23rd Rule, Heartfelt Feelings to the Collapsed Rio (2) ♥Raven♥
Haah...
Rough breaths filled Ruby's bedroom.
This was bad.
The previous night, in the pouring rain and freezing cold, she'd pushed herself too hard. Her condition had started deteriorating again.
Just a few days ago, she'd barely gotten out of bed. Now she was buried under the covers all day again.
I should have stopped her that day...
It was my failure as her bodyguard—I couldn't break my employer's stubbornness.
"...Raven."
"Yes."
"Turn up the heat in the room a bit..."
I silently cranked the temperature to max and sat by her bedside, wiping the cold sweat from her brow with a damp cloth.
The room was already sauna-hot, but she was still shivering with chills.
Please, let this help even a little.
I was silently praying in my heart, guarding her, when—
Bang.
The door flew open without a knock. Someone barked toward the back of the room.
"Ruby, you in here?"
Blue bobbed hair—Marin.
"Room's like a damn furnace. Heard you were sick, but looks pretty bad, huh?"
She scanned the room with feigned indifference as she approached.
Ruby peeked her head out from under the covers.
"Marin... sis, what brings you here?"
"Rio won't hand over the slave even though the term's up. Came to get your permission."
"...Permission?"
"She stole mine, so it's only fair I take action. Planning to trash Rio's place starting now. All my efficiently scheduled plans went to hell because of her. Can't just sit back."
"...And?"
"While I'm storming in, that slave you dropped 4.8 billion on? He might end up dead or crippled. You cool with that?"
......
Ruby glared at Marin for a long moment.
Then, with a steely voice toward the impassive Marin:
"No."
"Hmm... Even if I compensate you for the 4.8 billion?"
"Yes. Absolutely not."
"...Then handle it yourself. Right now."
I always thought the same—Marin never considered anyone else.
If things didn't go her way, she'd demand accountability even from the sick.
And now, ready to unleash bodyguards on another village resident? Her cold eyes and crossed arms staring down at Ruby screamed emotionless.
The real issue: she wasn't bluffing.
Behind her, I spotted countless armed guards.
Swish.
Ruby forced her weary body up, staggering as she looked at me.
"Raven... let's go..."
"..."
I gently wrapped her in the blanket as she tried to rise. Turning to Marin:
"...Miss Marin, so as long as I retrieve that man right now, that's enough?"
"He's mine starting this week."
"...Understood."
I eased the puzzled Ruby back down.
"Miss Ruby, I can handle it alone. Rest easy."
After much deliberation, she closed her eyes again.
"...I'm counting on you... Raven."
Clank, clank!
I grabbed Rio's hand with my handcuffed wrists.
Lifting my head, a glint flashed from the knife tip.
Hee, heek!
Chills raced down my spine—tears welled up.
A second later, and it'd be a gaping hole in my gut... or Rio's.
Relief washed over me, but priority one: disarm Rio.
Squeezing out my last strength, I yanked the knife from her hand and flung it to the floor.
Clang!
Rio glared murderously, then lunged for it.
I desperately grabbed her shoulder—but
Clank!
My cuffed hands betrayed me, clamping onto her soft, milky pudding instead.
Squish~.
Overwhelming volume overflowed between my fingers... pink nipple caught right in the middle...
Knead. Knead.
......
Lost in the absurd softness, her frantic movements halted.
She slowly turned, looking up with sharp, murderous eyes—mixed with bewilderment.
"...What the hell are you doing?"
Blocking me even as her charge tried to kill herself? Things were getting weird.
Still... crisis averted, thankfully.
Confirming Rio's survival, I turned back to the hallway.
Then—
Whoosh!
Something flew at my face—I caught it. A dart with a sharp needle.
"Hoo... As expected of Raven. Your reputation's no joke. Didn't think you'd take down everyone here in seconds."
Amid Rio's downed bodyguards, a bloodied giantess panted, glaring.
Her codename: Swan, right?
I'd targeted vitals on entry, but she was back up—size does matter.
She wiped blood from her mouth, grinning viciously.
Gripping military wire in both hands, I stayed alert.
"I'm impressed myself. Blocking me while your employer's suicidal? You guards abandoning your duty?"
"...Kek. Just following orders: no intruders. What she does, as long as she doesn't get hurt, ain't my business."
As rumored—a loyal hound to commands.
"Raven. Been wanting to clash with you forever. Your infiltration skills are legendary~."
Click.
She pulled a fistful of darts from her pocket—six needles between fingers at least.
"Playing above your weight..."
"Ex-pro athlete, y'know~, heh."
"You know those won't cut it."
"Guess we'll see how long you dodge."
Snort.
She scoffed and hurled the dart bundle.
Shraa—! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Darts filled the narrow hall.
"Tch...!"
I whipped the wire, deflecting trajectories.
Zip!
Dozens of needles ricocheted.
Thud, thud.
Not all—instinctively, I twisted to dodge the rest.
The moment I evaded them all—
......!
I glanced back without thinking.
Dodging meant opening space behind me.
And behind me...
Rio stood dazed.
"You said being with me was too hard... told me to give up!!"
Rio screamed through tears, glaring furiously.
"You said I scared you, so why grab my tits now...?"
"Th-that's 'cause of the cuffs..."
Slap!
Her rage-filled smack. My cheek burned, throbbing.
Eyelids grew heavy, but I clung to her arms as she reached for the knife.
"Let go! I said let go!!"
Up all night on drugs—my grip was weak. Her struggles made me dizzy.
But she'd been sleepless too—couldn't shake me off easily.
"Thought you'd understand my feelings, Teacher..."
"I do! So let's calm down first, okay? Term's up doesn't mean we can't see each other..."
"No... I just didn't want to give you to other women!"
"Got it. I'll stay here too... Let's talk, yeah? Ask for a little more time—I wanna be by your side."
"...None of that matters now. From the moment you rejected me, I have nothing left!"
As she fought to break free—
Whoosh!
Cold instinct made me glance down the hall. Something hurtled at Rio.
She fixated on the knife—no reaction to the danger.
Danger. Pure gut.
My body moved first.
I spun, shielding her.
Stab.
Agonizing pain—a sharp needle pierced my back.
"...Guhk!"
Hot liquid spilled from my mouth. I groaned reflexively.
It hurts!! This hurts way too much!!
First time feeling breath-stealing pain.
Body already wrecked from the night—now this? Blacking out.
Protagonists grin coolly here, but white-hot agony killed the thought.
......
Yet... no regrets.
Felt like the right call.
Huff...
Clinging to fading consciousness, I looked at Rio.
She'd frozen mid-reach, staring wide-eyed.
"...Te... Teacher?"
