The last thing she remembered was the explosive wrath she felt when she saw Dowd embracing another woman.

Even right now, everything was just a blur to her.

The act of thinking felt so meaningless, almost as if a fog was covering her entire consciousness.

She realized that there was something crumbling down nearby and people around her were screaming. But all those sounded so faint, as if they came from a faraway place.

“...”

As her gaze wandered in the air for a moment…

In the monochrome landscape, akin to a faded photograph, she could vaguely see the contours of a person gazing down at her.

It was a mysterious atmosphere, floating in the air as if defying gravity.

The only thought that came to mind was her acknowledgement that even a peculiar figure without a single stitch of clothing could have such a presence.

However…

Even with just that vague outline, she could at least recognize its ‘shape’ clearly.

If she were to age just a few more years, maybe she would look like this.

‘...Mother?’

In her daze, that was the first word to cross her mind.

After all, it was someone she had seen many times in her dreams. Someone she missed the most.

However, there was one thing she could feel for certain.

Although the shape was identical…

She was not the same existence as the mother she remembered.

The ‘essence’ was as different as heaven and earth.

-...

‘Something’ that took the form of her mother was desperately trying to say something to her.

‘Stop doing that. Please stop.’

It felt like something was trying really hard to stop her.

However, that voice didn’t get through.

Almost as if in her ‘current state’, that existence’s voice didn’t reach her.

“...”

And then, even that figure quickly disappeared.

Eleanor gazed at the vanishing figure with a dazed expression.

‘...What am I doing…?’

However, even in a state where her head was in the clouds and she could barely muster such a thought…

A wicked voice that seemed to slither like a snake could be heard all too clearly.

-Why don’t you just do it?

Do what?

-Don’t you want to make that man yours forever?

“...”

-You don’t want to feel hurt anymore, right?

But still…

Dowd was Dowd.

-If you don’t want to kill him, you can just turn him into your puppet, you know?

Then, she remembered.

She had heard this voice before, back when she tried to give Dowd a ring for the first time.

However, this time….

It was much harder to ‘resist’ than at that time.

Almost as if, compared to before, it had taken over more parts of her.

‘...I don’t want to.’

She barely managed to conjure up such a thought as she shook her head.

No matter how angry he made her. No matter how much he hurt her.

Dowd was still Dowd.

Kill him? Make him a puppet?

She didn’t wish to harm that man like how the voice was telling her to.

-I said do it.

 

-Hurry.

However, such a voice burrowed into her dazed consciousness.

It was gradually increasing in volume, to the point that her ears were ringing.

However, as that voice continuously got louder and louder and louder like that….

Right when she thought that she couldn’t endure it any longer…

It suddenly disappeared.

“...”

She couldn’t understand the situation.

Since she did not know the reason for its disappearance, all she could do was blink her eyes blankly.

She examined the surroundings with the sliver of reason that had returned to her. In order to understand even a little of what was going on, she strained her dazed eyes with all her strength.

And thanks to her focusing her consciousness on her ‘sight’...

Eleanor could see Dowd’s face right in front of her.

Not only that, she could also feel the touch of his lips enveloping hers.

“...”

She had heard Beatrix fiercely argue many times that a first kiss tasted like cherries. But, instead of that, she could only feel a prickly sensation and the stale taste of dust.

Then again, it was laughable to compare her first kiss to cherries or whatever, especially when her surroundings were literally crumbling to pieces. After all, there was no doubt that this man didn’t prepare anything special before he pressed his lips against hers.

“...”

Wait, he pressed his lips against hers…?

Right.

That.

It was that.

A kiss.

“...”

Only then was she clearly aware of her surroundings.

In this monochrome world, akin to a faded photograph…

Only she and Dowd could move properly. As if in this stopped world, only she and him existed.

Moreover, in a state where their lips were pressed together.

Her eyes widened even further than before.

A kiss?

A kiss? Seriously?

This man, to her?

Really?

Why? Why in the world?

Wasn’t he fooling around with another woman just moments ago?

“...W-Wa…”

Her expression broke. Her heart dropped. The heating running up her entire body completely drained her strength.

At that moment, his lips were separated from hers.

This was the first time she had a clear look at Dowd’s face.

“You finally woke up.”

At the sound of his voice, Eleanor’s face became flushed to the point of bursting.

Maybe it was because of his kiss, but he looked dozens of times cooler than usual.

Of course, the normal her couldn’t see anyone else except for this man, but at this moment, that fact was even more pronounced than usual.

She was getting short of breath. Before she knew it, various thoughts sequentially came to mind.

What did she eat today?

Did she brush her teeth properly?

Maybe he felt unpleasant? She desperately hoped that wasn’t the case.

If it was, next time, he may—

“...”

Wait.

Next time?

Wait, no. Now was not the time to think about such things just because that one action put her in a trance.

‘Get a hold of yourself, Eleanor. There are things you have to settle first.’

First, she had to address this man’s infidelity—-

“Alright, I’ll do it again.”

“...What? Wait, no what—”

When she heard Dowd’s voice, she instinctively tried to distance herself by leaning back, but it seemed that he had noticed her actions since that man’s arms were wrapped tightly around her waist.

Considering the difference in their abilities, she could probably easily shake him away.

However, she couldn't. She couldn’t resist at all.

As soon as she felt this man’s desire for her, all she could do was redden her entire face and stiffen up.

And at that moment…

The second shock came.

Once again, Dowd’s lips were pressed against hers.

Taking it a step further, this time, even his tongue entered her mouth.

“Ah…Ooh…D-Dowd…Ah, ah…W-Wait…”

She tried to say something, anything, but it was all in vain.

The inside of her mouth was practically violated. Dowd’s probing tongue immediately intertwined with her own.

It sloshed around, yanking and burning, sticky and thick.

She felt distressed.

This was her first kiss. So why was this man so skilled?

“...”

As their saliva entwined, all the thoughts Eleanor had built up in her scrambled mind until now completely collapsed.

Argue? Settle the score? Address his actions? Putting all that aside…

‘...I love it.’

This sensation.

This devotion.

The warmth that this man was filling her with.

It swept away all the gloomy emotions that were eating at her just a moment ago.

Her entire body was filled with warmth.

“...”

In the end…

Before doing anything…

Eleanor wrapped her arms around Dowd’s waist without even being aware of it herself.

It definitely expressed that she did not intend to argue about anything.

‘...For now, those things don’t matter.’

It really was as such.

“...Hahh-”

As I took my mouth away, a long strand of saliva dangled.

Was this how it was done?

I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right since it was my first time…!

[You were doing pretty well. Are you sure you weren't a gigolo in your first life?]

“...”

What do you think?

[Then you must have been born with the talent of seduction. Whenever you do something related to that, you seem to do well. As expected, even among trash, are the pros different?]

“...”

You. Shut up for a moment.

With that thought in mind, several messages appeared before my eyes.

System Message

[ Corruption Value of target ‘Eleanor’ has plummeted by more than 250% in a short period of time! ]

[ ‘Berserk’ state is released! ]

[ Tremendous achievement! You have been granted a new Title! ]

System Message

[ ‘Title’ System is added! ]

[ Equipping Titles can provide additional proficiency in non-combat actions! ]

[ Currently, the Title granted to you is ‘Playboy’! ]

[ When you flirt with women, you can perform more skillful, versatile, and proficient techniques than before! ]

“...”

Was this little shit picking a fight with me right now?

Why the fuck was the Title, ‘Playboy’? And, what in the—? Why were all the effects of this such bullshit?

No, wait. For now, I should worry about this later.

“Eleanor, are you—”

“...Ah, Haah, Hahhh-”

“...”

Just a glance at her was enough to tell me she was far from okay, so I shut my mouth.

She was panting heavily, completely red from her neck to the tip of her ears.

“Wait a moment. I’ll support you.”

With that, I tried to approach her, but…

“...Can you…Not come closer?”

Eleanor stopped me while gasping.

“If you come closer right now, it will be dangerous in many ways.”

“...”

At her words, my expression stiffened once again.

When she said it was dangerous, it could be interpreted in various ways.

Even though she was feeling better at this moment, this was right after she had already gone berserk once. This meant that it was more than probable enough that there were aftereffects.

In fact, the Grey Devil’s aura had not completely dissipated yet. After all, the world was still frozen.

Moreover, Eleanor’s state of ‘suspicion’ was still active.

As such, what I needed to do from now on was clear.

I composed myself and opened my mouth to speak to Eleanor again.

After all, I needed to think of something that would further ease her mood.

System Message

[ Effect of ‘Title: Playboy’ is displayed! ]

[ Revisions are attached to your actions! ]

“Eleanor.”

“...What is it?”

“Recently, just hearing your voice makes my heart flutter. If I don’t see you for a few hours, I want to see you again. It makes me want to thank God everyday before I sleep for blessing me with such a fiance.”

“...”

Eleanor’s jaw dropped.

And I, who had spat out such words, was horrified as well.

No. Wait a fucking minute. Halt. Hold. Chotto Matte.

I didn’t intend to say anything like this.

It was as if my mouth moved on its own, beyond my control.

Stop it. Don’t fuck with me.

SHIT, DON’T FUCK WITH ME…!

This was undoubtedly because of that Title bullshit. I had to immediately deactiva—

System Message

[ Requested the deactivation of Title: Playboy. ]

[ It is the only Title. Deactivating is impossible! ]

MOTHERFUCKER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“...I-I see. You were having such thoughts?”

While I silently screamed inside, Eleanor avoided my gaze and fidgeted.

At the very least, it was fortunate that she didn’t seem as angry as before, but…

My following actions due to the influence of the ‘Title’ couldn’t be seen as fortunate at all.

“Eleanor.”

“...What is it this time?”

I steadily approached Eleanor, whose face was still burning red, and lowered my head.

I embraced her into my chest before pressing my lips on her forehead.

“I love you.”

“...”

Even though I couldn’t quite see her in this position, there was no doubt that Eleanor had stiffened with only her mouth moving, as it opened and closed.

After all, she would find it ridiculous.

And I felt the same way.

Stop it.

Please stop it, Title or whatever you are.

If this continues, I’m going to die of embarrassment…!

However, even such screams were in vain.

My body, which was already far beyond my control, pressed my lips against Eleanor’s forehead once again and whispered in her ear.

“I love you.”

Faint whimpers and moans resonated against my chest. I could clearly feel Eleanor’s body trembling.

Although I couldn’t see her face well because it was burrowed into my body, judging by how her ears were red to the very tip, I could tell what state she was in without even needing to see her with my own two eyes.

[Wow, whOA, WOAH! AHAHAHAHAHAHA! AHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAAAH-! I-I can’t b-breat-! Heuk, I-I’m going to die! STOP! PLEASE!]

What the fuck was this dead person saying? Bro, you already died once.

No, rather than that, I also really wanted it to stop, okay? Fucking hell.

Soon after, I tried to lower my head once again to press my lips against her, but Eleanor extended her arms and stopped me.

“D-Don’t…”

“No.”

Although her words said not to do it, her arms didn’t have any strength in it as I gently pulled it down. This was even despite the fact that Eleanor could have easily pushed me away if she so wished.

I pressed my lips against her again and whispered.

“S-Stop… Dowd… People around us are watching. I said, they’re watching—”

Time had stopped, so no one should be watching us, but Eleanor seemed to be embarrassed that there were people around since she kept mumbling.

However…

“Just let them watch.”

My fucking piece of shit mouth responded as such to Eleanor’s desperate voice before lowering my head.

Once again, I pressed my lips against her and whispered.

“I love you.”

“Ah, t-this…”

Once again, my lips…

“S-Stop… Stop!”

“Are you not angry anymore?”

“I’m not! I said I’m not!”

“...”

At the same time as Eleanor said this while nearly welling up in tears…

A window appeared before my eyes.

System Message

[ Target Eleanor’s state of ‘suspicion’ has been released! ]

[ The fluctuation of the Corruption Value has been properly corrected! ]

“...”

Yeah, okay. Great.

I managed to pull it off.

At the price of my dignity.