Chapter 34 Demons (Youma)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Martina’s POV)
(Why am I so drawn to this little boy…?)
I think about this while watching Big Brother Hiroya sleep, holding Big Sis Kazumi and Big Sister Rena in his arms.
* * *
I’m Martina Regios, and until recently, I had regressed to a childlike state. I probably experienced something really shocking in my heart.
During summer vacation, as I faced my skills as a ‘Thief,’ various memories started to come back.
I remembered my life after I turned 6… forming an adventurer party with my childhood friends Isaac and Roana in this village… and then having an accident that caused me to get seriously hurt… and that this accident made me regress to a childlike state…
I understand that it was Big Brother Hiroya, Big Sis Kazumi, and Big Sister Rena who saved me from that accident. They stayed by my side the whole time I was regressed.
Even now, as my memories gradually return, I truly love these 3. But among them…
(I can’t get the image of Big Brother Hiroya, holding my head and saying, “It’s okay… it’s okay now…” while crying out of my mind──)
With those words, tears, and his enveloping kindness, he saved my heart, which was probably ‘broken’ due to that accident, from the depths of despair. That’s something I can never forget.
And the 3 of them treated me like a real little sister. They are very important people to me, and I can’t replace them with anything.
(But…)
Now that my memories have returned and I’m 15 years old, I wonder if they will still treat me the same way. Will they accept me, even though I’m no longer their little sister? Just thinking about it makes me really scared, and I can’t tell them the truth.
So, even though I’ve regained my memories except for the ‘accident,’ I’m still acting like the old Martina.
(I don’t want to be apart from these people… no, I don’t want to be apart from ‘this person’…)
Since my memories came back, I’ve been thinking about this all the time.
* * *
When Big Brother Hiroya and the others were told to ‘challenge the S-rank dungeon’ at the guild, I really wanted them to refuse.
(As great as everyone is, it’s just too dangerous.)
My instincts as a ‘Thief’ are ringing alarm bells. ‘It’s definitely dangerous.’
But the 3 of them accepted the challenge. For the village, and for the young adventurers who make this their base… I guess.
(If that’s the case, there’s only one thing I can do.)
I’ll go with them. And I’ll give them all my skills, and if necessary, even my life.
”I’ll go too…”
Without realizing it, I strongly grabbed Big Brother Hiroya’s shoulders from behind, and my words of determination slipped out.
He seemed surprised by my grip. Big Brother Hiroya turned around and looked up at me.
”I’ll go too! I remember what I need to do as a ‘Thief!’.”
I quickly let go of his shoulders and stated my determination in my usual tone.
* * *
And my scattered thoughts return to square one.
(Why am I so drawn to this little boy…?)
The blanket falls softly at my feet.
I stand up like a sleepwalker and plop down in front of Big Brother Hiroya.
(Why am I so drawn to you…)
His strength?
It’s true that Big Brother Hiroya is strong. He could probably beat any average adventurer. I’ve watched him for a long time, and I think he’s one of the best swordsmen around.
No, that’s not it. I’m not just attracted to his strength.
His kindness?
Sometimes he shows a gentle side, like a brother who really cares for his sister. When I see Big Brother Hiroya like that, he doesn’t seem that much older than me.
No, it’s not just his kindness that draws me in.
Is it jealousy?
It always looks like he’s being all lovey-dovey with Big Sis Kazumi and Big Sister Rena.
It hurts a little to watch, so I hug Big Brother Hiroya tightly to show I’m not giving up my spot as his little sister.
…No, I don’t want to think of myself as a jealous girl, and I’m trying to figure out why I’m so attracted to him in the first place.
I gently place both hands on Big Brother Hiroya’s cheek.
(Big Brother Hiroya, I’m sorry…)
I press my lips against his small ones.
Thump, thump, my heart beats ten times before I pull away.
”Mm… huh?”
A soft sigh escapes Big Brother Hiroya’s lips.
(I want to sleep like this tonight… is that okay, Big Brother Hiroya…)
I bury my face in the lap of the boy who captivates my heart so much.
* * *
(Hiroya’s POV)
”…Mm… who… ? Kazumi?”
I feel warmth on my lips and slowly wake up. When I look beside me, Kazumi is sleeping. Is this a dream…?
(A dream about being kissed? How far can I go──)
I can’t help but smile wryly. Then, I glance down and…
”Huh?”
I almost shout, but I manage to hold it in.
Martina is sleeping on my lap, looking really comfortable.
(She must have had a hard time sleeping in the chair.)
The blanket is dropped at the foot of the chair across from me. I want to pick it up, but I’m stuck with 3 people using me as a pillow, so I can’t move much.
(But I can’t let her catch a cold.)
I twist my body a bit and take my blanket off to cover Martina. I’m warm enough with the 3 of them clinging to me.
A smile appears on Martina’s sleeping face. I gently place my hand on her head and stroke it.
”…heh heh…”
(She must be having a fun dream.)
Feeling the sway of the carriage, I slowly drift back into the world of dreams.
* * *
(Liz’s POV)
”Seriously, this boy is really popular…”
In front of me, on the opposite bench, 4 people are sleeping soundly. They’re all cuddled up to Hiroya.
(Well, I can’t say I don’t understand…)
It’s clear he has a mysterious charm. I can feel a sense of maturity from both Kazumi and Rena when they look at him.
(Plus, he’s strong too~)
He doesn’t seem like a child who isn’t even 9 years old yet. His rare ‘one-hit kill’ swordsmanship is almost perfected. If he had the right build, combined with ‘Physical Boost,’ he would be one of the best users in the country.
But right now, he lacks the build, and with ‘Physical Boost,’ he can only stand shoulder to shoulder with adults.
(I have to protect him.)
Until he grows physically, I’ll take good care of him. No, I want to see that growth up close. Right?
Well then. Thanks to the comfortable carriage, which is different from the cheap rides, I was able to sleep well.
(Should this Lady Liz have prepare breakfast for them?)
Well, just like last night, it’s only dried meat and hard bread.
* * *
(Hiroya’s POV)
After waking up and finishing the usual meal of dried meat and bread, the carriage stopped.
”I heard from the driver that there’s a spring just a little into the forest from here. We’ll stop for about an hour for a bathroom break, so let’s go take a bath!”
Liz opened the box seat door and rushed in.
”Yeah! Let’s go!”
”Yay! Rena wanted to freshen up!”
”I’m going too!”
Everyone looks happy.
”I’ll wash my face and brush my teeth. I’ll keep watch so no one peeks.”
”…Hiroya will peek…”
Kazumi glared at me with narrowed eyes.
”That was an accident during the hot spring! Besides, it was Liz and Martina who forced me…”
”Okay, okay. I’ll have Hiroya keep watch, and just in case, Rena will cast ‘Invisibility’ magic.”
”That works! So, sorry, pervy Mr. Hiroya.”
…Somehow, I’m not satisfied with Ms. Kazumi.
I took out towels from the cargo carriage, and the 5 of us headed to the spring.
* * *
I washed my face and brushed my teeth at the edge of the spring first.
”Alright, I’ll keep watch from a little further away.”
I called out to the 4 waiting by the spring and moved away.
”Okay! Now, ‘Invisibility’!”
When I glanced back… I really couldn’t see them. Amazing.
(But, even if I can’t see it… everyone is taking off their clothes right now…)
That thought crossed my mind, but I shook my head to clear it. I decided to sit on a nearby rock and focus my mind to calm down.
* * *
After a while, 4 adventurer guards came toward us.
”Hey, boy, where are the girls?”
”…They’re taking a bath.”
”I know that! That’s why I came to peek!”
The leader, a Fighter, was getting angry.
”You’re not allowed to peek… are you stupid?”
”What did you say? You think you’re a knight? You’re just a kid with something dangerous at your waist!”
Another Fighter yelled from behind.
”…Wait a minute. That kid with the Eastern sword…”
”Huh? Just a kid, right?”
One of the Fighters grabbed the other Fighter’s arm to stop him.
”No, stop. I heard the rumors in Razia Village. ‘There’s an incredibly strong kid who uses Eastern sword techniques’… and he’s the second son of that ‘two-handed’ lord.”
At the Tank’s words, the two Fighters stood at attention.
”So, he’s the lord’s son… I’ve heard the rumors…”
”Right? Shouldn’t we peek together?”
Are they still thinking about peeking?
”You can’t peek. There’s an ‘invisible’ magic on them.”
”What?! Damn it! There was a magician!”
”Even though we had 2 hot girls there!”
I had to hold back a laugh and said,
”I’ll keep it a secret from everyone. Okay, break it up, break it up!”
I clapped my hands to shoo them away.
”Fine, boy. Everyone, I’ll treat you guys to a brothel in the town we’ll reach tomorrow.”
”No way, you’re not getting out of paying.”
The four of them bickered as they left.
”Well, they don’t seem like bad people.”
I continued my watch, and any impure thoughts had vanished.
* * *
(Third Person Perspective))
”Those guys were pathetic, even though they were adventurers…”
Four shadows loomed over the four corpses, surprisingly mirroring their appearance.
”Well, we’re high-ranking incubi; those low-level adventurers were no challenge for us.”
Incubi, a type of demon known as succubi… creatures that seduce women in their dreams, mate with them, and drain their life force. These creatures claimed to be such demons.
”Hey, you guys. Get rid of these bodies. Don’t worry; after we’ve had our fill of the women, we’ll make sure to share them with you, our lower-ranking incubi.”
Six shadows emerged from the forest and dragged the four bodies away.
”I’ll take the feisty one. There’s nothing like seeing a woman’s expression melt as she pleads for more… irresistible.”
The leader, a man, licked his lips.
”…I want the little girl with silver hair…”
The fighter, also a man, whispered his preference.
”I know what you mean. The gradual awakening of pleasure in a girl who hasn’t yet reached sexual maturity is an experience unlike any other with an adult woman. Just thinking about it makes me dizzy… I’ll take the black-haired girl.”
The tank, another man, strongly agreed.
”Then I’ll take the curvy one. After all, it’s all about the feel of a woman. I’ll trample all over her soft body.”
The spear-wielder, yet another man, grinned lewdly.
”Well, anyway, it’s tonight. We’ll wait for the girls to be alone. We’ll attack in pairs.”
”””Got it.”””
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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