Chapter 69

“It seems handling this alone might be difficult for you. I was thinking I could lend a hand.”

“...?”

“What do you say?”

A subtle question from the snake.@@@@

The girl, frozen for a moment, soon grasped the meaning behind the words and belatedly reacted.

Her face flushed red with heat.

“What, what, what are you saying...?”

Her trembling lips stuttered out the words. Her pupils shook violently.

“H-how can you say something so shameless without a second thought...!”

“Hm?”

The villainess shouted in astonishment.

Yet, in response to her outburst, the blond boy merely raised an eyebrow as if to ask what the problem was.

“But you’re struggling as we speak. I only wanted to help,” he said.

“Even so...!”

“If you don’t wish for my assistance, I’ll step back.”

“Ugh.”

The girl who was trying to argue fell silent.

It was because of the gaze that met hers.

The narrowed eyes reminded her of a whispered promise from long ago, echoing in her ears.

The memory remained vividly clear.

— “I hope you’ll live for my sake.”

In truth, the villainess had no right to refuse.

She had made a contract, pledging everything she had as the price for a life debt.

But still...

“It's a pity.”

Could something this sudden be acceptable? No matter how one-sidedly affection was held, weren’t there supposed to be steps and stages?

The girl, who had no experience with men, found herself at a loss.

‘Of course, there was that time we kissed, but that... that was when I wasn’t in my right mind...!’

Internally flustered, Emilia’s heart raced. But outwardly, nothing changed.

At least, not to the snake, for whom vanity was an utterly powerless emotion.

The girl, lost in her turmoil, finally extended her hand.

“Wait... w-wait.”

She hesitantly grabbed the edge of his sleeve.

A rush of deep embarrassment overcame her. She tried to sound assertive but even to her own ears, her voice trembled pathetically.

Emilia handed over the bottle she was holding and made her request.

“... Please.”

“My lady?”

“Help apply it. So my skin doesn’t get burned by the sun.”

Her face burned as though it would explode.

A moment later, Emilia lay on a mat spread out on the sand.

Even her light cardigan had been removed, exposing her fair skin. All that remained was the pale blue swimsuit clinging to her body.

The feminine curves that defined her frame were laid bare.

Blue hair spilled around her like waves, and beneath that, undeniable fullness rested.

Her well-maintained figure seemed as though it had been drawn in precise strokes, commanding attention from both men and women alike.

Such was the nature of beauty.

“...”

Perhaps it was the embarrassment of the situation.

The girl couldn’t lift her head.

She feared that even a moment’s glance would reveal her flushed face.

So, she simply lay there, arms folded under her head.

“There’s no need to be tense. This won’t hurt at all.”

“... Shut up.”

The snake whispered as though to soothe the villainess.

A faint smile played on his lips as he poured the sunscreen into his palm.

Then,

“Let’s begin.”

With a light slap, his hand made contact with her back.

Perhaps it was the cool temperature of his touch, but Emilia involuntarily let out a sound she didn’t mean to.

His palm, slick with the cosmetic, felt like scales as it glided over her skin.

“Ugh...”

It was the first time she allowed someone to touch her back like this.

Before her shock could settle, the hand adhered to her moved, sweeping broadly across her skin.

Slick—

His gentle, thorough strokes left trails of white that disappeared after a few rubs.

He took great care in spreading the sunscreen.

“Mm... Ah...”

The strange sensation kept eliciting soft noises from her.

Emilia bit her lip in response.

A peculiar feeling lingered.

Even though her shoulders quivered, she struggled to maintain her composure.

She did not want to lose her dignity.

Slick, slick—

Throughout, the boy continued to move his arm.

Whether due to experience or innate skill, his actions were smooth and unhesitant.

A spark of irritation flared within her.

‘It’s annoying.’

The slitted eyes curved into an innocent smile.

He acted as if there was no ulterior motive at all, wearing a purely pleasant expression that infuriated her.

It made her feel like she was the only one out of sorts.

“Hmph.”

Of course, it was a misunderstanding.

In truth, the boy harbored no ulterior motive.

He simply wished to offer his help, but somewhere in the process, the intention had been distorted.

This too was something Emilia could not know.

The misconception took root, growing deeper.

“How much longer do you plan on rubbing it in...?”

“We’re almost done.”

Her voice faded into a sigh.

The villainess lay there, enduring, until the cool hand finally lifted from her back, leaving a soft, tremulous feeling behind.

After finishing with the sunscreen, Emilia sat up unsteadily.

Her eyes, which seemed unfocused for a moment, regained their sharpness as she glared at him.

It was a look that could only be described as if she were staring at garbage.

“... Pervert.”

She hissed like an angry cat.

Backing away, she even hid behind Rezia, who stood nearby.

When questioned, she only hissed more, leaving me looking like the strange one who got scolded after trying to help.

“...”

The girl seemed lost in thought, only responding when her name was called, as if her mind was somewhere far away. She had been in this state since they returned from the beach.

“Irene.”

“...”

“Irene?”

“... Oh. Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

The fox, finally aware of being addressed, looked up with unfocused eyes. The boy, sensing something was amiss, spoke softly, as if trying to show concern.

“Are you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“You seem distracted. Did something happen?”

“Nothing happened.”

“Then...?”

“I’m just tired. Don’t worry about it.”

Irene dismissed his concern, moving her utensils with a mechanical motion as she continued eating. Her face remained expressionless as always.

“Hm.”

The boy’s dark eyes, like those of a burnt-out light, silently observed her. Despite her attempt to act indifferent, her subdued mood was evident.

Dinner eventually concluded, and night settled over them.

---

That night, Irene couldn’t sleep.

“...”

Her dark eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

Though the hour had long since crossed into early morning, an inexplicable heaviness in her chest kept her from resting. After tossing and turning for what felt like ages, the fox finally sat up in bed.

She decided a brief walk might clear her mind.

*Creak—*

As she stepped out of the bedroom, the first thing she noticed was the blond boy leaning back on the couch, eyes closed. He seemed to have fallen asleep early.

Careful not to wake him, Irene slipped past and out of the room without leaving a note, thinking it was just a quick stroll.

She simply walked.

“...”

Irene found herself heading toward the shore near their lodging.

*Whoosh—*

The sound of the waves lapping against the sand filled her ears. The cool sea breeze brought a myriad of thoughts with it, and she drank in the familiar scene.

A sky blanketed in starlight.

The transparent sea reflected the colors of the night perfectly. It was a beautiful sight, but the words that escaped her lips were the complete opposite.

“I still hate the sea...”

Perhaps it was the nightmares.

Looking at the rippling water, she couldn’t shake the memory of herself trapped behind bars.

The waves seemed as if they could swallow her whole at any moment.

Part of her regretted coming out.

It felt like it only made her mood worse.

The salty tang of the sea air filled her senses as she walked, leaving footprints in the sand. The quiet was almost absolute, broken only by the whisper of the breeze.

*Whoosh—*

She pushed aside the hair that fluttered into her face. Lost in her thoughts, she kept walking and soon realized she had reached a more secluded part of the beach.

“Maybe I should head back.”

She was about to turn around when—

*...!*

A strange noise reached her ears.

Her fox ears twitched, standing upright.

Focusing her hearing, she soon realized that the sound was a scream. It wasn’t far away.

“A scream...?”

Irene’s brows furrowed.

Her feet pushed off the ground, propelling her toward the source of the sound.

It led her to an alleyway near the shoreline.

*Clatter—*

Several large carriages were parked in a line, guarded by robed soldiers positioned at intervals, seemingly on watch.

The scene struck a chord of familiarity.

Irene’s eyes widened in recognition.

How could she not know?

These were the people who had once turned her life into a living hell.

‘Slave traders.’

Her fists clenched involuntarily.

She hadn’t encountered them since her escape, and yet, here they were, in a place meant for relaxation and peace.

Their underhanded ways had not changed, sneaking through hidden paths.

—“You think you can run?!”

—“P-please help me...!”

—“Shut up! Get back in, unless you want to die!”

—“No...!”

It seemed someone who had tried to escape had been caught.

A woman was being dragged by her collar back into the carriage by one of the guards.

That must have been the source of the scream.

‘What should I do?’

She needed to help.

The urge to rush in was strong, but she couldn’t tell how many enemies there were or how many captives needed rescuing.

If she wasn’t careful, the situation could worsen.

‘The regular guards aren’t a problem.’

They were manageable for her.

But if any of the feared “hounds” were present, the story would be different.

She risked capture herself.

‘But I can’t just stand by...’

As she debated with her hand on her sword, the carriages began to move, their doors shut tight.

“Damn it...!”

She couldn’t let them get away.

Grinding her teeth, Irene evaded the guards’ eyes and climbed onto the last carriage in line.

The compartment was packed with supplies.

She held her breath, hiding among the rattling boxes.

*Neigh—*

The horses neighed, and the carriage started moving.

In the end, the fox girl had embarked on a reckless chase.

---

Meanwhile, someone watched the receding carriages with a cryptic smile.

The narrowed eyes gleamed ominously.

“The main story is done... Now it seems it’s time for a supporting character’s growth event.”

A murmur that hinted at unknown intentions.

*Clap—*

A sharp sound echoed as the shadow vanished without a trace, leaving the night wind to fill the empty space.

[EP.10 The Slave Traders]

—The Rushing Waves, the Submerged Iron Bars—

A new episode was beginning.