PMEVBO 71

His gaze had no color, no texture, no weight. Yet I could feel Iser’s eyes on my skin. From my collarbone, across my chest, over my ribs, down to near my navel. The sensation trickling down felt like being covered in tar.

Enduring his gaze felt overwhelming to me. Maybe that was why. I forgot that this was the very spot Iser had kissed mere minutes ago, so I took my left index finger to my mouth.

Just as I was about to bite down, my wrist was caught. Iser gently pulled my left arm downward. Only then did I came back to my senses.

Ah, damn it…

How could I not even wait a moment before trying to self-harm again? Even a gnawing baby animal would have more patience than me. I wanted to crawl into a mouse hole and hide. Staring at my left arm, caught red-handed by Iser, I cursed silently.

Iser shook my wrist and asked quietly.

“I can’t find the spots. Can you show me?”

“…Uh, sure.”

Iser smiled and released my wrist. I sighed and ran my right hand through my hair. Then, using the index finger of my left hand that I’d almost bitten, I pointed to the right side of my shoulder blade.

“First, here.”

“……”

“And here… and here.”

I then pointed to my left collarbone and the area near my right ribs. Even as I did, I turned my head, keeping my gaze averted.

Suddenly, I felt a cool sensation on the area near my right ribs. A shiver spread down my spine, reaching my neck and tailbone.

“Ugh.”

I reflexively stared at Iser. His hand, which had been fiddling with the restraint device on my ribs, froze abruptly. Then, as if nothing had happened, he withdrew his hand from me.

“Did I startle you? I couldn’t see well because of the restraint. I’m sorry.”

It was a straightforward apology.

My ribs and sides were like my weak spots. Even in my original body, that area had been particularly sensitive. It was fine when something touched me over my clothes, but when something touched my bare skin, I reacted sensitively, even if I didn’t want to. But why would that annoying weakness remain the same even after possession? 

This is annoying…

Of course, I wasn’t annoyed at Iser. What annoyed me was myself, for being stupid and reacting so awkwardly. I lowered the hand covering my mouth and forced myself to sound calm.

“…It’s fine. I’m the one who should apologize for startling you.”

Looking down at my ribs, I saw one of the restraint straps covering the butterfly birthmark. I hooked my thumb under it and pulling down and the tightly secured restraint shifted slightly downward.

“There, can you see it now?”

The moment our eyes met, I thought I saw Iser’s pupils tremble slightly. But it was such a fleeting moment I couldn’t be sure. Iser took a deep breath, averted his gaze, and replied.

“…Yes, I can see it clearly.”

If he’d confirmed the butterfly birthmark on my ribs, that meant the inspection was over. The other two weren’t hidden by the restraints. Eager to escape this perverted situation as quickly as possible, I hastily gathered the scraps of the prison uniform scattered across the bed.

I pushed the scraps of the prison uniform into the restraints, then paused and let out a sigh.

Ah, who knows when I’ll ever finish fastening this again…

Just then.

Ding!

────【 Sub Quest 】────

Praise ‘XXX Hayut’!

(3/3)

D-0(19h 35m 3s)

Success!

────────────────

…Out of nowhere, the quest cleared.

I was already on pins and needles with the time limit almost up. But seeing it clear like this, I felt more dumbfounded than happy.

What? Why all of a sudden…

The system only counted praise if the target was happy because of me. But what exactly was there to be happy about in this situation that fulfilled the condition?

I turned my head. I must have been staring blankly for a while, because Iser, who had been silently helping me button my prisoner uniform, met my gaze. He tilted his head to one side, looking confused, and asked.

“What is it?”

I wanted to ask him that instead.

“You…”

I wanted to ask what made him so happy. But it felt like touching a forbidden taboo. I ended up keeping my mouth shut.

How is that even the expression of someone who’s happy in the first place…

Iser’s default setting was expressionless. Compared to when he was fourteen, his smile seemed to have softened quite a bit now that he was an adult, but he still looked expressionless most of the time. In fact, right now, he didn’t just look expressionless, he looked cold.

Far from looking happy, he actually looked upset… Was something wrong?

Well, whatever.

Even if it was an error, it didn’t cause any harm. It was a situation where I benefited.

But why was this guy upset? Ah, maybe because I was being too bothersome…

I fastened the button on my sleeve and belatedly thanked him.

“…Thank you for helping me get dressed.”

“Thanks, yeah.”

Iser chuckled softly as he buttoned my collar.

“Of course I should help. It’s like I stripped you myself.”

At that moment, my hand paused mid-button. His words weren’t wrong, but for some reason, it felt strange.

Since reuniting with Iser, his subtle words and actions had often left me flustered. Though Iser himself probably had no such intention.

Well, I’m just being overly sensitive…

Even standing still, twenty-year-old Iser was captivating enough to draw attention. When someone like him showed even the slightest hint of subtlety, it was impossible not to notice. The apothecary who fidgeted the moment Iser approached must have felt that way… and so did I now. Even before the possession, I was frequently misunderstood.

Of course, the nature of the misunderstandings I faced and those Iser faced were entirely different, to the point it felt embarrassing to lump them into the same category. While mine fell into the realm of dislike, his belonged to the realm of attraction.

But being misunderstood regardless of one’s intentions was exhausting, regardless of the context. That was precisely why I was worried about Iser now.

Then Iser spoke up.

“But didn’t you say you’d be back in ten minutes? It feels like ten minutes have passed.”

“…Right. Ten minutes have passed.”

I glanced at the status window as I answered.

“But it’s okay. I can go back in three minutes.”

(3m 1s)

“Really? That’s a relief. But then I’ll have to get you dressed faster.”

Iser pulled the fabric at my shoulder tight and brought his face very close. His breath brushed my neck and shoulder. I struggled not to flinch.

…It feels a bit awkward lecturing a grown adult like this, but this can’t go on.

I took a moment to steady my breath before speaking.

“Iser.”

“Go ahead. I’m listening.”

Iser replied, his gaze was fixed on the buttons. For me, it was actually a relief. It was a rather awkward conversation to have while making eye contact. I fastened the buttons on my side calmly as I continued.

“…It might sound unfair, but you need to be several times more careful with your words and actions than others. If you don’t, you might end up hurting yourself later.”

“…?”

“…Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”

Iser’s hand, which had been fastening the button, had stopped. I could feel him lift his head and look at me. Even under that intense gaze, sharp enough to make my cheeks sting, I didn’t lift my head. A voice, slightly muffled, reached my ears.

“…No, I’m not sure. Could you explain it in more detail?”

Yes, come to think of it, my explanation had been a bit lacking.

I opened my mouth again. My gaze still fixed on the buttons near my side.

“So what I’m saying is… even if it’s a trivial action or word from your perspective, it can feel different to the other person.”

“……”

“…You know you’re pretty, right?”

It was then that Iser, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

“Can I ask a question?”

“Uh, go ahead.”

“You said it could feel different to the other person. So how does this feel to you?”

Before I could even ponder the meaning of the question, Iser’s large hand cupped my chin. The next moment, our lips met.