Fallen Brides: Wilmarina — The Much-Needed Second Draft That Took Far Too Long to Write

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So, that took quite a bit longer than I'd hoped, but I've finished the second draft of Wilmarina's chapter. This one really needed it: I've fixed the formatting, corrected a number of straight-up errors, and improved a lot of awkward wordings. It was simultaneously encouraging to see how far I've come, and embarrassing to see how bad I was. Even if you've read the first draft (or if you gave up on it because the translation was a mess), I recommend reading this version if you're at all interested.

As for future MGE translations, I have a complete draft of "Until She Falls," the story from the first World Guide, but it's not all typed yet. It's about half the length of a Fallen Brides chapter. You could consider it a followup to Wilmarina's chapter, although it was actually written first.

I'm hoping to get back onto a better schedule soon, but my manga translations (check out Yagyuu Juubei Dies if crazy action is your thing) are taking up a lot of my time, as are my professional commitments (which are mostly looking for more of them at the moment, unfortunately).

(Text after the cut.)

Case 1: Wilmarina

"One Who Seeks the Fallen Sword"

By The Dullahan's Groom

Translated from the Japanese by OtherSideofSky (othersideofskytranslations.blogspot.com)

It was a beautiful flower garden, its surface entirely covered in white.

A world blanketed in pure white Dutch clover. I was sitting in the center of a beautiful flower garden untainted by any impurity.  My gaze was turned to the bunch of clover I had plucked. I was working my small fingers as hard as I could, but they simply refused to move as I wanted. They made loops of the unyielding stems and thread the ends through, but they refused to do so smoothly.

Humph...

As my cheeks swelled with irritation, I quietly turned my eyes to the side. A boy of about my own age was sitting there. His flaming red hair was cropped short, and his fingers were moving with a smoothness mine could not match.  As I watched, he passed one loop through another and held them up triumphantly.

"Done!"

"Ooh..."

It was a beautifully woven crown of flowers.

He must have planned even the angles at which the flowers stuck out — every petal faced outward. It was every bit as good as the ones his parents made. No, I doubt even many adults could have made such a pretty garland. It was that beautiful.

Compared to that, I...

Even making allowances for the garland in my hands being incomplete, it could never compare with his.  The marks of my forceful twisting were visible all over it, and the flowers stuck out at odd angles. In more than a few places they had gone limp, as if the moisture had leaked from their stems. Parts of it had come out well, but that only made the whole appear all the more misshapen by comparison.

...Why was there so much difference...?

His parents had taught us both at the same time, during pauses in their work, but he had made steady progress, while I had made none at all. People said that he was good with his hands, but that didn't change my lack of progress. I had begun to suspect that I was clumsy.

...I mean... not being able to make even a single garland properly...

"Here."

"...Huh?"

He gently placed the garland in his own hands on my head, which I had lowered in shame.  When I looked up in surprise, my eyes met those in his sincere, smiling face. What in the world was that somehow triumphant smile for? While I pondered that, his lips began to move.

"Yup. I was right; you look like a princess when you wear things like this, Mary. It's really cute."

"Ah..."

His words, and my pet name, had the effect of a surprise attack. Reflexively, my chest throbbed and a heat kindled in my face. He, however, went back to plucking the Dutch clover around him, completely oblivious to my reaction. That made me feel relieved, and also a tiny bit jealous. I was thankful that he wasn't staring at my now bright red face, but... couldn't he have paid a little more attention to me? I mean... the flower garden certainly was pretty, but... he'd gone to the trouble of inviting me here, and...

...Although... I was glad he'd called me cute...

Just the thought was enough to blow away my faint jealousy, and cause my cheeks to slacken.  Of course, having been taken along by my father on his trips to the outside world, as I had been, I had had the word "cute" directed at me any number of times. Most of those, however, had been empty compliments, or flattery meant for my father. Hardly anyone had genuinely thought me cute and put real feeling into words, as he had.

But... even if someone other than him had said it...

There was practically nothing that could have made me happier than hearing it from him. His parents also complimented me without flattery, but they did not make my chest throb and my face redden so much as he did. Of course, happiness was happiness, but the feeling inside me now was a little bit different.

...Could he be a genius at making my heart flutter...?

Right now, even just being next to him was enough to make my heart go pitter-patter. It wasn't enough to show on my face, but it there had been times when I had failed to maintain my composure in front of him. Each and every time, however, he would cover for my failure, and turn to me with his usual smiling face.

Even just now... That's right...

He had brought me to his secret place — this flower garden — and on the way I had come close to falling down more times than I could count. My attempt to dress stylishly — in heels, of all things, although of course they were only small ones for children — in response to his invitation was probably the cause. Although, when I really came to think about it, he should never have brought me to such a romantic spot. He had supported me in my heels time and time again, and taken my hand so that my clothes would not become dirty.

...My heart was pounding a lot then, too...

I felt an exaltation just like I did after putting my all into a game of tag. And yet, it certainly wasn't an unpleasant feeling.  Because... I trusted that, as long as I was with him, everything would be alright. Or maybe...

"Mary?"

"...Huh?"

His voice abruptly called out to me. When I raised my head in response, his worried-looking face entered my view. What in the world had prompted him to make such an expression? I thought it over for a few moments, then realized that my hands had been motionless for some time.

"Are you alright?  Your hands aren't moving, but..."

...I'd gone and done it again...

"Oh... Y, yeah. I'm fine. I was just thinking about something," I replied in order to make him feel at ease. As I did so, however, I felt my heart slump just a little. This was far from the first time I had gotten lost in thought at his side. Perhaps just being near him was enough to make me unconsciously lower my guard, but I didn't know how many times I had repeated this same scene.

"...Sorry. You said you wanted to practice making garlands, Mary, so I thought this would be a good place, but..."

"N, no! I, I'm really enjoying myself!"

He must have thought that I was lost in thought because I was bored of the flower garden. His shoulders quietly slumped as he apologized. But it was a complete misunderstanding. I wasn't bored at all; neither did I dislike the flower garden. On the contrary, just knowing that he'd remembered my trivial confidences filled me with joy.

Besides... as long as I was with him, I was sure that I'd enjoy myself... no matter where I was...

"Really? Well, that's alright then, but..."

"I, I'm fine! I was just worrying because... I'm no good at making garlands, and..."

It wasn't exactly a lie. I had started out worrying about my failure to improve and my clumsiness in comparison to him. It was true that the topic had then shifted to him himself, but that had been the original cause. Even I wasn't sure whether I was lying or not, but to keep him from feeling down, I would make my own clumsiness out to be the culprit.

"Hmm... You're putting too much force into your shoulders, Mary."

"...I, I know that, but..."

I was clumsy, so I couldn't help it. Clumsy me had failed over and over by putting too much force into it, and then ended up doing the same thing again anyway. I knew that I was trapped in that vicious cycle. Actually, the first stems I had braided were well done as they were. But the more I put together, the more my feelings of pressure and unease grew, and now it was growing difficult for me to even make a proper loop.

My shoulders slumped. Just then, his hands quietly stretched out to me, and...

"Let me feel it for a minute."

"Ah..."

Those hands covering my palms from above made my cheeks redden. My heart beat faster, too, and my whole body seemed to be growing hot. And yet he, focused on my fingers, refused to notice. I suppose he was using my fingers to demonstrate; trying to help me build up experience. I, however, barely glanced at my fingertips.

...Ah... His eyelashes are longer than I thought...

While he stared at my hands, his face and mine were quickly growing closer than they had been before. Then we were so close that, if I'd managed to summon a little courage, I could have kissed him.  When there was so little distance between us that a sigh from either of us could have crossed it, my heart beat so fast it seemed it might burst. I was turned towards his serious gaze, concentrating so as not to miss even its faintest movements.

"There. That does it."

"Huh? ...What...? Oh..."

Called back to reality by his words, I found a small garland of flowers finished in my hands. The garland, about the size of a finger ring, was the prettiest I had ever made. It must have been because he had begun helping me partway through making it. In the moments I spent admiring his ability to make a garland as pretty as this using not his own, but another's fingers, he quietly drew away from me.

Ah... He's going away...

His quietly retreating figure was so lonely that my hand made to reach out to him of its own accord. But the tiny garland in my hands stopped it. It was only natural that I should treasure that garland, our first collaboration and so well made as to be unique — at least in my personal experience. I wanted to avoid losing or injuring it if I possibly could.

Besides... he would never leave me.

"Oof."

Just as I had anticipated, he sat down softly beside me. He went on swiftly weaving the Dutch clovers he had picked, just as he had been before. I admired the fluid movements of his fingers, which I could not bring myself to believe were made of the same stuff as my own. An "idea" suddenly popped into my head.

"Hey... won't you make a ring for me?"

"Hm...? Sure, but... why?"

"It's a secret. If you make it for me, I might tell you."

"Huh...? What's that supposed to mean?"

He sounded dissatisfied, but his fingers moved skillfully.

He was so kind. I was sure he would make a ring for me as I had requested. As proof of that, the movements of his fingers, which had been making something large, changed. I felt a smile come to my face as I watched the small, firm knitting movements produce a finger ring in the blink of an eye.

"Here. It's finished."

"Hee hee... Thanks."

As he turned to me and proffered the finished ring, his face quietly reddened. Even he, insensitive as he was, must have understood what it meant to give a girl a ring. The sight of his embarrassment, made my heart begin to throb again.

...Was his heart fluttering too?

It would make me happy if it was. No, a desire for it to be so reflexively gushed forth from within my breast. I didn't quite understand what that meant. And yet, I felt certain it was nothing too bad.

While I encouraged myself in this way, I held my "treasure" out to him, offering.

"Now, take this in return, okay?"

"Huh...?"

He looked at the "treasure" in my hand — the ring we had just made together — with a dumbfounded expression. Judging by his look of total incomprehension, I guessed that he didn't yet know what an exchange of rings meant. Then... I was in luck. I would get my way before any strange preconceptions got a hold of him.

"When someone gives you a ring, you have to give them one back."

"Is that... so?"

"Yes, it is."

...Yeah. I'm not exactly lying.

All I had done was deliberately leave out, "this only applies to wedding and engagement rings." Besides, I felt confident that, dull-witted as he was, he would probably never realize. I didn't even understand why I was doing such a thing myself, but I felt certain that it was no mistake. I couldn't explain why, but I was convinced of that.

"Well, in that case..."

So saying, he took the ring from my hand, and gently placed it on his finger.

Wearing it on the middle finger of his left hand, he quietly turned his palm to the sun. The ring that the two of us had made together took in the warm spring sunlight, and seemed to sparkle. Feeling somehow triumphant, I put his ring gently on my finger in imitation.

On the index finger of my right hand, of course.

For some reason... Yes. For some reason, that ring fit perfectly on my index finger, as if it had always belonged there. Sensing a touch of destiny in that, I felt my cheeks break into a smile. Smiling in spite of myself, I stuck out my hand, palm facing the sun, just as he was. My lips quietly parted.

"...Thank you so much, El."

"I don't know why you're thanking me, but... you're welcome."

He — Elt... no, El — flashed an embarrassed smile. His expression, which looked as though he was happy too, made me feel strangely glad. I felt my chest grow warm, and...

Fade to black.

"...Ah... umm... hey,"

In the middle of a beautifully paved road, illuminated by the noonday sun, I opened my mouth to speak, falteringly. But, try as I might, the words would not come out. No, I didn't even know what I had been going to say anymore. In my heart was the perhaps unreasonable, but compulsive, feeling that if I didn't say something now, I would regret it. That was all.

"...Mary."

As I stood paralyzed, El turned a troubled expression towards me.

I'd never wanted to make trouble for El. It was true that I had spoken selfishly to him more than once, but that was because I knew El would always accept it. I hadn't wanted to make him look like that... like he didn't know what to do.

But... I didn't know what I should do either, and...

Even though it must have been the same for El... No, even though it must have been far harder on him than it was on me, all I did was make trouble for him. I couldn't do a thing for him. Just when I was about to burst into tears at my own wretchedness, his hand gently brushed my head.

"It's alright."

"Ngh...!"

Even I could tell that he was putting on a brave face. His family had always served mine, and now they'd been dismissed without warning. It seemed an unbelievably poor way to treat servants who, far from committing any conspicuous errors, had steadily accumulated merit. Not to mention... normally, it's customary to mediate a servant's next place of employment after dismissing them. My father, however, had merely given his parents notice.

That poor — unusually poor — treatment had given rise to some nasty rumors...

Tales that his parents had been embezzling our family funds were the least of them. It was even whispered on the estate that El's father had committed adultery with mother. Of course, I gave no credence to such gossip. Still, the problem was that such rumors blackened his family's name just by existing...

"Father told me. He said we'll definitely pull through somehow. So, I'm sure everything will be fine."

"But...!"

It was true that El's father was a fine person. I respected him myself; he not only carried out his work perfectly, but even taught me to play in his spare time. Still, he had been a servant for decades. Could he go on living now that infamy had closed that path to him? It would probably be... difficult.

"...I'm sorry."

"You've got nothing to apologize for, Mary.  And besides, I'm sure the master has his reasons."

El smiled at me reassuringly.

He had been driven out of his home without even being told the reason why. He must also have been uneasy about his livelihood in a new world. Yet he was still concerned for me. I felt grateful to him, but on the other hand, I felt a strong pain in my chest. A feeling of powerlessness was slowly but steadily coiling itself around my heart. It made me want to bawl. I'm sure it must have been because of the faint tears pricking El's eyes.

Even he... must have heard the rumors.

El respected his parents even more than I did. Their being slandered couldn't fail to hurt him. And that wasn't counting the fact that El himself had come in for ridicule as a result of his parents' ill repute. He was the same age as me; his heart couldn't have escaped the gossip of rumor-mongering servants without injury.

If I had power, I'd make sure he never had to make a face like this...

El had always protected me. El had always been ahead of me, leading me onward. He had never shown me such a pained expression before. He looked worn-out, somehow. I wanted to show him my appreciation, but I had nothing to give. The influence to make father reverse his decision; the power to stop the servants' rumors; the magic to heal his heart... I possessed none of these.

"Besides... a happy face suits you better than looking like you're about to cry, Mary."

"Oo..."

Those words finally broke down my self-control.

I had desperately avoided crying so far, but now my eyes grew damp, and tears fell from them in large drops. I wiped at the corners of my eyes more than once in an attempt to hold them back, but the tears flowing down my cheeks absolutely refused to stop. El saw the tears — which would not stop, even though I scolded myself that he was the one who should be crying — and quietly withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket.

"Honestly... You're such a crybaby, Mary."

"But..."

Just like that, he used the handkerchief to gently wipe my tears away.

The gentle way he used his hands filled me with an incomparable feeling of relief. But at the same time... I also realized that he would leave me. The loneliness of knowing that the warmth I wanted to be touched by always was going to disappear caused me to resume my weeping.

"And anyway, it's not as though we'll never be able to see each other again."

"You're... probably right,... but..."

But it would be difficult.

My family — the Norscrim family — was among the most distinguished in all of Lescatié. I didn't think I was anyone special, but the people around me certainly disagreed. Some of them would definitely oppose a member of a distinguished noble family spending her life with a commoner who wasn't even a servant. Not to mention that, recently — ever since I'd come home from that flower garden — I'd had almost no free time. It had taken me until today to find time in my more than usually overcrowded schedule to see him. Under those circumstances, I had no confidence that I would be able to make an opportunity to see El again.

"It's alright. I'm sure we'll manage somehow. We'll see each other again."

And yet, El's words were melting my chest.

Like a magic spell, they melted my unease and brought forth a baseless self-confidence. If he said it... I was sure we'd be able to see each other again. No, I would make sure of it. At any cost. Just when I made up my mind about that, I heard a voice calling El.

"...Sorry.  I have to go now."

"...Alright."

I wanted to cling to El's retreating figure. I wanted to cry and scream, "don't go!" But even if I cried and screamed, it wouldn't change father's decision. On the contrary, it would likely make more trouble for El and his parents. So... all that I — powerless child that I was — could do was to believe him when he told me that we could see each other again.

"Oh... your handkerchief... I need to clean it for you..."

"It's fine; it's just tears."

"But..."

It had still gotten dirty.

I felt happy that he was willing to accept the handkerchief soaked with my tears, but a little embarrassed at the same time. And... to tell the truth, I wanted the pretext of "returning something I was looking after for him." So that I would never forget him... No, so that I would always be thinking of him.

But there was no way he would let me keep it for him when we didn't know when we would be able to see each other again.

My thoughts wavered in the gap between my feelings and my rational judgment. Should I keep it or not? As I vacillated between the two, I recalled what had happened in the flower garden. I had exchanged something of my own for something of his. That gave me an idea. I slipped a hand into my right pocket.

"Then... here.  Exchange it for this."

"Huh...?"

I withdrew a frilly handkerchief from my pocket. It was an elegant, embroidered one that father had bought for me. It must have been quite valuable, and yet I wanted his simple handkerchief more. Even just a promise would do. I wanted to feel that I was still tied to El.

"I'll lend you this, El... until I give yours back. We'll... trade."

El looked dumbfounded by my words.

He stayed like that for a few seconds, and then displayed an indescribable expression. With that glad, embarrassed look still on his face, El shrugged. Judging by that movement — which I recognized — he must have thought this another of my whims. I, however, was so much more serious than usual that there could be no comparison.

"...Alright.  Let's... trade, then."

"...Right!"

El accepted my handkerchief, and handed me his own in exchange. Had my intention gotten across, or was it just because it wasn't a bad deal for him, either? I turned back to face him, holding it in both hands, practically embracing it. He was facing me again, too. But... there was nothing left for us to say to each other, nothing left for us to do. Silence reigned.

"Well... until next time... okay?"

"...Okay."

As we exchanged these brief goodbyes, El was already walking off where his parent were waiting. He allowed his steps to falter and looked as if he were about to turn back several times, but he never stopped. I kept watching his back, wanting him to turn back... wanting him to stop.

El joined his parents, who had been waiting in front of the gate. His parents, noticing me, quietly bowed their heads. But I was the one who should have bowed. I was the one who needed to make a heartfelt apology to that family, who had been driven out by my father's whim. As if charmed by those feelings, I bowed my head very deeply.

By the time I raised it, El and his parents had already gone out the gate.

The family's backs slowly receded as they walked down the road — paved so that carriages could pass easily along it. Even if I had tried to follow them, the iron grill of the gate would have prevented me. I felt as though my heart was being crushed by that gate, which seemed to insist that we would live in different worlds from now on. And the person who would have protected me from that feeling was no longer at my side. El, who had guided and protected me was... gone.

When I thought that, something warm spilled from my eyes.

"...Huh...? How strange...," I muttered at the large teardrops brimming from my eyes. But... it should be fine. After all, he had told me we would see each other again. I could count on his promise. The handkerchief in my hand was proof of that. El had never broken a promise, so... he would definitely keep this one.

But still... for some reason...

"They won't stop. Now that El's gone... the tears... the tears... won't stop..."

Fade to black.

"... I can't sleep..."

The murmur echoed futilely in the moonlit corridor.

After he left, I had stood before the gate and cried myself out for a long time, until my tutor brought me back inside. At first, my tutor had been angry at me for slipping out on my own, but maybe my persistent sobbing had beaten him down, because he had given me the day to rest. Thanks to that, I had cried my heart out in my room until I tired myself out and fell asleep... And I'd ended up not being able to sleep at night because of it.

...This isn't even funny...

I derided myself, but it remained a fact that I wasn't at all sleepy. And I hadn't even had dinner, so my stomach was empty. Enduring the hunger until morning seemed impossible, so maybe I should go down to the kitchens and pilfer some bread. So thinking, I set out into the nighttime corridors.

...The corridors at night are creepier than I thought...

The hallways were usually candlelit. There wasn't a single light in them now. The moon's pale light shone in through the windows, so it wasn't really dark, but I could not deny that there was a peculiar atmosphere, like a ghost might jump out at me the moment I turned a corner.

...Ulp... Thinking about that sort of thing scared me more than it should...

To defend myself from the sudden chill running along my spine, I thrust a hand into a pocket of my nightgown. In it was the little handkerchief I was holding onto for him. Just grasping it tightly was enough to clear away my unease and fear at once.

Hee hee... Just like a charm...

No, the handkerchief was more than that to me. At any rate, it calmed my heart far more than any charm of dubious efficacy. As far as I was concerned, the small cloth that encouraged me might as well have been a part of El.

That's right... isn't it?  ...I mean, I'm not crying so much...

Or maybe that was because I had already cried myself to sleep. I had a feeling that my outlook had gotten more optimistic even before sleep took me. ...No, that wasn't it. It hadn't gotten more optimistic... it had just gone back to the way it was when El was with me. It was probably just that I was projecting his presence onto the handkerchief, and somehow supporting myself by relying on it. I flashed a derisive smile at my own confused heart.

But... it doesn't seem wrong.

"Be an exemplary follower of the gods." That was father's favorite phrase. Someone who believes in the supremacy of the Chief God, and slays monsters to show the Chief God's power — that was what my father meant by "an exemplary follower of the gods." That was what my days of studying and swinging a sword so long that my free time had all but disappeared were for. Of course, I understood that father wasn't doing it because he wanted to torment me, but... but... still... The Chief God might be the reason I'd had my play time snatched away, but it wasn't the Chief God I could rely on; it was...

...Huh?

Just when I thought that, I caught sight of firelight illuminating the pale corridor. When I turned to look for its source, a very slightly open door came into my field of view. A light was still burning in father's study. That meant father was probably still working.

...Father is trying his best too...

I was awful, thinking only of my own problems. I hated myself. I put all my strength into my grip, not caring that the handkerchief would get crumpled. But the blackness gushing forth from the depths of my heart simply refused to stop. Hoping to shake it off, I approached the door. Just as I stretched out my hand to extinguish that light, which seemed to illuminate my own awfulness, conversing voices reached my ears.

"You certainly seem to be in a good mood."

"Quite so. I've managed to drive those rats out at last."

...Rats?

Father's voice sounded as if he were in a better mood than I had ever heard him in. When, intrigued by that, I quietly peered through the gap in the door, the sight of father seated on a couch met my eyes. Reclining and emptying the glass in his hand, his massive figure was more slovenly than I had ever seen it. The man who told me to "be an exemplary follower of the gods" wasn't there, was drowned in the momentary pleasure called wine — and what father called a "traitor" was there in his place.

"Rats...? Not a very nice way to speak of a family that served you for many years."

"What's that you say? It's only natural for the commoners to serve us. On the contrary, they should be thanking me for doing them the favor of using them until today."

"As you say."

...!

A tension ran along my spine at father's cold words. Judging from the contents of their conversation... the "rats" father spoke of must be El's parents. But... I couldn't agree. After all... El's parents were such kind, warm people. If the two of them and El hadn't been there, I probably wouldn't be who I was now.

Although... I couldn't exactly argue the point...

As I was, I could do no more than peep in. To put it more plainly and comprehensibly, I was being a "bad girl." If I barged in there and told father what I thought, even at the best of times, I doubted that I'd be able to persuade him.

...Why must I... still be a "child"...?

The sense of powerlessness I had felt at doing nothing but watch El go revived within me, and made me renew my tight grip on the handkerchief.  Still gripped by a vague longing for "power," I averted my eyes from the sight of the father I had respected drowning in wine. I shifted my gaze to the man father was still talking to... and found a face that even a child like me knew well.

The Order of Holy Knights'...

The majestic, bearded face belonged to a man who had given me sword lessons on several occasions. There was no mistaking that he held one of the highest ranks in the whole Order of Holy Knights. A man such as that was chatting cordially with father, not even rebuking him for his horrible words. The fact gave my small mind a violent jolt.

How...? Why...? Knights are supposed to be more...

They were supposed to be noble and magnificent, weren't they? At least... didn't the Order of Holy Knights, the clearest symbol of the Chief God's authority, have to be made up of people worthy of everyone's respect? And yet... I could see no trace of that ideal in the man. He was as slovenly as father, his collar open and pouring wine into his mouth. At the very least, I could not imagine his condition was in accordance with the teachings of the Chief God, which repudiated excessive drinking.

"But it seems they repaid my favor with the most grievous harm. And here I had intended to treat them well because they did good work, for commoners."

"A ring of flowers on your daughter's finger... was it? Quite a clever move, for a commoner."

"...!"

I could barely restrain a cry at the broadly grinning man's words.

It wasn't as though I had made any particular secret of it. Most of the people on the estate knew that I played with El in my free time, and in the several days since my return from the flower garden, the ring had never left my finger. But the man didn't live on the estate. He shouldn't have known about that. And yet he talked as if he already knew all about it...

What could it... mean...?

Judging from the circumstances, he must have heard it from father. But why would father have needed to tell him that? The answer was already lodged in the base of my throat, but it wouldn't come out, almost as if my heart was refusing to acknowledge it. Frustration, like I were on the verge of completing a puzzle, but a single piece short, was making my breathing ragged.

No... I can't stay here...!

If I stayed any longer, I would end up admitting something I didn't want to admit. If that happened... I didn't feel confident that I could remain who I had been until now. At least, there was an instinct screaming that inside me. And yet I showed no sign of moving, as if my feet had been sewn to the floor. My gaze was flitting back and forth between the two of them again. Apparently I had no intention of turning back.

"It's no laughing matter. I've heard that Wilmarina didn't even appear to be annoyed by it... Just the thought of what could have happened if I had been any later in taking steps terrifies me."

"Ha ha ha. Girls around that age want a little adventure. They soon realize that it was a youthful indiscretion."

"I should hope so... If she doesn't, I'll have driven out those rats for nothing."

... Huh?

Those words brought my thoughts to a crashing halt. I tried desperately to digest what father had said, all the while feeling as if my whole body were frozen in time. While I tried to break down the meaning of "rats" and "driving them out," the two men before me raised their voices in cordial laughter. When I experienced a somehow ugly and, moreover, physiological revulsion, I finally realized that it was because I had been close with El that that wonderful family had been driven out.

It was my... my... fault...?

If I hadn't boastfully gone on wearing the ring — No, if I hadn't exchanged rings with him that day — it might never have come to this. "Ifs" like that rose up in my mind. I definitely didn't want to acknowledge that possibility. I didn't want to admit it, but... it didn't seem likely that father, drunk as he was, would deliberately tell a lie.

If I hadn't... gotten close with El... then surely...

Surely father wouldn't have driven his parents out. There wouldn't have been any need for them to run around searching for work. If nothing had gone wrong, their family's next generation would have been guaranteed employment as well. Their being chased out was all my... my fault...

No! ...No! My heart wailed, not wanting to admit the truth in front of my eyes. But I could not muster the strength to look away. I wanted to run away, I wanted to stop up my ears and eyes and shut out everything, and yet I continued to stare into the room in a daze. My arms hung limp. Even the strength to remain standing fled my legs, and I slumped to the floor of the cold hallway with a thud.

"Well, this should at least be enough to put paid to the relationship between your daughter and that boy. And now..."

"I suppose you're right. I'll have to make certain that Wilmarina is surrounded exclusively by those suitable for the Norscrim family."

Suitable for... the Norscrim...?

It was true that I was born into the Norscrim family, and that I was the daughter of a priest, but... I wondered how much that was really worth. At least... I couldn't believe it was worth driving out a whole family. Not to mention... not to mention, even though... even though father was a priest, he was drowning in wine. To drive out El and his parents... in order to protect a family of people like him...!

"What have we here?"

No sooner had those thoughts crossed my mind than the man turned and looked at me. Staring too much had gotten me noticed. Perhaps I should have expected it. In any case, I scolded myself, now that the man was slowly rising from the sofa, I couldn't possibly stay here much longer. I roused myself and stood up. Then I took my leave — practically fled.

Why...? Why...? Why...?

The question boiled up over and over in my breast as I dashed along the corridors, stifling the sound of my footsteps so as not to be discovered. Even I wasn't quite sure what I was questioning. The difference between nobles and commoners? The right and wrong of father's actions? Or maybe my own powerlessness? The one definite question was...

Why... am I the child of such a horrible man...?

The question arose without warning. I clenched my fists tight and shook my head from side to side as if to deny it, but the fact that my mind had produced those words refused to change. A hideous — too hideous — soliloquy I hadn't even been aware of myself. I could feel it tightening around my heart as I took refuge in my own room.

"Haa... haa..."

My chest heaved as I caught my breath. The events I has just witnessed were still going round and round my mind, filling my chest with physiological revulsion and self-loathing at each revolution. I leapt into bed, fleeing the disgust that threatened to make me sick to my stomach. I pulled the sheets over my head as if to hide, and hugged my nauseous body tight.

"No... No..."

Even I wasn't quite sure what those words were denying. That I had been the one who drove El out? That I had seen father in that ugly state? Or perhaps... that I was still related to father by blood? My childish heart couldn't process all of that. All it could do was to lump it all together into a jumble of "things I don't want to be true." As I lay there shivering, my hand clasped the plain handkerchief before I knew it.

"I'm... I'm different... different, right... El?" I whispered over and over, clutching it to my breast. But although it was a part of him to me, the handkerchief was handkerchief, and could not answer no matter how much I murmured. But... I felt that my heart would be torn to pieces if I did not speak.

"I'm... different, right...?  I'm definitely... different, so... I'll never be... like that..."

Before I knew it, my murmurs had changed into something like excuses, like I was trying to persuade myself. I didn't know what that transformation would bring me, but... if El were here, things would be different. Somehow... I was sure of that.

Fade to black.

"From this day forth, I will be in your family's care."

That place... doesn't belong to you.

"Just as one would expect, you're very strong, Lady Wilmarina."

I'm not strong at all. If I were really strong, I'd be able... to see El...

"Being able to fight at your side was a dream come true, Lady Wilmarina!"

You're not... the one I want beside me...

"As long as you're here, Lady Wilmarina, our army's victory is practically assured."

I just... get desperate and fight...

"You're our pride and joy, Lady Wilmarina!"

You're wrong...! I... I didn't want to become anyone's pride...! I wanted to become...!

Fade to black.

"Number eight, Silk Lowens. Come forward."

"Yes sir!"

A girl of about my own age made a brief reply to the officiating priest, and came up onto the platform where I was.

Today was the Order of Holy Knights' initiation ceremony. The ceremony in which the young people who had overcome the harsh training and been permitted to enlist officially became members of the Order. I had been given the prestigious role of conferring the Badge of the Order on them. I suspect Lady Sasha would have been much happier with the task than I was, but I had consistently been chosen for important roles like this over the past several years.

But... if I get to see such happy faces, then I suppose it's not so bad.

They might be stiff with nervous tension, but joy showed clearly on their faces. That was only natural; all the grueling training they had endured had been for this day. All the young people I'd seen these past few years had worn the same expression.

Well... Of course some of the ones who mounted the platform in the future would probably look different.

That worried me a little, but right then I had to give precedence to the girl in front of me. This was a day for celebration; it would be a pity if the hero tasked with conferring her badge were looking elsewhere. It was my duty to face each of them steadily, and confer the badge of the Order on them.

Telling myself that, I silently presented her with the badge, which bore the emblem of a sword and shield over the national flag. She accepted it in both hands, as if it were precious. She was still a little awkward, even as she made me a flowing bow. As she was to be assigned to my unit, I had been given her data in advance. She appeared to be an excellent girl, as far as I could see; she was probably just a little too worked up in her big moment. Embarrassing as it was to admit, I'd had a similar feeling when I first started out, so I felt a slight affinity for her.

Well... just a little shouldn't matter.

"Good luck," I whispered to her as she passed by me.

"I, it's an honor!" She saluted me in a voice that echoed throughout the meeting hall.

The adjutant at my side gave me a look as if he wanted to say something about that, but he wouldn't do anything to disrupt the important ceremony. I'd probably be cautioned against giving special treatment later, but, after all, encouraging people was part of a hero's job.

I mean... I do understand why I have to treat everyone equally, but...

Another part of a hero's job was being a national symbol. That was why it was a hero, not her highness the princess or his majesty the king, who was appointed to confer the badges at the Order of Holy Knights' initiation ceremony. If I, a hero, were to show anyone favoritism, it would lead to discontent. I did understand the reasoning.

But... I...

I felt a stabbing pain in my breast at the mere thought, and I didn't understand why. In the first place, I wasn't even sure what it was I was questioning. I felt certain that the important role of a "hero" was too much for me, but I also felt honored by it. So why was a part of me crying out in protest? I could hardly be blamed for wondering.

I'm probably just a little tired.

I spent every day and every night fighting and putting in appearances in all sorts of places as a "hero." And lately the duty of memorizing the data of fresh initiates and considering how to assign them had been added on top of that. I now had considerably less time to sleep, so I was probably suffering from mental exhaustion. Even so... a "hero" couldn't just take leave. Even if it were granted to me, it would mean more difficult jobs for everyone else. I had to stand firm.

While I stood there trying to motivate myself, I could see the officiating priest's lips open:

"Number nine, Elt."

"...What?"

...Elt...?

A name I recognized drew my gaze to the stairs. And then I stood in blank amazement as a head of flaming red hair slowly entered my field of view. From beneath those remarkable locks appeared the frank face of a kind, determined young man. It was by no means beautiful, but there was a strength of will in it that stuck in one's memory, and stirred something in mine. There was something conflicted in his expression, perhaps because we were meeting in a place like this. That worried me a little, but... he seemed to be in good health.

I hadn't misheard. I couldn't have mistaken his face, either. The man in front of me was unmistakably my childhood friend — El. When I realized that, tears welled up behind my eyes, and threatened to overflow. Apparently the disposition that had gotten me called a weakling in my childhood hadn't improved, even now that I'd become a "hero." I smiled bitterly at myself. My legs, meanwhile, seemed on the verge of leaping at him.

Huh...?

But my feet refused to move; it was like they had been sewn to the floor. The childhood friend I had so often dreamt of had kept his promise. He was standing in front of me. And yet I couldn't muster a single word of joy. It was like I had been bound hand and foot; my body refused to do what I told it to.

Why...?  Why...!?

Our long-awaited reunion should have been incomparably joyful. The feelings it engendered in me were so great that my heart could not fully contain them, and they threatened to spill out as tears at any moment. And yet, as I faced him, I could not manage a response. It must have looked like I had completely forgotten him. I felt as if my own unresponsiveness was going to tear my heart to pieces.

"Lady Wilmarina?"

"Ah... Excuse me."

A word from the adjutant recalled me to myself. He came from a noble family no less distinguished than the Norscrim, and his words reminded me that I was at a holy ceremony. The initiation ceremony would never end if I just stood around in a daze. I had to go through with it for the people who were still standing at attention, waiting for their turns to come...

No...!  That's not what I want to do...  It's not...!

"Lady Wilmarina... quickly."

"Huh...?  Oh... r, right..."

At the adjutant's urging, I took the Badge of the Order from his hands. Then I just had to hold it firmly in both hands, and offer it to El, and it would be over. With that — with just that — our "reunion" would be over. Without even a word of celebration, without even a gesture of acknowledgement...

...I couldn't... I couldn't bear such a thing, but...!

But my hands, which trembled as if the entire hall was pressing down on my back, were holding the Badge of the Order out to El. He accepted it in silence. For an instant, I was sure that El wanted to say something, but nothing came out of his mouth. He must not have known what to say either. No — I couldn't discount the possibility that he might have been more disconcerted than I was by the difference in social standing between a Hero and a soldier.

That's why...!  That's why... I have to be the one to make the first move, but...!

I still couldn't move. It felt like the fact that I was a Hero was binding me in place. I suppose he must have been disgusted with me for acting like that. There was a sad look in El's eyes for a moment, and then he started to move on. As he drew near, and then passed me, I recalled the impotence and desolation I'd felt the day we parted.

He's leaving...! He's leaving me again...!

I wasn't like I'd been back then. I had "power" now. I possessed not only the renowned strength of a Hero, but also the influence that came with being both a Hero and a priest's daughter. I no longer had to feel as I'd felt then. I could be honest with my feelings and stop him. And yet... even though I should have been able to do it... I... I was...

...Losing him again?

In the moment he passed by me, my mind, which had become cluttered with the words rising in my breast, cleared just a little. I realized that my seemingly-bound arms would now move. There wasn't enough time to reach out to him — he had already almost passed me, and my arms felt too sluggish to reach him in time.

Then... then... all I can do now is...

"...G, good luck."

"Thank you... very much."

My words sounded like they had been forced from me. His response was too distant, as if I were a stranger to him.

I should be the one to speak first. I had no right to reproach him. But... even so, my heart trembled at the distance I sensed in his words. I lost my balance, like the shock to my heart had been an earthquake, and felt like my feet were going to collapse under me. For a moment I experienced vertigo like I was falling forever. I felt several worried looks shoot through me.

No... I mustn't... fall here...

A Hero, a symbol of the nation, must never show weakness in front of such a large crowd. Desperately telling myself that, I did my best to brace my legs, and managed to remain standing. While I was occupied with that, however, he passed by me, and quietly descended from the platform. I stole a sidelong glance at his retreating figure, and shut my eyes in silence.

If... if I had been unequal to the task, and collapsed...

Would El — my childhood friend — have saved me? I'm certain he would have. He had always stretched out a helping hand to me whenever I was in trouble. Of course, he might have changed in the years we'd been apart, but... I had a feeling El's eyes were still filled with the same kindness they had been on the day we parted. If I'd collapsed in front of him... I had no doubt that he would have tossed the badge aside and come running to me.

...What am I thinking...?

I couldn't help but crack a self-derisive grin at the thought; it almost to sounded like it would have been better if I'd let myself fall. But I was still in the middle of an important ceremony, in which I had been given a major role. This was no place for me to be making a face like that. Bracing my heart with such ideas, I silently faced forward again and conferred the Badge of the Order on another youth.

But... I didn't feel confident that I could smile like a Hero, as I had before.

I mechanically went on conferring the badges, unable to get him out of my mind, and...

Fade to black.

There was a document to deliver to Mercè, another Hero.

The moment my adjutant told me that, I took it without hesitation. He had given me an odd look as I listed off reasons and half-forcefully stole the job from him, but I hardly regretted doing it. Thanking the adjutant for his constant support was another of a  Hero's jobs. If I happened to run into him on the way, it would just be a "coincidence," so...

...No. That's an excuse.

I hadn't had a chance to see him — El — since the enrollment ceremony. Of course, we belonged to the same organization, so it wouldn't be difficult for us to meet. If I wanted to, I could see his face any time. I'd even made sure to check whose unit he'd been assigned to, and what barracks he was living in now. I just didn't have the courage to go see him.

What would I do if... he addressed my like a stranger again? No. If that were all, it would still be alright. If that were all, I'd just have to make the first move, and the problem would be solved. The worst would really be if I froze up in front of El again, and could manage nothing but the impersonal words of a Hero. If that happened... it might turn out like our reunion at the enrollment ceremony.

No, it would be worse — at least then we'd had the excuse of being in the middle of the ceremony.

But if... if the same thing happened again... if it happened without an excuse... it might permanently establish that we "had been" childhood friends. That would degrade our treasured childhood into a mere "past." It was something I could not permit.

But... always running away... wouldn't be very "heroic," would it?

I squeezed the handkerchief in my pocket to give myself courage. Ever since that day, it had been my lucky charm — a drug to calm my spirit. As long as I had it, I was sure that I'd be able to manage somehow. Perhaps... I might even be able to return it, I encouraged myself. Then I turned a corner, and a woman's rousing voice and a man's troubled-sounding one reached me.

That voice...

The woman's voice, with its brisk, almost mannish tone, was very distinctive, and it was well known to me. It was possible I was mistaken, but I felt sure the owner of that voice was Lady Mercè Daskalos. She belonged to the Order of Holy Knights, just as I did. I didn't recognize the voice of the man talking to her, but he certainly sounded troubled.

From what I could hear of the conversation, it seemed that Lady Mercè was inviting him for drinks, so I felt certain that the two of them must be quite close. Lady Mercè had apparently been repeating her invitation to the man for some time. While his replies sounded troubled, the man did not seem to be quite as displeased by it as he let on. I could tell he didn't personally dislike the suggestion by the fact that the excuses he gave her amounted to hiding behind his "work."

Really... this isn't the place for that sort of talk.

Of course, I wasn't so arrogant as to try to control love affairs within the Order. Still, this was the headquarters of the Order of Holy Knights, which ought to be the shield of the nations of the faith. Moreover, Lady Mercè and her companion were speaking in a hallway in view many people, and it was still during work hours. I had to tell them that having such a conversation there was simply too careless.

I hate to throw cold water on them, but...

It would be a bad influence on morale. I had to give them a word of warning. Telling myself that, I turned another corner. Through the window of the elegant, red-carpeted corridor, the tall — for a woman — figure of Lady Mercè came into view. If I turned the next corner quickly, I could come out ahead of the pair. With that thought in my head, I turned the corner. My feet stopped.

Lady Mercè's arms were entwined, like constricting serpents, around a man with flaming red hair. Although there was a touch of bewilderment in his determined eyes, the breasts pressed against his back were making him blush. From the fact that he was holding a bundle of documents, I guessed that Lady Mercè had caught him in the middle of a job. He seemed serious, and the word "work" frequently passed his lips.

Huh...?  Why is...?

My mind reeled at seeing the man — my childhood friend, El — like that. But... the look on his face was the just as I remembered it. His complexion was redder, probably due to the breasts being pressed into his back, but he was wearing exactly the same expression as he had when he'd humored my whims as a child.

But... he wouldn't look at me that way...!

A stabbing pain split my breast, and a flood of ugly emotion gushed out. It was... it must have been what people call jealousy. The expression that should have been mine alone was mine no longer; it was being directed at Lady Mercè instead. I could feel my teeth clench. And yet... the pair failed to notice my dumbfounded gaze, and in the end things were decided in Lady Mercè's favor.

Should I have felt relieved that the pledge had been forced from him? Lady Mercè flashed a complacent smile. That knowing grin, which seemed to say, "I can always get him to agree," must have meant she knew that he wore that expression when he was willing to humor the whims of others.

But that... that was supposed to be my secret...!

A real secret just for me; I hadn't even told father or mother... no, not even El himself, or his parents. And now Lady Mercè probably knew it too. That alone was enough to make a queasy feeling well up in the region of my stomach, and I renewed my grip on the handkerchief. Lady Mercè released El and departed in high spirits. She looked happy — like she might start skipping at any moment — and... and so... so...

...How could I be... jealous?

Properly speaking, my position was no different from Lady Mercè's. And yet... when I saw them together, I experienced a jealousy so intense it couldn't be expressed in words. It made me realize that what I desired was out of reach, and almost made me resign myself to the fact. My heart cried out in pain in the grip of that feeling.

No... I don't want this...!

Sickened by my own envy of others, my first instinct was to flee. But, of course, El noticed me before I could take to my heels. His gaze shot through me.

"Oh..."

But... it wasn't what I had hoped for. It wasn't the gaze of a childhood friend rejoicing at our reunion; it merely emphasized the awkwardness of the moment. That was... natural, I supposed. I had, after all, seen him entwined in Lady Mercè's arms. That must have been embarrassing for a man.

That's right. That has to be it. Otherwise, I...!

El might not be rejoicing at our reunion. I didn't want to so much as entertain the notion. I mean... it could very well have completely negated the person I had been until then. The me who had gone on wishing to see him again — the me who had lived supported by memories of him — might have broken and died.

It's not true... is it? El's not... that sort of person... is he?

In order to be sure, I needed to speak. And my words needed to be, not those of a hero, but of Wilmarina, his childhood friend. I had not spoken such words in a long time. It would be difficult to draw them out. But... unlike when we had met at the ceremony, I had El's handkerchief. It might take time, but as long as I had that, then surely our relationship would go back to...

"Lady... Wilmarina."

...Huh...?

I struggled desperately to form my lips into words, but El spoke first. What he said was... something I didn't want to acknowledge. I mean... I mean, he'd never called me that. Not once. It had always been "Mary." El should have called me by the pet name only he and Fran used.

Why...? Why does he sound like... like I'm a stranger...?

"Are you looking for the commander? In that case, she just went over..."

Why...? Why won't he say anything to me...?

We'd finally, finally gotten to see each other again, so... why was he speaking as if this was our first meeting — as if our past together had never been? My heart wailed, uncomprehending. But the anguish didn't show on my face. My mental defenses sprung into action to keep me visibly unchanged. My lips silently formed the shape of a smile.

"Yes; these papers are for Lady Mercè. There's no hurry, so would you mind passing them on to her for me?"

Those were the words of a Hero, equal to his in propriety. A model Hero, who didn't give special treatment to anyone. A being who loved everyone equally, and therefore formed no specific attachments. El's expression stiffened for a moment at my mask-like words, but still he refused to say anything. He took the proffered documents without rebuking me for such conduct.

"...Understood."

"...Thank you very much. Well then... I'll be on my way."

Just like that, I turned on my heels and walked off... and El didn't stop me.

No, surely I was the one who ought to stop him. I was a Hero, after all. It would be much less awkward for me to go to him than for him, a common soldier, to call out to me. But... but... if he called me "Lady Wilmarina" again...

No... Anything but that...!

I felt as if my heart really would go to pieces if he addressed me like a stranger even one more time. The pain and anguish raging inside me were that terrible. Before I knew it, I was dashing along the corridor, as if trying to outrun the pain. Several people stopped and stared at my discomposure, but in my current state I could not bring myself to care. Distracting myself, even a little, from the pain in my chest was much more important.

I ran all the way back to my office like that. Once I'd got there, I leaned my back against the door, chest heaving, and forced myself to take deep breaths. Of course, I had received the blessing of the Chief God, so shouldn't have been breathing so heavily. My ragged breathing was just another attempt to keep my mind off the pain in my chest.

The pain, however, simply refused to go away. Quite the opposite — when I recalled the look on El's face a moment before, a pang shot through my heart that was so excruciating it made me want to claw it out. How could he do such a horrible thing to me? He was willing get so close to Lady Mercè, so why wouldn't he do the same for me? I seethed with jealousy.

...Oh... That must be it...

The reason El had said such things to me must have been that I wasn't Heroic enough. That he hadn't wanted to acknowledge a jealous woman like me as his childhood friend. I was certain he would do so proudly if... if I were a better Hero. So, if I wanted El to acknowledge me... I had to try harder. If I didn't get closer to being everyone's ideal Hero, I...

And then I woke up.

"...Huh...?"

A gloomy, cavern-like space, about the size of an ordinary living room, met my eyes. It was dimly illuminated, although there was no light source I could see. The place was dome-shaped, and its violet walls had been made so as to inscribe a circle with me at its center. I wasn't sure what it was made of, but it didn't feel oppressive. And there I was — bound.

Purple tentacles which extended from the walls were restraining my arms and holding me up. As a test, I tried putting all my strength into my arms, but the barely-tangible tentacles showed no sign of tearing. I could have easily shredded steel bonds, but these hazy tentacles eluded my strength, and rendered it useless. Next, I tried using magic on the surprisingly resourceful tentacles, but I couldn't invoke any. I didn't know how it had been done, but it was probably best to assume that my magic had also been rendered ineffectual.

...I've confirmed my situation. Now, how did I end up like this?

My mind still muddled with sleep, I quietly began to reel in the threads of my memory. I'd heard that a powerful monster had appeared in Lescatié... and received orders to suppress it. The monster had already destroyed several units, and I had judged that facing it in a group battle, in which my movements would be restricted, would be risky. I'd left my subordinates behind and set out for the forest on the outskirts of the city alone. And then...

Oh... that's right, I...

A succubus with unusual white wings. She'd stood there in the moonlight like she was the queen of all the world. I'd poured all the strength and skill that I possessed into that succubus, and yet... the result had been a crushing failure. Nothing I'd done had even gotten through to her. I'd lost miserably.

They cheered me; called me "the strongest"... Is this really the best I can do...?

Of course, I'd never believed for a minute that I was really strong enough to merit such praise, but it was still true that I was a symbol of hope to the people who were kind enough to call me that. So, for me to lose this easily... It was inexcusable.

And... for him, too...

Just the thought was enough to send a sharp pain running through my chest. I wasn't sure how much time had passed since I'd lost consciousness, but if news of my defeat had reached El, then he would surely be worried for me. For his sake, too, I had to escape from this place quickly.

"Oh, you're awake?"

The voice came abruptly from behind me. It was a woman's voice, but it had a sweet charm to it that made even me shiver. It seemed to boast of its womanhood. I'd heard that voice many times in the midst of the battle. It belonged to the frighteningly powerful succubus, who was now most likely behind me. I strained to turn my head to look at her, but my restraints prevented me. And as if to reward my struggle, the succubus slowly began to move...

Her whiteness stood out in the gloomy. There was something suggestive about it. The considerable exposure of her glossy, porcelain-like skin was probably the source of that impression. Her black bondage gear, which looked like someone had pared down the surface area of a bathing suit to the utter limit, appeared more obscene than mere nudity. And beneath it...

Hard-looking black leg guards glistened over tights of the same purple as the tentacles. Red jewels, like drops of frozen blood, were set in their centers. They appeared sinister at first glance, but the voluptuous thighs and long, slender legs concealed beneath them gave a very different impression. She also wore shoulder pads and gauntlets of a similar design, but I sensed that they were all decorative, intended only to emphasize the succubus' beauty.

Succubi... really are beautiful...

Two voluptuous breasts swayed on a tall, slender, well-proportioned figure that was at least the equal of Lady Mercè's. There was not a smidgen of excess flesh on that body; every inch of it proclaimed "woman." Even the tattoo-like designs etched onto her beautiful skin, while striking, merely emphasized the succubus' beauty.

Her features were well-proportioned, as was usual for monsters. To be honest, she was so beautiful it came close to making me lose my confidence as a woman. Her cheek and the bridge of her nose, which I glimpsed out of the corner of my eye, were so soft and full that that I wanted to reach out and touch them in spite of myself. My eyes were drawn to her lips, as red as if they had been rouged, every time she spoke. Even the line of her jaw was delicate enough to make other women jealous.

The parts that marked her as a succubus were even more striking. Her hair seemed devoid of color, and appeared to shine dimly, almost as if it was made of moonlight. Each unbelievably fine strand of the succubus' hair bounced gently in tandem with her movements, lending her an air of mystery. The black hue of her eyeballs highlighted the ruby-red of her eyes. Their bewitching, strong-willed gleam was quite capable of charming even members of her own sex. Wings and a tail, a bewitching, glossy white, spread lightly from her back, and swayed slightly to maintain her balance. They set my instincts screaming to keep clear, and at the same time exercised an undeniable fascination.

"That was faster than I thought... I suppose I should have expected no less from the 'strongest' Hero."

I ground my teeth at the succubus' teasing words. I didn't have it in me to deny them. After all, it was a fact that I was a Hero and had been called the "strongest" in Lescatié. It wouldn't have made sense for me to object. Still, it was nothing but frustrating to hear it from the succubus who had defeated me without even letting me get close. I wouldn't exactly have been happy to hear it in normal circumstances, but coming from this monster I could hear only sarcasm.

"Oh my... but I wasn't being sarcastic at all. Actually, I had intended to settle things by tying you up, but you were stronger than I expected, and I ended up having to knock you out."

It sounds like you're just telling me how much stronger you are...

I had of course fought this succubus intending to kill her. After all, my opponents had been bitter enemies of the Chief God, who sought to disturb the order of the world. If those monsters succeeded in entering Lescatié... even El would be in danger. That was why I'd fought as I always did — humbly and with all my strength.

But it seemed that even so I hadn't been able to draw out my opponent's full power. Actually... not one stroke of my sword had reached her, so that was hardly a surprise. Her words had seemed to follow up my thoughts, but I couldn't help but think they had been meant to illustrate the difference in our power.

"But... I'm glad to see you were worth the trouble; you're... very lovely♪" the succubus said, and embraced me from behind.

An inexpressible chill ran through my body, in spite of the warm body pressed against it. She was a monster, after all. I sensed danger in her words and tried to struggle, but there wasn't much I could do with my body still restrained by the tentacles, and ended up merely squirming.

"G, get away from me!" I shouted to compensate for my body's impotence.

"No♪" the succubus replied. "After all... I've finally managed to catch some first-rate prey; how could I just let it escape?"

I couldn't see the look on the face of this monster who had drawn so close to me, but I was sure it must be triumphant. In fact, the mere act of holding me from behind showed more than a little complacency. I wanted to call it conceit, but, as I now lacked any means of resisting her, I was in no position to do so.

Calm down, Wilmarina. There's no point losing your temper now...! I told myself, and suppressed my loss of composure.

I had no means of resisting in my current situation, so I ought to avoid wasting energy. After all, seeing that frontal attacks would get me nowhere, my only option was to look for an opening and exploit it.

But... "first-rate"...?

I was thinking with a slightly cooler head again thanks to my repeated self-admonishments, when I recalled those words. I had been called "beautiful," "lovely" and the like before — of course, they had been empty compliments more often than not — but I had never been called anything like "first-rate." It wasn't a term that would normally be applied to a human, and it ought not to be. Besides, my face and figure couldn't but be overshadowed when compared to those of the succubus behind me. Even in Lescatié, people who surpassed me in looks weren't that rare, so... I didn't understand why she would go so far as to call me "first-rate."

"Hee hee...♪ Does that puzzle you...? It's the true, though♪ I mean... you're lying to yourself, aren't you?"

The succubus' words shook me, but even I couldn't say why. I had always tried to be true to myself. It was true that I had occasionally been swept along by circumstances, but I didn't think I had ever lied to myself.

"I, I've never—"

"You haven't? In that case... who's the person most precious to you?"

"It's..."

Obviously it's...

I shook my head to dismiss the image of a red-haired youth. It was true that El was my childhood friend, and that he was precious to me, but a Hero couldn't have favorites. A Hero needed to attend to and protect everyone equally. Therefore...

"Hee hee. You can't say it... or maybe the words just won't come out...? Let me guess: If you form special relationships, you can't claim to protect everyone equally, and then... you couldn't be an ideal 'Hero,' right?♪"

Something cold ran down my back. The succubus' knowing words were right on the mark. It was like she had peeked into my brain, but even we in Lescatié hadn't developed a way to read minds. It had to be a coincidence... or a bluff.

If it's not... I...

A sharp pain ran through my breast, as if to mask my ugly self secreted within it. It felt like a needle had pierced my heart. In the moment I was preoccupied with that sensation, the succubus' hand softly slipped in through the open neckline of my tunic. My clothing — my personal armor as a Hero — was infused with unparalleled defensive and anti-magical properties, but even it was unable to obstruct the monster. I could feel the succubus' slender fingers crawling inside my white one-piece, which had readily permitted the invasion.

"So... the first thing I'm going to do for you is to break off... your Hero's mask...♪"

An instant later, I felt the the monster bury her claws in my exposed cleavage. There was surprisingly little pain as they scratched my skin. On the contrary, a throbbing ache ran through me, and I couldn't help wishing she would touch me again. But my mind defied my body and rejected that desire. That was natural enough — she was my hated enemy; a member of a race that had to be destroyed.

"Still... this is a surprisingly sexy outfit♪ The bust is so open... and such a short skirt, too... The boys who fight beside you must have a hard time holding back their lust♪"

"I... I don't dress like this for fun..."

The low neckline certainly was embarrassing, and it wasn't as if I wouldn't have liked a little more length in the skirt, either. Still, the open bust was because I itched when I got sweaty, so there was no ulterior motive there. The length of the skirt was because, as a Hero, I moved around a lot on the front lines, and I couldn't do that if it were too long. Trousers were uncomfortable because of the itching, and so this was the only possible solution.

"Well then... How did you feel when you first put this on?"

"Well, I..."

I needed an outfit that could be worn as a normal one piece while still bearing symbols of the Church here and there. Still, it had taken some getting used to. I'd felt embarrassed about the exposure around the bust and skirt at first. Ant the low neckline had gotten rude stares more than once or twice. Such things hadn't happened much recently, but when they did... I couldn't deny that I'd thought about what it would be like if the gaze had been El's...

"Hee hee♪ So I was right; you did want a special someone to look at you♪ And... you wanted him to get all worked up... and attack you, right...?"

"Y, you're wrong...! I, I...!"

I'd only wanted to startle him a bit. I'd wanted no more than for him to pay a little attention to me. But wanting him to attack me...? Such a shameful thing had never once crossed my mind... No... i, in the first place, I'd never even thought of El like that...!

No sooner had I made that denial than the succubus' hands gently spread open the neck of my tunic. The gesture, seemingly intended to bare my underclothes, forced my bust through the opening in the low-necked one piece. But the hole was a little too small for my breasts, and it ended up constricting around the base of my nipples. The predicament seemed designed to emphasize the size of my bust. My cheeks burned with shame at the sight, and I bit back a cry.

"See...? Quite a sexy look, don't you think? Maybe you can get him to attack you if you wear it like this."

"He, he's not like that...!"

El wasn't the sort of man to give in to his lust. His grades in practical skills were among the best, good enough to have caught Lady Mercè's eye. His marks in classroom learning were also well above average. In the past few years, he must have been just about the only man whose mental and physical abilities the instructors at the training academy here had given their seals of approval across the board. Even without any additional information, I could tell that El was still the young man I remembered. His kind eyes, sparkling with purpose, were still just as I had seen them so many times in dreams. He would never attack a member of the opposite sex without her consent.

"Oh? You do have a special someone, then?"

"Ah..."

The succubus' words finally made me realize my blunder. Every last one of the questions I had reflexively denied had assumed the existence of a "special someone." I wracked my brains for a retort, but could find none. Almost as if my instincts approved the monster's words, no rebuttal came to my mind.

But... but... she's wrong...!

El was just a childhood friend. At the very least, he couldn't be my "special someone." If that wasn't the case... if it wasn't... I... I would...

"Oh my... Stubborn, aren't we? Well... I suppose it will be more fun making you fall that way...♥"

The succubus sounded delighted.

"Y... you're not done yet...?"

My rejoinder was nine-tenths bluff, but, in answer, the monster's fingers began to move. They practically caressed the surface of my exposed breasts, and my body complained of an itch wherever they touched. It was nothing I couldn't endure, but it was accompanied by a sensation that seemed to linger strangely deep inside my chest.

"Of course not♪ On the contrary... I'm just getting started♥ "

As the succubus spoke, she began to spread her fingers. Each one moved like a separate creature; a snake crawling over my skin. Their movement was limited to gently caressing the upper half of my bust; it seemed that they had no intention of forcing their way inside my bra just yet, but it was only a matter of time. The mere thought was enough to send something cold running down my spine and make me want to scream.

But... I was a Hero. I was everyone's hope. Even if no one was watching me shoulder everyone's expectations and wishes, I couldn't allow myself to react like an ordinary girl my age. I swore that to myself, and shut my lips tight, so that no scream would escape them.

"Hee hee...♪ Giving me the silent treatment now?"

The succubus still sounded delighted. She must have noticed my condition. Her voice gave the impression of a cat taking pleasure in its prey's desperate attempts to escape. Foreboding boiled up in me at the sound. My instincts cried out that I must not remain like this, and ordered my body to resist, but no matter how I twisted and turned, I couldn't break free of the tentacles' restraint. In order to find an opening, I ought to keep quiet and pretend to—

"Hyah!"

"Tee hee♪ Did I startle you...?"

The succubus' tone was like that of a child who had succeeded in some mischief. I clenched my teeth. My involuntary cry must have been the reason for her triumphant attitude. But surely anyone would have cried out if a thick, tepid liquid had suddenly oozed onto them from the tentacles restraining their arms.

No way... W, what is this stuff...!?

A viscous liquid, thick as slime, oozed through my leather guards and penetrated down to my clothing. The gooey, tepid sensation was simply disgusting. I felt an urge to jump in a bath and wash the goo off at once.

"Don't worry, though...♪ I promise it's nothing bad♥"

Is this what you call "good," then...?

Apparently there was nothing wrong with this disgusting feeling as far as the succubus was concerned. In my excess of frustration I wanted to say something, anything to dispute her, but nothing I said to this monster would do any good. If anything, she would be delighted to get a reaction, so keeping silent ought to be the right thing to do in this situation.

Ugh... It's already up to my armpits...

Even while I made up my mind, however, the ooze continued to flow, and the slimy sensation to spread over my body. The feeling provoked a physiological revulsion in me. Beads of sweat stood out on my skin. No sooner did I feel that dampness make its way down my spine, just like the goo, than the monster's fingers quietly left my breasts.

As I mentally tilted my head in puzzlement at the succubus' behavior, two tentacles reached up from below, as if to lift me to safety, and began to play with my breasts. They were, of course, coated in the same goo as the others. The fluid possessed frightening powers of penetration in spite of its viscosity; it soaked through my underclothes and conquered all the way to my bra in the blink of an eye. Still, it felt a little different from the ooze traveling down my sides.

Almost like... an itch...

Perhaps my chest was just more sensitive than my sides, or perhaps the succubus had done something when she touched me, but each time the slimy liquid came into contact with my bust, the same ache I'd felt when she clawed me was revived deep inside my chest. No, not quite the same; it was stronger and more intense than before. That ache threw my mind into disorder.

What's... happening to me...!?

That sensation, almost like an itch, screamed that it wanted to be touched. It pleaded for a renewal of the earlier stimulation. My rational mind could not understand it. I mean... the succubus was an enemy. I had to destroy her. I had to defeat her for him — for El. Wanting her to touch me was... unthinkable...!

"Are you confused because your body is aching... and you've come to desire my touch, perhaps?"

The succubus, who had slipped behind me without my noticing, flashed a confident smile. Once again she seemed to see right through me. I couldn't keep my dismay from showing on my face. My reaction must have struck a chord with the monster, because she now wore a slightly superior smile.

"You see, that sexy goo you're touching...♪ makes girls' bodies verrry sensitive♥"

Is that... why...?

If the succubus was telling the truth, then this slime was to blame for the ache in my chest, which had become difficult for me to deny. It was typical of a monster to employ such dirty, underhanded methods. She must have thought it would be enough make me submit. But I was a Hero who had received the power to protect people from the Chief God; I possessed a more than ordinary resistance to magic. I would never yield to such tricks. My body could still endure the ache in my chest, and my mind wasn't about to give in, either. I... I could still resist this succubus! But while I was reaffirming my resolve, the monster in front of me began to speak.

"Well, that's the explanations out of the way, so... I suppose you'll be wanting me to smear this over your whole body for you now♥"

"...What...?"

I had been keeping my eyes downcast, but those words made me stare back into the succubus' face in spite of myself. The monster, however, just stood there with a grin that practically sparkled, and refused to reply. Instead, the tentacles restraining my legs rose to twine themselves around me, covering me up to the thighs.

That wasn't all. Several more tentacles stretched out to my sides and belly, smearing them with goo. The ooze soaked and clung to my clothes. They ought to have felt unpleasant, but, perhaps because of the explanation the succubus had just given me, my skin was getting a little warm where the tepid goo soaked into it. My mouth wanted oxygen to suppress my rising body temperature, but right now even I wasn't sure what I might blurt out if I opened it. If, by some chance, I were to beg the monster for mercy, I wouldn't be able to show my face to the many people who depended on me. It would be tough, but... I ought to keep my mouth shut. Even as I deliberated, however, the tentacles continued to creep over my whole body.

With the exception of my face, there was hardly an unmolested spot on my body. To prove it, my whole body was covered in goo, and my clothes were clinging to my skin. The color of my skin was visible through the cloth over my belly, among other places, creating a suggestive spectacle. I became strangely excited in spite of myself, and reflexively averted my eyes from my own body.

The oozing ache, however, would not lessen or vanish simply because I averted my eyes. The goo seemed to permeate my nerves, steadily encroaching on my body and making it sensitive. I strove desperately to deny the part of myself that took a queer pleasure in the sensation the ooze transmitted to my skin. It had been merely unpleasant a short time before, but now my body felt as if every nerve in it were exposed, and I was unable to silence its complaints. On the contrary, they were growing gradually more forceful.

"I think, perhaps... you're nearly ready♥"

The succubus' fingers traveled smoothly along my right flank, and an electric current ran through my spine. Accompanied by a shivering chill, it penetrated my brain and nearly robbed my body of strength. My body seemed about to collapse under me, and It was surely only my continued dedication to the dignity of a Hero that allowed me to stand firm. In the face of a powerful numbness, I embraced a powerful confusion. I would probably have crumbled easily if I hadn't.

What was... that... just now...?

Never in my life had I experienced such a sensation. It was like tickling, only tens of times sweeter. No such feeling had ever materialized when I touched my own side, but now it had been brought about by the hand of a succubus — my enemy. The fear and bewilderment of that experience filled my thoughts.

"Well...? How do you like the world of magnified pleasure?♥"

Pleasure...? This...?

Now that she said it, it did feel good... You could probably describe it that way, anyway. At the very least, it was a fact that my desire to be touched had been momentarily satisfied. But the skin that had known that sweet sensation — which the succubus claimed was pleasure — soon clamored even more insistently that it wanted to be touched more.

"This is the world of monsters...♥ The place you're about to step into...♪"

This is... what monsters...

I couldn't stop myself from swallowing hard at the succubus' words. A thrill of pleasure would run through my body no matter where she touched me. What would happen if... if she were to touch my chest, or someplace like that, while I was in this state? I felt a faint desire, mingled with anticipation and curiosity, slowly budding inside me.

"Hee hee...♪ Have I piqued your interest?"

The instant I heard the monster's delighted words, I realized the danger of that desire. The monster encouraged it, and any idea approved by a race that meant harm to humanity and the Chief God must be absolutely impermissible. As a Hero for the human race, which had received the divine favor of the Chief God, hating monsters had always been a natural, obvious thing for me to do. A Hero like me would never — must never — show interest in a monster.

Besides... besides, it's just sensitive... This is nothing...!

I refused to believe that the stimulation which seemed to lay my nerves bare was a good thing just because it felt good. I had no sexual experience, so I could only guess, but this stimulus had to be too strong for a human. It did feel good, but the excess of pleasure was robbing my body of strength. But I was a Hero; I had confidence in my physical strength, and I would never submit, not even to this overwhelming pleasure.

"Well then... shall we give you a little more hands-on experience...?♥"

That was what I tried to tell myself, anyway. But the tentacles crawling across my body felt clearly different from before. I had had hardly felt them touching me before. The slimy sensation of the goo had been intense, but the tentacles themselves had felt vague, almost like they were made of mist. Now, however, I had a clear sensation of being touched and played with.

"No... ah...!"

It should, of course, have been impossible to call that feeling pleasant. Who in the world would enjoy being molested by tentacles dripping with slime? And yet... contrary to all reason, I was clearly taking pleasure in it. My arms, belly, and legs were covered in goo... and unceasing pleasure was coming to me through all of them.

Even though I'm with... these hideous tentacles, I'm...!

They were mere tools for raping and humiliating women. They didn't even have wills of their own. I refused to admit that my body — a Hero's body — was enjoying being toyed with by such things. Honestly, it would have been a hard thing to admit even if I had been with a human man. There was only one person in the world I wanted to be touched by, and that was...

"Aah."

The moment my thoughts reached that point, the slimy sensation reached my chest. It's forcible intrusion through the gaps in my bra caused my breasts to spill the rest of the way out of my tunic, exposing even my nipples. Of course, that would never be enough to satisfy the succubus' tentacle servants. They twined themselves around me as if trying to rub their own scent into the newly exposed skin. They lingered with every rub of my breasts, which were now sticky with the ooze, making obscene, wet sounds which aroused my embarrassment, and trailing gooey strands as they moved on.

It's embarrassing, but...! I don't want it, but...!

"Ooo... Nnh!♪"

The touches on my breasts made me let out a high-pitched cry in spite of myself. Even I had never heard such a cry pass my lips before, but it was surely one of pleasure. I coolly analyzed my response, but at the same time my cheeks burned. Surely even that was hardly unreasonable. I mean, the succubus couldn't possibly have missed hearing me...

"Hee hee♪ It sounds like you're starting to enjoy it...♪"

The monster's cheeks split in a delighted grin.

"Y, you must be hearing things...!"

Despite my obstinate retort, my own cheeks were flushing even redder. I knew that it was what she wanted, but I still couldn't help feeling ashamed when she ridiculed me. Shame, however, was by no means the only thing on my mind: even now electric shocks of pleasure were reaching me through the tentacles fondling my cleavage and the outer circumference of my breasts. The thrill was so great that it threatened to melt my brain to mush and shatter my oath to keep silent. I didn't know what might happen if I didn't keep up a brave face.

There has to be... some... some way...

It was becoming difficult for me even to remain silent. I became aware that I was being pressed harder than I had expected. Until then, I had vaguely believed that, because I was a Hero, I would definitely be alright. But that conviction had been greatly shaken, and now it was crumbling. Having come to that realization, I desperately wracked my brains, but a wave of pleasure blindsided me in the middle of my speculations. My thoughts were tossed about like little boats in a storm, and I couldn't hit upon any plan of escape. I began to feel anxious, and my breathing was growing more labored in step with the mounting pleasure.

"My goodness...♥ I see your lips have loosened; you look simply enchanting...♪"

"Haa...♪ So... it... it's not just your ears... even your eyes are failing you now...!"

The succubus was right — my composure was so far gone that I could no longer even keep my mouth closed. It was lolling half open in spite of my best efforts. I felt sure I would go crazy if I didn't keep urging myself on. No... my situation was growing precarious even with that. The pleasure pouring into me all over made my mind tremble and set a fever writhing in my loins. It felt hot enough to melt my insides, but soon I realized that the heat was transforming into moisture.

"Your legs have been fidgeting for a little while now, too; how very lovely...♥"

"Oo..."

I looked down in response to the succubus' words, and saw that my legs were indeed rubbing against each other. Due to the interference of the tentacles, however, they could not touch each other no matter how they strained to. The syrupy thrill of my skin rubbing against the tentacles of its own accord was creeping up my spine. I could feel the muddled signals traveling down from my brain to meet them thrusting deep into my loins and making them melt again.

She's wrong... this is just... an instinctive response to try to shake off the tentacles...! I instinctively tried to tell myself, conscious that I was clearly deriving pleasure from the act. But the words rang hollow in my pleasure-saturated brain. I was astonished to find that not even I could believe them. It was sure proof that I was beginning to desire the pleasure.

No... That can't be true... It's not...!

But this ecstasy was just too strong. It was smashing and trampling my human dignity. An untrained person would probably have yielded to it. But I was a Hero; I had sworn to defend the world from succubi until my last breath, and I'd trained my whole life to do just that. My body would never... would never seek pleasure like this...!

"Well...? Doesn't it feel wonderful?"

"Of... of course... not...! It feels disgusting... It makes me sick to my stomach...!"

Still my pride remained unbroken.

I'll admit that I was indeed receiving pleasure. I was probably making a humiliatingly slovenly face, too, just as the succubus said. It was probably also true that I was starting to enjoy it due to a physiological response. But I was still a Hero. I was the people's hope. There was no way that I would yield so easily. So, no matter how worn-out I got... even if it cost me my human dignity... I had to go on being a Hero.

"Hee hee...♪ I love the stubborn ones♥"

"Is that... Ooo...♪ ...so? Well, I... hate... Eee...♪ y... you."

"Oh dear... that is a problem."

The succubus appeared genuinely troubled by my bluff. She absentmindedly laid a gentle hand on my cheek, and seemed to ponder for a moment. I had a bad feeling about that. I hallucinated a wild beast lying in wait before me with its jaws open, and reflexively tried to flee. My bound body, however, was incapable of any resistance worthy of the name. It just rubbed against the tentacles as I struggled to escape, sending a startling jolt up my spine.

"In that case... why don't I give you a present as a symbol of our new friendship?♥"

"A... present...?"

"Yes♥ A verrry lovely... wonderful present...♪" the succubus crooned, and softly touched the index finger of her right hand to my breast.

Even just the sensation of her nail biting into my soft flesh was enough to make my skin, marked so many times by the goo, thrill with pleasure. I was about to let out a cry in spite of myself, when I had a hallucination that something hot, like boiling mud, was being poured into my body. The feeling made me writhe.

"Does it hurt? Just try to endure it a little longer...♥"

"Oo... ah...♪"

The succubus sounded a little apologetic, but she needn't have. I mean, despite the intensity of the heat pouring from her fingertip and coursing through my nerves into every corner of my body, it didn't hurt at all. On the contrary, it carried with it a sense of security and comfort just like I felt when I surrendered my body to the water of a warm bath. My body was growing steadily more sensitive, almost like the monster was pouring her goo directly into my body through her finger.

But, of course, that wasn't all! The tentacles were still crawling over the surface of my body all the while. Their activity was particularly intense on my inner thighs, where they were practically raping my skin with their vigorous rubbing. The feeling was intolerable. Both visceral revulsion with pleasure were once more growing rapidly within me...

"Ooooooo♪"

I couldn't suppress a cry — practically a shriek — thanks to the succubus' finger, which had suddenly begun to glide across the surface of my breast. It's motion was slow and deliberate, almost as though she was trying to bury something deep inside me. But the heat pouring into my soft flesh must have been making it sensitive to the pressure, because that slow, steady movement was enough to draw countless moans from my lips.

"Oooah... Aah...♪"

"Well then, next... how about here?♥"

"Ooooo...♪"

It was my right cheek on which the succubus next turned her finger. There too she moved her finger with deliberate care, pouring heat into me all the while. The sensation of a patch of skin so near my brain turning to syrupy mush made my body jerk and jolt. I felt "pleasure" swell manyfold within me, shaking my Hero's pride, but I desperately continued to endure.

"Hee hee...♪ Will this do, do you think?♥"

When the succubus withdrew her finger, an unfamiliar pattern adorned the surface of my breast. I didn't know what the bluish-purple mark signified; only that it was permanent. After all, that design, through which a sharp, throbbing ache ran, had been carved by the hand of this monster. A creature who propagated her race through obscenity would never give a "present" that would simply wash off.

I've been... defiled...

The indecent sigil extended to the edge of my areola. It meant that I could never show myself naked to anyone else again... not even to my future husband. No, it might be more than just my breast. After all, the succubus' finger had poured the same heat into my right cheek as well. I couldn't be sure without a mirror, but the mere idea of it was enough to make my heart cry out in anguish, and almost collapse.

I can't face him anymore... Not like this...!

My face had been branded with an obscene tattoo. Worst of all, many people would be sure to see it as proof that I had submitted to the succubus. As long as I showed my face, I would always have people pointing and gossiping behind my back. As... as a Hero, that wouldn't be totally unendurable. A Hero was, after all, someone who protected people no matter what calumnies they received in return. I had already abandoned any idea of happiness as a woman, and I would not quail at such looks. But... but... if... if he looked at me that way too... if that happened... I would...

"Ooooohhnn♪"

Wh, what... is this...!?

Just imagining it brought a pricking to my eyes. I was on the verge of tears, when the tentacles again twined themselves around me. The ecstasy I'd felt so far was nothing compared with what ran through me now. Especially intense in my head and hips, it felt like my already-heightened pleasure had been further multiplied several-fold. The feeling was depriving me of my strength. I scolded my crumbling body for its failure to obey my will, but it was in such a state that it would likely have collapsed if the tentacles hadn't been propping it up. My legs were trembling like those of a newborn fawn to prove it.

"Aah...♪ Oh... Nnn...♪"

But even that trembling only increased my pleasure. My skin was rubbing against the tentacles coiled around them with every movement of my legs. That stimulation, coming on top of the feeling that the whole of my legs had become an erogenous zone, was more than sufficient to make my lips let out a moan.

"Oh my... shaking your legs like that... I'm so glad you like it♥"

The succubus sounded overjoyed.

"Oh... Ooo...♪ D... don't... look...♪"

I tried to scowl at her, but I failed utterly. I felt my feelings of pleasure running together — a vague sense of fulfillment, as if currents of water that had been racing about my body every which way were now all flowing in the same direction. It was like I had found a goal somewhere within myself. Such a feeling should have been praiseworthy, but it was no youthful impulse which now found its course within me; it was sensual pleasure.

"Ooah... ah♪ Aaaaahhh♪"

Com... ing... Something's... coming from inside me...!

It originated deep inside my loins, which felt like they were melting. That was where the whirling pleasure suddenly reared its head. It was spreading out along my nerves in a single rush, searing my insides. And yet, no pain or anguish came with it; it was not even unpleasant. On the contrary, that heat brought with it pleasure. It made me hallucinate that my insides were dissolving, and the molten flesh was coiling around my nerves, making my body more sensitive than ever and driving it to new heights of pleasure.

"Hee... Aaaaahhh♪"

The ever-rising tide of sensation made me feel like I was floating. But the reality was the opposite. The strength had at last gone out of my legs, which had been keeping up a desperate resistance, and they had crumpled from the knees down. The violent shaking of my legs was an expression, not of resistance, but of ecstasy. I felt disgusted with myself, but the tentacles went on ceaselessly hammering pleasure into me, toying with my crumpled, unresisting legs.

"Ooooo♪♪"

It wasn't just my legs, of course; it was my breasts and belly, too. The tentacles moved to bind my breasts, in particular, from outer circumference to cleavage, eliciting a high-pitched cry. Pleasure radiated through me from the sensitive skin on which the succubus had left her mark. It joined with the earlier heat, and seemed to bear me up and up into infinity. My mind floated far, far away...

"Huh...?"

"Oh...? Have you realized?"

When my consciousness at last returned to my body, that body had become heavy as lead. Try as I might, I could move not one finger. Even standing unaided was difficult. That troubled me. The tentacles were still supporting me, but they were no longer moving. I supposed they had no taste for molesting unresisting prey. And yet my skin, now exceedingly sensitive, got pleasure from even the slightest movements of my body, causing me to let out long, sweet sighs.

"You came magnificently♥"

"Came...?"

The word puzzled me; I'd never heard it used that way before. My brain listed off several possibilities, but none seemed to fit. Perhaps my thoughts were as sluggish as my body... or else...

"Acme. Orgasm. Climax. I don't know which you prefer... but for a woman, they all mean a form of happiness."

"Happiness..."

It's true...

Up to the moment my mind had abruptly receded, my body had been growing soggy and mushy. There had been no anguish or grief in that sensation. It had felt like everything was blending together; like I was becoming a creature that only felt pleasure. The feeling certainly wasn't "unhappy." I could even understand how some people might call it "happiness." And yet...

"Wouldn't you like more happiness like that...?"

"...I... refuse."

"Oh dear... whatever for?"

"Because I... don't want... to accept something like that... as happiness."

That's right. Something like that wasn't happiness at all.

"Happiness" was warmer. Something like — that was it — something warm and full of a sense of security, like when El had been at my side. That was "happiness." The feeling I'd gotten from the succubus, in contrast, lacked warmth, lacked a sense of security... It was only mere pleasure. At least that's how it felt to me.

"Oh dear... this would be enough to make most ordinary girls fall... but I suppose I should have expected no less from a 'Hero,'" the succubus murmured, touching a hand to her cheek in annoyance.

Not even the hint of mockery in her words bothered me now. It was, after all, proof that I had managed to disarrange the monster's scheme, even if only slightly. My mind might be muddled... but it could still resist, and my Hero's pride was still unbroken. With that fact for encouragement, I silently raised my head, which had been about to hang in shame.

"No matter... what you do, a Hero... will never... give... in..."

"Is that so? In that case... I suppose you won't mind if I try something a teensy bit more intense♥"

I sensed something intensely unpleasant in the succubus' words. What more was she going to do to me? Anxiety swept through my mind. Again my instincts shouted at me to flee, but my limbs refused to respond; I remained limply exhausted. Only my eyes would still do what I wanted, but even they were weakening with pleasure, and started to droop as soon as I relaxed my attention. I couldn't help swallowing as I watched the succubus leisurely approach me once more.

But... I don't want to give in...!

My mind may have been run ragged, but I hadn't lost the will to resist. The succubus had already marked my face with her indecent brand. That would make it difficult for me to live among people. Life would probably be much easier for me if I surrendered myself to her completely. At the very least... I wouldn't have any more horrible things done to me. But I wasn't a Hero for the fun of it. I became a Hero to protect people; to be a symbol that gave them hope. I could never make that choice.

"For the time being... how would it be if I stirred up your vagina with this little one here...?♥"

The succubus gently stroked an especially thick tentacle that had sprouted from the floor while she spoke.

Her words caused a convulsion in my throat. I was on the verge of letting out a short scream in spite of myself. I mean... the tentacle looked as thick as a grown man's arm. I wouldn't survive being penetrated by such a thing. And... and besides, I was...

It... it's my first time...!

I'd never permitted my body to anyone before, and now it was going to be raped by a tentacle that didn't even have a will of its own. The mere thought of that humiliation caused something bitter to fill my chest. The gaping hole in my wounded heart was probably worthy of the name "despair." I could feel my tear ducts opening in spite of me. My legs felt like they were about to collapse under me. I hallucinated that I was falling into darkness without end.

"Now... are you ready?♥"

My fear-addled brain didn't even have a chance to come to terms with the reality of the situation before the tentacle nestled itself between my thighs. It bent as if it meant to spring straight up into my crotch. I was forced into a posture that looked like I was sitting astride tentacle. My legs reflexively tried to close, but the reverberations of my climax still lingered in them, and they failed to dislodge the tentacles coiled around them.

"Oh... Ah...♪"

Beneath me, the tentacle moved swiftly and smoothly. Unlike the others, this one had something sensual about it. It pulsed steadily, almost as if to declare its intention to violate me. My mind froze in terror. My body, however, was delighted. A sweet numbness welled up from between my legs. The sensation was incomparably more vivid than that of the tentacles caressing my breasts; it thrust deep into my loins and revived the heat there which had burned down.

No...! I can't... take any more of this...!

I was about to be raped by a hideous tentacle. That fear would be enough to push me to my limit on its own, but on top of that my mind and body were responding separately. It was like they had been torn apart. I no longer knew which one to obey. No, I'd lost sight of what I was even supposed to be doing in the first place. A doubt had been born in my mind, and it was clamoring for surrender. My Hero's pride was fighting desperately to suppress it, but even that had begun to buckle under the strain.

"Hee hee...♪ I see you're already a sopping wet mess♥ In that case... I'll do you a favor, and rub this goo all over your insides...♥ It will help you be more honest with your feelings."

As she spoke, I realized that the tip of the tentacle had gently pushed my underclothes aside. It was headed for a part of me that no one else had ever touched before. A part of me that I, as a woman, had to treat with the utmost care. And this hideous tentacle was touching its entrance. My mind was crumbling to pieces at the experience. My Hero's pride, which I had always held to and which had never been broken, had finally split clean in two. The shell around my heart had cracked.

"No! No! Help...! Save me, El!"

The pure, shameless cry of my heart came gushing out through the crack in its armor. I had always suppressed it before, but now my reason could no longer keep it in check. My body was no exception, either. My limbs vented all their pent-up anger in a desperate resistance. There was no longer any thought of conserving my strength, only the struggle of a petulant child; a refusal to acknowledge the reality that was right in front of me.

But I still had no chance of breaking free of the tentacles that way...!

If I had been at my best, it still might have been a different story. Now, however, I'd been violated by aphrodisiac venom and my body refused to listen to me. I couldn't shake off the tentacles in the grip of that disordered condition, and they weren't kind enough to release me. I knew that.  But... but, I was already... at my limit.

"El...! El...! Save me...! Save me...!"

"Hee hee...♪ There they are at last...♥"

As she spoke, the succubus softly brushed my tear-stained cheek. Her hand was warm; it felt just like being caressed by mother. My heart had been on the verge of going to pieces from unease and fear, but that warm, maternal caress calmed it just a little. But it came from a succubus — a member of a race the Chief God had decreed I must eternally oppose. At the very least, she wasn't someone I ought to be feeling such things about... not someone to see as a mother.

"The words of an individual girl... not the lines of a 'Hero'♥"

Then the monster smiled at me. The succubus' beauty was already outstanding, even for a monster, but when she smiled like that, it was like a flower had bloomed. I shook my head to deny both that image and what the she had said.

"You're wrong...! I, I...!"

"Oh dear... You really don't have to deny it, you know? You want the boy you like to come save you."

"That's..."

That was probably true. But... but I was a Hero. I should be the one to protect and lead him. No... A Hero mustn't play favorites. I had to be an ideal Hero, for his sake...

...Huh...?

I finally realized that my thinking was horribly inconsistent. But it wouldn't just fix itself after so many years of being twisted. I no longer knew what was wrong or what was right... I didn't even know what my true feelings were.

Then the succubus quietly hugged me close. Despite her pale — practically transparent — skin, her body was warm. So warm that I felt myself wanting to surrender myself to her entirely, like I was being clasped to my mother's bosom. Of course, another part of me was crying "danger." But my mind, having finally realized the self-contradiction it had clung to for so many years, was in pieces... and unable to resist. And then...

"Poor thing... repressing yourself like this... You must have had such a hard time..."

Those kind words stole into my heart.

They were poison poured through its cracks. I knew that. And yet... the succubus' sounded so unbelievably kind. Her words warmed me, filling in the cracks in my tattered heart one by one. Now that I'd even lost sight of the foundations of my self, her words were too kind — and too sweet — for me.

"It will be alright... I'll teach you properly; from the beginning... You see, your contradiction... comes from using someone precious to you as a reason to be a 'Hero.'"

"Someone... precious..."

Her words made me think of El.

El. My precious childhood friend. The person who had always protected and guided me. But... now it was different. No, it had to be different. I mean, I was a Hero, and... no, that wasn't right... I hadn't wanted to become a hero; just someone... he could be proud of. I just didn't want him to hate me...

"Yes. A long time ago, you... ended up seeing a side of the people you respected that you could never respect. One of them was your blood relative... and another was one of your teachers. So... so you were scared? Yes; you were afraid that you might end up becoming like that too... and you didn't want him to see. Am I right?"

"Th... that's..."

That was the past I had always kept bottled up. I didn't even want to remember it... that day of parting. I had seen two of the people I respected most drowning in wine. I had always felt ashamed... ashamed of my child self for thinking that I never wanted to be like them; like the man who had made time in his busy schedule to train me and the father who had raised me. I had never been able to own up to... the me who had found them horrible.

"So... you tried to become the 'ideal adult,' so that some day, when you saw him again... you would be able to hold your head high. But... you were chosen as a 'Hero,' so you decided to become an 'ideal Hero' instead, and... 'Wilmarina,' who cared for Elt, ended up being driven deep inside."

I didn't have it in me to deny her words. She was right, and I knew it. I had bound myself hand and foot; had been driving my "self" ever deeper inside me... and that "self" was still there, even now. But... I still couldn't accept it. I mean... "Wilmarina" — the "me" I had tried not to see for so long — might turn out to be a horrible woman. Far better to be the Hero that everyone hoped for and expected than to risk that... or so I told myself.

Besides... she's just too obvious when it comes to El, and...

"So, you can only be a 'Hero' when you're in front of him. You didn't want him to hate you, and he might not like 'Wilmarina'... so you went overboard with your 'Hero' persona."

The succubus was probably right. Because I'd always stuck to being a Hero — because I'd gone on pretending not to see "Wilmarina" — I'd ended up coming lacking self-confidence. That was why I hadn't been able to show El "Wilmarina" when I'd finally managed to see him again... and why I'd ended up hurting him.

"But, you know, is being a 'Hero' really so wonderful?"

"What...?"

Her words caught me off guard.

The chosen ones who had received the divine protection of the Chief God. The few people the Chief God and other deities had entrusted with the task of guiding and defending. That was the image of a Hero in my mind. That was why I had devoted myself to not hating anyone or forming any special relationships, so that I could lead and protect people equally — because it resonated with my mental image of a Hero. The succubus, however, squarely repudiated such a Hero as she gently stroked my sweat-slick hair.

"Try to think back... Didn't your trying to be a 'Hero' end up hurting both you and someone you care about...? Because you wanted to protect more people, you ended up ignoring the number one reason you've kept at it."

"That's..."

There was undeniable truth in those words.

His pained expression rose in my mind, representative of our bitter past. There was resignation in that look; it seemingly wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin. El... should never have had to look like that. At the very least... if I hadn't become a Hero, he would never have been hurt that way.

"There's no such creature as a 'Hero'; you're just an ordinary human, you know? Loving and hating are natural things the heart does; no one can deny them."

How easy things would be if I obediently nodded my assent. Part of me was tempted to trust in her kind words. But I couldn't make that choice. It wasn't because I was a Hero, or anything like that. It was something simpler... ordinary, "human" virtue was whispering the word "duty" in my ear.

"But... I really am a Hero. I have a duty to wield the power I've been given for the sake of others..."

"Oh dear... And might those 'others' be... the people who forced you to be a 'Hero'?"

Her scathing retort pierced my breast.

I was at a loss for words. The succubus stood quietly before me with a pained expression, as if she was personally grieved. That look must have had something to do with my own circumstances. I wasn't sure exactly how much she knew of my affairs... but at the very least, she certainly knew about that.

"I was shocked when I peeked into your dreams. I mean... almost everyone there except Elt was forcing you to be a 'Hero.' Your family and colleagues and superiors and subordinates... all of them. But if even one of them had told you 'it's alright not to be a Hero'... things might have been different. Surely you've always thought so too?"

"Stop...!"

That was the ugly part of "Wilmarina" I had kept hidden for so long. The ugly wish for duty to call someone else still existed inside me. Just as she said... in the end, I wasn't a Hero; I was only human. While I had felt glad that I'd been chosen to be a Hero, I'd also felt painfully cramped. Time and again "Wilmarina" had doubted the people who did nothing but press the heavy responsibilities of a Hero on others without understanding them at all.

"Do you really need to hurt the person you most care about for the sake of people like them...? Do you really need to defile your precious memories? Is continuing to stifle your feelings really worth it?"

"There... there..."

The word "is" refused to come out.

I really... really was tired. Tired of the me who could only get others see her as a Hero, and couldn't act like anything else. Tired of always being forced to exercise iron self-control around everyone, and having no place to relax. If someone were to ask me whether I wanted to go back to that life, now that I was conscious of the "Wilmarina" I'd been suppressing... the answer would unquestionably be "no"... And yet... my heart was too heavy to fully commit...

"Feeling ambivalent now...? Well... I suppose you would be. It isn't easy to suddenly decide to completely change the way you've been living."

Her arms softly wrapped around my back, caressing me like she was comforting a child. Her gentle touch made my eyelids droop of their own accord. Those kind, motherly hands treated me a more than just a Hero now. I felt them healing my fractured heart. Then, just as I felt my tears begin to spill out, along with a sigh that had been suppressed until then, she aimed those kind words at me once more.

"So... I'll change you so that you can be honest with your feelings... I'll repaint you as a monster...♥"

My eyelids snapped open in surprise. The same instant, I became aware of a black substance coating my limbs.

It was even more viscous than the earlier goo, slowly eroding my clothing until it came into contact with my skin. And no sooner did it touch a part of me, than a burst of ecstasy ran through it. The intense sensation, which resembled a static shock, made my body jolt. The tentacles still held fast, however, and there was no escape as the black stuff slowly expanded its territory.

"Aaaaaaahhh♪♪"

Not even my wrist guards and clothing were safe from it. Unlike both the liquid and the tentacles, it was slowly and deliberately staining whatever it touched entirely black. My arms, still held over my head, had already been almost completely engulfed, and turned the color of pitch. Inside the blackness, I felt something oozing its way into my skin. It felt like the stuff was enveloping my very cells one, rapidly melting my body.

"Haa... ah♪ Oooooo♪♪"

My cells had turned to mush; now they were being reborn as something new and different. It was like my self was being overwritten. I tried again and again to scream from the fear of it. All that came out of my mouth, however, were moans of pleasure. My mind was changing too, without so much as a bewildered cry.

Wha... what's... happening to me...!?

I could feel myself transforming into something alien. It ought to have terrified me. But though my pleasure-addled mind was changing, I felt no fear. On the contrary, I felt only a sense of liberation, like I was breaking out of a cocoon that had imprisoned me even as it protected me. I even hallucinated that not just my mind, but my body, too, was floating lightly up and might go on flying forever.

"Hee hee...♪ There's nothing to be afraid of...♪"

"Aaaahh...♪♪"

The succubus caressed my cheek as she spoke. Her mere touch was enough to make my spine shudder with delight. My body, drained of strength by the waves of pleasure that surged over it, pitched limply forward. The black stuff was slowly but steadily creeping its way to my bottom, which had ended up looking like I was sticking it out of its own accord. The pleasure became even more intense when the transformative waves slowly seeping in through my skin arrived deep inside my loins. It even approached the climax I'd felt earlier. I let out another moan in the succubus' arms, and she quietly smiled.

"After all, you'll just be changing back to the real Wilmarina...♥"

The real... me...?

My changing heart shivered in delight, as if it had been looking for those words. No... I had been looking for them. I must have been. I had been hoping that someone would relieve me of the heavy burden called "Hero" for a long time. Unfortunately El hadn't been the one to do it, but my feelings for him hadn't changed. On the contrary, my heart, in the process of returning to "the real me," shouted that it liked El, that it loved him. The flames of those feelings were being stoked higher than ever.

Ah... El...♪

The face in my mind wore a shy smile that I had never seen. But he hadn't changed at all since we were children; that was how he would smile. And... and then, just like that, he would happily answer "I love you too." Once we had shared our feelings, still embracing each other, we would move to the bed, and...

"Haa...♪ Aaaaahh♪"

No sooner had my mind surrendered itself to those fantasies than I realized that my entire body had been dyed pitch black. My face was about the only place left that the color of my skin was allowed to show through; the black stuff — no, the succubus' mana — had invaded everything else. At this rate, I would end up turning into a monster before much longer. But... the current me was eagerly looking forward to it...♪

With most of my body melted to mush and even my mind becoming monstrous, I no longer saw that as something to resist. On the contrary, I thought only of wanting to become "the real me" and go back to where he was as soon as I could.

Soon... El... I want to see you soon... I want you to accept my feelings...♪

And then I would be sure to heal him every bit as much as I had hurt him before. I didn't even care if I had to use my body to do it... No, I ought to use my body to do it. I wasn't so arrogant as to imagine I could make up for his mental wounds with pleasure, but he was a boy, after all, so he must have some interest in sexual matters. If I offered him succor with the licentious body of a monster, he might even become mine.

No... I need to make him mine.

Life had left him large scars. I couldn't leave the task of making up for them to a fickle human woman. Only I, who had become a monster body and soul — who could captivate him and devote myself to loving him all life long — could do that. No sooner did my thoughts reach that point than pitch blackness oozed across my vision, and...♪

"Ooo... ah...♪"

I couldn't hear anything; I couldn't see anything; I couldn't even smell anything... I might as well have been in a void. It might well have driven me half mad. But I didn't panic. Although I had almost entirely lost my five senses, I could still feel the pleasure whirling inside me... and the warmth of her tight embrace, which served as a post to guide my way. I was sure that I would be alright if I left everything to her. It was when this baseless confidence filled my heart that I began to feel like something pushing its way out of my back.

"Aah...♪ Coming... Something's coming out...♪"

The grotesque feeling of something growing from inside me drew a cry of protest from my blacked-out mouth. The vibration of my skin told me that the succubus was saying something in response. I didn't understand what her words meant, but judging from the way her hands caressed me like they were comforting a child, she must have been trying to put me at ease. Just as I felt thankful to her for that, her mana began to clear from my field of view like mist.

"Hee hee...♪ Congratulations... Or... perhaps 'good morning' would be more appropriate...♥"

She smiled softly, a look of delight at the birth of the new "me." That warm, motherly expression made me feel ashamed of myself for having resisted this lady. I mean, she was being so tender and loving to me. I, who had ignorantly met her with naked animosity just because she was a monster, couldn't help seeming stunted in comparison.

I want to show my gratitude, but...

It finally struck me that I didn't even know her name. My mouth flapped open and closed, unsure what to call her. After several seconds of hesitation, I forced the word charged with the most respect I could muster out of my throat.

"Mo... ther..."

"My goodness... I'm delighted to hear you call me that♥" She said, and softly stroked my head, like one might a child of five.

I would never have been able to honestly accept that caress when I'd been a Hero. Now, however, I could understand the kindness the lady put into that gesture and sense the size of her love. I could never mind such a kind caress, so I squeezed my eyes shut and accepted it.

"But... all the same, 'mother' is a bit... you know? Please, call me Deruella♪"

"Lady... Deruella..."

I had a feeling that I'd heard that name somewhere before. Hadn't a special worldwide alert been issued against its owner? But even if it had, what did it matter? Even if the whole world was on guard against Lady Deruella, it made no difference to my gratitude. After all, it had been she, and she alone, who had broken my shell of Heroism and set the "real" me free.

"More importantly... Look how pretty you've gotten...♥"

Lady Deruella snapped her fingers and a full-length mirror slithered up from the ground between us. In it, I saw a woman with curved, jet black horns on her head, and reddish-purple wings jutting from her back. Below them a tail swayed in obedience to my will. The coat-like garment she wore concealed almost nothing but her private parts and exposed nearly all her skin. There was only a mesh of crisscrossing threads between her chest and her belly, and everything from her bellybutton to her narrow waist was exposed to view. Leather belts were wrapped around her belly as though to shield it from view, but the buckle that held them — which resembled the symbol of the Church, only hollow — failed utterly to fulfill that role. On the contrary, by subtly concealing her skin, it made her appearance all the more suggestive.

The woman who wore it all was just as licentious♪ Her large teats, marked with a bluish-purple seal, were full and supple, and swayed slightly with every movement of her body. Her clear skin appeared almost to be shining even in this dim light. There was something bewitching about that glow; coupled with her fascinating beauty, it almost seemed to beckon men's hands. Lower down, I could tell at a glance that her waist was unbelievably slim, while her thighs were voluptuous. Her lascivious figure was practically flaunting its animal femininity. I swallowed hard in spite of myself.

Her face was equally obscene♪ Beads of sweat stood out on her flushed skin, further enhancing its bewitching glossiness. Even her sweat appeared to shine with a provocative, inhuman radiance. The slack cheeks it left trails on were marked with a light purple design. The sluttishly half-opened mouth of the woman in the mirror disclosed a tongue and sharp, protruding canines that seemed to express her insatiable desire.  Her damp, bright red eyes sparkled flirtatiously, as if endeavoring to arouse passion in whatever they looked at.

This is... me...?

I saw a succubus elegant enough to hold her head high anywhere. It took me a little while to figure out that she was now me. Not that there was any bitterness in the recognition: the alluring monster reflected in the mirror was so much more charming — and so much more beautiful — than I'd been as a Hero that there could be no comparison.

If I'm... If I'm like this, even he will...

A lascivious and beautiful monster. Surely almost any man would be glad to be approached by such a woman. Surely... surely even El would be pleased by this figure. Surely he would be mine. Anticipating that reaction, I smiled at Lady Deruella, who stood quietly beside the mirror.

"Thank you very much...♪"

"I thought I'd change your clothes too, as an extra... Do you like them?"

"Yes...♪ They're so sexy and... wonderful...♪"

My cheerful response earned a satisfied smile from Lady Deruella. The sight of my savior's delighted expression made me happy myself. A smile spread across my face. But not the one I'd worn when I'd been a Hero to put people at ease and give them courage; It was lustful — practically drunk — surely an expression befitting a succubus. At the very least, there was no longer even a fragment of my Heroic mask to be found in it.

Aah... I'm so happy...♪

When I'd been a Hero, the expression I was making would have been unthinkable. That was enough to fill my heart with joy. The farther I got from the Hero who had been nothing but a heavy burden to the real me, the freer I felt.

"Hee hee...♪ With that look, I'm sure you'll soon fit right in in the world of monsters...♥ Actually... how does 'our world' sound to you?"

"I think it sounds very, very lovely...♥"

My new monster body was well adapted to a sensitivity that would have overwhelmed the old me. The jolts of ecstasy that ran through me at the mere rubbing of my clothes against my skin had, in fact, become irreplaceable. They made feel alive. Each shock brought El's face to my mind. It was always with me now. I was able to keep my beloved in my thoughts at all times. It was a sensation that Wilmarina the Hero could never have known. But... my heart was closer to that of a succubus now...♪

Now that my heart had been freed of the heavy burden of being a Hero, it was making me feel that I might go soaring off into infinity. It was like not only my heart, but even my body had gotten lighter. In that state, you might even say it was natural for my thoughts to remain fixed on El. I mean, nothing else had ever done anything but confine me. My family, beginning with father, and my comrades in the Order of Holy Knights, and the people who had cheered me on... there was not a trace of any of them to be found within me. All there was was my burning love for him.

"I'm glad to hear you say so...♥ But you're still an infant; you've barely taken your first step into our world...♪ So... I'll teach you a monster girl's ABCs♪ Would you like that...?"

"Yes♪"

My reply was nearly instantaneous. Of course, I did want to show El this body at once, but Lady Deruella was kind; she had patiently cared for me when I'd worn the mask of a Hero, even when I'd foolishly tried to resist her. She would never do wrong by me. I was sure she must have a plan.

"What a good answer...♪ Well then... why don't we begin your studies with the ways to pleasure a man?" Lady Deruella cooed, and snapped her fingers.

As if in answer, two tentacles, a little thinner than my wrists, slithered up around me. They wriggled, twisting and turning, and twined themselves around my arms like spoiled children demanding attention. I found their winsome forms, which had been objects of pure disgust just a short while before, rather sweet. That feeling almost certainly had something to do with the fact that these tentacles were giving me pleasure, and thus reminding me of El.

"Start with those...♪ As for how... of course, you already know that...♥"

I answered Lady Deruella's almost teasing words by quietly grasping a tentacle in each hand. Their tapered points hardly even resembled male genitalia. An instant later, however, the tips of the tentacles swelled and rounded as if filling with blood. Even I, with my meager sexual knowledge, knew enough to tell that they were imitating penises... no, cocks. And... the succubus instincts that had taken root in me told me what to do to make them feel good.

"Now...♥ For his sake... and for yours, let's complete your rebirth into that sexy new body of yours...♪"

I nodded yes to kind, licentious Lady Deruella's words, then slowly began to stroke the tentacles.

◊ ♦ ◊ ♦ ◊

There's no such thing as an absolute defense.

Not even Lady Deruella, as mighty as she was — no, not even the Chief God, who was said to have created the world — could manage to protect themselves not only against all forms of attack, but even from poison and natural disaster. Protecting everything was as impossible as destroying everything. The Chief God was only capable of waging a war by proxy against Her Majesty the Dark Lord. She couldn't protect everything.

That being the case... no manmade defenses could ever be anything like absolute...♪

The barriers around Lescatié were woven with various magics to detect the approach of monsters. I slipped through them easily. I'd pointed out that secret path to my superiors numerous times when I'd been a Hero. They'd dismissed my concerns in the belief that Lescatié, possessing as it did a greater number of heroes than any other country, would never be targeted. I'd known that behind their attitude lay the desire for me to supply the immense funds necessary to reinforce the barrier from my own purse, but I'd never been able to improve it.

I suppose I ought to be thankful for that now...♪ I thought to myself as I lowered my feet onto the roof of a familiar lodging house with a thump. I won't say I couldn't have broken through without the loophole, but it would have taken me much longer. If things had gone badly it might have dragged on all night, and I would probably have had to remove "obstacles" before I could tell El how I felt. When I thought of the labor and loss of time, I could not but feel grateful to Lescatié's ruling class.

Now then... El's room is...♪

It was right in the middle of a five story building, on the left end of the third floor. He was currently residing in one of the private rooms allotted to elite soldiers. Of course, it wasn't as if I'd just found that out now; I'd checked up on it as soon as I'd learned that that El had joined the Order of Holy Knights. Perhaps... I'd wanted to sneak into his room at night like this♥

I'd wanted to know anything I could about him. That had been my only feeling at the time. But now that I'd cast away my fetters and become the "real me," I wasn't so sure that there hadn't been a dirtier expectation behind it. No matter how much I'd tried to keep up appearances as a Hero, the "real me" I'd been suppressing deep inside my heart was still undeniably a woman.

Hee hee...♪ Well... that's got nothing to do with me now...♥

However I'd been in the past, I had no doubts about what I was going to do now. Coming to that conclusion, I gave the roof a gentle kick and flung myself into the night sky. My wings flapped open to check my fall, and, floating lightly, I approached his room. My hand crept to a third floor window with its curtains drawn, and it opened without the least resistance.

Looks like he's a little careless...♪ Or maybe he was hoping that I'd sneak into his room for some...♥♥

While I entertained such thoughts, my body was slipping smoothly in through the open window. A smell of sweat wafted into my nostrils as my feet landed on the floor. He must have been tired from training day after day. That somewhat pungent odor was practically stabbing my nose. But it wasn't unpleasant at all. On the contrary, as it enveloped me I felt a sense of safety, like El was hugging me tight.

Aah...♥♥ This is El's... El's scent...♪

The scent of my beloved's sweat, savored with a monster's sense of smell. How deliciously sweet. I filled my lungs with it while I quietly surveyed my surroundings. His room was tidier than I'd expected, with only the bare minimum of furniture — a regulation bookcase, desk, dresser, and so on. I was glad to see that; it showed the serious disposition of the occupant. At the same time, however, I felt disappointed that I wouldn't be able to experience the feelings of a new wife tidying up.

Still... that's not what really matters...♪

I could hear a sleeper's regular breathing from the bed that stood against the wall by my left hand. When I looked in that direction, I saw that his back was to me, his characteristic red hair swaying. I could never mistake that hair; it seemed to assert itself even in the darkness. The sleeper was unquestionably El, my childhood friend, my beloved.

"E–el...♥♥"

He turned over in his sleep, as if in answer to my sweet request. That motion exposed El's peaceful, sleeping face to my gaze. There was something innocent, even childish, about that gentle expression. Seeing it on the face of a youth my own age vividly reminded me of when we'd played together as children... and caused a sweet throbbing to lodge itself in my breast.

If you show me something like this... I won't be able to control myself...♥♥

Just being close enough to El that I could reach out and touch him was enough to push me to the limits of endurance, and then he went and showed me such a lovely face as this. My body was approaching El, blowing past my faint hesitation about waking him when he was sleeping so peacefully. It advanced one step, then two, and then sat down on the edge of the bed, stripped away the thin blanket, and pressed my lips against his as if they were drawn to them.

Smooch...♪

The soft sound of a kiss resounded in the silent room. At the same time, the softness of El's lips pierced my heart. The squishy, peculiar sensation was softer — and more delicious — than sweets made of gelatin. But unlike gelatin, several fine cracks stood out on their surface. I'd heard that he was Lady Mercè's favorite, and that, after she made him work as hard as he could in training, she was forcing him to accompany her drinking... He must be exhausted.

...If it were me... If it were me, I wouldn't do such things... I would put your wellbeing first, El... I'd do whatever would make you happiest...♥

The image of Lady Mercè that appeared in my mind's eye roused me to feelings of jealous rivalry. I made my tongue crawl softly over his cracked lips, conscientiously licking each crack in turn, making sure to keep plenty of saliva on my tongue. Every lick of El's soft lips brought me a refreshing, fruit-juice sweetness.

Delicious...♥ El's lips are so sweet... They taste so good...♥♥

Their refreshing, refined sweetness was more luscious than any delicacy I'd ever eaten. It felt like it would melt me down to the marrow of my bones if I continued to ear, but I couldn't resist their dangerous fragrance. Lead by my instincts, I made my tongue crawl passionately. But the sweetness was gradually leaving his lips, now free of cracks and gleaming with my saliva. My heart had just begun to ache with frustration when my tongue accidentally parted his lips, and slipped into his mouth.

"Ooo...♥"

The contact made sweetness re-coil itself around my tongue. But this was so concentrated that the taste of his lips alone could not compare. It felt like it was melting my brain as well as my bones. My body responded by revealing further greed.

"Ooooo...!♥♥"

Sweet...♪ So sweet...♥♥

The lining of his mouth made me a welcoming present of the finest nectar — his saliva. My tongue lapped it up, almost literally bathing in it, dancing ecstatically inside his mouth. More saliva overflowed from my own mouth, which had lolled half-open of its own accord. It traveled down my tongue and poured into El's mouth.

Aah...♪ To think that a kissing felt this good...♥

Of course, when it came to kissing, I'd yearned and dreamed as much as anyone. But I'd never imagined that it would be so blissfully sweet it sent shivers down my spine. The mere act was enough to numb and melt both my body and my brains, and to set my heart pounding. It felt like I was becoming one with him. In a daze, I greedily devoured his lips.

Oh no...♥ Now that I've tasted this... I'll never be able to eat anything else again...♪ I'll end up wanting to just kiss as long as I live...♥

The cocktail of our mixed saliva was far richer and dirtier than the cloudy liquid I'd tasted earlier. And the whole time I was kissing him an odor was rising from his body, causing my womb to ache with expectation. The sensation of that ache boiling up from within my body, coupled with pleasure and repletion, drove me into the realm of a dependence that surpassed addiction. If I could spend my whole life just kissing, even if it meant eating nothing else... it would be an unmitigated joy. That was the only thing on my mind.

This... this is all thanks to you, El...♥ Because you're so lovely, little by little... I... ended up falling in love with you...♪

Deepening my dependence on El's saliva meant deepening my dependence on him. It reached the point that, while I was kissing El, my love for him steadily grew until it threatened to overflow. I was running my tongue all over the inside of El's mouth, trying to prevent that, and to return my love to its source in him. That love of mine would reach him, and then...♥♥

I realized that El's eyes, which had remained peacefully closed the whole time, were slowly opening in front of me. There was a look of suspicion in the eyes that stared up at me, and the sweet saliva pouring from my mouth. But he'd only just regained consciousness, so he must still have been half asleep. He was still just staring blankly at me, displaying no reaction.

Hee hee...♪ Still a sleepyhead, I see...♥

Even when we were children, waking up had been the only time I'd been able to play the older sister. Time and again, first thing after rising, I'd dragged bleary-eyed El out of bed. In spite of myself, I couldn't help feeling glad that his low blood pressure hadn't changed a bit since then.

Still... he won't stay that way for long...♪

He might be a sleepyhead, but there was no way he would go on battling with drowsiness forever. Not to mention that I was currently right in the middle of stealing a kiss, which might as well be a surprise attack as far as he was concerned; surely that would jolt him awake before long. I realized that his face was colored with shock and bewilderment, and that his arms seemed to be trying to push me aside.

Oh... Don't be like that...♥

Before they could reach me, however, they were seized by my hands and pinned to the bed as securely as if they'd been sewn to it. His legs refused to give up and tried to continue the struggle in spite of that, but my legs and upper body leaning on top of them put a stop to that. Now I was lying on top of his sleeping form. El still tried to struggle against me, but he had no chance of matching my strength now that I'd become a monster; my limbs didn't give an inch.

After all, if you're going to be mean to me like that... I'll just have to be mean to you right back...♥

Actually trying to run away from me was a bit too horrible, even for being mean. I understood that he was surprised at being kissed while he was sleeping, but I was also a wee bit hurt. In an attempt to get even, my tongue was slowly forcing its way deeper inside him. El's teeth, half opened in shock, were unable to intercept me, and my tongue easily succeeded in making contact with his. As for what to do next... of course, the succubus instincts that had taken root in me told me that.

First of all... I'll give him a good tickling...♥

I selected a caress from the mountain of obscene information, tracing his tongue with the tip of mine. I carefully gave every bump of his tongue just one lick with the tapered tip of mine. El's arms — which I could tell he'd been training just by touching them — gave a startled shudder. His adorable reaction sent a shiver down my spine. I could never have predicted that sensitive response from my rehearsal with Lady Deruella. I ended up in ecstasy all over again.

"Mmm...♥ mph... mm♪"

"Nngh...!"

El, on the other hand, did not seem pleased. He moved his tongue from side to side like he was trying to escape mine. As I gave chase, I recalled the games of tag that we had often played as children. I'd been comparatively slow on my feet back then; sometimes he'd even allowed me to catch him on purpose. It was just like that. His tongue was soon caught; it gave me a sensation that was both soft and warm.

Ooh... If you're going to play hard to get...♪

I chased him down again and again. His movements got a little slower each time. I was sure that my kiss must be making El feel wonderful. As for myself, my body was so worked up that I was in danger of cumming just from feeling the heat of his body and tasting his sweet saliva. Even to the average monster might not be able to tell that El was starting to feel it, but some fraction would know from the slight flush of his cheeks.

Aah... He looks so cute...♥♥

A tinge of desire was beginning to show on El's face, even though he was being kissed against his will. His eyelids were drooping very slightly with arousal, to say nothing of his flushed cheeks. The gradually shortening interval between his breaths making his chest rise and fall seemed to be telling me that he was starting to get worked up too. El's resistance grew weaker, apparently in inverse proportion to his arousal, until he abandoned himself to me.

So, finally started being honest...♥

I was slowly releasing El, all the while licking his tongue all over and noisily sucking it into my mouth. Arousal and saliva had made it quite warm. Sticking out of El's mouth, it shivered as if with cold for at least a full ten seconds. My mouth could not refuse it; it longed to be filled. Even though I'd made up my mind to give El some space, I couldn't help wanting to kiss him again immediately.

But... right now...♪ he's my highest priority...♥ Isn't that right, Lady Deruella...?

I quietly smiled down at El, remembering what I'd learned from the lady who'd taught me my succubus ABCs. He looked troubled. His chest heaved. But even then the wonderful thing between El's legs stood hard and erect, lifting the sheets over it. He might have a reputation as a good, serious young man, but he was still a boy: he must love pleasure. His pole, seething with heat and shivering with anticipation, was proof of that.

I wouldn't be surprised if that earned him reproach in this country... I, however...♥♥

In this country, constrained by the Order's values, an erection like that would probably get you called a pervert. But I was a monster now, and it was a cause for joy to me. After all... I also loved pleasure, and I was also anticipating what would come next. We valued the same things, so surely we could be happy as lovers — no, even as husband and wife.

"Hlady... Hwil... malina..."

El called out to me in a lisping voice, as though my tongue had paralyzed his with pleasure. But I hadn't come here to hear him address me like that, like I was a stranger; I'd gone to the trouble to come creeping into his room in the dead of night in order to establish a more... lovely... connection.

"Don't call me that...♥"

"Ah..."

I couldn't put words to the way his face looked as I stretched out a hand to his cheek. It looked like he was about to burst into tears, and was still delighted in spite of it. It was the kind of face a lost child might make upon finding its mother. I couldn't help hugging him tight at the sight of it. As I wrapped El in my voluptuous breasts to comfort him, my lips parted in an effort to communicate my repentance.

"I'm sorry... Even though I should really have been the one to step forward... I always made walls between us, and I hurt you, didn't I El...? I'm truly... sorry."

I recalled all the ways I'd ill-treated him when I'd been a Hero. They'd made my heart ache, but... they must have hurt him more. I mean, from his point of view, his childhood friend, having been set up in a high position as a Hero, had been behaving as if everything before had been a fleeting dream. I could only imagine his pain and sense of alienation. And I'd kept on treating him like that for a long time. The mere thought of it brought me to the verge of tears and made my heart feel like it was about to burst.

"It wasn't your fault, Wilmarina — no... Mary. I was so confused when I found out you were becoming a Hero... I've been making walls too." As he spoke, El wiped the tears that I hadn't noticed gathering in the corners of my eyes, and then...

"Aah...♥"

He gently stroked my back. His hand seemed to warm my spine with each pass. It was just like back when I'd been a crybaby... just like when I'd been happy. A few tears trickled from the corners of my eyes. Surely there was nowhere else I could feel so warm and safe... not even at Lady Deruella's bosom. There was something about his chest that made me want to surrender myself to it completely.

"...Would you call me 'Mary' again...?"

"If you want me to, Mary... but..."

Aah...♥ I'm so glad...♪

The sight of him smiling bashfully up at me from between my breasts made my whole body flush. It resembled the pleasant warmth one feels fresh out of a bath, and the fact that he'd again called me "Mary," even now that I was a full monster, almost certainly had something to do with it. El was willing to accept me as me, without the usual prejudices of the Order. My body, suddenly burning with passion, was squirming bashfully at the size of his tool. Without thinking, I was rubbing against him, hugging him, practically glued to him. Another flame of desire ignited in my nether regions.

"S, so... how did you end up like that, Mary...?"

El tried to gloss over his symbol of seething maleness. He was, slowly desperately moving any part of himself he could, probably with the aim of keeping his hot pole from touching me. But it would take more than that to fool me. I gently brought a knee up between his legs so that he couldn't move them. My lips parted.

"You see...♥ I never really cared about humans, except for you...♥ I wonder why I said I did when I was human. Really, I was such a fool."

"Mary...!"

There was a shade of rebuke in that word — not for becoming a monster, but for what I'd said. I admired El's willingness to treat me as an individual, but... he was ultimately still constrained by human values. Someday I'd paint those over in monster colors — no, in my colors — and then... I'd be able to perfectly communicate my feelings to him.

"It was silly, wasn't it? I mean, saying that I'd save the world... when nothing else mattered as long as I had you...♥ Thinking that I belonged to everyone just because I was a Hero... when I'm yours alone...♥"

My exclusive, sweet confession put a look of bewilderment on El's face. I couldn't fathom why he had to make such an expression, but at least I could be sure that he wasn't rejecting me: His face did show confusion, but there was also a touch of joy in it.

In which case... all I have to do is make it grow...♥

"But... the human me didn't understand that. No... She might have understood, but she could never have done anything about it. So... I got myself a body that could...♥"

I drew back as I spoke so that I could peer into the face of the man I'd been embracing so tightly. The newly-created gap between us would give him plenty of opportunity to grab the sword that leaned against his bedside. Once I was sure of that, I quietly moved my lips closer to his ear with a malicious grin.

"El, do you hate women — no, monsters — like me...? Are you going to kill me...?" I whispered in his ear.

"... I..."

He showed more than a little indecision. That was to be expected. If our positions had been reversed, I would have ended up worrying so much it felt like my heart was about to go to pieces. I was sure I would have let my sword fall in the face of that unanswerable problem. Then I would have been raped by him over and over, and... turned into a monster. Around the time my fantasy had reached that point, El opened his mouth to speak. It looked like he'd come to a decision.

"Even if you have become a monster, Mary, you're still you... I could never kill you, Mary."

Aaah♥♥

It was the answer I'd been half expecting. Just as I could never kill El, he could never kill me. I was convinced of that. But even though I'd known... that answer, that acceptance, made my heart pound and my loins ache. The throbbing ache that I'd been holding at bay for so long finally broke free, and assumed total control of my thoughts.

"That was a mean question, wasn't it...? I'm Sorry... But... I'm so glad...♥ So... I'll give you a reward to make up for it...♥♥"

"Mary...?" He cried out in bewilderment as I pressed my breasts against him again, and my hand quietly slipped inside his pants. Of course, it's objective was his erect pole, the very symbol of his desire. It was going more smoothly than I'd expected, but when my hand tried to touch his underclothes, El appeared to come back to himself at last, and grabbed hold of his own pants in an effort to resist.

"Wait...! Ma, Mary...! That's...!"

"Your dick's gotten so big...♥ It's because I kissed you, right...? So... I'll take responsibility with my body...♥♥"

I knew the sweet words I whispered in El's ear would make him blush, but there was nothing wrong with that. I could see through his shy expression to the desire underneath, and something like sexual excitement was definitely there. He was anticipating being ravished. My hand helped that desire along by dragging down El's pants, underclothes and all, in the blink of an eye.

"Aaaaaahh...♥♥♥"

In an instant, a rich, sweet scent, like the sweetness of milk condensed, filled the room. The heavy odor stimulated my sense of smell with its almost choking density. The sensation was luscious enough to send shivers down any monster's spine. Shudders of pleasure raced through my body as I felt El's scent filling my lungs and enveloping me entirely.

You can't expect me to control myself after something like this...♥♥

Having become a slave to that scent in an instant, I gently moved my tail while I sniffed, cooing. That tail, which moved quite as dexterously as my fingers, circled around in front of me and unfastened the belts that held my underclothes in place. I realized that drops of my love juices were falling onto El along with the black underpants that landed softly on top of him.

"I'm at my limit too, you know...♥ Since we kissed... no, since even before that...♥ So... let's have sweet, sweet... sex...♥♥"

I gently shifted my body to straddle him, raising my upper body and resting my hips on his loins. I felt El's gaze penetrate my slowly swaying breasts as they moved away from him. An oozy, aching desire for him to rub them welled up in my chest, but... more than that, I wanted El to see me offer him my virginity.

I'll let you touch them lots and lots later... so just hold on for now... Okay?♥♥

The mere thought was enough to make more love juices trickle from my cunt. The sight of the fluid covering his half-exposed abdominals made me think of a dog marking its territory. It seemed to assert that El was mine. While inwardly approving of — and being aroused by — that, I gently grasped the base of his pole with my right hand.

Aah...♥ So big...♪

His cock was hot all the way to the base. Veins stood out here and there on its surface. Its thickness was roughly equal to three of my fingers bundled together. I couldn't tell how long it was because I wasn't looking, but, judging from the feeling when I'd been pressed against him, it must a little longer than the distance from my wrist to the tips of my fingers. That hot, trembling dick was about to spread the flesh of my vagina and enter into me. The mere idea of that was enough to make my hips shiver with anticipation and my love juices leak out.

"Hee hee...♥ Well then... I'm going to put it in...♪"

"Wa... wait, Mary! You can't just...!"

"No objections...♥♥"

He was still deeply marked by the Order's values; premarital sex must be taboo to him. But this wasn't premarital sex at all. This was El's and my marriage ceremony. This obscene, sweet ritual... would enable us to reclaim our past in the true sense.

Besides... I couldn't afford to hesitate♥

The ache running through every inch of my body had already reached an intensity that could justly be called climax. It was so bad I wanted to touch El and no longer cared where. My womb, in particular, would go crazy if it didn't get to touch him — to touch his dick — this instant. He must have felt the same. He must have wanted to mate with a female and spew lots of white semen from his hard cock.

So... let's become one...♥ So that we can be together forever and ever...♥ So that we'll never be parted again...♥

The thought made me smile. My hips, meanwhile, were slowly descending. My area, already slick and glistening with love juices, made contact with the tip of his dick — the glans — with a wet sound. I brought my hips down, gently spreading myself open with my unoccupied left hand, and...

"Ooooooo♥♥♥"

The spasm of pleasure that ran through me in that instant nearly split my throat. Just the tip of his cock pushing open the flesh of my vagina and finally slipping a little ways inside was enough to send an electric shock of pleasure racing through my body. It ran wild inside me, fraying my nerves. Something about it put me in mind of a snake. I could try to endure its violence, but with the body Lady Deruella had developed for me it would be nearly impossible.

"Aaah...♥ Aaahh♥ Ooaaah♪♪"

Even I didn't know what I was blurting out; it was like the cock that was slowly, deliberately spreading the flesh of my vagina was pushing the cries out of me. My mouth was already half opened and drooling with arousal. And I was letting him see. The shame made my heart tremble, and, just as it did, the serpentine pleasure suddenly grew.

Here it comes♥ It's almost heeere♥ No stopping it nowww♪♪

The serpent, now large enough to swallow me whole, constricted around my womb, wringing from it a somehow masochistic pleasure that seemed to diffuse through my body through the body of the snake. It was different from the state Lady Deruella had so kindly guided me to, but this, violent and forced though it was, must also have been a portent of orgasm. The mere thought was enough to make my vagina clamp down like it was trying to strangle his cock.

I let out a loud moan at the sensation of his cock digging deeper into the folds of my vagina. At the same time, I heard a stifled cry from El. When I turned to face him, his clenched teeth met my eyes. He looked pained at first glance, like he was trying to endure something, but desire showed plainly in his flushed cheeks. His cock was twitching in my vagina, too, so... I was sure El was starting to enjoy it.

The moment I thought that, the tyrant serpent burst forth...♥

A wave of ecstasy raced through my insides in an instant, whiting out not just my vision, but my mind as well. It threatened to rattle my brain and seemed to force my consciousness to expand into everything from the tips of my fingers to the ends of my hair. And knowledge of El was entering me along with the almost numbing pleasure of climax from every inch of my sensitive body. My heart overflowed with it, and I nearly blacked out.

Aah♥ I'm full♥♥ I'm... full of Elll♪♪

But my consciousness was expanding far faster than the information overflowed. My heart shook with delight as I took it all in just right. El's cock was making me more licentious, and more sensitive. There was no longer any part of the she-beast inside me that wasn't delighted by it.

Cumminggg♥ I can't stop cumminggg♥♥ I'm bursting over and over againnn♪♪

And within my ever more sensitive body, El's cock was still hard, strong... and so hot it threatened to burn my insides. My hips quivered as it pushed me up to orgasm after orgasm. The motion rocked the dick glued to the flesh of my vagina, and I felt like my brains had burst again, and a portion of my thoughts had turned to gooey, sweet juice.

"Oo... aah...♥♥ Amashinggg...♪"

Actually, the pleasure my body was now experiencing was far more vivid than even Lady Deruella's caresses. When I'd been a Hero — no, even when I'd only just become a monster — it might well have made me faint several times over. The feeling of growing gradually more licentious, and more sensitive, each time I came was magnifying the pleasure swirling inside my body ad-infinitum. I'd never had the chance to savor such a sensation before, not even during Lady Derualla's "lessons." No sooner had it set my heart pounding than my hips slid down as far as they would go.

"Oooooooo♪♪♪"

That instant, the feeling of my deepest parts being struck raced up my spine. I'd swallowed his cock so completely that there was no space left between us; it was practically glued to the entrance of my womb. My body was propped up on my quivering thighs; the place between them finally had what it had ached for for so long. The sense of fulfillment that raced throughout my body proclaimed a desire to stay glued to him like this forever. It sent pleasure coursing through my thighs to steal away my strength.

But I suppose... staying like this would be hard on El...♥♥

His glans was kissing the entrance to my womb, twitching violently. It felt like his cock had grown even larger since entering me, but it seemed somehow unsatisfied. The sweet heat that was melting my womb seemed to swell and throb. That was hardly surprising. I mean, I'd cum tens of times just while putting it in, and was continuing to do so, while El hadn't ejaculated even once.

I can't move right now... so... let me off with this... alright...?♥

My hips began a slow grinding motion, like drawing a circle. As I moved them, my cervix and his cock rubbed against each other, thrusting a shiver of pleasure into my womb immediately above them. My womb, already filled with love juices, amplified the accompanying pleasure to the point of orgasm, and spread it throughout my body. Within the climax that seemed to be chilling my whole body, his pole was the only thing giving me warmth, and I was growing steadily more entranced with it.

Aah...♥ This... this might be good...♥♥

The cock eating into the entrance of my womb from all angles seemed to be training the flesh of my vagina into its own shape. All of it, from the sturdy shaft, to the head like an open umbrella, to the small aperture at the tip, entered me along with the pleasure. It was like my body was trying to memorize the shape of the male I loved. I experienced another orgasm at the ecstasy of it.

"So this... this is you, El...♥ Big and strong and... sooo lubvlyyy...♪ I'm... going to end up your slaaave♪" I cried. A cornered moan leaked from El's mouth in answer. Even my shaking every which way must have felt good to him. It would be no exaggeration to say that my monster cunt had been made to squeeze out men's semen, so that was the most natural thing in the world. But that knowledge did nothing to efface my feelings of fulfillment and euphoria. El was feeling good because of me. That was all it took to make my heart overflow with joy. I experienced firsthand how wonderful it was to be a monster.

You too, El...♥ You're tasting it too...♪ You're sharing my feelings...♪♪

A wave of warmth was spreading out from my breast. Unlike the climactic pleasure racing through my body, it filled me with a warm sense of security, like being inside a womb. The blissful wave seemed to heal my sensitive body. Wherever it passed, I suddenly lost my strength and became defenseless. An orgasm, bursting from my womb, followed close behind. The waves of ecstasy ceaselessly assailed my body, reducing my mind to mush again, but I kept up my pace.

Aah♥ I'm so happyyy♪ Thish ish happinesh...♪♪

The alternating pleasures made me experience a sudden rise followed by a sharp nosedive over and over again, but would permit me to become accustomed to neither. After being healed by the gentle bliss that spread from my heart, I was tossed about by the fierce ecstasy that emanated from my womb — a masochistic loop. My body, unable even to attempt escape from that sweet yet cruel cycle, was growing more perverse by the second.

My cunt's squeezing dooowwn♥ It's getting all squishy and sloppyyy...♪

True to those unreasoning words, the my vagina was in the process of tightening. But it stopped suddenly, as if at a line that had been fixed in advance. El's dick was that line, and it and my inner flesh were glued together, had practically become one. My vagina, hugging his cock tight with each repeated climax, seemed almost to be proclaiming that they would never part.

So... happy...♪ But... this isn't the end...♥♥

I felt my mind turning to mush and my body filling with pleasure. I'd become one with El in mind and body. Ecstasy and fulfillment bloomed chaotically in my breast. But this wasn't the end. This was just the entryway; even more wonderful sensations were waiting ahead. My sensual monster instincts told me so.

And so...♥ to become even happier... To make El happy...♥

I tore off the clothing that concealed my teats. My large breasts, violently liberated, swayed in front of him as if on display. El's gaze was drawn to the sight of me shaking my breasts, larger than I could have imagined when I'd been a Hero, to show off their toned elasticity. I felt his piercing gaze on my pink, erect nipples even more intensely than before — perhaps because my latex-like clothing was no longer in the way. It drove me towards climax.

Aah... He's looking at me...♥ El's looking at my sexy tits...♥♥

In the midst of my joyous, barely contained orgasm, my breasts were jiggling like they were trying to draw El's gaze. Of course, his half-dazed stare was nailed to my bust. I quietly brought my arms together behind my back, thrusting out my breasts to emphasize them like a prostitute so as to better luxuriate in his sweet gaze. I could hear El swallow hard at the sight.

But... he just looks and won't touch... That won't do♪

He refused to make a move; it was like he was overwhelmed by the sight of my swaying breasts. I'd gone to the trouble of preparing a feast for him, and he was teasing me. My breasts were with desire to be touched this instant, and he still refused to approach me. It was too much. I'd lost patience with El, and decided to voice my discontent.

"This — all of this — is yours... It belongs to you, El...♥ My mouth, my tits... and down there, too... Even my ass... You can do as you please with all of it... because I'm yours, El... Yours alone♥"

"Mary...!"

It was like my words had burst a dam. El's hands stretched out towards me. No sooner had he gripped my teats than a sweet numbness surged through my heart and womb. My licentious body — which could achieve orgasm at the mere sound of my name being called in a voice overcome with emotion — began to slowly raise and lower its hips repeatedly.

"More... Say it more, El♥ I want you to call my name... your lover's name...♥♥"

"Mary...! Mary...!"

El's reply thrust me up towards climax who knows how many times. I could not interrupt the orgasms that burst from my womb in opposition to the waves of pleasure spreading out from my heart. My whole body gave an ecstatic jolt every time his cock left the entrance of my womb and rubbed the walls of my vagina, clinging to them so closely that the boundary between the two blurred. But my vessel for receiving pleasure was expanding with each climax, and so I was able to catch those sensations perfectly, and move my hips besides.

It wasn't as if the pleasure had lessened, though♥ On the contrary, the brain-melting climaxes were growing more intense. The fact that they were no longer enough to send my mind reeling meant that my actual resistance to pleasure had fallen considerably. Of course it had — I was feeling like my whole body was full of El... and there was no need for me to resist that sweet, salacious delusion.

I'm... happy to be yours alone, El... I don't need to think about anything else...♪

Now that I had cast away my Hero's mask, such reasoning came naturally to me. A life protecting, cherishing, and loving El alone. Days spent thinking only of El, never giving the masses my attention. If I could just protect this room — no, just the area around this bed — I didn't care what became of everything else. My rapidly shrinking world gave me unspeakable joy.

"Ooooooo♪♪"

El kneaded my breasts. He held nothing back, possibly overcome with pleasure and arousal. My monster body responded to that uninhibited stimulation by stabbing a mighty pleasure into my womb. Those rough caresses were proof enough that he was becoming fascinated with my body. How could any monster fail to be delighted by her darling's arousal?

"Mary...! Sorry... I'm already...!"

El sounded cornered. His cock twitched in my cunt and grew a size larger. Veins stood out on its shaft, digging into my love juice-soaked walls. The sensation of my vagina being spread open was excruciating. It felt like the flared base of his head, more horribly swollen than before, was trying to drag my cunt out along with it. The heat that reached me through his swollen glans told me that it was full to bursting with arousal, and might ejaculate at any moment.

You're about to cum, right, El...? You're going to cum for me♪ You're going to give me lots of cuummm♥♥

The mere expectation of that was enough to thrust my heart speedily up towards orgasm. And no wonder — even the cloudy liquid released by Lady Deruella's fakes had been delicious, and a single drop of his spit easily surpassed it. I couldn't even imagine how sweet his semen would be. I just knew that it would be the most wonderful thing I'd ever tasted, and that the highest happiness a female animal could experience awaited me.

I want it...♥♥ I want your semen...♪ I want you to pump my womb full of white stuff...♪♪

My hips were moving faster, as if anticipation was spurring me on from behind. Before I'd been thrusting them slowly and deliberately, so as to savor his taste. Now there was only a lust to greedily suck his cock from the glans to the base. El, buffeted by that, looked strained; I could tell that he was exerting himself, like he was trying to endure something. It broke my heart to see that look of desperate self-denial on his face. My lips moved instinctively.

"It's alright, El. You can cum...♥ I'm yours, after all...♥ I'm giving you everything... even my precious baby-maker...♪ So... El... give me lots of semen back...♥♥"

"But...!"

El must have resisted because he was worried that we would make a child. But that child was just what I wanted. I was seeking clear, material proof that he and I need never part again. Besides, now that I was a monster, I couldn't conceive so easily. It was virtually impossible for me to get with child from a few ejaculations inside my vagina. But it was equally impossible for me to explain that to El now that we'd entered the final stretch.

Ooh... It would be too much trouble...♥♥

While I admired how strong his will must be if he still wanted to resist at this point, I was also sulky. I mean, supreme happiness as a woman was finally within my reach, and he was teasing me, making me wait. Surely such a troublesome person... could stand a little punishment.

"Well then... I guess I'll just have to... squeeze it all out of you♥"

My vagina squeezed tight as I spoke. But only a part of it — the constriction ran from the base of his dick to halfway up the shaft, and was moving leisurely toward the glans. It must have felt just like I was drawing his cock through my hand. Of course, my hips never stopped moving. I was driving them into him with a ferocity that scattered my love juices across the bed. As if on cue, El's cock began to tremble...♥♥

"Oo... I'm... cumming...!"

"Aah! Cum♥ Fill my cunt with you cock juice♥♥ Mark every inch of me as yours, El...♪♪♪"

The words were barely out of my mouth when his glans struck the entrance of my womb...♥

"Ooooooo♥♥"

Hot stuff that spewed into my cervix in one huge burst, dying my mind white. My body was trembling so much I was afraid I might collapse from the joy of a veritable torrent of ecstasy being poured into my womb. The nerves that traversed my interior buzzed with signals of pleasure; it almost seemed that my entire body had become a cunt. The sensation of not just my breasts, but my thighs and buttocks and every part of me that was touching him bursting with orgasm popped my mind like a bubble and hurled it down into chaos.

It'sh coming sho harddd♥♥ My brain's going to bursht♪♪ It'sh going to tear me aparttt♥

But I was dragged back out of that chaos by the pleasure being poured into my womb. The intense bliss, like being struck by lightning, was so violent and merciless that not even the serpent could compare to it. It was like my womb was being forced to savor every last drop of the stuff being poured into it. My body was rejoicing in the masochistic climax.

Aaah... El's semen is delicious...

The source of the captivating joy being poured into my womb — his baby batter — was oh so sweet, like all the fruits in the world gathered together and boiled down. Yet it was incredibly bracing in spite of its syrupy density. But while it was invigorating, it had the drawback of ebbing quickly. I wanted to use my womb to savor more of this sweet, cloudy liquid, to which even his saliva could not compare, but its flavor was swiftly fading. My vagina screamed its displeasure, and constricted as though to demand more semen.

"Ooo...!"

El's cock felt the walls of my vagina constrict, wringing it out from its base to its head, and spewed forth more semen for me. I realized that the entrance of my womb was thrumming with a shameless slurping noise as it sucked up the cloudy fluid. My mind burst again, feeling something like satisfaction about my own greedy body.

"Oo... aah...♥♥"

I was borne up and bound by his semen. It was a time of masochistic joy. My mind was sent flying tens of times over. I couldn't say how long that went on; I was only certain that I was very happy, and that there was almost no boundary between him and me. I'd collapsed without realizing it. There was almost nothing to separate my skin and his skin; even I had no idea where he ended and I began.

So... happy...♥♥♥

Those unspoken words brought with them a flood of emotion. On top of the sensation of our melting into each another, my womb was swollen and sloshing with the semen that had just been poured into it. It was even greedier and more sensitive than its mouth, and took in as much of the sweet flavor of his semen as it could take. The sensation of being literally full of El was so wonderful that even all the of joys I'd previously experienced put together would still pale in comparison. I was truly tasting supreme bliss... just as my monster instincts had told me I would.

"Haa... haa..."

"Tee hee...♥"

I softly lowered my lips to his chest, which heaved beneath me with the reverberations of climax. My salacious lips, overflowing with saliva, made slurping noises as they tasted the beads of sweat that stood out on El's skin. The orgasm was still ringing deep inside my body, and that was easily enough to thrust me up towards another climax. I surrendered myself to a comfortable fatigue, overjoyed by my ability to achieve peak from something so slight.

El's cock, however, was getting hard again...♥♥

His rod was beginning to stiffen, as if to declare that a single ejaculation was not enough to make up for the ten years we'd been apart. I was glad that he showed no sign of flagging even though he'd ejaculated so much. Still, it would be simply too dull to go twice in a row in the same position. Besides, I wanted him to pursue me this time.

"Alright...♥ This time... you move however you like, El...♥♥"

"But... Mary... blood..."

When I turned my gaze to my nether regions, I saw that a trickle of red was flowing from them. My hymen must have broken, although I hadn't noticed in the midst of my pleasure. I'd been a little worried because I'd heard that engaging in strenuous exercise could cause one's hymen to tear, but it looked like I'd managed to show him the proof of my deflowering after all. Satisfied, I stretched my arms around behind his back and allowed myself to fall slowly backward.

"It's alright...♪ To a monster, this just feels good...♥ Besides... you aren't satisfied yet either, are you, El...?"

"Well..."

He watched with indecision as I transitioned from cowgirl position to missionary position. He wasn't shrinking back; it was a sign of his powerful concern for me. His earlier efforts to resist ejaculation had probably been out of consideration for me as well.

But... there's such a thing as being too nice...♪

Of course, I was incomparably glad that he cared so much for me. But when I was inviting him like this I could only think of his concern as a form of teasing. What I truly wanted now wasn't the kindness he'd shown me in our childhood, but a young man's animal lust.

In that case... I'll just have to get you to be more honest...♥♥

I would tear off his gentle mask, just as Lady Deruella had done for me. With that thought, I directed my thick mana into him. El appeared wary of the mana that wafted from my whole body like a fragrant aura, but, pressed together as we were, he could not possibly escape it. Caught in the succubus mana, the shade of desire in his face grew just a little deeper. He was being stripped of his reason.

"Mary...!"

"Hee hee...♪ It's alright...♥ I'll take on all of your lust for you, El...♪ Because, no matter how dirty it is... no matter how ferocious it is... if it comes from you... if it's part of you... I'll offer myself up to it gladly...♥♥"

"Mary...!"

As he shouted that word, he drove his hips ferociously into me. His cock violently, unrestrainedly gouging the flesh of my vagina felt different than it had in cowgirl position. I couldn't say unconditionally which was better, but I could say that both felt good enough to shake me to the core. I once again immersed myself in sweet, sweet sex, the totally fresh enjoyment enhancing the feeling of my becoming his.

◊ ♦ ◊ ♦ ◊

I could hear the clear, refreshing sound of birds chirping from the direction of the window.

I was on top of El, thrusting my hips, in a room lit by the warm light of day. No matter how well he'd trained his body, it was impossible for him to maintain that level of effort for several hours at a stretch. Now that he'd exhausted his strength, I had no choice but to do all the moving myself.

Well... it's not like I don't enjoy being on top...♪

We'd tried all sorts of positions after that, and each one had been entirely new and different. Not "better," or "worse," just "different." Any one of them was sufficient to captivate me. The sense of immorality that came with doggy style; the closeness of lotus position; the instability of standing position; the relief of missionary position... I longed to try them all again. If only El would recover.

But right now... I suppose taking care of El's sexual needs is more important...♥

I wasn't still thrusting my hips like this just to vent my own lust. El could no longer move, but his cock, into which I'd poured my succubus mana, was still going strong and showing no signs of wilting. I was currently occupied in tending to it. Still, I wouldn't deny that my own lust played a role...♥♥

I wanted time with him to embrace each other and love each other like this. I also wanted to make up for all the time I'd been away from El, and how I'd ended up hurting him. That must have been why this sex, which satisfied his feelings and mine, El's lust and a monster's lust, was so luscious and so wonderful.

Thump. Thump.

"Mmm...♪♪"

My thoughts had just reached that point, when I heard a knock on the room's only door. When I shifted my gaze to the clock, I realized quite a lot of time had passed without my noticing. At the very least, it was already long past time for the early morning training imposed on elite soldiers. This knock doubtless belonged to someone who had come to look in on El after he'd failed to turn up for the morning exercises.

And I was just getting to the good part, too...

I was inwardly irritated by that boorish intrusion into my happy time with El. But he did look exhausted, breathing heavily underneath me. That was hardly surprising — El was still human, and he'd been forced to couple with a monster for an entire night. It wasn't nearly enough to make up for ten years yet, but... it might be a good idea to give him a rest.

Besides... Lady Deruella did tell me to increase our numbers...

"Increase our numbers, and make this country a better place for you and Elt to live in." Recalling Lady Deruella's words, I tensed my legs and gently pulled myself off El's rod. His cock, coated in clear fluids and still brimming with vigor, was released to the outside world for the first time in several hours. It was twitching as if to draw attention to itself; perhaps it felt lonely at being separated from my cunt after spending so many hours together. After rewarding that adorable behavior by planting a kiss on his glans, I reached for my own recklessly discarded clothing.

He's the only one who gets to see me like this♥♥

This suggestive appearance that Lady Deruella had bestowed on me was entirely for arousing El. It certainly wasn't for exposing my skin to the rabble, to say nothing of appearing before others with my teats and my privates on full display. That was out of the question. I'd almost rather bite through my tongue and die than do such things for any reason except to protect him. I quietly stood up from the bed and moved towards the dresser mirror.

...Alright. This should do it.

After making sure I was properly dressed, I silently drew the sword at my hip. The long sword I had received from Lady Deruella was so black it looked like it was made of solid darkness. Even the blade was pitch black. A familiar, viscous ooze dripped from its tip. Something about it reminded me of a penis. Surely any opponent would come to understand how wonderful monsters were if I cut them with this sword. Finally ready, I approached the door, where the intermittent knocking continued, and stretched out a hand to the knob.

Now then... I think it's time I got going...♥

I slowly opened the door, ready to cut down the obstacles that sought to get between him and me — the people I had once believed I had to protect...

And so, the curtain rose on what would afterwards be known as The Fall of Lescatié.

The end.