Chapter 870 Darkness Turns Into Bitch-ness
The bedding had already been warmed by Darkness's body heat, making it extremely cozy the moment Eiji slipped in.
After all, this was a bed meant for Darkness alone, so naturally there was only one blanket.
A single blanket was quite spacious for one person, but when shared by two, it became very cramped. Their arms pressed against each other, thighs touching thighs, and even the slightest movement made Darkness tremble, fearing Eiji might touch places he shouldn't.
Fortunately, although they were pressed close together, Eiji showed no intention of making a move on her.
Darkness felt subtly disappointed.
Eiji's earlier performance had truly amazed her. She never expected him to be so knowledgeable. She even thought that if it were this guy, he could definitely give her an excellent masochistic experience!
Who would have thought he would do nothing at all, leaving her feeling strangely empty inside.
"No, no! You need to calm down, Darkness! This person is a hero who saved the royal family, a holder of the royal emblem. You should hold him in high esteem—how can you insult him like this!"
Darkness suddenly snapped back to reality, shaking her head vigorously.
Eiji was speechless watching her. Why does this girl have so much drama going on in her head?
"By the way, you and Kazuma seem really close!"
To distract herself, Darkness quickly started making conversation.
"Pretty much."
"Your names are quite similar—could you be from the same place?"
"Something like that."
Eiji answered half-heartedly.
"There is one thing I'm a bit curious about—how did you get involved with Alderp?"
"Why are you curious about that?"
Darkness looked at Eiji, her cheeks slightly flushed.
At such close proximity, Darkness could clearly see the boy's appearance and expression, and she couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
Could it be that he actually cares about me?
This person's looks are truly flawless, and he's so knowledgeable! Although he's not her ideal type, she could totally accept him as a partner!
The key is—he's so knowledgeable!
"Alderp has a divine artifact on him."
But the words Eiji spoke felt like a bucket of cold water poured over Darkness.
"That guy seems quite obsessed with you. I want to know if you're aware of the effects of the divine artifact in his possession?"
So that's how it is?
Darkness's shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"There's not much connection between us. We only met once in the past..."
The fat lord Alderp was the ruler of Axel and its surrounding areas, while the Dustiness family frequently traveled near Axel. Over time, their paths crossed.
According to Darkness, Alderp became infatuated with her at first sight.
Ever since then, Alderp had tried every possible way to pursue Darkness, completely disregarding the gaps in their looks, status, and age, acting like an ardent fan.
"Alderp probably gave Kazuma a hard time with the intention of forcing me to intervene, then coercing me into submission. But you showed up midway and disrupted his scheme."
Darkness analyzed the situation at the time quite rationally.
If Kazuma were truly to face execution, Darkness, as his fellow adventurer in the same party, absolutely couldn't stand by and do nothing.
However, in such a situation, the most she could do was leverage her family's influence to temporarily postpone the trial. As for clearing Kazuma's name and securing his acquittal single-handedly—that was something only Eiji, who held the royal insignia, could accomplish.
Once things reached that point, Darkness would inevitably have to agree to some of Alderp's conditions. At that stage, it wasn't hard to imagine what might happen. Even if he feared the Dustiness family name and didn't dare act openly, there were plenty of roundabout methods he could employ.
During the meal, Darkness deliberately glossed over the matter.
That was because she didn't want to reveal her identity as a noble lady in front of her companions—it would create a sense of distance between them. She really liked the current dynamics of their party and didn't want that atmosphere to be broken.
"As for the divine artifact you mentioned, I know nothing about it. I hadn't heard anything about him possessing a divine artifact before."
But when it came to the most critical part, Darkness had no answers at all.
"I see," Eiji murmured, and didn't press further.
"That Alderp isn't the type to give up easily, right? If anything happens later, make sure to notify me promptly."
Almost casually, Eiji entrusted her with this.
"Huh?"
Darkness was taken aback.
"Ah, oh... Mm, thank you..."
Her face flushed bright red, and she hurriedly buried herself under the covers.
What did he mean by that?
Does he really have designs on me?
But then why hasn't he made a move?!
Amid her muddled thoughts, drowsiness washed over her again, and Darkness drifted into sleep, still tangled in her confusion.
...
"Mmm, it's so cramped..."
Early morning. The sun gradually rose above the horizon, its rays filtering through the curtains into the room. Darkness slowly opened her bleary eyes.
Right, she'd slept with that man last night. Of course it felt cramped.
She needed to make him leave quickly—if anyone saw them sharing a bed, it would be disastrous.
"Why does my chest feel a little... Eek, aahhh!!"
Darkness let out a sharp scream, leaped out from under the covers, and hid in the corner of the bed.
"What's with all the yelling first thing in the morning? Trying to summon spirits?"
Eiji opened his eyes, looking freshly awakened, and shot an annoyed glance at Darkness.
"Y-you, you, you!"
"What?"
"...N-never mind. It's nothing."
Clutching the front of her loosely opened clothes, the lingering warmth made Darkness's face burn crimson.
She distinctly remembered buttoning everything up properly!
Seeing Eiji acting as if nothing had happened, she covered her flushed face and muttered something in a voice as faint as a mosquito's.
Let's just pretend nothing happened... After all, she'd touched somewhere she shouldn't have last night too. Consider it even!
Darkness thought, burying her head in the sand like an ostrich.
"What's all the noise so early in the morning, Darkness? What are you screeching about—Gah!"
Amid the complaints, a chuuni loli in pajamas opened the door.
Then she froze solid.
"No, no, no, no, no! This is bad! Darkness has turned into Slutness!"
Then she turned and ran, her shouts echoing throughout the villa.
"That's not true! I'm not a slut! I'm still a virgin!"
Darkness instantly shot out like a cat with its fur puffed up.
"Darkness, there's no need to hide it now! Knowing you, with such an erotic appearance and being so lewd, this day was bound to come eventually. But I still hope you can exercise some self-restraint and not engage in this kind of thing every day—"
"That's not true! Nothing happened between us! And with the Demon King too! I'm not lewd at all!"
"Such a lively morning!"
Listening to the commotion coming from downstairs, Eiji's face broke into a spring-like smile.
Spring mornings are just so pleasantly warm!