I Got Reincarnated as the Villain and Saved the World, but After the Ending I Was Betrayed and Exiled. I Just Wanted a Peaceful Life in the Frontier, but for Some Reason My Former Companions Started Chasing Me with Yandere Eyes… - 31

Chapter 31: Phantom and Ceres

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“Phantom…? And who might that be? My name is Gusta—wait, my mask is gone!?”

Finally noticing that my field of vision was unusually clear, I touched my face, only to feel the texture of skin. The mask must have been destroyed in that earlier battle. There was no way I could hide my identity anymore.

And more importantly…

“Ceres… For some reason I’m shirtless and only in my underwear right now… Could you step back?”

“No!! Phantom-oniisama, you were gravely injured! Please receive healing magic directly from my body! Ehehe…You smell so nice, Onii-sama…”

“Is… Is that how healing magic works?”

Back when we were adventuring together, I could’ve sworn she only needed to had her hand over someone to heal even the most serious wound and yet… Here Ceres was, burying her face against my bare chest with a truly blissful expression on her face.The sweet scent rising from her hair made me feel an unwelcome stir below the waist, and when I tried to get her to move away…

“I’m just so glad… I was worried I’d never see you again…”

Hearing her voice tremble into tears, I found myself unable to bring myself to push her away. 

Now that I think about it… Elena did say Ceres skipped the victory parade too. That must mean she, just like Elena, has been searching for me all this time. 

There must be some trick or misunderstanding behind the voice recording of her that Josef had played for me. 

“Sorry for leaving without a word, Ceres.”

“Good grief! Onii-sama, you disappeared all of a sudden! I was so lonely, Phantom-oniisamaaaaaaaaa!!”

When I hugged her gently, Ceres hugged me back even tighter. I didn’t know how long we stayed like this, but eventually, Ceres stopped crying and finally looked up to meet my gaze. 

“That… That was terribly unbecoming of me. I lost my composure…”

“Don’t worry about it. I owe you for finding me and treating my wounds, right?”

“Yes… When Phantom-oniisama got blown away by Henrietta-san’s attack, I panicked and chased after you. You were gravely injured, but I’m so glad I could heal you back”

She smiled warmly, but her priestess robes were stained with dirt and riddled with holes. Moreover, she clearly hadn’t healed herself yet since I could see small cuts and scrapes that stood out painfully on her skin.

She must have jumped down the cliff after me to save me. Had she left me to rot, I would’ve died. I wasn’t so far gone as to doubt someone who had risked that much for me. Feeling relieved to know she was my ally and being able to meet her again after all this time, I exhaled in relief—only to notice she was staring intently at my lower half. 

“What is it, Ceres?”

“Um… Phantom-oniisama… I’ve heard that it’s difficult for men to be in that state. I have no experience, but… shall I treat you?”

“Eh…? No, this is just a natural reaction!! More importantly, heal yourself, Ceres!!”

“Ahh…”

Turning away, I tried to hide the swelling caused by her earlier closeness. As I put on my tattered clothes, Ceres cried out in disappointment for some reason. 

“So… You’ve been traveling all this time, searching for me?”

“Yes… A lot happened along the way, but I’m glad I finally found you. You must have been through a lot as well, Phantom-oniisama…”

Once clothed and calm again, we sat facing each other and exchanged reports on what had happened so far. Ceres explained that she had refused recognition as a saintess and spent all this time looking for me.

“About… The rosary. I’m sorry. It was important to you, right? I didn’t even know the full circumstances and yet I…”

“It’s fine. I already understand that you were hurting, Phantom-oniisama.”

She forgave me with an angelic smile on her face, making my chest ache with guilt for having treated such a kind, saintly person so poorly.

“Besides, it’s thanks to this that I was able to reunite with you.”

“Thanks to… That? What do you mean?”

I asked her that question when I saw her taking out the rosary that had been wrapped carefully in a handkerchief like it was something endearly precious to her. She gazed at it lovingly, but instead of answering my question, she only gave me a meaningful smile. 

As I tried to stand, she gently took hold of my arm. 

“What is it? My wounds are mostly healed, so let’s go.”

“Go? Go where?”

Ceres looked at him blankly. Hadn’t she heard? We had to defeat Ose next…

“That demon matter will be fine as long as Elena-san is there, right? You’ve already worked hard enough, Phantom-oniisama. Stay here and rest with me. If we let them think you’re dead for now, joining up later will confuse them more.”

“That… That does make sense.”

It was true there were probably still soldiers around. Hiding here with Ceres might be better than fighting needlessly. Her gentle, heartfelt concern sank far too easily in my heart.

“Yes, I’ve put up a ward to keep people away, and there are traps too. Food won’t be a problem. There’s a spring in the back for washing and drinking water… Let’s live here together for a while.”

Yeah… That sounds… Wait.

The feel of the necklace around my neck made me stop myself from nodding alone. No, no. That wouldn’t be fine. If I didn’t return, Tia and Elena would worry. I still remembered how their faces looked when I reunited with them. Ceres and Elena looked truly in deep pain. I couldn’t afford to make someone look like that again. 

“Sorry, Ceres. I can’t do that. I’ve decided. I will never again make someone important to me… Like Tia or Elena… Feel that way.”

“Tia…? That’s a new name I’ve never heard before and… Well, I guess if I press harder now, it might seem unnatural…”

Her brow furrowed at my refusal, but then she lifted her face again with a smile.

“I understand. Phantom-oniisama, you’re kind and care deeply for your companions. In that case, you’ll take me with you this time, right?”

She smiled brightly and I nodded in return, remembering how she had always been such a reasonable girl.

“Of course. You’re one of my important people too, Ceres. I’m counting on you, Ceres.”

“Uu… You really are unfair, you know that…”

With her face flushed red, Ceres let out a small groan, and together we set off toward the lord’s mansion in the Pail Territory.

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T/N: Phantom almost unlocked the confinement route with Ceres Σ(°ロ°)