Chapter 88: Verina's Viewpoint: Vulnerable Angel

Oh, how I want to become as strong and as divine to quickly procure Narcissus for myself~!

It might also be the same case for Kuzunoha, with how lovingly she gazed at Narcissus despite having a semi-permanent sore on her body after that incident.

I also caught her drooling with a rather perverted smile on her face. I ignored it, since I don't want my memory to be muddled by her annoying presence instead of Narcissus' holy presence.

Before I knew it, I was also drooling.

Yeah, Narcissus' sleeping state was a little bit too hazardous for our fragile mind to resist. If she were to rest like this in the vicinity of an average human with average mental fortitude, I could imagine the depth of depravity of degeneracy that might be inflicted on her.

Then, as if sensing our degenerate thoughts, Narcissus stirred.

Her brows furrowed, and a shadow of discomfort crossed her face—a sharp contrast to the serenity she'd worn just moments before. Her breathing quickened, and her lips parted as though she were murmuring something in her sleep, though the words were too faint to hear. Sёarch* The NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Kuzunoha's hand froze in midair. "Is she…?"

I nodded, trying my best to make a frown. "A nightmare."

It was rare—too rare—for Narcissus to show any sign of genuine distress without her resolute willpower and defiance, even while sleeping. She was always so composed, so in control. To see her like this, struggling against some unseen terror, was unsettling.

"What could be tormenting her?" Kuzunoha's voice was quiet, her usual sarcasm replaced with a rare note of concern.

I shook my head, my hand instinctively moving to brush that stray lock of hair from Narcissus' forehead. "Neither have I." Experience exclusive tales on m v|l e-NovelFire

"I might need to have this as a topic the discussion with Daffodil on my next visit."

"You can't do it now?"

"The contract states that I must report and seek her consent whenever I wish to conduct an experiment on her," Kuzunoha murmured, her fingers tracing Narcissus' pained features with a tenderness that made my own hand twitch with envy, instinctively reaching out to mirror the gesture.

"Don't you have that one opportunity to do anything to her body?" I asked, reminded of the deal that had been struck—the one that convinced Kuzunoha to store the entire workshop within her arcane vault.

Kuzunoha's lips curled into a playful sneer. "As tempting as it is, I wouldn't squander such a rare chance on something so trivial, even if I am concerned for her."

"Tsk." I clicked my tongue, annoyed by my failed attempt to waste that chance of hers.

We watched in silence as her face twisted with whatever horror haunted her dreams. Her hand clenched around the sheets, knuckles white, as though she were grappling with something—something that we couldn't see, couldn't touch, but that was clearly tormenting her.

As much as I want to wake her physically from this nightmare, dragging someone out of their dream realm while they were facing something disturbing would only worsen their state of psyche.

After all, the essence of a nightmare might linger beyond the dream realm—something that the creatures of the Ordeal would abuse to play with the heart.

Seeing how Kuzunoha did nothing, it means that our interference might cause harm. Not to mention, I didn't glimpse any kind of malice and sadism in her face yet.

It was strange, this feeling of helplessness. We, who had stood by her side, who had fought and genuinely acted for her—yet at this moment, there was nothing we could do but watch.

Just as I was about to speak again, a sudden noise broke the stillness of the room. The distant presence of the sapient group, a great size of them, low and unfamiliar, reached our senses.

Kuzunoha's head snapped toward the window, her sharp instincts immediately on alert. "Do you sense that?"

I listened closely as I used ohrtending to sharpen my senses. The voices grew louder, more distinct, and it became clear—they weren't friendly.

"Uninvited guests." Kuzunoha's lips curled into a dangerous smirk, her previous concern for Narcissus now replaced with a predatory gleam as she manifested her own clothing. "Looks like someone's about to have a very bad day~"

I stood, my hand instinctively reaching for my musket alongside the garb that was made especially for me. "We should handle this quietly. Narcissus doesn't need to be disturbed."

Kuzunoha grinned, her usual cold confidence slipping back into place. "Agreed. Let's make this quick and messy~"

"I disagree with the 'messy' part."

With one last glance at the sleeping beauty—still trapped in her nightmare, still unknowingly at the center of our world—we slipped out of the cabin, ready to greet the unwelcome intruders with the kind of hospitality they deserved.

Those hooligans weren't that close yet to our bastion, but they definitely acted like they knew the location of our bastion as they prepared their equipment and weaponry.

As if they were starting a siege.

But as much of an annoyance their arrival was, we dealt with them without much problem in our hands.

And that is how we get here.

"Lay bare your intentions and guilt, lest you want your mind to be probed in a less gentle way." Narcissus viciously commanded the rounded-up survivor of the assaulter, outside of the wooden cabin.

Her complexion was different than usual. As she sat and crossed her leg on her wooden seat in front of the defeated vagabonds, her posture was more poised than ever. Her gaze was dangerous and domineering, like a divine entity that looked down on mortals with barely any empathy in her voice.

There was that same perturbed shadow on her eyes. However, that shadow might be interpreted rather differently to others outside me and Kuzunoha.

But despite her dangerous words, none of the bandits let out a word.

Actually, it was not that they dared to keep the information. It was the opposite to be precise.

They were incredibly terrified to the point of not being able to speak.

"Answer." Narcissus' voice was a smooth blade, cutting through the silence with a calm yet terrifying precision. She detached her crossed-legs slowly, leaning forward from her chair as she rested her chin on her palm, looking like an impatient queen who held court over a kingdom of filth. "Before I lose what little patience I have left for your kind."

The man, beaten and trembling, avoided her gaze, but it was clear he could feel the weight of it—like iron pressing against his chest. His lips quivered, but still, no words came.

"Do you think silence will save you?" Narcissus purred, her lips curling into a small, dangerous frown. "I've found that silence is merely another form of confession. And what you're confessing to me now, dear bandits, is stupidity. Is that what you want me to remember you by?"