routine of others interfering with their love and holding them back.

She could see many things.

But residing in Tina’s body means she feels Tina’s emotions more intensely than anyone else.

Yes, that’s why.

“Take better care of Tina. She’s a child with many insecurities.”

She can’t help but be biased.

“Tanha…”

“This applies to this too.”

Tanha slapped away Lug’s hands as he tried to embrace her, defending against his lecherous touch.

She might have wanted it herself, but this is Tina’s body.

It can’t happen without her permission.

No, at the very least, Tina should be the one to initiate it.

“I won’t ask for much. Just… please take a little better care of poor Tina, who feels inferior to others.”

“…”

“The first time would be fine, wouldn’t it?”

“Uh, well…”

“Was that a difficult request? But it can’t be helped. After all, to resolve this situation and escape from here, you’ll have to choose that method.”

“O-of course.”

Lug couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat at Tanha’s serious words. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to have noticed yet.

That the opponents Tina should worry about weren’t just in the hero party.

She probably meant the hero Esmeralda, the saintess Eirene, and the Mage Millia when she spoke, but sadly, the first time was already gone.

The demon army had taken the first time.

…And the second as well.

***

Tina was dreaming.

While Tanha borrowed her body, she who had been unable to sleep properly due to long-standing anxiety, could now fall into a deep sleep.

Without realizing that this was the moment Tanha had been waiting for, Tina could have a happy dream while sleeping comfortably.

“Lug! Want to try this? I think it turned out much better than usual.”

“Mmm, you’re right. As expected, Lady Tina knows my taste exactly. Everyone else didn’t know, but only Lady Tina understood.”

“Eh, hehehe, well, that’s only natural.”

“Indeed, it seems Lady Tina is my only true wife. I’m so happy right now. I hope this life continues like this from now on.”

“R-really?”

This was the dream she had wished for.

Her dream of being acknowledged by someone was fulfilled through Lug’s love.

Breasts that were tiny compared to Millia’s, looks that seemed shabby next to Eirene’s, inferior to Esmeralda in every way.

Yes, Tina, who lacked confidence in her feminine charms, couldn’t help but feel anxious. Didn’t Lug openly let his gaze be stolen by Millia’s chest, showing how much he valued appearance?

Because of this, the desire knotted in her heart was powerful.

Not only possessiveness, but also the wish to be loved more than others in comparison.

That desire was manifesting in her dream.

Lug praising her highly and being satisfied living cozily in their own little nest.

“Wow, flowers bloom even in a place like this? So that’s…”

“You mean the crystal flower?”

“So it’s called a crystal flower? As expected, Lady Tina is so knowledgeable. They say you’re the next successor of the Eye of Truth, and you truly know everything.”

“Ahem!”

Even in this somewhat blatant dreamscape, Tina felt no suspicion.

That’s how desperate she was, how much she had longed for this dream.

A simple yet pure dream of wanting someone to recognize her unique charm.

“Ah, want to see it up close?”

“But wouldn’t that be dangerous? It’s blooming in such an awkward position that I simply…”

“Come on, what’s the problem? I have these wings…”

Tina suddenly stopped speaking mid-sentence.

The dragon’s wings, tail, and horns.

She should have been wearing them naturally, but now she couldn’t feel them.

She should have found this strange, but Tina didn’t think much of it.

‘Well, they weren’t my power to begin with.’

Did she even feel relieved at the thought that they weren’t hers?

Even without wings, that height shouldn’t be a problem.

“Wait a bit, I’ll pick it for you. We can decorate our room with it later.”

Tina finally prepared to pick the flower without any equipment.

The crystal flower, true to its name, was extremely delicate, so she needed to be careful when picking it.

Even the slightest shock could break it, so climbing the cave might cause vibrations that could shatter it.

In the end, the method she chose was her specialty as a scholar.

“Heave-ho!”

Tina moved to the ceiling through a path where no flowers grew and attached a rope there.

She installed a pulley, wrapped the rope around her body to maintain horizontal position.

Then she slowly lowered herself with the pulley to reach the crystal flower, extending her hand to pick it. At that moment—

“Huh?”

The rope supporting her began to move as if alive, starting to bind her body.

“W-what is this?!”

The rope tangling around her.

The increasing sensation of pressure.

‘No.’

There was nothing wrong with the rope.

She couldn’t sense any mana or malicious power.

How could the rope tangle like this?

Only then did Tina realize.

She finally understood through the pressure.

‘Until now, I couldn’t feel anything…’

Even when she tasted the food she gave to Lug, she felt nothing.

Yet she acted as if it were natural.

She couldn’t feel the warmth of his hand when they touched, let alone taste.

‘This is…’

And the moment she realized this fact.

The moment she reached the answer, she awoke from her deep dream.

“Huh?”

“You’re awake.”

Finding herself tied up and Lug looking down at her.

Tina was bewildered by the situation.

Was he planning to secretly run away after restraining her?

Did he dislike her that much?

As such negative thoughts began to surface—

“I thought you would understand if we spent our first night like this.”

“What?”

“If you don’t like it, please say so. I don’t want to hurt you.”

She heard something even more dangerous than she expected.