Episode 259
"Chirp~♪"
"Mmm..."
Opening my eyes at the sound of birds chirping, the cool yet warm morning air touches my cheek.
"...Ah."
Feeling an inexplicable ache throughout my body as I stretched, I saw Serena nestled in my arms and suddenly snapped to full alertness.
"Uh, hmm..."
At the same time, memories of the passionate night came flooding back.
"Hehe."
Those moments had felt like a dream, but Serena's smile as she lay in the same bed under the same blanket, holding me tight, proved that they had actually happened.
"Ta-da."
The Ring of Purity on her left ring finger, now completely turned black, was also proof—as was the identical ring on my own finger.
"It wasn't a dream, Frey. We just spent a passionate night together."
"...Mmm."
"Even while bathing together we kept going, and after bathing we did it one more time in bed."
"That we did."
Staring blankly at my Ring of Purity, turned as black as the one on her finger, I quietly asked,
"Who collapsed from exhaustion first?"
"At the same time. We held each other and collapsed together at the very end."
"Then... who woke up first?"
"That too was simultaneous. You and I opened our eyes at the same time upon hearing the birds."
Looking lovingly at Serena who answered while grinning widely, I stroked her hair and said,
"Then... it's a draw?"
"Too bad. I could have won."
Though she was just as exhausted as I was, her expression was filled with happiness.
"By the way, you certainly gave me... plenty, overflowing to the point of brimming?"
Quietly accepting my touch, she lowered her head slightly, held her lower abdomen, crossed her legs carefully, and murmured.
"I will cherish this here for a long, long time... Frey."
She gently stroked her lower abdomen with a satisfied expression and whispered once more.
"...I've received your seed well."
Bathed in the soft light beginning to filter through the window, she looked like a dreamlike, beautiful painting.
"Not right now. Morning is coming."
My face turned red again as I held her tight, but Serena, her stomach quivering, began whispering again.
"Once the sunrise is complete, the personality changes. It would be very troublesome if we don't clean up afterwards."
"...That's true."
"If you understand, please stop poking and calm down, you beast."
Serena said with a demure expression, scolding me.
"Ahem, hmm..."
Though she did tremble at the contact with her lower abdomen, occasionally moving slightly up and down, and wore something of a regretful expression.
"...Chu."
"Mmm...♡"
As I stared blankly at her and kissed her, Serena happily intertwined her tongue with mine.
"...By the way."
After sharing this intimate moment for a while, I pulled back and looked at Serena who had begun stroking my hair just as I had done to her.
"Did it hurt?"
"Hmm?"
"The... first time."
"It was electrifying?"
"No, no, not that... I mean the Subjugation Curse. We failed last time because of that, remember?"
Hearing this, Serena opened her eyes sharply and spoke.
"I actually devoted most of my time to analyzing the curse because of that... Recently, the form of the curse suddenly changed, you see?"
"Really?"
"I couldn't understand why it suddenly changed... But after it changed, parts that were unreadable no matter how much time I spent began to become clear."
The recent change in the curse's form must refer to the time right after Serena's curse removal quest appeared.
Otherwise, there's no other plausible reason.
If so, Serena had read the 'countermeasure' that appeared due to the quest addition... Is that even possible? Serena really is amazing.
[Hidden Quest: Remove Serena's Subjugation Curse]
<19+ Event Complete>
[Progress: 90%]
[Rewards: Destruction of the Secret Master, ???, ???, ???, Serena's 19+ Event Unlocked (Complete)]
By the way, what exactly is this quest that has appeared before my eyes announcing mission success?
The Demon God wouldn't give me such a quest. She wants me to break and deteriorate, not to find happiness.
And if such a thing existed during the time the Ancestor played the 'game', he wouldn't have said there was no execution code.
Then is this indeed the influence of something called 'DLC'?
'Come to think of it... the Sun God is in the next room.'
Staring at the affection level system window floating before my eyes for a while, I thought of the Sun God in the adjacent room.
'Perhaps... she might know something.'
From the memories seen in the third trial, the Sun God had definitely done something to this world. Could that be related to the letters 'DLC'?
I should probably ask her about it.
"Up we go."
"Are you leaving? Frey?"
As I thought this and tried to get up from the bed, Serena quietly wrapped her legs around me.
"Yeah, I have something I need to do."
"...Hmm, I see."
Only after I spoke with an apologetic expression did she relax her legs, then smiled with her eyes and said,
"Well, I need to clean up the traces here before the sunrise ends anyway."
"Will you be alright? Should I help?"
Seeing the surroundings in quite a mess, I asked, and Serena whispered with a mysterious smile.
"It's all your things... Rather, I like it."
"If we're counting that way, yours is also quite..."
I stopped mid-sentence, face reddening, and quietly began heading for the exit.
'Strange... Evil transformation is active...'
System-wise, 'evil transformation' was active, but strangely my mind was incredibly clear.
Is it because my mental strength recently reached 10? Or... did I expend so much energy that the evil transformation temporarily lifted?
"...Mmm."
Most likely the latter.
*Gurgle...*
My gaunt appearance reflected in the mirror by the door, Serena's exhausted yet fresh and radiant face behind me, and the severe hunger and dehydration attacking me all confirmed this fact.
"...I need a cold beer."
Thinking this, I gathered my clothes, stepped out of her room, and muttered while holding my burning throat.
"Hmm?"
But something was strange.
"............."
As soon as I left the room, the eyes of everyone gathered on the first floor of the inn—the restaurant—were all fixed on me.
'...What is this?'
It's called morning, but it's practically dawn with the sun not even risen yet. Why are there so many people outside?
Right now I was properly disguised using Serena's disguise techniques. So unless they were top-tier mages, they shouldn't recognize me.
But what is this awkward atmosphere? Why is everyone looking at me with dazed expressions, sneaking glances?
"Wh-what can I help you with?"
"Ah, yes."
Feeling something was off, I sat at an empty seat, and the innkeeper's daughter approached me with a menu.
"I'd like to have a simple meal, if possible?"
"Ah, yess. Of course."
I wondered if it would be possible given the early hour, but thankfully so. The situation was becoming difficult to manage even with the 'Star's Protection'.
I should be able to replenish nutrients before my legs give out and I collapse.
*Swish, swish...*
".....?"
As I was thinking this and trying to choose from the menu, the girl holding it blushed and rubbed her body against mine.
"The menu is... um... you can choose from what's here..."
"Ah, I understand."
I was wrong. She wasn't simply showing me the menu.
After spending the night with Serena, my brain must be filled with lewd thoughts. I need to pull myself together quickly.
"...Do you happen to have rye bread?"
"Yes, yess... we do."
"Then rye bread with butter, and two glasses of beer, please."
"Understoood... I'll prepare it right away..."
Regaining my composure and ordering, the girl who had been pressed close to show me the menu blushed again and nodded.
"Um... guest..."
"Yes?"
I was wondering if perhaps she'd caught a cold in the cold weather, but she, who had slowly withdrawn the menu and pulled back her body, asked in a quiet voice.
"By any chance... will you be staying tomorrow as well?"
"No, I plan to leave soon."
"Th-that's a relief... no, that's a shame... um..."
Hearing this, the girl wore an expression half relief, half regret, and began speaking incoherently.
"Th-then... please visit again sometime..."
She quickly finished her words and rushed off to the kitchen.
"...Hey, young man."
I was tilting my head at this strange phenomenon when suddenly several men with serious expressions sat at my table.
"I have something I want to ask."
"...What is it?"
Thinking my identity might have been exposed after all, I quietly assessed the combat strength of those who sat at my table and the people still watching me sharply, reaching for the sword at my waist.
"...What's your secret?"
The man who suddenly relaxed his expression and cleared his throat before asking made me stop and stare blankly.
"This place is humble, but the soundproofing is decent... ahem, hm."
"...Ah, that."
I finally understood the reason for this entire situation.
It seems Serena forgot to cast a soundproofing spell on the room.
No, did she really forget?
"By any chance... do you have some good medicine? Can I get some too?"
"You don't even have a girlfriend, let alone a wife!"
"Th-that's still...!"
Listening quietly to the antics of the men around my table while drinking water, I smiled faintly.
'This isn't... bad either.'
Today seems to be one of the happiest days of this break... no, of my life.
*Jingle, jingle...!*
"Hmm?"
Just as I was thinking this, suddenly the inn's door opened and people began entering.
".....!"
Wondering what was happening at this early hour, I looked at them and my eyes went wide.
'Why are they... here?'
Those who entered the inn were none other than the Demon Lord's Army combat executives.
"Ma-master!"
And at the forefront, wearing a robe, was none other than Lulu.
"You're safe!"
"Uh, um..."
She had been looking tense with her magic eye gleaming, but upon discovering me, she approached.
*Swish, stroke...*
"I'm so glad... you're safe... hehe..."
With tears welling up, she began rubbing her face against my stomach.
"How did you get here?"
"...Ah."
Looking at the increasingly intense gazes around me and the combat executives who had started sweating for some reason, I helped Lulu to her feet, and she came to her senses with a frightened expression.
"I-I'm sorry for disobeying orders, Master... I should have stayed quietly tied to the house pillar..."
"No, that's not important right..."
I quickly cut off her words before the atmosphere spiraled out of control, and Lulu continued with a tearful expression.
"Still, for Master's safety... I had no choice."
"I see?"
"Ah, and there's something I need to tell you."
She grabbed my knee and began wearing a serious expression.
"Right now, Master's sibling is heading here..."
"What? What do you mean...?"
My eyes went wide at the mention of 'sibling' from her lips, and I grabbed her shoulder to press for more information.
"Huh?"
But for some reason, Lulu stopped mid-sentence and stared at my lower body with her mouth agape.
"........."
I was tilting my head at her sudden behavior when Lulu, who had been staring intently at my lower body, quietly reached for my left hand.
"Whimper..."
Upon discovering the blackened Ring of Purity on my left ring finger, she wore a dejected expression and buried her face in my knees.
"Mmm..."
For some reason, I had a feeling this kind of thing would happen often.
.
"Ugh, ugh..."
Meanwhile, at that same time.
"Isollet... do you think you'll get away with this?"
Vener, who had been glaring at Isollet while tightly bound to a chair in a pitch-black basement, ground her teeth and growled fiercely.
"It doesn't matter."
Isollet, leaving her behind and heading for the basement exit, quietly slid her sword into its sheath and muttered.
"...As long as Frey is safe, that's all that matters."
"Crazy bitch."
"Stay there for a while. I'll come back to negotiate soon."
Leaving these words, Isollet closed the basement door, locked the iron door with a key, and began climbing the stairs to the surface.
*Swish...*
As she was putting the key into her pocket, something came to mind and she pulled it out.
"Hehe."
It was a ring that glowed sky-blue like her eye color—the Ring of Covenant—that Isollet had dreamed of since childhood.
"Isn't it too old-fashioned?"
Gone was the cold expression she wore when dealing with Vener; she held the ring to her chest with a girlish expression and murmured.
"I wonder if... Frey will wear it for me?"
She wondered whether to put it on the left ring finger or the right one.