Action Before Thought
Sometimes, there are moments when action must come before thought. "Hey, wait a second..!"
It's never wrong to worry about failure and meticulously review your plans to avoid regret, but that's only possible when you have plenty of time on your hands. When time is short, simply hesitating out of anxiety and worry solves nothing. If you don't act, you'll never accomplish anything.
"That hurts.. ngh?"
Ignoring her plea, I grabbed her wrist tightly and dragged her straight into No. 13's room.
"...!!"
No. 13, who had been sitting blankly on the wooden floor facing the yard, spotted Scarlet's face and began trembling as if seized by a seizure. She tried to stand and flee, but her legs gave out and she collapsed back down.
"That guy was right next door.."
Scarlet seemed to think No. 13 had told me everything. Even while knowing she'd done wrong, she still held resentment toward her. But I believed No. 13 simply hadn't realized the full extent of it yet. She'd tormented the girl so viciously just because she disliked her, without understanding how deeply those actions had wounded her. As a prisoner, she'd never formed proper human relationships, so it was only natural she lacked understanding and consideration.
So..
"Kyaa?"
If she truly didn't know, the best way for her to learn was to experience it directly. There was nothing better to make her reflect on her own mistakes. Of course, this wasn't the ideal solution. I knew that well, and even as I did it despite lacking the right..
"..Look closely. This person isn't scary enough for you to fear her."
I wanted to say that to the trembling No. 13. I roughly shoved Scarlet down at No. 13's feet, pinned her arms above her head, and firmly held her wrists in place.
"Ngh, what the hell are you doing?"
Some part of my mind knew I couldn't overpower her with force, but somehow it felt possible. Scarlet only looked up at me with a confused expression, offering no resistance as if she'd been brought here willingly. Was this a trace of guilt? Or was it still that learned fear she felt toward me? Whatever it was, I hoped she'd direct those feelings toward No. 13 instead.
"How insecure must you be to get jealous of and torment such a small girl? Right?"
"..."
No. 13 didn't nod, but her reaction to seeing Scarlet pinned helplessly beneath me was different this time. She'd expected pain the moment Scarlet appeared, yet instead I was the one suppressing her. For No. 13, this scene was entirely new.
"A man who can't get it up with a woman and has to relieve himself on a girl? Just hearing about it sounds insane, doesn't it?"
That applied not only to her but also to those hypocrites in the Vatican wearing white wings. Thinking about it, her twisted sense of ethics probably stemmed from them.
"But even so.. even if that were true, I still won't hate Scarlet."
"..."
"..If I apologize to her, even if it's late, and receive her forgiveness."
I could read her true feelings through my ability. I could tell whether she genuinely felt sorry, reflected on her actions, and offered a sincere apology.
"I.. I can't."
But she refused before even trying, which only made me angrier. In her mind, No. 13 was nothing more than a convenient punching bag or toy she could use however she pleased. The idea of bowing down and apologizing to someone like that was unacceptable to her. Even now, she chose to protect her pride.. Did I have to crush that pride completely first?
"Wait? What are you..!"
She provoked me so easily while completely defenseless. I slipped my hand under her clothes, grabbed her thigh tightly, and spread her legs. For the first time, she showed noticeable resistance, though it only amounted to a few twists of her body.
"Why.. why are you doing this.."
Her disheveled clothes revealed a deep cleavage, and one leg emerged from beneath the fabric, exposing her sensual thigh. Though she appeared tightly wrapped up, a single tug on the knot at her waist would bare her naked body beneath that thin cloth.
"I'm just doing what Scarlet wanted. I'll hold you right now."
"No, wait.. here?"
"You're saying it's embarrassing here?"
"..Of course it is.."
Her trailing words and red eyes turned toward No. 13. I didn't need to look to know. It wasn't that she hated being taken so forcefully—it was that she hated it happening in front of No. 13. It almost sounded like she'd be fine if we just moved somewhere else, which was oddly disconcerting, but I had no intention of stopping regardless. Thinking about what she'd made me do.. no, what she'd done to No. 13, there was no reason to stop.
Two girls leisurely enjoying a hot spring bath. Their proximity in this vast open-air bath was questionable, but it was perfect for conversation.
"Sis, what did you do this time?"
"Ung?"
"..."
I wanted to retort that she couldn't just act cute and feign ignorance with that casual "Ung?", but the white-haired girl chose to quietly close her mouth instead. That reaction apparently wasn't what Founder wanted, so she leaned in and whispered into her ear.
"I didn't do anything that would make my beloved little sister scold me."
"That means you did do something.."
Observer's expression wasn't pleased as she shook her head to escape the ticklish sensation and ended up scolding her.
"I just encouraged her to be a little more honest, that's all."
Founder had told the truth about what she'd done, but Observer's furrowed brow remained unchanged.
"Haa.. I'm leaving."
"Why~ Stay with sis.."
"Don't pretend you don't know. You can hear it too, right now."
What she could hear was, of course, the sounds coming nonstop from the inn even now.
"Ugh.. It's noisy."
Splash! Drip, drip.. Plop, plop.
Observer stood up first, wrapped a towel around her dripping wet body, and walked away while dragging her white hair along. Founder, who had pretended not to know but had known everything, couldn't bring herself to stop her. An awkward smile appeared on her bright face.
"Hehe.. Was the suggestion a bit too strong?"
"Hngh, haaang..?"
Spurt..! Splurt! Drip, drip, drip..! Plop, plop!
"Hah, oop..?"
"Clean it up properly. You're the one who made it dirty, Scarlet."
I absentmindedly pushed my fingers into her mouth as she trembled like an idiot with her lips parted, but even then, her plump lips and tongue sucked on them diligently, creating a rather ticklish sensation. And yet she was sucking so eagerly on the same fingers that had just been stirring inside her. Her love juices had soaked everything so thoroughly.
"I'm sowwy... slurp, oop.. sorry.. slurp.. I.. I'm sowwy.."
"Not to me. There's someone else you need to apologize to."
"Uuu.."
She hesitated but tried to avoid it by looking away. This wouldn't do.
Pop..!
"Wait.. I don't want any more..! If I come again... I'll become weird.."
When I pulled my fingers out of her mouth as she diligently sucked on them, she pressed her thighs together and begged me to stop, thinking I was about to start again. Right, this was work. Having shared No. 13's memories, I'd essentially been intimate with Scarlet multiple times. Or rather, not intimate—used purely as a tool to assist with masturbation. The memories were nothing but unpleasant, but there was one thing I'd gained. Thrust..!
"Ahn, haaang..!"
I now knew exactly where her weak spots were—the places that made her feel good. From the outside of her body to the inside. She'd tried to block my hand by pressing her thighs together, but I easily pushed between her soft inner thighs and hooked my fingers inside her slick hole again. Sensing what was about to happen, she trembled violently from the waist down.
..Should I just make her come lightly one more time? She'd already climaxed countless times, big and small, and the tatami floor was messily splattered with her fluids. She'd tried to hold back her moans in front of No. 13, but it hadn't taken long before she was letting out utterly shameful sounds.
..I hope we weren't disturbing the neighbors.
"Sorry, it'll be over soon."
"..."
I felt bad making her show such a messy sight, but I couldn't use violence. Yerin suddenly crossed my mind.. She was the one who asked to be hit first, sometimes even requesting slaps on the cheek or chest, though I only ever obliged with her butt. ..Anyway, this was the most peaceful educational method I could use right now. No. 13 silently nodded at my apology. She'd been flustered at first, but seeing Scarlet reduced to a pathetic state—legs shaking from just a few of my fingers, making ridiculous expressions and lewd moans—she no longer showed any fear. Instead, her eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked at me, someone who could so easily subdue an opponent she herself couldn't handle. It was quite burdensome. Should I be relieved that light had finally returned to her dull eyes, which usually held nothing unless she was eating something delicious..? It seemed to have veered slightly from my original intention, which worried me a little. Squish, squelch..!
"Hah..?"
I hadn't hooked my fingers like that for nothing. I pressed firmly on the spot that made her come easily and applied pressure as if pulling upward. Her waist lifted as she struggled to escape the pleasure.
"What's wrong? It feels good, doesn't it?"
"Hahk.. haah.. I don't.. want to feel even better.."
"But you enjoyed playing with No. 13 like this too, Scarlet."
"Hngh, that's.."
I didn't want to hear excuses.
"Hngh, haaang..!!"
When I began rubbing her sensitive insides in earnest again, she bucked her hips wildly, threw her head back, and thrashed. Sweat beaded pitifully on her pretty face, twisted between pleasure and pain.. but I had no intention of stopping until she felt genuine remorse toward No. 13 and offered a proper apology.
"Be a good girl, Scarlet."