I Became the Husband of a Sword Demon

Why I found myself facing a peculiar question from Asulin the moment I woke up requires a bit of time travel to explain.

I had finished a major task and lay down on my bed, hoping for sleep, but it was an unusually restless night. Even though I had consumed just enough alcohol to make me drowsy, sleep didn’t come easily.

Unable to bear the fatigue any longer, I lay down on the bed and closed my eyes, yet I couldn’t fall into a deep sleep. It was because of a dream. Not a nightmare, but something strange. Given recent years, my life itself had been like a nightmare, so there was no way I would dream of scenes that felt like nightmares.

The dream was odd. It started off normally. Just walking endlessly through a dark place with no light, a typical dream. Like always, I wandered through endless darkness until I woke up.

For the first time, I saw light. A green light that reminded me of a forest, soothing just by looking at it.

As soon as I saw the light, I recalled something intensely. During my early years, even when awake, life felt like a nightmare. The warmth of those times, even though I barely remember the details, had left me with a memory of green.

I wanted to reach out. The moment I saw the shimmering light in the distance, a strong impulse surged within me.

Even though it was a baseless impulse, believing that if I could grab it, the light might take some form and give me a message, in the dream, I didn’t think deeply about it.

“Wait!”

In the dream, I cried out as I accelerated my steps.

I ran endlessly. In the dream, no matter how much I ran, I never got tired. With the desperation that if I missed this, it would be over, my legs moved rapidly.

Of course, the light didn’t get closer just because I ran faster, but it felt like it was getting nearer.

How long did I run? By the time the green light seemed close enough to touch, the light suddenly dimmed right before me.

“No!!”

In the dream, I cried out as I ran towards the fading light. To my astonishment, not only did I catch the light in my hand, but I also held onto it tightly, preventing it from escaping.

Just as I was about to sigh in relief.

“Ugh…ugh!”

A noise that shouldn’t have been heard in my own world interrupted the chase in my dream.

As I gradually regained consciousness, feeling the heavy presence in my arms, my mind jolted back to reality. I hastily pulled away from her, and Asulin, who was breathing heavily, met my gaze.

From what I explained, it’s clear that Asulin’s unexpected question was still pending.

“Are you okay?”

The first thing I heard after waking from the dream was Asulin’s concerned voice.

Even though she was disturbed by my tossing and turning, she didn’t blame me. Instead,

“I kept hearing you groan as if having a nightmare, so I got worried and came closer…”

Scratching the back of her head, she showed regret for disturbing my sleep.

“It should have been me apologizing. I’m sorry for interrupting your rest.”

After expressing my apology sincerely, I suggested,

“You must be tired. Go back to sleep. There’s still plenty of time before dawn.”

It was more important to me that Asulin could sleep peacefully than to dwell on the vivid dream I had.

“Alright.”

Even though she was visibly flustered, Asulin agreed and lay back down.

“I should thank her for worrying about me after I woke up.”

Having heard my cries as if they were moans and being worried about me, I promised to express my gratitude.

However, as expected, falling back asleep didn’t happen right away.

“…Andy?”

Not long after lying down, I heard Asulin’s gentle voice breaking the calm.

“…I’m still awake.”

I answered cautiously to her call.

Turning towards me, Asulin’s emerald eyes sparkled as she looked at me.

“Though I’m not sure if I deserve it, I have one thing I want to ask.”

Her words indicated she had something she wanted to hear.

Finally, my time returned to the present.

The answer I could give was simple.

“…If I can, I’ll answer anything.”

Since it wasn’t the time to beat around the bush, I decided to hear her out.

“Huff…”

Before she spoke, she took a deep breath, and her voice carried a determined tone.

“…Do you find me attractive?”

Suddenly, her straightforward question made me pause.

What should I say?

Attractive?

Never before had I been asked such a difficult question.

Answering wasn’t hard. It was simple if you just stated the conclusion.

The Asulin before my eyes was overwhelmingly charming.

Even now, the memory of her beauty, which drew admiring glances from others who called her the Sword Demon, remained vivid.

How could I say she wasn’t attractive?

But my lips, which seemed ready to speak, hesitated to say that she was attractive.

What should I say? If I revealed my true feelings here…

Thinking about what might follow, I couldn’t imagine.

Even if I was asked whether I truly thought so, the next part would be embarrassing.

“…This really feels awkward.”

So, I stayed silent.

“…I see, it is so…”

Seeing my silence as an unspoken agreement, Asulin’s eyes and mouth drooped, showing disappointment.

But then I said,

“Though it’s hard to say lightly, you are an exceptionally attractive woman to me.”

Without thinking, I shared my honest feelings.

Seeing Asulin’s face, which looked dejected, I felt more regret than ever.

“…Really?”

Her eyes, filled with hope, asked again, revealing a faint smile.

Indeed, Asulin looked best when smiling.

“Hmm, almost forgot how beautiful you look when you smile.”

Though I worried that seeing her smile too often might be harmful to my heart, the thought of her smiling like that every time I saw her filled me with relief.

“…Thank you so much for saying that, even if it’s just to make me feel better.”

Even though her expression softened, her words suggested she saw my words as mere flattery.

“What else can I do? If she sees me as just someone trying to flatter her, then…”

A thought crossed my mind, but I dismissed it quickly.

“…Asulin?”

The sudden embrace from Asulin, who wrapped her arms around my waist, prevented me from speaking.

Though surprised by her sudden action, the steady breathing from her indicated she was still asleep.

“Huff…”

Replacing my confusion was a sigh of relief.

It was a mix of relief.

Relief that I didn’t have to explain why she was attractive to her while she watched.

Relief from the comfort of knowing that my words brought her some solace, even if it was just a little.

And relief from the comforting sensation of her soft body.

“…”

Awakening from my dream, my mind was drawn back to reality.

It wasn’t a mistake.

I had placed Asulin at the edge of the bed and lain down beside her.

“Did you sleep well? Good morning.”

My body was still wrapped in her arms as we greeted the morning.

Why did this happen? Despite all my careful planning, everything seemed to change while I slept.

“Your body is so warm and comfortable. It’s becoming a habit.”

As Asulin embraced me willingly, it seemed futile to try and stop her.

Nighttime was becoming increasingly frightening.

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