Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: End of the Escape
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The sky was dyed in sunset hues, sparkling with a beautiful orange glow.
I like the bright blue sky at high noon, but I also love the sunset sky signaling the end of the day.
And with the cool breeze came the trees scattering their leaves.
Finally, if I were held in the arms of the woman I love, it would be a moment of perfect happiness.
"Kyaaaaahhh━!!"
That is, as long as it wasn't the moment I was kidnapped.
"Ra, Rapne! Stop! Sto… Mmph!"
Rapne ignored my words completely, burying my face in her ample chest as she spoke.
"No way! I can't let Ken be taken from me like this!"
Rapne looked down at me with teary eyes and kept running at full speed without stopping.
Of course, in my current state, I could break free with sheer strength, but that might escalate into a fight.
So for now, I decided to wait and see where Rapne was taking me.
'Those two… this is gonna be tough.'
Emily and Mary were already out of sight.
With Nerve Acceleration active, Rapne's physical abilities skyrocketed, allowing her to move at incredible speeds.
If she used it solely for escape, no one in the Academy—no, not even anyone in the Lillias Kingdom—could catch her.
"I absolutely refuse…! Sniff, I don't want to lose Ken… ever…!"
Rapne kept glancing at me with a choked sob even as she ran.
Her eyes pleaded with me not to abandon her. It was a familiar look.
That emotion reached me, so I silently closed my eyes and let her take me wherever, keeping my mouth shut.
We ran for a long while before arriving at our destination.
We had left not only the Academy but also the city where we'd just been on our date, pushing deep into the outskirts forest.
Even within that forest, we ran quite a distance before Rapne finally stopped.
She seemed completely out of breath and unable to go any further.
"Ra, Rapne…!"
I caught her staggering form and quickly pulled her into my arms.
Then I sat against a nearby tree, laying her head on my lap so she could rest.
"Ken… No… Absolutely not…."
Rapne muttered those words while clutching my collar, even as she panted heavily.
'It's already getting dark….'
While Rapne had been running, the sunset had faded, and the sky was now bathed in moonlight.
The forest after sundown was shrouded in a curtain of darkness, making it impossible to make out our surroundings.
'No way we can head back like this.'
Looks like we'd have to camp in the forest tonight.
Unlike the uninhabited island before, I had my subspace pouch properly stocked this time.
It was full of essentials like a tent and firewood for emergencies.
Before it got any darker, I set up the tent, pulled out some logs, and lit a fire using a spirit stone.
The tent wasn't huge enough for two people to sleep comfortably, but it would keep out the wind and dew just fine.
I spread out the bedding inside and laid Rapne down.
The Nerve Acceleration skill offered tremendous performance, but at the cost of massive stamina drain.
That was its only drawback.
Though it wasn't something you'd use casually in battle anyway.
Rapne, having run nonstop, was utterly exhausted, as if her stamina had hit rock bottom.
"Sorry… Rapne."
I took her hand as she lay there and apologized.
Maybe I'd been too hasty bringing it up.
If I'd taken more time to gently reveal the truth, she might not have bolted like this.
Guilt washed over me.
"Ken…."
Just then, Rapne came to, slowly opening her eyes and grasping my hand.
Not to feel my warmth, but to hold me back.
"…No, don't go…."
"I'm not going anywhere. I always tell you that."
"But… but you're going to marry another girl."
Tears welled up in Rapne's eyes as she said it.
Then she shifted, laying her head on my thigh and wrapping her arms around my waist.
Her hugging my waist like this felt familiar.
Back in the tower, whenever she didn't want to let me leave, she'd cling to my waist just like this.
"I told you I like you… Sniff, I like you too, Ken. Why the others…."
"……Sorry."
All I could do was apologize.
It was my fault for developing feelings for the other two while loving Rapne.
"No…! Ken is mine! Stay by my side forever…!"
"I'm not going anywhere. I swear… I'll be by your side forever."
I stroked Rapne's hair as she clung to me, feeling guilty but still saying what I had to.
"So please accept the other two. They like me just like you do…."
"……."
"I don't want to see two more people like Rapne sad."
Of course, the biggest reason was that I liked them too.
As a man, I wanted to make them my wives and live together—I couldn't give that up.
But to persuade Rapne, I framed it a bit differently.
"Rapne, just suppose… really just suppose I was split into three."
It was a ridiculous example, but it was the closest analogy I could think of to help her understand my heart right now.
"If you ended up with one of me, could you watch the other two mes suffer?"
"……I don't know, sniff, there's only one Ken."
"But I have three precious people."
I hugged her tightly, hoping she'd understand.
Rapne lifted her body toward me, burying her face in the nape of my neck.
"I'm sorry. Really… It's all my fault. I'm the bad guy here."
"……."
"I'll spend my life making it up to you… I can't give you up, and I can't give up the other two either."
"…Ugh, sob, no… Ken is… sniff, Ken is mine…."
Rapne shook her head gently in my arms. But her resistance felt weaker than before.
The old Rapne never would have even considered it.
But now her memories were back, and she still cherished the good times with Emily and Mary.
And Rapne was kind-hearted.
I started like trash, so I'd play it out like trash. Banking on her kindness.
"Then let's reframe it like this."
I gently pulled Rapne from my chest and looked her in the eyes as she sniffled.
Her moist eyes trembled anxiously, staring back at me.
"Not that I belong to you… but that you belong to me."
"…What’s that supposed to mean?"
Rapne pouted, sniffling at my bizarre logic.
"Be mine forever, Rapne. I can never give you up. I'll kidnap you, lock you away if I have to—just to marry you."
It was twisted logic.
Utter garbage nonsense.
But I pleaded with her sincerely anyway.
I hadn't divided a 100% love for her into thirds for the others.
My love for Rapne was still 100%.
I'd just gained another 100% for each of the other two.
"In return, I'll stay by your side forever. I won't neglect you for a second."
"……Ugh."
Did my earnest voice reach her?
Rapne burst into tears and threw herself into my arms.
"Sniff, you're awful…! You know I could never give up Ken…! That's why you push like this!"
"Yeah, you're right. I'm the bad guy. And I know you like the other two too."
I hadn't forgotten how the three of them got along so well at the Academy.
Rapne had accepted them.
She was just thrown off by my greed to have all three.
If I'd taken it slower, she probably would have accepted it more smoothly.
My haste was the problem.
"…Fine… but I absolutely can't give up even one."
Rapne clutched my collar, burying her face in my chest again, her voice trembling as she spoke.
"Yeah, tell me. If you accept, I can give you anything—whatever you want."
I meant it.
I was going mad.
If I wasn't insane, I couldn't possibly confess to my beloved that I wanted three women.
That madness meant I could give Rapne anything.
So I steeled myself.
No matter what she demanded from here on…
I'd accept it with a smile.
Even if she asked for my limbs, I'd cut them off laughing.
"……I can't."
Hearing my response, Rapne lifted her head.
As she raised the face she'd buried in my chest, those familiar eyes stared back at me.
Dark, empty eyes that drew you in.
The scary gaze she made when her possessiveness flared.
I swallowed hard on reflex.
"I absolutely won't yield Ken's first time."
"……Huh?"
I'd vowed to smile and accept anything.
"Mm…?!"
Chuuup.
But Rapne's surprise attack—yanking my shirt collar and kissing me—left me too flustered to laugh.
Her soft tongue invaded suddenly.
An aggressive kiss, yet her tongue was gentle and kind, entwining with mine.
"Mmm… Chuuup. Haa…."
After savoring my lips to her satisfaction, Rapne pulled back and looked at me.
Her eyes still held that hollow gaze, but her face was flushed with excitement as she gazed at me anxiously.
"You really like me?"
Her trembling hand conveyed her anxiety through my shirt collar.
She was insecure.
Insecure if my love for her was real after I said I loved the other two.
Feeling that, I hid my fluster, blushed, and met her eyes seriously.
"I love you. Truly, Rapne."
This time, I kissed her.
And laid her down on the ground.