Episode 27 – Serpent of the G.o.d of Darkness day – In the Forest
I walked carefully. I lowered my feet quietly and try to make the heel and toes of my boots touched the ground at the same time. I walked so as to not make any footsteps as much as possible.
My goal is the tall bush in front of me, the only sound that can be heard is the sound of a big bird flapping its wings. I raised my right arm to shoulder height and then advanced with my muzzle pointed high.
After getting considerably closer, the flapping sound turned rowdy and a pheasant with red brown feathers flies out from the bush. I twisted my upper body by using my knees and then turned my muzzle.
I raised my left arm and pressed the stock of my shotgun against my shoulder while also pressing it down with my cheeks at the same time. Beyond my sight, the pheasant is reflected at the tip of my barrel. I moved my index finger and squeezed the trigger before it managed to glide away.
I can’t hear any sound. The moment my bullet hit its target, the pheasant’s wings were spread to its fullest, its stationary appearance looks majestic somehow. The sight lasted only for a moment, and then it falls toward the ground diagonally.
I suppressed my happy feeling and approached the place where the pheasant had dropped.
The image of the moment it got shot earlier is burned in my mind.
The pheasant had closed its wings and lie dead on the ground.
I split my shotgun and popped out the sh.e.l.l. then I put on a cigarette.
I rarely do bird hunting, but I can understand why some people are crazy about it.
Tonight will be a feast. While breathing in my feeling of triumph, I take the still warm pheasant and put it aside. It’s time to return to the camp, I’m sure Rachel is waiting for me in expectation.
–
“Whoah, awesome. Boys sure are amazing”
Rachel cheered with a loud voice and clapped her hands in front of her chest.
When you were praised straight-forwardly like this, you can’t help but feel proud as man right.
“Thanks Rachel”
As Rachel presented her hands, I handed the pheasant intact with feathers to her.
“Can you do it? Should I take over?”
“I can, I like cooking”
Rachel answered like it’s the most obvious thing for her. Even though she’s a lady from a n.o.ble family, she sure has some commoner-like aspect to her.
“It’s fine, it’s fine. You must be tired, just go take a rest over there”
Rachel spoke like she’s a newlywed wife. If she insisted that much, guess I’ll leave the treatment of the bird to her.
“Huff……”
Then I sat beside the bonfire and let out a long sigh. The sky has turned red already, today is really tiring……
Me and Rachel are camping in the evening of the G.o.d of Luck day. Our current location is inside a forest beside the highway connecting the city surrounded by corn fields and the city with a Coast Guard base.
We woke up at early afternoon in that corn fields city, afterward we went for a lunch at some random store, but I didn’t have much appet.i.te.
Everyone around us were watching me and Rachel with warm eyes. I know it’s partly my fault for doing such a showy duel, but I don’t like attracting unnecessary attention.
As for Rachel, she’s pleased. She’s used with becoming the center of attention, but the reason for her happiness is because it feel like those people are giving her their blessing. I’m not sure whether that n.o.bleman is still staying in this city or not.
I don’t like that kind of situation, so we then left the city. Since the sun is going to set soon, we decided to enter the forest before the sky is turning dark and spend the night there.
“It’s done. Come and eat”
The dish that Rachel made is a soup that is filled with the meat and bone of the pheasant
It’s quite a wild dish and not something you would expect from a n.o.ble lady, there’s steam coming up from the soup and it looks really delicious.
“Thanks, I’ll have some”
“This is the most delicious way to serve it”
“It seems so”
I took my plate and sipped some of the soup. It’s delicious. There’s fat floating on the surface of the soup and you can immediately tell from the taste that it’s a stock made from a pheasant.
“……How is it?”
Rachel is looking at my direction with upturned eyes and asked me with an anxious voice. It seems that she’s concerned with my reaction, so I smile at her.
“It’s delicious”
“See, it’s just like what I said.”
She let out a quiet sigh and then said so while smiling complacently.
“So Rachel can even make this kind of dish”
“Of course I can, I made it delicious right. Why did you ask ?”
She asked curiously while tilting her little head. I wonder if this girl has no self awareness as a n.o.ble.
“I’ve also made this kind of dish a long time ago. It’s popular with the common folk”
“Are you stupid. Elaborate and luxurious dishes would have their own expert. Come on, I’ve going out of my way to make it, eat it before it’s getting cold”
It’s just as she said. Thought, this time Rachel is speaking like a mother, it made me smile.
“Yeah, true. I’m digging in”
“Muu……”
Rachel is pouting, perhaps she was dissatisfied with my smile. Sorry, I know that you’re just concerned of me. I know I’m in the wrong, so now I’ll say this instead.
“I’m sure Rachel is going to be a good bride”
“Ehehe……, you think so?”
She was dissatisfied and sharpened her lips just a while ago, but her face is all loose now.
“Beautiful girls sure are cute when they’re making that face”
“Of course, isn’t that obvious”
Rachel responded back while smiling happily. She sure is accustomed with the words ‘beautiful girl’ .
–
I was rolling some cigarettes beside the camp bonfire, my position is in the middle of a small clearing in the forest.
The sun had already fallen and the area is completely dark, taking its place the big moon unique to this world is floating in the sky.
“Finished”
The light from the bonfire is bright. I indulged myself and wrapped more leaves than usual. It looks clumsily-made, but it should do just fine. I’m going to lit it on fire immediately and enjoyed my after meal smoke.
“Fuhh……”
It cannot be compared with the feeling of triumph from the hunt earlier, but the cigarette still taste delicious. I was satisfied just by being able to smoke.
By using the Merkel to hunt, my mood was also somewhat refreshed. I think it’s wrong to shoot people with this hunting gun, I also felt like I’ve done something wrong to Kerebryl.
“KYAAaa—……”
I heard Rachel’s scream from the other side of the tent. I kicked the ground and rushed immediately. Rachel should be using hot water over there right now.
“Rachel, what’s wrong?”
Rachel is squatting down naked. I run over to her side and embraced her thin shoulder, she was trembling like she had seen something really frightening.
“Kaoru, a serpent……”
“Serpent?”
Her face is really pale too. I looked around at the surrounding, but since the forest at night is really dark I gave up immediately.
“Rachel, I can’t see-……”
“No, not that. ……A big serpent was flying in the sky”
Rachel shook her head and then pointed at the sky with her trembling hands.
I turned my face up. I can see the sky from the gaps of the trees, the moon isn’t full but it still s.h.i.+nes brightly.
“There was a shadow of big serpent crossing the moon……”
“……I couldn’t tell”
Rachel’s said so with a quivering voice. Is the serpent already left or it’s still flying in the sky. I couldn’t tell.
“I didn’t lie, I really-……”
“I believe you”
While still looking at the sky, I stopped Rachel’s sentence midway. This is a different world with RPG style, it have Dragon and Homunculus, so it wouldn’t be strange for a serpent monster to exist.
“Rachel, let’s go to the bonfire for now, you’re going to catch a cold”
“……Yes, thanks”
Rachel is hiding her surprisingly big b.r.e.a.s.t.s with her arms and replied me back while sounding a bit happy.
“……You believed me immediately. ……Somehow, It feels nice when a man is saying that to me”
Rachel is saying some words that make her sound like she would be easy to persuade, her expression also had turned all loose again.
–
“It’s my first time seeing something like that. It’s really long and big, I’m sure it can eat a human easily”
“……I see”
I pulled a wry face. If it’s really that big, I’m sure my gun would be useless.
“Where was it headed to ?”
“Toward the south, the direction of that coast guard city”
That’s the same direction we’re heading.
“It’s already night. That big serpent doesn’t necessarily eat humans, we shouldn’t be worried needlessly about the future. Let’s settle with that for tonight”
“True…… It’s as you say”
Rachel nodded in agreement with me. We’re currently sitting beside the bonfire, Rachel is already wearing her clothes properly.
I picked up a twig and pushed it into the bonfire, then I pressed the tip of my cigarette against it and lit it on fire. There’s lot of stuff I need to think about.
“What are you thinking now ?”
“……Nothing important. So Rachel is bad with snakes?”
Rachel had been staring at me . Her beautiful profile was covered with orange color from the fire.
This girl has good intuition, perhaps she was observing my facial expressions so she could act accordingly. I thought so while taking another whiff of my cigarette.
“Muu…… I’m not. If it’s a normal sized snake at least. What about you?”
“As for me…… I wonder, I thought they look gross, but otherwise I’m fine with it”
“Hmm……”
Rachel is listening to my answer with an interested look.
“We still don’t know anything about each other do we”
Rachel muttered that softly. She blinked together with the flickering of the bonfire, the light from the flame is making Rachel’s big jade colored eyes s.h.i.+ne brilliantly.
Afterward, we talked a lot about various stuff. What kind of clothes do we like, our favorite food, and many others. Sometimes my answers make Rachel look frustrated, but overall it was a very fun time.
“……Kaoru”
Rachel always looks happy when she called out my name.
“What ?”
“Your name, does it have any meaning?”
“Meaning huh…… something like ‘good smell’ maybe”
“Hmm……”
My name was given to me by my deceased mother. I remember she said that she always planned to use that name for her child.
“What about it?”
“Stupid. Of course because I want to know everything about you”
“……I see”
My chest ached for a bit when I heard Rachel’s words. I’ve been thinking about this since earlier, It might be the time for me to tell Rachel about my secret.
“Rachel, actually-……”
“The meaning of my name is-……”
My voice then overlapped with Rachel’s. During situation like this, I always let girls to proceed first.
“I want to know, what’s the meaning?”
“You sure are gentle…… The meaning of my name is ‘lamb’ or ‘sheep’, and also ‘pure things"”
Rachel smiled while looking a bit happy.
“It’s a good name, perfect for Rachel”
It’s perfect for someone who seems easy to persuade like her.
“Really? If you say so…… I’m glad”
Rachel then send her gazes downward and smiled bashfully. Yep, it fits.
“Rachel, I have something to tell you, don’t be surprised”
“What is it ?”
I made a serious face.
“I wasn’t born in this world. I live in another world and then was suddenly summoned into this world by the G.o.ddess of Darkness”
“Eh……?”
Rachel’s big eyes were opened even larger.
“Have you ever heard about G.o.ddess of Darkness summoning people?”
“I have, but……”
“One day, when I was closing my eyes—……”
–
“……—And that’s the story”
“Hmm……”
I briefly summarized my circ.u.mstances and told Rachel about it, she was looking at me with an astonished look the whole time.
“So that’s the stuff you’ve been hiding from me?”
“……Yeah”
It was a big confession for me. I wish she can accept it, I believe in her.
“Soo, that strange tool you have, you also lied about it being your business tool? A~ah, I thought I could buy it If I went to [Country of Commerce]. I wanted that too……”
I’m speechless. This girl always surprises me with her out of nowhere remark.
“Is there anything else you lied to me about?”
“……There’s none”
Rachel’s eyes were serious. I thought for a moment and then gave her my honest answer.
“Lies. You’re always lying. You said that I was 30 points didn’t you?”
I’m speechless, again. I do recall saying that stuff. It seems this beautiful girl cannot accept being scored 30 points, as proof, she is even inflating her cheeks right now.
“No matter how beautiful a girl is, I always distinguish them from my girlfriends. That’s why you were 30 points back then, right now Rachel is 100 points”
“See, you weren’t honest about that. ……But I’ll forgive you just for today. I won’t forgive you if you ever lie to me again”
Rachel was acting all grumpy, but her outburst came to a full stop in an instant. I’m really thankful for this girl’s brightness and wisdom from the bottom of my heart.
“……About me coming from a different world, you don’t mind it?”
I asked her so. We understand each other’s feeling, but I still want to hear it from Rachel’s mouth.
“……Will you go back to your original world?”
Her reply is different from what I expected, but I guess it can’t be helped. Rachel is an important person to me now.
“No, I won’t return. Even if I could, I will not return”
I answered immediately. I have no attachment to my previous world. There must be someone who is worried about me, and there might be some chaos surrounding the whole situation, but I’m sure those people were only concerned due to their own interest.
“Then it’s okay”
Rachel said so while putting her small head above my shoulder. Her fluffy blond hair is tickling my cheeks, it feels good.
“You’ll always stay beside me right”
“……Yeah”
I hugged Rachel’s shoulder.
“You need to take proper responsibilities. You were letting out a lot before. ……I might’ve even gotten pregnant”
i think Rachel just said something bizarre. She also blushes and rubbed the part under her stomach with both hands like she was touching something precious.
“……Rachel, the pill?”
“I’m not taking any”
I was told that with a very clear voice.
Before leaving the corn fields city, the two of us had went to pharmacy to buy contraceptive. Furthermore, she also said ‘this stuff is the responsibilities of men’ in front of the female clerk.
“Kyahah~…… That’s a lie…… are you surprised? You were always mean to me, it’s your payback. It’s just a joke”
Rachel is laughing with her mouth wide open.
“……Rachel, there are stuff that you shouldn’t joke about”
I think this girl need some punishment.
“Sorry sorry. Let’s make up, okay?”
She then turned her arms around my neck and smiled innocently.
“Come on, cheer up. It’s my bad……”
I knew it. Men just can’t win against cute girls.
“……Rachel, let’s get to sleep, both of us are tired today. We might be able to cross the river tomorrow”
I tried to stand up. Both of us had been talking since earlier, and now night has come.
“……Just a bit more”
Rachel said so with a small voice, she also grabbed my clothes and stopped me from moving.
“……What kind of people are your other girlfriends?”
I think this is something that I must tell her. I sat down again next to Rachel silently and added more firewood to the bonfire. Inside this night forest, the only sound that can be heard is the crackling noises from the firewood and the sound of wind blowing.
“……Their names are Yuela and Kerebryl”
“Hmm……”
“They look a bit older than Rachel. Their types are a bit different, but both of them feel like a cool Onee-san”
“So you prefer older woman”
“……I never thought about it. Let’s see…… I think that’s correct, I like older one”
“Hee……”
“The truth is, I myself is actually older than them. ……Wait no, I have no idea about Kerebryl. Anyway, both of them make me feel like I was wrapped in kindness”
“Heee……”
“So when I was with Yuela and Kerebryl, I feel like I’m getting more gentle myself”
“Rachel……?”
“Muu…… What about me?”
“……It’s fun being with Rachel. Whether it’s playing around or even just chatting, being together with Rachel makes me feel brighter”
“Ehehe…… really?”
“N……?”
“Hey-……”
“Hey, are you listening?”
“……”
Something feels wrong. I gazed into the dark s.p.a.ce of the forest between the trees in front of me.
My experience up until now is warning me about something abnormal.
“Heeey”
“Sshh……”
I put my index finger in front of my lips and shushed softly. At this point, I can’t perceive what it is, I just know that there’s something out there. Rachel had turned quiet after she saw the state I’m in.
I pulled Rachel’s shoulder closer to mine. I need to protect Rachel, that’s what I thought in my mind.
“Gh……!”
“Kya-……”
Something I can’t follow with my eyes had slipped past the bonfire. There was strange sound afterward and the fire is making a huge sparks.
“Kh……”
I turned my hand around Rachel’s waist and ran towards the nearby bushes. My instinct is telling me that the dark place should be safer. I couldn’t believe the strength I’m exerting out right now myself. I was holding Rachel and able to rush out lightly like I’m not carrying any weight at all.
I entered the s.p.a.ce between some big trees and escaped the light of the bonfire. There was no attack during my run, and then I gasped for a breath.
“Huff, Hufff……”
I put Rachel down in a bush as tall as her. I’m extremely nervous, the breath that I let out from my mouth is very rough. It was obvious that we were attacked by something.
“……Stay here”
I pull out my revolver from my waist and told Rachel briefly to stay in the dark. I could see Rachel nodded quietly. Within this darkness, the enemy shouldn’t be able to tell her exact location.
I carefully moved toward the front of the forest. Just like when I was stalking wild animal, I walked slowly so as not to make any noise and prevented the bushes shaking as much as possible.
The enemy had a means of leaping, so I shouldn’t stay at the same spot. I was thinking of moving within the darkness of the forest, this should be better than having the two of us trembling together in the same spot.
While on the move, I glanced at the bonfire direction briefly. Then I stopped moving. The thing that slipped past us is a single arrow that blew away some firewood as it pierced the ground below the bonfire. It seems our attackers are human.
“KYAAaa-……”
“h……!”
I heard Rachel’s scream. At that moment, I rushed back toward the spot a few meters away. I don’t understand, how the enemy can approach Rachel’s position so quickly.
“Nooo-….., What is this-…….”
It was a strange sight. Within the darkness, the bushes that can be described as small trees were moving without being blown by the wind. The small branches were all moving toward Rachel and looks like they were trying to hold her down.
“Ngh…… Kuh, I can’t move, what the heck is this……”
I couldn’t move for a moment. Meanwhile, the little trees are pus.h.i.+ng towards Rachel from all direction with their branches and leaves and completely robbed her freedom of movement. It’s as if it was trying to restrain Rachel in her position.
“Rachel, I’m coming now……”
“Kaoru……”
Rachel was covered by bushes from her neck downward, her face is on the verge of crying. I rushed to her and broke some branches along the way, but there were countless of them and they’re quite strong too.
“Guh……”
I know it’s making me defenseless right now, but there’s no way I could leave Rachel as it is.
I can’t ignore my important person when she’s in danger. While feeling all impatient, I desperately try to tear the branches apart.
“r…..”
“What’s wrong……?”
I stopped moving. Rachel asked me a question while looking all puzzled, but I didn’t answer her because I felt like I just heard the voice of someone who I want to see very much.
“……Liar”
“Kerebryl……?”
I looked backward. I feel like Kerebryl’s voice just came from behind me. The wooden arrow is starting to burn in the bonfire.
“H……!”
I held my breath and stare. Kerebryl’s figure had emerged from the scenery where there was nothing before. It’s a mysterious feeling where something that you couldn’t see were suddenly visible to you.
My chest is filled with the feeling of happiness. I always believed that both of them are safe, but when I see her figure firsthand like this, my tears feels like it’s going to overflow. I tried to concentrate and observe my beloved person. Just like usual, Kerebryl’s brown skin were covered with gorgeous white dress. Her face is also beautiful just like how it always be. I opened my mouth and try to call out to her
“Liar”
Then Kerebryl called me a liar again. Her long slit eyes were glaring at me intently. Aah, I see. the one who attacked me is Kerebryl. I then closed my opened mouth.
“……You promised in front of me. You said that you won’t disappear without saying anything back then”
Kerebryl is crying. She looks so sad and helpless as tears start to overflow from her eyes. I was confused too, but I understand what Kerebryl is feeling right now.
I don’t know how she did it, but Kerebryl had searched for me and managed to come into this place. But while she was doing that, here I was, flirting with an unknown girl.
“……Why?”
Kerebryl walked quietly step by step and voiced out her doubt. For a moment, I thought Kerebryl was asking why I acted differently from when I was in that port city, but I find out immediately that’s not what she meant.
“h-……”
“Kaoru-……”
Suddenly, my feet were entangled by some branches from the bushes and made me fell on my a.s.s. I could hear Rachel calling out to me anxiously. Kerebryl moves closer and ride me above my stomach with a very natural movement, and she then touched my cheek gently.
“……You told me you love me”
While crying, Kerebryl rubbed my cheeks with her long and slender fingers. Even in this situation, even if she should be really angry right now, Kerebryl is still touching me gently with her hands.
“I still love you, even right now. There’s no way I would hate Kerebryl”
I let go of the revolver in my left hand and answered her. I think it’s unavoidable that Kerebryl is angry at me, so I should let myself be scolded properly.
“Really……?”
Kerebryl lowered her back and hold my cheeks within both of her hands. As is she was trying to kiss me, She bring her well ordered face close to mine. I could see her ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s and I unconsciously held my breath.
“Really. I’m sorry, I broke my promise. I didn’t expect things would turn out this way, I’m really glad Kerebryl is fine”
I gathered my resolve and answered her. Between the valley of Kerebryl’s b.r.e.a.s.t.s, I could see the handle of her favorite knife. You’re in a good spot today. Will I get stabbed by that now?
“You didn’t throw me away……?”
Kerebryl’s eyes were full of tears. It’s the same tears of sadness that she showed me in that inn city before. My heart ache when I thought of Kerebryl’s feeling.
“There’s no way I would do that. It’s a misunderstanding, I’ve been looking for the two of you. I want to stay with Kerebryl forever”
I raised my upper body and hugged Kerebryl tightly. I couldn’t express my feeling with my words alone.
“You’ll never let go of me anymore……?”
“Yeah, never again”
While being hugged by me, Kerebryl said so and then began to cry quietly. I’m sorry Kerebryl, I made you feel sad.
I then kept stroking Kerebryl’s silver hair until she stopped crying.
“……Kerebryl, I’m really glad that you’re okay. Do you have any injury?”
I stared at Kerebryl’s pretty face, her tears are almost dry. I didn’t see any injury on her, but I’m still woried.
“I’m fine, and you? You were having a hard time didn’t you?”
Kerebryl said so while looking at Rachel who were restrained by the little trees.
“Muu…… How long do I have to be restrained like this……”
“Rachel is sullen. But this girl is really wise child, she sensed the circ.u.mstances between me and Kerebryl and had been staying quiet since earlier. Please wait a little bit more Rachel.
“Did you do this Kerebryl?”
“Yes, I borrowed the power of the tree spirit. The one to erase my presence is from the gra.s.s spirit”
“……I see”
I answered while feeling a bit afraid in my heart. I couldn’t see Kerebryl’s hand or feet at all earlier. I’m strong in a fight, but I realized I definitely can’t win against a Spirit User like Kerebryl. Let’s try to not make Kerebryl mad from now on. Kerebryl is gentle to me, but she’s actually a scary onee-san.
We’re still in a hugging posture, but there’s a hard object pressing against my chest.
“Did you perhaps heard about us in that corn fields city?”
“That’s right. You were betting on a pretty girl and dueled a n.o.ble from the [Country of Magic]. That city now is filled with rumors about you, they treat it like a wonderful event straight from a fairytale”
“……I see”
It’s just as I feared. I’m glad we escaped that city quickly.
“I believed in you. I’m sure there was some special circ.u.mstances, but then I saw the two of you like that earlier……”
Kerebryl said that while looking down and sad. However I understand now, Kerebryl was holding herself back. I think she didn’t come at us seriously earlier.
“You don’t need to mind about earlier. ……That girl is Rachel, I helped her from a sc.u.mmy n.o.ble. That girl is important, but I’ll never forget about you Kerebryl. I love you”
“……I love you too”
It’s the usual Kerebryl’s gentle voice. Our face then are drawing closer to each other. I’ll be able to kiss with Kerebryl again after a long time.
“AA-……Hey—, you guys……, Ngh, Me too-, release me-……”
“…..”
Rachel is standing in our way with her rampant voice. Me and Kerebryl are looking at each other, I guess the mood isn’t fit for this.
“Kerebryl, I want you to release Rachel……”
“……Yes, I also have something I want to ask to that child”
“Uu……”
Kerebryl sighed disappointedly and then moved away from me. Seems like she’s going to undo her warning. Meanwhile, Rachel is glancing at Kerebryl’s direction while looking a bit scared.
“But still, I’m glad I’m the one who found you first. If the one who saw the two of you earlier is Yuela, I wonder how you’ll end up now”
Kerebryl is staring at me while smiling mischievously. Yeah, Yuela has a jealous side on her after all. Then as I imagined the situation for a moment, I immediately noticed the most important thing”
“Right, Kerebryl, what about Yuela? You’re not together?”
It’s strange that Yuela isn’t with Kerebryl.
“You don’t need to make that face, Yuela is okay. She came here with me just fine, but Yuela is a bit tired right now……”
Kerebryl said so while looking at me with a worried and complex expression. I relaxed my face after hearing her words.
“What happened with Yuela? Is she resting somewhere?”
“That is……”
I didn’t wait for Kerebryl to reply, I picked up my falling revolver and stand up. If Yuela is nearby, I want to pick her up myself.
“Mou—, I said Yuela is okay didn’t I. There, look at that. It seems Yuela is coming herself”
Kerebryl smiled after she looked at my reaction, then she extended her hand and pointed at the side of the forest’s road side. I could see someone sneaking through the darkness of the trees and slowly headed over here.
“Yuela……”
Yuela appeared from the darkness while looking around restlessly. She wore a light blue kimono today and her black hair is extending to her waist as usual. Aah, it’s Yuela. That’s what I thought in my mind.
“Ah……”
Yuela noticed me as she looked to this direction. She leaked out a small voice and run happily toward my position. I’m a bit lost, but I decided to welcome Yuela while spreading both of my arms.
“Yue-…..wah-……”
“You fool……”
Yuela scolds me while diving into my body. I had prepared my footing, but I couldn’t catch Yuela. I fell to my a.s.s as I hugged Yuela’s body.
“You fool, why didn’t you wait for me in that port city. Do you know how worried I was when I didn’t find you there? ……Uu……”
“I’m sorry Yuela”
There are many things that I want to say, there are many things that I want to ask, but for now I apologized to Yuela honestly. When I made a girl angry, I try to apologize first. Besides, Yuela is crying right now.
“I was looking for you. You were not in any city……”
“……Yeah”
I apologized again.
“Yuela, your face is really pale……”
“Who cares about me. What about you, are you injured anywhere?”
Yuela’s complexion is bad. Kerebryl told me that she was tired, but I wonder what’s going on with her?
“I don’t have any injury, rather than that-……, Mh……”
“-chu-……, Nh, -chu-….., Nn……”
Yuela suddenly kissed me. It’s a pa.s.sionate kiss that conveyed just how worried she was.
“Kaoru-……, You, what are you doing!…….”
I heard Rachel’s sad voice. I tapped Yuela’s back lightly and got her to release my lips.
“Huff……, Yuela, about that girl……”
Yuela raised her face and then turned it to the other direction. She’s staring at Rachel’s face.
“Anyway, I’m really glad you’re okay. I was really worried”
“h……”
“Aaah…… I was ignored……”
I’m a bit surprised too, Yuela completely ignored Rachel. She turned her face back to me and had a worried face again. Rachel’s voice sounds really pitiable.
“Yuela, I understand your feeling but isn’t it about time we moved over there? It will be better to speak in a bright place”
Kerebryl then helped saving this sinking s.h.i.+p situation.
“……If Kerebryl says so then it can’t be helped”
Yuela then moved away reluctantly. I can finally hear their situation now.
–
“Muu……”
Me and Rachel are sitting opposite of each other across the bonfire. She’s puffing her cheeks obviously in dissatisfaction. Even if she looks like that, a beautiful girl will still look beautiful. Basically, it looks cute.
“You two, get away already. How long are you planning to do that……”
Rachel said so in displeasure.
“We finally meet again after a long time. Besides, I’m his girlfriend, this much is natural”
Yuela replied to Rachel. She was sitting on my right side and encircled her arm around my neck while sticking her body close to me. Our cheeks were nearly touching each other.
“That’s right. It’s been a long while since I did this. I’m his girlfriend too, it’s not strange for me to do this right?
Kerebryl is also next to me. She turned her arms around my waist and pressed her cheek to my chest. She’s acting really spoiled.
Meanwhile, I stayed silent.
During time like this, I know how dangerous it is to b.u.t.t into girls’ conversation.
“Muuuu……”
However Rachel had been complaining to me with her eyes since earlier.
It can’t be helped. I also have something I want to know, I gathered my courage and opened my mouth.
“I’m really glad you two are okay. I heard in port harbor city that your s.h.i.+p sank”
“Yeah, the s.h.i.+p sank”
“It sank indeed”
The two answered briefly. I feel a bit strange hearing that.
“……Was it caused by the rampaging dragon?”
“Yes, it was really problematic. There’s a big hole opened on the s.h.i.+p’s bottom, then the s.h.i.+p were flipped and sunk”
Yuela were treating it lightly as expected. I keep listening quietly.
“Kerebryl borrowed the power of water spirit, we were saved thanks to that. If Kerebryl wasn’t there, I’m sure everyone would drown and die”
“……That’s right”
Then I finally let out some words.
“Kerebryl surely worked hard”
“Yes, I did my best. I used too much magical power and fell asleep the next day”
Kerebryl looked up at me and smiled while narrowing her eyes. She seems happy that I praised her. As expected, everyone was saved thanks to Kerebryl’s presence.
“Thank you Kerebryl. You’re amazing”
“Ufufu……”
I stroked Kerebryl’s silver hair with my left hand, she smiles while looking really satisfied. I feel a little proud myself.
“So are you alright now? Is your body fine?”
She did tell me that she fell asleep the next day, I think it’s important to make sure of that.
“It’s fine. You saw it yourself earlier didn’t you? My magical power has recovered, I’m alright now”
“……I see”
It’s just as she said. Kerebryl had used Spirit Magic earlier, that was amazing.
“Then what about the dragon? It didn’t attack?”
“That person is an intelligent dragon, I had a talk with it”
I turned my face to Yuela. It’s a bit surprising, Yuela referred to the dragon as that person.
“You mean with the [Dragon Language] skill you mentioned before?”
“That’s right. But still, it’s not like that person couldn’t use human language…… Well, it doesn’t matter”
Yuela spoke a little ambiguously.
“At that time, the pa.s.sengers of the s.h.i.+p were thrown away to the river, so I asked that person to collect them up”
“……That’s amazing Yuela”
I really think that’s amazing of her.
“Fufu……, Is that so”
Yuela smiled happily as she hears my praise.
“Are all the pa.s.sengers safe?”
“Yes, they’re safe”
I breathed out deeply when Yuela mentioned they’re safe.
“……That family too?”
“Yes, they’re okay. The boy was crying a lot, but otherwise he’s fine. The father, mother, and the girl too. There’s nothing for you to worry about”
This time Kerebryl responded to me. I feel really relieved from the bottom of my heart as I keep listening to it. I was really worried about that family.
“It’s truly an amazing story. Also about the rescue boat, I heard they’re not sending any……”
“Yeah, I had the dragon sending the pa.s.senger to the southern bank. That place is closer than the other side”
“……I see”
Yuela makes it sound like it was an easy task, I think that’s really amazing. I wonder if every pa.s.senger were carried on the dragon’s back.
“That’s amazing Yuela. You said you were talking with the dragon, but it sound as if you had been ordering it around”
Yuela suddenly averted her eyes away.
“Yuela……?”
Yuela didn’t reply. She was only staring the other way while staying quiet. This is the first time Yuela is acting like this.
“Kerebryl?”
I also asked Kerebryl who is resting above my chest. Kerebryl also stayed quiet and didn’t reply to me.
I had a premonition of something. I’ll change the topic for now.
“Yuela, why did the dragon go rampant?”
“Ah, it’s simple. That person was living in a cave near the city on the southern bank of the Great River, it seems he didn’t like the port expansion that they had done, so he went to intimidate the humans”
“Hee……”
This time, Yuela answered me. She turned her adorable face back to me, somehow, her cheeks looks a bit red.
“So that’s the story. But still, even though that dragon is intelligent, it seems he’s quite short tempered”
“……it’s just a young dragon after all, it was lacking in life experience”
It seems Yuela also know whether the dragon is young or not.
“What will happen in the future then? The [Country of Industry] looks like they’re going to organize a subjugation army, did Yuela mediate with them?”
“Hm? Aah, It’s not me….., that’s……”
Yuela’s words were caught in her throat.
“There was a merchant pa.s.senger in that sunken s.h.i.+p, that person will serve as the negotiator with the city. It seems they’re going to take the dragon as Guardian Deity of the city”
Instead, Kerebryl answered my question.
“That person can communicate with the dragon?”
“……Yeah, it seems so. He had transmitted the situation to the army properly the other day”
“Kerebryl’s cheeks are getting a little red too. I moved on with my words.
“Hmm…… Then I guess the matter with the dragon is settled now”
“Yes. It might not happen instantly, but they will surely reach better conclusion after talking it out. Even [Country of Industry] will be troubled if the dragon kept its rampage……”
I was satisfied after hearing Kerebryl’s story, so I asked my last question.
“I heard this from the Coast Guard, they said the waters around the area were completely blocked. How did the two of you cross the Great River ?”
Hearing my question, Yuela averted her eyes again. Yuela is definitely hiding something.
“……Yuela, can you say it?”
But this time Kerebryl urged Yuela. I wonder what is it.
“……I turned into a dragon with [Dragon Magic] and crossed the Great River by flying in the sky”
Yuela turned her face to my side and then spoke while sounding reluctant. I s.h.i.+vered. I understand it now.
“Yuela. Your appearance when you became a dragon, is it really long and doesn’t have any wings?”
“……That’s right”
As expected. The big serpent that Rachel saw flying in the sky was Yuela in her dragon form. It probably looks like oriental style dragon. I’m sure Kerebryl was riding on top of Yuela too.
“Rachel may have seen you when you were turned into a Dragon Yuela. You were flying toward the south earlier right?”
//TL Note : Making a note for my understanding and also just in case. Coast guard city is located in northern bank of the river, port city is even further north than that. Yuela and Kerebryl arrived in southern bank, returned to port city by flying, heard rumor about Kaoru in there, then flies south toward coast guard city to search for him again before finally finding him in forest//
“Wha-……”
Yuela seems surprised and is speechless.
“……But it was night”
“Your shadow appeared when you crossed the moon”
“Kuh……”
Yuela looks like she’s frustrated with the event.
“……Did you see it too?”
Then Yuela looked at me anxioiusly.
“No, I didn’t see you. Yuela, if you’re fine with it, I too-……”
“I will not”
I want to see Yuela’s appearance as a dragon, but Yuela refused me strongly. She also glared at me with her big tsurime eyes as she said that.
“Absolutely no. ……Listen, I only want you to see my appearance as a woman”
“……I understand Yuela, I won’t say anything like that anymore”
It’s a bit regrettable, but I obediently followed Yuela’s words. There’s one thing that is clear thanks to this whole event though. Yuela is definitely the strongest among us. I swear to myself that I won’t make Yuela mad.
“Rather than that, what about you? We heard about the duel, but your behavior sounds different from our perspective. What happened to you?”
“Muu……”
Kerebryl said so while looking at Rachel.
“That’s right, what’s the meaning of this. I want you to tell me”
“Mumuu…..”
Yuela also turned her face to Rachel. Rachel grumbled cutely, she also looks extremely nervous.
“Yeah. Let’s see, after that time, I……”
I gathered my resolve, then I start to talk about the stuff since I had acted differently from what the two of them know.
–
“……—And that’s what happened”
“Is that so……”
“So that’s what happened……”
I finished telling them about everything. Yuela and Kerebryl turned their gaze at Rachel. If the two of them are mad, I have no other choice than to try my best to persuade them.
“That’s right, Kaoru had greatly helped me. He’s really cool”
Rachel opened her mouth and then said so proudly.
“For my sake, he stepped into a duel and bet his life. I’m really happy. It truly makes me feel like I was protected by a man……”
Rachel said that while blus.h.i.+ng. It was truly a figure of a cute and lovely girl.
“Understand? That means Kaoru’s number one person is me”
Then Rachel turned her lips into a crescent moon shape and said the most daring thing.
“Fufu……”
However Yuela laughed. She had a triumphant smile on her face.
“Fufu…… You were only protected once. I’ve been protected by him three times. That means he loved me three times more than you”
“Eh……?”
Rachel let out a small surprised voice. Her face shows that she can’t believe what she just heard.
“The first time, he protected me from four adventurers. The second time, he protected me over a duel with me as the bet. ……It’s just as you say, that is how it feels to be consumed by joy of a woman”
“Muuuu……”
Yuela said so with a proud face. Rachel looks frustrated when she saw Yuela’s face.
“But, but me and Kaoru are both human. ……If your race is different, I’m sure you won’t end up happy”
What Rachel said next is something that the three of us concerned about too. It was also difficult for Rachel to say, her voice had turned into a mumbling by the end of her sentence.
“Rachel, that’s not the case at all. I think you are wrong”
“But……”
I rebuked Rachel. I’m worried whether Kerebryl was hurt by it.
“……I’m a Dragonkin. My lifespan is longer than human by a bit”
Yuela also speak out while showing her concern for Kerebryl. She is looking at her carefully and anxiously.
“……Yes. Even after this person dies first, I will still continue to live, for hundreds of years”
Kerebryl turned her face away from mine slowly, then she said it while looking at Rachel’s face.
“Kerebryl……”
“Don’t worry, I’ m fine”
When I called out to her, Kerebryl nodded at me and answered resolutely.
“Sometimes, I would be thinking by myself what if I was born as human. I don’t need this lifespan, I want to get old together with my beloved person too……”
I think this is the first time I heard Kerebryl’s real feeling.
“However such a thing will not come true. I’m a dark elf, I won’t get much older. Even after this person is gone, I…..”
Tears flow out from Kerebryl eyes. My chest hurts.
“If I die together with this person, then perhaps I might be reincarnated and can fall in love with him again. Sometimes I would think of that……”
“Kerebryl……”
I noticed that Yuela is showing her understanding and released her hands from me. I then quickly hugged Kerebryl.
“Kerebryl, don’t say that……”
“You don’t need to make such a sad face. I’m alright……”
Kerebryl also turned her arms around my back. The two of us are hugging each other and my eyes were hazy with tears too.
“Within my long lifespan, I was able to met a man who I truly love from the bottom of my heart as if it was a miracle. I’m the only one who can cherish our memories together as I live”
“Yeah……”
“I’m really happy that I was able to met you”
“Yeah. I’m happy too Kerebryl……”
I love this dark elf woman so much that its unbearable. Her love towards me is so immeasurable that she’s going to dedicate all her long lifespan to it.
“I love you, I will always love you, now and forever……”
“I love you too Kerebryl”
I made a vow in my heart. I will keep loving Kerebryl until the day I die. I think this is the only way I was able to respond to Kerebryl’s feeling.
“I love you. Kerebryl……”
Then we kept hugging each other until our mind were able to settle down.
“Uuu…… Hic……”
Before I realized it, Rachel was crying. I wonder if the feeling between me and Kerebryl was transmitted properly to her.
“A love that surpa.s.ses race truly exist……”
“……That’s right”
Yuela answered Rachel’s remark that she muttered our softly with an impressed voice.
“Eerm…… Kerebryl, I’m sorry. I’ve said an awful thing……”
Rachel lowered her head respectfully. Kerebryl, this child is a really nice girl.
“It’s alright, I don’t mind it. You sure are honest”
Kerebryl smiled and answered her. I feel a bit relieved.
“I understand that both of you are truly thinking about each other…… Even so, Kaoru’s number one is me”
Then Rachel wiped her tears away and said so with a strong voice.
“You should say it too. I’m 100 points right, I’m your most important person”
Rachel is staring at my eyes and urged me. I guess I have to say this clearly.
“My number one is Yuela”
“……Is that so~”
“gh……”
Yuela said her usual words happily and hugged my neck. It hurt a bit because of the powerful strength, but I’ll endure. Yuela is a special person to me after all.
“And me……?”
“Yeah, Kerebryl is my number one too. I can’t compare the two of you”
I said so while nodding at Kerebryl.
Up until now, Yuela is my number one. However Kerebryl had become a special person to me too now.
“You, are you sure you haven’t gone crazy……?”
Rachel, you sure are foul-mouthed, that’s quite an awful things to say.
“I’m alright, I’m not that crazy yet. Rachel is my 100 point girl, however Yuela and Kerebryl are my 101 point girls.
I can love multiple girls at the same time, but there would be slight differences no matter what I do. However I won’t tell a lie to the girls I like.
“Idiottt, the heck was that……”
Rachel is angry as expected. I’m a honest person aren’t I?
“I’m sorry Rachel. I will do my best……”
“You don’t need to apologize. ……I will definitely become your number one”
Rachel looks frustrated, but she was saying some good stuff at the end.
I wonder why this girl is so easy to persuade.
“……You’re Rachel right”
“What is it……”
When Yuela talked to her, Rachel looks a bit frightened.
“Rachel, open your Main Window and show it to me”
“Yes, I want to see it too”
Kerebryl is in agreement with Yuela.
“Why?”
Meanwhile, Rachel looks puzzled.
“It doesn’t matter right. I want to confirm whether you are truly cursed by the [Curse of the G.o.ddess of Darkness]”
“Muu…… Well fine, I’ll show you. It’s me and Kaoru’s real feeling”
Name : Rachel
Race : Human
Profession : Magician
Height : 164 cm
b.r.e.a.s.t.s Size : 86 cm
State : [Curse of the G.o.ddess of Darkness] [Immoral] [Sensitive Skin]
“……It’s really the curse”
“……You sure have it hard”
Yuela and Kerebryl held their breath when they saw it. Of course I understand why. They were surprised to see the curse, and the [Sensitive Skin] skill. Both of them are watching Rachel with warm eyes now.
“It’s not really hard or anything…… It’s true that I was influenced by aphrodisiac at that time, but my feeling toward you is the real thing……”
Rachel is staring at me while blus.h.i.+ng. When I heard the word aphrodisiac, I remembered the stuff that I want to confirm.
“Rachel, about that aphrodisiac, is it possible they used the [Curse of the G.o.ddess of Darkness] as reference?”
“I don’t know”
“……I see”
I’m a bit disappointed. I thought it might serve as a clue for the curse.
“The only thing I know is the girl will enter the state of [Arousal] immediately after using it, and they won’t recover from it unless a man released his stuff in there……”
Rachel explained it shyly. But still, that sure is an amazing medicine, it’s something that people would normally dream about.
“……If it’s aphrodisiac, it also exist in my hometown”
“Such thing exist in my homeforest too……”
Yuela and Kerebryl muttered so to me. Dragonkin and Dark Elf’s aphrodisiac huh, It’s really piquing my interest. I want to know what kind of aphrodisiac it is.
“……”
However, Yuela and Kerebryl went silent and had complicated looks on their face. I’m sure it was used on both of them by someone. My chest feel a little hot, but I decided to stay silent about it.
“Anyway, aphrodisiac has nothing to do with it. I decided to give my virginity to Kaoru on my own will. We’re doing it with the intention of taking responsibility”
“You, were a virgin……?”
“……So your first time is with the one you love”
Yuela and Kerebryl muttered with a hint of envy in their voice. Then both of them stood up, walk across the bonfire, and headed towards Rachel’s spot.
“What……”
“Hey, from now on you can talk to me if there’s something troubling you. ……I’ll listen to anything”
Yuela crouched near the sitting Rachel and then hugged her lovingly.
“Rachel, you can think of me as your Onee-san. You can consult with me about anything”
Kerebryl is hugging Rachel too. I understood it immediately. The two of them are worried about when Rachel is going to be f.u.c.ked by another man someday. We all love NTR play after all.
“What’s wrong, both of you?”
Rachel seems puzzled by the two of them who had suddenly acted friendly.
“I’ll be fine. I won’t lose to something like a curse. You think so too right ?”
“……”
We were silenced. It would be embarra.s.sing to tell this innocent girl about the things with us so far, and somehow, my heart feel painful too.
“……Let’s go to the city in the south before dawn came. Rachel, you can use [Light] magic right?”
“I can…… Why are we going now?”
Yuela stood up and said so. Rachel asked confusedly while still sitting.
“True, we should go. ……Hey, you remember the other promise right?”
Kerebryl stood up too. Her long slit eyes looks like it’s smiling mischievously to me.
“……Of course I remember. Let’s make today into a special day”
I also stood up and approached the place where everyone is while nodding toward Kerebryl.
“Help me stand. ……So, why?”
While sitting, Rachel stretched her hands toward me and asked her question again.
“When the sun rises, Our G.o.d of Darkness day will begin”
I grabbed Rachel’s hand firmly and then raised her. Then while smiling, I answered her question.
After this night is over, the G.o.d of Darkness day will begin. It’s the one day in a week where we can make love to each other. It would be a waste to spend it in this camp.
I grabbed Rachel’s hand and walked behind Yuela and Kerebryl.
I’m going to enjoy this long awaited holiday.