28 - Chapter 25: Episode 25 [D-day 2-1 Trauma]
Everyone left the room so Yuria could rest comfortably.
Everyone was staring at me with such dissatisfied expressions,
I knew I had to clear things up.
Sure enough, the moment Yuria was out of sight, Cynthia and Lily started in.
"So, the contract's broken, and now you're just going to run wild?"
"Honestly, to think you'd try to monopolize Yuria all to yourself like that."
"Well, since the contract's broken, shouldn't we stop worrying about each other?"
"You... that means..."
"What did you expect me to say? It's 'finders keepers' now, isn't it? Whoever gets him first."
"You..."
"Oh, of course, Yuria's full recovery is our top priority.
But aside from that, I think we're free to act as we please now."
"Ha... this is ridiculous. I never imagined you'd change so overtly the moment the contract broke, and you of all people."
"Cynthia, it's always the quiet, gentle ones who are the scariest."
"Tell me about it. I truly never would've guessed. To think she'd rub up against him first, how vulgar."
"Pfft, vulgar? Sounds like sour grapes to me."
"You..."
"Well then, everyone must be tired, so please go rest."
"What? What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to Yuria's room."
"Didn't you hear Yuria? He said he was going to rest."
"Exactly because I heard it, that's why I'm going."
"What?"
"Yuria and I have to stick together while sleeping. It's a promise we made."
They heard everything from outside, so
they must know this.
"You... don't be so naive as to think we'll just stand by."
"Yes, yes~ Everyone must be tired, so please go in and rest quickly."
She practically chased them out.
Since there was no clear justification anymore, Cynthia and Lily reluctantly turned to leave.
Yes, that's right. Because I have the justification.
"Fufufu, well then, shall I go into his room now?"
Opening the door and entering, Yuria's figure was visible.
In the dim room, where the sun had already set, only his figure was clearly visible.
A shiver ran through my entire body.
A scene only I could see.
A sight only I could savor.
A soft gasp escaped me.
Yuria's figure, sprawled on the pure white bed, was a treasure.
It was a beautiful sight, so beautiful I wanted to preserve this moment forever.
Lewd fantasies ran wild in my mind, but
I'm a rational human. I'd keep my promise to him,
and in the end, truly share love with my beloved Yuria.
Just wait a little, Yuria. I'll be back after a quick wash.
With that, I washed my dirty body in the room's shower and slipped under the blanket.
The blanket was already warm,
infused with Yuria's heat.
Yuria's warmth was so comforting.
This much should be fine, right?
Feeling his warmth, I carefully hugged him.
His embrace was incredibly warm.
In the quiet room, Yuria's soft breathing brushed past my ears.
Soft, even breaths filled the air.
His chest rose and fell with each soft breath.
Hugging him tightly, I tried to sleep.
Haa, did I overdo it?
Fatigue was washing over me.
Breathing in Yuria's comforting scent, so different from before,
I fell into a deep, deep sleep.
Like that, the first night concluded.
"Ugh..."
Opening my eyes, hot sunlight streamed into the room.
A soft groan escaped me.
Was the sun already so high?
My head felt infinitely clear and clean, without any haziness—
like waking up from a truly deep sleep.
I felt so refreshed.
Naturally, the moment I tried to get out of bed,
Thump.
Huh?
I'd been so naturally stuck to her since waking up that I hadn't even noticed.
"Ah... Aria...?"
Why was Aria here?
I quickly racked my brain.
What exactly happened last night?
Overwhelmed by fatigue, I'd sent my comrades away and collapsed onto the bed...
And I didn't remember anything after that?
It seemed I'd just slept straight through after that.
Had Aria gotten into my bed?
As I panicked, wondering what kind of situation this was,
Aria, who was lying next to me, woke up.
A soft murmur.
"Ah, um..."
What should I say?
Waking up in the same bed, should I ask her why she was here?
No, what kind of crazy question is that?
What should I do?
"Did you sleep well, Yuria?"
"Uh... um, huh?"
"Fufut, your flustered expression is cute, too."
"Um, why are we in the same bed...?"
'Yuria clearly said yesterday that we had to sleep together.'
"Uh, huh?"
Only then did a series of events flood my mind.
Yesterday, for no reason, I'd brought up Polynesian Sex or something...
No, if it wasn't for that, I would've died from overexertion long ago.
Yes, I only chose the lesser of two evils, not the worst.
Yes, this was merely the result of the lesser evil.
"By the way, um... by any chance, what's this?"
At Aria's words, I snapped back to reality and looked at her face.
It was subtly flushed, and what she was looking at was
my penis, standing tall on the bed, making its presence known.
"Th-this, well, it's a natural physiological phenomenon."
"Hmm... I see."
"Th-then, any healthy man, in the morning, due to a physiological phenomenon..."
"Th-then, shall I calm it down for you?"
"Haha, what a joke."
"Tsk... it's not a joke."
It felt like I'd heard something scary, but I tried hard to ignore it and got up.
"The sun's already high, so shall I get up and take a walk?"
I need to buy my precious survival insurance, you see.
"Then I'll follow too!"
"Uh... umm, do as you please."
Well, it's not like she'd listen if I stopped her,
so I might as well let her do as she pleases.
Dressed lightly, I stepped out onto the streets of the Capital.
Many people were visible, and everyone had smiles blooming on their faces.
"It's really peaceful, isn't it?"
"Indeed. Is it because I've only been rolling around in battlefields? This kind of peace feels strange, yet peculiar."
"It's all thanks to Yuria."
"It's also thanks to Aria and our comrades."
As I chatted and walked,
the street I encountered was
This is...
The Square.
And not just any,
the one I'd seen in Ella's room...
where I was surrounded by dozens of women and gang-raped—
that very spot,
that exact location.
That Square appeared before my eyes.
Gulp.
Naturally, my steps froze.
"Yuria?"
Seeing me rooted to the spot, Aria thought it was strange.
No good in needlessly worrying her, right?
"Ah, no, I was just thinking about something else for a moment."
"Yuria, your expression doesn't look good."
"Uh...? Um, huh? No, I'm fine."
"Your face has turned pale, though?"
She took my hand and led me.
"Here, let's rest a little."
"Uh...?"
Led by her hand, we arrived at
the Fountain in the Square.
And not just any spot—
she made me sit on the edge of the Fountain's rim, the very place where I'd been gang-raped by everyone.
"Let's rest a little; your expression is truly awful."
This spot is...
The current Fountain,
the current scene...
it seemed to overlap with the moment I was being raped.
The gazes of the people around me were scary.
As if to... me...
to devour me...
like that time,
they seemed to be looking at me, ready to rape me.
I'm scared.
I'm terrified.
Soon, would I be raped again like that time?
I have to run away.
I have to escape...
"Yuria?"
"Uh...? Ah, um!"
At Aria's single word, I barely managed to snap back to my senses.
Huu... the shock I'd experienced back then must have been quite immense.
Like this...
Oh...?
Why was I erect...?
Why...?
An erection should happen when excited,
what happened back then was definitely not something to get excited about,
yet my penis was stiffly erect, as if about to burst.
Why...?
Confusion flooded my mind.
I, at that time,
recalling that memory, got an erection?
That couldn't be.
No way.
No.
It's not.
"Yuria! Yuria!!"
No.
I, at that time,
This, this wasn't right!
"Yuria, snap out of it!"
Aria grabbed my cheeks and shouted my name.
Only then did I manage to snap back to my senses.
"Ah, ah... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
Yes, let's get out of this place.
For now, let's escape.
My head was confused and complicated; I didn't know what was what, but
if I just got out of here...
With a stiff tent pitched in my lower body, I awkwardly tried to hide it
as I left the spot as quickly as possible.
A place without people.
Without people...
The first thing I saw was the darkest alleyway possible, and I ducked into it.
But how unlucky,
the place I happened to arrive at was
"Th-this is..."
that alleyway where Ella had abandoned me.
And,
Creeeak.
The door opened.
From there,
a woman exactly like the one I'd seen back then walked out.
"Hiiik..."
I stumbled and fell awkwardly onto my butt.
"Uh, uh, are you okay?"
She'd come out to throw away trash, saw me fall, and kindly extended her hand.
Gulp.
This was
the sound of swallowing saliva.
Although I'd fallen onto my butt with my legs spread,
the stiffly risen tent was clearly visible to her.
Seeing this, she swallowed.
"Th-this, that, um..."
Words didn't come out properly.
I was even afraid to take the hand she extended.
Me...?
Why had I changed so much?
Then, a voice called out.
"Yuria!"
Aria's voice, who had followed me from behind.
"Ah, Aria...?"
"Oh my, it was the Saintess. Then this person is the Hero?"
She must not have realized I was the Hero.
Indeed, if someone was so pale and terrified with an erection, who would think he was the Hero?
Aria, who approached from behind, grabbed my waist and helped me up.
"Why did you fall?"
"No... no, um... let's go."
Still, I should at least thank that woman before leaving.
She did nothing wrong; this was my fault.
"Ah... Natalie, thank you."
"Huh? Hero, how do you know my name?"
Leaving her dumbfounded, I was supported by Aria and quickly left.