episode_0018

“Arina? What’s going on?”

For a victim to seek out their own assailant—what kind of twisted situation was this?

Marin voiced her thoughts outright, but Arina kept avoiding her gaze. After hesitating for a long while, she finally spoke.

“I’m sorry about earlier. For making a scene.”

“Huh?”

For a moment, Marin wondered if she was dreaming. Making a scene? Was she talking about groping Marin’s chest and then hitting her afterward?

Did that mean there was some unwritten rule in this world where victims of sexual assault had to happily endure it for the sake of their assailants? That’s insane. No, but—

“I lost the duel and threw a tantrum like a child. I couldn’t accept my defeat.”

Oh, so that’s what she meant.

“It’s fine. I messed up too. So we’re even now, right?”

If they were tallying faults, Marin was the one who had done far worse. But since the other party had apologized first, she couldn’t help but feel a little guilty for acting like she was the one making concessions. Still, Arina didn’t seem bothered.

“So, I’m sorry to ask, but… would you duel me again?”

“Fight again? Why?”

Marin didn’t get it. The whole fight had started because Arina got angry, thinking Marin had looked down on her by forfeiting.

Now that the misunderstanding was cleared and they’d even made up, there was no reason to fight anymore.

“I can’t stand losing.”

Before she knew it, Marin found herself nodding in understanding. If Arina wasn’t that stubborn, she wouldn’t have caused a scene in front of the royal family’s storage in the first place.

But Marin had already proven she was stronger. There was no reason for her to fight again.

The only reason she’d accepted the duel before was to teach Arina a lesson for her arrogance. Violence was an effective negotiation tool for Marin, but it wasn’t something she enjoyed.

“Sorry, but I’m not really interested… So, you’re saying you’ll keep asking me to fight until you win? That’s kinda…”

“I’ll pay you. 10 gold per match. You joined the tournament to make money, right?”

Arina flashed a confident smile, as if she already knew Marin couldn’t refuse.

“It won’t take long. I’ll win this time.”

“Oh? Well, sorry to disappoint, but I already have more than enough money.”

Marin pulled out the pouch of gold coins she’d received as the second-place prize. More money was always good, but for someone drifting through life without a home,

carrying too much cash was just inconvenient and made her a target for thieves.

When Marin regretfully broke the news, Arina frowned in irritation.

She clearly hadn’t expected her trump card to fail. The way she racked her brain, visibly flustered, was almost amusing to watch.

Marin smirked inwardly, then slung an arm around Arina’s shoulder and whispered in her ear.

“There is one thing you could offer me instead.”

“What is it?”

Seriously? She still hasn’t figured it out? How innocent could she be? Marin mimicked a move she’d seen in a dirty book once.

“This. This.”

As she whispered and poked Arina’s chest, the startled girl immediately crossed her arms defensively and glared.

“What the hell are you doing? What kind of deal is that between two girls?!”

At least she’s not completely clueless about this stuff. The way her face flushed red, whatever she was imagining—it’s kinda… cute.

“Heh heh. Let me touch your chest once, and I’ll fight you. If you don’t like it, no deal!”

Take it or leave it. Marin’s classic taunt worked like a charm.

Arina narrowed her eyes, grinding her teeth as she glared, but in the end, she relented.

“Fine. But payment only happens if you win. And nothing more than that.”

Arina seemed convinced she’d win immediately.

“Deal!”

From then on, Arina sought Marin out every single day. Which meant she lost every time. And got her chest groped every time. But in the process, Arina improved at an astonishing rate.

Her magic grew sharper and more refined, making each victory harder for Marin to achieve.

Whether close combat skills were even useful for a backline mage was debatable, but Arina was single-mindedly obsessed with beating Marin.

“Hmm, what should we eat today?”

As Marin hummed and asked, Arina—now accustomed to tagging along—answered naturally.

“I heard a new restaurant opened in the outer district. Shabby-looking, but the food’s good.”

“The best places always look run-down. Got it! Let’s go there today!”

Marin’s reward for winning each duel was one chest grope.

But she deliberately delayed collecting her prize, dragging Arina around to explore the city together.

Not that she didn’t collect—she just made sure they had their fun first.

And yet, Arina never complained, going along with Marin’s whims. More than the softness of Arina’s chest, Marin just enjoyed having someone by her side.

For Marin, who had always been alone, Arina was the first real friend she’d ever made.

Even Arina’s supposedly rotten personality had unexpected sides to it.

She acted indifferent to others but couldn’t ignore people in trouble.

Though her past had left her twisted, her core was warm. And she knew how to match Marin’s energy.

“Mmm! So good! Right?”

When Marin asked,

“Not bad,”

Arina would reply with a small smile. Her usual expression was stoic, so most people never saw it—but her smile was prettier than Marin had imagined.

A smile only I get to see! It was the most satisfying feeling in the world.

A month passed like this.

“Match point.”

Arina, growing stronger every day. Marin, who hadn’t improved at all. Their duels grew fiercer until, finally, Arina won.

“Wow, impressive. You actually beat me.”

Marin, who never cared much about winning or losing, acknowledged the defeat without complaint.

“You won, so… anything you want? I’ll grant most requests.”

“Hmph, no need. Just beating you is enough. Nothing could feel better than that right now.”

It was obvious she was fighting back a grin, but Arina suppressed her smile and headed back to her inn.

She looks so happy I can’t even ask her to eat together. Well, as long as she’s happy, right? Marin returned to her own inn without complaint.

Then, a week later.

BANG!

“Arina, get out here!”

Marin, acting completely unlike her usual mild-mannered self, kicked open the door to Arina’s inn room.

Arina, who had been lounging in her chair with her feet on the desk while reading a book, blinked in confusion at the sudden intrusion.

“What’s wrong?”

“‘What’s wrong’? You came to see me every day, so why the hell have you disappeared for a whole week?!”

For a month, they’d dueled, explored, and eaten together.

Marin thought they’d grown close—but the moment Arina won, she vanished as if she’d gotten what she wanted.

She won the duel. Now that she’s won, there’s no reason to keep fighting. So no reason to see me.

It wasn’t like Marin didn’t understand that three-step logic.

But was that it? Was she just a means to an end?

Like a woman furious at a man who ghosted her after a one-night stand, Marin had come to vent her frustration.

So when Arina tilted her head, clueless, and recited the exact reasoning Marin had predicted, it only made her angrier.

“So winning was all that mattered? You only spent time with me for that?”

“Yeah. I said that from the start.”

Hearing her say it so casually, Marin was filled with indignation. What kind of person does that?!

She wanted to knock Arina flat like in their first duel and teach her a lesson—but that wasn’t an option anymore. Beating Arina wasn’t as easy as before.

If she picked a fight now, the entire inn would be reduced to rubble.

All she could do was puff out her cheeks and stomp her feet in a nonviolent protest.

With Marin sulking in front of her, Arina couldn’t focus on her book. She sighed and finally spoke.

“Why are you so worked up? If you’re that upset, do what you always do to cheer yourself up.”

Do what you always do. Between them, that was code for you can touch my chest. Marin’s one-woman protest disbanded instantly.

The moment she felt Arina’s softness, the resentment melted away. The girl she’d hated so much now seemed unbearably lovable, and her thoughts turned forgiving.

Well, Arina’s always been like this. She was like a cat. Push too hard, and she’d run away.

And yet, this same girl had verbally allowed Marin to touch her. How could she not be moved?

(Of course, after a month of daily groping, Arina had grown used to it without realizing. Next time, permission might not come so easily.)