Chapter 197
Then one day. One day, while I was sparring with Nikki as usual, a visitor came to my home.
“Hey! Is Yor here?!”
And it was none other than Odelia, bearing the title of Knight Commander.
“...! Hey, hide!”
“Huh? Why— Oh, *shit*! What's that?!”
Startled, I quickly hid Nikki deep inside the cave.
I had a feeling that it would be a huge problem if I let her, who had caused such a ruckus and escaped the Extermination Squad, appear before the Knight Order.
Doing this made me feel like a villain hiding a Criminal... But since I was already hiding a Demon, a Manifestor, and a former Branch Leader inside, there wasn't much to lose.
Nikki, also startled, hastily hid further into the cave.
Having prepared to receive the guest, I immediately went out of the Cave to greet Odelia.
She was smiling heartily, as always.
“What brings you here?”
“...You performed well during the last Extermination. I came to give you the reward.”
However, as I got closer, I noticed something different. Her face looked more tired than usual. Dark circles were prominent under her red eyes, and her face was terribly haggard. I could quickly guess why she looked like that.
“...You must be very busy, huh?” “Please, save me. I swear, two bodies wouldn't be enough. Restoring damaged Regions, investigating where that Demon Paimon is, and providing Power Reinforcement for the Knight Order.”
As expected, the entire Empire seemed busy because of that Demon.
Indeed, the 1st Knight Commander is unconscious, and the demon who put her in that state is running rampant without a scratch. From the Knight Order's perspective, having to chase him must be hell.
This only made my curiosity grow.
“If you're that busy, you could've just sent a subordinate to deliver the reward... Why did you come yourself?”
A Knight Commander, no less.
“The item I'm giving you this time is extremely valuable. I had no choice but to come myself. I can't have it stolen midway.”
Odelia said that and pulled something from her pocket. It was a round pill, about the size of my thumb.
“It's an elixir.”
As I stared at it, wondering what it was, Odelia continued.
“And an incredibly rare elixir at that. I took it out from where it was carefully stored in the Imperial Treasury. Even I haven't had a chance to try this one...”
After that, she spent some time explaining how amazing this elixir was, as if to say it was more than enough as a reward for the last Extermination.
However, upon hearing that, my first thought was a question.
“But why are they giving me an elixir instead of money this time?”
“You have a lot of money. I looked up the compensation you've received so far. It's enough to buy a mansion in the Capital already.”
I had that much money? All I ever did with my money was buy snacks, so honestly, I didn't know it was that much. Even as I was needlessly surprised by my own wealth, her words continued.
“So this time, we're giving you something money can't buy.” “You could've just given me elixirs normally...” “You can buy most things with your own money.”
When I grumbled, she immediately retorted.
But that was only for a moment; soon, she sighed and continued.
“Well... anyway, it also means your contribution this time was significant. Significant enough for the Empire to give something it cherishes to an outsider. I heard that if it weren't for you, we would have been annihilated.”
Hmm... Certainly, at the end, the ceiling Paimon threw was very threatening.
If it had fallen as a whole mass instead of shattering, most would have crossed the River Styx.
But a Commander-level individual would have survived.
Even if the falling mass was extremely large, Knight Commanders aren't the kind of people to die from a mere rock. Of course, if everyone else died, it would be no different from annihilation.
“Thank you, truly. I don't even want to imagine how we would have managed if such a large force had been wiped out.”
Embarrassed by the sudden praise, I quickly asked about the elixir.
“Do I just eat it?”
“Yes. But it won't have an immediate dramatic effect. They say it's designed to be absorbed as slowly as possible to reduce the user's burden. Want to eat it now?”
At her words, I immediately nodded and swallowed the elixir. And I slightly frowned at the bitter taste in my mouth.
“Ugh...”
In wuxia novels, high-grade elixirs usually melt and are absorbed instantly upon consumption, but this elixir seemed different. It was bitter and astringent, like swallowing a ginseng root. Still, the effect subtly appeared almost immediately.
Whoosh-
Mana surged instantly, invigorating my body.
Although it was said to be absorbed very slowly, the energy contained within was so potent that it quickly became noticeable.
My body instantly heated up, and vitality flowed into me. Feeling that effect, I thought to myself.
*Wait... isn't this just the effect of wild ginseng?*
Calling it wild ginseng in this fantasy World makes it sound a bit unimpressive, I guess.
Anyway, as I slowly felt the effects, Odelia spoke again.
“Honestly... I never thought I'd say this to a Manifestor... but you're probably our Empire's Top Power now. With even the 1st Knight Commander incapacitated, there's no one new among the Knights who can step up yet.”
So, she added, you can interpret this elixir as a gesture of goodwill from the country.
After all, giving an item capable of Stat Enhancement to a Manifestor, who is essentially a ticking time bomb, is a huge deal in itself.
Hearing that, I spoke, feeling a bit burdened.
“I didn't realize you'd view me so favorably.” “It means you've become a crucial Force. So, cooperate well, alright, you rascal.”
Having said that, Odelia turned and left, as if her task was complete.
Watching her retreating back, I let out a wry smile.
Even after I spirited away a Branch Leader, what I got in return was a gesture of goodwill...
Isn't this practically saying they'll just overlook it? It certainly seemed the Empire was short on resources. This was due to a shortage of people and Demons running wild outside.
Anyway, it was a good thing for me. It meant they had no intention of interrogating me about it. After our conversation, I went back into the Cave.
*
After that, daily life continued. Hunting, sparring, eating, and sleeping, all while leaving my housemate to her own devices. However, living together brought about some minor changes.
“Ah~ So refreshing.”
For example, Yor, the Landlord, started bathing more frequently.
This was perhaps because of the hot weather, or because there was a fire-related Manifestor in the house.
Lately, I have felt particularly sensitive to the heat.
Naturally, the frequency of bathing increased. And along with it, my clothing became thinner. Yor recently returned to “that fashion” after a long time.
You know, that was the 'rough-and-tumble' fashion Chae-rin mentioned before. That tank top and shorts outfit I encountered before made a comeback. While the wearer was undoubtedly comfortable, the increased exposure was unavoidable.
Naturally, Nikki, living in the same house, had to witness that sight. It was a truly defenseless and embarrassing sight, and she always felt awkward because of it.
*Seriously... where am I supposed to look?*
But it was also awkward to say anything to the Landlord. Because they lived in the same house, this was quite the problem.
And his body was so good... her eyes couldn't help but be drawn to him. As she watched for a moment, Yor spoke.
“Hey.”
“...Ah, huh?”
“Speaking of which... when are you going back?”
At his words, Nikki flinched instantly. She wondered if she had made him uncomfortable.
“Why, why? Am I bothering you by staying too long...?”
“No, it's not that...”
Yor trailed off awkwardly.
Feeling uneasy at his demeanor, Nikki began to explain.
“Well, actually, I'm supposed to meet Sephiroth in a few days. We decided where to meet when we parted ways. So...”
“So you want to stay here until then?”
Nod. At his words, Nikki nodded up and down. Yor couldn't help but ponder for a moment.
*...Hmm.*
Honestly, her being here doesn't really matter to me... But I'm a bit worried about the Berserk State that will happen tonight.
What if Berserk State B triggers tonight and I attack her? I've already got a lot pent up these days... I definitely wouldn't be able to hold back.
*But I can't just kick her out either, hmm...*
Yor's dilemma deepened. I'd feel bad sending her out alone into this dangerous forest, and I can't send her near the city either. It would be a bit much to just kick her out because of my own physiological needs.
*...Ah, whatever.*
After pondering for a long time
“Alright. Stay comfortable until then.”
He ultimately decided to let her stay. To be honest... he harbored a slight ulterior motive. He'd been cohabiting with a woman for several days now. There was no way his Lower Body wouldn't react.
He'd been ignoring the cries of his “little precious” down below for dozens of days already.
*Meanwhile, the Otherworlders were busy with their quests.*
If it's Berserk State B, his psychological hurdles would be sufficiently lowered.
Since he'd just eaten a wild ginseng, he might as well release some of that pent-up energy. Thus, Yor, harboring a slight ulterior motive, decided to let her stay.
“Oh, just in case, you know today is *Sak*, right?” “Huh? Oh, right. I haven't been keeping track of that lately... I just realized.” “Right, so. Be prepared.”
She was given only this half-hearted warning.
Naturally, Nikki merely nodded quietly.
“? Okay. Got it.”
Time passed, and night arrived. A dark, moonless night. The blood within him, within Yor, began to boil wildly.
...It was Berserk State A.
*
His blood pulsed and churned.
As soon as Yor felt a faint pain on his skin, he immediately drank the holy water.
Gulp, gulp...
Then, the Demon's Blood instantly calmed down.
Thanks to that, the pain subsided, but Yor couldn't help but feel a slight disappointment.
*Aww...*
I was sure it would be Berserk State B. Should I be relieved it didn't cross the line, or say the Demon's Blood has no sense of timing? Either way, it was an odd feeling.
Come to think of it, B has been triggering frequently lately.
It was about time for A to trigger, but I never thought it would be this month.
Still, thanks to the dozens of holy waters I had stocked up, I didn't feel any particular pain. However, because of that holy water, all the strength drained from my body.
My whole body felt languid, as if I were drunk with sleep. But I couldn't fall asleep.
Because if I didn't drink it every three hours, the blood residing within my body would start acting up again.
No, the interval might even be shorter this month, especially since I've used my abilities so much.
Ultimately, I was destined to stay up all night. So, Yor decided to lean against the wall and just talk with Nikki.
Sex seemed out of the question, but having a Conversation Partner would make staying up all night much better. He looked at Nikki and said.
“I really envy you not having a Berserk State...” “Oh, that? It's all thanks to someone who gave me their fingernail.”
Indeed, a Manifestor who achieved Transcendent Breakthrough is different, I suppose. Even though *Sak* had arrived, Nikki was perfectly fine. This was because she had completely mastered the demonic energy within her.
Yor looked at her enviously for a moment; then, a question suddenly popped into his mind.
“Speaking of which, what were your Berserk State symptoms like before?” “Me? Mine weren't very strong. At most, my body would get hot, or I'd get scratches on my skin—” “No, not that. The mental effects, you know.” “...Mental?”
At his words, Nikki tilted her head slightly.
“Is there a Berserk State that affects the mind...?”
At her words, Yor gained more certainty in his conjecture.
Just as I thought.
Just as each Manifestor has different Berserk State symptoms, Berserk State B was a symptom unique to him.
He used to think all Manifestors had their emotions jumbled up... but it seemed that wasn't the case. What kind of Demon was Asmodeus, anyway? It only made him more curious.
As he was thinking that, Nikki spoke again.
“You still seem more comfortable than I expected, though.”
“Well, that's thanks to the holy water.”
“Ah, that. Seriously... I wish I had known about it sooner, because it would've been more comfortable.”
A look of regret briefly crossed Nikki's face. She learned about the effects of holy water relatively recently.
At the time, when she was dispatched to capture Andras, Yor's giving her one out of pity was the first time...
Moreover, a short while after that Berserk State passed, she captured Flauros and achieved Transcendent Breakthrough, essentially making the Berserk State itself disappear. Because of that, she secretly felt regretful that she hadn't been able to experience the holy water's effects more.
Perhaps a bit of that regret reached Yor, as he began to explain the holy water in detail.
“Well, it's not all good, you know. It only stops the Berserk State. It's definitely poison to us. If you drink it, all the strength drains from your body.”
As if sandbags were attached to his entire body. Nikki nodded at his explanation.
But that was only for a moment; suddenly, one of Yor's phrases began to echo in her mind.
*Wait, all the strength drains from his body?*
*Then... isn't he in a defenseless state right now?*
Suddenly, lust welled up in Nikki's heart.
Yor was already wearing very revealing clothes.
She had tried to act nonchalant, but the lust that had accumulated over several days was considerable even for her.
Just think about it. A clearly attractive man, with significant exposure, walking around in the same space... It would be strange if her heart wasn't stirred.
And now, of all things, such a guy was in a Defenseless State. It felt like she wouldn't be pushed back by his strength at all now.
But that thought lasted only a moment.
*...Seriously, I must be crazy.*
She let out a small sigh and tried to suppress her desire. Even so, doing that while staying as a guest in someone else's house was a bit much.
So, the two of them talked for quite a long time. Asking each other questions, and sometimes just being silent. After a long while of that.
“Wow, I can't do this anymore. Can you wake me up after an hour? I'm so sleepy I could die.”
“...Okay.”
At some point, Yor fell asleep. He ultimately couldn't resist the languor weighing down his body and succumbed to sleep.
Meanwhile, his back was leaning uncomfortably against the cave wall. He said if he lay down comfortably, he wouldn't be able to get up for a long time or something.
“...”
Nikki looked at him, now asleep, for a moment. His muscular body and fair skin were visible, an appearance that would make anyone turn their head if he walked down the street.
Honestly, she didn't even wish to date him. Knowing that many Otherworlders were always around him. She felt that someone like herself, seemingly born with a *Wanderlust Fate*, wouldn't quite suit him.
However, she couldn't help but feel a burning desire to at least sleep with him once... Then, it happened at one moment.
“...Huh?”
Suddenly, his groin area revealed a definite presence. As he fell asleep, a physiological phenomenon unique to males manifested.
The moment she saw that, something snapped in Nikki's mind.
Screw it, I don't care.
Wasn't it his fault for showing such a defenseless state in front of a woman in the first place?
*Just the Lower Body... just a peek at the Lower Body.*
Thinking that, Nikki slowly began to pull down Yor's pants.