Chapter 180
Chapter 180
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 180
Chapter Title: Second Trial (3)
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Ever since I possessed into the Sera worldview, I'd faced all sorts of crises.
I'd fought demons, a boy king who'd fully mastered forgotten sorcery, and even an ancient god from another dimension.
And even after seeing all those bizarre sights.
In this situation, I had no idea how to cope.
“...”
“...”
Silence flowed.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Why this position...?”
I'd somehow managed to say that much, but Eliya, clinging to my arm, showed no sign of letting go.
The crackling campfire was the only light, casting shadows easily across Eliya's face as she leaned her head against my side.
Her face bore that ever-present cheerful smile.
“...”
But under the light, it looked much more... sinister, somehow.
[It really is sinister.]
“...”
[Don't you already know that deep down?]
I do... know.
I couldn't not know.
Anyone but a blind man could tell that her aura was off right now.
Like a carnivore eyeing prey right in front of it.
[This makes three.]
'...What?'
[The girls sticking to you to take your first time.]
‘...’
[I didn't expect my little sister to be one of them.]
What the hell happened while I was gone?
“Mm.”
As I sweated coldly with those doubts, Eliya let out that sound again and wriggled closer.
She pulled my arm in even deeper.
“...Too close.”
I forced the words out, but Eliya didn't change her expression at all as she shot back.
“It's cold.”
“...”
“You're warm, Teacher.”
Far from it, she pressed even closer while saying that.
And eventually.
“Yup.”
She came right around to my front and burrowed into my embrace.
The back of her head touched my chest. Her orange hair tickled my nose with its sweet scent.
“...Teacher.”
“Hm?”
“You already know what I'm about to do, right?”
“...”
Her words came straight at me without warning, and I clamped my mouth shut.
Yeah, I knew.
I'd felt it on my skin from earlier—her and I had been tiptoeing around it.
We both already knew what she was aiming for and what I'd say in response.
“...You'll say no again, right?”
“...”
I silently watched Eliya speak with a bitter tone.
“...I get it, Teacher.”
She pouted.
“It's dangerous. There are all those people around who'd flip out over you just holding hands with another girl.”
“...”
True enough.
From my position, still intensely obsessed over by the demons, crossing that line with anyone would be like boarding the suicide express—no different.
But.
“I'm a problem too, but you're even more of one.”
I sighed in reply.
“Huh?”
“If you cross that line with me, the demons will come at you way harder than me.”
“...”
Not just me—for her too.
She wasn't a demon herself, nor the object of their affection.
If she crossed that line with me, she'd bear the wrath of all seven demons alone.
“...”
That's impossible.
Even I had no confidence I'd survive that ordeal.
“I can't let you die. If this came after everything was settled, maybe, but.”
“...Eek, always putting it off like that.”
Eliya pouted again.
“Even empty words saying you like me a little wouldn't hurt. You used to tell me I was precious and all—”
“No plans to say it empty.”
“...”
Eliya froze solid.
Her pouting expression locked in place.
Her eyes flicked down briefly.
She fell silent for a moment, as if pondering my words.
And then.
“...”
Her face flushed wildly.
Red bloomed to the tips of her ears. Steam might as well have risen from her head.
She opened her mouth, barely calming her choked breaths.
“...Huh?”
“Not empty. I like you.”
Seeing that, I answered calmly.
“...”
She flailed her limbs around like she'd short-circuited.
But it was sincere.
Everyone else had fallen for me due to my traits, plausibility be damned.
With her, it was purely her own 'will'—no special powers involved.
In this, she stood apart from the others.
Her unadulterated 'sincerity.'
So, I had to convey my own sincerity clearly.
“Let's do it.”
“...Huh?”
“Once the situation's resolved, whatever—share a bed, marry, anything. I'll say yes to it all.”
“...”
“I want that with you too. For real.”
Eliya stared at me, fully frozen.
She hadn't expected such a straightforward answer.
“You're a precious person to me.”
Not just because she's a key figure in the scenario.
No matter the process, she throws her all into colliding with me.
Even if I can't accept now, she's someone I must answer later—and that makes her 'humanly' precious to me.
That said.
Eliya bowed her head slightly.
I couldn't make out her expression in the dim light, but her whole face was red.
“...Teacher.”
“Hm?”
“You need to know your own position.”
The next moment.
Heaven and earth flipped.
“...”
To be precise, Eliya had flipped my entire body over.
Then, with fluid motions like flowing water, she straddled my abdomen.
“...You little, what...!”
I yelped in shock, and she panted as she brought her face close.
Now I could see her expression.
Compared to before, her 'reason' had clearly faded.
“...”
That was putting it kindly.
More bluntly.
She was in heat.
Severely so.
“Teacher, do you know how... 'vulnerable' you are as a male?”
“...”
You're the monster for saying that to someone who hangs with demon-level beings.
Though without Desperate Situation active, I had no ground to complain about my combat power.
“Someone so vulnerable, saying those, those... 'delicious'-sounding things...! You leave me no choice but to devour you...!”
“...”
What the hell?
“...Did you even hear what I just—!”
“Yes. I heard.”
Eliya grinned brightly in reply.
“But that just means I beat all the demons, right?”
“...”
What crazy talk.
As I gaped at her, she stammered on.
“Holy sword, if I, I grab it, get acknowledged as qualified and become the hero, it's not impossible, right?”
“...It is, but...!”
Even out of her mind, she nailed the core.
Eliya, wielding the holy sword and rising as hero, does grow into a monster capable of such feats.
But.
“It's not confirmed you'll pull that off now, so why take the risk already...!”
“Just do it first and clean up later!”
“...”
“You've been doing that all along, Teacher!”
“...”
Fair point.
But her eyes were unfocused.
She wasn't thinking deeply either.
As that thought crossed my mind, a thunderous roar erupted from the Soul Linker.
[Do it where I can't see, you damn brats-!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]
“...”
Wait, first time seeing this guy lose it like this?
As I glanced that way, Kallivan continued in a voice like he'd seen it all.
[I'm dying. I'm passing out now. Don't talk to me.]
With that, the Soul Linker went silent.
He'd really shut off his consciousness. Like forcing a self-induced blackout.
‘...No, that's not the issue!’
I turned to Eliya, eyes bulging, breathing ragged.
Her eyes were unfocused. Her uniform front disheveled, chest half-exposed in a lewd state, but she didn't care—swept up in waves of desire.
“...Calm down first.”
“I am calm...!”
“...”
No.
You're not calm at all.
Desperate Situation.
The skill didn't trigger, but this was truly desperate.
‘No choice...!’
Only option left: shove her off by force.
I tried pushing Eliya away with all my strength.
But.
“...What? Being cute?”
“...”
Why is she so strong?
Not even a budge. Without Desperate Situation, the power gap felt like she could pin me with a finger.
I watched her approach, pale-faced, breathing heavily.
“Look up at the sky and count stars or something.”
“...”
“I-it'll be, quick...!”
Eyes glazed, she pressed down on my chest. I squeezed my eyes shut.
Please.
Someone, save me...!
As that prayer formed.
“...Really.”
A voice came from above.
Then.
“What are you two doing?”
Familiar 'crimson flames.'
Blasted all the nearby spirit trees at once.
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“...”
“...”
“...”
Silence three times more excruciating than before hung over the camp.
Meanwhile, only Talion casually grilled meat he'd brought over the fire.
“Won't big bro and Eliya eat?”
“...Pass.”
“...Me too.”
Gloomy voices leaked out in unison.
Voices laced with shame and awkwardness.
Eliya, barely restrained on the verge of rampage, and me, caught in an unseemly state unfit for others' eyes.
Still, questions needed asking.
“...So, how'd you find this place?”
“Feynol sensed it. Felt big bro's soul return.”
“...”
I turned to Feynol at that, and an utterly expressionless face turned back.
“...Glad you look healthy.”
He smiled as he replied.
Unmistakably, an incredibly unnatural smile.
He wasn't even trying to hide his anger.
“...”
Hey.
Didn't you say you can't feel emotions?
Why this skin-crawling vibe...?
“More importantly, something to tell big bro.”
“...Hm?”
His sudden words to Talion made me turn, and he shrugged before continuing.
“Info from the Prime Minister. Heard the trial difficulty spikes tomorrow.”
“...”
“...”
Dry smiles crossed my and Eliya's faces at the casual leak of classified info.
So brazen it left no thoughts.
‘...No, to begin with.’
Considering the interests tied to the hero title, not doing this would be foolish.
In truth, even that was part of the trial.
A way to gauge national powers backing hero candidates from the shadows.
“Details later, so conclusion first...”
Talion paused, scanning around.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Still, the apocalyptic silence from before weighed heavy.
No will to converse among them.
Talion cleared his throat awkwardly and pressed on.
Determined to speak anyway.
“...Probably need to stick with us tomorrow...”
“...”
“...We'll overcome as four.”
Ah.
With this lineup.
Dragging along pissed-off Feynol and Eliya in their staring contest.
“...”
Ah.
Should I just die?
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