Episode 339. Wolf and Woman

Knock, knock, knock.

In the quiet living room, I knocked on Liliana’s door.

Seeing Scarlet wasn’t around, she must have gone into her room.

After Scarlet left, I lay on my bed, replaying Scarlet’s words, and decided to go find Liliana for now.

Come to think of it, since when did I start thinking and acting?

I’ve come this far by just moving and acting, so it’s ridiculous to suddenly stop now just because I have more to protect.

I remembered when I first transmigrated into this world.

I definitely approached it like I was playing a game.

I even went to drug dealers to capture the heroines, and even when I was close to dying, I pondered how I could sleep with the woman in front of me.

I attended the academy as if it were a game.

With status screens appearing and the heroines I saw in games actually in front of me, I couldn’t help but feel that way.

But somewhere along the line, I started getting immersed in this world.

Feelings I never experienced in my previous world and new connections.

Now, I can’t even imagine a life without the people around me.

The people I live with and the people I meet at the academy.

The cityscape, which felt awkward at first but became familiar, and even magic, which I lived without knowing.

This world has already become precious to me.

“… I’m coming in. Liliana.”

I burst through the door that received no answer and went inside.

“Ah, ah… Hnggg.”

As soon as I entered the room, the first thing I saw was Liliana’s back.

Just like an ostrich burying its head in the sand, thinking it’s completely hidden, Liliana had her face buried in the bed, covering her head with a pillow.

Her whole body was trembling, and it seemed like the aftereffects of the memory orb Chiron had shown her were still lingering.

That’s why she couldn’t hear the knock.

“… Liliana.”

Thump-

Just like Scarlet had done.

Putting all other worries aside, I wanted to talk to Liliana.

“Ah, ahh…?”

Trembling like an aspen leaf, Liliana seemed to sense my presence, carefully lifted the pillow, and looked at me.

“Hello?”

“Ah, ah….”

Liliana’s eyes were swollen from how much she had cried.

As soon as she recognized my presence, Liliana threw the pillow aside, came over, grabbed my hand, and muttered.

“I-I really… don’t know. I don’t know anything… It’s really not me….”

“….”

“Believe me. Please….”

Her eyes, lost and anxious, and the sound of her pounding heart.

Her hands trembled like a person with palsy.

Liliana probably sensed my feelings earlier, too.

That’s why she’s worried and anxious like this.

Because she felt me doubting her.

“Liliana….”

I looked at Liliana and bit my lip.

What would it be like from Liliana’s perspective?

After being suddenly summoned to the human world via the [Summoning Contract of the Underworld’s Scoundrel].

In a way, she’s in the same position as I was when I first transmigrated into this world.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I had transmigrated into this world without any information or special perks.

If I were in the exact same situation as Liliana, what would have become of me?

If I hadn’t known about Surin noona, I wouldn’t have become close to her, and without information about Lucy and Lumi, I wouldn’t have become friends with them either.

If I didn’t know Baek Ahyoung’s preferences, I wouldn’t have been able to approach her, and without talent, I wouldn’t have gotten close to Professor Im Sol.

I wouldn’t have known about the black market, so I couldn’t have summoned Liliana, and without the power to help Nam Daeun, I couldn’t have saved her either.

If I couldn’t use the Rune Barrier, Rebecca wouldn’t have sought me out.

I wouldn’t have even been able to talk to Alice, and naturally, Scarlet would have remained a stranger.

If these people weren’t around me, could I have endured in this world?

But Liliana, who had nothing, believed me and only showed me a bright side.

It might seem long or short depending on perspective, but I had also come to cherish Liliana.

But to doubt Liliana because of a centaur’s memory, whom I’ve only known for a day… that’s absurd.

Did I go crazy for a moment because I saw something too shocking?

Besides, I’m burdened with the absurd destiny of saving the world while conquering heroines; taking one Demon King’s daughter is well within the realm of possibility.

Because that’s Lee Hoyeon, the protagonist of this world.

“I don’t know. I don’t know. I really don’t… I’m sorry. S-sorry….”

“Liliana.”

I composed myself and called Liliana’s name.

However, sensing some emotion in my voice, Liliana spoke, seeming even more frightened.

“… It was me. It was definitely me. Yes, I know it was me. But, I don’t know. I don’t know anything….”

“It’s okay. Calm down for now.”

Tears streaming down her face, Liliana bit her lip until it bled, looking wronged.

“B-but I. Really… hate that stuff. I hate killing, too. I just….”

“… Come here”

“Ugh, ah…?”

Liliana couldn’t recover from the shock of seeing her own past.

I couldn’t dare imagine how great the shock must have been for the bright Liliana to become like this.

That feeling of having even her memories with her mother denied.

Since I couldn’t empathize, all I could do was accept her.

I pulled Liliana towards me, drawing her into my embrace.

“Liliana. It doesn’t matter if you’re the Demon King’s daughter or the Killer Queen. You just have to promise one thing.”

“….”

“Promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll be on my side. That’s enough.”

No other words were needed.

Because Liliana’s heart is the most important.

The power of friendship and love….

Actually, I’m not a big fan.

When I was young, watching cartoons, I used to curse how cliché it was every time the heroes defeated a powerful boss with the power of friendship.

But what could I do? When you need support, you need to rely on someone.

Is this what it’s like to understand the protagonist’s feelings only after becoming one?

Hearing my words, Liliana blinked and sniffled.

“Don’t cry. You’re not a baby, why are you crying?”

“Hic, hngg… I-I thought you were abandoning me. That you hated me….”

“Shhh. Don’t say things like that. You’ll ruin the broadcast.”

“Pfft, ah, what are you talking about…! I was being serious….”

“Just answer me, Liliana. I’ll believe you first. So you… never betray me, okay?”

I gently pulled Liliana away from me and met her eyes.

Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, but her still beautiful face offered me a faint smile.

“… Yes. Of course. You’re my Master.”

“Then that’s all I need.”

“Ah, ahh. Wait… not now…!”

I poked Liliana’s side with my finger, tickling her.

Liliana, unable to hold back her laughter despite telling me to stop, seemed to have regained some of her usual tension.

“Should I make my first impression on your father and mother with ‘I’ve already taken your daughter’?”

“Get lost!?”

“You’ll get in big trouble if you cry while laughing.”

“S-stop teasing me…!”

I embraced Liliana, accepting her playful complaints.

Her warm, delicate body was held in my arms.

Liliana, gripping my waist tightly with both hands, rubbed her face against my chest as if unwilling to let go.

“… I was scared. Of that memory, and of your actions.”

“Sorry. Was it that obvious? I tried my best to hide it.”

“Idiot. You should have hugged me like you normally do.”

Squeeze-

Tsk. Was it that obvious?

Even though I try to hide it, it seems the heroines always find out.

I thought I had a talent for acting, but it’s a shame.

Liliana looked up at me, her face buried in my chest, and said.

“But why did your mind change so quickly? You clearly had a ‘I have too much to think about. Don’t come near me.’ expression.”

“… Well, I had a talk with Scarlet.”

I told myself not to talk about other women in front of a woman, but I always end up doing it.

Let’s just give up on being the ‘sweet guy’.

With over ten women, what sweetness am I supposed to show?

“… With Scout?”

“Yeah. Scarlet said a lot of helpful things. That’s why I’m here with you….”

“Then where is Scout?”

Just then, Liliana interrupted my words.

Her eyes held a look that seemed to say, ‘What the hell is this guy thinking?’

“Uh, maybe she’s in her room? Or maybe she went back to her dorm?”

Since I hadn’t seen her face after she left my room, she must be in one of the remaining rooms.

Or perhaps she went back to her own dorm.

She seemed angry.

“Idiot. Such a fool….”

“…… Me?”

Why me?

*

“Ugh, Ughhh….”

Scarlet, after leaving Lee Hoyeon’s room, went straight into her own and threw herself onto the bed.

After stomping her feet and rolling around on the bed several times, her heart finally seemed to calm down.

Scarlet, barely getting used to her cringe-inducing hands and feet, lay on the bed, looked at the ceiling, and sighed.

“Haaah. …Pathetic.”

Pathetic.

Her own behavior, spewing words at Lee Hoyeon, was definitely pathetic.

At first, she was genuinely angry about Lee Hoyeon’s attitude towards Liliana.

But when she spoke to Lee Hoyeon, her own feelings were mixed in.

Under the guise of caring for Liliana, she had unconsciously embedded a plea for him to pay attention to her too.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to say she went to check on Liliana, got angry, and ended up pouring out her own emotions.

“Haaah, this pathetic girl. And ‘you’? Who am I to call you ‘you’? Haaah….”

She regretted it.

Why did she say those things?

The fortunate thing was that Lee Hoyeon went to find Liliana….

“….”

But was it really fortunate for her too?

Thinking about Lee Hoyeon’s expression after hearing her words, the situation would probably resolve itself.

He had a pathetic look, like he’d been punched, so he’d snap out of it soon.

And then, like always, they’d have a passionate session of sex and make up.

Lee Hoyeon and Liliana.

A happy ending where both are happy.

… But her own ranking would slip again.

“Sigh.”

She didn’t regret going to find Lee Hoyeon.

Seeing Liliana’s expression, she thought it was a necessary action.

The problem wasn’t Liliana, but Lee Hoyeon.

“Give him time, my ass. It was my fault for expecting anything. I shouldn’t have saved him.”

Scarlet counted the patterns on the ceiling, licking her lips.

“… Or maybe not?”

She should have saved him. Hmm. Yes.

Scarlet nodded and recalled what she had said earlier.

She recalled mocking him about having so many precious things, and how he dealt with loneliness when going out with other women.

The confidence and guts to handle anything that happens, and the ability to actually resolve it.

These were actually things she wanted to say herself.

Because she hated seeing Lee Hoyeon lose that confident demeanor.

“… I guess I won’t be seeing him tonight. I should head back to the dorm.”

They’d be having time alone, so there was no room for her to interfere.

Maybe I should head back to the Iris Guild dorm for the first time in a while.

Swish- Swish-

Scarlet, having regained control of her body, put on the going-out suit she had taken off.

She had acted fine in front of them, but her body hadn’t fully recovered.

Since they said there were no physical abnormalities, she probably just needed to endure the aftereffects for a few days.

Knock knock-

“… Huh?”

Scarlet, who was about to open the window and leave as usual, froze at the sudden knock.

“Scarlet. It’s me. Are you inside?”

“Huh…? Huh?!”

A familiar voice.

It was Lee Hoyeon’s voice.

‘Why is he here?’

I thought he’d be having a passionate night right about now.

“Not inside? Scarlet? I’m opening the door?”

“W-wait a second. No, wait! I’m inside.”

Scarlet looked around.

Tap- Tap-

She tidied the messy bed from her earlier tantrum and checked her clothes.

She was wearing her going-out clothes, but there was no need to change.

They were quite neat and pretty, after all.

Ahem. Hem.

After one last adjustment to her collar, Scarlet turned the doorknob.

“Scarlet. You were here.”

“What brings you here? Is your conversation with Liliana-nim over?”

“Yeah. Ah, can I come in?”

“Uh, uh… Yes.”

Scarlet, who had been trying to maintain a slightly angry image, was taken aback as Lee Hoyeon pushed the door open and stepped aside.