Ch.218218. Save Me

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Lately, I’ve been thinking strongly.

That I might be someone who falls into traps more easily than I thought.

Just look at the current situation.

“…Elnore.”

I open my mouth, trying somehow to steady my trembling cheeks.

“What is it?”

“Didn’t you say we should have a meal?”

To be honest, I felt uneasy from the moment she suggested we eat together alone.

But what kind of meal takes place…

In a bedroom.

With the entrance locked?

“I did.”

“…”

The answer came from above.

That is…

From Elnore, who was pinning me down on the bed using both her legs and arms.

This is what happened right after she invited me for a meal. As soon as we entered the bedroom, she locked the door as if kidnapping me, threw me onto the bed, and immediately assumed this position.

“Is something wrong?”

“…”

Isn’t everything wrong from start to finish?

“…Why are you dressed like that…?”

Seeing her wearing only black underwear, I’m losing control of my cheeks that I had barely managed to keep from trembling.

It feels like facing a predator with its prey right in front of it.

Although I’ve been prepared for this situation since entering the Tristan Dukedom, actually facing it makes me dizzy.

“Darwood.”

Then.

Elnore’s voice, mixed with heated sighs, circled near my head.

Her hot breath touches my ear. The sensation transmitted from our touching bodies is incredibly hot. Like a ball of fire flowing through my veins, I can clearly feel Elnore’s body temperature rising madly.

“Surely you didn’t think I called you here just to have a meal.”

“…Wait, Elnore-“

Before I could answer, an overwhelmingly stimulating sensation swept over me.

I blinked several times.

Ah.

So that’s what this is.

Elnore has pulled me tightly between her breasts.

My forehead is buried in her cleavage. Her already hot body temperature envelops my entire face.

“…”

Before my brain could fully process the current situation—one of the most luxurious pleasures a man could enjoy—a feeling of satisfaction and comfort unconsciously relaxed my entire body, sticking to the foundation of my thoughts like something viscous.

Startled, I inhaled sharply, and Elnore’s scent rushed violently into my nostrils.

It was definitely fragrant enough to melt my mind.

“…Good boy.”

Following that, a gentle hand was caressing the back of my head as if taking care of a child.

My reason, which felt increasingly distant, was screaming that I should escape even if it meant fighting, that what comes next would be truly dangerous—and I fully agreed with that call.

But it seems that even if I twisted my body with all my might, to this formidable noblewoman it would be treated as nothing more than a child’s tantrum.

“Really, just stay still.”

With a tight squeeze of her arms, my body collapsed forward.

Again, her cleavage came into my field of vision as my face was buried near her chest.

It was a scene with something powerfully implicit that would make blood rush to one’s eyes. My breathing was gradually becoming faster too. Not a good sign.

“Or.”

In that state. Beyond my hazy consciousness.

I heard Elnore whisper.

“Would you like to do more?”

Do more?

What?

What?

Do more?

What?

“…Elnore.”

I answer while panting.

And in that state.

“…You don’t need to be so tense.”

I heard Elnore whisper.

[“I will never hurt you.”]

“…?”

Suddenly.

I open my eyes that I had tightly shut due to the strange sensation.

Just now, in Elnore’s voice.

‘Something different’ was mixed in.

“…”

Then, my mind rapidly clears.

‘…What.’

As if forcibly ‘deleted’ by something, the hazy sensation I felt until just now has disappeared like a lie.

As I think this, Elnore’s body moves slightly away from me.

“You.”

Compared to before, her voice is remarkably clearer.

“Haven’t you been having a hard time lately?”

“…”

I look up at Elnore with round eyes.

Elnore continues by gently stroking my cheek. Far from lust or desire, her smile conveys almost maternal affection.

“…”

Was she like this before too?

Was this her original expression and I just misunderstood?

Her demeanor seems so natural that it makes me wonder.

She clearly shows no awareness of having been ‘intervened’ with by something just now.

“If I were to do as I please here, you would undoubtedly find yourself in a difficult situation. Wouldn’t you?”

That’s true, but…

Wasn’t that your purpose for inviting me here in the first place?

As I think this while blinking my eyes…

“You seem so… wary of crossing ‘the line.’ Do you think I lack that much tact?”

Elnore poked the bridge of my nose lightly while chuckling.

“Then, respecting your wishes. Let’s… postpone the pleasure for a bit.”

Saying that, Elnore extended her hand in front of me.

It’s a ring.

The one she had previously given me as a token of our engagement. The same object that’s on my finger too.

Elnore carefully wrapped my hand so that the rings would touch.

“Let’s wait for the day when these rings prove their worth. When they touch each other. Let’s wait for that day.”

Unable to answer, I just stare blankly at Elnore as she smiles while saying this.

“…But.”

After saying all that, Elnore hugged me tightly again.

However, not in the violent way she had buried me in her cleavage earlier.

It’s a much more innocent type of embrace, with her face buried in my chest.

“Allow me this much. This is an essential process even for me.”

“…Essential?”

“I’m replenishing my Darwood nutrients.”

“What?”

“I’ve become someone who cannot live without this.”

A serious answer without a hint of playfulness followed immediately.

At that sight, I can’t help but let out a small laugh.

Saying such things with a straight face is definitely typical Elnore.

‘…I don’t know.’

I’m not sure what just happened.

For now, I should go along with her.

“…Take as much as you need.”

Saying that, I try to hug Elnore back.

Or rather, I was about to.

Until Elnore slapped my hand away.

“Elnore?”

“…Don’t do that.”

I blink my eyes, looking at Elnore as she mumbles.

“It’s embarrassing.”

“…”

The person who was about to devour me just moments ago?

Now?

“Embarrassing is embarrassing.”

“…”

“I can embrace you, but don’t you embrace me. I’m not yet resistant enough.”

“…Why is it okay when you do it?”

“I’m the attacker, I’m not used to being attacked.”

“…”

“If you understand, just stay quietly in my arms. It feels good because it’s warm.”

Indeed.

A woman’s heart is truly unfathomable.

●

“…Have a good evening, Darwood.”

“Yes. You too, Elnore.”

As soon as Darwood left the room after that prolonged cuddling, Elnore’s expression rapidly soured.

More precisely, it could be said to have been tinged with melancholy.

“…Haah…”

Elnore sighed heavily enough to sink the floor and repeatedly rubbed her face with dry hands.

Perhaps because the lighting was dim, he didn’t notice.

But right now, her appearance would undoubtedly be blushing madly up to her ears.

“…That idiot…”

Such a mutter escaped her lips.

“When I tell him not to do something, he really doesn’t do it, so tactless…”

It’s embarrassing.

She herself is incredibly embarrassed.

Despite that, she had thrown herself at him.

For that purpose, she had prepared lingerie that didn’t suit her, created the mood,

If she’s doing things repeatedly that only a loose woman would do, he should just take decisive action like a man…!

She could accept anything he might do to her…!

“…Haah…”

The sad thing is.

Despite this, it’s highly likely that she will be the one begging him to ‘take action’ in this way next time too.

“…The one who falls in love first is at fault. It can’t be helped…”

In the end, the thirsty person digs the well.

Once you’ve fallen for such a man, this must be an inescapable fate.

‘…But.’

Regardless of that man’s attitude.

She feels something unsettling.

‘…Isn’t this quite different from your initial resolve, Elnore?’

Certainly, she sincerely doesn’t want to push something that would trouble Darwood.

But, well, you know.

Elnore was… very ‘hungry’ for Darwood.

Honestly, hasn’t she been holding back a lot?

So, having invited him to her home like this.

She had planned to wring him out, then wring him out some more until he was bone dry, then wring him out even more until he begged her to stop, and only then think about how to resolve the situation.

More than feeling embarrassed or not wanting to burden him.

Her affection for that man runs deeper.

Recently it’s gotten worse, to the point where sometimes just hearing his voice beside her makes her lower abdomen burn.

But why.

Why did her heart weaken at the very last moment?

Her initial resolve was clearly of a completely different kind.

“…”

No matter how much she thinks about it, she can’t figure it out.

Just that at that moment, she thought ‘it would be better this way’ and acted accordingly.

“…There’s no use thinking about what’s already passed.”

It’s already in the past. There’s nothing to be done by thinking about it again.

Having reached that conclusion, Elnore looked down at her hand with a bitter smile.

The engagement ring she shared with Darwood was shining under the soft light.

‘…As long as this exists.’

There’s no need to worry too much.

Didn’t they promise? To remain each other’s most precious person.

If so, she can wait patiently.

As she was thinking this, contentedly stroking the ring,

Suddenly, a bizarre sensation surged within her body.

Something rising sharply near her heart.

“…!”

Elnore stood up abruptly with wide eyes.

‘…Just now…?’

Something.

Something major happened in her body.

It didn’t take long to realize what caused that feeling.

“…It’s gone?”

The ‘grey energy’ that she always felt near her heart is no longer perceptible.

As if.

It had independently ‘left’ her body.

●

“…Haah…”

As soon as I lay down on the bed, Calivan’s disappointed voice immediately resonated from within the Soul Linker.

[…That was less exciting than I expected. Right?]

“…”

That wasn’t exciting for you?

This old man seems to be getting more extreme lately.

‘…No.’

And in my opinion, it wasn’t exactly uneventful either.

‘I think something else definitely intervened.’

I’m becoming certain.

If it weren’t for the intervention of ‘something’ just now, I would have been.

Well, you know.

Wrung out by Elnore.

Mercilessly, without stopping until reaching the very end.

‘…What was that?’

I scratch my head, recalling Elnore’s appearance from earlier.

Honestly speaking, there’s only one thing that could intervene in such a way.

But the problem is why it did so…

‘…I really don’t know.’

While sighing and thinking about this, I suddenly realize something strange.

‘…Calivan?’

There’s no answer.

Thinking this person might be teasing me again, I frown and look at the Soul Linker.

Or rather, I tried to.

“…?”

My body.

Won’t move.

It’s not just that my body won’t move, it’s as if.

Including me.

The ‘entire world’ has completely frozen.

‘…Ah.’

And.

As soon as I realize this.

A window appears before my eyes.

< System Message >

[ The presence of target ‘C̵̡̹̖̙̭͖̈́͐¾̸̧̥̬͈͇̹̘͕̠̮̩̙̎ð̸̞͖̋¾̶͕̻́̊̇î̸̙̪͎̥͎͍̲͔̔̈́̀̃͗́̚̚͠͠͝͠ ̵̨̛̠̟̲͔̟̔̍͛̈́°̶̨̙̠͆͋̔͛̒̀̾̆̉̏̕³̶̟̝̙͔̥̖̯̠̒̈̋̃̇̾̃̽̆̅͊͆̋̋’ is detected! ]

[ The ‘Seal of Otherworld’ is responding! ]

Along with that window.

From the void near the ceiling.

[Hello¾ú´ÂÁö´there.]

The ‘being’ descended gracefully with those words.

[It’s been¦ ÇÏ¿¡a while.]

The Grey Demon.

The suddenly appearing being lands lightly on top of my body.

Then, it presses down on my immobilized body.

Clearly.

In exactly the same position Elnore had taken just before pouncing on me earlier.

‘…Huh?’

And one thing I clearly feel because of this position.

I can feel the ‘sensation.’

As if this being has a human body. We can touch, feel, and physically sense each other’s existence.

And seeing my surprised expression at this fact, the Grey Demon looked down at me, chuckling.

[Yes¦. Now¦ ÇÏ¿¡you can touch me¦ ÇÏ¿, right?]

The being continued with a grin.

[It’s because¿¡Á the seal has¿¡Á evolved. You’ve¿¡Á become a little closer¿¡Á to us.]

“…”

[I’ve been UC¾ð¾î°waiting for this. Until we could UC¾ð¾î touch UC¾ð¾î each other like UC¾ð¾î°this.]

“…”

Suddenly.

A chill runs down my spine.

I couldn’t understand the details, but.

Before asking why it had been waiting for this, if I tried to find the answer myself.

I could only conclude that this situation itself was extremely dangerous.

“…Hey.”

With a trembling voice, I barely manage to convey those words with my lips.

Moving my body might be impossible, but this much was barely possible.

“What did you do to Elnore and me earlier?”

Logically.

At that time, this being was the only one who could ‘intervene’ with both Elnore and me simultaneously.

However, I just couldn’t understand the reason.

[…]

And.

After hearing my words, the Grey Demon smiled more deeply.

Then.

[Even in cold water¦ ÇÏ¿¡.]

A clear answer came back.

[There is¦ ÇÏ¿¡a hierarchy¦ ÇÏ¿¡. Even if it’s¦ ÇÏ¿ that child¦ ÇÏ¿.]

“…What?”

[Everything about¿¡you,¡Á I must always¿¡¡be the first.]

“…”

The ominous sensation becomes reality.

Thinking about it, it’s quite a simple matter.

It waited until it could touch me, and deliberately interfered with my encounter with another woman.

When considering why a possessive demon would do such a thing, there’s really only one simple answer.

“…”

Because it wants to be the first to devour me.

Shit.

[You’ve been lucky¿¡Á until now.]

As soon as I see that expression, I instinctively understand.

[But from me¿¡Á, absolutely.]

From now on.

I will be.

[You can’t¿¡Á escape?]

Devoured by this being.

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