Chapter 358

Chapter 358

Reincarnated User Manual.

Episode 358: Return (4)

One hour earlier.

A reception room in the imperial palace.

“So… you’re saying this person has been coming in and out of the palace multiple times?”

Victor alternated her gaze between the entry records and Seira.

While preparing for the celebratory banquet for Shiron’s return, Shiron had come to see her first. She had wondered what was going on, and just as her heart had started to race, Shiron began telling a bizarre story.

“Hello. My name is Seira Romer. This marks my 73rd visit to the palace.”

“Uh… that many times?”

“Yes. Though about half of those were during my time working with Shiron Prient. By the way, it might be odd to bring this up now, but I also attended the Arwen Highlands return party last time.”

Victor’s eyes widened at the smoothly delivered statement, as if Seira had prepared in advance. It was hard to believe, even after hearing it.

Especially now, as she looked at the blank spaces in the entry records, sparsely filled here and there. It was spring, yet she felt a chill run down her spine.

“You don’t have to be so scared. Not just you—Siriel, and even my father, failed to recognize Seira.”

“And you?”

“Me? Of course, I’ve been able to recognize her since childhood.”

“…”

“What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

“No, it’s just… I mean, even Sir Hugo and your father didn’t recognize her. Haha.”

Feeling the drowsy gaze on her, Victor averted her eyes, yet she didn’t hesitate to address Glen Prient as ‘Father.’

[She’s a total fox, despite her appearance. She hasn’t even been officially registered in the family yet, but she’s already calling him ‘Father.’]

‘Uh… seriously, why does that even matter to you?’

[Oh, my! Look at this one! Hey, if you keep this up, you’re going to be left behind by the younger ones! Just because your disciple always sticks around, don’t get too comfortable!]

Future Seira was genuinely baffled.

She understood that Shiron’s feelings for her ran deeper on his side.

Yet, after all they’d shared, after being by each other’s side for the longest time, he was still holding back. She couldn’t understand why.

But Seira, too, wasn’t entirely without fault.

She turned her eyes from Shiron and Victor to the young girl standing beside them.

The remnants of the Demon God.

The existence of that girl did not mean the complete death of the Demon God.

And yet, Shiron was certain of the purification. Seira couldn’t help but doubt his conviction.

Even knowing that this damn curse had tormented her for centuries, he still insisted on saving the Demon God?

To be honest, she even felt betrayed.

[…So, you started disliking your disciple because of that? But the curse is clearly weakening.]

‘That’s exactly why.’

Future Seira’s words were on point.

Eldrina could now completely remember Seira.

Siriel’s knights spoke of her even in her absence.

Even Yoru, when they met, greeted her first.

Things she never would have imagined before were becoming a part of her daily life.

And now?

Shiron was working to engrave Seira’s presence into the minds of the emperor, the empress, and the entire imperial family.

—It seems like the more important someone is in this world, the easier it is for them to remember you.

—Huh? What do you mean?

—In other words, the higher their status, the faster they recognize you. That’s why Siriel was the first to remember you after Lucia, followed by my father, and then my uncle.

And this process would only accelerate with purification.

One night, as he carried the remnants on his back, Shiron had spoken before closing the door.

At first, she thought it was just an excuse to separate her from the Demon God.

But now that the curse was gradually fading, she had no reason to doubt it anymore.

Her feelings for Shiron grew even stronger.

Every night, he performed a special “purification” ritual.

Seira had no idea what method he was using, but the next night, he always looked exhausted.

‘Think about it. That brat could fight continuously for half a month without tiring. But now, he gets drained after just one night? That doesn’t make sense.’

[Oh… really?]

Future Seira couldn’t quite sympathize with her.

And for good reason—she understood all too well what Shiron’s “purification” ritual truly entailed.

‘How could I possibly put more of a burden on him in this situation? He’s already suffering every day just to lift my curse. If I start some love drama on top of that, he’ll be so stressed he’ll get an ulcer…!’

[…Oh.]

Yet, she couldn’t say anything to the passionately arguing Seira.

Was it because watching Seira, blinded by love, was amusing?

Or because it was simply fun to observe from the sidelines?

There were many possible reasons.

But the biggest one was that the emotions emanating from Seira now had a depth that had never been there before.

[A hundred children might be nice.]

‘What nonsense are you spouting all of a sudden?’

[Oh, nothing. Anyway, look over there. Aren’t they adorable?]

The direction she pointed to was a heartwarming family scene.

Toddlers taking their first steps, Shiron looking unusually flustered, and two women laughing gleefully at the sight.

‘Something… seems off.’

No matter how she looked at it, having two mothers didn’t seem normal.

—————

“I’ve been thinking about this for a while.”

Lucia began speaking as she stepped out of the bathroom.

“Shiron is feeling pressured right now.”

“Pressured? What do you mean?”

Yura tilted her head in confusion but urged her to continue. Lucia put on a fresh set of clothes and continued.

“First of all, Shiron is a perfectionist.”

“…Him?”

“?”

“Ah, no! Keep going.”

“…He’s your lover from a past life. And not just any past life—one from 500 years ago. I think he’s waiting for the right moment to make sure he satisfies you completely.”

Lucia recalled the conversation she’d overheard before entering the bathroom.

Unbelievable. The fact that Yura and Shiron had been lovers in their past lives was something she never could have imagined.

At first, she thought Yura was just teasing her. But the way Yura spoke, her atmosphere, the tears pooling in her eyes—it made Lucia abandon her doubts.

‘It’s not impossible… After all, I’ve reincarnated and am living a second life myself.’

“In conclusion! If you just wait patiently, Shiron will give you the perfect first night!”

“Is that so…”

“Oh, but of course, the first time will hurt. I thought I was pretty tough, but my first experience felt like being impaled by a red-hot iron stake.”

“…Oh. Uh-huh.”

“But don’t worry too much. At first, it felt like there wasn’t even enough space in my chest to take a proper breath, but then—it’s like a tingling, electrifying sensation that makes your head go hazy. You just lose yourself in that feeling, floating in pleasure.”

“…”

Gulp… Yura unconsciously swallowed.

Lucia wasn’t particularly expressive, but her descriptions were always honest and direct, making it easy to imagine exactly what she meant.

Of course, Lucia’s vivid descriptions weren’t the only reason Yura could imagine it so clearly.

During her time as Latera, she had spent years observing intimate encounters.

Shiron had been with many women, and though the way each night played out was different, they all shared one undeniable truth.

Shiron was simply good at sex.

None of the women could even move properly once he was inside them.

‘Immobile after penetration…’

Thinking back, she had no idea why she had followed him around, secretly watching those encounters. But now, she could understand at least part of her past actions.

Latera—no, Yura—had never been spying out of personal lust.

Because of the power of annihilation, even as her body disappeared, her memories had refused to fade completely.

‘I mean… I want to be perfectly prepared for my first time, too! Freezing up when I see it in real life is just ridiculous…’

Study materials.

Latera’s mind had been preparing for battle from the very depths of her soul.

‘…I already decided to stop acting so tsundere. I admitted that I love Hyunjun the most.’

That determination remained firm even now.

Smack! Yura slapped her cheeks to snap herself out of her thoughts.

She had only indulged in slightly naughty thoughts, yet her face was burning as if it had been set on fire.

“Yura, I have a question.”

Right at that moment, Lucia nudged her in the side.

“In your past life… did you do it?”

“…Huh?”

“I mean, did you have sex?”

A question far too blunt and inappropriate to ask outright. Naturally, Yura was completely caught off guard.

“Wh-why are you asking that?”

“Just curious. Since you were lovers, I was wondering how far things went.”

“…”

“Even back then, you always used to say you left a boyfriend behind in your hometown. I don’t remember the exact words since it’s been so long, but it was something like that.”

“…”

“Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Lucia stared at Yura, who had turned completely mute. But those purple eyes kept darting away, as if deliberately avoiding her gaze.

“Yura… you didn’t…?”

“N-no! Listen to me first!”

“Listen to what? Is there something else you haven’t told me? In your past life, you and Shiron were lovers, and besides that…”

“Well… we were almost lovers?”

“What do you mean almost? Did you at least kiss?”

“…Yes! Ah, no! Not yet…”

“You didn’t even kiss, but you were lovers?!”

“No!! I mean… we definitely got to the point where we were basically a couple… I was sure I liked him, and there were times when he’d get flustered and act all prickly… I thought we liked each other!”

“Uh-huh.”

“But then… we fought and broke up…”

Yura’s shoulders slumped. Lucia looked at her with a complicated expression.

“Does that make me the senior in romance?”

For a moment, Lucia’s lips curled into a mischievous smile.

Then, she patted Yura’s slumped shoulders with a playful grin.

“Don’t worry, Yura. I’ll definitely make sure you and Shiron end up together.”

“Kyrie…!”

That unwavering confidence made Yura’s expression melt with gratitude.