* * *
“….”
After Lilith disappeared with the survivors, only silence flowed. Basileon sat there for a while longer with his eyes closed, then took us and started moving through the passage. Adolf, Krius, and I followed behind Basileon, keeping a bit of a distance. In the suffocating silence, only Krius was walking on eggshells.
“Adolf. Could it be that the Lord has gone mad…”
“Shut up and follow, Sir Krius.”
For some reason, Adolf was on edge, unlike his usual self.
“…Oh dear. Lady Montrose. If even you are this quiet, what am I supposed to do?”
“….”
When I ignored him, Krius grumbled to himself, seemingly displeased.
“Anyway, this passage seems different from earlier.”
“…It’s because it’s returned to how it originally was.”
Basileon, who was walking ahead at a distance, answered instead.
“Th-then, does that mean we can get out?”
As if answering Krius, Basileon pointed his finger somewhere. Right in front of us, there was a door that looked like the exit of the passage.
“Yes.”
The outside connected to a hallway in the Duke’s castle. As we followed Basileon out of the passage, the passage door closed and was hidden without a trace. Krius nervously looked around, wondering if a monster-like thing would pop out again.
“Hah… I really thought I was going to be annihilated! Everything has returned to its proper place.”
Coming out into the hallway, Basileon stood still and hesitated. He glanced at Krius and Adolf, then finally set his gaze on me.
“…You two should return to your daily routines. I have something to talk about with Eve.”
“Understood, Young Master.”
Adolf went on his way to carry out Basileon’s order. However, Krius still didn’t leave and just looked around nervously.
“Sir Krius? What are you doing? You don’t want to get beaten by these kids, do you?”
Adolf threatened with the armaments of the Knights Order.
“When did you get those again… Damn it.”
Knowing that he couldn’t disobey the Lord’s order, Krius reluctantly followed Adolf. Even so, he complained until the end.
“I have a lot of questions too.”
Smack—!
In the end, the weapons of the Knights Order attacked Krius’s back.
“Ugh!”
“Where did you leave your wits? Be quiet and just follow me.”
They were noisy until the end, but Adolf and Krius eventually disappeared from our sight. Only Basileon and I were left standing alone in the hallway.
“….”
An awkward silence flowed for a moment, but it was Basileon who spoke first.
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Mhm, no. There’s no way I could get hurt…”
“….”
“….”
I couldn’t meet Basileon’s eyes, so I only stared at the ground. It felt awkward because of the confession I heard last time, I guess.
“If we talk here, someone might hear… Follow me.”
Basileon walked ahead of me as if signaling me to follow.
‘…Where are we going?’
As I watched his retreating back, I noticed something different from usual.
‘I think it’s the first time I’ve seen him wear clothes like that. He was definitely dressed in gloomy dark colors from head to toe usually.’
What Basileon was wearing was a dark navy uniform. It was clothes I hadn’t seen before, but anyway, it suited him incredibly well.
Creak—.
“Come in.”
Basileon held the door for me. It was an action as if he were treating a truly living person.
“I can just pass through it.”
“…I’d appreciate it if you just thought of it as a kind of expression of affection.”
Basileon whispered softly into my ear as I passed through the door.
“Eek!”
My ears felt like they were burning hot.
“…Have a seat for now.”
Basileon pointed to the sofa in the room.
“C-could you maybe not do that?”
“Do what, exactly?”
“It’s hot. Talking… right next to my ear…”
“But last time you said you didn’t dislike it, so you asked me to stay like that.”
“….”
‘Right. I did say that.’
A wave of embarrassment and shyness washed over me. Having said that last time, it’s only natural for Basileon to think it’s weird that I’m acting like this now.
‘But… it’s because I’ve heard his confession that I can’t bear it anymore. I can’t help it.’
Moreover, receiving this kind of affection was still very awkward for me.
“That’s true. That’s true, but right now… I mean… every little thing you do looks different. I think it’s because I’m more embarrassed than back then.”
In the end, I chose to honestly confess the feelings I was experiencing. Looking at Basileon’s reaction, his ears and the area around his cheeks were slightly flushed.
“As I said last time, you don’t need to feel pressured. It wasn’t a confession made to draw an answer from you either.”
“I know. Because you must have just been true to your feelings too.”
“….”
“….”
Another awkward silence settled in. It was after quite a long time had passed that Basileon opened his mouth.
“If you find that burdensome, I won’t do it.”
“….”
Hearing him say he wouldn’t do it again made me feel a bit disappointed.
‘To think I was such an indecisive person.’
“Because I still like you anyway.”
Basileon sat on the sofa opposite me and observed me.
“Eve. I like it even when I’m just looking at you like this.”
My whole body felt ticklish. Basileon’s gaze felt like it was right on the verge of devouring me.
He wasn’t whispering in my ear, nor was he hugging me so I could feel a hot sensation. Yet it felt ticklish and hot.
“Are you… uncomfortable?”
As I couldn’t sit still and kept twiddling my fingers, Basileon worried about me.
“It’s not that.”
“If I’m making you uncomfortable, I’ll step outside.”
Basileon was sometimes reckless, yet he was someone who cared about me too much. Isn’t this the first time experiencing such emotions? It’s the same for me, but if it’s his first time, Basileon must definitely be clumsy too. Judging roughly by Basileon’s life, it must have been filled with nothing but hardships. He likely had no time to experience such feelings, nor anyone to share them with.
“Basileon. I’m not used to being loved.”
Basileon seemed a bit flustered, but soon focused on my words.
“That’s why every action you do toward me feels awkward. Why me? Why go this far for me? I get thoughts like these.”
I considered saying a bit more, but stopped. I didn’t want to bring up stories of the past, and I didn’t want to become an object of pity either.
“I’m… that kind of person. It’s not because I dislike you, nor because I’m uncomfortable.”
Basileon silently listened to my words.
“Rather, I liked it. It’s just that I haven’t adapted yet, it’s still awkward, that’s why.”
Squeeze—.
Feeling embarrassed to say I liked it, I clenched my fists for no reason. Because I couldn’t meet Basileon’s eyes, I was just staring at my fists when a status window popped up.
! <Basileon Ravenwood>, having reached an intimacy level of 100%, desires your <???>.
! <???> can be used.
! Would you like to use <???>?
<Yes/No>
! The skill name and activation conditions will be revealed immediately upon use.
‘What am I supposed to do when it says I can use it without even telling me what it is?’
I first looked at Basileon sitting opposite me.
‘Uh.’
But Basileon wasn’t sitting opposite me; he was already right in front of my eyes.
‘…Wh-what?’
As if drawn by something, he raised his hand and made a motion as if petting my head.
Basileon’s sudden action was perplexing, but… I had to do what I had to do.
‘F-First, the status window…’
! Would you like to use <???>?
<Yes/No>
‘I don’t know what it is, but let’s just try it. It’s not like I’ll be annihilated or anything.’
I pressed <Yes> on the status window.
! <Temporary Humanization>
[Description]: A form where a part of <Basileon Ravenwood>’s desire has materialized into a skill.
[Activation Condition]: Maintain 100% Intimacy with <Basileon Ravenwood>.
[Activation Situation]
① A state where <Basileon Ravenwood>’s desire has reached its peak
② A situation where the caster’s life is threatened
[Usage Limit]: Once a day / Maximum 30 minutes
‘Temporary… Humanization?’
After seeing that, my eyes naturally closed.
Thump—.
I fainted just like that.
* * *
‘….’
Basileon stood in front of Evien without realizing it. He wasn’t supposed to do that if she said it was burdensome. By the time he had come to his senses, he was already stroking the area near her head.
‘Ah.’
Looking closely, Evien was spaced out again. And, at that moment.
Thump—.
Basileon tried to speak to her with a worried face, but she collapsed limply to the side.
“…Eve?”
Basileon was startled and approached her. However, after looking her over this way and that, Evien had merely fallen asleep.
‘But why so suddenly.’
Basileon paced around the room with his hands behind his back, looking somewhat anxious.
Even after waiting and waiting, Evien showed no signs of waking up.
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