Ian (裏面).
It was a word that referred to the back side of an object or parts that are not visible on the surface.
And the human heart was no different; what lies within is not easily revealed.
And the 71st-ranked demon, Dantalion, had the ability to read such hidden feelings.
It seed that the ability of the item I had obtained this ti was to read other people's thoughts directly.
The voice that struck straight into my head instead of my ears felt quite fascinating.
Thanks to this, I couldn’t help but montarily open my mouth in admiration.
After all, for any human, mind reading is probably a power they have dread of at least once.
"Well, I guess she dresses so lightly in the sumr because she’s so numb to the cold."
So, I didn’t bother to turn off the ability and watched for a while.
"Ah, I hope sumr cos soon. I want to see Yor's amazing body again..."
‘Hmm...’
But before long, I had to turn off the ability.
I could see the tips of Dantalion’s ears slowly turning to dust.
And surprisingly, Chae-rin’s thoughts were more intuitive and crude than I expected.
Well, since it’s thoughts, she can imagine whatever she wants...
But hearing it directly made feel embarrassed.
After finishing the demonstration of the item, I lightly evaluated it.
‘It’s good, but... it’s awkward to use.’
I had barely used it, and already about a third of it was gone.
No matter how small the part I had obtained this ti was, the consumption rate was too fast.
The arm of Seere didn’t seem to have a usage limit, but this one seed to.
Moreover, I couldn’t think of a situation where it would be useful.
While it might be fun to read trivial thoughts like this, that was about all it was.
Well, if it were important figures, they might be able to read the sches of rival nobles.
Unfortunately, living only in the forest, I couldn’t use it like that.
‘Well, I guess there’ll be a ti when I need it.’
Having sorted my thoughts, I put the ear back into storage.
Whether for fun or necessity, I would eventually use it.
So for now, it would just be kept.
“Oh, right.”
Having finished my thoughts, I opened my mouth towards her.
Now that I think about it, I had sothing to tell her. It would probably be good news for Chae-rin.
“You can just start the broadcast when you co into the cave now.”
“Really? Why all of a sudden... No, is that okay?”
I nodded to indicate that it was fine.
The original reason I restricted her broadcasting was that I was worried about my cave’s location being exposed.
Because of that, she had to go through the trouble of turning her broadcast on and off unnecessarily.
This led to so of her viewers leaving the stream, which was a sha.
But now that the location had already been exposed, there was no need to hide it anymore.
For so reason, I felt a bittersweet feeling.
Still, being on the broadcast itself was fun, so I should think positively about it.
Chae-rin nodded dazedly at my words.
After that, we engaged in various small talk. Honestly, I had been busy organizing things lately, but I needed this kind of break.
Even so, talking with her eased the burden on my heart a little.
After a while...
“Oh, dear.”
I noticed it was getting dark outside.
“It’s already getting late. I think I’ll head back now.”
Chae-rin said this as she prepared to get up.
I frowned for a mont. It wasn’t that I was sad to see her go.
‘...Ah, right, damn.’
Thinking about it, today was the day of the new moon (朔).
It had already been over six days since Dantalion had co and gone, so I had to welco the Akuma that resided within as usual.
However, this ti, the timing wasn’t great.
Normally, I had to endure the frenzy deep in the cave, but my cave's location was fully exposed. That being said, I hadn’t found another dwelling...
Well, if it were Frenzy B, it wouldn’t matter too much, but the probability of that was slim.
After all, I had only experienced B in a row for the past two months.
When one type of frenzy occurs, the chance of the opposite frenzy happening increases.
If the sa frenzy happens three tis in a row, the next one will definitely be a different type.
In any case, that ant today had a very high probability of an A occurring.
Moreover, this ti I had even used demon blood. Although I hadn’t used much, there might be side effects that could intensify the frenzy.
Thump, thump.
Thinking again about enduring that terrible pain sent chills of fear through .
The tension caused cold sweat to bead on my forehead.
“Uh? Yor! Why do you look so pale all of a sudden...?”
In that mont, I felt Chae-rin looking at with a worried expression.
It seed my psychological changes were noticeable to her as well.
I unconsciously grabbed her wrist.
“Huh?”
“I, um...”
To be honest, I wasn’t sure if this was a good idea.
It was revealing one of my vulnerabilities to soone else.
But what was I supposed to do? I had to endure tonight at the very least.
If an intruder happens to co during Frenzy A, I wouldn’t be able to do anything then.
Most importantly, I didn’t want to spend the night alone.
So I spoke to her. My voice trembled slightly, probably due to the tension.
“Could you... stay with tonight...?”
“........?”
She opened her mouth in a strange expression.
But after a mont, she vigorously nodded her head.
I felt like my aning might not have co across correctly, but at any rate, I was relieved.
Thus, I took her deeper inside.
To the very depths of that cave...
When Chae-rin first heard Yor ask her to stay with him at night, she couldn’t help but think this.
“Wow, is this a sign of sothing?”
19 Mode!
It was finally ti for her to unlock that legendary mode she had only heard about on the internet!
Usually, when soone asks to spend the night together, it’s a clear signal between n and won.
Even Yor's shy deanor and trembling voice felt like a clear signal.
So, she followed Yor inside, giggling.
But soon, she couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease.
‘...Wait a minute, he’s not the type to be this shy.’
Because, as it was said, Yor wasn’t that kind of person. He would have been more direct if he wanted to.
Realizing that, her distorted mories began to return to their rightful places.
Now that she thought about it, he looked slightly frightened.
As the day grew darker, his complexion suddenly beca pale, and his voice began to tremble.
And that was clearly an unusual reaction.
There had been hundreds of tis when it had darkened, but it was the first ti she had seen him display such weakness.
Still, despite her questions, she followed Yor.
Thump, thump.
The sound of footsteps echoed in the quiet cave.
‘We’re going really deep...’
Even for soone who frequently visited this cave, it was the first ti she had co this deep.
The cave grew gradually darker.
Even though the sun was still up, it seed that light didn’t reach this place well.
Nevertheless, Yor walked ahead as if he was familiar with the path, as if he had morized it completely.
‘The atmosphere is a bit scary...’
As darkness enveloped them, Chae-rin felt a faint sense of fear.
It was an instinctive fear that ca from the dark. Since ancient tis, humans have felt apprehension in the unknown darkness.
At least it was a relief that Yor was there with her. Otherwise, she might have really collapsed in fear, thinking that a ghost might appear.
As she felt relief in her heart, Chae-rin suddenly had this thought.
‘But... doesn’t that an this person has been living in such an environnt all along?’
In this pitch-black, dark cave, alone for decades.
With very few tools of civilization, and no one to spend the dark night with.
It would have been nice if there were neighbors like in a village, but he had been completely alone.
Manifestation Bearers are fated not to mingle with ordinary people.
Chae-rin briefly imagined Yor being alone in this dark space.
Just imagining it brought forth feelings of sadness and loneliness.
‘It’s a bit unfortunate...’
Chae-rin looked at him with eyes mixed with sympathy.
And then, at that mont, Yor, who had been walking silently, finally spoke up.
“This should be enough.”
Suddenly, a rusty tallic sll wafted into Chae-rin's nose.
It was the sharp scent of blood.
“Prepare yourself, because you might be a little surprised...”
Woosh.
Yor said this and infused mana into the luminescent stone he was holding.
The surroundings brightened softly, revealing the scene at the end of the cave to her eyes.
She couldn’t help but gasp in shock.
“Gasp...!”
The cave walls were completely red.
Dried blood wasn’t just in one place; it was sared all around. Marks, as if soone had scratched the ground, were everywhere.
The blood was stuck everywhere, and the brown-stained walls were marked by ti.
It was a scene that looked as if it could drive soone insane, and her breath montarily caught in her throat.
“Wait, what is this...?”
Chae-rin looked at Yor, hoping for an explanation.
Yor looked at her with a pitiful expression and said,
“I’m sorry. From now on, it might be a bit brutal. So just... stay by my side.”
She could see the strange fear and anxiety in his expression.
Even Chae-rin, who had spent much ti with him, had never seen him look so weak.
She quickly understood what his words ant.
As night fell, the new moon arrived.
Thud!
Yor suddenly jabbed his shoulder.
Splat-!
Blood burst forth.
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