31. 광기가 어린 집착
Birds chirped beneath a clear, sunny sky. The sun had already climbed to its zenith. People strolled through the streets while adventurers carried monster spoils toward the guild. The noise was so loud, so grating, that…
“Uuuugh.”
I finally woke from my long sleep.
Lying on the bed, I stared at my bandaged body. No drinking party meant I hadn’t died. The feast of fallen warriors and gods. At least I could confirm this place wasn’t Valhalla.
I distinctly remembered clutching Bete’s shriveled head in my hand. I had forced down potions to stay alive, suppressing my twisted organs and drooling blood-flecked saliva as I trudged toward the kingdom.
How long had I walked with those heavy steps? A passing merchant took one look at me and nearly fainted. Understandable—a dying man carrying a commander’s severed head would horrify anyone.
Fortunately, he offered me a ride in his carriage. In the despair Bete had gifted me, I glimpsed a sliver of light. I don’t remember it clearly, but he must have been my savior.
Eventually I arrived safely. I vaguely recalled being supported by warriors as I presented Bete’s head to the king. Yes, my memory ended there.
“Well, as long as I’m alive, that’s what matters.”
My appearance was a complete mess, but still. The thought made me chuckle—until a voice I shouldn’t have heard reached my ears.
“Mmm… Hero?”
“…Huh?”
I was only in my underwear, so I glanced down at a slight angle. Seria was rubbing her eyes and yawning. Sunlight poured over her pure white hair, the strands sliding smoothly off her shoulders. Her eyes met mine with a slightly tearful expression as she pressed herself against me.
“H-Hero… Hero. Hero…!”
“Ack. S-Seria. I’m dy—dying…”
Soft curves filled my vision. A gentle, generous bosom blocked my breath. It wouldn’t be the worst way to go, but unfortunately I had no intention of dying.
Sensing my condition, Seria pulled back. Half embarrassed, half worried, and carrying ten overflowing spoonfuls of affection. It was an intense welcome in every sense.
Had she been that worried? One look at her told me everything. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she clung to me desperately, as if afraid I might vanish again.
Her eyes, deprived of me for two days, had lost their sparkle. Her complexion was terrible, and she looked thinner. Her hands trembled.
My arms hurt like hell, but I could still hold hers.
“Hero… Hero… Hero…”
Her gaze said she truly couldn’t believe I was real. Anyone watching would think I had returned from the dead.
Oh. Wait. Had I?
“I’m right here.”
I patted her back. She gasped for breath, tears flowing freely. Because she was pressed against me, the bandages over my wounds grew damp.
“It was sudden, wasn’t it?”
“…You’re alive. The hero is alive.”
“Haha. Guess you can’t even hear me properly.”
It was a happy sight—like a child who had found a precious lost treasure. Her smile was brighter than anyone’s. Only the dark, sunken look in her eyes worried me.
I had left without warning. Of course she had been anxious. An enormous obsession had taken root inside her.
Look at her. She refused to let go.
Had she stayed up watching over me? Her dark circles were deep, and exhaustion clung to her features.
“Seria. If you’re tired, you don’t have to stay by my side.”
“…What? No. I don’t want to.”
Seria looked up in alarm, restless. I didn’t know what was devouring her, but it took less than ten seconds to realize it was obsession toward me.
“…I absolutely will not leave.”
“You look exhausted, though…”
“I-I won’t leave. I like being by the hero’s side. As long as the hero is here, nothing else matters…”
Her voice trembled on the edge of tears. She hugged me even tighter.
“I can’t go out.”
Was the sight of me returning beaten half to death that shocking? She imagined me killing Bete and shuddered. Seeing me covered in blood must have been pure torment.
She was terrified.
“You’ll… you’ll leave me again.”
“I won’t leave.”
“…How will you prove it? If you come back hurt again, I might not be able to endure it. If you leave my side… if you leave…”
With a face full of worry she clung to me. I gave her an awkward smile. I was the cause of her anxiety.
I had expected this. I had asked Riana for help, but words were easy. I knew it wouldn’t go smoothly. At the same time, I was grateful. She wanted to love a worthless company employee from another world.
The surest answer is action. Human relationships are often decided by deeds.
A decisive action to ease her fears. A vow that I would not leave.
“I won’t leave you.”
“…Liar.”
“It’s true.”
“The hero is a liar. Before and now…”
Before?
“I won’t leave. I’m not tired. Being by the hero’s side… that’s enough for me.”
Pfft. Her kitten-like clinging made me smile. She was deadly serious, but to me it was simply adorable.
Pat, pat. I gently rubbed her back, soothing a frightened child. She settled against me, finding calm in my arms.
Realizing how embarrassing this was, her face flushed crimson. I softly cupped her cheek. My heart thundered. The sound must have reached her too, pressed so close.
She slowly lifted her gaze. Our eyes met. Still anxious. Still lifeless.
I wanted to see her clear blue eyes again—the ones that held a bright, sunny smile.
Chu.
“…!!”
They say true relationships begin and end with action. This was that moment.
She believed I would leave because she believed I didn’t love her. I had never directly expressed affection to them. I had only imagined it my whole life, never experienced it. I had been afraid to approach. Lack of dating experience was the biggest reason, and this was the result.
She doubted my feelings and felt anxious.
“…Would this be enough of an answer?”
“Uh, um… th-that… aah…”
“Did you dislike it?”
Then once more.
Chu.
With that single kiss, every doubt vanished. Our relationship became perfect.
“I’m truly sorry for leaving without a word.”
“R-right now, that…”
“I did it because I thought you would be in danger, Seria.”
Look at me. I had become a rag, a wreck. My body was a bandaged cripple.
“So don’t worry. Stay by my side if you want. You all deserve that right.”
“…K-kiss.”
Seria’s blue eyes trembled. Only then did I realize what I had done after noticing her moist lips.
Whoosh! My face burned. I tried to turn away, but damn it—my bandaged neck refused to move.
In the end, both of us flushed red, we could only listen to each other’s racing hearts.
“Um… H-Hero?”
“Yes?”
“Right now… you can’t move your body, correct…?”
“That’s right.”
She flinched and let out a heavy breath.
“…Then you won’t be able to run away like last time, will you?”
“Hmm?”
What was she saying? Uh? Why were my pants…
An angel and a devil whispered in my ears.
‘Hey, run like hell. Protect your chastity!’
This is supposed to be all-ages!
‘Heh heh. Give up. Let instinct take over. How long are you going to keep holding back?’
‘It’s not rated 19+ anyway, so it’ll get skipped, right?’
‘What the hell? As long as the “fact” that we did it exists, it’s fine. There’s the side story too.’
‘…Damn it!’
The winner was obviously the devil.
“U-um… Seria?”
“Oh my, so vigorous…!”
Welcome to hell.
Is this what all-ages looks like? …Damn.
In this state where moving felt like my body might collapse, I had no way to stop Seria.
‘It can’t be helped… right…?’
It’s been fun. Goodbye, virginity.
Welcome, heaven. Hang in there, my ‘BIG SHOT.’ This is your first trial. Please endure it.
“Isn’t this too soon?”
“We can still meet even if you return to your original world.”
“It’s not certain—”
Damn it. Deep darkness filled her eyes.
“It is certain.”
“Hehe. Then there’s no problem. Don’t worry. I-It’s my first time too…”
“Seria, for something like this we should make a proper plan step by—”
“…Eit♡”
Oh, Lord.
*
It was deep darkness.
Everyone says this form of love is wrong. But it isn’t wrong. The expression is simply different.
“…I love you.”
She whispered it into the ear of the person she loved more than anyone. He did not open his eyes. Only the sound of peaceful breathing filled the room.
What lingered in a corner of Seria’s heart remained in the shape of obsession.
“…Hero. I love you.”
He had promised to create a future where both Seria and Isabel could be happy. He had sworn to take responsibility so the two women would never fight again.
Seria had thought such a thing was impossible. At least for her.
Taking advantage of his sleep, she left a deep lipstick mark on his neck. What was it called? A kiss mark? She had heard the term from a couple walking by.
“Hehe. With this, I’ve left my trace.”
A mark that would linger for a long time. Like a beast marking its possession. She had branded her lover.
It hurt. Her hands shook and her chest felt tight. She wanted to monopolize him; she had sent that girl away for that very reason. Yet Isabel had fallen for him anyway.
“…It’s the hero’s fault. Isabel. That child has fallen completely for him.”
Chu. She kept sucking until the mark darkened. Until it proved he belonged to her. She smeared saliva over it and licked lovingly. Suppressing her burning body, she ran her hands over his firm muscles.
“The hero is mine alone… I can’t give him to anyone.”
She would do anything to keep him from leaving. Isabel was an obstacle. An impurity that had slipped between them. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hate her. They had shared time together. Familiarity breeds affection. Before meeting the hero, Isabel had been nothing but a haughty maid. But now? She wagged her tail and acted coquettish at every turn.
“…I don’t want to share him with Isabel.”
It was the truth. No matter how sisterly their bond, sharing the man she loved was naturally repulsive. Yet lately a part of her had begun to think it might not be so bad.
Seria’s hands trembled. Something was wrong.
“…I don’t want to share.”
Emotions began to whirl. Was it because she was pressed against him, sharing body heat? Her head grew feverish and her heart pounded violently. Even biting her lip couldn’t make the feeling disappear.
It was jealousy. A vixen aiming for what was hers. That lewd wench Isabel was a fox targeting him!
At the same time, she was a precious little sister and a loyal maid.
“He’s mine…”
I can’t hand him over.
“He’s mine, I said…”
Yet hesitation remained.
“…If the hero had to choose between Isabel and me, who would he pick?”
The answer was already decided. Because she knew him better than anyone. Without fail, without the slightest pause, he would choose both.
She didn’t want to disappoint him. If she grew jealous of Isabel, he might become disillusioned with her. That must never happen.
But she had to be honest with her feelings. Her head burned inside the whirlwind of confusing emotions.
Serious yet playful. Dignified, lovable, kind. In his warm, hot embrace she wanted to taste him, enjoy him, and be loved by him more than anyone else.
It was satisfying now, but if she let herself be greedier, if she went further—
“Only me.”
If he would love only for her.
“…Hng.”
Before she knew it she had grown wet. This shouldn’t happen. She shouldn’t hide it from him. She felt the swirling emotions she herself didn’t fully understand.
She slowly climbed on top. So he wouldn’t wake. So he could have the sweetest dream.
She whispered.
“…It’s the hero’s fault, you know…?”
For radiating such a naughty atmosphere, I can’t help it.
After whispering, she giggled softly.
More, more, more, more, more, more, more, more, more.
She wanted to feel his embrace. His lovable, dignified embrace.
“Taesik…”
While he slept she spoke his real name. The name from his original world felt special. It carried a completely different weight than the names of other pathetic men. That made it unique and easy to remember.
Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik Taesik.
“I love you.”
A voice drenched in madness trembled. Deep darkness thick with obsession whispered.
She was utterly crazy for him right now.
“If Taesik has feelings for Isabel… it’s fine. I’ll give up and dream of a future where the three of us are together.”
But.
“…You’ll choose me as the legal wife, of course, right?”
A mere slave-born like that. Daring to. Arbitrarily. Crawl her way up.
“…Right?”
Her body grew hotter, her mind feverish. Even while thinking she should cool down, her body moved on its own.
“…Hng.”
I love you, I love you. Taesik.
“Taesik…”
I love you just like Isabel loves you I too love you more than anyone even if you don’t remember me I will still love you it doesn’t matter if you don’t remember because I remember our first meeting I remember so it’s fine.
“…It’ll feel good, right? You’ll feel it even in your dreams…”
That fox-like bitch Isabel why does she keep slipping between me and the hero anyway he chose me I loved him first that tactless bitch I should never have sent Isabel away why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why why.
So.
“…Don’t even think about leaving me. Because I won’t leave either.”
Forever.
“Because we’ll be together.”
I love you.
“I love you, Taesik.”
To death.
“I love you.”