episode_0103

The scorching heat that was no longer felt.

A pleasant coziness as if covered in fluffy blankets.

To the alien sensation that should never be felt, I opened my eyes wide.

“…Where am I?”

I hastily got up and looked around, only to see a shabby inn room engulfed in darkness, not a gruesome battlefield.

Thinking it might be the afterlife, I pinched my thigh hard, thankfully feeling the pain distinctly.

“It seems captives are treated well.”

I chuckled bitterly, trying to assess the situation.

Am I here as the hero who led to victory? Or am I here as a defeated captive?

No matter how much I pondered, the latter seemed more probable. The last thing I saw before losing consciousness was Alain being humiliated by Lorian.

“…What will happen now?”

I contemplated the impending fate with a melancholic voice.

Perhaps I will be tortured until my mind breaks down completely?

I taunted while hanging on the sword; surely, I won’t have a good ending.

“Damn life.”

I muttered quietly, full of resentment.

It would have been less unjust if I had been betrayed by that damn sword.

Being chewed out by an enemy is better than being chewed out by a friend, right?

“Sigh…”

As I sighed, worrying about the future to come.

Suddenly, a voice came from beside me, a voice that shouldn’t have been heard.

“Don’t you want to be chewed out by someone you love, rather than a friend?”

“Eek?!”

Startled, I turned to the direction of the voice, only to find the person I thought was dead sitting there.

How is it possible? How is he alive when he was clearly dying?

I hesitantly reached out to touch him, feeling the warmth unique to humans.

If that’s the case, then he really is alive…

With an incredulous look, he grumbled as if disappointed.

“Wow, didn’t even consider winning, huh? Your reaction shows you didn’t even expect it.”

“Oh, no! Objectively, your physical condition against Lorian…!”

Stabbed at the core, I involuntarily stammered.

But it was true that it seemed impossible!

Thinking I could win in such a desperate situation was absurd!

Glaring at the unfair emotions, I shot a look at the sword, who opened his mouth with a mischievous smile.

“Well, it was serious. I thought I was going to die like this too. But -”

“But?”

“Isn’t it incredibly unfair to think about dying without ever doing it with you? Thinking like that suddenly gave me strength.”

“Heh, just kidding.”

I chuckled at his teasing joke.

Your joke skills have improved a lot, Sword.

What kind of protagonist in the world awakens with a desire for sex? There must have been something embarrassing and unmentionable.

I decided not to ask.

The result of winning is more important than the process itself.

I don’t have to be chewed out by Lorian! What better news could there be than that!

A sense of tension dissipating.

I tried to savor the exhilarating joy but what came to mind first were the embarrassing words I said to the sword before losing consciousness.

“Ahhhhhh!!!”

My face flushed.

Dizzy and unable to regain composure.

Why did I say such things? Damn, I should have thought twice!

I want to crawl into a hole and hide.

I confessed thinking it was my last moment, but what if I come back alive!

Oh, no! I didn’t wish for his death…!

“Uh, um, er, ah.”

Buffering in extreme embarrassment, I stuttered, and seeing my state of distress, the sword slowly approached me.

“Where does it hurt? Your face is very red.”

“Ah, no! It’s just because it’s hot! Could you open the window, please?”

“Sure.”

As I opened the window, a refreshing breeze flowed in, cooling the heat on my face.

Ah, now it feels a bit better.

It seems like even the embarrassing things are fading away.

Just when I thought things were getting a little better,

Another crisis struck me without any warning.

“Beatrice.”

“Y-yes?”

“Can you say ‘I love you’ one more time? I want to hear it.”

Caught off guard by the sudden fiery attack,

I ended up hiding under the thick blanket.

—–

Perhaps it was the warm and cozy feeling from the blanket that calmed down the emotions that had risen not long ago.

My heart was still pounding fiercely, but I found the courage to speak up.

Under the thick blanket, I called out to him.

“Karl.”

“Yes?”

“…Do you want to hear ‘I love you’ like that?”

“Of course.”

“Then you go first. Say it seriously, not casually like usual.”

Without the courage to confess, I cowardly demanded from under the blanket.

Ask him to whisper his love first. Only if you whisper your love will I respond.

Could I be this cowardly? Guilt grew rapidly, but

I couldn’t help it; I am a coward who can’t even properly acknowledge my feelings.

Such an ugly coward.

Yet, even to such a cowardly demand, he readily responded.

As always, without hesitation, he came to me.

With a swift motion,

He pulled back the blanket and embraced me with his sturdy, firm body.

Then, in a gentle voice, he whispered sweetly,

“I don’t know how to fully convey my feelings, but…”

“I love you, Beatrice. If you accept, I’ll only have eyes for you until my last breath.”

Hearing a confession so different from usual, tears inexplicably welled up in my eyes.

Not sad, but so happy.

Why are tears welling up like this?

Feeling an inexplicable mix of emotions, I slowly opened my mouth with a trembling voice.

“I…”

The cowardly me whispered ‘love’ in a barely audible voice.

Even the coward himself couldn’t tell if he said it properly. That’s how weak and pathetic the confession was.

But they say the first time is always hard.

The coward gathered courage and whispered love again.

Until he could fully express his hidden feelings to her.

Only when the coward could honestly express his feelings to her did she finally whisper ‘I love you’ to him,

Thanking him deeply for approaching her first.

Confessing her guilt for deceiving herself all this time.

“I love you, Karl.”

After confessing as innocently as a country girl,

I lifted my chin and kissed him.

A deep and intense kiss that was completely different from before, leaving a significant impression on both of us.

Their tongues intertwined sensually.

Exploring and being explored as if to devour each other.

When they felt each other’s tongues distinctly,

They slowly parted their lips.

At the same time, a strand of saliva connected their tongues provocatively.

“You’re beautiful, Viche.”

“W-why are you being so bold? A-and Viche, what’s that about?”

“It’s a nickname. Calling me Karl is better than calling me Kardashian, right?”

“Well, that’s true… I-I don’t know! Do whatever you want. Call me Viche or not…”

Avoiding eye contact while speaking nervously, Karl smiled satisfactorily and kissed my cheek.

Viche…

An established nickname like lightning in a clear sky, but it might not be too bad.

Thump-thump-

Was I enjoying the strange sensation of my heart fluttering while holding him close?

Soon, something solid touched my abdomen.

“C-cough…”

“…”

In an instant, the atmosphere became awkward.

Feeling quite flustered, she avoided my gaze and coughed nervously.

“This, this is natural, Viche. It’s unavoidable for a man…”

“Oh, I see.”

“Huh?”

“I said I understand! Why are you acting like that!”

How could I not know? It was an item that was hard as a rock just before the possession.

Even without explanation, I knew all too well why it was behaving like that.

It must be uncomfortable for me.

After all, it’s strange that it’s not getting bigger when facing the person I love.

Instead, it actually means I truly love them, so I should accept it happily and continue the relationship…

Oh, no! It hasn’t even been 5 minutes since the confession, and now what’s with this sudden sex talk!

Well, aligning our bodies should come after getting to know each other a bit more!

I tried to shake off those vulgar thoughts by nodding my head.

But I couldn’t easily brush them off because of that prominent tent that kept catching my eye.

What should I do?

Sweating coldly, I sneak a peek at the bulging area.

That thing doesn’t seem like it’ll easily go down anytime soon.

But it’s not like I can just chase him away because it’s uncomfortable.

Due to excessive magic use, I’m currently as powerless as an ordinary person.

If a lunatic from another country barged in and attacked, I’d be nothing but minced meat, a weak woman needing protection.

Even that guy with the knife knows that he has to stay here to protect me.

I get it.

I appreciate the protection, but still… isn’t that too much to handle!

No, at least bend your body a little!

Why are you boldly exposing the tent like that! It’s like asking me to take a step back!

…Huh? Wait a minute.

Wouldn’t things improve a bit if I took a step back?

Usually, taking a step back gives you a breather for a while.

So maybe we can escape this embarrassing situation.

I know it sounds absurd.

But trying won’t hurt, right?

Anyway, there’s no problem since we’re in love, right!

Swoosh –

After tossing the robe carelessly onto the bed, I say to the bewildered guy,

“Ta-take it off!”

“What?”

“I said take it off! I’ll take a step back! You keep standing so stiff, it’s really bothering me!”

“…?”

Despite his sudden request, he hesitantly lowered his pants while shaking his head.

And then, what appeared was –

“A g-giant worm?!”

It was unbelievably huge, much larger than in dreams, wasn’t it?

Did I, perhaps, make a mistake?