kscans

Chapter 278 - Looking Back, and Not Looking Back (Famu☆)

I wished it would end soon. I didn't have the strength to lift my head, and even opening my eyes felt like too much effort.

That man was looking down at me with pity in his eyes. People like him appeared from time to time. But they all eventually left.

With that thought, I closed my eyes. If I just waited, someday, I would see my mother and father again. But that man didn't leave. It seemed he had started negotiating a price.

What's he going to do with someone like me? I wondered. Then, the cage opened, and I was lifted into his arms. My body was dirty, and I must have smelled terrible. I don't want to be touched. I don't want anyone to touch me ever again.

That man was very flustered. His heartbeat was fast, and his hands were clammy with sweat. But they were so warm. For a final moment, I felt like I had returned to my village. I was glad it was in his arms.

Famu talked nonstop, both while preparing the meal and while we ate, recounting everything that had happened since we first met. Sometimes smiling, sometimes with puffed-out cheeks, sometimes her words catching in her throat, she just kept talking. About the two of us walking through the shopping district of Richel. About going to gather medicinal herbs and being attacked by a monster, nearly bursting into tears. About saving a village that had been taken over by goblins. About being so surprised to see the goddess Laciel that her legs gave out. About being challenged to a duel and getting all fired up, only to nearly be tied up by her own allies. About being furious on my behalf, only to become even more furious when I tried to easily forgive the enemy.

Famu dipped a piece of bread in her soup, took a bite, slurped her tea, and set down the cup. And then, she continued her story.

I just listened to her, nodding along. Some parts were romanticized, others exaggerated. But I had no intention of teasing her or making unnecessary comments. There were only the two of us in this house. But I knew who she was really telling these stories to.

Listening to Famu's endless stories, I learned just how full of emotion she was, how curious, how a little bit strange, how still a child, how just a girl, and how she cherished others and cherished herself. All of that had been nurtured in this house.

And I came to understand anew the depth of her sorrow. Imagining it was unbearable. Could I make her happy? Was I even allowed to touch her emotions?

As I was thinking these things, I realized Famu had stopped talking.

"Master?"

"Hm? What is it?" I brought the soup to my lips. It had gotten a little cold.

"Why are you making such a strange face while I'm talking?"

"This is just my face. You're the one who fell for a man with a face like this. Get over it." When I scratched my cheek, she placed her hand over mine. Her hand was a little cold, a stark contrast to the heat of her storytelling. And her gaze seemed to see right through to my heart.

"You may be a pervert, Master, but you don't have a strange face. So please listen to me with a serious expression."

"It's not exactly a story that needs a serious face. Besides, who is this guy you keep talking about? If it's me, you're romanticizing me way too much."

"Hmph, you are cool, Master! Now just be quiet for a little while!" Famu said, and then resumed her story.

Famu led me to a small, cozy room.

"This is my room."

The curtain of night had already fallen. The stars poured their soft light into the roofless room. The light from Famu's lamp joined them, adding a warm, crimson glow to the cold, pale blue room. But the ceiling had collapsed, the window frame was missing, and weeds grew through the cracks in the floor.

Famu picked up a vase that was lying on the floor. After confirming it wasn't broken, she placed it on the desk. Several books were also scattered about, and she picked them up to return them to the bookshelf. I helped, picking up a book that was left open. It was heavy with moisture and smelled of mold. It was too swollen to close properly, so I placed it on top of the books Famu had set down.

I glanced out the window and saw the dark silhouettes of unlit houses dotted here and there. In the distance, a single bonfire flickered. Mizuki and the others were camping out. The scent of life lingered strongly in the village, yet no one lived here. A strange, indescribable feeling welled up inside me.

"I wanted to sleep in my bed today, but that's impossible, isn't it..." The bedding was also damp. It seemed she had been sleeping here when she was stripped of her blankets and taken away by the bandits. As if to erase that trace, she folded the blanket and placed it on the bed. She had been suffering from the guardian deity's curse and had been confined to this room.

I took a blanket from my storage and laid it on the floor. We lay down on it together. I was on my back, and Famu had her back to me, but she was pressed tightly against me, curled up into a ball. I remembered how we used to sleep side-by-side like this when we first met.

The chirping of various autumn insects filled the air. Mixed in with it, I could faintly hear the sound of Famu's breathing. She was lying perfectly still, but I was sure she wasn't asleep. My own mind was wide awake, and I had no desire to sleep.

I clasped my hands behind my head and used them as a pillow, gazing up at the night sky.

"Master... are you not going to sleep?" I remembered she had once said she would wait for me to start snoring before she fell asleep. On a day like this, it was probably better for me to fall asleep quickly. I thought about telling her that, but I couldn't bring myself to say it and remained silent.

"Why... why did this have to happen to us...?" Famu whispered, sniffling.

"Why... what did we ever do...?" Her shoulders trembled.

"Famu... to be righteous, to be sincere, to be fair, to be kind, to be gentle... you have all of that. You learned those things in this house... no, in this village, and you lived by them. But it doesn't matter. It's a cold thing to say, but those things can't protect people. There are people with all sorts of different ways of thinking. It's impossible to deny that."

"I know that. I've traveled this far with you, Master. I've fought all kinds of enemies with you. I will become stronger. Much, much stronger. I will protect you, Master. I won't make the same mistake again. I don't want to be alone ever again."

"Famu..." I placed my hand on the back of the girl whose shoulders were trembling as if she were hiccupping, and I stroked it.

"Getting stronger won't change anything. A stronger enemy will just appear. Neither you nor I can be the strongest." Famu rolled over to face me. Then she grabbed my hand. In the darkness, she stared at me. Her eyelashes were wet as if with night dew.

"Are you saying it's okay if something like this happens again, Master? Are you not going to stay with me?"

"Famu, I will protect you. I am weak. But no matter what happens, I will protect you. I will protect the memories of this village that you hold inside you. So I will always be with you."

"You always try to forgive first, Master. You're too soft. Can you really protect me, protect everyone, like that?"

"You are you, and I am me. I have no intention of changing that. We'll stay as we are. Even if I say that, we might change someday. But my beliefs, and your beliefs, Famu, will not change."

"But when you fulfill your duty in this world, won't you go back to your own world, Master?"

"I've said it many times, but I'm staying in this world. I want to be with you, Famu." Famu squeezed my hand tightly. She slowly closed her eyes and brought her lips toward mine. I instinctively pulled back and pressed my hand against her forehead.

"Mmph, why did you dodge?"

"This is your house, isn't it? Is it okay? I mean..." I hesitated, and Famu sat up, straddling me. She looked down at me.

"It's fine. My mother and father had days when they were very close. On those days, they always tried to make me go to bed early. No matter how much I told them I was awake, they wouldn't let me stay up. I didn't understand why back then. But I'm not a child anymore. I want to be like that with you in this house, Master."

Famu leaned over me, her lips meeting mine. I hugged her tightly, wanting her just as fiercely.

Just moments ago, the chirping of insects had been ceaseless, but now, all I could hear was Famu's breathing.

"Master..." She suddenly lifted her head and looked at me. Something slid down her cheek and dripped onto my chest, but a smile played on her lips.

"My mother and father would be so surprised if they saw us. We have to be careful not to make any noise."

"You're right. I guess I'll have to keep your mouth shut, then." We exchanged words like chirping birds, and we exchanged kisses. Her arms wrapped around my neck. And we sought each other desperately.

"Ngh... Master..." Listening to her small, panting voice, I touched her breast. It was still developing, but I felt its firm elasticity as I impatiently removed her clothes. Famu, in turn, reached for my clothes and bared my chest.

"Famu. You're already hard, aren't you?" I said, pinching the cherry-pink bud. Her body jolted.

"You too, Master..." She reached down and stroked me. Needless to say, I was already powerfully erect.

"It might be bigger than usual."

"It just means I'm still growing. Soon, I might be big enough to make you come just by putting it inside you, Famu."

"I know you're joking, but you're also being serious..." Famu said, continuing to rub me. She then suddenly looked at me.

"Are you self-conscious that you're smaller than other people after all?"

"Hey, don't say such strange things! I should be at least average! I'm telling you, I'm still growing. You're one to talk, you're pretty small yourself!" I squeezed her breast a little harder, and she writhed with sensitivity.

"Mmmph! You may be done growing, Master, but I'll be bigger than Mizuki someday! My big sister said she was small at my age, too!"

"Myra... she said that...?" I tried to imagine Myra at Famu's age. A waist with no curves yet, small breasts, and a slightly rounded bottom. I wish I could have met her back then and touched her all the way until she developed the breasts she has now.

As my imagination ran wild, I noticed Famu staring at me with a cold gaze. At the same time, my manhood was gripped with a crushing force.

"W-Wait! You're the one who brought this up, Famu! That's not fair!"

"All you think about is having sex with women, Master. Just for today, couldn't you think only of me? I only ever think of you."

Her lips formed a pout.

"Famu... I love you. It's really because of you that I've been able to come this far."

"Master... I love you too." We kissed. Deeply, desperately. She took off her own underwear and straddled me. A drop of her wetness fell onto my lower stomach. She was just as eager as I was.

"Master..." Famu moved her hips, pressing herself against me. The warm, slick sensation touched my tip, and I writhed with impatience.

"I love you. We'll always be together. Nnngh..." Famu's face twisted slightly. At the same time, a slick sensation enveloped me all the way to the base.

"Aah... Master..." We held each other for a while, feeling the sensation of our bodies joined. The many folds inside her clung to me, tightening as if to never let go. I couldn't hold back any longer and thrust up from below. Famu's eyes flew open, and she let out a moan. Then she began to slowly move her hips.

"Ah, aaah... Master... it feels... so good."

Her body was bathed in the pale blue light of the stars. The firmness of her skin reflected that light, making her look coolly transparent and fresh. But when I touched her skin, I felt a warm heat.

I held Famu's hips and continued to move my own in time with her rhythm.

"Ah, ah, aaah... Master, I'm about to..." Famu moaned, looking up at the sky with an ecstatic expression. She probably wasn't consciously looking at anything. But a star the same color as her eyes, and the twinkling stars that surrounded it... I felt like Famu was staring at it.

"Master, I'm... I'm almost..." Her eyes, brimming with tears, turned to me, a melted look in them.

"Me too." We embraced, and listening to our ragged breaths, I thrust my hips hard, burying myself deep inside her. Famu, in turn, accepted me fully, tightening her insides as if to never let me go.

"Famu!" I cried out her name and released the desire that had been building inside her.

"Ah, aaaaaahhh!"

She arched her back with an especially loud cry. I held her hips, not letting her go until the last pulsation faded.

We lay side by side on our backs. Our ragged breathing gradually slowed. At the same time, the sound of insects began to return. In the sky, the river of countless stars was as brilliant as ever. I looked for the star the color of Famu's eyes that I had seen earlier, but I couldn't find it. A wave of anxiety washed over me—what if, like that star, she would one day leave me?

"I will become stronger. I will protect you, Master. We'll always be together," Famu murmured, as if she had read my mind. My hand was squeezed.

"Famu..."

"Yes?" I sensed her turning toward me, but I kept my eyes on the sky.

"I want to hear your story, Famu. I want to know what your life was like in this village."

"Are you sure? You won't be able to sleep."

"I don't mind."

"I have a request, too."

"What is it?"

"I want to hear your story, too, Master. I want to know what your life was like in the other world."

"That would take all night. Besides, it's boring. You'd fall asleep while I was talking."

"Hmph, I won't. I'll stay awake the whole time!" When I tilted my head, Famu's face was right beside mine. We looked at each other, and then, at the same time, we both started to laugh.