I struggled to keep my sanity somehow.
A sweet fragrance tickled my nose. The soft touch grazing my skin, the resilient flesh rubbing against me provided a plush sensation. My head spun from the overwhelmingly intense scent.
Had something been burned?
An encroaching lust crawled up my spine. If only I could channel some magic, it might be better, but perhaps due to the restraining device, the magic within me wouldn’t budge.
My senses were particularly sharp. It felt as if every hair on my body was standing on end.
Yet, the reason I was still able to maintain my reasoning lay entirely in my companions.
Senior Elsi, Celin, and even the missing Liya.
Right now, I had the lives of three people resting on my shoulders. Though it was a relief that no one had lost their life, I had no idea what would happen to them if I lost consciousness.
After reminding myself of this fact repeatedly, my breathing steadied.
The girl simply stared at me without saying a word. Her hazy golden gaze seemed to lick my face.
From time to time, she discreetly shifted her buttocks against me.
So far, I could endure it. A moan slipped through the gaps in my teeth.
“Where is this place…?”
“A hideout set up somewhere in the Holy Kingdom. And a love nest where my brother and I will stay!”
As if she had been prepared in advance, the response came immediately.
Yet, a hollow laugh formed at the corners of my mouth. My eyes looked around again.
It was a sealed room.
Dim sunlight streamed in from above, but there was an absolute lack of brightness. Moreover, the interior landscape was desolate, devoid of even a single piece of furniture or decoration.
It was clearly not a place where anyone could live.
To prove this, in front of Senior Elsi was a dog food bowl. Upon closer inspection, I noticed that the restraining device around Senior Elsi’s neck was also modeled after a dog’s collar.
It was a wicked hobby.
What was surprising was that, in fact, Senior Elsi was in a better situation. There was not a shred of food or water to be found near Celin or Liya.
At least there had been some minimal emergency care, so I was grateful for that.
For some unknown reason, the girl seemingly had no intention of killing my companions. I felt a sense of relief at that hypothesis.
Naturally, a snicker slipped from my lips.
“Is it now a trend to hang people in love nests?”
“Ah, so that was your complaint? Don’t worry too much! Once my brother accepts me, we’ll lead a life that others will envy.”
The girl’s upper body leaned against mine like a soft layer. The cozy sensation felt against my chest, the fragrant scent of her skin, and her sticky, tempting voice relentlessly assaulted my five senses.
“Wealth and honor? Delicacies and rich foods? Just say the word! I can give you anything… as long as you don’t forget that you’re mine.”
The cheerful whispers that formed a rhythm suddenly cooled at the end. Even that golden-eyed gaze, once filled with joy, momentarily harbored a chill.
The girl showed an unusual attachment to me.
Was it because I was family?
That was a probable theory. On the day I decided to abandon the girl, I was the only one involved in that decision who wasn’t Percus. Therefore, I was inevitably the only person she could refer to as ‘blood-related.’
Yet, there were aspects this theory couldn’t explain.
The girl liked me not as a sister but as a woman. It was evident from her constant confessions of love for herself.
Why on earth?
Could it be that she hadn’t gone through a normal growth process? If so, it was possible she couldn’t properly distinguish her own feelings.
I still lacked concrete evidence.
In fact, at the moment, it was a problem that didn’t concern me much. With my companions’ lives at stake, what did it matter how the girl felt?
The girl was still completely captivated by me. Seizing the opportunity, I gently channeled some magic into the restraining device.
The magic still wouldn’t budge. However, as I began to apply the principle of ‘release,’ I felt a faint aura tapping against the restraining device.
Truly, the secret of the continent’s only three masters, the Grand Witch.
If I could find just a little more opportunity, I might be able to break the restraining device.
I decided to poke the girl for now.
“I don’t think I’ve ever said I would belong to you.”
“Of course not; that’s something you’ll say from now on! Now, look?”
The girl subtly rose and began surveying the bound women.
The first target was Celin.
My childhood friend, who hadn’t regained consciousness yet, was groaning with her eyes closed.
The sweat dripping down her cheeks bore witness to Celin’s nightmare.
“First up is Sister Celin! I’d love to educate her more, but since she’s my precious trading partner? I’ll let her off this time!”
The girl, who had been smiling brightly, changed her atmosphere right after that.
The rebellious golden eyes looked up at the girl. Although they were two people who resembled each other as though looking in a mirror, their conditions were completely opposite.
Liya, covered in dirt and wearing a tattered dress.
And the girl, donned in dark priest robes, looking down at her.
Liya gritted her teeth, seemingly indignant about the situation. In response, the girl let out a mocking laugh.
“Another fake of ours… I should have killed her long ago, but she’s a special specimen, you see? So I’ll spare her for now. Research material is precious.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
It was a harsh voice that slipped out with a scratchy throat.
The long-absent Liya was clearly angered. It seemed apparent that she had not been living in a pleasant environment until now.
“I’m not some kind of fake… Targeting psychological weaknesses and toying with others like a plaything, is that what a merchant is? You’re nothing more than a fraud.”
It was a chilling rebuttal, yet the girl didn’t seem particularly shaken. She merely narrowed her eyes slightly.
Soon, the palms of the girl clapped together.
It expressed her disinterest. The mischievous golden gaze moved on to the next target.
“Well, we’ll talk about that as we go… my puppy?”
Once again, a smirk rose on the girl’s lips. That affectionate expression was so awkward, it felt intentionally staged.
With dainty steps, the girl’s hand wildly tousled Senior Elsi’s hair.
A faint moan escaped from Senior Elsi’s mouth, who wore a dog collar. From the irritation in her gaze, I could guess her mood.
No, her face was painted not just with irritation, but with shame and anger.
It was only natural. Being treated like a pet by a younger girl was bound to infuriate anyone.
Why was I an exception amongst younger men, though?
Senior Elsi’s body trembled. It was evidence of her emotions reaching their peak, but the girl merely wore a sadistic smile.
“Having just the two of us in the love nest would be boring, right? So I thought I’d raise a cute little puppy you adore. But you see…”
The girl’s hands, which had been dramatically petting Senior Elsi’s head, tightened their grip.
A groan escaped from Senior Elsi’s mouth as her hair was roughly pulled. Although she squirmed, tied hands and feet made it impossible for her to resist properly.
I couldn’t help but raise my voice out of concern.
“Senior Elsi!”
The girl stifled a laugh, as if pleased with the expected reaction.
Then, showcasing Senior Elsi’s pained expression proudly, a playful threat followed.
“If my brother doesn’t listen to me, I might not know what will happen?”
My teeth ground together.
I felt an overwhelming desire to break the restraining device and grab a sword immediately. But I had no idea where my weapons were, and the girl’s influence in front of me was beyond imagination.
I needed to find more openings.
Having concluded my cold assessment, a moan slipped through my teeth.
Was I going to have to play along?
It was at that moment I reached that conclusion.
“… Shut it.”
Senior Elsi forced a smile, twisting her lips to express her words.
Our vacant gazes turned toward her.
Senior Elsi’s expression genuinely conveyed amusement.
“Who’s gonna educate a love-starved brat like you? You’ve never received love, not even once.”
With every word spoken, the girl’s smile faded.
“So that’s why you need things like ‘contracts’ or ‘master-servant relationships’ to feel secure… You’ve never received love without conditions. Hah, do you really expect me, Elsi Rainelle, to humor something like child’s play?”
“… You little bitch.”
Finally, the girl’s expression hardened to an extent that it couldn’t possibly grow any colder. Upon her suddenly revealed palm lay a blood-red whip.
“Still untrained, huh? Well, if you really want it, I’ll give you your education personally!”
With a crash, the girl, gritting her teeth, swung the whip down with force onto the ground.
Even at first glance, it had overwhelming power. If Senior Elsi were struck with that whip, she wouldn’t survive.
So I decided to try and hold the girl back for now.
“Stop!”
The girl’s body, which had been about to swing the whip, froze. As a perplexed gaze turned towards me, a sigh escaped my lips.
“I can go along with it… But please, don’t touch Senior Elsi.”
Senior Elsi seemed to want to say something in frustration, but she shut her mouth again under my silent restraint.
A faint glimmer of tears formed in the corners of her eyes. She looked exceedingly indignant.
But the shame would be temporary, and surely the time for revenge would come if we survived.
A cautious question followed from the girl, who hesitated.
“… Go along with it, you say?”
“Do as you wish. Besides, as long as I’m tied up, you can’t do anything, right? At least while I’m tied here, I’ll go along with it.”
I subtly added the condition of ‘while I’m tied up,’ but the girl didn’t seem to focus on that point.
Perhaps she was confident that I wouldn’t be freed anytime soon.
If only I were given an opening.
I tried to calm my trembling heart and feigned composure. At my indifferent attitude, the girl finally brightened and accepted my proposal.
“Alright! So today, instead of bothering that bitch, my brother will go along with me?”
“Yeah, as long as I’m tied up, I can manage… but it’s only for a day.”
The girl nodded happily at my obligatory negotiation.
It was a contract made.
The blood-red scale rose into the air before vanishing without a trace. The girl now showed no interest in Senior Elsi whatsoever.
Just before the girl hugged me again.
“Before that, can I ask you one thing?”
“Sure?”
It was an unexpected question. The girl tilted her head, but without giving me a chance to think, I continued my query.
“Why are you so obsessed with me?”
At that, the girl stumbled in her steps.
“Hmm,” she mused, resting her chin on her finger, repeatedly pondering. As if she couldn’t figure out where to start.
The hesitation didn’t last long.
Soon, the girl answered with a bright smile.
“Okay, I’ll tell you. My childhood.”
It was a pure smile, like that of a child.
