The early summer night grew deep, with the occasional chirp of insects sounding from the grass.
A light was still on in the Valkyrie dorms.
Having been raised with the teachings of the "Knight" family, Kaslana, Kiana had always found sneak attacks disgraceful.
Not only did this guy, Ye Feng, ambush her, but he also dared to claim this body was his?
Kiana couldn't stop herself from rolling her eyes and sticking out her tongue at Ye Feng, a clear display of her scorn and contempt.
"You seem quite defiant, Kiana?"
"..."
Kiana pressed her lips together tightly, staring at Ye Feng without a word. She felt that if she opened her mouth, a humiliating sound would escape.
"Alright, I'm a kind person. I can't bear to see such a look of deep-seated resentment. Since you're so unwilling, Kiana, I won't force you."
"—?!"
Ye Feng got up and simply left the dormitory.
He left Kiana behind, utterly confused.
Eh? He really left?
It was somewhat unexpected.
Kiana supported her dizzy head. Her entire consciousness was hazy, as if she were hovering in a state between sleep and wakefulness.
'So, I'm back in the Stigma Space Grand-Auntie talked about?'
Kiana wanted to get up and take a shower. She felt as if she had just fought an Emperor-class Honkai Beast, completely drenched in sweat. There was also a sticky, cloying sensation, as if she'd been drenched in honey, which was extremely uncomfortable.
But Kiana didn't want to move. It was like sleep paralysis; only her thoughts and her eyes could function.
'Grand-Auntie said that if I came back here, I have to gather as much information as possible.'
But… although it's shameful to even think it…
I really have to pee.
She felt an incredibly strong sense of fullness, as if the slightest poke would unleash a flood.
But she couldn't.
And she didn't even have the strength to get up and go to the bathroom.
She didn't want to move at all.
As Kiana endured this unprecedented feeling of fullness and discomfort, a pink progress bar appeared in her blurry vision. Above the bar was a heart, and below it was a lock.
The progress bar was currently full, reaching all the way to the heart, and the lock below it was engaged.
"What… is this…?"
But, this feels so… bad?
No, it wasn't just bad.
Because this strange "sensation" was something Kiana had never experienced before, she couldn't find the right words to describe it.
Isn't there a saying? The line between "pleasure" and "pain" is actually very ambiguous, and they can even transform into one another.
But without a doubt, what Kiana could confirm right now was that she was truly suffering and wanted to escape this state… or more accurately, she wanted to "release."
「Everything in a Stigma Space is an illusion, just phantoms meant to confuse you, to shake your will.」
Just then, Kiana remembered her Grand-Auntie's warning.
"If it's just this level of torment, this young lady can—Guhhh~~~"
At that moment, Kiana saw Ye Feng return, and he was holding Mei in his arms.
"You seem to think this place is a Stigma Space?"
Ye Feng sat down next to Kiana, still holding Mei.
"After you returned to reality, you told everyone about what happened here, didn't you? Which genius gave you that analysis?"
"...Let go of Mei."
Kiana's voice was just a weak cry.
"It seems I need to educate you a little about this world."
"Let go… of Mei…"
"Are you a broken record?"
"...Let go of Mei!"
But Kiana could only watch, powerless to do anything.
Ye Feng patted Mei's bottom and called up her attribute panel, saying with dissatisfaction:
"Why are you making me out to be some villain stealing your girl? Look closely. Mei's favorability towards me is 100, while yours is only 70. You haven't even met the minimum requirement to initiate combat, whereas I've already unlocked every position. You're the challenger here."
"You're lying… There's no way Mei could like you!"
"No, Tuna, you've been here twice already. You should have a slight grasp of the 'worldview' here by now."
"There's no way Mei would like you!"
"If you interrupt me again, I'll marry Mei right now and make you officiate the wedding."
"..."
Seeing the Tuna fall silent, Ye Feng finally continued, "Good. Back to the matter at hand."
"Matter at hand?"
"You seemed to have a big problem with what I said earlier about the 'ownership of this body,' didn't you? So I brought Mei over to give you a more direct understanding."
"What are you going to do?"
Kiana had a very bad feeling.
Then, Ye Feng unlocked the pink progress bar on Kiana's body…
---o---
The scent of banana milk filled the air, making one's taste buds tingle. The crisp sound of toast and the simple sizzle of cooking composed a beautiful symphony as Kiana slowly opened her eyes.
Compared to last night, the morning air was so fresh!
"Kiana, time for breakfast."
Mei, wearing an apron, peeked her head out from behind the door, her long, navy-blue hair falling smoothly over her shoulders.
Kiana stared blankly at Mei, then threw her arms open and rushed forward, hugging her tightly. The powerful impact made Mei take two steps back, her fair, jade-like feet slipping out of her slippers.
"Mei~~"
Kiana whined, nuzzling against Mei's chest. "You won't abandon me, right? You don't hate me, do you?"
"Huh? Why would I ever hate Kiana?" Mei said, gently stroking Kiana's head.
The Tuna, buried in Mei's chest, looked up at her. The young woman's smile in the morning light was so healing.
Kiana nodded forcefully.
"Mmm!"
During breakfast, Kiana couldn't help but think back to last night.
She had grown a lot in one night. And learned a lot of new things.
At the very least, she now understood the specific meaning of "usage count."
Putting that aside for now, that bastard… he actually made me… in front of Mei… in front of Mei…
Damn it!
The next time I go in there, I'm hitting him first.
"Kiana, did you enter the Stigma Space again?"
Bronya noticed Kiana's strange behavior.
"Ah? Uh, no, I didn't…"
If she said she had, she would have to report it to her Grand-Auntie.
And what would she say?
That she was put into all sorts of positions by that disgusting guy for the entire night?
Or that she begged him, "At the very least, let Mei leave first"?
Even if it was just a Stigma illusion, Kiana didn't want Mei to see her in such a disgraceful state.
She couldn't do anything!
The only consolation was that the bastard had let Mei leave fairly quickly.
Kiana absentmindedly ate her sandwich. When she saw the whole sausage inside it, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of being full.
"I'm full."
"Eh? Already? At least drink your milk."
"...I don't need it."
Watching Kiana's back as she left the table, Bronya and Mei exchanged a look.
"Did my cooking not taste good today?"
Mei picked up the sandwich, took a bite of the part Kiana hadn't eaten, and then took a sip of the untouched milk.
"It tastes the same as always."
---o---