Side Story 2. Reclaimed Daily Life (3)

Leah and I entered the theater located in the bustling district of the labyrinth city.

Perhaps because concrete and steel reinforcement hadn’t been introduced in this era yet, the architectural techniques weren’t overwhelmingly grand, but it was a lavishly constructed building that showcased the maximum performance this era could offer.

“The title is ‘Phantom of the Labyrinth.'”

“I heard Olivia participated in writing the script.”

It was probably inspired by The Phantom of the Opera. Since Olivia was from Earth, she often created works drawing inspiration from there.

For example, the songs she composed and wrote lyrics for all had that same vibe. The melodies felt familiar, but since the only people who knew Earth were me, Olivia, and Erphin, her music became wildly popular here.

She had truly become a star. The 22-gold slave maid I once purchased had somehow turned into an ultra-popular artist.

And now, she wasn’t even a slave anymore. She bought her own freedom for twice the price I had paid for her.

Well, it had been over two years since then. That was more than enough time for her status to change.

“Tomatoes and popcorn, essential for the play! Get your tomatoes here!”

“Rotten tomatoes! Rotten tomatoes!”

“Throw rotten tomatoes at the villain Davidson!!!”

Just before entering the theater, I spotted people selling half-rotten tomatoes at a stall. Next to them, someone was even frying and selling popcorn.

“Should we get some too?”

“Sure. Let’s buy some rotten tomatoes as well!”

I heard Olivia had introduced the rotten tomatoes for this performance. The actor playing the villain Davidson would get extra pay for being pelted with them.

“This’ll be fun.”

Leah and I bought some rotten tomatoes. I was really looking forward to the play.

·
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Phantom of the Labyrinth was… profound, in a way.

It was a clever mix of The Phantom of the Opera and the labyrinth, with a plot about the labyrinth’s malice falling in love with a human and all sorts of twists and turns.

“How was it?”

“Pretty entertaining.”

Honestly, the stage effects powered by magic and magic engineering, as well as throwing tomatoes at the actor playing Davidson, were the most fun parts.

It was a fairly enjoyable play. By this world’s standards, it was probably unlike anything they’d ever seen before.

The plays in this world were usually just clowns in costumes making weird noises. A play with proper direction and a structured story like this was practically the first of its kind.

“Let’s head home now.”

“Okay! Thanks for coming with me today.”

“Same here.”

Leah grinned brightly, wrapped her arms around mine, and nuzzled her face against me playfully. Did she always used to be this affectionate?

I don’t remember clearly, but lately, she’s been clinging to me like a child whenever she sees me. She’s like an adorable little kitten.

******

“Yawn.”

“Good morning.”

“Yeah. Morning, Rozie.”

Rozie stood by the window, drawing back the curtains. The sun was already up. Today was the day we’d be volunteering together.

Handing out free meals to the poor, treating the sick, and occasionally cracking down on criminals-basically, cleaning up the city and helping those in need around us.

Having spent decades with me on the 8th floor, Rozie now recoiled at the mere mention of the labyrinth.

Unlike Yuria and Leah, who still ventured into the labyrinth from time to time, Rozie, like me, refused to set foot in it.

“Today’s breakfast is mushroom soup.”

“It’s been a while since we had mushroom soup.”

“Yuria made it before she left. Please eat up.”

Right now, only Yuria, Leah, Rozie, and I live in this house.

The maids are all managing my children at the mansion, while the four of us stay here, enjoying a newlywed-like atmosphere.

“It’s delicious.”

“The seasoning is just right. Yuria’s cooking skills seem to be improving. Here, have some bread too.”

“Thanks, Rozie.”

She takes such good care of me. From meals to bedtime, even helping me dress-she insists on doing everything herself.

It’s like… she treats me like a child.

Well, after spending nearly 40 years together in the belly of the 8th floor, I’m probably more than just a husband to her.

“Hehe. Why are you staring so intently?”

“No, it’s just… well.”

“Is my chest bothering you?”

“N-No, that’s not it.”

Okay, I was looking at her chest.

But only because I suddenly remembered how different her body was now compared to when we were trapped in the 8th floor.

“I was just thinking about the time we spent on the 8th floor.”

“Really? It seems some of your memories have returned.”

“Yeah. Lately, bits and pieces of the past have been coming back to me.”

While my memories of Yuria and Leah remain hazy, I’ve started recalling fragments of the time Rozie and I spent on the 8th floor.

The bond between us must have deepened from enduring such a horrific experience together.

“It makes me happy-and a little embarrassed-to receive such special treatment.”

“Come on, we spent decades together on the 8th floor. Trapped inside a monster’s body, no less. We suffered through it together.”

“True. Even after escaping, I struggled to readjust to this body.”

Having been trapped in a monster’s body for longer than she had lived, it was only natural that readjusting would be difficult.

“I was different back then. Here, would you like to touch me?”

“Huh? Uh, sure.”

Rozie reached out, and I took her hand, rubbing it gently.

Though calloused from years of training, her hands were still soft and warm.

Nothing like the hard, cold hands of the Ent she had been.

“So soft.”

“Right? Back then, I couldn’t share my warmth with you. But now, it’s different.”

“You do run pretty warm.”

“Hehe. That’s not what I meant.”

Rozie chuckled and stroked my hand.

She always finds excuses to touch me, to press close and inhale my scent.

As if she’s trying to feel me more intensely.

“Now that we’ve eaten, let’s take a moment to digest. How about we do that?”

“That? Oh. Sure.”

After clearing the table, we sat on the sofa.

Rozie had this… ritual she always performed before starting the day.

“Now, please stay still.”

“Okay. Do whatever you want.”

“Good. Very good.”

She climbed onto my lap, wrapped her arms tightly around me, buried her face in my neck, and rubbed against me.

“I feel at peace. As always, your scent is the best.”

“You like it that much?”

“Of course. It’s the best. I missed your scent, your warmth, and this feeling of you so much.”

Rozie was slowly recovering from the nightmare of the 8th floor.

Unlike me, who lost most of my memories and even my trauma due to the Throne, Rozie was still haunted by the horrors of the 8th floor.

The fear of never returning, the terror of dying in endless darkness without meaning, and the sorrow of being trapped in a monster’s body, unable to feel the warmth of the one she loved-those shadows still lingered within her.

So this was part of her healing process.

Sniff. Haa. “Shion, you washed your hair with soap recently.”

“Yeah. I heard it’s good for preventing hair loss if I do it occasionally.”

“I see. I can smell the soap. It’s nice. It actually makes your natural scent stand out more.”

“You really like my scent that much?”

“Of course. It’s the best. How could I dislike the scent of my partner?”

“O-Oh. Right.”

“Please stay still. I’m not done yet.”

“Okay. I’ll stay put…”

Rozie closed her eyes again, nuzzling against me, wriggling like a cat as she breathed in deeply.

At one point, she even lightly bit me.

“You’re the best, Shion. You’re the only one who can excite me like this.”

“R-Rozie… We have volunteering today, remember…?”

“I know. The main event is after volunteering. Though… we do have a little time now. I could give you a quick-“

“N-No, I mean… Uh…”

Rozie stared straight into my eyes and smirked.

“Your body is honest. Even if you resist, that thing of yours is making its stance clear. Besides, I love tasting you. The flavor, the scent-it’s so intensely masculine.”

“Rozie… You’re too lewd.”

“I know. It’s called kolli, and I think this level is just right, don’t you?”

“Uh…”

“I want you to get hard just from looking at me. Ever since we returned from the labyrinth, you’ve been too much of a stone. Be more clingy, more spoiled. You can even call me Mama if you want.”

“But… Rozie, aren’t you busy today?”

“Not at all. If you want, I can drop everything and serve you at home all day. Do you want that? I’d love it. You’re far more important to me than the Church.”

“R-Really? Seriously?”

“Yes. Just say the word. Command me. I’m your slave, after all-my life is yours.”

Before I knew it, Rozie was showering my face with kisses, pouring out her affection.

This is driving me crazy. How can I resist when someone this beautiful keeps throwing herself at me without hesitation?

“Then… should we skip volunteering today? There are plenty of people who can do it without us… right…?”

“Shion.”

“Y-Yeah…?”

“Strip. Now. Let’s start working on our second child.”

“W-Wait! Rozie, hold on-!”

Rozie, eyes completely glazed over, panted heavily as she yanked off my pajamas.

Looks like I’ll be spending the whole day rolling around in bed with her.

Not that I mind. Things don’t always have to go according to plan.

In fact, deviating like this with her might be nice.

‘Peaceful.’

As Rozie attended to me, I stared up at the ceiling.

Familiar ceiling. That familiarity gave me a deep sense of comfort.

It felt good-like I’d reclaimed my daily life.