It Felt Like Her Crotch Was Growing Hot and Wet
It felt like her crotch was growing hot and wet.
The moment Karin lunged forward, Maritia drew her sword.
Clang—! Steel clashed against steel, white sparks flying in a brilliant burst.
Even with her injured body— Maritia blocked it perfectly.
“…!”
Her face stiffened. The shock was plain to see.
In fact, it was Karin who got pushed back.
“Ian!”
Shiro’s urgent cry echoed from beyond the trees. Her white hair thrashed wildly, her panting form faintly visible.
Just a little longer—just hold out a bit more, and she’d arrive!
That instant.
“Ha…”
Maritia’s lips slowly twisted upward in a sneer.
“Haha…”
A small, low laugh leaked out, then suddenly—
“Kyahahahahahaha—!”
A mad cackle exploded, shaking the entire forest. The sharp, insane sound sent chills racing down his spine, goosebumps erupting across his skin. His heart felt like it was freezing solid.
He’d thought victory was just a moment away if he waited.
But then.
Whoosh—
In an instant, her aura shifted completely. Her eyes darkened to a murky depth, and the blood flowing from the long gash on her neck stopped as if by magic.
“…What the hell.”
Ian’s breath caught. A sinister premonition exploded in his chest.
“Karin!”
He screamed until his throat tore. They had to end it now. This was the last chance.
But—
Thud!
“Aaaagh!”
A dull, gruesome sound rang out as Karin’s body flew through the air. Light as a doll, she hurtled far backward, tumbling mercilessly across the ground.
Maritia slowly tilted her head toward Ian.
“…Ian.”
Her voice grated like grinding teeth, intense and raw. Her lips still curled in that twisted grin.
Her gaze pierced straight into his eyes, burrowing deep.
Ian couldn’t sense mana right now, but he knew without a doubt. The woman standing before him was utterly different from the Maritia of moments ago.
“…The boon.”
His throat went bone-dry.
“You released it?”
He knew. He’d experienced it firsthand.
He’d stolen and used her boon himself.
The moment a boon is released, the clones’ power returns to the main body.
But this change before him was beyond that.
…Far greater.
Much more threatening.
“Hehehe…”
Maritia covered her face with her hand, her shoulders shaking.
“Every time I see it…”
Her lips peeked through her fingers, stretched long and grotesque. Her eyes gleamed half-lidded in ecstasy.
“That terrified look on your face… it’s just too, too delicious.”
Her voice cracked and trembled, as if drunk on pleasure.
A shiver crawled up his spine at her words.
“…What the fuck did you do?”
Ian narrowed his eyes.
“Among boons—”
Maritia took a step forward.
“Some complement and amplify each other.”
The moment she said it, Ian grasped the meaning.
Synergy.
A mechanic that existed even in games.
Different boons that, under the right conditions, unleashed even greater power.
“…Ha.”
A short breath escaped him.
It wasn’t an unforeseen variable, but he hadn’t expected this level of transformation.
“Hehe… hehehehe.”
Maritia’s gaze tilted slyly.
“I’ve got a question too.”
Her eyes softened with a hint of sorrow, like gazing at a departing lover…
“Why’d you betray me?”
Her voice quivered faintly, as if sincere.
“…Betray you?”
Ian met her eyes and let out a scoff.
“What the hell are you talking about?”
He stared straight into her gaze.
“I was never on your side to begin with.”
A brief silence.
That moment.
“Ian…!”
Shiro’s ragged breath accompanied her voice as she arrived nearby.
At the same time—
“Oh?”
Maritia’s eyes slid sideways. The smile on her face warped wider, more grotesque.
Whoosh—
The instant their eyes met, Shiro’s shoulders tensed ever so slightly.
But Shiro stood firm, refusing to yield—
“…Tch.”
She gritted her teeth.
“Ian, please step back. I’ll—”
She advanced, shielding him.
Yet with her splintered wooden shield, she looked perilously fragile.
Maritia’s lips curled even higher at the sight.
“Then. If I wipe out all your allies—”
Tap.
Her toe struck the ground.
Her body lifted slightly, swaying.
“You’ll be on my side, right?”
The words barely left her mouth before she charged at Shiro.
“Don’t make me laugh!”
Shiro hurled herself forward in defiance.
Boom!
The clash of sword and shield reverberated through the forest.
But the shattered shield couldn’t withstand Maritia’s assault.
Crackle—
Shiro’s wooden shield splintered into shards, scattering everywhere.
Even so, Shiro didn’t give up.
“…Not yet!”
Grinding her teeth, she drew her sword upward.
Whoosh—!
A desperate overhead strike with all her might.
Clang—!
A shrill metallic ring echoed as her sword bounced harmlessly away.
Crack—
Fissures spiderwebbed across the blade, then— shatter! It exploded into fragments.
“…!”
Shiro’s eyes widened in shock.
The skill gap was one thing, but the equipment difference was overwhelming.
She couldn’t beat Maritia like this.
“It’s over.”
Maritia’s icy words fell—
Stab!
Her sword plunged deep into Shiro’s gut.
“Shiro!”
Ian cried her name in anguish.
Drip—
Red blood seeped slowly between the white armor plates, trickling down her waist, soaking her legs, pooling on the ground.
“Ngh…!”
Her breath hitched.
Her legs buckled for a moment.
Wobble—
Shiro’s body swayed on the verge of collapse.
But she didn’t fall.
“…Not yet…”
She gripped the embedded sword with both hands.
Squelch—
Blood slipped between her fingers.
Yet she clutched it tighter, teeth clenched.
“Ha… haa…”
Her breaths came in ragged gasps.
She forced down the blood rising in her throat with a gulp.
Her vision blurred, the world shaking.
Still.
She couldn’t retreat a single step.
As long as Ian was behind her, she couldn’t break.
…She can’t get past… here.
That thought consumed her mind.
“Urgh…!”
She ground her teeth.
Her jaw trembled; her body screamed in agony.
Even impaled, she gripped the sword harder.
“Not… over… yet…”
Her voice quavered on the edge of breaking, but her eyes burned with unyielding life.
Even if it killed her, she’d protect Ian—
It was her promise to Arcia, her fate as his shield.
She would. Never. Break.
The moment she steeled herself for a death-defying counter—
“I get it!”
Ian’s shout burst out.
Shiro and Maritia’s heads snapped toward him in unison.
Shiro’s face was deathly pale; Maritia’s lips twisted in satisfaction.
“…I’ll do what you want.”
The words slipped from Ian’s mouth in a low murmur.
“…What you really want is me, right?”
Shiro’s eyes shook violently at those words.
“…Ian…!”
Her lips quivered.
Deep despair flooded her face in an instant.
No.
Don’t.
Not that choice—
But no words came.
Her throat clogged; her breath choked.
It all felt like her fault.
Because I’m weak.
Because I couldn’t block her.
Because I couldn’t protect him.
Because I—
“……”
Her mouth opened, but nothing emerged.
Her grip slackened.
The sword trembled faintly in her hands.
“Hehehe…”
Maritia’s laugh spread.
Squelch—
The blade slowly withdrew from her flesh.
“Ngh!”
Shiro’s body shuddered violently.
Her weakened legs buckled, nearly collapsing.
Gush—
Blood poured anew from the wound.
But the pain was nothing compared to the deeper torment.
Even when she’d first heard Ian’s plan, it had clawed at her heart.
She’d forced herself to accept it as the best option.
But this time was different.
“Again…”
Her breath trembled on the brink.
Her lips spasmed.
Him—
Again.
Putting him in danger.
Failed to protect him.
In the end, she—
Couldn’t protect a damn thing.
Thud.
Her body pitched forward, strength gone.
She dropped to her knees and collapsed.
Maritia brushed past the falling Shiro and approached Ian.
Step, step. Her footsteps echoed deafeningly.
Ian didn’t move.
He couldn’t.
Only his fingertips trembled faintly.
In the corner of his vision, Shiro lay bleeding.
“…Ha.”
A short breath escaped.
He lifted his head and met Maritia’s approaching gaze head-on.
“Promise.”
His eyes quivered finely.
“You’ll keep it, right?”
One step.
Closer.
Close enough for breaths to mingle.
“Of course I will.”
Maritia’s lips stretched wide.
At her words, Ian slowly stepped toward her.
“Good boy.”
Her hand rose toward his neck.
Click.
The shackle in her grasp jingled lightly.
“Don’t even think—”
She whispered low.
“Of running.”
Tug—
She yanked the chain.
The distance collapsed; their lips met softly.
Mm.
Her tongue invaded his mouth.
Even as she kissed him, her eyes stayed fixed on the fallen Shiro.
Twisted smile.
She’d never intended to honor any promise.
She planned to toy with them to the end, then kill Shiro last.
And—
The devastated look on Ian’s face then.
Just imagining it made her crotch grow hot and wet.