Chapter 64
Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Mom (1)
"I don't think the Demon King could resurrect that easily... but we should keep the possibility in mind. Things are going to get busy from here on out."
"...Yeah, tell me about it. This is a problem."
"......"
"......"
On the way back to the inn, Isabel and I didn't exchange many words.
We'd only seriously discussed the archduke, the Demon King, and the demon realm...
Since there wasn't much we could do right now anyway, the topic ran dry quickly. After that, an awkward silence naturally settled in.
And before long, the inn we'd left that morning came into view in the distance.
Isabel kept twisting the ends of her golden hair with her fingertips, her gaze fixed on the ground as she walked, and I couldn't come up with anything to say either.
'Feels like I'm suffocating.'
I scratched the back of my head awkwardly, forcing my thoughts elsewhere.
Right now, it might be better to give us both some space rather than forcing a conversation.
'...Hmm...'
As I thought that, my mind naturally drifted to the situation at hand.
"......"
Not our walk back to the inn with Isabel, but the events unfolding in the city.
For starters, we'd reported the demon archduke's appearance to the Sun Church. With Duke Rayhem dead, there was no interference in sending a letter to the mountains.
Before long, forces from headquarters would probably arrive to help clean up the mess in the city.
They'd have to deal with the land corrupted by demonic energy and all the atrocities carried out by the duke.
For the time being, we had to stay in the city until people from headquarters showed up. Someone needed to explain the details to them.
'This is gonna kill me.'
I cut my thoughts off there and let out a groan. Glancing over, I saw Isabel walking along by herself.
So... I had to spend a few more days with her? In the same room?
I might actually die. One way or another.
Either I'd suffocate in this tension until I dropped dead, or we'd cross that line, and one of us would hang ourselves from the embarrassment the next morning.
"...Isabel."
And that wasn't the ending I wanted. If I was going to cross that bridge, I wanted to do it properly(?), in a way that wouldn't inconvenience or offend her.
As I steeled myself and opened my mouth, Isabel flinched and turned her head.
Her sunset-colored eyes trembled pitifully as they met mine. Were the swirling emotions inside them tension? Anxiety?
Or something else entirely...? I had no idea, but it didn't matter.
From the moment she'd caught me in the bathroom last night, the water was already spilled.
Now it was down to two choices: charge straight ahead or tuck tail and run.
"I─"
And I decided to be the hero rather than the coward. Just as I was about to speak to her with unusual seriousness─
Thud!
"W-Wait─"
"...Mmph."
Isabel suddenly reached out and clamped her hand over my mouth, leaving me frowning at her in stunned silence.
Was it the fading sunlight? Her face was flushed a soft crimson.
"...You can't say it."
Her words lacked a subject. I raised an eyebrow, questioning her with my eyes.
How do you know what I was gonna say?
Isabel chewed her lip for a moment before letting out a small sigh.
"I misspoke. I did say something like, 'If you want to hold me, confess,' or 'I might even give you my purity myself'... but..."
"......"
"...It's embarrassing to say it myself, but I was a little out of my mind at the time."
She withdrew her hand from my mouth weakly and covered her face.
Her flushed cheeks turned as she rolled her eyes sideways.
"Thinking about it now, it'd be really unfair to Miss Heresia... or Israfeel. Sex is one thing, but a confession? I can't steal something they haven't even received yet."
Isabel pressed her blushing cheeks with the back of her hand, as if it were morally wrong.
Finally, she mustered her courage and fixed her rolling gaze on my face.
"So... let me say it again, Evan. Don't confess to me. You can't."
"...Hmm."
I let out a hum but couldn't respond right away. Her words made sense. I had no trouble accepting them.
That issue had been nagging at me too: the order, the sequence.
If I proposed something like that to her here in this city... wouldn't that be incredibly rude to Lete and Israfeel?
That's why the words I'd been about to say weren't a confession.
I just wanted to approach our physical relationship in a slightly different way.
"......"
Honestly, either way, wasn't it kinda messed up? The thought crossed my mind, but I wasn't about to justify my behavior at this point.
If I'd wanted to live a truly upright life, I wouldn't have aimed to claim three women at once as a saint in the first place.
With that slightly bitter... no, charred taste in my thoughts, I looked at Isabel.
"...I understand, Isabel."
I opened my mouth. At my first words, she looked at me anxiously, and after a brief hesitation, I smacked my lips and replied.
"Got it. I won't confess, like you said. I wasn't planning to right now anyway."
"...Oh. R-Really?"
Isabel stammered in response, but her face lit up. Her expression visibly brightened.
She sighed in relief, clearly feeling guilty toward Lete and Israfeel, just as she'd said.
"But."
However.
My words weren't over. As I started again, Isabel flinched, swallowed dryly, and began sneaking glances at me.
I shot her a slightly sullen look.
"So, now that I've promised not to confess... you don't think that's the end of it, right? That we can just sweep it under the rug?"
"...Ahem...!"
Isabel coughed awkwardly, her face burning red.
She must have expected this.
Soon, she brushed her hair behind her reddened ear and muttered.
"Of course... I won't say something sneaky like that's the end of it. Ahem, your mom isn't that cruel."
"...So you do see yourself as 'mom.' I'm surprised, Isabel."
"You called me that first...!"
Her voice suddenly rose sharply, and I casually covered my ears. Isabel huffed out a breath and fanned her face to shake off the embarrassment.
"Whew...! Anyway, enough about titles. I've been thinking about how to accommodate your wishes as much as possible."
"...Uh, thanks?"
"Don't thank me. It makes me want to smack you."
As if to prove it, Isabel quietly raised her dainty fist.
But if that fist hit me, I might go down in one shot. The moment divine power infused it, it'd be like a siege weapon.
I straightened up a bit more politely, and Isabel clicked her tongue while glaring at me.
"I'm really not thrilled about it... but we've already crossed that line, so pretending it never happened now would go against decency."
"Exactly. Well said, Isabel."
"...Last night's events sparked some curiosity about sexual things in me too. So, if you promise me one thing, I'll show some sincerity."
"Of course. I'm all ears, Isabel."
"......"
Isabel shut her mouth again. She gave me a cold look before raising her hand.
Thwack!
"Ow."
"Don't make me spank you, Evan."
I got hit. I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly, and Isabel continued with a sigh.
"So... you know?"
"...Yes, Isabel."
"......"
It was about time for that one promise. I answered more seriously than before, and Isabel fell silent for a long while.
What could she want me to promise that made her hesitate like this? I was getting curious.
I didn't think she had any special requests, but apparently she did.
Too awkward to press her, I waited patiently. Until she spoke, until she voiced what she wanted from me.
"Evan."
And soon, Isabel opened her mouth.
Her eyes shimmered with affection.
"Call me by my name. Like you do Israfeel... or Lady Lete Heresia."
"......"
It was completely out of left field. My eyes widened slightly.
I'd never imagined hearing such a request from Isabel.
"Rea─"
I almost reflexively asked if she was serious, but I caught her expression and closed my mouth.
Her face was utterly earnest, her eyes holding a distant glow.
Asking if she meant it in this situation would earn me a slap with no complaints.
So I swallowed my words. I swapped them for a better response.
"...Got it, Isabel."
"......"
"No."
No need to drag it out.
One word was enough.
"Isabel."
"──."
I murmured her name with a faint smile, and Isabel's lips curved up as if she'd been waiting, her face beaming with joy.
She hopped over to me and grabbed both my hands tightly.
"Good boy, Evan."
She spun around.
"So... shall we go?"
She said in a bright voice, without looking back, shyly and succinctly.
"Let's go have sex with Mom."