episode_0312

“…Goodbye.” “Yes. Let’s meet again if we can.” A brilliant flash! After the farewells, the scene was enveloped in bright light. When my vision recovered, I was back in reality.

“Ah!” At the same time, Pernia, who had been kneeling on the platform, opened her eyes and let out a small exclamation of awe. A smile spread across her lips. “Father!” “The bloodline ritual was successful. When do you plan to leave?” “Me? Hmm… probably right away tomorrow?” “I’ll tell the mages. Go by teleport gate.” “Thank you! But aren’t you curious what ability I gained?” “I’m not interested.” Garcia disappeared without looking back, as if he had no lingering attachment. It was a truly heartless display, but I didn’t think he lacked affection for his daughter. If he truly had no affection for Pernia, he wouldn’t have allowed her to undergo the bloodline ritual, nor would he have permitted her to leave so easily, or even let her use the teleport gate. Pernia looked at the spot where he had left with a complicated expression, then smiled sweetly and approached me.

“You waited a long time, didn’t you?” “No, not really?” I had been enjoying sex so much that I hadn’t noticed the time passing. If I’d had more time, I might have kept going for days until I was completely tired of it. Krana’s body was that amazing. However, Pernia, unaware of the underlying truth, misunderstood my words strangely. “Pfft! What’s with the thoughtfulness, unlike you? Are you perhaps trying to manage me now that I seem quite useful?” “What are you talking about? I was just being honest. More importantly, what are you going to do now? If there’s nothing specific to do, I’d like to rest.” “Really? Hmm… then, will you spar with me?” “Sparring?” “Yeah. I want to test my newly acquired ability.” “If that’s the case, I’m all for it. What about the others?” When I asked the party, they all expressed their intention to join. As a result, we all moved to the training ground together. A short while later, we arrived at the training ground, and Pernia and I stood facing each other at a certain distance.

“Are you ready?” “Of course I am! You’ll be in for a big surprise if you let your guard down! My new ability is incredible!” “Please, try to hurt me. If you land even one hit, I’ll grant you a wish.” In truth, though I called it a wish, what Pernia would want from me was obvious. When a “sex coupon” was offered as a prize, her eyes sparkled brightly. “Really?” “Yes.” “Heheheh! No taking back your words later, okay? Don’t regret it.” “I won’t regret it. Just come at me.” “Then, here I come!” A sudden vanish! The moment she took a step, Pernia disappeared into a rift in space. There was no sound, no scent, no presence. But the sixth sense I gained with my enlightenment allowed me to roughly perceive Pernia’s location. ‘Right side.’ It was just as I was about to turn my body to prepare.

“Oh!?” Pernia’s location, which had been transmitted to my sixth sense, suddenly shifted to the opposite side. ‘Is it spatial movement?’ As I turned my head in surprise, Pernia emerged from the rift in space and lunged with a dagger. I simply turned my arm back to parry. “Not there!” A quick whoosh! But as Pernia waved her hand, the space between her and me unnaturally compressed, reducing the distance to zero. Here, I stood at a crossroads. Should I use Photonic Form to escape the spot, or Incarnation Form to block her approach altogether? ‘Either way is fine.’ Whatever I chose, it would be enough to negate Pernia’s attack. However, somehow, I didn’t want to. I couldn’t bring myself to crush the blossoming smile on Pernia’s face, as if she could finally land a hit on me. It was absurd that I was having such thoughts. ‘I must be crazy.’ Falling for a sex-crazed woman, of all people? Even as I repeatedly pondered, I ultimately accepted the dagger without any counter.

Thrust! The sharp blade pierced my skin. Pernia’s face, which had just inflicted a large stab wound on my abdomen, stiffened. “Oh, huh? Why is this….” “I let my guard down. You won.” Pernia raised her head and met my eyes. She wore an expression difficult to describe, then became angry and pounded my shoulder. “Hey, you idiot! Why did you just take that hit? You could have dodged it!” “No? I was too surprised to dodge it?” “Do you think I’d like this? Do you think I’d like it?!” Pernia’s eyes welled up with tears. I was flustered, not expecting her to cry just from a little dagger wound. “Why are you crying? It’ll heal right away anyway. Look, the wound’s already gone.” “Who’s crying?” “Then what’s this? If it’s not tears, is it… bodily fluids? Do you squirt with your eyes?” “What are you talking about? You pervert!” As I subtly wiped her eye, Pernia, belatedly embarrassed, cursed and pushed me away. Her eyes swept over the wound.

“Don’t ever do that again. If you do, I’ll bite your dick right off.” “Is that really the right thing to say? Why not just say you’ll put a hole in my abdomen instead?” “This way you’ll listen better, won’t you? Fine. I’m an idiot for worrying. I’m leaving.” Pernia seemed truly upset and tried to leave the training ground. I quickly grabbed her hand. “Hey, calm down. I won’t do it again. Do you think I wanted to get hit? Your technique was so unexpected that I had little time to react, that’s all.” “Hmph! I don’t need flattery, you know?” She said that, but her lips twitched, indicating she was pleased with the compliment. I decided to offer more lip service. “But what was that just now? You suddenly moved to the opposite side, did you gain spatial movement or something?” “…It’s a bit similar. It’s ‘Stealing Sense.’” “Stealing Sense?” “Yes. I stole and disrupted your very senses. It means I burrowed in from a different direction from the start. It’s a bit complicated to explain.” “Hmm… well, I guess it’s basically a trick of the eye. To deceive not only perception but also sixth sense, isn’t that a complete cheat?” “Well, something like that. I can probably pull my weight anywhere now.” Pernia’s ears perked up, and her tail wagged gently from side to side. It seemed her mood had completely cleared.

“Then, tell me your wish now.” “Hmm… A wish? Do I really have to say it?” A lustful smile played on her lips. Her eyes oozed sensuality, indicating she wanted sex, as expected. Anyone would think she had a disease that would kill her if she didn’t have sex. “Is it that, after all?” “Yeah. Come to my room at dawn. Okay?” “Got it. Got it. I’ll give you plenty.” “Good! Then let’s go back. I’m hungry.” Although it was a short battle, Pernia rubbed her stomach and led the way to the dining hall, seemingly very hungry due to the intense concentration she had used for a short time. I chuckled at the sight and followed behind her. ‘Today, I should eat plenty of eel.’ To torment her all night, I needed to replenish my energy beforehand.

***

A rustling sound— A head stealthily emerged from the bushes. Fiery red hair and brilliant golden eyes reminiscent of the sun in the sky. These were intense features that no citizen of the Solias Empire could possibly not know. ‘So pretty….’ Her eyes were fixed on a woman. With black hair and transparent silver eyes, the woman’s natural beauty alone drew the attention of everyone around her. Her name was Isis Friuli. The student council president of a famous academy was currently trying on all sorts of clothes, putting on a fashion show. The stalker, Regina, knew that this was all for her beloved brother and lover, Ruan Friuli. That fact was so infuriating and sad. ‘So pretty….’ Nevertheless, exclamations of awe repeatedly escaped her lips at that beauty. Even though she knew that beauty wasn’t hers, no one could simply pass by such a sight without being captivated. As proof, not just Regina, but everyone was gazing at Isis, captivated. As she watched endlessly, Isis seemed to make a decision, had her clothes packaged, and left the store. Regina, careful not to lose her, quickly and stealthily followed Isis. Suddenly, she became gloomy.

‘How can I get close to her again?’ Ever since Ruan was rescued from the Dark Cult, or more precisely, since they had that argument, she hadn’t had a proper conversation with Isis. At most, they’d exchange a few words about work-related matters, but Isis wouldn’t even spare her a glance. Regina clenched her fist. ‘It’s all because of that trash.’ She had been close to Isis before Ruan Friuli enrolled! Their relationship had been steadily improving, and if time had simply continued, they would have smoothly become lovers! Just as she was managing her current stress with resentment and anger, a truthful voice echoed within Regina’s mind. …Could that truly be so? If Ruan hadn’t existed, could she really have become lovers with Isis? Isis wasn’t a homosexual, was she? Or rather, if she had foolishly thought they were close and crossed a line, wouldn’t she have reached the same outcome as now? The undeniable whisper stripped away all hostility from her. “Ugh….” The strength in her clenched fist automatically drained away. Then, the memory of the World Tree came to Regina’s mind. Her weak self in that dirty, ugly space. Engulfed by trauma, unable even to resist, she had almost been defiled by her uncle, but Ruan Friuli had saved her. That kindness was more than a hundred words could express. Perhaps because of that, whenever this memory surfaced, even her anger and hatred towards him faded. Although her mind clearly thought of him as the enemy who stole Isis and the rapist who assaulted her, her heart considered him a benefactor. That contradiction confused her. Regina clutched her head in distress, then looked ahead and flinched.

‘She’s gone?’ Isis was gone. The woman who had been in her sight just moments ago had vanished without a trace. She had foolishly lost her while worrying about Ruan Friuli, of all people. ‘You idiot!’ Just as she was about to curse herself and rush out. A rapid patter of footsteps! A man, with stealthy movements, brushed past her. Regina, who had paused, only began to follow Isis’s trail after a considerable distance had opened up between her and the man. And thankfully, she found Isis not long after. As Regina let out a sigh of relief, she suddenly realized that the same man was also nearby. ‘Who is that person?’ He was strangely unsettling. Regina, keeping an eye on the man while following Isis, soon realized something. ‘He’s doing the exact same thing I am.’ In other words, that man was also stalking Isis. The moment she realized that, her wariness towards the man instantly soared. Now was not the time to follow Isis. ‘I need to find out about that man first.’ His identity, his purpose, why he was following Isis, and so on—she needed to figure it all out. Changing her objective, Regina began to actively tail the man instead of Isis. Several hours passed, and when Isis’s shopping ended, the man stopped his tailing and moved in a different direction. Regina quickly followed. ‘Where is he going?’ If she could just find out his residence or base, she could easily deal with him using the power of the imperial family. As she followed, contemplating future actions, she came before a building. No, “building” wasn’t the right word. “Why….” It was the Imperial Palace. The mysterious man who had been following Isis had entered the Imperial Palace.