episode_0176

“Kathi. It is impossible for you to apply the method used in that laboratory.”

“… ?”

Kati tilted her head as if wondering.

“Hmm. The thing we use, commonly called black mana, is a kind of defense mechanism. Right?”

Kati also knew that after hearing it from Galatea.

The history of beasts being persecuted by humans is longer than you can imagine.

It was such a long period of time that a unique trait called ‘black mana’ was expressed on a species-by-species basis.

“That’s why I made you read the book, Kati.”

Galatea and Mallion’s training is reading.

Reading books containing the history of what prisoners have suffered at the hands of mankind, or diaries containing vivid testimonies of victims, heightens their hatred toward humans.

Even when there is no crisis, we generate anger ourselves, activating and stimulating our defense mechanisms.

In that way, I became increasingly able to handle black mana.

This was one of the weakest and most moderate methods used in the laboratory.

“There are harsh methods. Most of those things are intentional attacks on prisoners.”

“Act of attack?”

“Yes. To activate the defense mechanism… .”

Galatea hesitated for a moment.

Zion was in her arms.

Galatea entrusted Zion to a passing beast for a while.

“It’s abuse. They tie them up and beat them, make them fight with each other, and sometimes administer drugs that stimulate aggression… .”

It was Galatea who took charge of the task.

As she spoke, her heart ached with guilt.

“Forcing them to fight with their bare bodies against the monsters that have kidnapped them, or tying them up helplessly and leaving them to hear insults from humans… . Things like that. anyway. You are too strong to do something like that.”

“… … .”

“It is no match for most monsters, and even if you cooperate with being bound, who would be able to inflict such terrible pain on you? For a defense mechanism to kick in, you basically have to feel anxiety or fear that you are in danger, or anger that you want to escape. But you have no reason to. No matter what the situation, you will be able to escape very easily.”

It was true every word.

“Apart from not wanting to do such a harsh thing to you, it would be impossible. This is what I felt after looking at you for several months.”

“… I see.”

It was ironic.

I need to become stronger, but I’m too strong and I can’t use methods to become stronger.

“But… . Maybe there is no way at all… .”

Galatea thought to herself and muttered.

“Is there a way?”

“I’m not sure… . For Katy, Ian is always the center, right?”

That was the case with Kati, as analyzed by Marlion and Galatea.

No matter what you do, you must first assume Ian’s existence before proceeding.

Wasn’t it like that even when reading?

Even after seeing the horrendous history of prisoners and the disgusting atrocities of mankind, Kati did not blink an eye.

This is because the existence of Ian that was holding on to her heart was so big and strong that it could not be shaken.

I was barely able to raise the hostility by remembering the first hero party.

“Yes.”

Kati answered as if it were obvious.

“I was wondering what it would be like to use that in reverse. What if I stay away from Ian?”

“… I’m anxious.”

“Using that anxiety. By deliberately staying away from Ian for a long time. It’s my first time using this method, so I can’t guarantee it, but… I think it’s theoretically possible. Of course, if you don’t like it, there’s nothing you can do.”

In the end, it was up to Carty to execute.

Kati thought for quite a while.

With a serious face, as if carrying all the hardships and worries of the world.

***

The three fruits went into battle.

There is still a deadline until the operation to defeat the Reaper is carried out.

Until then, humanity’s goal is to establish and maintain a front line as far away as possible.

I remained at the gate, sitting on Mercy’s lap.

I’ve been doing this over and over again for several days, so I’m thinking about doing it now.

“Now, Ian. Ah~”

… But I can’t stand this.

Grace, who was sitting across from me, held out a cookie and urged me to open my mouth.

“My hands are not for decoration.”

“Aaaah! Just take one bite!”

“I don’t like it.”

I snatched the cookie and ate it with my hands.

… Now that I think about it, I originally had no intention of eating it?

I just ate everything I put in my mouth.

It’s not that I don’t like sweet things.

Grace, who was smiling as she looked at me muttering, soon sighed and became depressed.

“If my child is as picky as Ian is now, I think parenting will be difficult… .”

“… … .”

I barely held back what almost spewed out.

Mercy held me deeply in her arms as if protecting me.

“You shouldn’t hear stories like that.”

“I already heard everything.”

“Still, if he resembles the current Ian, his persona would be clear, and I like that.”

“Please don’t say anything weird.”

Now that I think about it, is Grace also serious?

Considering the atmosphere at the auction banquet, it didn’t seem like I could just pass it off as a childhood joke… .

“Hmm.”

Grace glanced at Mercy and pouted her lips.

“It’s all good, but I’m worried that Ian has too many people to become his wife.”

“… … .”

“But since he is a nobleman, we can’t stop him from having multiple wives… . Phew. Still, as the princess, I will be the first bride, right? Ian?”

Mercy’s hands urgently covered my ears.

Thanks to that, I didn’t hear Grace and Mercy arguing.

Thank you, Mercy… .

The two of them murmur their argument beyond their warm hands.

I was eating a cookie and pretending not to notice, when the door slammed! and opened roughly.

It was Kati.

“… Kati?”

Kati approached with solemn and heavy steps.

Mercy and Grace, as well as I, were nervous.

Kati came over and sat down next to me and just stared at my face without saying a word.

After doing that for a while, he opens his mouth.

“Master.”

“Why.”

“If I disappeared, how would you feel?”

… What is this? This endless question.

I feel like a parent who was asked by a child going through puberty what it would be like if I disappeared.

Aren’t you old enough to reach puberty?

“Remember what it was like before when you ran away on your own.”

I couldn’t sit still or go anywhere, so I was wandering around.

I continued to talk needlessly with the ring of subordination.

That would have been the answer.

Katy lowered her gaze and seemed to be thinking over the memory, then nodded.

“That day.”

“… Why do you emphasize ‘that day’?”

“Well, ”

I caught a glimpse of his sinister intentions through his faint smile.

that day.

So, that was the day when he returned to my tent at night and immediately kissed me.

“Where are you going?”

“… Just.”

Kati revealed her conversation with Galatea.

Because I didn’t do anything while I was down, my body seemed to have weakened here and there.

“Where are you going?”

“There is still time left until the operation, so I plan not to return from the front line during that time.”

“But, if it was the front line, I would go check it sometimes, right?”

“… Let’s find a place a little further away from the front line where you can stay alone.”

It seems quite hasty.

Judging by the expression on his face, he seems to have already made up his mind.

They say they are going to become stronger because of me, but I can’t tell them not to go.

“… be careful. Eat well and eat well.”

Kati smiled brightly at those words and kissed my forehead.

“Master, please be careful too.”

“Eight! What are you doing in front of me!”

Mercy struggled, but Katy caught up and succeeded in kissing me on both cheeks.

Still, he looked at me with regret in his eyes for a while, and then left with difficulty.

“Ian?”

As I was looking at the door where Kati left, Grace called.

When I turned my head, I saw Grace’s face right in front of me.

If we were just a little closer, our lips would have almost touched.

The reason I couldn’t reach it was because Mercy twisted her body the moment I turned my head.

“What are you doing now?”

“You’re protecting Ian, right?”

“I’m protecting it! The people around Ian are the most dangerous, so who protects whom? I’ve never done it before!”

The two fought back and forth for quite some time.

… When will my body come back?

*

Kati never really came back after that day.

I don’t even know where it went.

He didn’t even say a word through the Ring of Subordination.

While the fruit warriors were worried, they half trusted that Kati would be safe.

I am like that too.

This is not a guy who will get hit anywhere.

If there is a serious problem, then I will talk about it at least through the ring of subordination.

And, that night, I ended up sleeping with Mercy.

Since everyone else in the party took one, it was a natural order.

More than that, I hate my situation of taking this for granted.

“Wuhuhuhu, wuhuhuhu!”

Mercy, who smiled arrogantly, immediately pulled me, laid me down, and climbed on top of me.

“Don’t think about sleeping today.”

“What is this crazy… .”

“What are you doing-!”

Helena shouted loudly.

The room shook for a moment.

Mercy came down to the side, lay down, and spoke indifferently.

“I was just trying to tell you about a collection of mysterious and interesting fairy tales handed down orally in the elf forest?”

“… … .”

“What were you thinking? huh? Helena, your face is red?”

“Oh, I didn’t even think about it… !”

Helena hurriedly ran to her bed.

Lucia frowned and shook her head before returning, and Vivian took a deep breath before turning off the light.

Mercy placed me on top of her body and grinned.

“Cute guy.”

“I can’t sleep like this because it’s uncomfortable.”

“Didn’t I tell you to stop thinking about it?”

“You, you, are subject to the Imperial Standards Act.”

“That? What is that? Was I really trying to tell a fairy tale? What were you imagining with this innocent elf?”

“… … .”

Mercy smiled with an expression that was not innocent at all.

“It’s a joke, a joke. I like you the way you are now, but I like you better when you are your original self. If you don’t let him sleep, you’ll have to do it later.”

“… … .”

What are you talking about?

Did I hear it wrong?

Mercy smiled mischievously, but her eyes were straight at me.

Suddenly, I remembered what happened when Ganesha appeared.

Mercy caught me as I was rushing down and kissed me.

At that time, it was so urgent that I didn’t have time to think about anything.

“Mercy, you… .”

“Shh.”

Mercy pressed her finger to my lips.

“Not yet. I’ll tell you more later.”

“… … .”

With that alone, it was as if I had heard the answer.

Mercy grinned at me.

“Didn’t I say this often?”

After saying that, he brings his lips to my ear and whispers.

A warm breath caresses my ears like a tickling breeze.

“You are a man with many sins. A lot of that too.”

I can’t refute this… .

Mercy chuckled, put me aside and kissed my cheek.

“Have a nice dream.”

With those last words, Mercy gave me a warm hug.

Something big happened too.

That was all I thought.

*

Time passed quickly.

The rule of turning around and deciding on duty by playing rock, paper, scissors was still the same, and unrest, large and small, constantly occurred.

Humanity has moved forward steadily.

Even though I occasionally went to the front line and watched the progress, I could not see Kati.

You must be doing well.

And the day before the operation day.

My body completely regained its old appearance.

The sensations and energy I felt were unfamiliar yet familiar.

The problem was that I realized it when I woke up in the morning, and it was Helena who was sleeping with me today.

“… … .”

It was impossible to get up and escape before Helena.

She felt my weight and had just woken up at the same time as me.

Because of that, even though I was much bigger than her, I was lying in a strange position in her arms.

Helena’s drowsy eyes, half awake, slowly blinked.

Then it slowly expands as it sweeps over my face and body.

I shrugged my shoulders once and tried to get up, but Helena grabbed my collar and pulled me.

Without any chance to resist, their lips clashed roughly against each other.

After briefly rubbing and releasing it, Helena muttered with a flushed face.

“I’m so glad I’m the last one… .”

“What is so fortunate… .”

I decided to give up talking.

The companions who woke up later were surprised, disappointed, and also happy.

The height from which I looked down at the girls I had been looking up at for several days was unfamiliar to me for no reason.

“Give back my cute Ian… .”

Lucia muttered indignantly.

Vivian also visibly slumped her shoulders.

There is absolutely no need to return it. In the future too.

*

Around lunchtime, Lucia called me aside.

Do you want to show off your growth so far?

Since I haven’t personally checked it, I’m still curious.

After the war, I couldn’t even deal with him.

“If it hurts, you can cry and hug me.”

“… Didn’t you say that when you come back, you won’t be my older sister?”

“So you didn’t say you were your sister, right? Would you like me to do it for you?”

“… … .”

Does the improved skill not only include combat but also speech?

I had no words to answer, so I raised my sword.

Lucia also raised her sword and pointed it at me.

There is no specific signal.

When the time comes, it starts on its own.

A moment later, Lucia lowered her posture.

-Kak!

My sword broke, and the pain that made my entire arm tremble came over me.

There was no time to step back.

Lucia walked over and knocked me down.

Lucia climbs on top of the fallen body.

He presses his knee against my chest and places the tip of his sword on my neck.

It is complete suppression.

I wasn’t even aware of the attack from start to finish.

Although it was only a brief moment, my mind completed the calculation.

I think Kylie has surpassed this level.

“End. How do you feel?”

Lucia asked, putting her sword aside.

“I think you know better at this level. I couldn’t even react.”

“You’ve grown a lot, right?”

“I can’t even touch it anymore.”

You can use “.”

“What?”

“Really?”

Lucia laughed mischievously and threw the sword to the side.

… However, it does not move out of the way from above.

“Please come down.”

“Wait a minute.”

His face suddenly became more serious, and he quietly looked down at me.

“Wait a minute, do you want to stay like this any longer?”

Dark purple hair falls as if tickling.

The hair blocked out the surrounding light.

It casts a shadow on me and her face.

Lucia looked straight into my eyes.

She took a deep breath and suddenly hugged me.

Her body was shaking.

“Lucia? Are you crying?”

“Yes… .”

“Why suddenly… .”

“Just, something… . Now I can finally feel that Ian is really back… .”

Instead of answering, I patted Lucia on the back.

Although it wasn’t my intention, I was responsible for causing him distress.

When his breathing seemed to have calmed down a bit, he said jokingly.

“Whenever you feel sad that your younger self is gone.”

Lucia chuckled, burying her face in her shoulder.

She looked up and was smiling with red eyes.

“Sure. It was small and cute.”

“It’s the word that doesn’t suit me the most in the world, but that is.”

“It wasn’t until a few days ago?”

“… But when are you going to come down?”

Instead of answering, Lucia stared at me.

The smiling face gradually became more serious.

“It’s unfortunate.”

After saying that, he grabs my wrist with both arms and presses it.

“I also waited for today.”

Without any time to question, Lucia’s face fell.

Her lips covered mine.

Lucia’s grip on the wrist becomes stronger.

As I became stronger, the breathing that came through my lips also became rougher.

My legs are holding me tightly to my pelvis, so I can’t resist.

I shared my breath with her while being completely trapped.

“Ha… .”

Lucia let out a sticky breath and twisted her head away.

Dreamy, blurry eyes look at me intently.

“Ian.”

“… … .”

“I love you. It doesn’t matter whether I fight with Vivian or get into a fight with Helena because of you. So.”

Lucia stopped talking and kissed their lips again.

Lucia finished speaking, just slightly away, just past the lips that move when she speaks, gazing at me with deep eyes.

“Take responsibility.”