Inno...cence
Inno...cence
- Aren't you going to play over there, Liana?
"Huh?"
Inside the dim forest, Liana, who had plopped down in the grass and was stroking the cute spirits, tilted her head.
"Over there? Where?"
- Way over there. Where the sky is sparkling.
Aurora, the small humanoid water spirit who had just ascended to mid-level, pointed in a direction.
Liana turned her gaze that way and saw fireworks dyeing the sky green amid loud bursts.
Though they appeared small in the distance, from here they still looked like a grand, spectacular fireworks display.
Beneath those fireworks, there were probably crowds of people eating, drinking, and reveling in the festival spirit.
"No, I don't particularly feel like playing over there."
- Why not?
Liana shook her head with a grim expression. Aurora tilted her head.
- But you're human too. Isn't it a little fun to play with other humans?
"Aurora, just because someone is human doesn't mean they all get along."
- I know that. There are many humans, and they all have different thoughts and tastes.
Aurora spread her arms wide. Having ascended to mid-level and broadened her thinking, Aurora was proud of her considerable knowledge about the human species.
"Yes, you know a lot."
Liana smiled softly and stroked Aurora's head with her finger.
"As you know, there are also people who dislike playing with others... who prefer being alone."
Liana—then a first-year cadet at Siyoram—nodded to herself.
It was the first day of her first Birth Festival.
Truthfully, Liana wasn't fond of the Birth Festival.
First, it was too noisy and hectic.
Noise came from all directions, hurting her ears, and there were so many presences around that it was uncomfortable to keep her Qi Sense active.
Above all, the crowds were so thick that the lower spirits who lived in secluded places would scamper off somewhere.
For Liana, who was approaching them to build some familiarity since she couldn't yet form a contract because her vessel wasn't ready, that was extremely frustrating.
Also, it was annoying.
Participating in the showy official schedule was already annoying enough, but people kept calling out to her from everywhere.
"Liana, if you have time, would you like to go somewhere together?"
"Liana, we have an extra spot—would you like to come see something?"
"Liana, everyone's getting together—want to go somewhere to eat?"
Blah blah...
"Ugh."
Liana rubbed her temples, which had started to ache on their own.
Even cadets who normally weren't friendly with her were like that.
Inside the Siyoram campus, outsiders crowded in, staring at her like she was a novelty, and people from external organizations approached, handing out business cards and launching into lengthy self-introductions.
Those approaching to recruit talent, those drawn by her appearance, or those casually wanting to network...
No wonder people around her had insisted she always carry a perception-obstruction magic tool.
Thinking it was no big deal, Liana had ignored it—and ended up going through a terribly annoying experience on the first day.
Actually, it couldn't be helped.
She possessed the rare unique ability of Spirit Affinity, and a mana capacity that allowed her to effortlessly command a large number of spirits.
Her other qualities were equally outstanding, and her appearance and figure were so beautiful that none could compare.
Moreover, having just finished her first year, her potential for growth was still limitless.
A prodigy like her hadn't yet aligned herself with any faction.
For roughly those reasons, many people approached Liana.
"Do you understand now, Aurora? That place over there is no different from a demon realm. If I go in there again, it won't be easy to get out."
She understood the reasons, but that didn't mean she had any obligation to respond.
That's why she had come into the deserted forest to play with the spirits, wasn't it?
After listening attentively to Liana's rather lengthy explanation, Aurora tilted her head the other way.
- But isn't that the same as always?
"...Yeah, I guess so."
- Doesn't Liana have any human friends?
At Aurora's question, Liana's shoulders twitched. She calmly brushed her hair behind her back and replied.
"Aurora, the definition of 'friend' is quite ambiguous."
- Then does Liana have anyone she considers a friend?
At the follow-up question, Liana's eyes trembled.
"...I do. People I greet when I see them, call when there's a group assignment, and ask when I'm curious about something."
- Isn't that just, well, a kind of business relationship?
"Where did you learn that?"
- I learned it from a book.
Books have contaminated the pure spirit. Liana briefly thought that, but how could she condemn the broadening of thought through books?
Especially since Aurora had just become a mid-level spirit—she had developed a far more mature and sophisticated ego than other mid-level spirits.
How could she possibly stop such a child from exploring the world with newfound curiosity?
"Ah, anyway... I'll be here for a while."
As Liana let out a deep sigh, a puppy-shaped spirit crept up and nestled against her.
A smile returned to Liana's lips. As she gently stroked its back and waist, the spirit wriggled with delight.
Liana liked spirits.
Did she awaken the unique ability "Spirit Affinity" because she liked spirits, or did she come to like spirits because she awakened "Spirit Affinity"?
She didn't know which came first. But in the end, Liana simply liked spirits.
Spirits are pure and unadorned.
They don't say they like something they dislike, nor do they pretend to dislike something they enjoy.
If they dislike something, they run away; if they like it, they follow after you cheerfully.
They don't turn their backs and spit out filthy words, nor do they spout empty flattery to your face.
A pure figure without a shred of pretense. Unlike some people, they don't hide malice and conceal a dagger behind their back.
Liana preferred spirits over people.
She didn't unconditionally hate people, but when she had far better friends in spirits, she didn't want to socialize with humans.
Rather than chatting with people under the sparkling fireworks, she preferred being quietly together with spirits in a tranquil place.
"...Should I build a log cabin later?"
As Liana was petting the spirits, she raised her head at the gradually spreading green light.
The fireworks were so grand it was as if green stars were being etched into the sky.
Liana, reflecting those fireworks in her green eyes, suddenly murmured.
A quiet place. Building a simple house somewhere sparsely populated, living peacefully with spirits.
'Mm, that sounds like a nice dream.'
The world is so dangerous; she could buy safe, expensive land in a stable area and build there.
By then, Liana herself would be much stronger than she was now, so as long as the world didn't fall apart, it wouldn't be a problem.
Liana praised herself, thinking it was a pretty good dream.
.
.
.
A small open window.
A cool breeze slipped through the gap between the curtains, pleasantly circulating the room, and sunlight cast a faint glow over the large bed.
"......"
Liana, having awakened in her own bed, blinked her eyes. Her just-awoken mind traced back through the most recent memories.
She had dreamed. It was a memory from her days attending Siyoram.
Looking back, there were some embarrassing childish thoughts, but it was a nostalgic memory, far from a nightmare.
Before falling asleep, before dreaming... she had been drinking while watching fireworks.
Unlike her cadet days, the green fireworks had been practically right overhead, and she had enjoyed the taste of expensive green grape wine as she rolled it in her mouth.
The mood was good, and the liquor was high quality, so it remained a very pleasant memory.
But the alcohol and fireworks weren't the main memory.
A far deeper and more intense memory remained.
"Coo..."
She felt a presence in her arms.
Come to think of it, she didn't smell any alcohol. No matter how good the liquor is, you can't help but smell it the next morning when you wake up.
Instead, a sweet honey scent lingered on her nose and entire body.
When she lowered her gaze slightly, she saw Lee Ha-yul, nestled in her arms and deep in dreamland.
His pure white hair, sparkling like snow in the faint sunlight.
His skin, smooth as if coated in milk, gave off a sweet scent, and his slender body, revealed as the blanket slipped down, was pressed into Liana's arms, sharing warmth.
"......"
"Mmm..."
As Liana blankly admired the sight of Lee Ha-yul, he wriggled a little.
"Yawn..."
A cute little yawn escaped his open mouth. Had he sensed Liana's presence and woken up?
After closing his mouth and mumbling, Lee Ha-yul's eyes quietly opened.
Dreamy gray eyes, as if they were not a color of this world.
Liana had seen those eyes before. Eyes that seemed adrift, as if wrapped in murky fog—eyes that were open but couldn't actually see properly.
His pupils focused. Liana's face was reflected clearly in his hazy, dull eyes.
At that, Liana strangely felt immense satisfaction. It was like she had blatantly carved her mark onto a pure white porcelain.
"...Did you sleep well...?"
His mumbling lips parted and let out a voice. She'd heard it often, but the feeling of Lee Ha-yul's voice being directed only at her was different now.
Though still thick with sleep, it seeped precisely into her eardrums as if meant only for her.
"...Yes, did you sleep well?"
Confused by this unfamiliar sensation she'd never felt before in her life, Liana reached up and gently stroked Lee Ha-yul's head.
The hair coiling around her hand was so soft it was hard to get used to.
"Mmm... feels good..."
Purring, Lee Ha-yul snuggled deeper into Liana's arms.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed his body firmly against her.
Then he naturally buried his face in Liana's chest.
Looking now, her chest was exposed, so Lee Ha-yul could easily bury his nose against her and inhale her scent.
"Sniff sniff... smells nice..."
[Milk Scent]
[Warmth]
[Voluptuous]
[Dairy Cow?]
"I told you, I don't produce milk... And just because someone has big breasts doesn't make them a dairy cow..."
He was thoroughly enjoying the scent of her skin—embarrassing as it was—as if it were his own.
She had often offered her chest before, but because he had never been so desperate for her scent as today, Liana's face turned red.
She was already worried she might smell of yesterday's alcohol, but since he said he liked it, well...
With a peculiar expression, Liana let him stay in her embrace and gently stroked Lee Ha-yul's lips as they rubbed against her upper chest.
"...Do you like it that much?"
"Yes."
[Affirmation]
"Mmm... do you want to pull away?"
"No..."
[Negation]
[Possessiveness]
[Desire]
Whining, Lee Ha-yul wrapped his arms tightly around Liana's waist, holding her so she couldn't escape, yet careful not to hurt her.
Seeing him rub his face against her chest as if pleading not to leave, a smile bloomed on Liana's lips.
Though he seemed to have a lascivious side, when she looked a little closer, his pure longing for affection like a child stood out.
He'd never dressed himself up to look down on others.
If he liked something, he'd express that he liked it even if embarrassed; if he disliked something, he'd sadly say he disliked it.
He'd never talked behind someone's back, nor did he spit out insincere words.
He'd lied before, but never with the aim of harming others.
He'd never tormented anyone out of malice, nor had he ever stabbed someone in the back with a hidden dagger.
"Baby? Shouldn't we start eating breakfast soon?"
From the first meeting and as she got to know him bit by bit, there was nothing but things she liked about him.
Liana smiled brightly and patted the back of the pure child buried in her arms.
'Ah, except for how he carelessly handles his own body.'
She'd have to give him a serious scolding for that sometime.
.
.
.
"I never imagined I'd be cut in line even after making a reservation to get my stamp."
Ellia pursed her lips. She crossed her legs in a somewhat rebellious manner and folded her arms under her ample chest.
The usually kind Ellia was blatantly showing her sulkiness.
Lee Ha-yul, sitting quietly, was watching Ellia's mood and sweating nervously.