※ The R-Rated chapter is written in a way that will not affect the story progression even if skipped. For minors, please be advised.

●

It felt like I had turned into an empty mayonnaise bottle.

Weird analogy, I knew, but those were the only words that came to my mind.

I didn’t know how long it had been since the time had stopped, but what I knew was that both my mind and body were exhausted.

Seriously, how many times had I ever felt this exhausted throughout my life…?

That question came into my mind as I stared at the Gray Devil, who was floating above my head, wearing a satisfied smile on her face.

“...Satisfied now?”

[Yes.]

Even though the time was still frozen, this punk’s movements looked very lively.

It felt as if every gesture that she made exudes happiness.

“...”

As always, she looked innocent.

It was hard to believe that this was the same being that tormented me like a beast until just a while ago.

[Ah.]

Suddenly, she exclaimed.

Her body gradually turned blurry. Maybe her time to be able to come out of Eleanor’s body and roam around in the Material Realm was up.

…Still, that lasted quite a while, huh?

When I first met her, we could barely exchange a few sentences before we had to part. Compared to that, her materialization time limit this time was quite long.

[It’s because C¾ð the Seal C¾ð has evolved more.]

She answered, as if she had read my mind.

[Which means now ¡Á‘we’ can be connected with you ¡Á in earnest,]

“...”

Come to think of it…

Skill Info

[ Fallen’s Seal – Transformation ]

< !NEW! >

[ Due to your influence, targets can now communicate with their ‘Vessels’ more directly! ]

[ This unlocks a Special Ability for all Vessels! ]

Those windows popped up at the same time as I cleared Chapter 3…

The description made it seem like the Vessels only got a little stronger, but this punk seemed to imply that there was more to it.

[So.]

As I looked up at the window, the Gray Devil burst through it to fly close to me.

“...”

As if she knew that I was ‘looking’ at it.

As if she was intentionally trying to interfere.

[I received ¡Á your cum on purpose ¡Á .]

“...What does that mean?”

Did that mean she had another intention when she squeezed me out crazily earlier?

When I asked that question, furrowing my brows…

[It means that C¾ it will start in earnest C¾ soon.]

She gave me another vague remark.

“I'm asking you what that means.”

[...]

Instead of answering me, she smiled.

The same affectionate smile that she always showed me.

But, the next thing that she said betrayed that expression, as it carried a very different atmosphere than the usual one she exuded.

[You have C¾ to become stronger.]

She said before coming closer to me and burying her face in my chest.

She looked similar to when Eleanor buried her face in my chest while saying she had to replenish Dowd’s element or something just a while ago.

But in this punk’s gestures…

[This time.]

I felt as if…

There was sorrow…

As if she had dwelled on this countless times, her sorrow was so deep to the point that I could feel it…

[Don’t die, okay?]

Her expression when she disappeared with such a sentence…

I swear, she…

Looked as if she was about to burst into tears right there and then.

●

Armin Campbell blinked his eyes, seemingly confused.

Ever since he came into the Tristan Duchy with Herman, he had been shocked by everything.

From how the locals welcomed him so enthusiastically to the point that it was strange, to the time when the Duchy assigned a servant to devotedly serve him, even though he was merely a viscount.

However…

Those situations didn’t faze him as much compared to when he saw a certain person's face, whom he did not expect to see ever again.

“...Bogut?”

As he said in a shocked voice, the man sitting across the table responded with a grin.

“Armin.”

“...”

Armin’s face when he looked at Bogut was filled with shock.

As soon as he entered the Tristan’s Mansion, he wondered what was going on when they guided him to the living room all of a sudden.

Because he believed that there shouldn’t be anyone in this majestic duchy who’d want to meet him at all.

But now that he had seen this punk, he understood everything.

“It’s been a long time. I can’t even remember how many years it’s been.”

Marquis Bogut said while smiling.

Armin remembered that smile for sure.

While he had not seen Bogut ever since their school year was over, he had never forgotten this smile of his.

“...It’s been a long time since the Elfante graduation. We’ve never met again after you were handed down the Marquisate.”

Armin replied, still looking perplexed.

“I haven’t heard anything from you all this time, so why did you suddenly come to meet me now? Do you know how hard I tried to meet you all this time?”

“...”

“...I know I was only a moron who was only going to inherit a Barony and you were a young master who was going to inherit a Marquisate, the core of the Upper Nobles Association. More than anyone, I’ve been aware of the difference in our ranks since we were students, but…”

Armin said while looking straight at Bogut’s face.

Perhaps…

It wasn’t an imagination that there was a slight hint of resentment in his voice.

“I thought we were friends. You and me.”

“...We are, even now, Armin.”

Bogut replied in a firm voice.

The other people around who were serving him were all astonished.

Maybe it was because this was the first time they had seen it;

The sight of Marquis Bogut, acting all serious without even a single trace of his usual exaggerated behavior that painted him as a clown.

“That’s why I came, to say hi.”

“...To say hi?”

“Yeah.”

Marquis Bogut held out something to Armin while saying so.

It was a small locket necklace. There was a picture inside it.

“...”

Armin looked at it without saying anything.

Because it was also a memorable item.

“This is the only Astrid’s possession that I have with me.”

Bogut continued in a calm voice.

“And I want you to hold on to it.”

“...”

Armin picked it up, still not replying to him.

There was a picture of three people inside it. They were smiling brightly with their arms over each other’s shoulders.

Armin, Bogut, and—

“...”

The moment he saw the woman’s face…

Armin made an indescribable face.

Sadness, remorse, regret, longing, joy, wailing, grief…

Perhaps, his expression was a mix of all those emotions.

“...This…”

After the silence, Armin finally opened his mouth again.

“Why are you giving this to me, Bogut?”

“I met your son.”

Instead of answering his question properly, the Marquis said that.

“He looked like Astrid, especially his eyes.”

“...”

“The Empire is going to change soon, Armin. No, the entire continent will undergo a big change soon.”

Marquis Bogut said while getting up from his seat.

“..,What do you mean?”

“I’m saying that a lot of things will happen, and most of them will be centered around your son.”

Hearing that, Armin’s expression stiffened in an instant.

“Bogut.”

Through his gritted teeth, he called out to the Marquis in a trembling voice.

“If you’re planning to do anything to Dowd, I—”

“Even if I don’t plan on doing anything, those things will happen.”

In contrast to Armin’s trembling voice, Bogut said his piece with a smile.

“That’s how the world was created. It’s about to begin.”

“What the hell does that—”

“That’s why, please let me ask you a favor.”

Instead of explaining…

Bogut reached out to Armin, who was holding the locket necklace and made him hold it more firmly.

“...Please cherish your family, Armin. My friend.”

“...”

As if telling him no to lose it.

“Because that kid will definitely need your help soon.”

After saying that…

Marquis Bogut left the living room without saying anything else.

As if he had said all that he needed to say.

●

[Hey, it’s morning! Wake up!]

I could hear such words through my hazy mind.

Judging by how I could see the sunshine and the sound of chirping birds entering my room from outside the window, I guess it really was morning already.

[What the hell was wrong with you? You fell asleep when we were talking yesterday, and you’re still trying to sleep even when the sun is already up and high?]

“...Is that how it seems to you?”

[What?]

Please, dude, a Devil squeezed me dry all night long, go easy on me.

I rubbed my eyes to shake off all the remaining fatigue.

Near the bed, there was a bottle of water—maybe the servant prepared it for me.

So, I drank it and it was enough to get me back into my senses. Then, I noticed a letter nearby.

[Come to my room if you’ve woken up. We have somewhere to go.]

“...”

Now that I had entered her territory, I could feel that she wouldn’t let me off her sight even for a moment.

I wonder why she did that. I’m sure there was a decent amount of risk in that, though.

After all, whether it was Leoni or Bella, everyone looked like they disapproved of me.

…Even myself.

Honestly, because of what happened last night, I figured that it would be hard for me to keep a straight face around Eleanor.

But, you know…

It wasn’t like I could do anything about it.

…Whatever, I’ll just have to be with her for a moment.

Like, this was legit one of the most peaceful things I had gone through lately.

So, surely nothing big would happ—

[Fucking idiot.]

“...”

What the fuck? Why are you cursing at me?

I furrowed my brows before glaring at the Soul Linker. As a response, a deep sigh came from inside it.

[Because you haven’t learned anything at all, you dumb fuck. Seriously.]

“...What are you on about?”

[How could you not know that something bad will happen the moment you say something about it?]

Before he even finished talking.

I could hear someone banging on the door of my private room.

Since the knocking was clearly filled with anger, it was definitely not a servant.

There was a high chance that this was someone that I knew.

“...”

[See?]

“...Yes.”

I had no choice but to agree to his words and got up from my seat.

As I walked towards the door with a waddle, the door was opened from the outside before I even touched it, almost as if it was crushed.

“...”

And in front of it…

There was Iliya, exuding a terrifying aura from all over her body.

“...”

Now, I once again understood what Caliban had said.

Because this punk didn’t seem like she’d have a peaceful conversation with me.

“...What are you doing here? I thought you’re busy?”

Since she had just granted the Hero title officially, this was supposed to be her busiest time, so I shifted the topic in that direction.

I wasn’t sure what brought her here, but I hoped I would be able to find even a sliver of a way to convince her.

“Teach.”

“Hm?”

However…

“You did it, didn’t you?”

She asked that question without beating around the bush, almost piercing through my lungs.

And that rendered me speechless.

“...Uh?”

“You did it, right? Your first time has been taken, right?”

“...”

Iliya.

_ _

What the hell are you on about?

I thought as I looked down at Iliya.

“I have a really good nose, so good I got the Eye of Truth ability with it.”

“...”

“I knew the moment I saw you, that you did it, Teach.”

Without giving me time to answer, Iliya shot me such words before she continued to say with ferociously glistening eyes,

“...The Student Council President, where is she now?”

“...”

Caliban.

How far had you predicted this?