Ep.2 - Knight Commander Neva (2)
Ep.2 - Knight Commander Neva (2)
"Why are you making that face..."
Neva-ssi looked at me as if the world were crumbling.
Like a child who had let go of her mother's hand, sorrow settled on her face.
In this cold atmosphere, as if time itself had frozen, I couldn't just sit there trembling any longer.
If I delayed even a little longer, I didn't even want to imagine what kind of reaction she would show...
"Euhh..."
I nodded—a nod meaning I would do as she wished.
"..."
But even after seeing my nod, her expression did not ease.
"Delin-ssi..."
Should I have just jerked my head into a nod right from the start?
Fuck...! But she's so terrifying—what am I supposed to do...?
If the situation had been just a little more urgent, I probably would've pissed myself. I've never once drawn a map on the blankets since I got out of diapers, but I nearly soaked this plush-god-plush bed.
Something... something felt...
A feeling I'd never experienced before, something gripping my heart.
"..."
Neva-ssi soon wore a dumbfounded expression, thought about something for a long while, then pulled her arm away from me and spoke in a rapid rush.
"Ha, haha... was I too h...hasty? That's strange. Strange... Ah... I'm sorry. Those filthy bitches must still have you worn out, and here I am saying things like... I'll, I'll wait. I'll wait no matter how long it takes..."
I don't know if it was fortunate, but in contrast to her dark, heavy expression, her face now looked on the verge of tears.
"I, I wanted to protect you... Delin-ssi..."
But even this tearful expression of sorrow felt just as frightening when its intensity grew stronger.
"Is it because I lost...? Right? I'll never lose now! I can protect you! I can protect you so that never again will other bitches lay a single filthy fingertip on you!"
"Ah...! Euhh!"
I nodded in quick succession.
If I didn't, I felt like things would spiral into a seriously troublesome mess.
What if I shook my head here?
...I couldn't even guarantee what would happen.
Clearly, just a moment ago Neva-ssi had been an angelic person who rescued me,
and in an instant, she had turned into a woman with an unsettling vibe.
"Wh-why... why do you look at me like... I only want to help you, Delin-ssi..."
Helping me is all well and good...!
But you're kind of scary...!
Not kind of — a lot!
No. First, I need to nod.
Since I can't even use Save and Load properly, if I get on her bad side, it's just straight up...
a bloody pulp like Philmark...?
Ughh.
I still want to believe that Neva-ssi isn't the type of person to do that, but...
I can't control my mind; it keeps showing me only the frightening side.
"If not me...!"
Suddenly,
at this completely unexpected moment,
Neva-ssi abruptly raised her voice and shouted.
"If not me, there's no one else who will protect Delin-ssi! The women who can beat that bastard Philmark are counted on one hand. Do you understand? Delin-ssi can only live if I help...!"
Should I call this anger?
Or should I call it extreme excitement?
She pressed me with a voice that was terribly agitated.
"Wh-why, huuueeeyoooh...!"
Why are you being like this...!
"You can't live without me! I, I...! I have to protect you!"
Neva then suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace and whispered repeatedly right next to my ear.
"I'll protect you. I... will take responsibility and protect you. Don't worry. Are you just too confused? I'll protect you, so..."
"Hnnngghh..."
I can't breathe...
"As we spend time together, you'll open your heart soon. I know it. Someday you'll understand my sincerity. Even if you don't now, someday you surely will... I am a knight. A knight of the proud Albator Kingdom. I will take responsibility and protect Delin-ssi. Fragile, beautiful, precious..."
Breathing became difficult with her body pressing so hotly against me.
Feeling her almost hot body heat, my face sandwiched between her breasts, I tried to signal her by pushing against her stomach with my cuffed hands, asking for air,
but Neva, already lost in her own thoughts, didn't notice at all.
"I have to protect you. I'll definitely... protect you... this time, I'll definitely... protect... definitely..."
She simply repeated the word 'protect.'
——————————————————
From then on, my cohabitation with Neva-ssi began.
Cohabitation usually brings to mind a sticky, happy romance between a man and a woman, or a refreshing, easygoing daily life between same-sex friends,
but the cohabitation I was experiencing was quite far removed from those things.
I couldn't move a single step off the bed, and she never left my side for a moment, constantly hovering around me.
"We don't know when Philmark will come, so I can't be apart from you."
With those words, she maintained an intensely close-quarters existence, never leaving the slightest gap.
Just three hours of this glued-together life with her was enough to make my head spin.
Where we touched, sweat oozed out from our shared body heat,
and we remained so close that our breathing, the sound of swallowing, even the soft rustle of fingers were all vividly audible.
I wondered what the hell kind of act this was, but seeing Neva-ssi's unstable state, I absolutely could not push her away.
No, I'm the one who got fucking ravaged and is suffering, so why is Neva-ssi like that...?
Is it the prob— issue with the Affinity system? Does your Affinity going up turn you into a crazy bitch? What, yandere? Is that it...?
Isn't there a way to check Affinity? No, if there's an Affinity system, how does it make sense that I can't see what the Affinity rating is?
Wait. Don't tell me...
Did I not check properly because I read it in too urgent a situation? Can you actually check Affinity...?
I'll have to figure out how to check Affinity first once my mouth is free. At this rate, her Affinity must be at 50000. Definitely.
"Hnngh..."
Her face was flushed bright red.
Neva, who had once again become a shy, youthful woman, now fidgeted restlessly as if finally uncomfortable being glued to me.
It was absurd that she was blushing now, of all times.
They say anyone can do strange things when emotions run high, but the side she showed me was something beyond simple excitement or anger... beyond those emotions.
I felt I needed to figure this out someday. Otherwise, wouldn't I just end up dead?
The image of her mercilessly beating Philmark to a pulp briefly flashed through my mind.
Fuck... I don't want to die like that... really...
"De, Delin-ssi. It's a bit hot in the room. I'm sorry. Sweat keeps..."
She gently wiped the beads of sweat forming on her forehead and subtly pulled back the arm that had been touching me.
"..."
But then, as if a sudden change of heart occurred, she placed her hand on top of mine and spoke.
"I, I... haven't been very involved with men, so I may be a little clumsy with these sorts of things... but still, I'll be completely honest with you. I like you, Delin-ssi."
A second confession.
A manly and confident confession, like the saying that no tree will stand after ten chops.
"I... will do my best to protect you. By Delin-ssi's side, looking only at you, I will protect you for a lifetime, so please... will you accept my feelings."
No.
If a woman of Neva-ssi's caliber asked me out, normally I'd be bowing and gladly dating her,
but because of the anxiety creeping up from inside, I absolutely couldn't accept. I was scared...
But...
I nodded.
"Ohwaayoh."
Okay.
"De, Delin-ssi!"
A bright smile bloomed on Neva-ssi's face.
Like the lovely flowers adorning a garden, her smile was beautiful.
"Ahh, Delin-ssi. I will devote my everything and protect you. With lifelong love, and lifelong protection..."
Even the word 'lifelong' is so overwhelming...
Still, accepting was the best choice for now...!
If I kept refusing like this, it felt like a major disaster would erupt someday, and I lacked the skill to endure it.
I might even die before Philmark comes to catch me...
Rather than remaining clueless until things hit a point of no return, it was better to change my mindset early and accept her.
Thus,
my plan was this.
First, while I was entrusting myself to Neva-ssi for now, I would cater to her as much as possible and get along amicably,
and then when Philmark came to capture me or something, I would crush her with Neva-ssi's help!
After fixing my mouth and ankle too...!
'I'll butter her up well and travel with her just until I escape this other world...!'
If we're lovers, it didn't seem like she would treat me violently,
and besides, her martial power must be of a considerable level. Wouldn't she be an excellent companion?
And since it's true that Neva-ssi is pretty, I'll just think of it as briefly dating a pretty girl and...!
Butter her up well and travel with her just until we leave this other world...!
"Delin-ssi..."
She interlaced her fingers with mine and looked at me.
She is pretty. Really.
Even more, she helps me, protects me... even if she talks about protecting me to an almost weird degree...
If I just maintain the relationship well, everything will definitely be fine.
And now, to maintain that relationship...
"Ahh, Delin-ssi..."
Our lips overlapped.