54 Chapter 47: The Aftermath of the Struggle

[Ciel's POV]

Fina has fallen asleep with her head on my lap.

What a peaceful sleeping face she have. It's like what happened earlier was just a dream.

Fina: "… *mumble* Ehehe… Gee… You can't put it in yet, Yohan… *mumble*"

Ohoh… Now that's an interesting dream she's having. I'mma ask her later. Mm.

I used another cloth to cover her with a blanket, then I scattered my wisp all over the place to cast ignite and heat the now freezing place.

Well, I'm fine since I have the Extreme Temperature Resistance skill, but it's different with Fleur and Fina.

Fleur: "She fell asleep right away, I see."

Beside me, Fleur is sitting while leaning her head on my shoulder.

She returned to normal after casting magic all over the place and spent the overflowing Crysaztel in her body, which was eating away her health. It was as if the aroused girl earlier was just a fabrication of my own imagination.

Though I want to be sure of what I realized about her condition, I can still feel her unbelievable rapid growth as an Elcea-Realne.

Even though she released so much from her magic, I can still feel more and more Crysaztel flowing into me through the Link.

We still have to do something about it. But knowing another method to release her overflowing power, is something we should be grateful for.

Ciel: "Yeah. She must have used up all her energy."

I defeated the giant Triatredent.

Using Analyze, I learned that it's actually the Triatredent Queen. A subcategory of Triatredents that prefer living in cold spaces, even underwater.

It had a skill that lets it go undetected with any searching type skill, like my Detect skill, until it moves. So as long as it doesn't move, my Detect will not be able to spot it.

That's why I only detected it when it attacked Fina.

… Well, one way or another… Fina got to know that it's me.

It wasn't my plan, to be honest. I was just caught up in the moment. But…

Surprisingly, I don't regret anything. More like, I feel like I've come to see things in new light. I feel refreshed over it.

Now I know. That I can do it. I came to be able to do it. I got to do it. Even though it's just me, I got to save someone.

Even with this cursed hands, I got to save someone.

Ciel: "Ahaha."

Fleur: "…? Thinking about something…?"

Ciel: "Mhm."

I couldn't help but smile at my foolishness. Being tied by something abstract, bound by nothing but words. Foolish is making it sound light, if you think about it.

My past really had taken a toll on me, eh?

Pfft. Who was just telling Fleur off about some things like some great guy, when he himself can't practice what he preached? It's me. Ahaha.

Foolish, I say.

But it's different now. I think I can be myself now.

I… I'm glad I came to this world.

Fleur: "Master…"

Fleur's already tired beyond normal level, which I can clearly feel through the Link. That's why she leans on me. She can't any more move a muscle.

Nonetheless, I asked.

Ciel: "Aren't you tired? You can sleep for a while."

I used my free right hand to shift her disheveled hair from her face. Noticing my touch as she has her eyes closed, she snuggled against it, smiling.

She's darn cute.

Fleur: "Mm. I am fine. I just… I feel like if I do not take this chance, I may not be able to do so again…"

Saying that, she open her eyes and stared at my left hand, which holds Fina's. Then as if noticing our stare, Fina gripped my hand tighter and pulled even closer.

I used my free hand to poke Fleur in the forehead.

Ciel: "… I'm not going anywhere, you know."

Fleur: "… I know. I know…"

Ahaha. You're so easy to read, dear Fleur. Have you forgotten that we're linked down to the soul? Though even without the Link, I can already guess what you're thinking.

But I won't say anything for now. I don't want to go with this irresponsibly. I'm a man. Not some lad.

Call me a wuss, I don't care. What I care for is these two. I know we'll eventually get there.

Ciel: "I promised, didn't I? I'm not someone who would go back on his words. That's I assure you."

Fleur: "… I see. It is unfair, indeed. You are unfair. I feel like you read me like an open book."

She let out a soft giggle, then snuggled closer.

Cute. So cute.

Fleur: "But… This time… Even for only this time, let me be selfish."

Fleur rubbed her cheek against my shoulder, seemingly trying to savor the feeling. Heaving a mellow sigh, she closed her eyes once again.

Ciel: "And I tell you, you can anytime."

Fleur: "… You truly are unfair."

You underestimate me, Fleur.

Now that I know I can, I think there's a part of me that has become greedy.

Yep. I've become greedy.

…

..

.

Fleur: "Let me introduce myself again. I am Fleur Eclea-Realne, Former princess of the Demon Empire and is the current Demon Lord."

Fina has woken up and we're now sitting on a cloth as if we're having a relaxed picnic. With the huge Triatredent and the small ones for the background, we carelessly enjoy our time of rest.

It's surreal. Ahaha.

Fina: "…"

Hearing Fleur's introduction and seeing Fleur's true form as she removed the effect of Alter, Fina stared at Fleur with her wide open eyes and with her mouth dropped.

Well, can't blame her, can we? Ahaha.

You just learned that you were with the Demon Lord, who is also a princess, all this time and you were just hugging her casually without a care for the world. Fina has some knowledge about this things like me, so it's not news that she's shocked like this.

We played games together often before.

Fina: "… I-I was just hugging the Demon Lord… And a real princess, to boot…"

Fleur: "W-Well… It is still something of the future. I have not yet proclaimed myself to the Demis and have them accept me."

Fleur smiled dryly as she scratches her cheek in embarrassment. Though I feel that there's also fright mixed in. She must be scared that Fina would be disappointed now knowing that Fleur is the dreaded Demon Lord.

I mean, news has spread about her wreaking a havoc, right?

Fina: "Kyaaahaa~!! It's a real Demon Lord!! A princess, in the flesh!! Why did you try to hide this from me, Yohan?! Say, are these horns real?? Can I touch them?? Ooohhh, a tail! Can I touch this too?? Can I? Can I??"

Even without waiting for Fleur's approval, Fina is already touching her horn and tail. Bewildered, Fleur's eyes swam around the place as she tries to understand her current situation.

Fleur: "Eh? Ehhh? M-Master… Wh-What should I do…?? Hyahi-!!"

'Hyahi'…?

Touching that tail is weak for us, so Fleur jerked up when she felt it being touched.

To Fleur's surprise, instead of being scared or angry, Fina just jumped at her for another hug and gazed at her with sparkling eyes. Her eyes following Fleur's tail like a child staring at a toy store.

Ciel: "Fina is weird like me. You don't have to worry about anything. Ahaha~"

I bring out the rest of the bacon and placed them on the center. I'm taking a bite of them since earlier.

Fina: "Muu?! That's rude, you know! I'm not weird! Yohan is the only weird one here, hiding this marvelous girl from me!"

Still hugging Fleur, she uttered her dissatisfaction to me.

Ciel: "How could I know it was you? I wasn't really sure at first. And I'm Ciel right now."

I take another bite from the bacon. Gestured by Fina as she opens her mouth, asking for a bite, I reach out what I've been biting off and let her have it.

Fina: "Ahm… *munch* Oh right. *munch* Hiel if the homly heird wom hfere, hfiding fis mluffy gfirl from me!"

Ciel: "I only got the 'from me'… You don't have to repeat it. And it changed too. Lastly, eat or speak, choose which to do first."

Really, how can she be so cute… Was she this cute before back in our world?

I think so, but I guess I was still in denial back then.

Fleur: "Fufu. You two really are close, I see."

Oh. Out of habit. It seems like I missed this exchange more than I thought I do.

Ciel: "Well, let me introduce myself again, now that I recalled my name."

I face the two, directing the introduction to the both of them. Fleur still didn't hear my real name, and I wanted to make sure that Fina hears it from my mouth.

Ciel: "I'm Yohan Johansen (It's 'zsho' not 'yo'). I'm from another world. But I'm Ciel now. That right there, was my uhh… something I'm stuck with my whole life?"

I placed my hand over Fina's head.

Fina: "Muu?! What do you mean 'something'?? That's beyond rude, I tell you!"

But she's not removing my hands, I see.

Ciel: "Ahaha. My bad, my bad. You can say she's my childhood friend."

After letting me finish my words, Fina, still pouting, then let Fleur go and straightened her back.

Fina: "I'm Serafina Euralec. I was Chloe Collins when I was still in the same world as this rude guy. Hmph."

Fleur and Fina bowed at each other as a greeting, her pout disappeared like nothing happened.

Hm. It's like we're in a marriage match making here.

Fina: "Wait, you forgot your name?"

Oh right. I forgot to mention about that part.

I don't know when, but I think it's around the time I acknowledge that Fina was Chloe inside my head. I kind of felt a click in my mind, like a Skill activating, and there.

I recalled my name.

… It's like I was just waiting for Fina this whole time. Ahaha. Weird.

Ciel: "Yeah. Coming here, I couldn't remember my name at all. So Fleur here named me."

When I mentioned that I couldn't remember my name, Fina looked a bit perplexed and worried. But is instantly replaced by awe when she heard that Fleur actually named me.

Fina: "Oohh! So you're Fleur's pet, huh?"

Ciel: "What are you saying? I'm the master."

Fina: "… Perv. Just as I thought, you really had some ulterior motives for how Fleur was calling you, am I right? Even though you're a girl in this world, you being a huge pervert hasn't changed a bit, huh?"

Her cold stare hurts…

Hm? Oh. She still thinks I'm a girl, I see. I can just show her my chest or have her touch my crotch, but… Mufufu. Where's the fun in that? It's kind of interesting so let's wait and see for now.

Fleur: "Ms. Fina. Actually, Master is-…"

Ciel: "*wink* *wink*"

Fleur titles her head as she thinks about the implication of my actions.

Fina: "Muu… What are you winking at Fleur for, you perv?"

Fleur: "Ahh! I see."

As expected of Fleur. She's really fast to catch on things.

Fina: "Myu? What do you mean you see, Fleur? And Fina will do, by the way. Hyaha~"

Fina then smiled like it was the most natural thing to do. Fleur on the other hand was a bit surprised, but then nodded and resumed what she was saying.

Fleur: "Fina. Fina… I see…! Aahh…~ It feels so intimate. So friendly~"

Saying that, Fleur placed her hands over her chest, as if to relish the feeling. She must be longing for these kinds of 'close friend' things, because of how she used to be closed up most of the time in her castle.

Fleur: "Very well, Fina. Fufu~ Going back, Master is saying that she wants to ask you to be her servant, too."

EH?! Did I?!

Fina: "HUH?!?"

She read too far!! Certainly, she got the point where I'm still trying to hide that I'm actually a guy, with the way she uses 'she' for my pronoun, but…

She went and read too far!

Fina: "Y-You mean… Eh?? You want me to call you 'Master' too and hold your hands and hug you and put collar on my neck and take me to walks at night!??!?!"

… Wh-What has she been reading in this past fifteen years, this girl… And not to mention, she went from extreme pure to extreme deviant…

Fleur: "Well, Master has a skill that connects your soul to him. As a result, you will be bound by a master-servant relationship like me, heart and body. Fufu~"

Fina: "YOU WANT TO HAVE MY HEART AND BODY AND PLAY WITH IT UNTIL YOUR LUST IS SATISFIED?????"

O-Ohh… She went and explained it. She's not actually wrong per se, since it actually links the soul, where I can feel her emotion directly, and body, where I can drain her excess Crysaztel.

But the phrasing! The phrasing is important here, Ms. Fleur.

I know she's just helping and is doing it because she thinks it's for me, but still… I think it's doing the opposite, my dear Fleur!

Fina: "*whisper* She'll make me ride her back, carry me like a princess in her arms, have our arms linked when we walk, then she's push me in the wall and lift my chin up with her fingers, and then… and then… Kyaaaaaaaaahhaaaaaaaaa~!! It's too soon!! It's too soon, I tell you!!"

Holding her flushed cheeks, Fina began squirming in her place like a worm out of the ground.

Very cute. Mm.

Well, it's fun while it lasted, but we won't go anywhere if this continues. Let's clear things up.

Ciel: "Alright, Fina. You see-…"

Fina: "B-But…!"

Ciel: "Huh?"

Halted by Fina's loud exclamation, Fleur and I found ourselves staring at her with surprise.

Fina: "B-But… If y-you promise to be g-g-g-gentle on our f-f-f-f-f-first night… I… I'm okay with… it…?"

Goodness…

… Gracious…

What in the world is this adorable creature…? Looking at me now with upturned eyes, is against the rules… I want to take her home… And… Hnnngggg…

My heart… My heart…!!

Fina: "*gasp* B-But I'm not that knowledgeable about two girls d-d-d-d-doing it… L-Let me prepare for my heart first…!! M-Mm… I'll try and ask Leila… *whisper* I-I think it involves f-fingers and stuff, and… Aaah… I… Aaaaaahhh…!"

Fleur: "Wah! S-Steam has come out of Fina…!"

Ciel: "Pfft. Ahahahahaha!"

…

..

.

Fleur and I explained everything that can be explained to Fina. We also cleared any misunderstanding that I may have created when I was trying to hide our identity. Of course, that includes that fact that I'm a guy.

She was greatly embarrassed at first, but it looks like she's more relieved that whatever she looked like then.

I also told her that I'm an Eifil-Realne. Not a human.

I told her all about how I came to this world as a monster and how I met Purin and Fleur in the dungeon in the Dast Forest. It seems like she's familiar with the new Demon Lord that was hidden inside the dungeon, so the explanation went easier than expected.

Also, I told her about the Evil God that I consumed. I was a bit hesitant at first, since it may cause troublesome things if Leila knew about it. But I've decided to tell her about it too later. It's better for her to hear it from the cause itself than learning it from another source.

Fina listened intently without breaking her focus like she usually did back in our world. Maybe after spending fifteen years in a foreign world, some things have changed.

Oh right. It seems like the timeline of our reincarnation differs, as I came here just a month ago but she reincarnated fifteen years ago. I'm not yet sure about the reason and how, but… I'll leave that for some day. It's not that important anyways.

Fina also talked about herself after hearing from us.

Well, I've already heard enough when we were walking. So this time, I asked her about her Arcana Skills and if she knew anything about them. But unfortunately, she doesn't.

I guess I still have to investigate more about this after we get out of this place.

Then the conversation went from that to how I knew about her Skills. So of course, I had to tell her about my Skills and abilities. She was surprised at first, but later then cried in envy.

(Fina: "Muuu!! It's unfair!! Why are you strong!??")

Like that.

Ahaha~ She can be competitive when it comes to games, after all.

Well, I didn't know that this is already strong, but… I guess spending time in a dangerous place really helped.

With Fleur's permission, I also told her about our current goal of helping her become the Demon Lord of the Demis. Obviously, we also included the fact that she doesn't wish for any war. But it looks like that was an unneeded worry.

Fina just smiled and gave us our support. Being a reincarnator herself, she also wanted peace for the race more than the war. It's to be expected of hers, though. She even reincarnated between two different races, after all.

We also asked about the current affairs in the Demon Continent from Fina, but it seems like they're not that updated, since they're more or less on a remote area and are kind of staying lie low to avoid conflicts.

From the looks of things and from the information we gathered from Fina, it's better for us to travel as soon as possible, after all. We can't stay oblivious of what is happening.

And just like that, from a formal conversation, everything went to casual and just enjoyed our time as we rest, talking about trivial things so to spend the time.

Some things were rough, but I'm glad it all ended well.

…

..

.

Chapter End