Chapter 54: Loneliness
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 54: Loneliness
I decided to clean the house while Yuria was away.
I started by picking up all the visible alcohol bottles and sweeping them into my subspace pocket.
There’s just too much booze in this house.
Bottles are tucked away everywhere, enough to last a lifetime even if you drank yourself to death.
‘There’s even some under the bed.’
I sorted out the ones with fancy bottles. If I threw away the expensive stuff recklessly, Yuria might get stressed out.
‘I’ll clear out all the ales and cheap wines. The empty bottles too...’
I hauled all the laundry out to the backyard. I planned to put them in a basin and scrub them with detergent.
“Um... is there anything I can do to help...?”
“Not really. Oh, actually, sing me a song. You have a nice voice, Olivia.”
“A song? Uh, well... the thing is, I can’t really think of any right now...”
“Really? Do you know this one?”
“What song?”
Olivia looked so pitiful sitting blankly on the sofa, staring into nothingness, that I started humming a pop song I remembered.
I think the title was Viva La Vida. It was a song by Coldplay.
“I... I know that song!”
“You do?”
“Yes...!! Wow... I remember it. That song. I know it.”
Even if the faces and voices of one's parents fade away, dissolved by the passage of time, a melody etched into the brain is not easily forgotten.
Soon, Olivia began to sing along as the lyrics came back to her.
“You’ve got a great voice.”
I hummed along while listening to her sing.
I had found a companion in this other world who could sing Earth songs with me. It felt strange. It felt like Olivia and I shared a secret that belonged only to us.
“Olivia.”
“Yes?”
“Do you remember any other songs?”
“Other songs... let me see... Hmm. Oh! Do you know this one?”
Olivia began humming excitedly.
“Oh, I know that. A Linkin song.”
“Yes, yes! I really liked rock bands. Hehe...”
Our taste in music was similar, too.
Rock bands, huh? Several groups came to mind.
“Olivia, do you know how to play any instruments?”
“Instruments... I played the guitar a bit back on Earth. Though I’ve forgotten it all by now.”
“A guitar. I wonder if there are guitars in this world.”
“I’ve seen something similar to a lute.”
“A lute?”
“Yes. It’s a string instrument. It feels a bit lighter than an acoustic guitar? It has a vintage vibe.”
“Hey, do you think you could play that without being able to see?”
“Pardon? Well... as long as I can learn the fingering...”
Olivia seemed to think she could play the lute if someone just taught her. As soon as I heard that, I couldn't suppress the brilliant idea popping into my head.
“Olivia. Starting tomorrow, I’m sending you to a music school.”
“A music school? Is there... such a thing in the Labyrinth City...?”
“Well, calling it a music school is a bit of a stretch. There is a Bard Academy, though.”
“Aha...”
Think about it. If she just learns the lute fingerings—the way to hold the chords—there’s a high probability Olivia will be able to play Earth songs.
“Olivia. If you compare the music of this world to modern Earth music, which one is higher level?”
“Well, obviously modern Earth is...”
“Right? If you can learn the chords, can you play Earth songs?”
“I might not be able to play them perfectly... but I can think of a few songs I could play similarly.”
“Good.”
Let’s introduce modern Earth music to this world. I wonder what the reaction will be.
‘It might be a sensation.’
I’d heard some music while living in this world. Mostly songs from bards who visited inns to play for money.
Most of those bards were below standard by my criteria. Rather than singers, they felt more like amateurs who just knew how to handle an instrument.
What would happen if a blind lutenist from Earth appeared among them?
‘If I have her learn the lute and the harmonica, Olivia will be able to earn her keep.’
Furthermore, since Olivia’s ability is "Soundwave Detection," she might be able to maximize its effects or find some synergy through music.
“You don’t have anything to do at home while I’m out training anyway. It’s better to learn something than to just kill time blankly. I’ll find you a reasonably priced instrument, too.”
“Do you think... I can learn well... on my own...?”
“You can do it. I’ll drop you off when I go to train and pick you up when I’m done. Let’s give it a try.”
“...Okay. I do... like music...”
Olivia nodded hesitantly.
She hated being away from me. She was trying to find emotional stability through me, a fellow Earthling.
But I couldn't keep her tucked under my wing forever.
‘If I put her through bard training, she’ll naturally develop some independence.’
This was a form of rehabilitation. By constantly showing her that she could accomplish things on her own, I was making sure she could survive even if I wasn't around.
Olivia thought her only weapon was her knowledge of the Labyrinth. I was giving her another one. The weapon of music.
“Alright, it’s decided. Let’s start tomorrow.”
“Yes...”
I couldn't take Olivia into the Labyrinth anyway. So, it was better to have her work as a bard outside. I couldn't afford to waste manpower.
The Labyrinth City wasn't kind enough to let people eat and play without working.
“Shall we have dinner and rest?”
“Um... could you... help me wash...?”
“Huh? Oh. It must be hard to wash by yourself. Sure. Let’s do that.”
Yuria had helped her yesterday, but since Yuria wasn't here today, it was my job to wash Olivia.
After having dinner with her, I headed to the bathroom. Back when I lived at the inn, washing every day was a chore. My routine was just splashing cold water over my back at the well before sleeping.
But this house was different. The bathroom structure was similar to a traditional Japanese bath. If you lit a fire in the furnace at the back of the house, the water in the tub would get warm.
There was enough firewood to last until next spring. Once the fire was lit, the water would boil in no time.
“Wait in the bathroom first. I’ll go light the fire.”
“I’m sorry for being a bother...”
“Forget it. I wanted to soak in the tub after a long time, too.”
I used a flint to light the fire in the furnace connected to the bathroom. Since I’d used flints like they were chopsticks for the past six months, lighting the fire was quick.
Steam began to rise from the water. If it got too hot, I could just mix in some cold water to adjust the temperature.
“Alright, I’m going to take your clothes off now.”
“Okay...”
I pulled off the brown T-shirt Olivia was wearing. She looked a bit embarrassed but waited patiently for me to undress her.
Olivia was trembling slightly. Her reaction was interesting. While she felt shame at being undressed by someone else, she also looked somewhat excited.
Did she like being undressed by me? I wasn't sure what she was thinking, but I decided to take off her pants and underwear as well.
“Olivia.”
“Yes...”
“Hmm. Have you thought about grooming yourself?”
“Gro, grooming...?”
“Yeah. It’s grown quite thick.”
It’s hard to manage if there’s too much hair.
“Let’s shave it.”
“U-um... it’s hard for me to do it alone...”
“I’ll do it for you.”
“Pardon...!?”
“Here, sit down.”
I sat Olivia on a chair of appropriate height. It’s not that I have a shaving fetish or anything, but it’s just... you know, it’s a bit much if there’s too much hair.
‘I promised to shave Yuria, too. I’ll use Olivia for some practice.’
Right, since I promised Yuria. This was a necessary step to get closer in my own way.
“Now, spread your legs slightly. That’s it.”
“L-like this...? This is so embarrassing...”
“It’s fine. We’re living under the same roof, after all.”
“Ugh...”
Olivia acted shy but eventually spread her legs slightly. I quickly brought over a razor and some soap to make a lather.
‘This is kind of erotic.’
I wasn't harboring any lewd thoughts, but... well, you know. It’s bound to be erotic when someone is naked with their legs spread.
“I’m going to apply the lather.”
“O-okay....”
Olivia’s voice grew fainter and fainter.
I applied the lather to her mons pubis. I rubbed the area where the fat covered the bone as if protecting the womb, following the curve of the pubic bone.
As I gently rubbed the mound covered in pubic hair while applying the lather, Olivia bit her lower lip slightly.
“Ah, ahh...”
Her reaction was interesting. Even though it wasn't a particularly sensitive spot, Olivia seemed to feel something just from the fact that someone was touching her pubic area.
“Alright, the blade is going to touch you now. You have to stay still.”
“Yes... ugh...”
I placed the razor against her skin and gently scraped. Olivia’s hair, clumped with the lather, fell below.
It would be a disaster if I cut her by going too fast, so I scraped away her pubic hair with the razor as carefully as possible to avoid any nicks.
“Alright, all done. It might sting a little.”
“Is it... over...?”
“Yeah. It’s nice and clean.”
Not a single hair remained. As I satisfiedly stroked the now-smooth mound, Olivia suddenly grabbed my hand.
“I-I’m embarrassed...”
“Oops. Sorry. I did such a good job that I couldn't help myself.”
“Aha... hahaha. What is that even supposed to mean?”
I had done such a good job shaving her that I’d stroked her out of pure satisfaction.
“Now, sit here. I’ll wash your hair.”
“Thank you... This is the first time I’ve experienced such luxury since coming to the Labyrinth City...”
Warm water and soap. She was moved by just these two things.
After washing Olivia’s hair, I put her in the tub. Since it was large enough for two people, I also got in, facing her.
“Ah...!”
Olivia, fidgeting with her feet, accidentally brushed against me.
“I-I’m sorry...”
“It’s fine.”
I grabbed Olivia’s foot.
“Ah...!”
It was such a tiny foot. Yuria’s were a bit large, but since Olivia had a small frame, her feet were small too.
Everything about her was small. Her breasts were small, and her face was tiny.
“You need to eat more. You’re nothing but skin and bones.”
“Ah...”
Being so close, I kept finding myself touching her.
“You can wear this. It’ll be a bit big, but it’ll be good as pajamas.”
“Is this... your clothes, Master?”
“Yeah. They’re my pajamas, but just wear them for tonight.”
“Okay!”
Olivia seemed somehow happy when I lent her my clothes.
The sun had set. It was time to sleep.
“Well, goodnight.”
“Yes... Um... do we have to sleep while hugging?”
“Yeah. We have to.”
To prevent the Roas—the city’s earthbound spirits—from bothering us, we needed to sleep with someone else. Since I didn't know the exact criteria for "sleeping together," I decided we should just hug. I didn't want to risk something bad happening by keeping our distance.
As I closed my eyes while hugging Olivia, fatigue soon washed over me. Perhaps because I’d had such a full day, I felt sleepy immediately. I needed to sleep early to be ready to move again tomorrow.
“Um... Master...?”
Olivia called out to Sion. Of course, Sion, who had fallen asleep the moment he lay down, didn't answer.
“Um... are you asleep...?”
Olivia tried talking to him again, but as expected, there was no response.
“Hehe...”
Confirming that Sion was asleep, Olivia grinned.
“He... hehe...”
Tossing and turning, Olivia rolled over from being hugged from behind to face Sion.
“Just falling asleep immediately... is a bit... much, don't you think...?”
Inwardly, Olivia had hoped Sion would touch her tonight. Anxiety is sometimes relieved through intercourse.
While being groomed, the sensation of Sion’s stroking hands had made Olivia want to couple with him. At first, she’d thought that since she’d become a slave, her purity would inevitably be taken.
However, after spending two days with him, she realized that Sion was a far more gentlemanly man than she had imagined.
His kindness was his charm. He had a tendency to speak bluntly, but his actions were different.
“If you’re that kind to everyone... you’ll get stabbed in the back... like I did...”
Olivia whispered into Sion’s chest with sad eyes.
You must not trust just anyone. You must not give your heart to others recklessly. This was the truth she had learned in the Labyrinth City.
“Just in case... any strange people try to get close... I’ll... keep watch by your side...”
Olivia had one more ability she hadn't told Sion about. Her Soundwave Detection could see through a person’s lies.
It required high concentration, but for some reason, she could feel the subtle tremor in the heartbeat of someone who was lying if they were close enough. Through this subtle tremor, she could tell if the other person was telling a lie or the truth.
It was a secondary effect of Soundwave Detection, a new function Olivia had discovered.
As Lafnel had said, an ability is ultimately a tool, and this tool can produce completely different effects depending on the user.
Just as Sion’s Spiritual Eye went beyond simple sight to allow for possession and regression, Olivia’s Soundwave Detection somehow allowed her to sense the heartbeat of a target at ultra-close range, enabling her to distinguish between lies and truth.
“You... didn't lie to me...”
When she’d asked if he would abandon her, he’d said he wouldn't. It was the absolute truth. Sion would not abandon her, even if she outlived her usefulness.
That was enough.
“I’m not sure if I’m allowed to harbor feelings for you... but I’m confident I can do my absolute best... I hate... being alone... Loneliness is...”
For a sentient being, the emotion of loneliness is a curse that doesn't disappear until death arrives. That is why sentient beings form relationships and build societies—to avoid being consumed by loneliness.
Until she met Sion, Olivia had isolated herself from the world. She’d held onto the obsession that she would return to Earth one day and the thought that she was fundamentally different from the people of this world.
Because of that, Olivia was always lonely. She felt that no one could ever understand her. This damnably cruel world had always pushed her to the edge, and every time she was swallowed by loneliness, her mind had slowly crumbled.
But now it was different. Someone who understood her situation had appeared. Someone who could remember and reminisce about the place called Earth.
It was only Sion. She couldn't be without him anymore. Only Sion could soothe this terrible loneliness of hers.
She didn't care if he shared his love with other women. Whether she was the main wife or a concubine didn't matter at all.
She simply wanted him to stay by her side forever and erase this horrific loneliness.
For that, she was willing to do anything.