Dark Seele's thoughtless, off-the-cuff answer left Seele momentarily stunned.
Realizing the inappropriateness of her remark, Dark Seele immediately grew irritable.
「You're always so indecisive! Constantly overthinking things! Are you really going to listen to that guy and stay here forever?」
The ever-understanding Seele naturally didn't press the issue, instead following Dark Seele's change of topic.
"...Seele doesn't know. But if we don't stay here, we have nowhere else to go. Besides... they give you food here..."
「?」
「You were bought off with a single bowl of pork chop rice?」
「Tch, what a useless coward!」
"...S-sorry..."
「Aaargh! Who asked for your apology?! You're so annoying!」
Seele shrank back weakly. "...Then where should we go?"
「Hmph, do whatever you want!」
It seemed she didn't really care where they stayed. Or rather, just escaping the prison of the Sea of Quanta was a cause for celebration in itself.
Seele said, "Um... did you... dream last night? Well, not exactly a dream, more like a 'wondrous world' like in Alice in Wonderland?"
The term "last night" wasn't accurate; at the bottom of the Sea of Quanta, time was imperceptible.
But Dark Seele understood what she meant.
She immediately recalled being stuck inside a bookshelf that felt like a wall.
"...Brother Ye Feng said you came in too, but Seele didn't see you..."
Hearing Seele's words, Dark Seele froze.
What does she mean?
It wasn't a dream?
We actually entered a real world?
Wait a minute.
「Don't tell me that's where you got your power from?」
Seele's gaze flickered away as she subconsciously placed a hand over her lower abdomen.
She felt that the pattern Brother Ye Feng had drawn there, like a Stigma... was incredibly bewitching.
Demonic, even.
Seele answered softly, "...Y-yes."
「?」
Dark Seele was dumbfounded.
Then why was I just stuck in a wall for so long?
The crimson moonlight shone through the window. Tonight was destined to be anything but peaceful.
---o---
Kiana was extremely agitated.
Last night, she once again failed to enter Ye Feng's world.
Of course, it wasn't that the young girl was looking forward to it, or that she wanted anything.
It was just that her Mei was in there, calling out that scoundrel Ye Feng's name.
Kiana was panicking.
She wanted to know what on earth was happening inside.
And she couldn't just ask directly. Could she really say, "Mei, why were you calling Ye Feng's name in your sleep last night?"
"This is torture~~~"
Tonight was the same.
Even playing games with Bronya couldn't dispel her vexation.
Kiana tossed and turned in her bed.
It was so strange. The moment she lay down and closed her eyes, the image of that scoundrel Ye Feng pressing down on her would surface in her mind...
The potent male scent, the firm and powerful chest muscles, the hot breath they exhaled mingling together...
"Tch! Dammit!"
Kiana's eyes shot open as she swung her fists in frustration.
"It's all his fault! To think I'd be having thoughts like this... Just how badly has that scoundrel corrupted me?!"
Before, she used to think about Mei to lull herself to sleep.
Kiana felt like her thoughts had been tainted.
The little bug shot up in bed.
"Don't tell me that scoundrel put some kind of suggestion on me?"
Why else would she think of that detestable face even in the outside world?
And from a first-person perspective, no less, looking like he was about to lean in for a kiss.
No, not that... My first kiss is reserved for Mei.
Kiana touched a finger to her cherry lips, which gleamed with a mesmerizing luster under the moonlight.
As for the fact that Ye Feng had already kissed her many times, and that she had even straddled his body and forcefully demanded a kiss, saying something like "Watch as I suppress you"...
How could that be the same?
That was an NPC's body!
In the outside world, Kiana's true self was, without a doubt, still a pure, innocent, and untainted maiden.
Kiana's slender, pale fingers danced alluringly over her lips, carrying a unique charm.
With every move, the pure young girl now exuded a subtle, dewy allure.
Kiana unconsciously swayed her slender waist, her eyes moist as she looked over at Mei.
Raiden Mei was
the daughter of a martial family, a young lady from the Far East who naturally possessed a noble aura, like an unattainable flower on a high peak.
Kiana stared blankly, and for some reason, she felt an impulse to "bring the high and mighty young lady down from her pedestal."
Mm, Kiana understands this. Ye Feng once said that everyone possesses a 'destructive urge'; it's one of the basic human desires.
Destroying something pure and beautiful was also a form of this destructive urge.
No, no, no, this is wrong!!
Kiana averted her gaze, clutching her head with both hands.
"Dammit, that scoundrel definitely did something to me!"
Ye Feng was able to draw a Stigma, filling Kiana's body with his scorching... energy.
So, it was only natural that it would affect her thoughts, right?
That's what Kiana believed.
"How could I possibly have those kinds of wild thoughts!"
Kiana felt that she had definitely been corrupted by Ye Feng.
I'm not that kind of person!
But... she felt so hungry, so empty.
It was as if she had no energy for anything.
Kiana forced her eyes shut. She refused to believe that Ye Feng would appear again—
"Aaaargh, I hate this so much!"
Kiana squirmed on the bed like a little bug.
Summer was over, and it was time for school to start.
But the weather was still sweltering.
In the quiet room, the air conditioner's vent hummed as it blew out cold air.
Kiana felt a fire inside her body that was difficult to extinguish.
She shot up from the bed. Wearing only her panties and a pajama top, she slipped on her slippers and walked out, her smooth, fair legs on full display.
Kiana went to the living room, where Bronya was still sitting and playing a game.
"...Kiana? Weren't you sleeping?" Bronya turned her head to look, her fingers on the controller still moving out of muscle memory.
Meeting Bronya's gaze, Kiana felt a little guilty. "It's so hot, I'm getting a cold drink. You want one, Bronya?"
"Thanks. A coke would be great."
"Mm. Here you go."
Kiana sat down, stretching her long, shapely white legs out on the cool tile floor.
"It's so late, Bronya. Aren't you sleeping? We have class tomorrow."
(Stare~~~)
Bronya turned her head and simply stared at the little bug with a deadpan expression.
"What is it?" Kiana asked, feeling her guilt rise again.
She had been feeling guilty very easily lately.
Bronya said, "Bronya just never thought she would see the day when Kiana would express concern about Bronya attending class."
"Of course! This young lady was second in our grade last semester!"
Kiana proudly puffed out her chest.