Chapter 226 - Chapter 222: IF Side Story - Still Getting Devoured (24)
Even in the Demon World, it didn't seem like a place where humans couldn't survive.
When I first arrived, the heavy air pressing down on me was overwhelming, but as time passed, my body seemed to have adapted. I was getting used to it.
I looked at the succubus who had brought us here.
That appearance—the brilliant golden hair, the brown skin, the sheep-like horns.
It felt strangely familiar.
Even though I was certain I'd never met her before, she stirred a sense of longing in me.
"So... what about Yu-rin?..."
"Don't worry. The bleeding has stopped and her breathing is steady, so she won't die. Probably, anyway."
'Probably? What is she planning to do?'
"...It's a bit late to ask, but I'll be blunt. Why did you save Yu-rin? And what on earth is the reason you brought me here?"
"Reason? Because I like you. That's all."
'She's a woman whose schemes I can't fathom. I have to be careful.'
In her gaze, I could see a flicker of sadism—a desire to torment something.
That was why it was bone-chilling to see her eyes light up every time she smiled at me.
"Then... after you've fully healed Yu-rin, can you send us back to Earth?"
"Hmm... well? I might be able to send you back, depending on how you behave. Though, only that female. Just so you know, I helped you two at a loss to myself, so you'll have to make up for that."
A loss? Did she use some rare medicine to save Yu-rin? Or did it cost a fortune to rent this dump?
Unlike the city I saw when I first passed through the gate, this house, located far out on the outskirts, was quite dilapidated.
The interior was a mess, as if a fight had broken out, and the injured Yu-rin was simply lying on the only bed that looked remotely clean.
"...Is it possible to make up for that loss with money or goods? If I do that, can you at least send Yu-rin home?"
"Pfft... You're talking about Earth currency or goods, right? I don't need those. Human currency is just scraps of paper to us. Even goods mostly break once they're brought into this Demon World. Most machines don't work, and most items are worthless. And yet, you think you can make up for my loss?"
"...I see. I didn't know that."
This place, the Demon World, was clearly a completely different reality from Earth.
To think that having no memories would be this inconvenient...
The common sense and knowledge in my head didn't seem to apply here at all.
"Ah... but there is one good way."
"What is that?"
"Hmm... you sell your body."
"...Sell my body?"
Ah, as expected. In a way, she was truly a demon.
To think she would grant a wish in exchange for parts of my body.
Because she could communicate and had the appearance of a woman, I'd forgotten, but the person in front of me was a genuine demon in every sense of the word.
'If I stay in this world, where such dangerous demons are everywhere, for too long, I'm sure something terrible will happen.'
The thought of having to send Yu-rin home became even more desperate.
"So... which part do you need? Eyes? Fingers? Toes? Ah, you don't mean peripheral body parts... do you mean I have to sell an organ, or an entire arm or leg?"
"...That's not what I meant. You say such cruel things without hesitation? For a man..."
'Cruel things? Is that something you, who tried to kill Yu-rin right in front of me, should be saying?'
"You don't seem to understand, so I'll spell it out. Selling your body means exactly this."
Then, the succubus connected her thumb and index finger on one hand, and with the finger of her other hand, she poked into the circle she had made, looking at me with a mocking gaze.
"..."
Seeing that gesture, I knew even without her saying it.
"Selling my body... you meant prostitution?"
"Yes, yes, of course. So, what are you going to do? If you cooperate, I can send that child, Yu-rin, to Earth."
"I refuse. Absolutely not."
The reason Seon-ah refused was, naturally, due to a misunderstanding.
In his common sense, he had never once thought of a man selling his body, so when he assumed the target of the prostitution was Yu-rin, not himself, Seon-ah shook his head, thinking that such a thing must never happen.
'I can't let Yu-rin be ravished by these demons. That's not happening. I have to find another way.'
"Why? Is that woman not precious to you?"
"She is precious. That's why I must never do such a thing. Though you, being a demon, wouldn't understand at all."
"Ha... is it because you don't want to betray that woman?"
"Yes. This is only natural. I can't betray her just because of a word from you."
Although their thoughts were misaligned, the conversation continued naturally.
"Really... amazing. I want you even more now..."
However, the demon didn't seem to have any intention of giving up.
"No, you won't have me. I don't have the slightest intention of betraying Yu-rin. So, give up on that method."
"Well? What are you going to do if I don't give up?"
That demon was testing me.
However, my resolve was firm.
Even if I couldn't send Yu-rin home, the determination to protect her was real.
"Even if I look weak, I am a man. To keep from losing what is precious, I will do my best to stop you..."
Then, the demon clapped her hands and laughed like a madwoman.
"Heh... hehehe! Hahahaha! A man? It's natural for a male to be weaker than a female... You're really funny. How can you perform such a skit with a face filled with such desperate resolve? It's truly hilarious."
When the demon stopped laughing, she closed the distance in an instant, her expression turning angry. She grabbed my shoulders with both hands and pressed down.
I felt a heavy force from her grip, and unable to withstand it, I naturally fell backward.
"Such a frail male saying such nonsense... do you really want to die?"
"Even if I were to die, I have no intention of betraying Yu-rin. And if you were going to kill me anyway, you wouldn't have brought me and Yu-rin here like this, would you?"
The demon stared at my face for a long time.
She laughed cheerfully again, lifted one of the arms that had been pressing on my shoulder, grabbed my chin, and tilted it upward.
"Pfft... pffft... You're right. You've got guts. I want you even more now."
"...?"
Looking into the succubus's eyes, my face was reflected in those greedy, burning pupils.
With my chin held in her hand, hearing her say she wanted me started to make me feel a sense of deep discomfort.
'Why is she looking at me and saying she wants me? It's as if she's talking to me... something is strange.'
"Usually, the males brought from the Demon World can only say things like 'Mom! Save me!' but you seem somehow different. Is that why Bianca-eonni cherished you so much?"
That demon was spouting incomprehensible things again.
As if I had some relationship with someone unknown called Bianca-eonni.
"Bianca-eonni? What are you talking about?"
"It's no use playing dumb. The Yin Mark on your lower abdomen is telling me everything!"
She looked at me with eyes that suggested Bianca was pathetic, then grabbed my clothes and pulled them back slightly.
After carefully examining my lower abdomen, her pupils trembled as if she couldn't believe it.
"Huh? This can't be... I definitely thought you were Eonni's mate... was I wrong?"
It was a situation I couldn't understand at all, but hearing that this demon wanted me and spoke as if I were someone's possession, I finally understood.
It seemed she was trying to frame it as if I were connected to some demon, or perhaps she wanted to corrupt me herself and make me betray Yu-rin, wanting to enjoy that situation with pleasure.
"I don't know what that means, but I roughly understand what you want from us."
"Ha... I've been looking at you with such a scouring gaze until now... you really were slow to notice."
"You want me to betray Yu-rin right now... to drive a wedge between us. It seems you enjoy that kind of thing, am I right?"
"What? Ugh..."
Seon-ah had guessed wrong, but he had roughly hit the mark on the purpose of Miel's actions.
Miel, having been hit in the bullseye, glared at Seon-ah for a long time, then made an expression of frustration and let out a long sigh.
"Haa... You kept spouting nonsense, so I thought you were just stupid and dull... but you were a guy whose brain works better than I thought? Yes, that's right. But do you think you can stop it?"
As Miel finished speaking, she put strength into the hand holding Seon-ah's chin and gathered magical power in her other hand, emitting light.
"Anyway, once I stir your brain just once, you'll turn into a male of my taste in one go. It's truly a shame. If you had just followed along obediently, there would have been no need to go this far, wouldn't you agree?"
"..."
Seon-ah trembled, staring at the light the demon was holding.
He felt that if the light in her hand touched his body, he, in his state of lost memory, would become her puppet.
Thinking that he would fall into her clutches in an instant without being able to put up a proper resistance and would betray Yu-rin, his heart raced.
Then, as if resigned, he closed his eyes, thought of Yu-rin's face—which might be the last time he would see it—and apologized to her.
"I'm sorry, Yu-rin... I think I'm going to betray you... but I will never forget. The fact that I... liked you..."
As Seon-ah's small cry ended, Miel's hand touched his head.
Then, a moment later, Seon-ah felt his consciousness sinking and collapsed.