Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: That Man's Circumstances (1)
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"Good morning, everyone. Did you all sleep well?"
"Oh, Mr. Bobby. You've had a tough night. Sera, you too."
"Yeah... Thanks, Eli."
"Sera? What's wrong? You seem a bit off today. Really tired?"
"Huh? No, not that, but my head hurts for some reason. Why is this happening?"
"Probably from lying on the cold ground. You won't remember, but you were out cold for quite a while last night, Sera."
"What? Then why didn't you wake me? Sorry about that."
"You were sleeping so soundly, I couldn't bring myself to."
"She was asleep? Sera? But she's never..."
"You're always nagging me about dozing off, and now you pass out yourself? Anyway, you all treat me like shit, but go easy on our strict Eli here? Not a peep to Sera?"
"..."
"Whoa, am I being ignored right now? Eli, you've decided to just blow me off from now on?"
"..."
"Fuck, you're pissing me off again. Hey, answer me, you bitch..."
"...What the hell's with the noise this early, Rick?"
"Ah... Leo. No, this bitch is straight-up ignoring me, so I was just gonna say something."
"If you don't wanna be ignored, do your damn job right. What the hell do you even do around this camp? Just fuck around noisily with that slut all night. No work? Go on recon. You okay with Eli—who can't even fight—doing it every time?"
"That's just her being nosy..."
"Enough from both of you. You're scaring the ladies. Rick, you went too far this time. Apologize to Eli."
"Fine, fine. Damn it. Sorry, Eli. Happy now?"
"...Be more careful next time. I'll go prepare breakfast then."
"Ah, Eli, wait. I'll come with you."
"...Ptooey, fuck. Why do these bitches always act above their station?"
"There's a bitch right here listening, Rick. Don't talk to Eli like that again, or I won't hold back."
"Yeah, yeah, I'm the camp punching bag. Got it."
"What? You mocking me now? Wanna keep pissing me off?"
"Enough, Sera. Rick already apologized."
"But Bobby! That guy..."
Snap!
"Let's drop it. No need to start the day drained, right?"
"Ah... Okay, fine."
"And I hate to keep saying it, but like I told you last night? I'm the adult here, so please use honorifics."
"Got it..."
"Puhaha. Serves you right. Can't even stand up to old man Bobby?"
"Rick, same goes for you. Show respect to your elders."
"Yes, sir. Understood, geezer."
"Good."
Snap!
"Sera, Nadia's not around. Could you fetch her? Breakfast time. Probably in Rick's tent."
"Huh? Uh... Yeah, sure."
"Thanks. Appreciate it."
"Leave it to me..."
"...Weird. Why does my head keep throbbing...?"
Time passes. Stones harden. The world changes.
They move forward. I remain hardened at the starting point. Watching them stumble ahead, I scream with all my might. That's not the way. Look back. Your path lies in the opposite direction.
But no voice escapes my lips. Even stretching my finger with all my strength, hoping to be a signpost, they only eye the flies clinging to it.
And they taunt my helpless self with their rotten tongues. Shoving unwanted truths in my face, screeching screams I never wanted to hear.
Truths I never wanted to know. I thought Nadia's leftovers were all there was. When Rick peeled away the false shells to expose the raw truth, I believed I knew everything I needed. But last night, I learned mountains of unknowns still loomed.
And clever Bobby didn't reveal it all at once. Satisfied with Sera's final answer, he smiled and snapped his fingers again. She stared blankly at her own tears, then collapsed with a faint sound.
What the hell did he do to Sera? Bobby, whom I saw only as angelic, revealed his hidden nature the moment I hardened. Bobby, what are you? What are you doing to Sera?
No. I don't want to know. I can write off last night as a prank. Please. Don't uncover more of your ugly secrets.
I chose ignorance to avoid the pain. But as you know, I had no choice left. The truth, already breathing down my neck, stared piercingly at me with ragged breaths.
Two days later. Night. Sera and Bobby pulled another all-nighter.
"Nothing new today either."
"Yeah. Thought researching together would yield something. Might be a tougher curse than we thought."
"Exactly. Not a simple curse—maybe mixed transformation and accumulation spells."
"Compound curses are tricky. Even blessing overrides don't work."
Today, too, they held an incomprehensible conversation. Their professional exchange felt unbearably off—just like before. Sera had wept in agony. Yet here she was, chatting with Bobby like nothing happened.
"Maybe change our approach. Feels like we're overcomplicating it."
"Think so? But no choice. Illusions are flexible, but curses follow patterns."
"True, but answers hide in unexpected places sometimes. Like the Lunaru plague cure."
"Well... if you put it that way. Let's start from scratch."
"Luca test first?"
Bobby spoke innocently. But overlaid with his sinister memory, even casual words sounded ominous to me.
"Hmm... No reagent reaction. Means pure mana composition."
"Right? Push with mana then?"
"Hmm... We'd need to factor Luca's magic resistance, but unmeasured. Could blow up. Plus, our mana might not suffice."
"Really? Sera's shown plenty so far."
"Uh... Anyway, nothing uncertain."
...
Huh?
A sudden déjà vu hit amid their talk. This conversation... just like yesterday.
I frowned at Sera's face. She reviewed Bobby's suggestion earnestly, as if we'd never had it. Bobby watched her with a strange smile.
"Hmm... Alchemy to alter components? Luca might break out if conscious."
"Alter components...? Reagent test confirmed pure mana. What's that mean now?"
"Ah, right."
This too. Yesterday's talk. I ignored Sera, glaring at Bobby. Maybe my imagination, but his smile seemed wickeder.
"Sera's so smart. At her age."
"Of course. I'm genius mage Sera, no matter what."
Sera puffed her chest, uttering the familiar line. Once tiresome, it oddly comforted now.
But her triumphant look faded fast. Bobby's next words crushed her smile instantly.
"Yeah. Could do fine without Eli."
"Huh?"
"Proves Sera's a genius mage, right?"
"W-what're you saying, Bobby? Out of nowhere..."
Sera paled, staring at him. He grinned back.
And raised a finger.
No.
Snap!
"Ah...?"
"What do I mean? You said yesterday, Sera. Eli yielded everything to you. But Luca, she wouldn't take."
"Bobby... you right now..."
"What'd Eli yield? Something she lacks, you have. Fame? Party trust? Or..."
"S-stop, Bobby! Stop it!"
Sera lunged at him, wailing. Bobby raised his finger again.
Snap!
"Stop it! Stop... stop... what?"
Sera halted, bewildered, looking up at him. Bobby bared his teeth in a first real grin.
"Ah. Split perfectly. Just need to merge now."
"Huh? What... do you mean?"
"Oh, Sera. Too complex? Sorry. I'll explain."
He stroked her hair like a fool's, smiling softly, explaining childlike.
"Sera, as you know, I was a priest. Worked on faith, acted in love—a simple shepherd. All church duties were missions, callings. But one truly vital. Guess what?"
"No... don't know."
"Teaching kids. Especially orphans. Poor things lost parents in adult wars, denied love forever. Guiding them to God's path was my utmost. Loved kids since old times; suited me. But one day, a worry arose."
"What?"
"Kids kept lying to me. Varied kinds. 'Priest, need money quick.' 'Heard Will curse you, priest.' 'Don't wanna kiss you, priest.' And more. Seeing them lie effortlessly without teaching, I pondered guidance."
"I see... But how's that relate now?"
Sera questioned fundamentally, but nostalgia-absorbed Bobby brushed it off.
"Punish every lie? How, with our angelic darlings? Expel liars? No, defying God's will. Pondering, one method struck. Guess?"
"What... was it?"
Instinctive fear flickered on blank Sera's face. Bobby smirked cruelly.
"Make them lie nonstop. Against their will. Keep lying, they'll realize how bad. Great method, right?"
He giggled, covering his mouth satisfied. Fingered his hand, whistled.
"Luckily, some magic talent, useful skills. Combined right, split their inners: truth-self, lie-self. Complex? Not really. Catch truth moment, lie cover—add magic. Like with you, Sera."
"With me...?"
"Yes. And it worked great. Test?"
Bobby raised his finger lightly, snapped.
Snap!
"Eek...?"
Sera's pupils blanked briefly, slowly refocused. Bobby waited, asked simply.
"Sera, how do you feel?"
"Head's... dizzy. Bobby, what's wrong with me? Something happen?"
"Happen? You were spilling secrets never told anyone."
"Ah..."
Blank-mouthed Sera recalled suddenly, frowned at him. Bobby questioned.
"Sera, you're a genius mage, right?"
"Huh? Uh... yeah...?"
"No. Truth mode now. Be honest. You're half-baked—just knows stuff, can't do much, right?"
"What're you... Ah...?"
Her lips twisted oddly mid-answer, eyelids fluttered. Bobby eyed satisfied, switched questions.
"Really hate answering? Face truth, Sera. No magic talent at all, right?"
"I... I'm... Ah... Haa... Ack..."
Under questions, Sera gasped wordless. Like throat-blocked, couldn't breathe, writhed.
"Tsk. Incurable liar. Needs stimulus."
Snap!
Snapped again. Sera exhaled calmly, looked up.
"I... I'm... Huh?"
"Now, answer? Sera, you like Luca?"
"Huh? Yeah... I really like Luca."
"No. Lie mode. Liars can't truth. Again: Sera, your hair red?"
Sera dumbly grabbed, held hair. Sun-bright red, she answered slowly.
"No. My hair... isn't red."
"Knew it."
Bobby laughed, next question.
"Sera, kissed other guys?"
"Me? Sure... Kissed over a hundred times."
"Really? Then, Sera, wanna kiss me?"
This crazy fuck.
Bobby's face flooded greed. No priest I knew. Good, kind Bobby shed mask, bared base desires.
Before him, Sera. Genius mage Sera. Headache to me. She'd shed her mask too. Unlike Bobby's, hers was fragile, pure.
No way she'd want to kiss that pig days after confessing love to me. But now, uncontrollable liar. Her quivering lips spat eternal-regret lie.
"Yeah. Wanna kiss you."
"Knew it."
He smacked lips. Thick tongue licked, thick saliva drooled.
"Then kiss. You wanted it."
"Yeah... I... want..."
Sera approached slowly, pupils weak. Bobby savored, wrapped her waist naturally.
Suddenly, roughly stole her first kiss.
"Ngh...!"
First kiss, eyes wide, breathless. Bobby devoured lips, not kissed. Sera drooled unswallowed saliva, twisted pained, no resistance. His greedy tongue squelched inside, bulging cheeks.
And I, sole witness, bystander as always.
In dark, faded Sera's eyes flicked my way moments. That glance felt like true Sera inside pleading help.
Maybe now. Time to break seal binding me. Yeah. Sera worked all night. Now. Time to awaken.
Strained forward hand with might. Move, please. Poured hopes into fingers. But response, same as ever.
Learned helplessness. Seeping despair deep in body.
"Pua..."
Looked up: Sera freed from long kiss, gulped stolen breath. Bobby wiped mouth, critiqued.
"Ah, virgin saliva's irresistible. Sickeningly sweet. Right, Sera?"
"Yeah... Am I tasty?"
"Yes. Best delicacy. Many ways to eat virgins. I know lots. Wanna kiss below now?"
Fuck!
Strained fingers again, nothing. Gave up, screamed at Sera. Say no. Scream. Eli—no, fuck, even shitty Leo'd help. Please, Sera!
"Below?"
"Yeah. Bluntly, my cock. Kid term: pee-pee. Kiss it, feels good. Want to?"
Sera, say no. Please!
As wished, Sera said no. But liar now, opposite spilled.
"Yeah. Really wanna..."
"Yeah?"
Only Bobby could smile. He patted pants smugly.
"Undress it yourself."
"Yeah."
Oblivious what doing, she went below. Fumbled pants open clumsily.
"Ah..."
Delicate hands yanked pants; huge erection reared. Nose-close, Sera's lips quivered.
"Well?"
"Smells... so good..."
"Naturally. Don't wash much. Lick taste?"
"Yeah. Will."
Fear in eyes at first man's thing. But no hesitation. Like first kiss thrill, lips met his filthy tip.
"Urp...!"
Rank smell? Retched on contact. Bobby gripped retreating head, pressed back.
"Tongue it. Gently. Like lollipop."
"Yeah... Ngh... Haa..."
Fragile breaths shattered on tip. White fog from pulsing cock before eyes; she bowed, engulfed fully.
"Haaa... Oooh..."
"Mmph... Mmp...!"
Bobby's moan of awe, Sera's pained gasps. Mixed in icy winter wind. Bobby's grin permanent.
"Good, good. Move now."
"Mmph... Urp..."
She obeyed docilely, bobbing up-down. Tongue-cock friction squelched ears. Visual stench filled mouth, but she serviced diligently.
Slurp... Slurp...
"Doing great. Perfect."
"Mmph... Haa..."
"No spitting midway. Hold it, feels better."
"Yeah... Slurp... Mmp..."
Couldn't endure, kept pulling off; Bobby gripped hair hard. Toyed head up-down. Fast, slow. Rough, then gentle. Abused, when rammed throat-deep, she clutched pants. Soon, tear rolled.
"Hurts, Sera?"
"Wuulp... Mmph..."
"Then lick below. Thoroughly."
"Mmph... Puha... Yeah..."
Spat out, long pained sigh—like freedom. But new start. Now, tongue between legs, swept ballsack. Bobby moaned, stroked cheek.
"Wow, unbelievable virgin technique. Maybe genius."
Slurp... Ha... Am I genius?
"Yeah. Genius whore fits. Perfect nickname born."
"Hehe... Genius..."
Glad, intensified tongue, licked whole. Licked balls-bottom, Bobby groaned uncontrollably; focused sucking there. Soon, heavy cock drooped over head, slapped face, precum-soaked soft hair.
"Hua... Really good, Sera. Excellent. Top liar and whore."
Haulp... Yeah...
"Next stage then?"
Grinned meaningfully, raised finger. Guessed next; screamed inwardly.
No.
Snap!