The Man Who Remained — His Second Life Began with a Humble Bow of Apology. - Chapter 72: A Choice That Would Undoubtedly Lead To Regret.

A Choice That Would Undoubtedly Lead To Regret.

Time flew by in an instant, and before they knew it, night had fallen.

Even Ellie, who was always so composed, had spent the day in such bliss that she completely forgot about her duties.

After dinner, there was nothing particularly grand – just a simple game with Hisui and a few other women. They played matching card games, danced to the rhythm of the women’s graceful movements, and engaged in small recreational activities like that.

Yet, despite how simple it was, it was unbelievably fun.

Even though they were all women, Ellie found herself enjoying it immensely.

She could now completely understand why men would be so captivated by this place.

If, by any chance, she had encountered this place before meeting Cross, she was certain she would have become addicted to it without question.

The mere thought sent a chill down her spine.

But that was only for today.

Starting tomorrow, there would be countless official duties to attend to. While Cross might still find moments to indulge, Ellie herself had no such luxury.

Precisely because of that, she wanted to savour every remaining moment of today to the fullest. And so, she headed towards the bath said to be even grander than the Demon King’s castle bath.

There, she happened upon Hisui, who had just stepped out of the water.

Hisui’s already long, lustrous hair clung wetly to her, radiating an even deeper allure than usual.

The ethereal beauty of Hisui, a woman even more otherworldly than Ellie herself, smiled gently upon seeing her.

“Oh my, what a pity. If you’d been a little later, we could have bathed together… forgive me, won’t you?”

“Haha… Well, that does sound fun, but seeing you like that would only make me lose confidence in myself, so let’s just say it worked out for the best.”

“You’re so mean. There ain’t that much difference between you and me, you know? But… let me just ask you something plainly, since I’m not the type to beat around the bush… Is it really alright if I meet with him after this?”

Her tone turned slightly more serious.

Meeting a man at night – it was obvious what that entailed.

It went without saying that this place existed for such hospitality.

A paradise of women, beloved by male patrons – it was only natural.

As Hisui said, Ellie certainly held deep feelings towards Cross.

However, those feelings were never romantic in nature.

“It’s fine. Truly. After all, he’s someone who always says he wants a harem or a night without strings attached.”

Ellie sighed deeply as she spoke.

She had already warned him that there might be something akin to a honey trap waiting.

Even though they were still within the same nation, Cross was an acting Demon King – a position of significant power.

Naturally, there would be those trying to ensnare him.

That’s why she had warned him, though deep down, she knew it was pointless.

There was no way Cross wouldn’t be weak to women.

Precisely because he was weak to them, he accepted Ellie’s presence by his side without the slightest annoyance – in fact, he welcomed it.

Thinking of that, Ellie sighed again.

She felt both happy and exasperated by her hopeless master, who, despite being an acting Demon King, remained so terribly human.

“Oh? You two seemed so close that I asked, but… looks like I was worrying for nothing. Forgive me.”

“No, no. We are close. Cross-san is my lord. I’ve sworn loyalty to him, to give him my life. Conversely, precisely because he is my master, I have no intention of acting like his woman, nor will I stop him unless his actions bring harm to me or those around him.”

“That sounds both enviable and troublesome… what a mysterious and beautiful bond you two share. Makes me a little jealous.”

“Haha… But, may I say just one thing?”

“Yes, what is it? A warning?”

“No. It’s just… my lord is hopelessly weak to beauties like you. Especially women with strong sensuality – he’ll fall for you instantly.”

“…He’s the acting Demon King, isn’t he? Is that really alright?”

“It’s fine. That too is part of his charm. Besides, if anything happens, I’m here for that.”

“Oh? Is that a warning for me?”

“No, not at all. It’s just… Cross may be weak to women, but precisely because of that, I can assure you – tonight, he will not lay a hand on you. So, please, don’t worry.”

Ellie declared this firmly.

“…Are you saying I’m not attractive enough?”

“Of course not. You’re so beautiful that as a fellow woman, I feel no jealousy at all. Cross-san couldn’t stop himself from ogling you all day, remember?”

“Then… what is it? Does he dislike professional women like me?”

“Not at all. He’d actually be thrilled. He’s even mentioned wanting to visit places like this before… though I’ve never let him, since I control the finances.”

“My, you’re quite the demon wife for someone without horns,” Hisui chuckled brightly.

“It’s the attendant’s duty to support their hopeless master. Though once he finds a true partner, I plan to step aside from that role. Hisui, how about it? Would you like to volunteer?”

Ellie’s words carried a tone that left it unclear whether she was joking or serious.

Hisui simply smiled.

“No one can predict where the ties between men and women will lead. When that time comes, we’ll see then.”

She bowed lightly and walked away.

“…I wonder if I hurt her,” Ellie murmured.

When she told Hisui that Cross wouldn’t touch her, Ellie sensed a faint flicker of irritation in Hisui’s magical aura.

She hid it perfectly on the surface, but it was meaningless against Ellie’s perception.

For someone of Hisui’s calibre, who likely saw seduction as part of her professional pride, it must have stung.

Yet, Ellie was certain.

Tonight – just tonight – Cross would not lay a hand on Hisui.

“Because… even I can tell.”

When it came to matters like this, Ellie knew exactly how Cross would act.

Otherwise, she would have remained shackled to her old, dark ideals, living only for honour.

She would never have come to revere, respect, and love someone she once despised as her master.

Ellie let out a wry smile.

Tomorrow, their days of dealing with new troubles would begin once more.

***

Standing before the room he had been invited to, Cross froze, unable to take a single step as his entire body stiffened with tension.

Cross loved women. He adored such intimate adult encounters.

Yet, if one asked whether he had much experience – the truth was, not really.

In terms of frequency, barely a dozen times; in terms of people, only two.

He didn’t know about drunken encounters that he might have forgotten, but in his memory, there were only two women with whom he had ever been intimate.

The first was before he became a hero’s companion, back when he lived in his birth village. He fell in love with her, only to be discarded without a second thought.

“You were just a backup,” she had told him as she left for the city where her real love lived, and that was that.

The second was a woman he met at a tavern, with whom he simply clicked. There was no profound reason or sad backstory. They enjoyed each other, then returned to being mere villagers the next day.

Their relationship continued like that for half a year before it naturally faded away.

Cross was a fairly easy-going man, and ideally, he would have had many more such encounters.

But those two were his only experiences.

When he left his village to become a hero’s companion, he resolved never to bring shame upon them.

He couldn’t allow himself to tarnish their honour, so he lived with utmost discipline.

Not just that – he was too focused on keeping up with his companions to even think about such matters. Being with them was so comfortable that his interest in such things waned, and before he knew it, their journey ended without him touching anyone.

But that was his mindset in his past life.

The true Cross loved such pleasures deeply.

Now, with a body in its absolute prime and a mind carrying all his experiences, his desires burned like those of a teenage boy.

That was why he was so nervous.

This was his first time doing something like this in decades – the first time in this body.

Excitement and fear both overwhelmed him, making his entire being shrink in anxious anticipation.

Still, fighting back the cold sweat that threatened to pour, Cross forced himself to slide the door open.

Inside, it was like the continuation of that paradise from earlier – a world of nothing but bliss.

The room was bright with lamps, a futon laid out in the centre. Hisui looked up at him with a gentle smile.

“You’re late… fufu. I thought I’d been stood up.”

Her voice dripped with a sultry, otherworldly sweetness that belied her words.

Kneeling demurely beside the futon, Hisui wore a simple white kimono that showed no skin at all – and yet, to Cross, it seemed like the most seductive attire imaginable.

“Sorry… I was just nervous…”

“Oh dear, there’s no need to be so stiff, you know? For now, why don’t we just talk a bit?”

She motioned him over, inviting him to sit beside her.

He nodded and sat down cross-legged, keeping about a metre between them.

Hisui, smiling innocently, poured a clear liquid into a small cup and handed it to him.

“For times like this, courage is everything. So, drink up and wash away that nervousness.”

Cross nodded and downed the liquid in one gulp.

It was the same “sake” he had tasted at dinner – a drink with a sharp bite like claws and a smoothness that quenched like water. But this one lacked the burning harshness of the earlier drink, carrying a refreshing taste instead.

“…Hard to believe it’s the same kind of sake.”

“Well, you know, the taste changes depending on who makes it, where, and how.”

“True enough. Still, it’s so different it feels like a whole new drink.”

“That’s what makes sake so delicious. Everyone is free to like what they like.”

“…No doubt about that.”

He muttered softly, letting the remaining tension flow out along with the last sip.

“That’s actually my favourite sake, so if you liked it, be sure to remember it, alright?”

“Oh? So this is your favourite taste.”

“Yep. And if you remember… next time we meet, I’ll be expecting you to bring some for me, okay?”

“If there’s going to be a next time… that’d make me very happy.”

“Well, that all depends on you.”

As she spoke, Hisui naturally leaned her soft body against him, gazing up with moist, alluring eyes that were impossible to resist – even if he knew it was all an act.

In that moment, Cross felt excitement, but the nervousness that had bound him disappeared.

Hisui, a professional in pleasing men, would never let them remain tense.

That was why, now calm, Cross began to notice things he hadn’t earlier.

And once he noticed one discrepancy, the others followed in rapid succession.

Cross might have been uneducated – perhaps even called a fool – but he was never slow to sense the truth.

“You know… it’s been such a long time since I’ve done something like this. Hundreds of years, maybe… So… please, be gentle with me.”

Hisui’s cheeks flushed red as she whispered this, moving onto the futon and gently lying down.

At that moment, all the lights in the room went out, except for a small lamp by the pillow, leaving everything bathed in a dim glow.

In the darkness, his vision blurred – but that only heightened his other senses. A sweet fragrance drifted through the room, incense seemingly prepared for this very moment, blending with Hisui’s own scent.

Cross didn’t move.

With eyes moist with longing, Hisui whispered softly,

“You’re so cruel… How long… are you going to make me wait like this?”

Ah… he knew then – he was going to regret this, no matter what.

That alone was certain.

But even so… if he was going to regret it either way, then at least… he wanted to regret it while keeping his dignity.

With tears welling up in his heart, Cross made his choice.

“…I-I can’t do this!”

Suddenly, he shouted out loud.

Hisui froze, stunned by his abrupt outburst.

Once he noticed it, there was no turning back.

In the corner of the room stood a small desk – a peculiar low table that, if one were sitting formally, would reach just above their knees. Papers and documents were scattered atop it.

This was a paradise for men.

A world of women who took pride in healing men, honing their arts to perfection.

There should never be any signs of “work” left lying around in such a place.

But once he noticed that, countless other details began to unravel before his eyes like threads being pulled loose, each trivial inconsistency leading to a single undeniable truth.

A truth about Hisui – something deeply important.

“Hisui… how long has it been since you last slept?”

“Huh? I… I’ve been fine…”

“Your face… it’s so drawn, and you’ve got dark circles under your eyes.”

“That’s not true, I’ve hidden it all perfectly with makeup…”

Hisui covered her mouth with her hand.

She realised her mistake.

Indeed, her makeup was flawless – there was not the slightest hint of exhaustion on her face.

But that was exactly the problem. Even after a bath, she had felt the need to reapply her makeup so thoroughly.

“…I knew it. Your makeup is good, but it can’t fully hide how bad it’s gotten.”

With those words, Cross sat down on the futon beside her.

There was simply no way he could touch her.

What Cross desired was an encounter that was fun, easygoing, and left no bitterness behind.

Precisely because of that… he could never be with a woman so worn down she couldn’t even sleep at night.

“If I said… I just wanted a little comfort to ease my daily struggles… what would you say?”

“This isn’t some small worry, is it?”

Cross spoke firmly.

He didn’t know what she was struggling with or what burdens she carried.

He had no way of knowing how heavy her past was.

But even within this brief time together, he could tell one thing.

Hisui was a professional who could delight any customer without fail.

She was, without doubt, a first-class entertainer – and likely in these matters as well.

Yet here she was, leaving her room in disarray.

That alone told him this wasn’t something trivial.

“I’ve seen people like you before… back when I was still human, long ago. People carrying problems that pushed them right to the edge of their limits.”

“…I’m sorry. Haha… I must be getting old… To have a customer see right through me and even pity me… Wait here, I’ll go call someone else to take my place—”

She began to rise, but Cross grabbed her hand and stopped her.

“No.”

“…What? But you… you’re clearly ready for this, aren’t you? Then…”

“I said no. More importantly… tell me what’s wrong. I don’t know if I can help, but let me try. Please.”

At first, Hisui couldn’t comprehend his words.

But after a moment’s thought, realising that Cross was offering his help, she laughed softly – her face on the verge of tears.

“You really are cruel… What I’m carrying… it’s not something so simple, you know?”

“I know. I can’t say something irresponsible like ‘I’ll save you.’ But… let me do what I can. Please… let me carry a little bit of your pain.”

Of course, Cross knew it from the start.

A woman working in a place like this… there was no way her burdens could be counted on just one or two fingers.

Even so – even knowing that – he couldn’t just ignore it. He couldn’t leave her like this.

There was no deep or noble reason behind it.

He knew it would probably lead to more troubles later, but honestly, that didn’t matter.

A girl was suffering so much she couldn’t even sleep at night.

That alone meant he had to help her – if only to maintain his own pride.

That was all there was to it.

Just that alone… was more than enough reason for Cross.

…If there was one small, shameful, honest thought lingering within him…

It was regret.

Regret that he had to give up this night with such an incredible woman.

He knew, without a doubt, that this would be a regret he carried for the rest of his life.

“…Haah. Really… that girl was right about you…”

“Hm? What did you say?”

“Nothing at all.”

Hisui leaned against his shoulder once more.

This time, it wasn’t with that crafted, sultry allure meant only for men. Instead, her expression looked… resigned, weary.

“You really are cruel… Turning me down like this… You’re going to make me cry, you know…”

“…Honestly, I want to turn into a beast right now…”

“Then why don’t you?”

“You know I can’t… Haah.”

“Fufu… I thought so. That’s the kind of man you are… Hey… is it alright if I… ask for something selfish?”

“Selfish… as in a little indulgence? Ask me anything.”

“Then… will you sleep here with me tonight? I feel like… if it’s with you, I might finally be able to rest.”

In a way, it was almost torture.

Like having the finest meal in front of you, yet being forbidden from eating it.

But even so, for Cross… there was only ever one answer.

“Of course. I’d be honoured. Who wouldn’t want to sleep beside such a beautiful woman?”

“Fufu… Turning down my bed yet agreeing to this… you really are a terrible man…”

With those words, Hisui lay down beside him.

Cross moved next to her, pulling the covers over them, and Hisui closed her eyes, resting her head against his arm and curling up to his chest.

At least for tonight, she wasn’t a seductress of paradise, nor a woman burdened by troubles beyond her control.

She was simply a beautiful woman, protected in the arms of a man, drifting off into peaceful sleep.

Beside her, Cross experienced both the greatest bliss of lying with such beauty… and the exquisite torture of restraint – a heaven and hell interwoven through a single night.