Chapter 3: Story

‘Damn it. Something’s wrong.’

In the original story, Ariina was originally on the Demon King’s side. I secretly nurtured her because I felt sorry for her, but now it feels like I’m being reverse-claimed.

I think I accepted her confession drunkenly yesterday, and it seems Ariina’s characteristic ‘Greed’ has activated. Ahh—I’m screwed.

Ariina was what you’d call a landmine type.

She was always lonely and suffered from a lack of affection, so if there was someone who loved her, she’d cling to them to the very end. She’s like a real landmine; if you get caught once, you’re doomed.

In the original story, she loved the Demon King immensely too.

If she used to be obsessed with the handsome and kind Hero, it seems that arrow has now turned towards me.

So, to sum it up, I’m utterly screwed.

“……You seduced me first.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

I stared at Ariina with a dumbfounded look.

Seduced? I never hit on you or made a move on you.

Ariina had grabbed me and kissed me like crazy a moment ago, leaving my mind hazy. She said it was her first time, so how was she so good?

I wiped my saliva-smeared mouth and spoke.

“When did I ever hit on you?”

“You said I was pretty, that you liked me, and my body was nice. Isn’t that hitting on someone?”

Ariina tilted her head as if asking if I disagreed, then stared intently at me. It was a cute gesture, but her eyes were dark. It was a chilling gaze that said, ‘If you say no, I’ll kill you.’

I flinched at that look. Please don’t do that. It triggers my trauma.

Even if I said those things while drunk, they were all true. They weren’t empty words; everyone would think the same.

“Have you ever considered that it’s your fault for being seduced by those words?”

“I don’t think Daddy Long Legs should be saying that.”

Ariina smiled faintly and said that. It was a meaningful smile, as if she knew everything.

At the mention of ‘Daddy Long Legs,’ I was startled and stared at Ariina with wide eyes. How did she know?

Daddy Long Legs was the pseudonym I used to secretly sponsor Ariina when she was wandering the back alleys. According to the original story, Ariina would become the Queen of the back alleys and then side with the Demon King.

Ariina chuckled and said,

“To be honest, my first love was you. How many years have I spent with you? How could I not know you were ‘Daddy Long Legs’? Well, actually, I only found out very recently.”

“Th-Then why didn’t you show it until now? And why did you say you liked the Hero in the first place……”

“Shh, don’t try to know more. Just know one thing: my first love wasn’t the Hero; it was you.”

Ariina placed her index finger over my lips, a gesture for me to be quiet.

With a playful smile on her face, she looked at me with half-lidded red eyes. It was eerie. It felt soft, yet there was a sticky emotion in her gaze.

I gasped and shut my mouth. Since I was already found out, there was nothing I could say to defend myself.

But I couldn’t understand. Ariina’s past was incredibly desolate. ‘Daddy Long Legs’ was the one who saved her from the cutthroat back alleys.

She knew that but never showed it until now? What kind of insane acting was that?

And I had worked so hard to make ‘Daddy Long Legs’ seem like the Hero. Like sending the tracking magic Ariina secretly attached to my letters to the Hero… I was meticulous.

Ariina stared intently at me, her smile unwavering. Her gaze was loving, yet also cold.

“Ain. No, ‘Daddy Long Legs,’ why did you hide the fact that my first love was the Hero until now?”

“H-How did you……”

“I found out yesterday while drinking. My mental strength isn’t weak just because I don’t drink often. Your hiding was so clumsy that I was unsure if it was the Hero or you. Do you think I’d give my first kiss to someone who charmed me with empty words?”

“No, and the ring yesterday… everything just doesn’t make sense.”

“My acting skills are pretty amazing, aren’t they? You’re such a novice when it comes to women.”

Ariina narrowed her eyes and grinned.

So, she knew my identity yesterday and deliberately confessed and caused a scene?

And she liked the Hero until now because she mistook him for Daddy Long Legs? No, wait… Does that even make sense?

Goosebumps rose on my skin.

No wonder her attitude changed when I suggested we date. I was puzzled internally, but to think she had such an ulterior motive.

Ariina sighed deeply, a huff of annoyance, and glared at me with irritated eyes. There was a chilling anger, as if stabbing me.

“So, Ain. Now you can tell me why you’ve been hiding it all this time, right? Honestly, sending the tracking magic to the Hero was too obvious.”

“Oh, was it?”

I laughed awkwardly.

I’m from the Magic Tower, but its prestige is going to plummet because of me. I’m even the Blue Tower Lord!

“There’s no use denying it now. I caught definite proof yesterday. The faint magic remaining on the letter was exactly the same as the magic transferred to me during the kiss.”

“……”

Damn it, there’s nowhere to run now.

Why is she so perceptive? I thought she kissed me because she was just lonely. I completely mistook her for an easy woman!

I sighed and asked,

“You kissed me on purpose?”

“Well, you could say that. When you imbued the letter with magic to send it to me, the magic was different from the magic on the letter the Hero gave me, so I pretty much figured it out. Though, the surest way to know was to kiss you.”

Ariina wore a mischievous smile, as if asking how I was going to explain myself now.

Turns out I’m a man with more weaknesses than I thought.

As I remained silent, Ariina hummed, narrowed her eyes, and looked at me with an intrigued expression.

“So, could you tell me why you made me mistake you for the Hero?”

What else could it be? I just used the Prince Charming on a white horse method—a kind and handsome person helping out. Because the Hero would have helped.

Himmel would have… *cough*.

I avoided her intense gaze. But Ariina grabbed my chin and forced me to meet her eyes.

Her red eyes, seen up close, were captivating. They were alluring, as if drawing me in.

I stared at her, as if enchanted, then squeezed my eyes shut.

“I’ll die before I tell you.”

“Really?”

Ariina narrowed her eyes further and asked.

“……Really.”

If I said something like that, I’d die of shame.

Ariina let go of my chin and shrugged, as if there was nothing she could do.

“Well, fine. You must have your reasons. I can just make you confess later by giving you a ton of aphrodisiacs and making you writhe in pleasure.”

“H-Heek!”

It’s scary because Ariina really seems like she would do that.

In the original story, she was a madwoman who would do anything to seduce the Demon King.

Ariina hummed, placing her index finger on her lips, making a thoughtful sound. Her brow furrowed in contemplation, as if she was thinking deeply.

“No, instead, as punishment, let’s kiss a hundred more times today.”

“Hieeeek!”

A hundred times? How many is that? My mind might just fly away.

Ariina suddenly licked her lips with the tip of her tongue and looked at me with lust-filled eyes. I tried to run away, but she grabbed me by the nape of my neck.

“P-Please, save…..”

“Come here!”

Ariina grabbed me and threw me onto the bed. I landed face down on the bed with a thud and looked at her with fear-stricken eyes.

Scary, so scary.

Ariina approached me, still lying face down on the bed, with a gentle smile. A red glint flashed in her eyes. Her face was flushed, a sign of excitement.

Trembling, I could only watch her approach.

“Ahh—do you know how incredibly cute you are right now? Enough to want to devour you.”

“W-Wait!”

“If our ‘Daddy Long Legs’ is trembling in front of me like a mouse before a viper, wouldn’t it be rude not to pounce?”

“No!”

“Do you hate kissing me that much?”

She tilted her head.

To be honest, the problem is that I like it too much. Just one time makes my mind feel like it’s going to fly away. Isn’t it too much stimulation for a ‘virgin wizard’ like me?

Ariina was already right in front of me.

Her eyes were filled with more desire than ever. It almost felt like hearts were floating in them.

Her hot breath touched my skin.

Her moderately full chest felt soft through her clothes. Her glossy lips. Her flushed cheeks. All these things came into view.

Shuddering at the sensation of my entire body tensing up, I avoided her excited gaze.

Oh, mommy. I’m scared. Is this what a yandere is? I used to have a romantic ideal of yanderes, but I don’t think I do anymore.

I squeezed my eyes shut.

*Smack.*

A soft, moist sensation touched my cheek.

A kiss… but not?

Opening my eyes, I looked at Ariina with a bewildered expression.

She was smiling more brightly than ever. Her appearance was beautiful.

“I love you. Daddy Long Legs. No, ‘Ain.’ ♡”