Chapter 12 Ashley’s Memory — Part ③ — Descent
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Something that called itself a god reached out and touched her body while she lay on her back, unable to move. It softly rubbed her cheeks, her neck, her breasts, her waist, her stomach, her legs… as if checking how she felt. After a while, it nodded. The figure, resembling Princess Marina, sat cross-legged by the pillow and grinned.
”You grew up nice. He will like this.”
The way it acted, like judging farm animals, made anger rush to her head. It resembled Princess Marina, but she would never say such things. It must be a thief borrowing her shape. Even if it had taken her body’s freedom somehow, Ashley would make it regret not taking her mind too. She built magic power inside her body and aimed at the fake princess’s face. She could not forgive it for using the princess she loved and respected. Ashley was good at ice magic. The enemy should freeze, and that face should break apart… but it did not happen. The magic only came out a little and moved the fake princess’s hair.
”Oh, scary. Magic is not part of my power. I interfered with your magic boost to make it almost nothing.”
The entity made Ashley’s magic useless without any trouble, yet it acted afraid in a big way. Ashley thought it was impossible, but she tried to use magic again. The result was the same each time. She felt confused by the sudden event. She had never heard of a skill that could change another skill’s effect. Even a seal skill that stopped use could not change the effect itself. The being in front of her did it easily, and that scared her. Skills should always be there. Among people with skills, how many could become skill-less tomorrow if told to do so?
”Ashley-chan’s favorite Yuuri-kun did it.”
The fake princess whispered as if reading her mind. It even knew about Yuuri, and that made Ashley shrink in fear from how deep this being went.
”Don’t be scared anymore. I told you I’m a god. If Ashley-chan listens well, I will fix your magic boost. I will let you speak, but making noise is useless. No one outside can hear.”
As soon as the self-called god said that, her throat, which had only let air pass, got back its ability to groan. It did not seem to plan harm right now, but with magic still not working, the magic boost was clearly held hostage. Her body could not move at all, so she had no choice but to listen.
”A god, you say? Who are you, really? Why do you look like the princess?”
”I am the goddess of skills, Shelm. I appear as Marina-chan because I possess her. She is my miko (shrine maiden).”
Hearing that the body she thought was a copy was actually Princess Marina’s made her blood run cold. If Shelm had not stopped the magic, she would have hurt the princess’s body.
”No way… The messages the princess often spoke of…”
”Yes, I descended to Marina-chan and made her write information beneficial to me. Ah, I swear on a god’s honor, I don’t lie. I just omit information that isn’t in my interest.”
Ashley thought it was very selfish. But even people who were not gods put their own needs first. That was normal. A god being selfish was fine, but then why did Princess Marina worship such a mean god?
”That’s a secret. It’s Marina-chan’s secret too. Hehe, don’t glare like that. There are mind-reading skills in the world. I can use the skills I give to humans, of course.”
”If you can do anything, why ask someone small like me? Why not solve it yourself?”
The goddess Shelm nodded in a big way, as if it was a good question.
”First, basic thing: when people use skills, my power as a god grows. You all do well, and I get strong. Good for both.”
”So, you don’t like when skills you gave are not used.”
The goddess raised a finger as if to say correct.
”I believe I have a good eye for people. I grant strong skills to those who can use them effectively. But Yuuri-kun sealed his. I gave it to him for nothing, and that bothers me.”
”So Yuuri did have a skill. But from your attitude, it seems sealing skills hurts you a lot.”
The goddess laughed and said it was sharp.
”I believe Yuuri-kun can use it without making mistakes. Hey, since we are here, Ashley-chan, experience the Familial Workshop. I intend to have you assist me anyway, as a little tutorial.”
She ignored the doubtful look and clapped her hands as if it was a great idea. Then she lightly touched Ashley’s forehead with her finger. Ashley had a bad feeling and tried hard to get away, but she could not even move a bit.
”Wait, just wait. I never said I would… ah—”
Everything went dark. The goddess’s thin smile, the familiar ceiling behind her—all vanished. The scene shifted. In a dim room, a naked Yuuri reached out with love. The strong muscles she saw in the day looked good in the moody side light. She tried to jump back from the sudden event, but her body did not follow her will, just like before. Instead, her arms moved on their own to welcome Yuuri. They pressed her full breasts from both sides to stir his desire.
”Yuuri… I love you. Come to me.”
The words slipped from her lips unbidden, honeyed and coaxing, as though spoken by a stranger wearing her voice. She was held—cradled, really—by a Yuuri she had never known, and the body that answered him was not entirely her own. Control had slipped away, yet every pulse of sensation remained hers to bear. This was no dream; she recognized the goddess’s handiwork at once, a cruelly vivid illusion. Escape eluded her. The Ashley of the vision arched toward him, pleading with a fluency the real Ashley had never possessed. Yuuri, equally unreal, bared himself without shame.
(So much of him… and that mark—)
Her gaze lingered, unwilling, on the rigid evidence of his desire, then darted lower. Across the illusion-Ashley’s abdomen glowed a sigil, delicate yet ominous, like a seal pressed into living skin. Ashley’s arcane studies named it instantly: a compulsion glyph, engineered to magnify pleasure beyond nature’s intent. She had touched herself in secret, yes—quiet, guilty moments with Yuuri’s name on her breath—but those solitary climaxes were pale shadows. What the mark promised was not joy; it was servitude disguised as rapture. She recoiled inwardly even as the illusion-self parted for him.
”Fwaa♡ Deeper—yes, like that…”
(No—this is nothing like my own hand…)
Her core fluttered, slick and eager, anointing him with readiness she had not granted.
”Ready,” the dream-Yuuri murmured, voice rough with restraint. “I’m coming in, Ashley.”
”Yes♡ Hurry♡”
(This is my first time—)
A single, fluid thrust seated him fully. No resistance, no pain—only a shocking completeness that stole her breath. For the phantoms, it was routine; for the virgin watching through borrowed eyes, it was revelation.
”Kuh… you grip me so tightly…”
”Nnhii♡ Always perfect—always yours♡”
(What is this—?!)
The instant he filled her, every prior peak shattered. What her fingers had coaxed in furtive minutes was dwarfed by a single slow drag along inner walls she had never known existed. This was not climax; this was ascent, and the summit still loomed.
(I mustn’t remember— If I carry this with me, I’ll never be free of it. But if I must fall… let it be the real Yuuri, not this lie.)
”I can’t wait any longer,” he growled. “I’m moving.”
”Yes♡ Take me—stir me until I break♡”
His arms pinned her with tender strength, hips rolling in a rhythm older than words. Each stroke raked hidden nerves alight, unearthing pleasure in layers she could not catalogue. The illusion-Ashley sang for him, wanton and worshipful; the true Ashley drowned in silence, terrified of the tide rising within.
(Stop— I don’t want to know how high this goes— I’m already—)
”—Enough.” The goddess’s voice cut through like a blade. “The rest is in the full version…”
Darkness swallowed the vision. The workshop’s humid breath became the cool hush of her bedroom; the weight of phantom limbs dissolved into linen and moonlight. She lay alone, yet her body thrummed as though still impaled—every nerve frayed, every secret hollow aching with denial. Her womb clenched on emptiness; her breasts, untouched, peaked painfully beneath silk. The promised crest hovered, cruelly out of reach.
”Hah… no…” She curled inward, thighs pressed tight, fists knotted at her sides. To yield now—to seek relief with her own hand before the goddess’s amused gaze—would be surrender of a different kind. She bit her lip until she tasted iron and endured.
”Nfufu, great, right? That was Yuuri-kun’s Familial Workshop. I’ve placed the skill details in your mind, so review them. …So, what I want from Ashley-chan is to become Yuuri-kun’s family.”
The surges of sensation persisted. Sweet torment mingled with a tempting euphoria that urged surrender. But she would not yield. She could not betray Yuuri. She remembered the brief touch ten years ago. She had resigned herself then because Yuuri was skill-less. But he already possessed this ability. A sheltered lady like her had many opportunities to wield skills. Yet she remained because Yuuri chose not to. He had not betrayed her then, so why betray him now? She sat up amid her sweetly numb body and faced the goddess.
”I refuse. Even if you hold my skill hostage, I won’t join your plan. Yuuri chose to live skill-less, so I must choose the same… or I can’t face him!”
She said it. She was terrified, enough to weep. A skill-less life was unimaginable. But if she betrayed Yuuri now for her own security, their forms might unite but souls never would. She could not claim her love with honor then. Her fear and worry were transparent to the goddess. Even so, she stood resolute against her. That was the only defiance a mere human could offer.
Notes:
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• 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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