I Didn't Expect This Either
I walked a surprisingly long distance, and the proof of that was the sunrise. Before long, we’d reach the village of Riabet.
Ah, wasn’t I supposed to be carried?
...My chest was tight, and I couldn’t breathe.
It was uncomfortable, but worse than that, I felt like I might get addicted to Luciana’s scent.
A faint lavender? No, that soft skin scent was pretty addictive.
I buried my face in Luciana’s nape and thought I might just fall asleep like this... but that was impossible.
It was a relief that I woke up late, though.
“You must have had a rough time too.”
While the morning breeze brushed over us, Luciana tossed the words at me amid her steady footsteps.
“Suddenly?”
“So sensitive—eep.”
“...Let’s stop talking about that.”
...Isn’t that embarrassing?
Even so, the same woman...? If it were me, I’d be plenty embarrassed.
Thinking the earlier situation might pop up in my head, I hastily covered Luciana’s lips.
...Lips, so soft.
Warm too...
...Eh?
Warm?
“Huum—”
“Hwaaaaak──?! Why are you licking it?!”
I pulled my hand away from Luciana’s lips, which I’d just covered.
The long strands... Uek, what is this...
“By any chance, is Seri’s hand also sensitive?”
“Wouldn’t it be normal if it weren’t?! Gross, seriously...”
At the lewd smile Luciana was drawing, I gathered my frowning expressions and twisted my face.
Even so, without a proper weapon, I’d been fighting with my bare hands until now.
I hadn’t bathed for two days... how filthy I must be right now.
“...Really bad habit.”
“The Seri who looks like she wants to be teased is at fault.”
“What exactly looks like it wants to be teased...”
What kind of excuse was that.
Just being together already felt exhausting.
...Ah. So this is how Risette felt.
I could understand it a little.
Anyway, the journey with Luciana would soon end.
So, just a little longer. Now I had lots to do.
“By the way.”
While I was roughly chewing over the plans ahead, Luciana’s voice suddenly rang out.
When I turned my head, Luciana had her index finger slightly licking the tip of her tongue.
...What?
“Seri’s ears are delicious.”
“──?!”
Had my expression been that colorful?
Had I really used up every exaggerated face the world could offer?
I doubted whether my face muscles were so twisted they’d forgotten how to settle.
“Are you really a pervert?”
Would I know that I was looking at myself with a face full of disgust right now?
Or... perhaps she didn’t care at all.
Luciana, who laughed even while saying such things, was amazing in a completely different way.
“Actually, the weird one is Seri. A succubus but completely tame?”
The crumpled expression slowly returned.
Tame?
Um... it’s accurate in a way... but also completely wrong.
My body was a succubus, but my mind wasn’t.
At least, I could say it was fine to expose my chest so openly right in front of her.
...Pink?
“...She must really be crazy.”
“Look. Aren’t you really unlike a succubus?”
I desperately tried to erase the light pink thing that had been in front of my eyes just moments ago.
Whether or not I did, I tossed one line at Luciana, who was straightening her clothes.
“Since you’re a succubus, you naturally like men, right?”
That men like succubi is common sense?
...Well, even if that were the case, I would never like a man.
After all, I was only wearing a succubus shell.
In my position, that was a perfect excuse.
“Eh? But... you touched my chest while I was carried earlier.”
“...Me?”
Even though we were clearly having the same conversation, our eyes kept exchanging in a way that said we couldn’t understand each other.
“You were obsessively groping my nipples. Ah, you’re still standing?”
Like submitting evidence of my words, I stopped Luciana’s hand from pulling open her collar.
...Me?
Did I really do that?
“My neck was so licked that I got so excited I could barely walk.”
“...Is that a lie?”
While I tilted my head and stopped walking, Luciana looked like she had something to say, but she just smiled faintly and continued walking.
...It must be a joke?
I just closed my eyes for a moment.
Of course I hadn’t slept much.
...There was no way I would have done that.
“Fun. Who do you think is the real pervert.”
Even with my words like that, Luciana just continued walking silently, laughing.
Usually she’d tease me... or something. I couldn’t tell.
The short silence that followed was soon blown away by a sigh of relief.
“We’re finally here.”
How could only a day have passed, yet it felt like such a long, perilous journey?
Now I just had to leave my missing person at the missing person center, and the journey with Luciana would be over.
“I see. It’s bigger than I thought.”
A vast green plain.
And in its center, a low stone wall.
A well-trodden road where countless merchants came and went.
When we stepped out of the forest, our vision suddenly opened up.
The wind that had been blocked by the trees roared in as if it had been waiting.
While I tidied my fluttering hair, my gaze drifted to Luciana’s nape.
...Bite marks?
Before I could confirm whether I’d seen them properly, the wind calmed and Luciana’s light brown hair once again covered her nape.
...It was clearly bright red, there were marks...
“Shall we go?”
“Ah, yes...”
While Luciana walked a little faster, looking like she was having fun, I matched her pace quietly.
#
After ten minutes or so walking the forest path, I couldn’t hide my panic at the unexpected situation.
“So, you can’t enter the demon town.”
I knew everything else, but I hadn’t expected this.
Was it supposed to be a game mechanic?
When Risette first entered the village, that message about entry prohibition hadn’t appeared.
...Um, what was it.
I briefly recalled my memories.
When I first set foot in the Riabet village, it was evening.
The companion was exactly the same as then.
Risette, and Luciana.
Originally, I would have set the autonomous action and lain in bed, but since it was my first time entering a village, I clearly had my mouse in my hand.
While stroking my horns, I stared blankly at Luciana until something came to mind and my mouth opened.
『 Risette seduces the gatekeeper. 』
Ah, right. Seduce.
...Seduce?
......Ah.
Night... demon. A succubus, too.
And a man.
In my head, a very ominous formula was completed.
...Sex.
...No, I hated that even more than anything.
Really, was there really no other way?
To progress, I had to enter the Riabet village at night anyway.
What if I sneaked in? The gate should be passable...
How deeply I had been pondering that.
Luciana grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of the swamp of thoughts.
“You’re my slave.”
“Eh?”
“Eek—”
The sudden word made me rush to grasp the situation.
Slave──?
Well, I knew this was a world where slavery existed... but even so, slaves...
“...Is it really a slave?”
“It’s a slave.”
Instantly, Luciana’s lascivious gaze hit me.
“Hey, Master- must I say it? Didn’t I teach you that?”
“...”
Luciana... this scary woman.
How far did she think she could embarrass me...
The gatekeeper’s expression slowly changed from suspicion.
As if urging me to say the word as soon as possible.
Ah...
I’m going crazy.
Really...
“...Master... sorry...”
Crawling, barely, I squeezed out my voice.
“Puhuhu, good.”
At the same time, Luciana stroked my head with a look of accomplishment, making my face flush.
Is this right... really.
The gatekeeper, still looking at us with a doubtful expression, finally reluctantly opened the path.
Whether or not, Luciana’s hand continued stroking my hair.
The more she did, the redder my face became.
...Hot.
Really.
I subtly turned my gaze away, and the gatekeeper was still looking at me with doubt.
What more here. Still not believing me...
Realizing the intention of my gaze, Luciana drew her signature lewd smile.
...No, why does she look happier than usual?
As if something occurred to her, Luciana’s lips moved.
“Ser i, if we go back, you’ll need punishment?”
Startled—
“......”
...No need to say that...
“Oh, is your education still insufficient?”
Crack──!
“Hyugh──?!”
The short cry that burst out right after Luciana finished speaking.
With the hot sensation from my butt, I bit down hard and glared at Luciana.
And the gatekeeper’s gaze visible through the gap in my sight.
It was unfair enough to be hit in a place like this, but why me...
“R-really sorry... Master...”
“...Your voice is small? Or do you want me to hit you again?”
While stroking my hair with one hand, Luciana raised the other hand as if showing it off.
Eh, eh... again?
There were too many eyes looking right here?
...She doesn’t seem like she wants to stop.
...Ah, whatever.
Really. Hah...
“Are you crazy?”
“W-wrong, Master!!!”
...Ah, I spoke too loudly.
Everyone was staring.
H, huh...
...
Luciana.
I’ll definitely pay back this humiliation...
Definitely...
#
“Ser i~”
......
Sigh.
“Risette~?”
......
I answered.
“Slave~?”
“Aaaaaah──”
I couldn’t stand it.
I could put up with everything else, but not this.
Really, there must have been another way.
Even on the road where many people passed, what kind of situation was this...
“Don’t get angry- I passed the gate, right?”
“...Haa. Really...”
Well, if you put it that way, it was true.
...Why did it always feel like I was being played with.
It was as if I was completely in Luciana’s palm no matter what I did.
Really bad... this feeling.
“I’m angry? Want me to touch your chest like before?”
“Aigoo, it’s fine!”
Can’t you at least watch the surroundings... everyone’s whispering now.
Don’t you feel embarrassed? Don’t you?
Then won’t you give me my share?
“The reaction was fun, sorry.”
“I said it’s fine now. Just stop.”
Of course, even if I acted up, I didn’t expect Luciana to give the reaction I wanted.
If it was poison, it was poison. It didn’t look like it would benefit me.
I tried to pull Luciana off, but gave up.
It was up to her... it only made the gazes longer.
...Even now, there were plenty of eyes toward this side.
Ah, it was no good staying quiet.
“Then shall we go eat?”
As if trying to ease her anger, Luciana’s voice softened.
“Eh? Why me.”
I stopped walking.
Luciana’s steps, two steps ahead, also stopped belatedly.
We’d entered the village, there was a mountain of work, and she wanted to eat leisurely?
That was no.
There was no reason to continue traveling with Luciana anymore.
First, I had to complete the hidden quest...
...What.
It was unnaturally quiet.
It was time for Luciana to say something by now.
But strangely, the silence stretched long.
“...Eh?”
It was long after that Luciana’s voice fell.
It wasn’t her usual playful laugh, nor a teasing tone.
The short word came out powerlessly.
“...Luciana?”
“Eh, yes...?”
When I called her name again out of confirmation, there was still no spark in her voice.
......
Um.
Uuuuuuuh.
...I should have spoken earlier.
No, I wondered if maybe... looking at it now, I understood clearly.
Perhaps Luciana had wanted to keep accompanying me.
But I had just shown rejection.
What was natural for me might not have been for her.
“...From now on, I’ll be alone...”
......
I couldn’t continue.
I had expected her to accompany me with that bright smile she always showed.
Already going? While smiling.
Smiling, as always.
I thought she would say ‘That’s right~’.
Just like that.
Simply, simply.
I had thought that.
Unexpectedly.
Until I faced Luciana’s sad eyes.
...Sigh.
My heart softened.
“...There’s something I have to do.”
“...Yes.”
Luciana’s voice was still subdued.
“Also, the shame I received earlier needs to be repaid too?”
“...Yes.”
Wanting to laugh as usual, Luciana’s mouth corners again lowered.
“...Well, it was fun together with Unni.”
“...Then-”
Luciana, who looked like she had something to say, closed her mouth tightly, as if accepting some reality.
...Anyway, I hated this atmosphere.
I couldn’t speak properly.
Above all, it didn’t suit me.
“So, for now.”
...That expression.
“Let’s go eat.”
Not smiling as usual.
What was that.
“Eh...?”
As if confirming whether what she heard was right, Luciana turned her gaze to me.
To that Luciana, I turned my head and instead of answering, I extended my hand.
Embarrassingly... what was this.
On the back of my hand that had been hovering in the air, a warm hand gently overlapped.
“...Yes!”
The belated answer.
After a small hesitation, Luciana’s smile bloomed as usual.
...It bloomed a little sadly, though.
It seemed like she had affection.
...The amount of affection was like hate.
“...Can you say what you said earlier again?”
As if hiding her hoarse voice, Luciana’s voice came out brighter than usual.
“...Earlier?”
What, shall we go eat?
Looking at Luciana with a sullen expression, she smiled faintly and wiggled her lips.
...Un...ni?
“...Unni?”
“Puhuhu, it sounds good. Say it again, say it again.”
...Why is this good?
Or... maybe it was like that.
Just as I disliked this atmosphere, Luciana might dislike it too.
“...Am I really angry?”
Then I should go back to my usual self.
Luciana, who had been distant until a moment ago, was laughing brighter than usual, as if hiding her true self.
...It definitely didn’t suit her.
Not smiling as usual.
I even thought maybe it was high-level acting, but I quickly dismissed it.
“Let’s go quickly. You must be hungry.”
“...Yes!”
...What.
Tears weren’t acting, probably.
