“I think I understand why it’s called a curse.”
Tana pouts her lips after taking a sip of beer. Remembering the divine liquor she drank in the Forest of the Demon Realm, it was so bland that calling it ‘alcohol’ felt questionable.
“Right? So just because it’s tasty doesn’t mean it’s good.”
She shoves a piece of sausage into her mouth. Maybe because it’s near the Forest of the Demon Realm, the quality isn’t that great, but since everyone had to part ways tomorrow, this was the only place for a gathering.
“It definitely lived up to being called divine liquor. Even someone like me, who has tried various high-end drinks, was astonished.”
“It was a bit amazing. It felt like my tongue was dancing with joy.”
Elise and Hayun agree while sipping on the terrible beer. By the way, I’m a student, so I don’t drink beer.
The Forest of the Demon Realm?
It’s not a kingdom, right? Think of it as an extraterritorial zone.
‘It suits better to call it a lawless zone than an extraterritorial zone.’
Anyway, no one can see me committing crimes in the Forest of the Demon Realm, so I don’t care, but here is different.
Watching the three women sip the awful beer, I keep munching on the sausages served as snacks and ask, “So is that enough?”
I point to the bundle Tana is holding protectively under her arm. It’s a collection of bug shells named Leborint, known for their vibrant colors even in the dark Forest of the Demon Realm.
It was a unique material Tana chose for the clothes she would be making for the upcoming fashion show.
“Yep, this will definitely attract attention.”
Tana gives a satisfied smile and gives a thumbs up, while Hayun picks up some potatoes and continues.
“Thanks to Daniel. This Armante is pretty important for us. It will serve as a stepping stone to transition from merely a commoner’s possession to a high-end brand.”
“Well, that’s fortunate.”
“Do you want to come see it? I could probably get you a ticket.”
Hayun subtly leans on her chin and asks. I hesitate for a moment but shake my head reluctantly.
“I’d probably just sleep. I’m not really interested.”
“Come on! Master! Let’s go watch it together!”
Elise clings to me with a smile. Maybe because she had the leash play in the Forest of the Demon Realm, she seems oddly more lively and her skin looks better than usual.
“…You’re just going to do something weird there.”
“It’s a fashion show, so the models will walk in front of us, right? You could stick your hand under my skirt and start stirring around…!”
Elise’s face turns red as she starts getting excited at the thought. How does someone like her manage to be involved in royal affairs?
“If you’re going to do something weird, don’t come.”
“Exactly! Don’t spill your lust on our efforts!”
Hayun and Tana strongly warn her, and Elise glances at me, disappointed, but I shake my head in refusal.
How can she think of everything that way?
If that’s a talent, then sure, it is a talent.
Especially when it comes to relationships, sometimes I find myself swept away in her flow, doing what she wants. Is that the charisma of the royal family?
Anyway, we spent quite a long time together clinking our glasses. The beer was so awful we didn’t drink much, but we chatted until our throats were dry while munching on snacks.
“Ugh! She’s bragging that she’s never been drunk in royal affairs, yet here she is, getting all clingy!”
We didn’t go for a second round and headed straight back to the accommodation. Even though we hadn’t drunk much, Tana was getting annoyed as she supported the giggling Elise.
If it were the usual Elise, she would never get drunk, but perhaps because today, she removed her royal duties and spent time with us as a friend, she got tipsy quickly.
“Master! You have to do it again!”
“I’m not Daniel! Ugh! Hey! Someone take her away!”
“I don’t want to.”
Elise mistakenly clings to Tana thinking it’s me. Thanks to that, I’m leisurely walking behind, but Hayun quietly grabs my sleeve.
“Shall we walk for a bit?”
“…Tana, you go ahead.”
Since I hadn’t spent any personal time with Hayun while in the Forest of the Demon Realm, it felt a bit disappointing to part ways.
Tana looked our way, pouted her lips, and groaned as she took Elise away.
“There’s nowhere to walk around here.”
Since it’s near the Forest of the Demon Realm, there’s no nice park-like place. But Hayun doesn’t mind as she naturally takes my hand, intertwining our fingers.
“Since we’re a couple, something like this…”
Seeing her blush while she says that makes my heart feel a bit heavy.
“Yeah, this is it.”
“Uh?”
May calls during class, inviting us out to hang out.
Ivy, enjoying skinship in front of the students, appeared as a lecturer.
Rin and Adriana often show up in my dreams.
Sen who took action while I was asleep.
Even Eris, who got pregnant because we were tangled up every night.
Thinking about it, it’s been so long since I had such a fresh date that I couldn’t help but feel a bit moved.
Elise said that I have a strangely girlish side regarding love.
“No, unlike the other girls who cling, it’s nice to see you in such a fresh state.”
“…It feels like you’re mocking me for not having much experience.”
While she pouts her lips, the hands intertwined don’t loosen.
As I look at her, I notice the circular marks on her neck, filling me with mixed feelings.
“Is your neck okay?”
“Oh, this?”
Hayun lightly rubs her neck with her other hand and giggles.
“This is fine. I didn’t expect to do that kind of act though.”
I told her that I played with Elise’s leash in the Forest of the Demon Realm, but in reality, it wasn’t just Elise.
Hayun was also involved.
Both of us were swept away by Elise’s strong push, but later, I remember getting quite excited.
Even though I’m left with a leash mark.
“I get why Elise likes it. The feeling of you wanting me so much that you would do things like this feels surprisingly nice.”
“…”
“I’m not saying we should do it often.”
Hayun smiles and leans slightly against my arm. Her unique sweet tea scent tickles my nose in the night breeze.
We arrived at the open area outside the village.
A place where you can see the Forest of the Demon Realm. Hayun slowly lets go of my hand and steps back.
“Let’s have a duel.”
“Uh?”
She smiles while adjusting the two swords at her waist. I have the sword I used in the Forest of the Demon Realm, but suddenly?
“You just drank!”
“You didn’t drink, right? So it doesn’t matter.”
“Well, that’s true.”
I thought we would just have a casual date, but suddenly suggesting a duel feels a bit unexpected.
“Alright, let’s see how much your skills have rusted from doing business.”
It’s been a while since I clashed swords with Hayun, so I accepted with a smile.
Then we swung our swords for a while. Although I had a few beers, it seemed she became lighter and sharper the more she moved.
Crash!
“It’s been a while since I held a sword, so it feels awkward.”
“You’re born as a swordsman. You should swing a sword for at least an hour a day.”
Every time we clashed swords, I felt her emotions and concerns flowing into me.
Given her intensity and mindset determine the power and condition of her sword, she has a unique approach.
Seeing her swing her sword without hesitation, I feel like I no longer need to worry about her.
Thud.
Hayun steps back, putting her two swords into their sheaths.
But it didn’t mean she wanted to stop the duel.
Rather, it was her determination to deliver a trump card.
Leaning her body forward, she crossed her arms to grab the swords in their sheaths.
Suddenly channeling her mana and pulling her swords out explosively to thrust forward.
It could be called Hayun’s special move, Double Draw.
In the past, her upper body used to shake a lot, so I had rated it an incomplete technique because her body could not handle the speed and strength.
But this time was different.
The two lines slicing through the air were restrained like a calligrapher’s brush, yet contained a heavy, profound beauty.
Boom!
As I blocked the attack, I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“It’s been a while since you held a sword, yet your technique is perfected?”
Seeing her Double Draw perfectly executed made me smile, and Hayun returned the grin.
“Did you block it too easily?”
“It was the most threatening attack I’ve seen since I came back to life.”
That was a compliment of sorts.
It meant it was far more threatening than the other magical beasts I’d seen in the Forest of the Demon Realm.
Hayun, satisfied, sheathed her sword.
“I’m honored to hear such words from humanity’s strongest.”
“…Can you not attach that humanity’s strongest title? It’s cringy every time I hear it.”
I scratch my cheek awkwardly each time that title comes up.
After I sheathed my sword, Hayun came back by my side and crossed her arms again.
“You must be sweaty.”
“I’m fine. Let’s go wash up.”
Well, as long as Hayun isn’t displeased, I nod. As we walk together, curiosity sparks, and I ask.
“Are we going to wash together?”
“…We’ll see?”
