Volume 1 Chapter 15 Epilogue： The Two Ahead
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
When I opened my eyes, sunlight was already spilling through the window, wrapping the room in a gentle warmth.
A soft weight rested against me, steady and warm, making me hesitate to move. I glanced down.
Lena was curled up on top of me, her arms loosely around my chest, her cheek pressed gently against me. Her breathing was soft and slow—peaceful in a way that tugged at my heart.
We must’ve fallen asleep like this last night, after everything.
She looked so peaceful. So calm. So incredibly cute.
I wrapped my arms around her and brushed a hand through her hair. Just that small motion sent a quiet warmth spreading through my chest.
”Mm… mmph…”
She stirred slightly, her fingers twitching against my skin.
”…Hehehe…”
Still half-asleep, she nuzzled closer with a sleepy smile, hugging me tighter like a kitten seeking warmth.
I couldn’t help it—I held her closer and continued to stroke her hair gently.
”Mm… mmm… Sir Soyuz…”
Her sleepy voice drifted up to me. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her gaze soft and unfocused.
”Good morning, Lena,” I said, still brushing her hair.
”…Good morning,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Her face was flushed, caught somewhere between dream and waking. It wasn’t the usual calm or embarrassed Lena I knew—this was something quieter. More honest.
She blinked once, then again, her cheeks deepening in color.
”…Sir Soyuz, um… your body is…”
She trailed off, and I looked away, suddenly very aware of the closeness between us.
Even without words, the warmth we shared was unmistakable. The distance between us had disappeared last night. That much was clear.
Lena glanced down, hesitating, then gently placed her hand on my chest.
”If… it’s already like this…” she murmured, her voice low, “would it be alright if I… stayed like this a little longer?”
Her cheeks were glowing softly, her eyes avoiding mine.
”…Wait, what do you mean by that?” I asked, a bit dazed.
She didn’t answer. Instead, she shifted ever so slightly.
My breath caught.
”Lena…”
”Just relax,” she whispered, her lips brushing faintly against my skin.
But before she could go any further, I stopped her.
”Lena, I want to give you a command.”
She looked up at me, eyes wide, breath held.
”…W-What is it?”
I smiled, gently cupping her cheek.
”Give me a good morning kiss.”
Her eyes widened, then softened. With a small nod, she leaned up and pressed her lips to mine—light, warm, and trembling.
”…Good morning, Sir Soyuz.”
”Good morning,” I whispered back, stroking her cheek.
She smiled quietly, and I noticed a single tear glimmer at the edge of her eye.
”…Then… may I continue serving you?” she asked in a near whisper.
I didn’t answer with words. Just held her hand, letting her know how I felt.
She lowered her gaze, her breath warm against me as she leaned in once more.
The quiet sounds in the room shifted—slow, soft movements, full of hesitation and care.
Her motions were gentle, like trying to remember something long forgotten.
”…Where did you…” I began, but stopped as I felt her tremble.
”…Back then… I saw it once. In the quarters…” she whispered.
Her voice was barely a breath, her expression flushed and focused only on me.
She was putting everything into this moment—shy, unsure, but sincere.
”Does it… feel okay?” she asked, almost tearfully.
I wrapped my arms around her without thinking.
”It feels wonderful, Lena… you’re incredible…”
My breath grew ragged. Hers matched mine.
”I can’t… I can’t hold it anymore…”
”Ah… w-wait…”
The world blurred for a moment.
”Lena, it’s your fault… You’re just too cute.”
She clung to me tightly, trembling as if her whole self was answering back.
”I’m so happy…! Sir Soyuz…!”
Tears slid down her cheeks as her voice broke with emotion.
”Calling me cute like that… It makes me feel so happy…!”
”I love you, Lena. You’re everything to me.”
”Sir Soyuz… I love you too!”
Something warm spread between us. A small, quiet sound echoed in the room, followed by her soft voice:
”I’m sorry… I’m sorryyy…”
Even as she trembled, her arms held me tighter. She didn’t want to let go.
And in that moment, everything overflowed.
”…Lena… I’m…!”
”Yes… It’s okay… inside is okay…!”
Her voice overlapped mine.
And then, silence.
Only our breathing remained.
Her strength gave out first. She rested on top of me, quiet and still, her soft breath tickling my skin.
”…Ah… ah…”
She let out a small sigh.
* * *
”Sniff… I just want to disappear…”
Those were Lena’s first words after she came to.
”I’m going to die,” she whispered as she reached for a dagger, but I managed to grab her wrist just in time.
It took a while, but I calmed her down. Now, the two of us are in the backyard of the boarding house, hanging up the laundry.
The sun is shining, and the breeze is just right—perfect weather for drying sheets and bedding.
”I’m really sorry,” I said, scratching my cheek. “I got a little carried away.”
Her reaction had been so adorable that I went too far. It’s my fault, no doubt.
”…For Sir Soyuz to call me cute is more than I deserve… But my weak self just keeps causing trouble for you…” Lena murmured, her voice small.
She was crouched in the corner of the drying space, hugging her knees tightly.
She must still be shaken. For a girl her age, something like wetting herself has to be unbearably humiliating.
If I don’t do something, she might close herself off again. Just like before.
”I-it’s okay,” I said, trying to keep my voice gentle. “Honestly, I don’t hate it when you feel that good… You’re cute, even when that happens…”
Wait, no—what am I even saying?
That’s the worst possible thing to say!
”…Peeing is… cute?”
Lena slowly looked up at me, her ears burning red.
Why did she latch onto that part!?
”Could it be…” she asked, her voice trembling, “Sir Soyuz is interested in… that kind of thing?”
”N-no! I mean—not really, it’s just—Lena, you’re…”
I couldn’t find the words.
Lena stared at me with wide eyes, her lips trembling.
Did I mess up again…?
”If… if you really wanted to see… I’d be embarrassed, but… I wouldn’t mind showing you…” she whispered.
”I-I’ll keep that in mind… for someday, maybe…”
What does someday even mean?
* * *
”Hey, Lena. I’ve been wondering,” I said as I folded a sheet, “your left eye… can you see with it now?”
”Huh? What do you mean?” she asked, tilting her head.
Her face was pointed directly at me.
That’s what felt off.
Until yesterday, Lena would always tilt her head slightly to the left to better line up her vision with her right eye.
But today, she was looking at me straight on.
”…………”
She blinked, then brought both hands to her face. Slowly, she closed her right eye… then her left.
”…I can see,” she said softly. “My left eye… It’s still blurry, but… I can see again…”
Just as I suspected.
There could only be one reason.
The ritual that happened when we shared our bodies yesterday.
It must have gone beyond just healing her injuries. It even restored her sight.
──Sharing life.
If the medium is bodily fluid… and the womb is the place closest to life…
No, this is all still just a guess.
But even so—
”…What exactly is this power?” I muttered.
Tears sparkled in Lena’s eyes as she gave me a radiant smile.
”Sir Soyuz is a god. To me, at least.”
I still don’t fully understand it.
But seeing her like this—happy, smiling—it’s enough for now.
For some reason, that thought alone made everything feel okay.
* * *
After she calmed down from the shock of earlier, Lena helped me finish folding the laundry.
We’ll rest a bit until evening, then go out to eat.
She hasn’t had proper meals in a long time. I want her to enjoy good food—warm, filling meals that make her smile.
Actually, it’s probably time we move out of this place.
Let’s find a new home. A proper one, with a bath and a kitchen. A space for the two of us to live together.
I wonder if Lena can cook?
If not, I’ll teach her.
Learning to make tasty food for herself—it’ll bring her even more happiness.
At some point, I realized something.
I really, truly like Lena.
I’m an adventurer. Life is full of danger. I might die at any moment, and my goals may never be reached.
I’ve always kept my distance from others—especially women.
But now…
”Hey, Lena.”
”Yes. What is it?”
”I’m going to keep adventuring. It’ll be a rootless life, wandering from place to place. There won’t be much peace, and I could die any day.”
”Yes.”
”Even so… will you come with me?”
Lena gave me a look that said what are you even talking about?
”I’m your slave. I’ll follow you anywhere. Even to the underworld,” she said, her voice steady and strong.
She meant every word.
End of Volume One
Notes:
• Lena – Female. A young slave girl in her early teens. Her appearance is emaciated with brown skin, long black hair, and grotesque scars across her face, including one that blinds her left eye. She wears a black collar and tattered clothing. Her relationship to the protagonist is that of a rescued victim. She is silent and appears to have endured severe physical and emotional abuse.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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