Unchained – Why Do You Keep Fucking With Me?!
22. For the sake of the experiment, I've removed all the restraints placed on Ailet.
"Uh, uh."
Her sharpened gaze rakes over my body. Those black eyes demand an answer.
What I should say is already set in stone. It's not hard. "Nothing happened." "I was just there." "Why?" And so on. But my mouth won't move right. Instead of the right words, a flood of questions surges through my head and vanishes just as quick.
How? How did she get here? That darkness earlier... I couldn't see a thing in it. Was it really magic? Did she just leave? Did she deliberately let me go to see what I'd do? Should I tell the truth? She's a mage, so maybe she can read minds. Should I apologize before she does something worse? What's that smell? This smell that's been here since... the smell. The smell. That delicious scent wafting from the mage...
"Sniff, sniff..."
This is a serious situation. I tried to sneak out and failed, got caught running. But instead of answers or excuses, I unconsciously flare my nostrils, sniffing like an animal.
A delicious smell. It vibrates in my gut, resonates in my skull. I'm not even that hungry, but it's stirring up an appetite that wasn't there. Different from yesterday's porridge. This one's familiar, nostalgic even. Warm, somehow.
"That's not an answer. You're just sniffing around."
The mage brushes past me. The smell fades with her. I keep sniffing desperately, but even the lingering traces vanish fast. I smack my lips in regret.
Still, relief hits. She didn't grill me about trying to escape. She flops back into the chair, her expression noticeably softer than before. Did dinner improve her mood? What did she eat? Definitely not porridge. That smell from just now suddenly has my stomach rumbling too. My hand drifts to my lower belly. My small hand on my belly—
Wait. My hunger. The hunger I feel... it's that, isn't it?
"What're you doing? Gonna stand there forever?"
She beckons with a flick of her hand. I finally drag my feet forward, denying the thought from moments ago.
It's fine. This isn't that. It's just normal hunger from smelling food. The hero's not here. It's just the mage right now, so... a normal woman...
It's only a few steps, but my legs move slow. The closer I get to the mage, the more the fear I barely suppressed creeps back up. What the hell is she gonna do now? Not that again, right? She looks in a better mood. After dinner, maybe she'll finally quit.
I cling to that faint, desperate hope.
"Phew. Meat after so long hits different."
I flinch at her mutter. "Meat...?"
Yeah, that explains it. Exactly that smell. Grilled meat. Just imagining it fills my mouth with saliva. Suddenly it hits me—my mouth isn't like my old one anymore. Smaller inside, thinner lips. But my tongue feels longer, and saliva pools way faster now. I gulp down the flood in my mouth.
The mage glances up, like she heard. "What? Hungry too?"
I barely stop my head from nodding on instinct. Of course I'm hungry. I want meat too. Haven't eaten properly in forever. But I hesitate for a different reason.
I'm scared she'll take "I'm hungry" the completely wrong way. No, she definitely would. She's the one who blabbed all about succubus traits. Thinking about that dries up my saliva instantly. The quiet in my stomach isn't from eating—it's gone for now, but I'll never forget last night's memory.
That surging recollection turns my hunger to nausea. It was shocking, but I could rationalize it. Half-mad from starvation, didn't know the "woman" hero had that. Stuff like that. But now? I'm clear-headed. The mage couldn't possibly have one. But what if she calls the hero right now...?
No. No way. No. Even if the first time was an accident. No. Never again.
I shake my head hard enough to whip my hair. Whether she senses my turmoil or not, the mage smirks.
"Yeah, after sucking her dry like that yesterday, you're good for today."
"Wha? N-no, that...!"
My face burns. Does my purple skin flush red too? The mage's grin widens.
"What? Embarrassed? You? A succubus?"
Embarrassed. Humiliated. Ashamed. Mortified. I didn't think the hero would keep it secret. She must've spilled, since the mage called me out alone. But aside from that, this mage—who looks barely legal—yapping about it. Bringing up a memory I desperately want to bury. I hate it. Hate it.
"N-no..."
"Heh, what's a succubus got to be shy about?"
"S-stop..."
How much did the hero tell her? Did I beg for food? Did she drop her pants? Did I go berserk and jump her? If it's just that far, maybe it's okay. She hit me and liked it. Bit her—how'd that feel? Asked to be choked. Maybe bragging about that crap.
"Leona said her back's wrecked, but how're you fine? She swore you fucked her raw. No charm, no transformation, but succubus perks anyway?"
She told her everything. All of it. Those sparkling eyes peering into me feel ominous. If she acts on it right now, could I even resist in this body? Weaker than the hero, similar build, but I can't imagine fighting back. Considering her personality and that "magic" she's shown...
It'd be worse than yesterday. More vicious. My mind races in panic. I have to tell her. That I'm not really a succubus. I have to.
"M-Mage!"
How do I even explain? I don't know myself. How I ended up like this. Can it even be explained? Should I just say listen? But she's a mage. Mages might get it. Magic's mysterious, weird stuff. Maybe she'll understand.
"Um. Actually—"
My resolve crumbles at her casual words. "While eating meat, I got to thinking."
Can't do it now. Not in a position to demand anything. Let it slide for now.
"More than you being dumb, maybe another spell's restricting you."
What now? I just stand there, and she continues. "Gonna lift it quick. Show me proper succubus powers this time."
She leans back in the chair. No incantation. Just crosses her legs and nods at me expectantly.
Another bind. Powers? Mimicry, charm, that stuff. What can I even do? If I stall, she'll blow up like before. Maybe tell her now—
"Huh?"
Wait. Just now. It worked. The rule lifted?
I test inwardly. Mage. Mage. Aisoll. Mage bitch. Brat. Rude little shit. Evil cunt.
"What're you doing? I said show me."
It works. I'm free. Thoughts unrestricted. That ridiculous spell's gone.
I stare at the mage—no, Aisoll, lounging so casually. The honorifics are off. I whisper it aloud to check. "Aisoll..."
She snaps her head back. I said it quiet—did she hear?
"Sigh. Even lifted the speech magic, and this bitch is just that stupid...?"
Again. Rage boils up. From the inn to now. All the pent-up feelings toward this mage bitch in front of me. My true thoughts, gagged by language and mind limits.
All of it spills. "Why, why..."
Once it starts, I can't stop. Hate to say it, but I used to be pretty even-tempered. But since becoming this? The humiliations stack up. Most caused by her. Already pathetic in this form, but what did I do? What did I screw up? Why me? From the start. Why?
"...WHY DO YOU KEEP FUCKING WITH ME!!"
A scream near a shriek. My own voice, louder than I've ever heard. She finally looks a bit shocked. My body's not freezing—it's surging with momentum.
"I CAN'T! I DON'T KNOW HOW! I TOLD YOU! I TOLD YOU, SO WHY, WHY! WHY DO YOU KEEP FUCKING WITH ME!!"
"...Huh."
"I'M NOT A SUCCUBUS! I'M HUMAN! I WAS A MAN, A HUMAN! WHY! KEEP! I'M NOT A SUCCUBUS! YOU—"
Crackle—
"This fucking—"
The ceiling lamp explodes.
"...Uh, wha?"
Shards rain from the lamp, and light... light swirls around the mage...?
"You really piss me off, you fucking succubus retard bitch."