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Chapter 108 – After the Performance (2)
May 16th, 2023
After the performance, which was a masterpiece that transcended time itself, ended, I followed Cecily at her request. Even though the stage performance had ended, the festival in the town still seemed to be never-ending and was still lively.
The performance started at 6 o’clock, and it is now exactly 8 o’clock. It didn’t even feel like an hour had passed, time just seemed to have melted away. That probably means that the performance was really entertaining.
Anyway, I made a promise with Marie for 9 o’clock, so I just need to chat with Cecily until then. Cecily probably heard my conversation with Marie, so she will know how to end the conversation appropriately.
“Sob…”
“Are you feeling a little better now?”
It seems like it will take longer than expected. Cecily was still unable to pull herself together, shedding tears occasionally.
Even when listening to the performance of the Lirus Orchestra, she cried like a waterfall. And during the Matrics Theater Group’s performance, she cried so much that it was almost like a lamentation, so she must be exhausted mentally and physically.
In the end, it took about 10 minutes to console Cecily. Fortunately, she felt better than before thanks to my comfort.
We were sitting side by side under a big tree. Unlike the central part of the village, this place had less traffic, so there were no strange glances from people passing by.
It’s better to be careful at night during a festival, as there may be suspicious glances if we go to crowded places. The knights sent from the palace are responsible for security, but there is always the possibility of something happening.
Of course, this is just my thought. Cecily is scheduled to become the next Demon King, so her strength will be strong, and her escort knight, Gartz, will be protecting the surroundings.
We just needed a place where the two of us could talk, so we came to this secluded place.
“I’m sorry. I showed you an unsightly side, Benefactor.”
Cecily’s tears, which seemed like they would never stop, finally stopped.
After wiping her teary eyes with a damp handkerchief, she spoke with a mix of embarrassment and sobbing in a formal tone, as it was just the two of us.
I was a little worried about her, as she had cried so much that her handkerchief was soaked. It was to the point where it wouldn’t be surprising if she had dehydration symptoms.
So I gave her a drink I bought at the store, but Cecily declined, extending her hand. I felt uneasy for no reason while drinking my own drink, and Cecily took a deep breath and stared blankly ahead after exhaling.
“…It was a really touching performance, wasn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“And it was surprising that the director was a demon.”
“I was also shocked.”
I knew about the use of magic for the directing part through Cecily, but I couldn’t even imagine that he was a demon.
It could be a prejudice, but demons were far from art, and specialized in combat.
There were instances where demons were persecuted in the past, but historically, there were few cases where they excelled in fields other than combat.
However, things are different now. The perspective towards demons has completely changed, and they are being treated as people rather than devils.
The director of the Matrics Theater Group, Scar, would have revealed his identity after hiding it because of the change in perception. Even if perception changes, prejudices don’t necessarily change.
Perhaps the message Scar wanted was to stop prejudice against demons. It is said that demons have great qualities not only in combat or magic, but also in culture such as art.
“Noona, how did you feel when he revealed that he was a demon?”
“I thought it was impressive and courageous. It must not have been an easy decision to make… He must have had confidence that he could handle it. As he said, there is still discriminatory perception towards demons.”
Many people still treat demons as if they were devils, just as she described.
Currently, it is almost considered a form of racial discrimination, and most of the time, they are looked upon with unkind eyes. However, demons still get hurt the same way. Therefore, in the future, Scar will also receive various types of attention, including discrimination.
“But… the reason why he was able to gain such courage was ultimately because of you. If it weren’t for the book you wrote, that person would have hidden their identity for their entire life.”
With a trembling voice, Cecily turned her head towards me. Her red eyes, moist and faintly shimmering, were truly beautiful. I looked at her face for a while, but then turned my head away out of embarrassment. But as I did, she quietly grabbed my hand.
It wasn’t soft or gentle like a fluffy marshmallow, but rather it felt rough and rugged, having been trained for years. It was the same type of hand as Nicole or Adelia’s.
“What does Benefactor think? Were you moved after seeing the performance, or maybe not?”
“… Of course, I was.”
Although I answered, I don’t think I’ll be able to meet Cecily’s gaze. If I did, I had a feeling I would be entranced and only able to look at her face.
I have a vague idea of what emotions Cecily is harboring towards me through her actions thus far. If I didn’t, I would just be a fool.
However, I have no intention of accepting it. While it is true that this world allows for polygamy and many powerful men have multiple women, I am not such a person. If I cannot handle responsibility, then I should not engage in activities that require it from the start.
Above all, it is clear that it would cause great harm to Marie, and my way of thinking from my past life is still deeply rooted within me. As someone who is naturally inadequate, I couldn’t help but feel resistant.
At that moment, I was trying to slowly withdraw my hand from Cecily’s grip. But Cecily, as if determined not to let go, tightened her grip so that I couldn’t escape.
“…So this is why you called me.”
“Have you noticed now?”
I asked with a wry smile, and Cecily responded with a faint laugh. At that time, I was still in a daze, and Cecily was crying so my head was spinning.
Is this what it feels like to be stuck in flypaper? I gave up trying to take my hand away and looked up at the sky.
In my past life, it was difficult to even see a single star, but here, the air is so clear that the stars form a river, creating a Milky Way like sight. Even with the naked eye, this scenery made me realize that I had truly come to a different world.
Afterward, I looked up at the sky, filled with stars, for a while and then lowered my head quietly and opened my mouth.
“…First, I want to start publishing again. I’ve been shown this kind of stage, so if I don’t start publishing again, it will be a disgrace.”
“Is that true?”
“Yes, but because of my academic schedule, the publishing cycle will be longer. It will be at least 2-3 months between each volume.”
“That’s not a problem. Just resuming the series is enough.”
Cecily spoke with a slightly excited tone, happy to hear that Xenon’s Biography would be continued. Meanwhile, I felt embarrassed and nervously rubbed the back of my neck. Suddenly, she asked me a question.
“Will the story of Kair and Elisha also be included?”
“Um… yes.”
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m curious about what would happen to them.”
It will end tragically, but I couldn’t say that, so I awkwardly smiled instead. I didn’t want to risk giving myself away by overacting, so it was the best I could do.
Squeeze!
I felt Cecily’s grip on my hand tighten. When I turned to look at her, I saw her eyes filled with a deep red desire.
“Haaa…”
Cecily let out a shallow breath as she swayed slightly. Glancing up, I saw that her horns were already fully colored in red.
As I mentioned before, demons experience a physiological cycle similar to a menstrual cycle called the “evil cycle,” during which their desire builds up. It’s usually best to meditate during this time, but Cecily seemed to be having trouble controlling herself.
But she doesn’t even have time to meditate now, and her eyes are already dilated. I was afraid I might be eaten up by her in various ways, so I called Cecily in a hurry.
“N-Noona? Are you okay?”
“Yes… I can still bear it for now.”
Luckily, it seems she hasn’t crossed the line…
“But I won’t be able to hold on much longer.”
It’s not just bad… she’s at the limit. At the same time, a subtle scent began to flow from her, stimulating a man’s primal instinct, like some kind of pheromone. My heart raced as Cecily’s horns became more and more colorful, and I quickly spoke up.
If things continue like this, we may end up in an irreversible situation like last time. Marie managed to barge in and save us, but now there is no one here. There isn’t even a single light, and even if someone were to pass by, they might not notice us. Getting here was only possible because Cecily illuminated the way with her magic.
“Pull yourself together. You’re Helium’s princess, right? You can endure it.”
“…Yes. I have to endure it. I have to…”
Cecily started sweating profusely. I was doing my best to exercise patience, but feeling her heart pounding through her hand, I had a feeling that she would explode soon.
As I wondered what to do, Cecily lowered her head and whispered softly.
“He’s so lovely and thankful… How can I endure it…”
“Noona?”
“I can’t. No more… no…”
Perk!
With a resolute expression, Cecily lifted her head and pushed me forcefully. Naturally, my body fell weakly to the ground. Just as I was unable to accept the sudden change in the situation, a dark shadow fell over me. Even in the darkness, I could see Cecily’s bright red eyes clearly.
“Noona?”
“I’m sorry. I’m really sorry.”
“Noona!”
“Forgive me for giving in to desire.”
This couldn’t go on any longer. I struggled to get away. But it was all in vain. Due to Cecily holding my hands with one of hers, I couldn’t escape. It was proof of how powerless I was compared to her.
Last time, Marie was able to intervene and stop the accident, but not this time. If things continued like this, we might really end up doing something outdoors.
Cecily, who had climbed on top of me, gently caressed my cheek. With eyes full of desire, she looked down at me and said in a husky voice,
“Ah…this soft cheek. These shining golden eyes. I want everything…I want to make you mine…every strand of hair…”
“… …”
“I want to bring pleasure to this delicate body…and make you mine completely.”
It seems like the “succubus’ descendant” rumor is true, as she stimulated me with seductive yet dangerous words. She exuded an irresistible desire, even emitting a sensual aura.
As a result, my heart began to race, and my lower body started to tense up. However, I tried my best to resist by thinking of Marie as much as possible.
“Noona! Please come to your senses! This isn’t good for either of us…”
“No, you’ll definitely like it. Why? Because I’ll make it so.”
“… …”
I can’t handle this woman. What should I do…!
Just as I was about to resort to violence, she held my face with her hand that was touching my thigh. I couldn’t even move my head because of her immense strength.
With my eyes rolling, I tried to come up with a way to escape the situation. The knight Gartz, who was supposed to be her escort, was nowhere to be found.
“Well then…”
Finally, Cecily muttered quietly as she licked her lips…
“I’ll enjoy this ♡”
She slowly lowered her head and opened her mouth slightly.
As I apologized to Marie in my mind and closed my eyes tightly
Flash!
The brightness was so intense that it illuminated the surroundings filled with darkness for a moment, making it impossible to keep my eyes open. I closed my eyes tightly, as I had been blinded by the brightness.
After a few seconds had passed, the light gradually faded and eventually disappeared completely. As the light vanished, I slowly opened my eyes. Suddenly, a hazy object appeared in my field of vision due to the sudden burst of light, but I could still discern what it was.
“We almost got into big trouble.”
The girl who had fallen from above murmured quietly while fidgeting with her necklace. Her face was a mixture of relief and embarrassment. I stared at her dumbfoundedly, unable to grasp the situation.
She then looked at me and explained the ability of the necklace with a wry smile.
“This necklace is one of the treasures passed down from our Helium generation. It has the ability to calm the mind when the evil cycle comes, or when desire cannot be restrained.”
“Then just now…”
“Yes. I almost did something terrible to you. I’m really sorry.”
Cecily bowed her head to apologize to me. I glanced at her briefly to check the state of the horn.
It had been filled with red just a moment ago, but now the tip had turned black. Although the desire had not been completely resolved, it seemed to have been temporarily resolved, which was fortunate.
‘Wow… So we almost got into real trouble?’
I almost had my first experience outdoors, and with a princess from another country, no less.
For a while, Cecily hesitated while looking at me, and then she called me in a very cautious voice. Her face was still red from the incident a moment ago.
“Um… Benefactor.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“I apologize once again. I did the same thing last time, but I couldn’t overcome my desires and I have caused a great inconvenience to you again…”
Cecily apologized with her head bowed, clearly aware of her mistake. I smoothed out my rumpled clothes and calmed my pounding heart.
It was as if Cecily’s energy had infiltrated my body, and my body was burning up. It was an ambiguous feeling, as if it had been interrupted in the middle.
I answered while fanning my face to cool off, but I couldn’t stop the heat from rising.
“Well… it’s okay. But earlier, you mentioned your desires while the evil cycle was happening…”
“Yes, I’m embarrassed, but that’s how I really feel.”
“Ah…”
Cecily couldn’t overcome her embarrassment and answered in a small voice, bowing her head deeply. I was also embarrassed and expressed my admiration instead of words.
That meant that she had a desire to overpower me, which was her usual desire, but it also meant that Cecily liked me that much.
In the awkward atmosphere, I hesitated for a moment on what to say and quietly opened my mouth.
“I understand… how you feel, Noona. Does Noona also… like me?”
“Yes. It’s embarrassing, but I love the Benefactor.”
“…”
Cecily didn’t beat around the bush like before and gave a straightforward answer. Seeing her confess with her head down in embarrassment was really cute and lovely.
However, I needed to maintain as much rationality as possible right now. Even though it’s a society where polygamy is allowed to some extent, there are still practical problems to consider.
The lifespan issue was not a problem, as he had already presented her with an alternative. The problem lies with Marie.
“Nona, to be honest, I also have a liking for you as a person. But I don’t have the confidence to take responsibility. There are already many things I need to pay attention to with Marie, so having two… would create a lot of problems.”
“I know.”
“Depending on the situation, I may not be able to love you.”
“It’s okay for me.”
“Am I really worth that much?”
I couldn’t understand why Princess Cecily, who could meet much better men than me, wanted me so badly. Although I was the author of Xenon’s Biography, I wondered why she had to choose me.
As I pondered this, Cecily slowly lifted her head and looked straight at me.
The expression on their face showed both a determined will and a sense of pity.
“Yes. I love you. You are the grace of God who saved our demon race, and you are so considerate.”
“…”
“Even if you reject me, I will protect your legacy. The land where you were born and your future offspring. It’s my way of repaying you as the princess of Helium and as much as I can do.”
Even if they didn’t accept it, she was going to keep her feelings until the end. After hearing Cecily’s resolute determination, my heart shook greatly.
She loves me so much, can’t I just accept her a little bit? While my emotions told me to accept it, my reason said that Marie’s opinion was more important. I vacillated between reason and emotion and sighed as I made my decision.
“I think it’s best to consult with Marie, as we did earlier.”
“T-Thank you! Really…”
“But if you try to force yourself on me again, I will cut you off like a knife. At least the first experience should be with Marie.”
I couldn’t compromise on this. Marie was a woman who loved Isaac himself, not Xenon. It was the best I could do.
But then Cecily made a remark that left me feeling embarrassed, although I didn’t know what she thought of it.
“If you have sex with Marie, then next will it be me?”
“…what?”
“Then I should help the benefactor have sex with Marie as soon as possible. Then I…”
“…”
I didn’t know what to say.
Translators note:
Remember kids, consent is important.
Also 2nd girl got.