Book Eater

Chapter 299: Victory Scar (3)

The two people held each other firmly and just stood there for a while. They could feel each other’s breaths and the rise and fall of their chests. It took a second for Theo’s unfamiliar tears to subside. However, Theo kept his face buried in Veronica’s hair.

He couldn't remember the last time he had cried like this. It had been at least ten years since he stopped letting his emotions run wild. These weren’t tears shed from extreme pain. He didn’t want to show his face to Veronica because he himself didn’t know what he looked like.

Ah, I don’t know why, but I feel relieved...?

He just wanted to stay where he was. However, he couldn’t fool Veronica’s senses.

“Are you okay now?” She pulled slightly away, wiping away the tear stains on his face.

Veronica’s touch was so mild and sweet, so different from her normal self that Theo flushed.

“Ahh... My kid, you are really cute.” Unsurprisingly, Veronica noticed and playfully ruffled his hair.

Maybe their inner turmoil was easy to talk about because this was his spiritual world. Just as Theo didn’t control his feelings, Veronica felt more emboldened to do things she wouldn’t normally do. Veronica realized what she had done and stiffened.

Meanwhile, Theo released her and said, “Sister, there are many stories that I have been hiding.”

There was a mountain of stories that no one knew aside from Vince, some even Vince didn’t know. Veronica was connected to him with an eternal contract, so he wasn’t worried about her betraying him. Above all, she had almost died from Invidia’s sword, so she deserved to hear Theo’s secrets.

Everything had started the moment Theo met the grimoire, Gluttony. He was about to confide the whole truth when―

“Oh, that's enough.”

Veronica pressed her finger against his lips.

“Huh?”

“I already know. Just as you were looking into my memories, I was watching yours. Let’s just say we are a draw when it comes to this part, okay?”

Theo looked at her with bemusement, before asking a question, “... Then why don’t you blame me?”

“Huh? For what?”

“You became Invidia’s target and ended up like this because of me.”

“Why is it because of you? It is the fault of that damn monster. And I am responsible for protecting myself. Don’t be sorry about not protecting me, understood?”

Was she angry? Veronica stared fiercely into his eyes. This caused Theo to bow his head and mutter, “Still, now you will die if I die.”

There was no way to release a permanent contract. Even if he reached the 9th circle, the bound souls would still be the same. The person with a quarter dragon’s vitality would die when Theo died.

It had been the only way to save her, but Theo couldn’t help feeling guilty. However, Veronica’s reaction was unexpected. “Uh, it is fine.”

“... Huh?”

“I don’t hate it because I feel connected to you...” Veronica stopped speaking the moment the words popped out. However, she couldn’t swallow the words that had already emerged, causing the two of them to hide their red faces.

Then Veronica remembered something. “Ah, that reminds me, I did see one thing that made me angry.”

Before Theo could respond, Veronica got right up to him and growled, “I saw everything you did secretly with that worm.”

“Eh?” Theo was embarrassed by the unexpected words when Veronica’s hands hit his chest. “Uwaaat!”

As expected from the power of a quarter dragon, it was enough to throw Theo across the room and into a fluffy room. But actually, it was a fairly large bed. Theo was confused for a second. Where had a bed come from this place that was filled with books?

Veronica snorted. “This is your mental world, but it is possible for me to interfere as long as you aren’t hurt. It isn’t a big deal to turn this library into a bedroom.”

A sweet fragrance started to overpower the scent of parchment paper, and red drapes fell over the bookshelves to transform the room into a typical bedroom. Theo was about to speak when a red robe fell and covered his eyes.

“W-Wait a minute.”

“I won’t wait,” Veronica declared.

While Theo was throwing the red robe to the side, Veronica landed on top of him and pushed down on his chest with her left hand. It might be different with magic, but she was stronger when it came to pure arm strength.

As she held him down with a hand, she pulled off the rest of her clothes, revealing her smooth curves. By the time she was left in just her underwear, Veronica realized that all of Theo’s resistance had disappeared.

“Haaah… Theo.” She took her hand off his chest and touched his face.

There were no thoughts about running away. As she looked into Theo’s eyes, Veronica whispered sweetly, “Now, are you ready? You need a little more time before your body wakes up...”

In the next moment, red hair fell in and around black hair.

* * *

Tweet tweet, chirp chirp.

The cheerful cries of birds announced the rise of the sun. There were few people who were sleeping, while others had started their day. It was a common phenomenon that the same thing would be seen differently from other points of view.

In that sense, this morning was a special moment for Theodore Miller.

“... Ah....”

He opened his eyes with a bemused look on his face.

Where am I?

He remembered this familiar ceiling. His eyes were drawn to the side, where he met hers. The great magician, Veronica, was lying on the opposite bed. She stretched out like she had just woken up and looked at him with blurred eyes.

“―Did you sleep well?” Veronica sent him a bewitching smile, making his stomach spin.

.

“Uh!”

It was more than enough to send an electrifying feeling shooting down his spine as he recalled the days they had spent in the depths of the spiritual world with their connected souls. Well, no, a few days wasn’t accurate. It might’ve been a couple of minutes or a few months. In the midst of the pleasure, the two of them hadn’t rested for a single moment until their bodies were restored.

Sigh, I don’t know what face to make after that.

Theo, who had been famous for his chastity during his school days, had old-fashioned ideals. The relationship they had in the spiritual world wasn’t light and couldn’t be treated as nothing.

On the other hand, Veronica was perfectly at ease. She was watching him as happily as a full lioness. This bizarre atmosphere continued until the servants entered the room. Once they finished the meal, the servant cleared his throat.

“Red Tower Master Veronica and Captain Theo. His Majesty desires an audience. However, he said that if you want, you can rest until the sun goes down,” the servant respectfully bowed.

Theo and Veronica had lost consciousness for four days and were still injured, so he gave them some time. However, this matter was so heavy that Kurt couldn’t help feeling anxious.

Veronica guessed the situation and laughed lightly as she rose. “It can’t be helped. So what now?”

Veronica hugged Theo’s arm.

“Vero―ah, no, Red Tower Master...”

“Are you going to be shy now? I think it is too late.”

It was true. The nature of her relationship with Theo had deepened. He tried to suppress the memories that the touch of her arm recalled and spoke her name, “Veronica.”

“Yes, Theo.” She no longer called him a kid. They were now on an equal footing.

The two people walked shoulder to shoulder as they left the infirmary, accompanied by the servants. Blue Tower Master Blundell had died, so there was no one who could block the path of two 8th Circle magicians.

They walked through the corridors and passed into the uninhabited hallways of the palace. They were almost to the room where Kurt III was waiting when Veronica spoke. Her voice was unusually quiet, reminiscent of her exquisite elegance.

“Theo.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t worry about our relationship. I was the one who pressed you down, and I didn’t think it would last long after waking up.”

“But―”

“Besides, there is a confession that you haven’t answered.”

He almost hesitated, but managed to keep one foot in front of the other. That’s right, there was Ellenoa’s confession. She was someone who had sincerely whispered that she loved him. It was too much to hold onto another’s woman’s hand while leaving Ellenoa to wait.

“... Thank you, Veronica.”

Veronica laughed and hugged his arm more firmly. “Heh, anyway, I am yours. I will be by Theo’s side, no matter who you choose.”

Theo looked askance at her. “Isn’t that a bit difficult?”

“You will understand if you have a red dragon’s blood.”

Logic meant nothing in front of a charming beauty. Theo faced the door of the reception room in front of him. Did the king want to secretly meet both of them? Unlike other times, there were no guards or servants. Theo reached for the doorknob before Veronica could kick down the door.

Kukukukung!

The giant door opened wide, revealing the king.

“First of all, thank you for agreeing to my unreasonable request.” The face of Kurt III, the king of Meltor, was more haggard than usual. His wise purple eyes were blurry with fatigue, and his bright golden hair had lost its shine. There were too many possible options to guess the reason for his tiredness.

The two approached and attempted to greet their sovereign; however, Kurt waved his left hand to stop them. “There’s no need for formalities. I shouldn’t trouble you after you just got out of bed. I wanted to give you a few more days to rest, but a king’s duties don’t go away.”

Theo shook his head. “It isn’t a problem, Your Majesty.”

Kurt smiled gently. “I’m thankful for your words. First, I heard a series of reports from White Tower Master, but only you know what happened after Blundell’s death. Please tell me.”

There was no one better for this role than Theo.

“... I understand.” Theo stepped forward, away from Veronica, and faced Kurt.

The repeated struggles with so many monsters had lined the king’s face with fatigue.

“However, I have something to say before that.”

If so, the hesitation belonged to Theo. He had planned to face the king with all his determination and seek cooperation, but the words didn’t fall easily from his mouth. After all, he had hidden it for several years. It wasn’t easy to talk about it to the ruler of a country with whom he didn’t have a close relationship with, unlike Veronica.

Kkuok.

Did she read his hesitation? Theo trembled at the warmth that grabbed his right hand and he relaxed. Veronica was with him. What did he need to be afraid of?

“Your Majesty. I, Theodore Miller―”

Theo jumped over the wall with his own free will.