Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: Promises Must Be Kept (4)
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While dust billowed softly from the wall Dawood had crashed into, Liru staggered to her feet, gasping for breath.
[...Knocking over a perfectly laid-out feast like this so spectacularly—it's a first.]
Such words drifted from nearby, but Liru shot a tearful glare in that direction.
"No matter how I think about it, this isn't right!"
At the very least.
Her first time, and his—neither should be something this pathetic.
What would make this anything more than just a crime?!
[...You can't afford to be so soft about it.]
The spirit uttered those words.
Until just moments ago, it had spoken in a flatly emotionless tone no matter what was said.
But now, as it delivered this line, an unnaturally icy chill laced its voice.
[That's why you always end up losing everything, Liru.]
"What?"
[Shall I be frank?]
The spirit glided smoothly in front of her.
Its drooping eyes still gave it that languid appearance.
But the easygoing smile that had filled them before was nowhere to be seen.
[Do you really think you can hold your own against other women?]
"..."
Images flashed through her mind.
Women who, without a doubt, knew this man better, deeper, and more intimately than she ever could.
People who would demand him even more fiercely than she, trying to claim Dawood Campbell for themselves.
[And it's not just them—more will flock around your man in the future.]
"..."
[No experience with men, no idea how to get along with them, no clue how to dress up, no sense of what he likes—and you think you can compete with that?]
But.
"So what."
Liru lifted her eyes boldly, her voice brimming with unwavering resolve.
"So what."
[...]
At her defiant words, the spirit's eyes widened in surprise.
"I don't care about the others."
Sure, just as it said.
She couldn't imagine carving out a spot beside this wildly popular guy and competing on equal footing.
She might fall behind. She might suffer a crushing defeat and bitterly watch other women pull ahead.
But even so.
"This guy's never stabbed me in the back, at least. You shouldn't betray people, right?"
She didn't want to do anything against his 'will' through dishonest means.
If it happened, it would be on her own terms. Fair and square.
She would capture his 'true' heart.
Not with tricks like this!
[...]
At those words.
The spirit smirked down at her.
[...Hmm. Yeah, some things just won't work. I was testing if this timeline might go differently this quarter, but you're just as stubborn now as you were later.]
"...? What are you talking about?"
As she stared at the spirit and asked, it smirked back with a response.
[Well, most of 'us' are like that... but mine is especially twisted across timelines. I already know you're stubbornly unyielding until the day you die.]
"You can see the future or something?"
[Less 'see' and more 'been through it' already... Some things never change across countless 'branches.' One is that you never sleep with your man up to a certain point.]
The words were far too convoluted for her to comprehend.
But one thing rang crystal clear.
"...Sleep with him?"
[Yes.]
"What do you mean by—"
[Sleep with him, Liru. Later, you even bear his children. Plop plop.]
"..."
Liru's face flushed crimson, as if it might explode, her mouth flapping open and shut.
"...M-Me? Doing that? Later?"
[Oh, you do it plenty.]
"..."
[Even when your man asks if it has to be today because he's exhausted, you beg for just one more kid and drag him to the bedroom by force. Happens all the time.]
"...N-No, th-that's ridiculous, stop lying! Y-You're just making it up!"
[Hmm. True to a virgin who's never even held a man's hand, you doubt it right away.]
Liru froze, struck right in the heart.
"Sh-Shut up...!"
As she snapped back, her eyes started spinning wildly.
Embarrassing.
Her face burned so hot she thought she might cry.
[The first time you join with him, too. You bluff like crazy about your 'experience' out of pride. But once it actually happens, you can't resist at all, melting completely under him with your face a total wreck.]
"...Y-You—"
[Your heart races wildly from just one 'you're cute' from him, and you beg endlessly for him to hold you tighter—]
"Sh-Shut up! Shut uuuup—!"
Assailed by an unfiltered barrage of mental attacks, Liru let out a near-scream.
At the sight, the spirit chuckled and floated lazily around her again.
[...But I really do mean this is for your own good. I don't want you getting hurt if I can help it.]
"..."
Liru glared at it in utter disbelief.
How was any of this helping her?
What regret could possibly come from this?
[...It will.]
But.
The following voice carried the same certainty she'd felt moments before.
[You'll regret it, Liru. You'll regret it so much you won't be able to speak. That you couldn't make deeper memories with your man.]
Regret.
A voice laced with poignant pain, like freshly healed wounds torn open and salted.
"..."
Overwhelmed by the depth of emotion in it, Liru fell silent without realizing.
[...Still, you get one more chance.]
The spirit's face broke into a beaming smile again.
It floated up close to her nose.
Intangible as it was, it playfully tapped her nose.
[Three months from now, Liru. That's when your moment to shine arrives.]
"...Shine?"
[Yes. A chance to sparkle so dazzlingly it pierces right into your man's heart.]
"Why not just tell me more details?"
[That'd violate the rules. Scary folks would come drag me away.]
"...?"
[I can fend off most pests... but rules are rules.]
The spirit gave a wry smile, then chuckled as it continued.
[Still, I can give one piece of advice.]
"...What?"
[Eliya Chrisanax—do you know her?]
"..."
Know her...? Yeah.
They'd crossed paths a few times in passing. Hero candidate, right?
But why bring up that name out of nowhere?
[Get close to her. As close as you can.]
"...What? Why?"
[So you can help each other later. It's the only way to soften the blow when the white one causes open chaos.]
"...Can't you explain it in a way I can actually understand?"
[That's all for now. Maintaining this form any longer is tough. I've probably used up my weekly quota.]
Sure enough, the spirit's form was starting to fade.
As if just manifesting was a strain.
[I'll check back soon. Try following my advice until then.]
"...Tch. Funny trusting someone when I don't even know what you are."
[Even so, you'll do it diligently, right? That's just who you are.]
"...You've been teasing me nonstop since earlier."
As Liru pouted.
The spirit smiled gently and nodded.
As if she wouldn't deny it herself.
[Anyway, three months. That's when it happens. A massive crisis for everyone—and potentially your opportunity. Remember that.]
Even so, when it said that.
[Don't fail then, okay?]
It sounded just like a warm big sister.
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My jaw throbs like hell.
The back of my head hurts just as bad.
"..."
I glance sideways and speak up.
"...Hey, Liru."
"What."
"What happened yesterday?"
Liru, walking irritably beside me, flushed beet red and shot me a fierce glare.
"...I said don't ask."
"No, but come on—why did I suddenly black out, and wake up with my jaw half-shattered? I think I can at least—"
"Shut it."
"..."
Yeah.
From her vibe, pushing further would make my jaw hurt way worse, so I zip it.
"...Anyway, go get sorted."
I sigh and toss that at Liru.
Plenty of messes happened, but the exchange student program at the Forge of Strife ends today. Exact deadline.
"Next time, come to Elpante properly—no sneaking in."
Reinstating Kasa as chieftain would stir up massive backlash and admin headaches.
I heard she's staying to help sort it out.
Won't take long, but until then, it's goodbye.
"Wait for me."
Liru scratched her head awkwardly in reply.
"...I'll bring a gift or something."
"Oh? Something to look forward to?"
"..."
At that, Liru clamped her mouth shut and glared wordlessly.
Her face flushed again.
"...Liru?"
What kind of gift is making her act so uneasy?
"...It's nothing."
With that, Liru spun on her heel and dashed toward the Forge of Strife.
As if saying one more word might overwhelm her.
"...?"
What's with her?
Suspicious, but no point asking since she won't answer—I board the train instead.
It's rowdy. Hard to believe they were at an academy hit by monstrous beasts just days ago; the vibe is shockingly peaceful.
[Feel proud, kid. They're this peaceful because of your hard work.]
What, buttering me up now?
I smirk at Kaliban's words and enter my assigned cabin.
Sitting alone in the quiet train car, I stare blankly out the window.
"...Hmm."
How long's it been since I sat still like this?
[System Log]
[ Target 'Yuria' is plunged into extreme despair! ]
[ Target 'Lucien' is plunged into extreme guilt! ]
[ Target 'Elnor' is plunged into extreme helplessness! ]
[ Target 'Feynol' seems to have a favor to ask of you! ]
[ Find ways to comfort them! ]
Probably because all the people who'd swarm me the second I was alone are in this state.
"..."
Still, gotta cheer them all up.
Tried visiting a few times lately to talk, but they'd bolt the instant our eyes met. Zero success.
Just facing me seemed to drown them in guilt.
The ones who'd normally cling shamelessly were actively avoiding me—that meant they were really down bad.
Where to start?
I scratch my head thinking it over.
'...Gotta talk to them one by one, slowly.'
I sigh with that in mind.
They're not unreasonable, after all. Just time the outreach right.
"Ah, there you are."
"..."
Well, except this one.
I fix a narrowed gaze on the guy barging into my uninvited cabin.
"...Hello, Feynol."
Feynol Lyfeck.
The heretic inquisitor mage with blazing red hair.
"Hello, Dawood Campbell. I have a favor to ask."
With a simple greeting laced with his agenda, he beamed.
"Remember what I asked before? To seduce me a bit."
"...I remember."
"Yes. It's about that."
Then.
A bombshell dropped out of nowhere.
"Thing is, I didn't mention it had a time limit."
"...Pardon?"
"You need to seduce me within the next month."
[System Message]
[ New quest updated for 'Chapter 4 - Enemy Night'! ]
[ Raise target 'Feynol's' affection to 'Adoration Stage 1' within one month! ]
[ Failure means game over! ]
...One month?
I blink at the abrupt deadline.
Wait, hold on.
This guy definitely...
[System Log]
[ 'Skill: Fatal Charm' cannot be applied to target 'Feynol'! ]
...Had this, right?
Meaning me, without any skill help.
Actually seduce this woman in a month.
To the point where she fawns over me almost like Elnor.
"You have to make my heart pound uncontrollably whenever I see you. Or else..."
"...Or else?"
Feynol smiled again as he replied.
"Who knows."
The words that followed didn't match his expression at all.
"Something terrible will happen?"
Said the vessel holding all three Red Devil fragments.
A human who, at 100% fusion rate, could unleash the true 'body' of the Red Devil if it rampaged.
No clue what exactly, but definitely nothing I could handle.
"You promised me."
"..."
"You have to keep it, right?"
Yeah.
Promises must be kept.
"..."
I clutch my pounding head.
What did I expect?
Every step so far has been mountain after mountain.
Like I'd get peaceful time after wrapping up one incident?
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