75 - The Unexpected Turn of Events
A deep forest in the northwestern part of the Laurel Kingdom. Today, this is the campsite of the Undead Legion. The entire army is camped here. Their number exceeds three thousand, but it is so quiet that one would hardly believe so many soldiers are present. For now, they are not conducting drills, the skeleton soldiers are resting—or perhaps "resting" is not the most appropriate expression—they are simply staying still. The reason for this is that Ray is concentrating on something else. Ray looks as if he is merely sitting on the ground. However, Kai, who is moving violently in front of him, tells a different story.
"...Kai-kun. Haven't you become weaker than before?"
"If you think so, it's because Ray has become stronger. I've grown a bit too."
They were practicing the training of batting back pebbles that they had done in the Forest of Bewilderment. However, unlike the extension of childhood games, it had become full-fledged training. Even for the grown Kai, the pebbles Ray launched were difficult to bat back.
"Even so, that means you haven't grown as much as I have. That means you've become weaker than before."
"...I see. You're right."
Even if he had grown since childhood, if he was inferior compared to Ray's growth, it meant that growth was insufficient. Ray's point about him becoming weaker was not wrong. Understanding this, Kai felt depressed.
"Well, I feel like I've put in quite a lot of effort. If the gap hasn't closed at least a little, there would be no point in having worked so hard."
Seeing the depressed Kai, Ray uttered words of comfort. Even as they grew, to Ray, Kai remained an existence like a cute younger brother.
"I have to work harder too. One more time, please!"
"Yeah, I got it."
And once again, pebbles were launched from Ray's both hands. The pebbles were flicked away with only his fingertips, but their momentum was considerable, if it were someone with no knowledge of martial arts, it might be difficult even to see them. Kai's ability to continue batting them back, though he looked like he was struggling, was also considerable. However, it was also a fact that among the Vampio race, his skill was still not sufficient.
"How kind."
Sansei, watching the two from a short distance away, let a dissatisfied voice leak from his mouth.
"What, are you jealous?"
A Vampio who was also watching the two reacted to Sansei's mutter.
"Are you an idiot? Why would I be jealous of a man?"
"Huh?"
"...Eh?"
"What's with that reaction? You're jealous because Ray-dono isn't paying attention to you, aren't you?"
Slightly bewildered by Sansei's incomprehensible reaction, the Vampio continued speaking.
"...My heart is not that narrow. I only said he was kind because Ray is treating him like a child."
"I heard they lived together."
Naturally, the Vampio who had accompanied them knew about the relationship between Kai and Ray.
"Even so, that is too sweet."
"Sweet? Where is the reason to call it sweet just because he's helping with training?"
"...You don't understand. Ray is holding back. If he were serious, it should be impossible to bat them back like that."
"...Serious?"
Even while acting together, it was difficult to grasp the full extent of Ray's abilities. There had been a feeling that they had already seen everything, but Sansei's words told them that was a mistake.
"...I have no obligation to tell you. Besides, if you watch, you should notice."
"You're saying that what you notice, we wouldn't?"
"...I will absolutely not tell you. If you want to know, find it yourself."
The Vampio's attitude irritated Sansei. Partly due to King Dracul's intentions, the Vampio were relatively favorable toward the Undead Legion. But that was only compared to before. Sansei saw through them, knowing their essence had not changed.
"Notice if I watch, huh..."
Taking Sansei's words literally, the Vampio stared intently at Ray. This also displeased Sansei. It was proof that they believed whatever Sansei could find, they could certainly find as well.
(Idiot. You think you'll notice just by looking with your eyes. Since you look down on me, you'll never understand Ray's greatness.)
Sansei cursed the Vampio in his heart. A considerable amount of time had passed since they began acting together, but Sansei did not trust the Vampio. And Ray felt the same way. The reason for this lay with them, yet they still made no attempt to change. It was an unconscious behavior.
◇◇◇
Among the Vampio, the only existence Ray truly opened his heart to was Kai. For a short time, they had lived like family in the Forest of Bewilderment. Ray thought of Kai as a younger brother. And the reason that feeling continued even now was that Kai also continued to think of Ray as family.
Kai had no prejudice toward Ray. And the same applied to Sansei. It was likely the influence of knowing Ray, who was not human but a different race, during his childhood.
"...Was he like that even when you lived together?"
While looking at Ray, who was alone gazing up at the night sky from a short distance away, Sansei questioned Kai.
"When we lived in the forest, we didn't have the luxury of gazing at the night sky. Ray was desperate just to survive."
"Isn't 'desperate just to survive' a bit strange?"
"What is?"
Kai did not understand the meaning of Sansei's question.
"It means working hard to the point of almost dying just to live."
"...True. But it means he was working hard to an abnormal degree."
"That's still true now... Then, since when did he start gazing at the night sky?"
"I don't know about that. It seems a lot happened while we were apart."
Ever since escaping from the Forest of Bewilderment, Kai had no way of knowing how Ray was doing. He didn't even know if he was alive.
"When he's like that, he's a bit hard to approach."
"...He might be remembering Mother."
"Mother?"
"My mother. I didn't hear it directly, but Ray liked Mother. I didn't realize it when we were together, but I think that's probably how it was."
"...How old is he?"
After staring at Kai, Sansei asked this question. He intended to confirm Kai's age, but there was no way he was younger than he looked. His mother must also have been of a corresponding age. However, worrying about a ten or twenty-year age gap is something humans do. Sansei had forgotten that.
"Ray's age is unknown. But I think he's about the same as Rui."
"Who's Rui?"
"...My older sister."
"You had a sister. An older sister, so there was another one?"
"I had a twin sister."
"...Had?"
Sansei accurately heard the meaning of Kai's words.
"...My two sisters died. Mother too. I was the only one who could escape."
"Were they killed by the Human Race?"
"...Kara. He said he killed Mother and Rui himself."
"Eh?"
"Mother asked Ray to do it because she hated the idea of being captured by the Human Race. As for Rui, she was captured by the Human Race, and Ray tried to let her escape, but it seems it didn't work."
"I see..."
The feeling of killing someone you love. Sansei did not understand that. He believed that no one other than those who had experienced it could understand.
"Even now, Ray is fighting for Mother and Rui. I want to be a strength for Ray, but there's nothing I can do."
"...I think it's important to do things while thinking that way."
"With just feelings..."
"He tries to shoulder everything alone. All the dangerous things are for himself. As he is now, there's no way he can live a long life."
Ray does not try to rely on anyone. He may use them, but he does not rely on them. If that were all, Sansei would not say such a thing. If he were to use them, he could simply place the person he uses in a dangerous situation and sacrifice them occasionally. But it is not like that. Ray tries to sacrifice himself. That is what Sansei dislikes.
"...You're right."
"I have people who support me. I have to make him understand that. So, that feeling alone is enough."
"Sansei..."
"What?"
"How old are you? Your words are somehow very adult-like."
"You're the child. I've lived alone since I was small... Ah, right. Sorry."
Kai had also lost his family. Sansei realized that this way of speaking was not appropriate for Kai.
"...Still, I had Father. I lived while being protected by many people."
It was different from Sansei. Kai felt that he had not lived such a harsh life that Sansei needed to apologize.
"I had comrades too. Because they were there, I..."
"I see. To Sansei, the soldiers are comrades, aren't they?"
"Yeah, that's right. That's how it is."
A smile appeared on Sansei's face. He was happy that Kai had naturally called the skeleton soldiers comrades. Kai had no feelings of contempt toward the undead. That made him happy.
"What. Since when did you two become so close?"
Before they knew it, Ray had come close. Looking at the two talking, a smile also appeared on Ray's face as he questioned them.
"While you were blankly gazing at the moon. I was bored."
"Ah, sorry. It was a very beautiful full moon."
"Was it the moon you were looking at?"
"...Did you perhaps ask Kai-kun?"
Ray immediately understood the meaning of Sansei's question.
"Yeah. I didn't know you liked older women."
"You don't know Kamiira-san."
"...Was she that beautiful?"
"The silver moon floating in the night sky. She was far more beautiful than that."
Looking at the moon reminded him of Kamiira's white, glowing skin. The figure of Kamiira, which was still deeply burned into his memory, clearly surfaced.
"...You, how can you say such a line so easily. Aren't you embarrassed?"
"...Do you have to say that now? You've ruined the mood."
Pointed out by Sansei, Ray realized the embarrassment of his own line. His face was dyed bright red.
"That beautiful person is Kai's mother, right?"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Then Kai has the right to help with the revenge. No, far from helping, he's a party to the revenge."
"...That's true."
Ray understood what Sansei wanted to say. This kind of adult-like response from Sansei, which was inappropriate for his age, always surprised Ray.
"I'll help too. Let's all three do our best."
"I'll do my best too."
"Yeah, let's do our best."
It's not as if something would change starting tomorrow. Still, it was important to make Ray realize this. In order to keep Ray from dying while moving toward the impossible goal of achieving revenge against the Laurel Kingdom. That is what Sansei thought.
◇◇◇
Full moons drive people mad. Not to that extent, but there are times when they make people's feelings restless. It might just be a trick of the mind. But even if it is a trick of the mind, if special actions are born from it, then it becomes a fact. That such a thing happened was because of the full moon.
"...I understand. Yes. Indeed, if I think of it that way, I can understand."
Raising her face from the book, Hinata spoke with an impressed look.
"Please ask me anything that I can answer. I have received a general education as a mage, so I think I can answer quite a lot."
Hinata's conversation partner was Cecil. It was not strange for Hinata to be learning about magic from Cecil, who was a mage. Unless the partner was Cecil.
"That's true. I was taught as well, but compared to mages, it was for a short period. That's not enough, is it?"
"Yes. Magic and sorcery are domains that are difficult to master even if one spends a lifetime."
"A lifetime... that's dizzying. I don't have the confidence to continue."
Hinata had no desire to master magic. She had been transferred to another world without wanting to, and for some reason, she simply possessed superior magical power.
"Choices are different for everyone. Shouldn't Hinata-sama simply proceed along the path she desires?"
"...I wonder if that is permitted for me?"
She didn't think such freedom was permitted for her as an Otherworlder. Being on the battlefield now was not Hinata's will. She was here because she had no choice but to obey orders.
"I do not know about that. But Hinata-sama has a desire other than being a mage, right?"
The desired path was something other than being a mage. That was clear from Hinata's question. Cecil asked what it was.
"I want to walk a normal life. By coming to this world, it's already not a normal life, but still, I want to meet someone I love in this world, marry that person, and have children. I want to obtain happiness as a woman normally."
"...I see. That is a wonderful life."
A life that could never be obtained. What awaited Cecil was a life as a tool to give birth to children who would inherit the magical power she possessed. A life where she would be embraced by any man in the house she was adopted into, not just a husband—a life where her dignity would be trampled upon, far from the happiness of a woman.
"I wonder if it will be realized?"
"I think it will be realized if you desire it strongly."
If one wants to change their life, they have no choice but to move. Cecil was moving. Believing in a slight possibility.
"You're right. I won't obtain it if I don't desire it."
"What kind of men do you prefer, Hinata-sama?"
"Preference in men? I think a kind person would be good, but other than that, nothing in particular."
"...What about Fumiya-sama?"
"He's just a friend. It will absolutely never develop into romance."
"Why?"
The word 'absolutely' is not something used just because of the reason 'friend'. Cecil thought there must be another reason.
"Because he and Akemi-san are dating. And... I feel the presence of other women..."
In other words, Hinata disliked unfaithful men. There was also a reason of Hinata's own as to why she could be friends with such a person. Not just a personality that puts on a good face for others, but 'friend' was a boundary for Hinata. Although it was a boundary specifically for Fumiya.
"...Then, what about Ray?"
"Eh...?"
The peaceful atmosphere changed to something slightly tense. Hinata knew what kind of emotions Cecil held for Ray. She struggled to gauge the meaning of this question.
"Please do not be considerate. It's just that he's the only other man I know who was near Hinata-sama."
"A-Ah. That's true. Tsukiya-kun was... a very delicate person."
"Delicate, is he?"
Cecil did not have that impression. While she was not inwardly calm that Hinata knew a Ray she did not know, she kept her expression unchanged.
"He had a lot happen to him. Because of that, he had slightly strange thoughts about people, but still, there was kindness at the root... I'm sorry. I can't explain it well."
"I see... You were close with Ray, then?"
"Yes. Now that this has happened, I'm actually quite shocked. I'm sure I could have done something. If I had, it wouldn't have become a situation like this."
"...I am sorry. It's because I ended up listening to his stories."
"No, it's okay. Actually, I want someone to listen to my stories. With Fumiya and Akemi-san, we never exchange opinions on this topic."
Fumiya and Akemi would never admit their own faults. Hinata disliked that. Even if nothing changed after the result came out and they regretted it.
"If you like, shall I listen to your stories? I was taking care of Ray, so perhaps I can talk about things Hinata-sama wants to know."
Saying this, without waiting for Hinata's answer, Cecil moved right next to her.
"...I wonder why Tsukiya-kun didn't tell me anything? I wonder if he really didn't remember us?"
Hinata immediately uttered a question about Ray. A conversation partner finally found. She considered that she didn't want to miss this opportunity.
"Honestly, I hardly heard any stories about Hinata-sama and the others. If there was anything, it was that he never called any of your names..."
"What does that mean?"
The fact Cecil taught her—that Ray did not call their names—concerned Hinata. It was because Cecil spoke in a way that made her concerned.
"If he was intentionally avoiding it, there is a possibility that he had memories of you. There are cases where the way a name is called makes one feel intimacy."
"That's true. I talked with Tsukiya-kun often. If it became a story about me, such an atmosphere might naturally emerge."
"...Are you happy?"
Words appealing to the intimacy of the two in the past. Regardless of whether she intended to appeal to Hinata, it sounded that way to Cecil.
"...That is... a complex feeling. If he remembered, I wanted him to tell me. The fact that he didn't do that is also painful."
Hinata showed an expression tinged with sorrow. Her true feelings were simply appearing on her face, but that further stimulated Cecil.
"...What could you have done? For his sake, could you have sacrificed yourself?"
"I think I could have done what was possible."
Even if she couldn't be of much help, she wanted to do what she could. It should have been words showing humility, but depending on the listener, it could be received as arrogance.
"I see... For example, how was the nighttime care?"
Receiving Hinata's words, Cecil pushed in all at once.
"Eh...? I-I wasn't in that kind of relationship with him..."
"Even if it was so in the original world, it might have become so in this world. He was wonderful."
Cecil whispered in Hinata's ear. Their bodies were touching. By pulling Hinata's waist, she made their bodies cling even closer.
"Ce-Cecil-san?"
"Please endure for just a little. Just a little."
While saying this, Cecil's hand reached for Hinata's knee. The hand placed on the knee slowly began to stroke Hinata's leg.
"...U-Um... please don't joke around."
"Please let me joke around just a little. Because of you, I remembered the nights with Ray. Nights that will never visit again... because of you."
Whether it was because of Hinata that she remembered, or because of Hinata that she could no longer meet Ray. Cecil spoke in a way that could be taken either way.
"...I-I'm sorry. I feel bad about that. But, this is..."
Falling for it completely, Hinata felt guilt. Without knowing that this guilt would weaken her resistance.
"Do you have no experience? Experience of becoming like that with Ray?"
"I-I don't!"
"Shh, be quiet. Do you want other people to hear us talking about this?"
"But..."
"That's a pity. He is wonderful. I became obsessed with him, even though he was younger. I'm sure you could have had the same feelings."
"Ce-Cecil-san, any more than this is..."
Even while talking, Cecil's hand did not stop. The hand that had been stroking the thigh went further in, and the other hand was placed on Hinata's breast from behind.
"Just a little more... I'll let you experience him just a little too."
"N-No. I'm not... this kind of..."
"It's okay. Since we are both women, we won't cross the final line. Think of it as a little game. You enjoy it too."
Even though she was told they were both women, Hinata could not honestly accept it. Still, unlike with Fumiya, these words kept her from forcefully refusing. Without pushing Cecil away with strength, it ended with resistance in words only.
"...Ce-Cecil-san... p-please... enough..."
"I know. My fingertips are telling me. That Hinata-sama is also happy."
"T-That's not it."
Hinata noticed the changes in her own body at Cecil's words. Her body was dyed crimson with embarrassment.
"It is. Please admit it already. That you're feeling it being touched."
"...I'm not feeling anything. Please stop already. I'll call someone."
If she couldn't stop it with her own strength, she would borrow the help of others. However, this judgment was a bit too late.
"Do you know what you look like right now? If you know and still want to call, please go ahead."
Cecil had moved behind Hinata. Moving behind her, using her own legs as well, she forced Hinata's legs wide open, exposing her crotch. The upper body's clothes were already disheveled, and Hinata's beautiful breasts were exposed. She was in a state where her protrusions were being toyed with by Cecil from behind.
"If a man saw you like this, it would be embarrassing, wouldn't it?"
"...Stop already. Doing this, do you know what will happen later?"
"What will happen? I'll tell you one thing."
"...What?"
"I am an adopted daughter. I was originally a commoner, but because I possessed magical power, I became the adopted daughter of a noble house. What do you think?"
"What do I think... Can't you meet your real parents? If so, I think it's a painful experience..."
An answer Cecil had not expected. It could be said to be an answer typical of Hinata.
"...Sympathy. Hinata-sama is kind, isn't she? But it's too early for sympathy."
"...What do you mean?"
"The reason I became an adopted daughter was to give birth to children who would inherit my magical power. I was bought as a tool to produce children. Not by a husband, but by the house."
"............"
At Cecil's confession, Hinata lost her words. An even stronger feeling of sympathy spread through her chest. But the confession was not yet complete.
"If I return to the place I married into, I will be raped by the men of the house every night—no, all day long. Until a child is conceived. And once I give birth to that child, the same days will repeat."
"T-That's..."
"My life is such a thing. I can't obtain the happiness of a woman that Hinata-sama desires. If I am punished and die for this matter, that might be happier."
"............"
Cecil had nothing to fear. Even knowing that, there was no change in Hinata's feelings now. Sympathy alone already occupied her heart.
"Kind Hinata-sama. If you have feelings of pity, please accompany me for just a little, just a little. Please let me stain the beautiful you just a little."
"Ce-Cecil-san..."
Cecil's caressing had not stopped. Hinata, whose consciousness was pulled back from the shock of the confession, noticed it.
"I wonder if it takes time because you have no experience?"
"............"
Hinata frowned, enduring it. That, in turn, stimulated Cecil's sadistic desire toward Hinata.
"It's okay. We have plenty of time. I'm sure Hinata-sama will be happy too."
"...Nn... ah."
"Yes. That's a good reaction."
Cecil's unexpected action, unexpected confession. In the midst of confusion, Hinata forgot to resist. Forgetting to think about what she should do, she simply left herself to Cecil. Until she was satisfied by Cecil.