My Yandere Girlfriend Hiding in the Dungeon Kills Me Over and Over Again - Chapter 148
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- Chapter 148 - Mountain hut
My Yandere Girlfriend Hiding in the Dungeon Kills Me Over and Over Again
Chapter 148 Mountain hut
“Look, now you should be fine.”
Namia was wrapping bandages around my wounds. Right, I was beaten by Darga and then Namia took care of me.
“Thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude. In response, Namia gave a shy smile.
Seeing that expression, a sudden question arose. Why is Namia, who should be dead, in front of me? And the reason was simple.
Yes, I’m dreaming.
“Sorry, Namia.”
Even if this is within a dream, I couldn’t help but apologize.
“What’s wrong? Suddenly apologizing like that.”
“Well, I couldn’t help Namia…”
“It’s not a big deal, Kiska did nothing wrong, so don’t worry about it.”
“And I thought I might be able to bring Namia back, but I couldn’t do that either…”
“It can’t be helped. Just the fact that Kiska is alive makes me happy.”
That’s right. Namia was always kind.
If it were Namia, she would surely forgive me like this.
“…Is that what you expect me to say?”
Suddenly, Namia’s expression stiffened.
“Huh?”
“Because if it weren’t for Kiska, I wouldn’t have died. So, everything is Kiska’s fault!!”
Namia erupted in anger.
Instantly, my chest tightened, and an urge to scream overwhelmed me.
That’s right, it’s all my fault…!
“Kiska, are you okay!?”
—Sorry, Namia.
As I was about to say that, I realized. The one in front of me was High Priest Cieltia.
She was peering at my face with a worried expression.
“I-I’m okay. Just, having a bad dream.”
“I see. You were sleeping with such a pained expression that I got worried. But it seems your consciousness has returned to normal, so I’m relieved.”
It seems I caused Cieltia some concern.
Wait, what’s the current situation?
Certainly, I was able to defeat the masked person in combat, but I collapsed.
Thinking about it, I observed my surroundings while getting up.
“I happened to find this mountain hut and decided to rest here.”
As Cieltia explained, it seemed that I was sleeping in a mountain hut.
The construction of the hut seemed crude, and even from the inside, I could tell that the walls were thin. Moreover, it was apparent that it was raining heavily outside, as the hut was shaking from the impact of the rain. Due to this, it was difficult to hear the voices clearly.
From the situation, it seemed that Cieltia had carried me to the hut.
“Thank you for carrying me to the hut.”
“No, thanks to you, Kiska-san, we safely obtained the Holy Grail, so this is nothing.”
While Cieltia said this with a calm expression, it must have been quite challenging to carry a man alone.
“Also, Cieltia, there’s been something bothering me since a while ago…”
“What is it?”
Cieltia said it in a dispassionate tone, but I couldn’t help but wonder how she could stay so composed.
“Well, why are we naked?”
To be more precise, I was covered with only a blanket, and besides my underwear, all my clothes were taken off. Cieltia, too, had removed all her clothes except for her bra and panties. There was only one blanket, and Cieltia wasn’t wearing anything.
“Due to the heavy rain, our clothes got wet, so I had no choice but to undress us. I was afraid we might catch a cold in those wet clothes.”
Certainly, hearing the reason made sense, and it was a reasonable course of action. Still, the situation was embarrassing. On the contrary, I was surprised Cieltia could explain it without any embarrassment. I noticed our clothes were placed in a corner of the hut.
“Um, are they not dry yet?”
“Yes, they’re still wet.”
Cieltia touched them to check while saying so. It seemed like we still had to stay in this situation for a while.
“The rain outside seems quite heavy.”
“Yes, it’ll be tough to descend as long as the rain doesn’t stop.”
“I see. I hope we can get back before the festival.”
“Yes, it would be good if the rain stops by morning.”
“By the way, Cieltia, aren’t you cold? If you want, you can use this blanket.”
“No, I’m fine. Please use that blanket; you’re still recovering Kiska.”
Even though she said that, I felt reluctant. In this situation, as a man, I should endure it.
“By the way, is there no other blanket?”
“Yes, there was only one in the hut.”
“In that case, you should use it, Cieltia.”
While saying this and attempting to hand over the blanket, a loud crash interrupted. The door of the hut slammed shut. It seemed the door had come off due to the strong wind outside.
The stormy rain and wind rushed into the hut, instantly chilling the air. The cold wind enveloped our bodies, causing our temperatures to drop rapidly.
“This is not the time to be stubborn.”
“Cieltia, how about sharing the blanket between the two of us?”
“I was just about to suggest the same thing.”
It seems our thoughts align on this matter.
We shared the blanket, huddling close together. Moreover, there was a magical campfire nearby. Cieltia seemed capable of some minor magic. Despite the wind and rain seeping in, we managed to endure.
However, there was one significant problem.
Cieltia, almost naked, was pressed against me. No man would feel indifferent in this situation. Cieltia had an undeniably cute face, and I could feel her warmth through her skin.
Suddenly, I noticed that part of her hair had turned silver, perhaps due to the rain washing out the dye.
“Hey, aren’t you cold?”
“No, thanks to you, I’m very warm.”
“I see, that’s good then.”
Trying to distract myself, we engaged in small talk, but it didn’t have much meaning. I couldn’t help but be distracted by Cieltia’s nudity.
“Kiska…”
“What is it?”
“You mentioned having a bad dream earlier. Would it be alright if I asked what kind of dream it was?”
“Well, I dreamt about my childhood friend…”
“Um, is it about the childhood friend who passed away?”
Come to think of it, I did tell Cieltia about Namia.
“It might sound unbelievable, but the woman who stole the Holy Grail had the same face as Namia.”
“Huh?”
“I know they’re different people despite having the same face. Still, I couldn’t help feeling like I might have killed Namia, and that thought overwhelmed me, causing me to collapse.”
“I see…”
Having someone with the same face might sound like an outlandish story, but Cieltia just listened silently, which was quite comforting.
“Um, I apologize for always talking about myself. Is there anything you’d like to share, Cieltia?”
“Is it okay?”
“Of course, it’s more than okay. In fact, I’d like to know more about you, Cieltia.”
With that, Cieltia looked at me for a moment before beginning her story.
“Because of this silver hair, I lost my father.”
Her tone was calm as she casually revealed something quite shocking, leaving me unsure how to react.
Her situation was strikingly similar to mine. In her case, her father was an Alcusian, and her mother was not. Despite this, she faced persecution in the village where she lived. So, Cieltia’s family lived in seclusion, trying not to draw attention. It was an inconvenient life, but she felt content.
One day, her Alcusian father was captured. Another family had been attacked by robbers, resulting in casualties. He was suspected simply because he was an Alcusian. There was no evidence, but that was enough for them to arrest him. He denied the charges until the end, but those who were displeased took matters into their own hands and killed him.
Upon learning this, her mother suffered a mental breakdown, making it difficult to care for Cieltia. As a result, Cieltia was entrusted to her maternal grandparents, her mother’s estranged parents. Although her mother and grandparents had a strained relationship and were practically estranged, there was no other option.
Her grandparents, who were church officials, required her to keep her Alcusian identity a secret. That was also around the time she started dyeing her hair.
“I had the talent as a priestess, and that’s how I became the High Priestess.”
Saying that, she concluded her story.
“I see.”
It was quite a painful past, and a somber atmosphere lingered. I didn’t know what words to offer to comfort her.
To replace her own situation, she spoke again, “Honestly, I don’t like myself much for dyeing my hair, feeling like I’m denying the father I loved.”
Suddenly, I considered it from my perspective. I had no resistance to dyeing my hair. Perhaps it was because I perceived my father as a scoundrel who abandoned the family when I was young.
“And, I naturally have an aversion to people other than Alcusians. So, when I saw you for the first time, I felt happy. Finally, I felt like I had met someone I could trust.”
“Is that so?”
“Um, that’s why I would be happy if we could continue to get along from now on.”
“Yeah, of course. I would be happy if we could get along too.”
In response, she leaned towards me.
I had forgotten in the midst of our conversation, but yes, Cieltia was practically naked next to me. So, her soft skin touching mine made my heart pound.
“The rain has weakened a bit.”
“Yeah…”
Certainly, it was a fierce storm a while ago, but now it seemed to have calmed down. At this rate, the rain might stop by morning.
“Um, Kiska…?”
“What is it?”
Somehow, the conversation felt awkward.
Perhaps due to the tension in Cieltia’s tone, the dialogue seemed a bit strained.
“I might say something strange from now on. Is that okay?”
“Of course, it’s fine. You can say anything.”
“Alright, then I’ll say it.”
It seemed like she was about to say something difficult, and the next words didn’t come easily. To reassure her, I held her hand. In response, she squeezed back with a happy expression.
“Could you stay by my side forever…?”
Suddenly, I looked at her.
Her usual calm expression was nowhere to be seen. Her face was flushed red, and her eyes were moist. It felt like I could hear the beating of her heart. I understood that it wasn’t meant in the literal sense.
Yes, she had just confessed to me.
Should I take her hand?
If I were to say whether I liked or disliked Cieltia, I would say I liked her. Even so, there was a reason I couldn’t give an immediate answer.
First and foremost, Namia came to mind. But Namia was no longer in this world.
Next was Sage Nyau. But the memories with her were left behind in the past, a century ago. I would never reunite with Nyau again.
After that, I thought about the vampire Judite. However, memories with her had also disappeared. There was no connection between me and her now.
Then I remembered the Parasitic Sword Puppeteer. I didn’t think she had any ill intentions, but…
My biggest concern was the girl with no memory. Probably the one I met in the dungeon, the one who gave me the skill “Save & Reset.” There were gaps in my memory, and it was likely related to her. Somehow, I felt like I would be doing her wrong if I just went along with it.
“Kiska, please say something…”
I saw her crouching with an expression that seemed on the verge of tears.
Certainly, it must be unsettling if I stay silent. I despise my indecisiveness.
“I’m really happy about your feelings. I think I like you too, Cieltia. But, I’m sorry. I can’t respond to those feelings right now.”
Ultimately, there was no choice but to answer like this.
Right now, I felt like I didn’t have the qualification to be in a relationship with Cieltia.
“Yeah, that’s right… I’m not that cute, after all… Sorry for causing you trouble.”
She was on the verge of tears.
I panicked. I didn’t think she wasn’t cute at all.
“Cieltia is incredibly cute. And it’s not that Cieltia is at fault, but rather, I am the problem…”
“Why am I not good enough? Can I ask that?”
“That’s because there’s another girl I’m interested in.”
“You like her more than me?”
“It’s not exactly like that… But there’s someone else I’m interested in, and I feel sorry to be with you when that’s the case.”
“I don’t understand. If you like me, isn’t that enough?”
Saying that, Cieltia began to shed tears. I felt sorry for making her cry like this.
“Kiska, I love you. Only you, I’ve never felt like this before. And I swear, I won’t fall in love with anyone else in the future. So please, be by my side.”
It seemed more like a desperate plea than a confession. I was bewildered by how much Cieltia was thinking about me.
“Besides, even if you come to like another girl, I don’t mind. As long as I can be by Kiska’s side, I’ll be satisfied.”
Why was she so fixated on being by my side?
“But, for now, please look at me.”
“…Ah.”
The moment I nodded, she kissed my cheek.
I couldn’t resist. I accepted her kiss.
“Kiska, I love you.”
The moment she declared it so clearly, my heart wavered.
Upon closer inspection, her shoulders were trembling slightly. I could sense the tremendous courage it took for her to say those words.
Unconsciously, I placed my hand on her shoulder.
Then, she buried her face in my chest. In response, I naturally embraced her.
Her body felt so delicate that I was afraid applying even a little force might break her. So, I touched her body as delicately as handling glassware.
From there, I just went with the flow.
My rationality had already disappeared.
◆
“Somehow, the sun had risen, and the rain had stopped.
On my lap was Cieltia, peacefully sleeping with a contented sigh.
Feeling a sense of endearment, I touched her hair.
But I couldn’t laze around forever. I thought it would be better to start descending the mountain early, so I gently shook her shoulder to wake her.
“Good morning, Kiska.”
“Ah, good morning.”
After changing into dry clothes, we descended the mountain together. We had come here on horseback, but according to Cieltia, the horses had run away in the rain and were nowhere to be found. Hopefully, we’d find them later, but for now, we had no choice but to walk.
During the journey, Cieltia clung to my arm, refusing to let go. It was as if she was asserting that this was where she belonged.
I wondered what kind of relationship we had right now. She behaved as if she were my lover, but I hadn’t said a word about dating her. Well, if she claimed to be my girlfriend, I wouldn’t complain.
However, confirming it felt like a hassle, and I didn’t particularly initiate a conversation about it. Perhaps because of that, we hardly spoke during the descent.
“Hey, is your hair okay? If you leave it like that, people might figure out you’re an Alcus.”
I asked about it around the foothills. Her hair color had faded, revealing some silver strands.
“I’ll manage somehow by covering it with a rainproof hood. Be careful, Kiska. Your hair has also turned partially silver, so watch out.”
Right, it seemed that my hair dye had washed out, and some of it had turned silver.
“Also, Kiska. Even if we pretend nothing happened last night, it’s okay from my side.”
While saying that, she let go of the hand she had been holding.
Then, she started walking toward the village ahead of me.
“Wait.”
Reflexively, I grabbed her hand.
“I want to properly cherish Cieltia. So, um, you don’t have to say those kinds of things.”
“…I understand.”
Cieltia happily replied and held my hand again.
◆
“Cieltia-sama!!”
Upon reaching the village, Priest Elise rushed over in a fluster and embraced Cieltia with the same momentum.
“I’m truly relieved! You’re safe.”
“Elise, did something happen?”
Sensing something amiss, Cieltia immediately inquired. In response, Elise nodded and spoke.
“Please calm down and listen. This morning, Prince Dilekka, the second prince scheduled to attend the festival, was attacked by someone and has passed away.”
Upon hearing those words, my heart began to race.
The Seven Prophecies. One of them stated, ‘Let the second prince, Dilekka, be left to die.’ Once again, this prophecy had come true.
“…Understood. For now, we’ll need to gather the village leaders for a meeting. Elise, please investigate the information thoroughly before then. I’ll hurry to change.”
Speaking calmly, Cieltia addressed the situation. Despite the shock she must be feeling, she remained remarkably composed.
“Hey, are you okay?”
Unable to contain myself, I spoke up.
“I’m not okay. If what Elise is saying is true, there’s no way we can proceed with the festival.”
Celebrating a festival would be out of the question if a prince of the realm had indeed passed away.
“Moreover, it’s perplexing. The second prince departed from the capital with over a thousand guards, heading towards this village. On top of that, he had the strongest protection in the country. If someone managed to overpower all of them and assassinate the prince, the assailant must be extremely skilled.”
“Is that so… What kind of person was this strongest guard?”
It was just out of curiosity. I wondered who the guard protecting the prince was.
“––––!!”
Upon hearing Cieltia’s answer, I was shocked beyond measure. I never expected to hear that name here.
“Say it again…”
Desperately suppressing my inner turmoil to avoid revealing my confusion, I asked. Cieltia might have found it strange, but she obediently repeated the name.
“Sage Nyau. The strongest magician in the Rastarna Kingdom. Haven’t you heard of her, Kiska?”
I couldn’t muster the composure to respond. Sage Nyau. That name was all too familiar.