Ch.38Chapter 38. No Matter How Hard You Try, You’re Helpless Against Unfair Treatment

“Hurry! It’s my turn in 8 minutes!”

“Has anyone seen my swimsuit?”

“Who stole my heels?!!”

Lucy had never expected this.

That the backstage area of the competition would be so chaotic.

While the front stage featured a smooth-talking host and well-dressed women showcasing their charms, the waiting room and backstage areas resembled a battlefield.

Lucy was called here and there countless times, helping contestants prepare, find their belongings, and navigate the psychological warfare between competitors.

But it was fine.

Lucy didn’t mind at all.

In fact, it energized her.

Whenever work became frustrating, or when she missed Rin too much, she could just recall the happiness from earlier.

“I’m sorry for being irritable earlier, Lucy.”

After the stage setup and Ibis’s preparations were complete, the workers were given a break at dusk.

Rin approached Lucy first, who had been alone since the incident at lunch.

Lucy was deeply moved.

“No, no! I should be the one apologizing for upsetting you, Rin.”

“I was just in a bad mood and shouldn’t have treated you that way.”

“I’m fine, Rin.”

Lucy clutched her skirt, lowered her gaze, and smiled.

“If you’re feeling bad, you can take it out on me.”

“What are you saying?”

“It’s the first time. The first time you’ve been angry or annoyed with me.”

After being forgiven, Lucy realized it was also the moment when Rin had been most honest with her.

Even if it was in a negative way.

Compared to how she had treated Rin all this time, it was nothing, so Lucy was simply happy.

If she paid attention, the pure demonic energy emanating from his arms told her it was okay, that this was how it should be.

“So I’m really fine.”

That bright smile that somehow seemed broken.

“That’s not right. I’m the one who’s sorry.”

Still, Rin is best when he’s gentle and warm.

Relieved by his return to his usual self, Lucy’s breathing quickened.

She was at her limit now.

“Rin… I…”

“Are you struggling a lot?”

“Yes…”

Rin, who knew about Lucy’s separation anxiety.

After confirming no one was around, he hesitated briefly before nodding.

“Alright, I made mistakes too, so you can do whatever you want, Lucy.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Lucy buried her face in the nape of Rin’s neck.

“Chu-up.”

She bit and sucked the glistening sweat from his neck.

With the salty taste and Rin’s scent, Lucy focused entirely on drinking his sweat, her eyes half-glazed.

Rin, who had expected her to simply nestle against him, was quite surprised, but having told her she could do as she pleased, he could only remain vigilant, watching for anyone who might approach.

Lucy’s obsession was growing stronger by the day.

And as her obsession intensified, her self-esteem plummeted.

Lucy accepted all of Rin’s opinions without criticism, and at her worst, she would ask permission just to approach him.

This is serious, Rin thought. I’ll have to leave someday.

Whether aware of Rin’s thoughts or not, Lucy finally pulled away shyly after thoroughly indulging in Rin’s sweat like an unbridled foal.

That’s why the current Lucy could respond with a smile to anyone who bothered her.

Except for men other than Rin.

‘Not difficult at all.’

The same was true for Rin.

“Mr. Chunsik, could you prepare my dress over there?”

“Miss, I’ll prepare your clothes.”

“Really? Then prepare my bra and corset for Ganal.”

“Miss! Saying such things in front of an unrelated man!”

Being the daughter of a prominent family on the island, Ibis had a waiting room all to herself.

Rin’s job was simply to attend to her needs while stationed there.

Sometimes Ibis would joke like this, but her maid Ganal would intervene at appropriate moments, helping avoid awkward situations.

While the work had become easier, the main reason for Rin’s relief was the demonic sword.

The black young girl who appeared at noon.

Rin was certain she was the demonic sword, Abyss.

According to the memories of the transmigrator Lee, the demonic sword always emanated black energy, and especially when Lucy used it as material to strengthen the holy sword, there was text describing it crying out “save me” in the voice of a young girl.

The girl had momentarily enveloped Rin in darkness, isolating him from the world.

Anyone capable of using demonic energy could do this.

But having confirmed the second condition—the age match—Rin was certain the girl was the demonic sword.

One question remained.

Even if she was the demonic sword, how would he find the girl who vanished before his eyes?

The probability of her appearing again was extremely low, wasn’t it?

But there was no need to worry about that.

‘I can see everything.’

For some reason, the girl was watching Rin from afar, shrouded in darkness.

She was hiding behind leftover lumber from the stage construction, but her blatant gaze made it impossible not to notice.

After claiming it was boring earlier, it seemed nothing in the area was as interesting to her as Rin.

Perhaps she was deliberately revealing her presence only to Rin, hoping he would approach her.

Rin intentionally pretended not to notice, focusing on his duties while planning to naturally start a conversation when the opportunity arose.

“It’s your turn, Miss.”

“Great, I’ll be back!”

Ibis, dressed in pure white, prepared to take the stage.

Even from backstage, the heat of the competition was palpable.

The women contestants were busy appealing to the audience with dances, songs, and poetry recitations, each performance met with cheers from the crowd.

“Will you wish me luck?”

Suddenly, an extended hand.

When Rin stared blankly, not understanding, an embarrassed Ibis cleared her throat.

“Ahem, at times like this, you’re supposed to kiss my hand for encouragement.”

“Miss! How could you offer your hand to an unrelated man!”

“Ganal, you’re too rigid.”

“You’re too lenient, Miss!”

The horrified maid tried to intervene, but the young lady was insistent.

“Come on! There’s no time!”

“You! I won’t let this slide if you do it!”

Though awkward, Rin calmly retrieved a white rose corsage and ribbon he had noticed earlier on the vanity.

With skilled, elegant hand movements, he tied it around Ibis’s hand, surprising both the lady and her maid.

“Have a good performance.”

When he gave her a professional smile, Ibis gently bit her lip.

“Not bad.”

Though she seemed somewhat frustrated, Ibis took a deep breath to compose herself and confidently walked onto the stage.

The maid, impressed by his tactful response, said nothing more as she saw her mistress off.

Another search mission after the demonic sword.

The demonic hero.

Rin believed that Ibis was likely the demonic hero.

To explain further, the demonic hero infiltrating the Zramun Archipelago was a dual swordsman.

And a vampire by race.

Vampires, who possess a natural passive ability to charm humans in order to feed on their blood, approach with an inexplicable familiarity unlike succubi, who seduce through physical beauty.

Ibis’s behavior was typical of a vampire’s charm technique.

The universal appeal she received regardless of gender, and the way she fearlessly closed the distance.

It was certain.

“Let’s take a break. With the Miss gone, we’ll continue until the end.”

After bowing in gratitude, Rin left the tent to find Lucy kicking at the dirt ground.

She seemed upset for some reason.

“Lucy, is it your break time too?”

“Yeah… they said I’m done for today.”

“That’s good. I was just told I’m almost finished too.”

“Mmm…”

She’s really down.

Is she still affected by my anger from earlier?

Lucy, who had been watching carefully, cautiously asked first.

“Rin… you’re good with your hands.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“That rose ribbon from earlier…”

“Ah.”

She must have been watching from a distance when he hastily tied the ribbon.

Rin decided to be extra kind to Lucy, feeling sorry for her after today’s events.

“Would you like me to tie one for you later?”

“Really?”

“If there’s a red rose, I’ll use that.”

“You promise?”

“Yes, I’ll definitely do it for you after we finish our business here.”

“I’ll look forward to it!”

Lucy raised her voice slightly, but Rin didn’t mind.

Upon leaving the tent, he noticed the black girl had completely disappeared, and having already used a low-level presence detection skill scroll, he knew there was no one suspicious around.

Given the situation, Rin decided to discuss future plans with Lucy.

“I think the Protek lady is the demonic hero.”

“I thought so.”

“You suspected it?”

“I was annoyed by how she kept clinging to you.”

That’s just dislike, not suspicion.

And it’s completely one-sided.

“That demon Adora also showed strange favor toward you, which made me suspicious.”

It was almost forced reasoning, but Lucy’s intuition couldn’t be ignored.

Rin had also felt Adora’s clingy emotions, so he couldn’t completely deny it.

“Can you detect demonic energy?”

“That would be difficult…”

Lucy showed uncharacteristic uncertainty.

“The demonic energy in your arms and the demonic hero’s energy are equally pure. I might be able to distinguish lower-grade or different energies like the Epfalter succubus, but high-level demons are hard to differentiate from you.”

“I see.”

That’s unfortunate.

“But,” Lucy hastily added.

She wanted to impress Rin even a little.

“I can definitely sense hostility directed at me.”

“Hostility?”

“Yes. The more they like you, the more they hate me.”

“Hooh.”

That made sense.

While it was burdensome and confusing why these people liked him, separately, hostility toward Lucy could be a good way to identify demons besides detecting demonic energy.

Whether they liked Rin or not, Lucy was the hero.

It was natural for the demonic hero’s party to dislike her.

“That makes sense. Let’s try to find them that way, starting with Ibis.”

“Okay, got it!”

Lucy planned to kill the demonic hero immediately if their demonic nature was exposed.

Rabin alone was enough of a rival.

Moreover, Rabin was someone Lucy couldn’t simply wish away.

When it came to Rin, if there were any love rivals besides Rabin, who was already her greatest adversary, they deserved to be eliminated.

“Good, Lucy. From tomorrow, I want you to stay with me and identify people who show hostility toward us.”

“S-stay with you, Rin?”

“That’s right.”

“All day…?”

“We should basically be together until the festival ends.”

“Until the festival ends?!”

Faced with unexpected happiness, Lucy’s mouth fell open.

This is my chance, Lucy.

I’ll show him how modest and devoted I am.

I’ll make sure Rin never gets hurt, and only do things he likes.

And, and, and…!

“Hehehe…!”

“Lucy…?”

Rin was concerned about her loosened expression and silly grin.

Just then, tremendous cheers erupted from the stage.

Probably announcing the beauty contest winner.

Both Rin and Lucy were about to continue their discussion, ignoring the noise, when the maid urgently emerged from the tent.

“Mr. Chunsik? Mr. Chunsik!”

“Yes?”

“There you are. Thank goodness. The Miss is looking for you.”

“Isn’t the finale of the competition still remaining?”

“Yes, and she needs you for that finale.”

“Uh…”

This was truly awkward.

The beauty contest finale.

According to transmigrator Lee’s memories, this event was…

“I’m sorry, but I was under the impression my work was finished for today.”

“I’m not doing this because I want to. Are you, an outsider, refusing a request from the Protek family?”

Such deep loyalty for a maid.

“Ri— I mean, Chunsik, just go. There’s no need to make them suspicious or angry.”

Lucy whispered quietly to Rin.

It was a decision made for Rin’s safety rather than out of obsession.

She feared hurting Rin again by being stubborn.

But for Rin, this was precisely when Lucy’s obsession was needed.

“Sooni, are you sure you’ll be okay?”

“Yes!”

“You usually struggle when I’m not around.”

“I’ll be fine for a little while!”

Lucy thought she was making up for being too obsessive earlier, but she was completely unaware that their plan was falling apart.

Even now, at a critical moment, Lucy was still making judgments based on her own thoughts rather than Rin’s.

“Sigh, alright. If you insist.”

Having made a firm decision, Rin nodded to the maid Ganal.

“This way.”

The two followed the maid back into the tent.

Naturally, Ibis wasn’t there.

But Lucy instinctively felt something was wrong.

“Wooooaaah!!!!!”

“The winner is Lady Ibis Protek! Who will the lady choose as her partner for this festival?”

Huh? Partner?

“The person designated as a partner will have the honorable duty of accompanying the beauty contest winner, Lady Protek, throughout the festival!”

Throughout the festival?

Wait, why would the lady be looking for Rin at this timing?

Sensing something was terribly wrong, Lucy desperately looked toward where Rin had been, but he was already heading toward the stage.

“My partner has been waiting over there all along!”

Ibis’s confident voice.

“Stand still and don’t cause any trouble.”

The maid’s stern warning.

“Lady Protek’s festival partner, already prepared! Come out now!”

“Chunsik!”

Lucy called out too late to stop his steps.

As the masked man stepped onto the stage, the atmosphere instantly quieted.

“Wow…”

Even the host was taken aback by the masked appearance.

“What do you think? Isn’t he handsome?”

Only Ibis was excited.

“Unfortunately, I haven’t won his heart yet. So watch us, everyone!”

After snatching the magical microphone from the host, Ibis boldly declared:

“On the final third day, I will win his heart, remove his mask, and stand here again!”

A bombshell announcement.

Even the maid froze with her mouth agape.

“Oh? Was I too honest?”

Lucy Ena Estel.

The current hero who, like her predecessor, had been betrayed.

And recently, she seemed cursed with failure in everything she attempted.

She tried to calm her trembling body, but there was nothing she could do about her grinding teeth.