Chapter 196
After hearing her request, my first feeling was bewilderment, naturally.
She just shows up out of nowhere and asks to stay? Does she think this is an inn or something? No, more importantly, why did she come here instead of an inn or something?
Curious about her reasons, I approached her without answering. Then I asked for her reasons first.
You want to stay? What are you talking about suddenly? Sorry to surprise you. But I have nowhere to stay...
Nikki replied, looking embarrassed. As I got closer, her appearance became clearer. The Nikki I hadn't seen in a while was utterly disheveled.
Her once fair skin was covered in sweat-mixed dust, and her pretty face was gaunt with heavy dark circles, as if she hadn't slept in days.
And that wasn't all. The short-sleeved shirt she was wearing was frayed and torn in places. It was clear she hadn't been doing well. That softened my gaze a little.
“What happened to you?”
“...Don't even ask.”
In response to my question, she began to explain the *Full Story*.
After barging into the *Extermination Squad* and rescuing *Sephiroth*, she immediately went to the *Inn* where she had been staying.
Sephiroth had thrown a fit midway about going back, but the frail Magic User was easily subdued. Since she had already absorbed Flauros's claws, making her Branch Leader-level strong, it probably wasn't difficult at all.
Anyway, Nikki reportedly rested at the *Inn* after that.
But that was only for a short while... A few days later, people stormed the inn where she was staying. They were adventurers who had participated in the Extermination Squad.
They held a grudge against Nikki for suddenly appearing and spiriting away the *Branch Leader*, and intended to harm her.
Since there was a considerable bounty on all *Branch Leaders*, they might have thought she stole their money. Or perhaps, seeing as an ominous *Manifestor* was already acting like an *Adventurer*, they decided to take her down now that they had an excuse.
The story was more exciting than I expected, so I listened intently to her.
“So, what did you do?” “I just knocked them out and ran. It felt wrong to kill them. I understood why they were angry, and I'd often run into them at the *Adventurer Guild*...”
Anyway, after that, she said she ran away, abandoning even the *Inn* she'd paid for months in advance. But wherever she went, people came after her.
It made sense; in this *World*, major incidents were no longer secrets. Since she'd suddenly intervened at a crucial moment when they were capturing a *Branch Leader*, word had spread in the *Community*.
Though it hadn't been mentioned specifically, she had apparently received a lot of flak on the *Community*.
Insults like, *'Who the hell is that bastard, suddenly showing up and messing things up?'*
Anyway, after that, Nikki continued to repel the incoming enemies, and her fatigue naturally accumulated.
Since they would attack her if they knew her location regardless of the time, she couldn't properly rest.
After being pushed around from *This Place* to *This Place* like that... she felt like she was about to collapse, so she came here, grasping at straws.
*Seriously...*
After hearing the whole story, I looked at her with a momentarily pitiful expression. I'm not one to live by a plan either, but looking at her, I can't help but think she's utterly clueless.
She started as a *mercenary* because she wanted *people*'s recognition, but in the end, she ruined her entire reputation just to protect one *person*.
Yet, when I saw her smile faintly, it seemed she had no regrets. She's someone who lives a rough life in many ways. I looked at her for a moment then asked.
What about *Sephiroth*? We parted ways midway. He left to *investigate* something for a bit... well, he's skilled, so he'll be fine. Is he perhaps trying to go back to *Lemegeton*? Hmm, I don't think so. *Sephiroth* was loyal to the *Chairman*. I heard *Jurgen* took over the *Order* that's already completely ruined, so he wouldn't bother going back.
It seems that the deceased old man Chairman was quite popular. Many people followed him for various reasons. Of course, he's a human whom I don't know well.
Anyway, I've heard the story. I looked again at the disheveled *Person* in front of me. He was a pitiful Kin who couldn't blend in with either the Demons or the People.
It was probably no coincidence that I saw my past self reflected in her. So, I sighed and conveyed my acceptance.
...Alright, stay as long as you want.
“Wow, really? Thank you so much!”
She smiled brightly and patted my back.
*
Honestly, I had considered taking Nikki to The Depths for a while.
After all, she's a woman, and I've never lived with someone of the opposite sex.
Naturally, wouldn't it be awkward? My Cave isn't divided into neat rooms like other houses. It's clear we'd both be uncomfortable, whether due to physiological or psychological issues.
Despite that, the reason I let her into my Cave was... there was slowly no more room in The Depths. Just yesterday, Barbatos complained that his Altar was messy. In such a situation, I couldn't immediately bring in a new person.
*And... it's somewhat confidential.*
Nikki is trustworthy enough, but isn't it better to have fewer people who know? For that reason, I'm letting her stay at my *house* for now.
It was also good timing since all the Otherworlders had left to do Title Farming, and I was feeling a bit lonely.
Nikki also said she'd leave soon once her fatigue subsided, so we probably wouldn't be together for long.
Hnnnngh...
After receiving my permission, she immediately lay down on any available spot and began to sleep, as if she'd been waiting.
Her body must have been quite grimy and uncomfortable, but it seemed to matter nothing to her. From seeing her like that, it was clear that she had accumulated a lot of fatigue.
“Phew.”
I watched her for a moment, then draped a reasonably thin blanket over her. And so, our sudden *Cohabitation Life* began...
*
“Hey, where do I bathe here?” “If you go straight inside there, you'll find a pool with running water. But don't go all the way to the end.” “Wow, nice. Water is flowing inside the *Cave*.”
Day 1.
Nikki, having woken up, slowly began to organize her belongings.
She took out various daily necessities and clothes from her *Spatial Pouch*, then immediately left to shower.
It seemed she, too, had felt grimy.
After bathing, she emerged wearing a thin short-sleeved shirt and *Dolphin Shorts*. It was now approaching the third year since the *Otherworlders* had appeared. Over that time, their attire had somewhat blended into the *Gaians*' way of life.
Ugh, damn it, why is the water so cold... Aren't you cold? There should have been a water-boiling device nearby. Didn't you see it? You should've told me that beforehand.
Grumbling as she dried her hair, she suddenly began to stir her mana.
*Sizzle-*
Instantly, heat rose from her body, and the water clinging to her skin *Evaporated*.
*To think she could use her ability like that.*
That's a bit enviable... hmm.
Yor pretended not to notice and glanced at her for a moment. With the grime washed away, her jade-white skin stood out. It was the bright skin tone characteristic of a fair complexion.
As I saw her in such unguarded attire, an unwarranted lust arose within me.
*Come to think of it, I've been suppressing my sexual urges for quite a long time...*
*It's unavoidable, considering my unceasing spring of “precious self”.*
Of course, he couldn't just touch her indiscriminately, so he merely *cleared his throat*.
But... how do we handle meals here?
Fortunately, her question allowed *Yor* to escape his thoughts.
“We'll go get it now.” “Wow, that's a bit troublesome... Let's go, I'll help too.”
Although she was a guest, Nikki wasn't one to sit idly by.
She had come here grasping at straws, but she still felt a slight sense of debt for staying in a *Man*'s *House* alone. And honestly, she hadn't expected him to be so easygoing about it.
So, she decided to help him with his tasks while she stayed.
Thanks to this, *Yor* felt a little more at ease. If they hunted together, the yield was doubled, and they tackled the troublesome cave cleaning together.
As the minor chores decreased, their *leisure time* also increased.
However, increased leisure time in this forest wasn't entirely a good thing. In this boring world, there was no particular entertainment.
So, whenever they had time, the two looked for something to pass the time. They would pass the time by telling each other what had happened or sharing stories from their past experiences. Still, perhaps because they had the commonality of being Kin, their conversations flowed well.
So, on my 10th birthday, my father had a face like he'd swallowed a toad...Ah, ah...
Of course, since Manifestors' pasts are usually dark, their conversations naturally veer into negative territory.
So, from time to time, they would spar. Both were sturdy manifestors, and both made fighting their profession, so they took this opportunity to test their skills to the fullest.
Yor naturally thought he would have the advantage... but it wasn't as easy as he thought.
The heat that scorched skin, and the Sword Path of fire blocking his way, were alone enough to annoy a Person.
Moreover, she possessed Swordsmanship honed through a long life as an Adventurer. Although it wasn't as refined as that of the Knights of the Empire, its practicality was overflowing.
Even for Yor, the Transcendent Breakthrough achieved through claws was not easy.
Still, if Yor used his abilities without holding back, he could somehow win. He is doing so now.
Swish-! Nikki's sharp sword rapidly lunged forward, an overbearing upward Strike, seemingly mirroring her rough life. It was a Strike that could cleave bone if it touched skin, yet Yor pressed forward even further.
*Swoosh. And then he moved the blood flowing from his minor wounds. The slowly moving red liquid instantly took the form of a snare. Yor didn't hesitate, hooking the Blood Snare onto Nikki's sword. Then he immediately pulled it down to the ground.
...
A look of surprise crossed Nikki's face at the sudden halt applied to her sword. She hastily infused heat into her sword, trying to *evaporate* the blood from it.
However, in battles that unfold in an instant, even that brief moment becomes a huge opening. Yor didn't miss that fleeting moment and immediately delivered a Body Check to Nikki.
“Ugh!”
With a small groan, she fell to the ground.
Yor immediately pressed the Ink-black Spear blade against her neck, a clear sign of victory.
As Nikki raised her hands and conceded defeat, Yor grinned and said.
So, that makes it 5 wins to 3 losses for me?
It could be said to be quite a fierce record. Nikki looked at him for a moment with an expression of admiration.
Although Yor had said it wasn't easy, Nikki was actually the most surprised.
After all, wasn't she a Manifestor who had even achieved Transcendent Breakthrough? The mana that surged at that time was several times greater. Her Physical Ability had increased by that much too.
But instead of being overwhelmed as a Manifestor who hadn't even awakened yet, she was actually being pushed back. Nikki couldn't help but feel unfairly treated.
I thought I'd at least have the advantage in strength...
Surprisingly, that wasn't the case either. What kind of man is so strong? Not only was losing unfair, but being outmatched in strength by a man made her feel an inferiority complex rising for the first time in a long while.
Phew, it's hot.
But such feelings didn't last long, because Yor, drenched in sweat, suddenly began to flap his collar.
Visible were his deeply carved collarbones and skin glistening with sweat. Moreover, his clothes were torn from the intense battle, revealing a considerable amount of skin. Nikki's gaze was instantly fixed on that spot.
Can't you do something about that heat? I'm seriously dying of heat every time I fight you.
Yet, the man doing it seemed to think nothing of it.
What kind of man is so careless...?
Just when she thought she was used to it, her face couldn't help but flush every time this happened. Still, they had become quite close through recent conversations, enough for her to give such a warning.
“Can't you... cover up a bit? You're a Man, after all...”
“Why are you like this? It's in front of my House. Can't I do as I please?”
Of course, he didn't listen in the slightest. Thanks to his unnecessarily easygoing personality, only Nikki was left to fret.
Anyway, a few ordinary days passed like that. The moon was gradually waning towards Sak.