Chapter 79: Fluffy Clouds

As they say, where there are meetings, there must also be partings.

I finally had to let Happy go.

Even though I wanted to keep her longer, I had no justification to do so.

I'd already received extra Holy Water and unexpected information. She'd even indulged my unreasonable demands on top of that.

It was time to let her go.

So I pretended to cry while seeing her off.

"Goodbye Happy. I'll miss you. Sniff, sniff."

"My name is...! *sigh*... nevermind."

Contrary to my expectations, the atmosphere during our parting wasn't hostile.

I'd thought she'd run away the moment I freed her, given everything I'd done.

But she was surprisingly calm as we said our goodbyes.

Though she did look a bit stiff, probably from being tied up all this time.

I recalled our conversation from a few hours ago while watching her stretch outside the cave.

'So they've pinpointed Dantalian's location and will be sending a proper raiding party soon.'

Though she didn't know the Knights' deeper secrets, she wasn't completely clueless either. She definitely provided helpful information.

The reason they hadn't caught Dantalian yet was because the demon had been hiding around, very un-demon-like.

While this meant fewer civilian casualties, it had other nations on edge.

After all, being quiet meant he was probably building up forces somewhere.

Then finally, they discovered Dantalian.

The Knights were planning to launch an expedition without delay.

'At least I won't have any trouble for a while...'

Though who knows how long that would last.

Anyway, she provided lots of other information too. The most tempting bit was that she receives Holy Water from the Knights once or twice a month.

Though I got three vials of Holy Water, it still felt insufficient somehow.

I wanted to make a contract and trade with her regularly.

'Should I ask...?'

Of course, I hadn't asked yet. Even I have some conscience after all.

Given what I'd done to her, it wasn't easy to make such a request.

'Ah whatever, I'll just ask.'

But that thought didn't last long and I opened my mouth.

Right, since when did I care so much about conscience?

"Hey... about that Holy Water you get monthly. Want to trade with me?"

"...What?"

"Don't worry. I'll pay you well for it. At least above market price."

"Hah, you think I'd trade with a Manifestor like you?"

She frowned while looking at me. I nodded with a dejected expression.

"Yeah, I guess not... oh well."

Honestly, I hadn't expected much. She was on the Knights' side after all.

"Ahem..."

But that didn't last long, as she soon cleared her throat and spoke up.

"Well... if you promise not to lock me up again. I might bring some occasionally..."

"Oh, really?"

Hearing that, my face lit up.

Since I hadn't expected anything from my request, the joy that came was even greater.

What wind brought about this change of heart?

Maybe she developed Stockholm syndrome? Whatever it was, it was good for me.

So I grinned while massaging her shoulders.

"Aw, how could I ever harm my supplier? Don't worry and just bring it."

"Let, let go..."

And that's how I secured a new supply route.

*

About ten days passed after that.

It was time to prepare for this month's Rage Mode.

And unlike last time, I planned to endure it here in this cave.

I'd already confirmed during the last pit incident that beasts could enter during Rage Mode.

Last time it was just a rabbit so it ended with self-loathing, but if something dangerous got in, even I would be in trouble.

So this time I'm staying in my usual place.

Though my location has been exposed... but this place is comfortable.

Also, people can't easily find their way here at night.

Fortunately, no intruders had visited my cave in the past ten days.

Probably because I'd defeated Han-byeol, the rank 1 player, last time.

While the 5 million gold bounty on my head was certainly a lot of money, blindly challenging would only lead to losses. Otherworlders could figure out that much.

Thanks to that, I was living quite peacefully.

'Probably nothing special this time either.'

Splash.

I thought that while soaking in the pool.

This was the pleasant bath time that came after finishing the day's work.

Since tonight was a waning moon, I planned to end the day early.

Whether A or B triggered, I'd need strength to endure it.

"Phew..."

The pleasant water temperature enveloped my whole body. Glad I went through the trouble of heating the water.

Though thinking about tonight immediately soured my mood, at least the tension was easing.

While I was lazily enjoying my bath.

"Yor...! Where are you?"

Suddenly, I heard Chae-rin's voice from far away.

Time for her regular visit. Though the timing wasn't great this time.

'What?'

I tried to get up from the bath in surprise.

Meanwhile, Chae-rin was steadily approaching.

Since I hadn't been focusing on my hearing, her footsteps already sounded quite close.

If anything had changed over time, it was Chae-rin's cautiousness.

It's been almost a year since she first got to know me. Naturally, she'd visited this cave dozens of times.

She'd become quite familiar with this place.

And since I wasn't the type to complain about her just walking in... disaster was inevitable.

"Oh, so you were he-..."

Just as I got out of the bath, Chae-rin appeared before me. Her smiling face quickly froze.

Her eyes shook violently.

I smacked my forehead. What kind of lucky pervert situation was this?

I reflexively tried to cover my lower half... but then stopped.

'No, wait...'

On second thought, that would look too gay. Screaming "kyaa" while covering myself wouldn't be very manly.

Instead, I activated 'Player's Eye'. It was an unconscious action.

Usually when dealing with any Otherworlder, activating 'Player's Eye' first had become a habit.

Fortunately she wasn't streaming, as there was no chat window visible.

Instead, I saw something rather special.

[Would you like to unlock 18+ Mode?]

[YES/NO]

Along with this text, misty clouds covered my magnificent cannon.

These were artificial clouds that could never occur naturally. They shouldn't be able to cluster like this either.

I briefly deactivated 'Player's Eye' to check.

And there it was again, my cannon in full view.

'...So it's only visible through the system?'

I thought while reactivating 'Player's Eye'.

Well, if that's the case, no need to cover up.

"Uh, um......"

Meanwhile, Yoo Chae-rin was deep in serious contemplation.

She understood the situation was fucked.

She'd walked into his home without thinking and suddenly saw a 'man's' naked body.

In reality, this would warrant arrest and a criminal record, no questions asked.

But the reason sex crimes happen is usually because people can't control their inner desires. Sexual desire can be that addictive.

She was no different.

An incredibly stimulating sight lay before her eyes.

Sculpted muscles and six-pack abs, a dark red tattoo contrasting with pale skin at the collarbone.

And down below, fluffy clouds covering a man's vital area.

Gulp-

Her throat bobbed noticeably. She held her finger trembling in front of the system window.

The system window before her eyes tempted her.

[Would you like to unlock 18+ Mode?]

[YES/NO]

Just once. Just pretend to accidentally click it once.

Then she could peek at what lay behind those clouds in that forbidden place. Since things had already gone this far, surely one little peek wouldn't hurt.

Just as Chae-rin was about to unconsciously click 'YES':

"Stop right there. Move another inch and I'll seriously log you out."

But his menacing words from in front brought Chae-rin back to her senses.

As reason returned, the cold reality became clear before her eyes.

She immediately knelt on the ground and apologized.

"Ah, aah! I'm so sorry!"

"Sigh......"

I let out a deep sigh.

Even I was momentarily confused about how to react in this situation.

*

"...So what did you come here for anyway?"

After that brief incident, Chae-rin and I sat facing each other.

I decided to bury what just happened.

It was an accident after all, and I was careless too.

I didn't want to make a big deal about something like this.

Since there was nothing to gain from it, I chose to let it slide.

"......"

Of course, that didn't mean she was comfortable.

She sat kneeling like a criminal the whole time.

Her face was still red too. Obviously thinking about something else.

After waiting a while, I called out to ask her again.

"Hey."

"Ah, yes?"

"I asked what you came here for today."

Finally she stammered out:

"Well... it's the waning moon tonight, right?"

"That's right."

"So I thought... maybe we could endure it together... like last time."

I was momentarily touched by her words.

Her offer was quite touching.

But at the same time, I hesitated a bit. Honestly speaking, it wasn't a pretty sight.

Last time things just happened to work out with her there.

But Rage Mode A honestly wasn't something to show others often. Just watching could drain one's mental strength.

Though I appreciated the thought, I felt I should decline.

Plus there was a high chance of B triggering tonight. What if Rage Mode B triggered with a woman right in front of me?

'Ugh...'

I wasn't confident I could control myself then.

"I appreciate the thought but I'm good. I'll handle it alone tonight."

"Ah, okay..."

So I sent her away.

And that night, Rage Mode B came.

*

"Phew..."

After leaving the forest, Chae-rin logged out and lay on her bed.

Due to what happened today, her expression was gloomy.

'This isn't right...'

Originally she'd planned to just chat normally and help him endure Rage Mode.

But that incident in the middle just made things awkward.

Though Yor said it was fine, she still felt guilty.

While he was usually easygoing, even he couldn't be completely unfazed about showing his naked body as a 'man'. Maybe that's why he sent her away.

So Chae-rin blamed herself.

'Augh, I should have been more careful going in...!'

If she hadn't walked in so carelessly, that incident wouldn't have happened.

Though admittedly, his body was quite arousing.

So much that it would rank among the top erotic images she'd ever seen.

That scene had that much impact.

On the other hand, she also thought:

'And he has to endure that alone...'

She was talking about the Rage Mode.

The scene of Yor cutting his own flesh last time still shocked her. It looked so painful and lonely.

And now he said he'd endure it alone again.

Time in Demons Saga flows 1:1 with reality regardless of login status.

Thinking of him suffering all night made her feel sorry.

She hadn't been able to be by his side these past two months since he'd been hiding in that pit.

She hadn't even gotten to use the Night Vision she'd learned.

Just abandoning him over an incident bothered her conscience.

Though he had already rejected her once...

So she lay in bed contemplating.

Should she go check on him anyway, or leave him alone as he asked.

The contemplation went on quite a while.

What started as daytime pondering continued until dusk fell outside.

When night came and she couldn't see the moon through her window, she made her decision.

'Right, I'll just go.'

Surely having company was better than enduring alone?

She could apologize again for what happened earlier too.

So she got back into her capsule.

And started running through the dark forest towards Yor again.