Ch.326326. Before the Meal (4)

“Ah, did you come shopping for clothes with your family?”

As soon as he heard those words, Darwood let out a dry laugh.

Hearing such words, Darwood didn’t seem particularly bothered.

After all, anyone could see there was a clear difference in “class” between him and Elnore.

To the point where anyone would think, “Ah, that man definitely couldn’t date a woman like her.”

Though he did think the service attitude was somewhat lacking.

“If you came shopping together, this display area—”

The clothing store clerk visibly flinched mid-sentence.

Probably because Elnore was emanating such a terrifying aura after hearing those words.

“We are not family.”

“Ah, I—”

“We are in a relationship.”

“…”

“Lovers. Soulmates. Fiancés.”

“…Ah, y-yes…”

The clerk, sweating profusely while facing Elnore’s intimidating glare, struggled to guide them through the store.

“…Hmm.”

Let me correct myself.

It’s not just “somewhat lacking” in service spirit.

To continue serving a customer who could be described as a living ghost—this is undoubtedly the embodiment of professional dedication.

“You seem to be thinking something disrespectful.”

“…Absolutely not, ma’am.”

Seeing Darwood’s awkward response, Elnore strode up to him and stared intently into his eyes.

“Liar.”

“…”

“I can tell that much just by looking at your eyes.”

Just how much has this person figured out about him?

As Darwood broke into a cold sweat at that thought, Elnore firmly grabbed the back of his neck.

“…”

Looking like prey caught by a bird of prey, Darwood rolled his eyes nervously as Elnore gently tapped her cheek and smiled softly.

“Kiss me here and I’ll let you off.”

“…”

While her words sounded kind, Darwood felt like he was facing a massive tigress.

Trembling, he gave her a kiss, and Elnore released him with a satisfied smile.

Then, Darwood managed a shaky smile as Elnore gently stroked his head.

It was a scene strange enough to be compared to a tiger petting a deer with its paw…

“…”

Suddenly, Elnore’s entire body tensed up.

She looked around with slightly furrowed brows.

Darwood also stiffened at her behavior, which suggested she was aware of someone else nearby.

‘…Huh.’

He already knew there were other women nearby.

But if Elnore was reacting this way, it could only mean something concerning was happening.

Especially since Elia had been missing for a while now.

“Excuse me, may I ask something?”

“…Yes?”

The employee, who had been barely managing her expression that seemed to say “why are you flaunting your relationship in front of me,” jumped in surprise at Elnore’s question.

“Is there a place where we can try on clothes?”

“…”

The clerk looked back and forth at Elnore and Darwood’s empty hands.

It was certainly an unusual question from people who hadn’t selected any clothes yet.

After clearing her throat a few times with a reddened face, she finally spoke in a cautious voice.

“Um, excessively intimate behavior violates our store policy, so please be mindful…”

“…”

Darwood wanted to ask what on earth she meant by that.

●

“—Excuse me, Elnore.”

“Speak.”

“…I understand we need to hide, but did we have to be in this position?”

Although it was somewhat dangerous to speak to Elnore while she was holding her breath, Darwood thought it was a question worth asking at least once.

After all, anyone would have similar questions when two people of opposite genders were crammed together in a tiny fitting room.

“…”

Darwood silently rolled his eyes as he felt something incredibly soft pressing against his forehead.

“—Um, maybe we should move apart a bit—”

He tried to get up as he spoke, but before he could, he found himself trapped in what would be considered an extremely pleasurable sensation for any man.

“It’s best if we don’t face each other at all. If we spend a little time here, the others will just pass by.”

“…”

Well.

Darwood had his doubts about that opinion.

The people nearby weren’t exactly pushovers, and if they had followed them this far, it didn’t seem likely they would just move on because they were hiding here.

But Elnore’s current mood didn’t seem receptive to such concerns.

[No, are you stupid?]

‘What now?’

[She’s doing this to make the others jealous.]

‘…’

[Like saying, “What can you all do while I’m holding and snuggling him here?”]

‘…’

Is that really it?

As Darwood’s cold sweat intensified at that thought,

“…It’s been a while since we’ve done this.”

Elnore murmured while holding Darwood tightly in her arms.

Although she was holding him like a steel vise, as if a bear about to break its prey’s spine, the voice whispering in Darwood’s ear was warm enough to melt.

“Um, the last time we were this close was… two days ago?”

He remembered being carried around like a pet in her arms back then too.

Something about needing to replenish her “Darwood nutrients” that she couldn’t get due to being busy with various matters.

“Two days is a long time.”

Hearing the sulky voice from above his head, Darwood gave a bitter smile.

“Well then.”

Though it was always like this,

Sometimes he felt the need to counterattack.

He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. Her crown fit just under his chin, and he could clearly feel the surprisingly voluminous sensation through her clothes.

“Then I’ll hug you enough for those two days.”

“…”

The funny thing was:

Despite how casually she would initiate skinship with Darwood, her own tolerance for receiving it was remarkably low.

Even now, her fidgeting body was quite adorable.

As if reading Darwood’s thoughts, Elnore grumbled with a slightly reddened expression.

“…Aren’t you embarrassed doing such things?”

“…I think what Elnore usually does is more embarrassing.”

To be fair, the affectionate advances coming from her lately were—

Of course, now that he recognized in his heart how precious she was to him, he didn’t particularly mind such things.

“…”

Come to think of it, that’s true.

In the past, when she would come on to him like this, he would be desperate to escape, but nowadays he had gained enough confidence to return the gesture.

Not as a pretense to escape the situation like before, but with genuine sincerity.

Marriage and such things were approaching rapidly too.

Now, he truly felt he could do such things with this person.

“Hmm.”

As he was mulling over these thoughts.

Elnore grabbed the back of his neck firmly again.

“If you’re thinking like that, then I suppose I truly have your permission now.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’ve always wanted to make the first experience special. This place seems good enough, doesn’t it?”

“…”

No.

That’s a separate issue.

What this lady was suggesting would make anyone turn pale, regardless of opening one’s heart or whatnot.

“…Elnore, we hid here because there are other people nearby—”

“Might as well get it over with while we’re hiding.”

“…”

No.

“Other people will see! We’ll get caught!”

“Let them see.”

“…”

“Let them wallow in their misery and defeat. Don’t you agree?”

This person was always a bit aggressive, but.

Lately, she’s become like a bulldozer.

As Darwood was panicking and twisting his body away from Elnore’s hands that were touching his lower body.

Suddenly, from nearby.

A loud BANG was heard.

“…?”

As Elnore and Darwood simultaneously made puzzled expressions.

Immediately, a BANG-BANG sound was heard even louder.

Then it got even louder.

And then even louder still.

—!

-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

With an ear-splitting roar, the previously dim fitting room suddenly brightened.

It wasn’t that new lights had been turned on.

Rather, the ceiling of the store had been completely—

“I-AM-TELLING-YOU!”

And in the center of the explosion, people with bloodshot eyes were screaming at the top of their lungs.

“Please respect the order! The first person to be penetrated by the teacher should be me—”

“Save your sleep talk for the night! The people who got closest were me and Victoria—”

“…Sister. Please shut up.”

Such sentences were being exchanged in a chaotic mixture of shouts, making the surroundings tumultuous.

Setting aside what they were babbling about in a public place full of people, each person speaking was either a Hero or a Demonic Vessel.

“…”

“…”

Brushing off the dirt and debris that had fallen on her body, Elnore heaved a deep sigh.

“…These damn women.”

“…”

For a moment.

Even Darwood, who had been through thick and thin, felt a chill down his spine at the terrifying murmur.

●