Before Fear (Part 1)
Before Fear (Part 1)
Athan Island contained ancient ruins of unknown origin.
Beneath them lay an expansive and complex underground space.
First Knight Captain Lancelot determined that the Demon God Avaritia was likely somewhere within these underground ruins.
A unit led by him, primarily composed of knights, entered the underground area.
"We'll split into teams. I'll lead one team, and Knight Rufus, you'll lead the other."
"Understood."
Lancelot's team included Knight Olivia, Knight Emilia, Knight Pia, and elite soldiers who had volunteered from the main force.
Rufus's team included skilled mercenaries, including the mercenaries Melanie and Lili.
"Our target is the Demon God Avaritia. Don't be afraid just because it's a demon god. It's already a fallen being, defeated by the celestial gods. If you find it, contact me immediately. In the name of His Majesty the Emperor, I will deliver judgment."
Lancelot said, sweeping back his flowing bangs.
Olivia and Emilia squealed, and others also let out cheers, their hearts seemingly resonating with his dependable presence.
"Kyaaah! Lancelot-nim, you're so cool!"
"I love you!"
"Woooh! The Empire's strongest knight is with us!"
'......Really, it's hard to tell who the main character is.'
Melanie just stood there quietly with a slightly weary expression.
Even in the game, the protagonist seemed utterly incompetent in front of Lancelot.
Unlike him, who had walked a brilliant path, having come here after being raped daily, she felt her own wretchedness was even more accentuated.
Lili was holding her head and groaning, trying not to get swept up in the atmosphere.
Pia was shouting Lancelot's name along with the others.
Since that night of frenzy, Melanie and Pia had avoided making eye contact until now.
Melanie knew that this was likely the last moment she could talk to her.
'Pia, you will probably die today.'
That pitiful female knight would not return alive from this place.
Though Luxuria had tried to meddle a few times, Melanie ultimately couldn't bring herself to choose to save Pia.
Pia would remain an honorable knight to the end, facing the demon god without losing her courage, standing her ground until the very end.
Even if it meant her own death.
Even though she had felt endlessly resentful towards Pia when she was mercilessly violated at night, now only sorrow weighed heavily on her heart.
'Perhaps what happened to me is punishment for standing by and watching your death... but you... were you truly satisfied... with spending that time with me at the end...?'
Melanie never ended up speaking to Pia.
Thus, Pia's heart would forever remain unknown to her.
* * *
"How are you all so good at fighting the demonkin? Your skills are extraordinary."
"Ahaha! We trained hard with special methods back home!"
"If it weren't for you ladies, we'd all be dead on the shore."
Melanie remained listless throughout the exploration of the underground ruins.
Other mercenaries, seemingly wanting to be friendly, tried to talk to her, but she wasn't in the mood to respond.
So Lili handled the mercenaries on her behalf.
"Mercenaries, please lower your voices a bit and focus on the mission. The passages are narrow, so even a little noise will carry."
"Yeah, yeah, Knight-nim."
When Knight Rufus gave the warning, the mercenaries giggled and fell silent.
Rufus was a character who appeared in the story even before the Sephemo renewal.
Originally, he was a representative figure of the Imperial Knights with a fairly high appearance rate, but after the renewal and the addition of Lancelot, he was reduced to little more than a common soldier.
'Originally, we were supposed to encounter Athan here.'
The massive siren that was worshipped as a guardian deity of Athan Island.
In Sephemo's story, Rufus's team was supposed to encounter that monster during the underground ruins search.
But that monster was already dead, killed by Melanie on the shore.
The demon gods decided to twist the narrative here to kill Lancelot.
But to minimize variables, they decided to follow the story Melanie knew as much as possible until facing Lancelot.
So even if it wasn't Athan, Avaritia must have prepared another threat...
"Well, well, we have many guests today."
"......! Everyone, halt!"
"Wha...?!"
Rufus, startled by the sudden appearance of a woman, ordered the mercenaries to stop.
Melanie looked at the woman with even more surprise than Rufus.
A woman reading a book despite the many people before her.
Rufus calmly pointed his sword at her.
"Identify yourself. If you do not comply with instructions, we will respond immediately."
"I am Avaritia. The Demon God of Avarice, Avaritia."
Avaritia revealed her identity nonchalantly, her gaze still fixed on her book.
'Why is Avaritia here...? She was supposed to encounter Lancelot's team first...?'
Melanie couldn't fathom her intentions at all.
Luxuria hadn't said anything either.
Rufus immediately pulled out a magic tool to contact Lancelot.
But he held the magic tool without saying a word.
Come to think of it, why should he call Lancelot?
To hand over the credit to that annoying bastard?
Why should I?
"Ah, no! Everyone, get a hold of yourselves! That's Avaritia's ability!"
Knowing Avaritia's abilities well, Melanie realized what Rufus was thinking.
But before Melanie could stop him, Rufus drew his sword.
"I, Rufus, the Empire's number one swordsman, will slay the Demon God Avaritia!"
"Don't make me laugh! I am the hero who will defeat the demon god!"
"I'm not sharing the reward, so get lost!"
Not just Rufus, but the mercenaries also drew their weapons and charged.
Not at Avaritia right in front of them, but at each other, who were closer.
If one slays the Demon God of Avarice alone, they become the Empire's number one hero and claim the entire reward.
But if these guys are alive, I'd have to share the glory that's barely enough for one, right?
"Get a hold of yourselves! If you can't kill Avaritia, what good is any reward!"
"Step back, Melanie! It's dangerous!"
Lili pulled Melanie away to keep her from getting caught in the fight.
Realizing she couldn't stop them, Melanie turned her head towards Avaritia.
"Avaritia...! You shouldn't be here! You should be preparing to trap Lancelot!"
Melanie wanted to beg her not to kill those people, to let them leave the island safely.
But demon gods are fundamentally enemies of humanity.
She had already learned from Luxuria that such pleas meant nothing to a demon god.
So Melanie broached a more realistic topic from the demon god's perspective.
She pointed out that Avaritia appearing here was an unnecessary action.
"We have unfinished business to discuss."
"Business...?"
"Luxuria seems to care about nothing but eliminating <distortion>. But you know everything about this world's future, don't you?"
"Why... why would you...?"
"This is my domain. Luxuria cannot watch over you now. So answer me honestly."
Avaritia closed the book she was reading and approached Melanie.
Lili stepped in front of Melanie as if to protect her, but Avaritia kept her gaze fixed solely on Melanie.
"I haven't read all your memories. Probably Luxuria hasn't either. Doing so would melt your brain. All I know is that someone named Lancelot is causing a tremendous Distortion."
"......"
"Tell me. What was my original fate supposed to be here?"
"......You are fated to die. By Lancelot's hand."
"Just as I thought. Ever since I learned this world was a stage prepared for a human like you, I suspected as much. I am merely a villain who must exit this world."
Avaritia raised her hand, pointing at Rufus and the mercenaries who were killing each other one by one in their fight.
"So I cannot leave a single witness alive here."
"Why...?"
"Because I must be seen as dead. Of course, I have no intention of truly dying. But my survival would alter the story you know too drastically, wouldn't it?"
"Y-yes."
"If we deviate too far from the framework of the story you know, it will become difficult for you to handle future events. It's better to eliminate all witnesses and pretend I died, don't you think?"
"......"
To Melanie, those words sounded as if people were dying because of her.
Of course, that wasn't what Avaritia meant, but she internalized it that way herself.
Because Melanie herself was so powerless.
Because she lacked the strength to escape being a plaything for the demon gods.
She could do nothing as people who didn't have to die were dying.
"Why so gloomy? Are you worried I'll kill you two as well? I have no such intention. You still have to work for us."
Avaritia's words were no comfort at all.
They sounded like she was destined to continue being wielded like a useless tool, incapable of doing anything.
An opportunity to set things right might come someday, but how much of this bitterness would she have to endure until that distant future...
Then, *peck*, something warm and soft touched her lips and then pulled away.
Lili's cheeks flushed red, and she rubbed her mouth with her hand.
"Huh......?"
Melanie's eyes widened as she rubbed her own lips and looked at Lili.
Lili's cheeks were flushed, and she wore an expression that seemed both annoyed and pouty.
"Melanie, you idiot. I can see exactly what you're thinking."
"Lili...?"
"I'm always grateful to you, Melanie. If it weren't for you, I'd still be that stupid girl dreaming of peace with the demonkin, hopelessly infatuated with a handsome man."
"You..."
"O-of course, even if it seems like I'm only obsessed with destroying Melanie's womb all the time! This feeling is sincere. Because of Melanie, I was able to find my true self."
"......"
"I don't think I'm broken. Melanie definitely saved me. So, Melanie—"
—don't be so sad, Lili couldn't finish her sentence.
Because Melanie suddenly smashed her lips against Lili's.
To Melanie, those words affirming her seemed more lovely and sweet than anything in the world.
She wanted to cling to that warmth somehow, to support her crumbling heart.
Lili was momentarily stunned by Melanie's surprise attack but soon tilted the corners of her eyes slyly and launched a counterattack.
SchluwapSchlupSchluwbChwapSchlurpSchluck♥♡♥♡
Lili's snake-like, writhing tongue forced its way into Melanie's mouth.
Although the kiss had started with Melanie's preemptive attack, Lili completely turned the tables and ravaged her mouth.
How dare a mere female try to surprise a male? She had to be punished.
"Hahp♥ Schluup♥ Schlup♥ Schluut♥"
"Uhp♡ Wup♡ Uhp......♡"
Lili persistently toyed with Melanie's tongue, thoroughly teaching her the difference between male and female.
Melanie tried to fight back, but she was played with one-sidedly by Lili's superior tongue work.
When Melanie tried to retreat briefly, Lili pulled her close, crushing their breasts together, not allowing her a moment's rest.
Melanie's expression gradually melted into female pleasure.
She wanted to forget the tormenting reality and focus solely on this sensation.
"Well, this is getting too hot for me, I should take my leave. Have a good time. Don't set my temple on fire."
The demon god vanished.
Amidst the fluttering red petals dyeing the ruins, the two women revealed their pale skin and began to intertwine.