Chapter 63 – Variables (2)

“What are you?”

A lazy voice echoed through the room. Rubia turned her head.

“A human? No, a beast?”

Though the pain had subsided, my body still screamed in protest as I forced myself to stand. My legs buckled several times, but I eventually managed to rise, gripping my greatsword.

“Not a beast… so, a monster?”

Rubia gasped.

“Oh… a demon, is it?”

As the woman’s lips twisted into a smirk, Rubia’s mouth opened.

“Cha… Charlotte?”

“Huh? Well, well… Rubia?”

The mocking face quickly softened, and the crooked smirk turned into a bright smile.

“Why are you here…”

But Rubia’s expression darkened.

“Wow… those enormous breasts are still the same, I see.”

Huh…? What did she just say?

“And that filthy mouth of yours hasn’t changed either.”

Rubia, who had been crying earlier, suddenly regained her composure.

Composure…? No, more like hostility… either way, she seemed energized!

“Ohh, Rubia… you’re the hottest when you’re cursing… hah… ugh…”

“Crazy bitch…”

Rubia’s face twisted further in disgust as the woman, Charlotte, squirmed in pleasure.

“Hahh… anyway, what’s that thing next to you?”

Charlotte’s gaze shifted back to me. The voice that had been so light-hearted just moments before was now heavy with hostility. It was clear she saw me as an enemy.

“You don’t need to know.”

Rubia stepped in front of me.

“It looks like that brat is the reason things ended up like this. Even if she’s your acquaintance, Rubia, it’ll be hard to overlook.”

Charlotte dropped Hephaestus, whom she had slung over her shoulder, to the ground.

“Wow… what the hell happened here? It looks like an actual demon came through.”

She walked toward us, continuing to speak.

“Well, I know they were bad people, but this is too much. For a person to do this to another person—”

“They were monsters,” Rubia interrupted firmly.

“Hm? Did I hear you wrong?”

“You heard correctly. They were monsters. Or more accurately, beasts.”

Charlotte’s footsteps halted.

“…Is that so?”

Her hardened face turned back to me.

“Beasts… you’re calling them beasts?”

She then picked up a piece of flesh from the ground, glancing between it and me.

Rubia swallowed nervously, tension etched across her face.

Charlotte watched for a moment, then suddenly chuckled softly.

“Not beasts, insects. They’re scorpions. Bright red scorpions.”

“Phew… exactly, insects.”

Rubia exhaled in relief.

So, what exactly is happening here? Who is this Charlotte person, and why is she complimenting Rubia’s breasts? And why is Rubia so tense?

“Rubia. Now you have a reason to answer me, right?”

A smile crept onto Charlotte’s face.

“Right… she’s someone I hired—no. She’s my friend.”

“Wh-what…!?”

Not a hired adventurer, but a friend…!!

Even though my body was on the verge of collapse, Rubia’s words lifted my spirits again.

“Heh heh… friend…”

“Hmm? Friend?”

Unlike me, Charlotte’s voice grew cold.

“Yes. My one and only, precious friend.”

Rubia spoke with conviction as she tightly gripped my hand.

Ugh… Rubia! Are you trying to kill me with this grip?!

“I’m really… jealous.”

Charlotte’s expression twisted as she walked toward me.

“You didn’t want to start off as my friend.”

Step—

“My money didn’t move you.”

Step—

“My power didn’t sway you.”

Splash—

“And now you have another friend? Not me?”

She was now so close I could hear her breathing, and she reached out her hand.

But Rubia grabbed her wrist.

“Charlotte. I said she’s my friend.”

“Wow… unbelievable.”

With her free hand, Charlotte roughly pushed her bangs back, her aura flaring dangerously.

Rubia’s divine energy surged out as well.

The tension in the air grew as the atmosphere heated up.

“Are you seriously that against me touching your friend’s chest?”

Charlotte’s bizarre statement shattered the tense mood.

“Yes. Absolutely not.”

Rubia replied seriously to that absurd remark.

“Looks like there isn’t much to feel, but let me just give it a little squeeze. Just to get a sense.”

Wait, what? Not much to feel…? Squeeze…? Just a little…?

“I said no.”

“Then how about her butt?”

“Screw off.”

“Too bad, no dick to screw with… but did you already mark her? Well, I’ll give up then.”

“Wha—what the hell…”

Rubia, who had been fumbling for words, suddenly hung her head in defeat.

“Ahaha—”

Charlotte smiled brightly and reached toward me with her other hand.

I tried to step aside to avoid her touch, but—

“She’s mine.”

Rubia, her head still down, spoke those strange words.

At the same time, Charlotte’s hand froze midair.

“…Did I hear that wrong?”

“You heard just fine. Your ears must be bad today. You misheard earlier too, but yes, you heard that correctly.”

An awkward silence filled the room.

Uncomfortable with the quiet, I tugged on Rubia’s sleeve.

“Ru-Rubia… who is she?”

Who is this crazy person, spouting such nonsense?

“Ah, well… this person is—”

Before Rubia could finish, Charlotte spoke up.

“What’s this? I was wondering why you had your eyes closed… are you blind?”

“…Yes.”

I nodded.

And then. The reaction I got was nothing short of shocking.

“Wow, fuck… that’s even hotter.”

Wh—what did she just say?

“Uh… what…?”

“Up close, you’re adorable. And your lower body looks solid, but your upper body is all soft… Damn, this is gonna be hard to resist.”

Charlotte wiped the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, starting to breathe heavily.

Her legs shifted as she rubbed them together… what the hell is wrong with this woman?

“Don’t look at her.”

As Charlotte’s breathing grew rougher, Rubia moved to completely shield me.

“Hey, isn’t it a bit much to not let me touch her or even look at her?”

“Your gaze is filthy.”

“I was born this way. If you have a problem, take it up with my mom.”

Her words were completely out of line with her otherwise regal voice.

Seriously, who is this person!?

“Anyway, I said you didn’t know who I was, right?”

“Uh, yes.”

Charlotte cleared her throat and, looking more serious, introduced herself.

“Ahem… My name is Charlotte von Sunrise. I am the Third Imperial Princess and the disgrace of the royal family.”

The Third Princess…? The disgrace…? Wait, a princess???

“G-gasp…! P-princess?!”

But why… Why does she act like this…?

She’s supposed to be a princess, a really important person… But Charlotte just seems like a thug…

Her tone, her expression, even her posture… she’s acting like a complete delinquent.

“Most people recognize me by my blonde hair and tan skin right away, but since you can’t see that, your reaction is pretty refreshing… heh… you look delicious.”

Blonde… and tanned…? And a thug…?!

“Ugh…”

The intense feeling that I was in serious danger kept growing stronger, so I quickly pulled Rubia a little closer as I stepped back.

Rubia’s too close to her—this isn’t good…

“Ugh… yeah. She’s a princess, alright. Even though she’s out of her mind, she’s still technically a princess.”

Rubia shot Charlotte a scathing insult right to her face before pulling me close, wrapping her arm around my waist.

“Anyway, don’t touch her.”

“She’s mine,” Rubia added quietly, drawing a firm line under the conversation.

“Wow… seriously… wow.”

Charlotte, who had been murmuring in astonishment, spat on the floor and pulled out a small box from her pocket.

It was a cigarette.

Tap, tap.

She lit it with a firestone and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke with a sigh.

“Rubia’s going this crazy over her… must be something special.”

Though I couldn’t see her eyes, a disturbing sensation wrapped around my body as Charlotte stared at me.

Following my instincts, I wrapped my arms around myself and hid behind Rubia.

“So. Why are you here in Ursphere?”

“Obviously for a mission. Then I heard some noise and came to check it out.”

A mission? The princess?

“Surprised that a princess takes on commissions?”

Charlotte snickered at my confusion.

“Umm… yes.”

“Well, I’m a princess, but I’m also an adventurer. So I take on jobs.”

Charlotte tapped the sword at her waist, grinning.

“I’m platinum rank, by the way. Cool, right?”

“Wow…”

“I’ve got a ton of money. Filthy rich.”

“Wowww…”

“I’ve got power too. I’m the emperor’s daughter.”

“S-so cool…”

“Look at this. My boobs are smaller than Rubia’s, but they’re still big.”

“Oh… uh…”

“What the hell? Aren’t they big? Why’s your reaction so flat?”

Charlotte jiggled her chest with both hands.

Though I couldn’t see, I felt too embarrassed and turned my head away.

“Noah, don’t engage with her. Anyway, how’s your body? Are you feeling alright?”

Rubia crouched down a little and started inspecting my face.

“A little dizzy, but other than that…”

“Does anything hurt? Any injuries… I can’t imagine how much pain you went through…”

She prodded my arms, legs, and torso gently, her fingers pressing into the places where I had been hurt.

“How’s your mind? You’re not craving anything… weird, are you?”

“U-uh… no. I’m fine.”

Rubia’s face scrunched up in concern as she gave me a tight hug.

“It seems like you’re really alright… Thank goodness…”

Charlotte interrupted the tender moment with a mocking laugh, breaking the sweet atmosphere.

“Rubia, and uh… what’s your name?”

“Umm… should I tell her…?”

“Don’t.”

“Hey! What’s the harm in knowing your name? I’m not gonna stalk you or something. Seriously, can you give me a break?”

It didn’t seem like a good idea to tell her. Seriously. But it also felt a little wrong that I knew her name, yet she didn’t know mine…

“I-It’s Noah… Shin Noah.”

“Shin Noah, huh? So, your family name is Shin, and your given name is Noah?”

I nodded.

“Are you from the East?”

I nodded again.

“An adventurer?”

I nodded a third time.

“Gold rank?”

I nodded vigorously.

“It checks out. The demon.”

Wait—what?

“Huh?”

“The blood-drinking demon. I thought it was just a rumor, but now I see the truth. That’s quite a shock.”

Charlotte placed a hand on her forehead.

“Hah… anyway, let’s change locations. I’m starting to feel nauseous just standing here.”

Rubia pulled me into her arms.

“Fine. I won’t touch her, so let’s get out of here. You don’t want to get caught by the knights, do you?”

Knights?

I extended my perception slightly.

Sure enough, a group of knights was headed in our direction, about 21 of them, approaching fast.

I leaned in close and whispered into Rubia’s ear.

“R-Rubia… they’re really coming… 21 of them…”

Rubia’s body stiffened.

“Where are you planning to take us?”

Charlotte, already halfway to the door, turned her head slightly and flashed a grin.

“To a safe house. I’ll even give you a gift—a little toy. I’ve got one I’ve used and a new one. You can pick whichever excites you more. And if you don’t know how to use it, I can give you a live demonstration.”

…I don’t want to go. I think I’d rather just get caught…