Chapter 20 Confession
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The world in front of Yuuri shook. His pulse was strange. His vision seemed unnaturally dark. Amidst it all, only Ashley’s mark on her lower abdomen burned clearly into his consciousness.
”Th-that… it’s carved with magic, isn’t it…? What kind of effect does it have…? B-but, it feels so… the shape is…” Marina, unable to grasp the situation, could only list the questions that came to mind.
Marina, unable to grasp the situation, could only list the questions that came to mind.
Ashley released the hem of her skirt, which she had pulled up to her navel. Immediately, Ashley’s clothes seemed to blur, and then her skirt, which had almost fallen, and the long pants she had pulled down, all returned to their original state, as if she hadn’t started to undress.
”That… it’s dressing, isn’t it…! Besides purification, you have such a convenient skill too…!”
For Marina, the greater shock was that her attendant possessed two skills that any maid would envy. It seemed more impactful than Ashley’s indecent behavior.
But Yuuri could not share the princess’s admiration.
Because if Ashley possessed those skills, it meant…
—she had slept with him without him realizing it…!
”Ugh…”
”So, how did you acquire the skills later on…!? Does it have anything to do with the mark on your stomach?”
Something hot rose from his stomach.
Marina, unconcerned by Yuuri’s state, pressed him with questions about how Ashley acquired the skills, full of excitement. Ashley straightened her posture with a deliberate air. Her refined demeanor, likely suitable for the royal castle, was like a painting one would want to capture. Yet, beneath her familiar apron dress, a crotch tattoo was clearly visible on her lower abdomen. Ashley gently stroked the forbidden mark.
”This is proof that I am under Yuuri’s skill. By receiving Yuuri’s mercy, I can obtain the skills I desire.”
”What…? Mercy? Mer—! You don’t mean you did…! —Ahem. Ashley, you didn’t do something that would make me bow to my father, did you?”
The world went black before his eyes.
His legs lost their strength, and he collapsed to his knees. He felt Marina’s gaze prickling the back of his neck as his head drooped. He wanted to plead innocence, but his body was undergoing changes, leaving him no room for that.
”Following the will of the goddess Shelm-sama, I used the skill I received to finish it while Yuuri slept. …I know it was unfaithful. However, if my ice magic hadn’t been strengthened by the skill, I couldn’t have stopped Fried earlier. I have no regrets.”
Ashley stated only the facts, her expression as blank as a doll’s.
The mention of her sinful act. The strange feeling when Ashley was beside him upon waking. He had to confirm it.
”But, wait, Ashley. …I only consulted you about ice magic at the end of the first day. After that, we didn’t have time—”
”Within Yuuri’s skill’s domain, time is separated from the outside. So no matter how many hours pass inside, for those outside, it is only an instant.”
He remembered losing consciousness for a moment on the stairs between the seventh and eighth layers. Was it then that she engaged in the act to strengthen her ice magic? No—if she already possessed purification and dressing, then Ashley’s first transgression must have been when she woke him at the guild. He couldn’t recall her face then. What about her expression when they walked together in the ‘safe area’ on the eighth layer…? Those memories, which should have been pleasant, couldn’t connect with the grotesque reality before him. Trying to force himself to remember, he couldn’t stop the reflux from his stomach.
”Blegh, hurk!!”
”Yu-Yuuri… are you alright? I’m sorry I doubted you. It seems Ashley acted on her own. …Here, let me rub your back… kyah!”
He spat out the contents of his stomach and shook off Marina’s hand on his back. He felt no emotion looking at Marina’s stunned face.
—Women scared him.
Marina was genuinely concerned for him. He knew that, but right now, being touched by a woman was physiologically unbearable.
He managed to stand on shaky legs and walked unsteadily. He wanted to get away from here, away from the women. Where could he go…?
”—Yuuri, that way is outside! I know it’s hard, but you can’t go out. Monsters will attack! …Ah, come on!”
He couldn’t understand the words reaching his ears. His brain refused to process them. He just wanted to walk to a quiet place where he could be alone. Into the endless darkness, he wanted to walk towards it. The path ahead opened up, and he felt relief in the vast darkness. His own strained laughter sounded distant. As he took a step forward, he was suddenly pulled back.
”Hey, Yuuri! What are you doing! It’s dangerous!”
”—…!? Let go! Marina, get off me!”
He was grabbed by the arm while lying face down, and her knee pinned his shoulder, rendering him immobile. He couldn’t push away the princess’s body, which he had somehow lifted so easily just moments before.
”No way I’ll let go!? I need you alive! You’re the only person from my world who listens, and now you carry the duty for my life!? If you’re getting paid for this, show some professional pride!”
”What do you know! I got a skill to make women slaves! I lived without using it all this time! And Ashley used it on me! Ashley, Ashley…!”
His raised voice gradually grew quieter.
He understood. He finally understood what he was so shocked about. If another woman had done this, he might have been able to cut ties after discovering it and eventually forget it as a bad memory. But the one who actually did it was Ashley. The girl he had met ten years ago, whom he had liked perhaps too much. His childhood friend, who had grown incredibly beautiful upon their reunion. The symbol of his ability to live without using his skill all these years… she had defiled it…!
”I want to die…! I don’t want to live anymore…!”
He felt pathetic, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably. He cried out loud, without shame.
”Don’t want to live…”
After crying his heart out, the sound of his sniffling grew louder. Then Marina’s emotionless voice rained down from above.
With a smooth sound, a sword slid from its sheath. Immediately, a cold sensation touched the back of his neck. In his limited field of vision, he forced his gaze towards it and caught a glimpse of a golden sword.
”I’ll end it for you, Yuuri. Any last words? Oh, don’t worry. With my holy sword, you won’t feel pain when your head is separated from your crying body.”
He had nothing to say. He was tired. He wanted to find peace now. Only that feeling swirled within him, and his tense body relaxed.
—However, no matter how long he waited, the golden sword never severed his neck.
”Ashley, who are you pointing that staff at?”
Marina’s voice was laced with palpable anger.
Looking up, he saw Ashley pointing her staff at Marina.
”Ashley, stop. Don’t do that!”
”Please stop, Princess. Please don’t kill Yuuri.”
”It’s no use, Ashley. My holy sword is faster than your magic. Besides, I’m in a bad mood after you betrayed me just now. After Yuuri, I’ll cut your neck too.”
Marina’s words, completely tyrannical, stunned him.
He had naively imagined that Ashley’s skills would help Marina survive after he was gone. He struggled to stop her, but his body, pinned by Marina, couldn’t move even slightly.
”Marina! If you kill Ashley, you won’t get home alive!”
”That’s not for a guy who’s leaving to say! You showed you might turn on me, so one is better than two! And the guy who lowers my chances the most because he only cares about himself has no right to talk!”
Yuuri was speechless.
But he truly did not want to live. That was real. Ashley was the cause, yet he wanted her to live…
Then it hit him. After all this betrayal, he still did not hate Ashley.
—So did it make sense to run from someone he did not hate and end his life?
He did not know. He could not tell what was right in his mind. While messy thoughts spun in his head, the golden holy sword on his neck began to glow.
”Bye, Yuuri!”
”—!”
”Princess, stop!”
Ashley screamed. Lingering attachment.
In the end, he looked up at Ashley, wanting to burn the face of the woman he loved into his eyes. He wanted to die seeing her smile, not this face close to tears, full of regret for her own wrongs—
The golden holy sword bit into his neck.
”—! …Huh? It didn’t cut?”
”…Pfft! Ahahaha! You fell for it! It was just the early ‘glowing sword mode’! Kukuku! If I really meant to cut, the holy sword wouldn’t meet any resistance from your neck!”
Marina laughed like a child who pulled a perfect prank. The weight on his shoulders vanished. His body felt free again, as if nothing had happened. He sat up, confused, and looked at Ashley.
Marina stepped back with big strides. She stood tall and spoke loud.
”First, both of you sit right there! On your knees!”
”Se… seiza?”
”Ashley, sit like this. …Yes, Marina-sama.”
Marina showed them. Ashley copied. They knelt side by side in front of the princess. Marina nodded, happy they listened fast. She pointed at Yuuri.
”First, Yuuri! …A guy who says he wants to die and runs away shouldn’t look at the woman who made him throw up with eyes that beg for help! It looks so bad! If you like her, just say it! I don’t want to die because you two fight!”
”…Yes.”
”Next, Ashley! At least tell me! Why act like a bad kid!? How many years have you served me!? I’m not a good girl like you! Trust your boss more! And you sold yourself to Yuuri—how did you plan to talk to my father!?”
”…I have no excuse.”
Two big older people took a straight scolding from a small younger girl. The princess spoke truth, so nothing was wrong. But the sight looked strange. Still, thanks to her, Ashley no longer looked like a doll with no face. She hung her head, sorry. That alone made Yuuri’s fear of Ashley grow weaker.
—It was not a quick bad choice from a dark urge. Ashley had named the goddess earlier. That evil goddess must have whispered and pushed her.
”—So talk it out right. What’s done is done. Decide clearly what to do next.”
She did not say “make up to stay alive” on purpose. Maybe to respect him. Or she knew they would not break. Yuuri glanced at Ashley. Her emerald eyes looked back. Still kneeling, he turned to her. Ashley must have thought this sit fit serious talk too. They faced each other, knees close. Yuuri fixed his posture and bowed his head.
”Sorry I ran without listening!”
”Ah, lift your head…! I… I was the one who found your secret and pushed in first…!”
If both felt bad, the one who said sorry first made peace easier. Ashley bowed deep next. Her first dogeza looked perfect. Yuuri stared, lost in it. Sharp stares came from Marina, but he ignored them. He was not moved by the blonde maid’s bow. Not at all. Then Ashley told the story. More and more came out about the evil goddess’s tricks. Talking so serious felt silly. Yuuri fell back on the stone floor.
”It’s all that guy’s fault!”
”You can say that, but I did it all. I will take any punishment. Use me up as your servant if you want.”
Ashley kept perfect posture. Yuuri wanted to blame the goddess and laugh it off. But Ashley could not forgive herself for helping. Now she needed some punishment both could accept to end it. From what he learned, Ashley’s body was tied to the crotch tattoo and the familial workshop forever. Like it or not, he had to keep her close. A way for him, Ashley, and others to agree… Then he remembered an old wish—from ten years ago. The one he gave up. He fixed his posture again and looked straight at Ashley.
”Ashley, will you stay with me from now on?”
”Yes. As your servant—”
He stopped her words with a hand. Wrong way to say it. He had to start earlier for her to understand now.
”Ashley, is my familial workshop good enough to make Alegria blood strong?”
”—Huh? …Huh, huh? Huh…!? Are you serious, Yuuri!?”
Something like a bad plan smelled near, but he set it aside. He looked right in her eyes and nodded. If the skill kept him from leaving Ashley, then marry her. Noble strength came from skill strength too. To marry into a noble house, your skill had to help the family work or give rare skills to kids. For rarity, the familial workshop was top class. If he used it only with Ashley and no more, it should count as strong blood.
”Th-that… the skill is rare enough, I think, but if you tell Father what it does…”
”I’ll take the hits. I mean, the Count has to agree or he’ll disown you. Even if not, you might get locked up… To be honest, if that happens, I’m not sure I can stop myself from coming to take you.”
With some familial workshop powers Ashley let slip, he could call her into the skill area from anywhere, it seemed easy. He looked close at her face and wanted her. Ashley turned red to her ears and looked away. Strange, but he felt no fear using the skill on Ashley. Maybe because they already had a contract. Or because it was Ashley. He asked himself. The answer was clear. He sealed the skill because he could not take duty for lives he took. Ashley, the girl he liked a little long ago. Ashley, whose life he already took. He could take duty for her life. Getting punched by the Count who lost a pure daughter was a cheap price.
”I… I’m happy, but… I’m like this… I love Yuuri… I’m the kind of woman who runs wild on her own. I did dirty things to someone who didn’t want it…”
True, that part alone was bad. Very bad. But from all Ashley had said and done, Yuuri could guess why. It was a proud reason, but still.
”For example, if the goddess told you to do the same to someone else, would you?”
”No! I hate anyone but Yuuri. If she ordered that, I would cut my own throat!”
He half expected that answer. But hearing it straight made him shy. His whole face felt hot. He tried to keep a serious look and answer her love.
”Same for me. Because it’s Ashley, I don’t want to be careless. I don’t want you to lose your home or people. I want to take responsibility. I want you by my side because you are Ashley.”
”—! …Is it okay? If I stay with Yuuri… can I hope for fun things forever… right?”
He met her eyes straight. The moment he nodded strong, Ashley jumped into his chest.
”I love you! I love Yuuri so much! From ten years ago, always!”
”Me too, Ashley. Ten years ago, you were a cool young lady. When we met again, you grew so beautiful my heart jumped. I love you. I won’t let go. Stay by my side forever!”
He could not hold her force. They rolled on the stone floor. He tried to hug Ashley as she nodded over and over, eyes wet—
”Sorry, Yuuri. Let me use purification once first. The vomit smell ruins the mood.”
”Ah, yes. Right. Agh.”
It felt flat. After his chest and mouth, she put fingers in his mouth for purification. The sour taste inside faded. He thought they would kiss next, but yes, a promise kiss should not taste like vomit.
”Pfft, heh, heh. Oh, sorry. Go on?”
The princess watching from far laughed, but he did not care now. He turned to Ashley again and held her cheeks.
”Um, it’s my first time, so I might be bad, but… can I kiss you?”
”…! Yes. Come to think of it, it was my first too… When you slept, I couldn’t reach. You’re tall, and… —Mmph!”
He shut the mouth of his lover who said shameless things. He pushed past her teeth and rushed into the mouth that spoke dirty words. He found her small tongue hiding deep and caught it.
”Fyu, Yuu-ri… Mmph, haa, slurp. Mmph, lick, nnh…”
He touched every part of her small tongue, the roof of her mouth, her gums. He found every sensitive spot inside. Soon her fight grew weak. She let him lead and moved her tongue with his. Each time he rubbed a good place, her whole body shook cutely. He wanted more from Ashley, now so honest. He reached out— but stopped.
”Stop there!! I wanted you to make up, but no more heat!”
He forgot they were being scolded because he felt good. Both jumped up fast, knelt again, and hung their heads.
”—Now let’s talk more. First, happy make-up. And for now, I accept your bond. We need you both to survive.”
”Ah, thank you.”
”We thank your deep thought.”
They bowed nice. Marina nodded many times, pleased.
”Yes, yes. —By the way, Yuuri. Ashley’s father and I are close. I want to keep him as a backer. You will go greet him, right?”
”Of course. I’ll bow until he accepts us. A man keeps his word.”
”Yuuri…!”
No more cloudy words. He nodded to Ashley, face red with happy tears. Face his skill. Take duty for Ashley. He already chose. But when Marina heard, her tight face opened wide with a smile.
—Oh no. He had seen this face before. When she thought of something wild.
”Okay. I have your word. The noble world cares about face. ‘I couldn’t’ hurts honor, you know?”
”Yeah. I don’t want Ashley to cry more. For her, anything.”
Anything was a bad word, he thought, but too late. He looked straight and waited for Marina.
”Then as princess, I have a plan. Make me your servant too, Yuuri.”
”—Huh?”
The golden girl smiled bright and gave a huge confession.
—
Marina’s golden sword cannot cut unless the blade is slid. Using a skill allows for instant severing, so the sword’s sharpness is not very relevant.
Notes:
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Shelm – Wicked Goddess, reincarnated Yuuri, manipulative, wants him to use his power.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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