Chapter 45: Demonic Archer, Alicia la Aeras 1

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“Has Finn-kun always been like that?”

On a day set aside for rest, Alicia asked Vasily, who was relaxing while handling correspondence from influential figures across various regions.

“What do you mean by ‘like that’?”

“Well… He’s pretty quiet, but kind of playful?”

“Hm… As far as I know, yes.”

What surfaced in Vasily’s mind was the time when Aria, holding the Holy Sword, resolved once more to become a Hero.

After being struck down by Finn and falling into despair from the shock, Aria chose to stand up again on her own two feet. But when Vasily handed over the Holy Sword, Finn somehow got involved, grabbed it, and was slammed into the floor. He had already touched it before and known it was impossible, yet he reached out so naturally that even Vasily couldn’t react. He had always had that side to him.

(He walked paths others wouldn’t choose and acted as if it were nothing. Then and now, he was a child who hated showing weakness.)

While Vasily immersed herself in those nostalgic and radiant memories, Alicia held her head.

(I see… so he’s always been like that… He’s always been that way…)

At first, she thought he seemed like the serious kind.

Given how deeply Aria believed in him—almost to a fault—she had wondered what kind of boy he was, but there was nothing extraordinary. Just as Aria said, he was simply a boy who stubbornly, almost foolishly, walked the path he believed in. Even understanding the difference in standing between himself and his childhood friend Aria, he rejoiced in their reunion while choosing the place he had built with his trusted companions.

He was truly straightforward. If anything, Alicia thought it admirable that he had instantly chosen his current standing without being swayed by outrageous titles like “Hero” or “Heavenly Saint.” He had been surprised and intimidated by Aria and Vasily’s almost excessive trust in him, and Alicia had thought that if they tried to push unreasonable demands on him, she would have to protect him…

(But that’s absolutely a dangerous kind of fixation…)

Alicia could understand other people’s emotions. Sometimes clearly, sometimes vaguely. It mostly depended on their intensity. The stronger the emotion someone emitted, the clearer it was to her. She knew that Vasily had harbored a fear bordering on despair for a long time, and she knew it vanished at a certain point. She knew that when Aria spoke of her childhood friend, she emitted very strong romantic feelings and that when she did, Vasily’s feelings were even heavier.

It was a special ability she could never speak of. It seemed Vasily’s “Knowledge” did not include Alicia’s ability. While it was fortunate that it hadn’t caused trouble, there were times she lamented the terror of secrets being forced upon her that she could share with no one. Even so, this was the first time she had borne something this troublesome.

(Finn-kun… He’s unbelievably perverted… He just doesn’t show it outwardly…!)

And not just perverted. He was an outrageous pervert. Of all the people Alicia had met, his emotional fluctuations were the most intense. He would be sad, then immediately delighted. He would be surprised, then turn that into delight. If anything, his sexual emotions surfaced constantly. Beneath that quiet expression, he was always thinking about lewd things. To put it simply, he was a perverted young man.

(The moment I said I could read emotions even a little, he became like that. Wow… so that’s humanity’s hero.)

To be honest, if it were only that, it wouldn’t have been a problem. As a High Elf who had heard tales of heroes passed down for generations, Alicia understood that humans often left many offspring through outstanding individuals. While it was complicated that acquaintances and relatives might be drawn into that harem, it was still someone else’s life. She didn’t feel the need to judge someone else’s life too much. 

Alicia’s life would be long after Finn died. She had thought there was no need to be overly sensitive… Until the discussion involving the two parties.

(All of them! Every single one of them loves Finn-kun!!)

Marianne, Carla, Astrea. And joining them were Vasily and Aria. All five loved Finn. And with a weight of love so heavy they wouldn’t hesitate to direct hostility at others.

(Who glares at their own sister with that sticky murderous intent!? I’m not taking him! Stop it! Don’t drag me into this!)

The problem was that, despite having only just met, Finn seemed to like Alicia appropriately as well. At the very least, he did not dislike her. When his sexual desire had been directed at her so intensely, she had been surprised but thought lightly, “Well, I’m not so bad myself.” In hindsight, that was utter foolishness. Beyond lust, there had been a faint trace of affection, and she had nearly been pulled into the vortex.

To Alicia, the relationships surrounding Finn looked like a whirlpool. Romantic feelings, mutual hostility, affection beyond that… A muddy vortex of heterosexual emotions that could not be described in binary terms yet also contained adorable friendship. A whirlpool of love and hate too complex to put into words.

It was a delicate balance sustained by Finn keeping his playful inner thoughts almost entirely hidden, and by his low self-esteem born from being raised alongside transcendents like Vasily and Aria. The moment he chose someone—or unleashed that strong sexual desire—that vortex would explode.

What was terrifying was that every woman around him was powerful. If something pushed them into hatred…

More than anything, that thing terrified Alicia the most.

“…Ugh…”

“…Alicia? What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing. I just don’t feel too well…”

“I see… Then rest today. We’ll have to resume discussions tomorrow.”

“Yes, I’ll do that.”

Leaving the room, Alicia covered her mouth and headed toward her assigned chamber. Her heart was far from calm. But above all, there was something she questioned. Finn sometimes emitted feelings of intense revulsion, only to show joy immediately afterward. But once, the timing had been clearly strange. When Alicia had been shaken by her own sister Astrea’s murderous intent, spat out cake in shock, and all of it had hit Finn square in the face…

Right after his agitation, there had been an overwhelming surge of joy.

(…………What on earth was that…?)

She had thought it was a mistake.

It wasn’t.

They had locked eyes in shock, but he had feigned ignorance. Yet he had definitely been delighted. And that delight had carried strong sexual emotion…

(……………………No way. Surely not…)

She shuddered. She wanted no more complications. Whatever Finn’s preferences were, it was fine. As long as he didn’t show them outwardly, the current balance could continue. But if those feelings were genuine…

(…Maybe I should switch with Alisha and go home.)

Swallowing the nausea rising within her, Alicia entered her room.

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“Finn, how is your physical condition?”

After Her Highness left, I was doing some light stretching in my room when Carla came in. She had just finished training and washed off the sweat, so she looked incredibly alluring. Showing that appearance to a virgin was just too cruel. One day, I absolutely had to visit the eastern nations. Not for any deep reason, of course. I simply had to experience the local hot springs at least once.

“Yeah, no problems. They even said I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been.”

“I see… So we truly were pushing you too hard.”

That wasn’t entirely wrong. After more than a week without fighting, my condition was excellent. Obviously, it was because I hadn’t suffered near-fatal injuries and forced magic to heal them. No doubt about it. I hadn’t exhausted my stamina or strained my organs, so I’d recovered somewhat. Sera-san had said the same.

“Don’t worry about it. As a party, I didn’t want to hold you back.”

I was the weakest, after all. A shield who couldn’t function was worthless. To be of use to the three of them, I had no choice. And then there was my fetish Even knowing my body was breaking down, I couldn’t stop! It wasn’t my fault. Sera-san healed me, so I started thinking I could push myself recklessly.

It was truly fortunate I met her at the church when I rushed in thinking my organs were failing. The creeping fear that I might die someday, the serious injuries to my body, the fulfillment of protecting everyone, the thrill of being ordinary yet standing beside extraordinary people… ahh, it was irresistible…!

Uhoho, Carla! Watch me die! Watch me die filthy, shitting myself when Marianne’s desperate healing doesn’t work! Then insult me! Step on me! Strip me of my dignity!!

『…………』

I could see your face, Dark Marianne-san. A saint shouldn’t make that expression! The widely praised saint despises me… heh, I’m gonna leak! When you die, everything comes out! Ahh! Something’s coming out!!

“…Finn. Are you not afraid of death?”

“I am…”

“Then why can you go so far? Even the Abyssal Forest. If you say it’s impossible, we would not force it. If it’s too much, say so. Are we that unreliable?”

Abandon the Abyssal Forest? Impossible! That place was my utopia. Every monster was my grim reaper. Every attack was a one-hit kill. If I slipped up, my comrades would die, so I had to focus but my accumulated experience hadn’t betrayed me yet.

Well, there was that one time I got skewered from groin to neck and lost consciousness. I thought I died, but I was alive.

…Why am I alive…?

『Are you even human?』

Scary! Don’t say that out of nowhere!

“You changed after the Heavenly Saint and the Hero appeared. I see sides of you we never knew. It’s not bad. You chose us. I know that. But still… I worry… That one day you’ll choose them.”

“That won’t happen.”

“…Oh? I asked that even though I was feeling nervous myself, you know.”

“Don’t ask stupid things, Carla. Marianne too. Sure, Master and Aria are important. But this is where I belong. Let me ask you. Do I look that heartless?”

“Hardly. There is no man I trust more.”

What does that mean? Hey, Dark Marianne. Is that an appeal? She has said it before! This is definitely an appeal, right?

『It is not.』

I see… I’ll never understand women. A gross hardcore masochist virgin like me never will. I wish I had Alicia-san’s ability. If I married Alicia-san, would I understand? Hmm, this is affection toward me! Shall we start by tying me up, dripping wax, and insulting me? Of course, do as you please. I’ll accept anything. I’m the shield. With this broad back, I must protect everyone… Aaaah, hot!?

『I have dripped it for you.』

What kind of ability is that!?

“I too have a master, so I do not mind your relationship with the Hero. But, well… the Heavenly Saint is a good person, is she not?”

“You mean Master? I do like her.”

“Whaaaaaat!?!?”

“!?”

“Ah, sorry. Continue.”

So Carla could shout that loud…

“Master is Master. I don’t want to live a life dependent on her.”

I respected her. From the bottom of my heart, I wanted to live up to her trust. Thanks to Master, I was who I was. I felt relieved with the joint party arrangement.

I had honestly turned her down. Well, I didn’t say it outright though. I wavered a little. If Aria had invited me to bed, it would’ve been dangerous. If Master had seduced me, I might not have endured. Even with my steel heart, that face, that body, that voice… It would’ve been a close call. But I’d never say that.

I have too many secrets to take to the grave!

“…I see. I understand that feeling.”

“Right? She’s someone I can’t help but be stubborn toward.”

“Haha, indeed. Ah, I understand now. So that’s how you see her.”

Carla smiled, satisfied.

“Bigger is better after all. I can’t imitate her skin or hair color, but in type I’m the closest… Yes. That was very helpful. Finn. If your heart truly breaks, and your body reaches its limit—”

With a bewitching smile, she gently took my hand and whispered in my ear.

“—I will save you. So don’t die.”

Then she opened the door and left. I remained alone in the room with Carla’s lingering scent.

…Th-that’s so lewd…

Carla was too sexy. So this was a princess of the eastern nations… what allure…! If she attacked with that aura, what would happen to me!? Damn it! The option of throwing everything away and being kept by Carla was right there!

Well, realistically she’d just help me normally. For now, I’d bask in this fantasy, with the scent of her bath lingering…

『Disgusting…』

Sorry. Even I thought that was gross.

『We cannot let our guard down… that woman…”

Huh?

『It’s nothing, Finn-san.』

O-okay. I thought I heard something outrageous…

『I said it was nothing, Finn-san.』

I see. If you say so, it must be true. Dark Marianne is always right.

Still, not taking fatal wounds really did make me feel better. But I couldn’t be satisfied without taking them. Hmm, what a dilemma. What should I do? Thinking of the future, I couldn’t go on like this forever. Someday, I’d have to live with both feet on the ground.

Where should I live, I wonder? After we dealt with the Abyssal Forest, maybe I’d talk about this with Master.

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T/N: Dark Marianne showing signs of merging with Light Marianne?!