Chapter 135
“You’re driving me crazy, seriously...”
Those were the first words I uttered after hearing her suggestion. How many times has it been now? I must have heard “join Lemegeton” dozens of times. Even the most zealous proselytizer wouldn’t be this persistent.
I asked Livia, with a slightly exasperated expression,
“How many times do you think I’ve heard that by now? I think you already know my answer without me saying it.”
“I know; Sephiroth has already asked dozens of times. But this time it’s really different. Your life could be in danger if you stay here!”
For a moment, I thought she was threatening me, but she wasn’t. I could sense genuine concern for me in her eyes. So I listened quietly as she continued.
“The Demon that appeared this time is different somehow. If we’re not careful, the Empire could be swallowed whole in an instant. Adventurers, especially, are like a lamp in the wind. But if you join Lemegeton, at least your life will be spared.” “Oh, you sound quite confident that I’d survive if I joined?” “The 4th Branch Leader has already made contact with Beled. At least he wouldn’t try to kill everyone who serves him, right?”
Simply put, it means bowing their heads and joining. It wasn’t a method I particularly liked. Naturally, my answer was already decided.
“But I don’t want to join.”
She made a frustrated expression.
“Don’t be like this... Let’s just have fun together like we used to, okay?”
There was a desperate emotion in her voice as she said that. When compared to the grinning face I first saw, this current expression seemed more human.
But I couldn’t help but feel awkward seeing that. Although I have faint memories... I don’t have strong feelings left for the Orphanage, unlike her. Most of my memories were consumed after I became a Manifestor.
The gap in our cherished memories was bound to be vast. Too much time had passed to dwell on the past. Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to just send her away.
“Don’t do that.”
I tapped the ground in front of her. It was an invitation to sit.
“Let’s just talk.”
It was good timing, as I had many questions anyway.
“...”
At my words, she hesitated, then sat down in front of me. From then on, I asked her various small questions. I was looking at the little kid from the Orphanage, not the Executive of Lemegeton. Fortunately, she didn’t avoid the conversation.
“Where did you learn Magic?” “There’s someone like a father to me at the Order.”
“And why are you wearing those darkened spectacles?” “That’s... because the Magic is too bright for my eyes.”
“So you get dazzled too. But why are the darkened spectacles red?” “...Don’t they suit me?”
After a few questions, she seemed to open up and asked me a few things too.
“Do you remember when I fell down a long time ago?”
“Hmm... I think I do.”
“You grumbled back then, but you still took care of me.”
There were some difficult questions to answer in between. Still, she wore a comfortable smile throughout our conversation. It seemed the bright expression she had when I first saw her wasn’t entirely put on. She must have a naturally cheerful personality.
How did she end up joining Lemegeton? I asked about that too, but unfortunately, I couldn’t get an answer. It seemed she had some bad memories, as she tried to hide them.
After a brief conversation, she stood up with a regretful expression.
“I should get going. I snuck out, so I can’t stay long.”
Does that Order have a curfew or something? I felt a similar sense of regret. Recalling old memories was surprisingly enjoyable. So, I asked her one last question.
“Why don’t you just leave the Order and live your own life?”
Of course, she’s a criminal, but with her skill, she should be able to live well enough. But, as expected, a refusal came from her lips.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Well... if I stay in a place that’s doomed to fall anyway, I’ll just perish with it, won’t I?”
There was a certain conviction in her voice as she said that. After that, she waved goodbye and left.
Watching her go, I felt a sense of familiarity.
*Hmm...*
Sephiroth, and now she too, were both talking about ruin. What did they see to make such a judgment? Thanks to them, I couldn’t help but ponder this topic for a while. Of course, no matter how much I thought, there was no clear answer.
Time passed like that. Although it was noisy outside in many ways, the Arena tour didn’t stop.
Honestly, Yor got a bit annoyed, in the middle, but Hanbyeol wouldn’t leave him alone. She kept pestering him to go to the Arena, saying there was nothing else to do anyway. Since she had a point, Yor followed her without a word.
And a few days later... Hanbyeol finally got the “Hand-to-hand Combat” match she had longed for.
*...Finally!*
Hanbyeol cheered loudly inwardly. After nearly a hundred attempts, her persistence had finally paid off!
How much had she clung to the Arena, even giving up Leveling Up during that time? In the middle, she became more engrossed in the goal of “winning” rather than “Hand-to-hand Combat” out of stubbornness, just like how people get addicted to games of chance. Hanbyeol realized that people don’t get addicted to gambling for no reason here.
Having achieved her goal, she was now feeling a surge of pure elation.
So much so that she even forgot the self-loathing of having played hundreds of games just to touch an NPC’s body once... Anyway, now it was time to enjoy the duel.
She immediately maximized her synchronization rate. She figured Yor, being an NPC, wouldn’t know even if she adjusted the settings.
[Would you like to modify your Synchronization Rate?]
[15%<————————◆>90%]
Of course, Yor, who confirmed it with his “Player”s Eye,’ had to feel a complex mix of emotions.
*...Hmm.*
Why do they all maximize their synchronization rate the moment they get a Hand-to-hand Combat match with me? No, honestly, I think I know why, but I don't really want to think about it too deeply...
Anyway, this was a first: seeing someone raise their synchronization rate to 90% right from the start. Usually, people don’t max it out, even if they’re afraid of getting hit. I was a bit confused about whether to applaud her bold decision or boo her.
I should avoid her face as much as possible.
Yor thought that and charged forward. Even though it was the Reversed World, hitting a member of the opposite sex in the face during a friendly match felt a bit off-putting. Of course, that didn’t mean I intended to go easy on her.
I’ve swung with full force even with weapons until now, so going easy with bare hands would be strange.
So Yor charged at Hanbyeol. The woman with lavender hair took an awkward guard stance.
First, Yor threw a light jab towards her side.
*Thwack!*
“...Ugh!”
With a dull thud, a pained groan escaped her lips. Seeing that, Yor couldn’t help but tilt his head in confusion.
I just hit her slowly as a Deterrent Maneuver to see how she'd react, didn't I? It was an Attack she could easily see coming, and from what I'd seen of her over the past few weeks, it was a Strike she could definitely counter. But she just took that Hit/Strike. Did her guard block her vision?
I was slightly puzzled, but decided to think that for now. Regardless, the battle was still ongoing. Yor decided to attack with a larger motion, considering her vision, this time.
Whoosh! His right leg swung with moderate speed. His kick struck Hanbyeol’s shoulder.
“Augh!”
Again, a groan burst from her lips. This time, the motion was large enough that she couldn’t have missed it, yet she still didn’t react.
*Oh, whatever.*
Since she had to win the fight anyway, Yor decided to just deliver a clean body blow. *I don't know what she's thinking... but she must be thinking something.*
*Thud—!!* Yor’s fist slammed into her stomach with a dull thud.
“Hngh!”
This time, her groan was somewhat louder. Unlike the previous two Attacks, this one had some power behind it. At the same time, Hanbyeol’s breathing became a bit ragged.
“Haa... Haa... Haa...”
She was currently feeling a strange sensation.
It hurt. She clearly felt a throbbing pain despite being in a game, perhaps because her synchronization rate was high.
But at the same time, she also felt a tingling sensation down below. *Was the impact traveling downwards, or did she just like the situation itself?* She was feeling something good.
Even she was quite confused.
*Fuck... why does this feel good?*
Did I always have this kind of preference? Thinking back, as one skilled in physical feats, I used to practice longer than others, and I usually kept my synchronization rate high here too, allowing me to acquire Sword Aura faster than others. I thought it was simply because I was patient and aggressive. But... now that I thought about it, something was off.
Now that I think about it, ever since then...
Ever since she was called “Happy” at Yor’s House, Hanbyeol had discovered a strange desire within herself.
But she had tried hard to ignore it, unwilling to admit it... now that the situation had presented itself again, she had no choice but to confront it.
This was a situation where her freedom was taken by another, forcing her to obey. This was a situation where she received harsh treatment from someone else. She particularly liked such things.
*Seriously...*
Seeing herself like this, she felt a slight sense of self-loathing, but at the moment, the excitement was even greater. Hanbyeol inwardly imagined.
Even now, the pain makes my lower body tingle. So, what if this situation continues for a long time? What if he hits me harder? No, what if my body is completely restrained by him to the point of unconsciousness?
“Hngh...”
Imagining this sent shivers down her spine, but those shivers also made her body tingle. Her breathing grew increasingly rapid. Her face gradually turned red.
“Haa... Haa...”
Yor saw that and felt fear.
What's wrong with her? She seemed normal just a moment ago. After a few hits, her eyes suddenly looked strange. It was a look that suggested she was about to cause trouble. And there were still Spectators around.
In the end, after a moment of deliberation, Yor had to make this decision.
*...I'll have to knock her out.*
Even if she seems a bit wild, her name is known far and wide, so I can't let her make a spectacle of herself in front of others. Therefore, I decided to knock her out quickly.
He charged towards her, intending to apply a Grappling Technique honed over weeks of combat.
And seeing that, Hanbyeol felt ecstasy. Hanbyeol pretended to resist just enough then willingly surrendered her body to him.
*It's here!*
His firm body gradually enveloped hers.
*Squeeze!* A painful pressure wrapped around her body. Her body was extremely uncomfortable, but she felt a strange pleasure. Hanbyeol wished this situation would last as long as possible.
...But her wish was destined to end in less than a minute.
Quite suddenly, someone had broken through the Arena wall and invaded.
*CRASH!!!* With an earth-shattering roar, shattered stones scattered. Acrid smoke spread everywhere. The people in the audience seating, who saw beyond the broken wall, cried out in horror.
“Ah, a Demon! A Demon has appeared!” “Everyone, run!”
Screams. Shrieks. The personnel in the audience seating screamed and fled to the opposite side. In the sudden chaos, Yor had no choice but to release his hold.
“...Ah.”
Hanbyeol felt a secret disappointment.