18 - There Is No Tomorrow for You

Piarot slowly removed her hat.

"Oh..."

"Whoa..."

Exclamations erupted from those around us. Even the guy who'd been sneering just moments ago had a dazed look on his face, completely entranced.

Her lips twitched.

Ah... no!!

I sensed it instinctively. She was about to use her power. If she unleashed her Charm Demon Eye here, she'd be right back to being seen as a witch.

"Piarot, stop...!"

I shot to my feet, reaching out to stop her.

But it was too late.

In the frozen silence, as if time itself had stopped, her mouth opened.

"Don't talk to me."

"Yes."

"Leave."

"Yes, understood."

Swoosh.

The burly upperclassman turned and strode out without a backward glance, moving like a puppet on strings.

...Mind blown.

Every gaze in the grocery store froze solid. Only the receding thud of the male student's footsteps broke the heavy quiet.

"Hah..."

My legs nearly gave out, and I almost collapsed.

Thump-thump. My heart finally kicked into overdrive, pounding like mad.

"Evan. You okay?"

Piarot ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was suddenly at my side, gripping my arm with a worried expression. The chilling aura from before was gone, replaced by eyes full of concern for me.

"Y-yeah... I'm fine. What about you, senpai?"

"Yeah. I'm good."

She nodded matter-of-factly.

But the reactions around us were anything but calm.

"Dude... that was just..."

"Yeah, that. The rumored... Absolute Charm."

Whispers swelled like waves. Eyes mixed with fear and awe.

Hah... we're in deep shit now.

Sticking around would turn us into a spectacle in no time. I hurriedly pushed the cart, nudging her back.

"Let's check out first."

We headed to the counter, ignoring the stares boring into our backs. Thankfully, no one else dared approach.

"Put it on the Evangeline family's tab."

I said flatly. The clerk fumbled for the ledger with trembling hands, stealing glances at Piarot.

"Y-yes... We'll handle it."

"Oh, do you deliver?"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"O-of course! Just like always, we'll leave it at the front door of the Old Annex in the forest."

Ding-a-ling.

The door closed behind us as we stepped back into the street. She pulled her hat back on.

But she wasn't hunched over like when we'd entered. Her steps were lighter as she took the lead, then turned and held out her hand to me.

"Evan, let's go home."

Her smile, bathed in sunlight, was dazzlingly beautiful. But I couldn't smile back.

"Ah... yeah."

The moment I took her small hand, a sharp pang stabbed my chest.

Pathetic.

I'd boasted about protecting her, but in the end, I'd hidden behind her and gotten protected.

F-rank good-for-nothing. Powerless commoner.

I'm... weak.

I hung my head in self-recrimination when—

"Evan."

She stopped and called my name. When I looked up, her crimson eyes pierced straight through me, reading my heart.

"Don't think like that."

"Huh?"

"Evan... isn't weak."

She squeezed my hand firmly, her voice resolute.

"Evan is stronger than anyone in the world."

"......"

"I said I'd protect you with my life, right?"

She smiled shyly, pressing my hand to her cheek.

"So you protect me too, Evan. I only found the courage because you were by my side."

Ah.

I stared at her, stunned. She was far tougher and more amazing than I'd ever realized.

"......Thanks."

I gripped her hand back tightly.

People's stares poured over her endlessly, but we ignored them and entered the forest entrance.

Once on the quiet forest path, she let out a small sigh of relief as tension melted away. Remembering earlier, I asked,

"Piarot. That was really cool back there."

"Hehe... really? Did I do good?"

She beamed like a puppy praised by its owner, practically wagging an invisible tail.

"I practiced all night... How can I make sure no one gets hurt? What if Evan gets in trouble? And all that..."

Ah. So that was it.

The reason for those panda-like dark circles under her eyes this morning. Not from nerves or insomnia, but from practicing her lines alone all night to protect me.

"Pfft."

"Ugh... why are you laughing!"

"No, you're just too cute."

"Ugh, I'm older but you always treat me like a kid! Stick to the regressor's first rule you told me!!"

"Hahaha, cut me some slack. It's a habit from living too long."

I gazed lovingly at her as she pouted adorably. How could anyone not love a girl like this?

. . .

We strolled through the forest, chatting away.

"Really?"

I couldn't believe my ears.

"So it triggers not when the target looks at you, but when you acknowledge them?"

"Yeah."

I gawked at her.

"What about perception-blocking glasses or sunglasses?"

"Didn't work..."

"Ah..."

Usually, demon eyes only activate on eye contact, right? But this was a targeting skill? As soon as you notice someone, they're automatically charmed?

"Whoa... that's straight-up broken. Game-breaking balance."

"Ugh... don't call it broken..."

She shook her head, looking miserable.

"It's more like a curse to me. I'm too scared to even lift my head."

Suddenly, all the pieces fell into place. Why she always wore her hat pulled low. Why she stared at ants on the ground during conversations.

It wasn't just social anxiety—she was terrified of what her gaze might do to others, so she blocked her own vision on purpose.

"So that's why you always stared at the ground."

"Yeah..."

Her slumped shoulders tugged at my heart. How suffocating and lonely must that have been?

"Then look at me, Piarot."

"Huh?"

She lifted her head and met my eyes directly.

The system window flashed red, but I ignored it.

"I'm fine."

I held her gaze steadily and spoke clearly.

"I'd do anything you say, Piarot."

"Ah......"

"The Piarot I've seen is purer and kinder than anyone. I know she wouldn't give bad orders."

I gently stroked her shoulder.

"It's not the demon eye forcing me—it's real."

"Yeah, I know..."

And more than that... even without the demon eye, I'm already enchanted by you.

"But I'm... not that good of a girl..."

"Doesn't matter. Even if the whole world turns against you, I'm on your side."

"Evan..."

"I just want to do whatever you say, purely of my own will."

"......Really?"

Her crimson eyes shimmered with anticipation.

"Yeah, anything..."

"Really... anything?"

"Yeah, just say it."

I puffed out my chest confidently. Then she fidgeted with her fingers and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠whispered in a tiny voice,

"Th-then... naughty stuff too...?"

Pffft—!!

That's cheating!!

"Th-that's... after you recover your health..."

"You said anything!! Liar!"

She turned away in a huff. Ah, what to do with this adorable creature.

"I'm... holding back too, you know..."

"What?"

"Ah... seriously. You have no idea how cute you are. I'm desperately holding back."

At my blunt confession, her face flushed crimson, practically steaming.

"But look at this wrist... It looks like it'd snap if I touched it. I'm worried, so I can't."

I carefully wrapped my hand around her slender wrist.

"So eat well, recover... Then I won't be responsible. No idea what might happen..."

Ah, saying it out loud embarrassed me more.

"Mhm... Got it... I'll get better fast..."

. . .

We sorted the mountain of groceries piled at the front door and whipped up a hearty dinner from them.

"Alright, I'll head out."

I stepped out the door, reminding her,

"I'll come early tomorrow morning, so no staying up all night—sleep early, okay?"

"Yeah, got it. See you tomorrow, Evan."

She waved with a bright grin. Through the door crack, her face was worlds away from our first meeting. Color bloomed in her pale cheeks, and her gaunt frame was filling out bit by bit.

Yeah... little by little, like this.

Academy outskirts, the abandoned Old Wooden ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Dormitory.

This moldy, dust-choked place, reeking of decay, was the hideout for delinquent students—the so-called "back alley."

"Fuck... that goddamn bitch. Dares humiliate me?"

Third-year Paiman Hof hurled an empty bottle at the wall, spewing curses.

"Kukuku, told ya, idiot. Why pick on the infamous witch? Ballsy move."

His buddy snickered beside him. The floor was littered with empty bottles and powder from illegal hallucinogenic drug "Red Moon."

"Shut up. Kudan. Money's all gone now... fuck."

"That's why Hof Marquis cut you off—always doping and playing thug."

"Quiet!!"

Paiman lit a cigarette irritably.

"Fine. It's decided. From now on, we target Evangeline—that bitch—nonstop."

"What?"

"Kukuku... Two years ago, when she broke my leg... the settlement was pretty fat."

Greed gleamed in Paiman's eyes.

"Oh, spill the details."

"Imperial law says mental attacks without consent are serious crimes. She can't control her demon eye—it's a ticking bomb. Touch her, she explodes."

He grinned slyly.

"Bait her into snapping, play victim, then blackmail for a payout. Marquis lady's got cash to burn."

"Damn, you're a genius at this shit."

"Kukuku, this dope and booze? Bought with that settlement two years back. Tomorrow, round up all the guys and pressure her."

"Hell yeah, I'm in!"

That's when it happened.

"That's a fun plan."

"Wh-who's there!!"

Ssshhh—.

Something writhed in the corner's thick shadows.

Grrr... glorp.

"Wha... what the hell..."

Paiman, hazy from the drugs, rubbed his eyes like it was a hallucination.

But it wasn't.

The writhing darkness, alive like a creature, oozed up from the floor stickily.

Grrr, splorch.

A humanoid shape slowly lifted its head from the black mass.

As the shadows sloughed off like shed skin, dazzling white skin and silver hair gleaming like moonlight emerged.

"Gasp!!"

Crimson eyes looked down at Paiman.

"From tomorrow? Too bad. You guys won't have a 'tomorrow.'"