NOVEL NEXT Chapter 203
I frowned. “Stop joking around. Are you hurt anywhere else?”
Damian took my hand, shaking it gently as if to comfort me. “Really, I’m not. This bruise is nothing.”
He nuzzled into my embrace like a cat, rubbing his cheek against mine as if enjoying my concern. “I don’t feel any pain when I’m with Madam, truly.”
“That’s impossible.” I took out some ointment from my inventory and warned him. “Especially since the activity of the Stigmata has suddenly increased, making it dangerous to wander outside…”
Wait a minute. The activity of the Stigmata is influenced by Damian’s affection level. So, if they are suddenly rampant, does that mean Damian’s affection level has dropped? A chill went down my spine as I pulled up his character information.
▼
[Damian West]
Age: 22
Height: 187 cm
Birthday: January 31
st
Likes: Toys, cooking, sports
Dislike: Nobility
Likeability: ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤍
▲
…Maybe I’m overthinking it. Given the significant changes in the scenario, they could have been triggered by some unknown causality.
I felt the need to investigate what that trigger might be.
“Madam?” Damian looked puzzled as I paused in my thoughts.
“
Ah
, I was just saying to be careful. I’ll check if there are any Stigmata members around when it’s daylight.”
Damian then nodded. “But that might put you in danger. I should be the one to handle dangerous tasks.”
“Still…”
“I’m strong here too, you know? With my memories combined, I have a wealth of theoretical and practical experience unmatched by ordinary people.”
I closed my mouth. The theory and practice he spoke of related to combat or even murder.
Damian smiled brightly. “You know what kind of person I am, Madam.”
In the dungeon, Damian was a member of a dark organization. Here, he was a genius assassin. A perfect being of the underworld.
I didn’t respond but opened the ointment and handed it to him. “This ointment is made from components that are safer than potions. If you get hurt again, apply this.”
But instead of taking the ointment, Damian rolled up his shirt.
“What are you doing?”
“Aren’t you going to apply it for me?”
“Don’t you have hands?”
“But I’m hurt…”
Despite his unreasonable demand, it felt hard to be harsh with him. Reluctantly, I took some ointment and gently applied it.
Damian giggled with delight. Each time, his menacing muscles tensed and relaxed. I felt a flush of warmth.
“Done.” I quickly finished applying the ointment and pulled down his shirt just as the constellations sent a wave of regretful sponsorships.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Loudmouth’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Just use the whole tube of ointment
ㅎㅎ
. Damian probably wants that too.]
I closed the sponsorship window and broached a more realistic topic concerning Damian’s future. “What are you planning to do now? School’s over, so there’s time to adjust, but do you remember your home?”
“I remember. I know where Madam’s mansion is and even the layout of the rooms.”
“When did you learn that?”
Damian tapped his head. It meant the Damian of this world already knew.
I wanted to ask more about what had happened to the original Damian. His return was welcome, but how Damian, who was supposed to disappear in the dungeon, survived was also a mystery.
But let’s not ask today.
I wanted to welcome Damian. I didn’t want to make him feel lonely, dropped into a strange world. As much as I loved this place, I hoped he would too.
Though it seems unlikely. With Stigmata and now Ozworld intervening as well.
My head started to ache. I worried Ozworld might harm Damian, considering this a glitch.
If only I had stronger powers, I could have made a safer world for Damian.
As I stroked his cheek with a pitying heart, Damian suddenly kissed my lips. Frozen by his incomprehensible act, Damian kissed me again with a light peck.
“Why suddenly?”
He tilted his head in confusion. “Didn’t you ask for a kiss?”
Suddenly, Ozworld’s words came to mind.
“When you look at someone like that, it seems like you’re begging for a kiss.”
Confused if there was something wrong with my eyes, Damian confessed in a small voice.
“Actually, I couldn’t resist.”
He then hugged my waist and nuzzled his face against me, asking for forgiveness. Despite the absurdity, I found myself laughing, and Damian pouted in a low voice.
“I can’t hold back anymore, Madam… What should I do?”
“What do you mean what to do? Hold it in.”
I pushed his lips away and tried to step out of his embrace, but I was quickly being enveloped again, and our lips met.
“I don’t want to.” His muffled voice quickly turned into heavy breathing.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Dopamine Addiction’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[There’s no backing down in physical intimacy. Only going forward.]
In the dungeon, there was nothing I wouldn’t do to survive. I could shamelessly kiss and act like a married couple as part of my role. But this was different.
I managed to push the relentlessly advancing Damian away. He then asked with a breathless voice filled with concern. “Did it hurt?”
“It’s not that it hurt-”
“…Or did you find it unpleasant?”
“No, it’s not unpleasant! It’s just that we shouldn’t be doing this now…” My voice trailed off, losing conviction by the end.
Ding!
[The Constellation ‘Professional Instructor’ has sponsored 1,000,000 coins.]
[Just give in and take it all. Honestly, the male leads would be happier that way.]
Though I couldn’t agree, I became more confused over time. Whether it was Damian or Ilya, it was ridiculous to pretend to be a couple. But my conscience didn’t allow it.
Is it because I don’t love them?
No. I love my male protagonists as much as I love Libby. So, I wasn’t sure if this was from a romantic perspective.
Then, do I find kisses unpleasant?
No. My body responded normally to the stimulus, and my mental desires functioned properly.
…But wasn’t my rejection justified?
As I continued to ponder, I forced myself to be more resolute. “In the world where we met, it’s true we were close. But that was under special circumstances.”
“…”
“Here, I’m not your madam.”
I knew Damian’s
‘Madam’ meant ‘
Wife
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