Chapter 54
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I, Murmur, was honestly planning to enjoy the conversation with Sitri with a rather light heart.
I was always quite careful about managing my hunger, even when I had to read between the lines, so I judged that the probability of experiencing this event was quite low.
Also, I thought that even if I encountered this randomly occurring 'hunger' event, it wouldn't be a problem.
Of course.
When playing the game, I could endure it by simply pressing a choice once, as long as the conditions were met.
"Ugh, uhh... Ah...!"
【Stamina 99, Mana 100, Hunger 101, Stress 54】
「Murmur is feeling hungry!」
"Murmur-nim, you don't have to hold back."
Sitri, who couldn't possibly know my feelings, offered her pure white neck to me.
A beautiful, pure white neck, like a field covered in the first snow.
The sweet and delicious scent of fruit wafted around.
"Ugh..."
I was a fool to think that I could endure it so easily.
I knew how difficult and painful it was for Murmur to endure this hunger, yet I simply thought I could endure it.
I had underestimated hunger too much.
I arrogantly thought that even if this moment came, I could simply close my eyes and endure it.
"I'm fine, Murmur-nim."
Sitri, with a humble expression, as if to say she had tasted enough of all the happiness in the world.
This girl is serious.
But I can't eat her.
I have no intention of going through with that terrible, unrestrained, and cruel story of the Demon King route!
"Ah..."
My mouth was watering, and I was so hungry.
I now understood what it meant when people said their stomach was sticking to their back.
This is hunger.
Sitri in front of me looks so delicious.
She looks like a fluffy donut covered in white sugar powder.
「Murmur is feeling hungry!」
「Enjoy the feast!」
"I was born to be eaten by Murmur-nim like this."
"Don't say that."
"So please... eat me to your heart's content."
I don't want to do bad things to Sitri.
I don't want to ruin your body just to satisfy this hunger that is coming for me.
I don't want to bite your arm here today, and then your thigh next, then tear at your chest, and finally bite your neck.
"That kind of thing... Murmur... would never..."
Two invisible hands grabbed my, Murmur's, head.
Against my will, my lips were pressed against her neck, where a sweet fragrance was rising.
Her skin was soft. Like a fluffy cake.
"Ah... Murmur-nim..."
Don't let out a sigh that sounds like you're prepared.
"Sit, tri..."
I stuck out my tongue.
I licked her pure white neck.
I could feel the dangerous beating of her heart beyond Sitri's chest, which I was gripping tightly.
「Murmur is feeling hungry!」
It would be delicious.
Sitri's heart would be so delicious.
"Murmur..."
Think.
Remember.
This isn't even twisting the main story.
In the Demon King route, Murmur can originally refuse hunger.
It's a choice that doesn't have any merit, but you can choose it.
"Murmur...!"
There's no massive experience gain.
It doesn't give you any skills.
There's no knowledge.
But I like this story.
"...I won't... eat Sitri."
"You don't have to hold back."
"Murmur is going to eat... the sweet things... that I made with Sitri!"
"Yes...?"
My fingers trembled.
I felt like the whole world was laughing at me.
"Murmur... hates... meat. I like... sweet things."
"What on earth are you saying..."
"I want to eat the... pancakes... that Sitri made... Murmur wants to eat the cream puffs that Sitri made, and I want to eat cake with you later...!"
Sitri's eyes trembled very slightly.
"I'm also going to eat the... macaroons that Sitri likes. You can't get angry if Murmur... steals some, okay...?"
"Murmur-nim..."
"Did I... did I only talk about desserts? I want to eat the... lob, lobster that Sitri likes too... Murmur will, will diligently peel the shell for you..."
I let out a hollow laugh.
I don't think those were the lines I was supposed to say.
"There's no need for you to say such things! Eat me now!"
"Murmur... you know... later, with Sitri... in New... New Helheim... we'll have... strawberry... shakes. That's what I decided."
"You don't have to hold back! Look at your body, Murmur-nim!"
Sitri grabbed my shoulders.
"You haven't grown at all! Can't you always stay this small?! It's because you haven't eaten me! It's because you haven't eaten us that you're so small and petite!"
She knows.
She knows that cruel story, she knows Sitri well.
So that's why we decided to have a date here today?
You're a little, just a little sly...
"You're still a whole head shorter than me?!"
"It's okay... Murmur is still... strong. I'll become even stronger. I can protect Nikea, and I can definitely protect my bride, Sitri..."
My fingers trembled.
I was gripping so tightly that I wondered if Sitri's chest would bleed.
"What... what is the reason for you to go through such hardships?!"
Sitri shook her head.
"Murmur-nim is a descendant of the Demon God! The twelfth voice that our Nectar's descendants have been praying for and longing for!!! You have the right to eat me!"
"Ri, right. Sitri is... going to become Murmur's bride..."
"Yes! So, I'm telling you that I'm ready!"
"So... that's why Murmur is saying this. Sitri is Murmur's bride."
I squeezed out the last bit of energy in my body.
"What kind of... groom eats his bride...?"
"...Huh?"
"Murmur, you know, if Sitri is really going to be Murmur's bride... we'll get married."
I smiled faintly.
The only reward given to the player who walked the thorny path of never once satisfying their hunger on the Demon King route.
"Murmur... likes Sitri."
"Th, that's... me too...!"
"I like you a lot, a lot. I like you so much. I was worried that Sitri might get hurt... that's why I didn't accept the gold pouch, because I knew you'd get hurt."
Sitri looked at me with wide eyes.
"So... since it's come to this. I'll take responsibility. Since Sitri has become my bride... we'll get married."
"Murmur-nim..."
"After graduating from the Academy... I'll see Sitri wearing a beautiful dress. I'll see Sitri smiling brightly, saying that she's happy to be a bride."
Effort does not betray you.
A reward is always given to the player who endured the pain.
I don't want to see Sitri smiling as she dies coldly without anything left.
I want to see Sitri smiling happily and saying thank you.
"Murmur is... going to go on dates too. We promised to go to Lake Hedone, didn't we?"
"We, we did promise. I promised with Murmur-nim."
"So. You have to... keep it, okay?"
Sitri trembled and shook her head.
"E, even if Murmur-nim says that! There are things that can't be done!!"
"Sitri... liar... you said you'd listen to anything Murmur says?"
"Th, that's..."
Sitri's solid expression finally crumbled.
Tears streamed down her soft cheeks from her black eyes.
"And... look. Murmur has already... eaten Sitri."
With surging power, I pushed Sitri's chest hard and climbed on top of her.
"Murmu... Kyaa!"
"Eating means... well..."
To trick my body, I rubbed my face against Sitri's neck.
A sweet, pleasant scent.
Soft skin that stimulated my appetite.
My body, Murmur's body, began to heat up.
"It has... this meaning... too. Sitri... you've done... everything you were supposed to do today."
With difficulty, I spoke and held Sitri's hands tightly, forcing them to interlock.
I'm really sorry that blood is flowing from her pure white chest because of my fingernail marks, but this is the best I can do.
Sitting on top of Sitri's thighs, I couldn't endure it any longer.
「Enjoy the feast!」
"If Sitri... is Murmur's... bride... stop me."
"Murmur-nim? N, now! From your horns! From your horns, mana is...!!!"
"Murmur doesn't want to eat Sitri! Murmur wants to become a hero! I want to protect my precious friend! I want to protect Sitri!"
Sitri's eyes sparkled, filled with starlight.
"So please, stop me! Help me endure this hunger...!"
That was the limit of my, Murmur's, reason.
* * *
"Mu... Murmur-nim...?"
Sitri looked at Murmur, who was on top of her, with a flustered expression.
Murmur, who had begun to emit purple mana from her dark red horns.
From the body of Murmur, whom she truly liked and loved, a pitch-black shadow flowed out, filling the surroundings.
The moonlight above was shining clearly in the room, yet the shadow emanating from Murmur's body was swallowing the light.
'Th... this darkness...! This power! As expected, Murmur-nim is a descendant of the Demon God!'
Sitri was impressed, but also felt heartache.
Murmur-nim, whom she truly loved.
The last request she made and the conversations they had shared kept replaying in her head.
"Ugh...!"
Sitri gripped Murmur's hand tightly and remembered.
'Murmur-nim said she wanted to eat desserts with me...'
Feeling the presence of the being emitting darkness with her whole body, Sitri made a decision.
'I am Murmur-nim's bride..! I promised to do anything Murmur-nim wanted!'
It was the request of someone she truly loved.
That being had asked her with a desperate expression to stop the hunger.
The mission that Murmur, who had always kept a slight distance, had entrusted to her after even kissing her neck!
"Really...! What do you think I am, Murmur-nim?!"
Sitri smiled as she accepted Murmur, who was roughly digging into her chest, with her whole body.
"Si■tri...! ■■ ■■!"
Sitri gently accepted Murmur, who was shouting in an incomprehensible ancient demon race language.
If Nikea saw this, she would be shocked and scream, but it didn't matter now.
"Murmur-nim! I, I also! Have food that I want to eat with Murmur-nim!"
Sitri followed suit.
For Murmur-nim, whom she truly loved.
"It's good to share sweet food with Murmur-nim, but I also want to eat spicy food! Did you know? The soup made with spices grown in the southern lands is very spicy?"
Sitri imagined it for the first time.
"I want to see Murmur-nim crying a little because it's too spicy... but don't worry! I will definitely give you a cool and sweet drink!"
"■■ ■■!"
"Ugh... Kugh! I intend to fulfill Murmur-nim's requests! I'm sorry, but! I'm not going to be eaten here today!"
Murmur, emitting black energy, opened her mouth wide to bite Sitri's neck.
Sitri barely turned her face away to avoid it.
If she wanted to.
If she wished for it.
She could have been eaten here right now, but she did her best to avoid the bite.
"■■ ■■! ■■ ■■!! ■■ ■■!!!"
Murmur opened her mouth again with a fierce momentum.
"Murmur-nim...! You have to take responsibility! You promised to go on a date with me again!"
Sitri's slender arms trembled.
"There are many places I want to go! I also want to go to Yekaterinburg, where it snows every day! I want to go to Ermania too...!"
Sitri shouted loudly until her throat was hoarse.
"I want to go on more! Dates with Murmur-nim! I want to be happier! I also want to marry Murmur-nim!"
Murmur's promise.
A beautiful wedding dress.
That promise, which she had never even imagined, ignited Sitri.
"So...! So! Please endure this hunger for Sitri's sake!"
A young lamb ready to sacrifice herself for the descendant of the Demon God.
Sitri shouted.
Under the constellation of Armonia, which the young lambs longed to see again.
Under the constellation of Vergilia, which guided the lost young lambs.
"I'm going to become Murmur-nim's bride...! I can't be eaten here!!"
The solid and misguided belief was no more.
As if blessing the choice, the starlight twinkled, and the darkness emanating from Murmur's body gradually disappeared.
The horns that had been emitting heat also calmed down in an instant.
"Sitri... Ugh..."
Murmur, who had barely regained her reason, mumbled and rubbed her face against Sitri's chest.
'Re, really? Did you really endure it? You didn't eat anything, but you were able to withstand the impulse...'
Murmur rubbed her face against her pure white chest to cool down.
Sitri looked at her with an expression full of respect.
'...As expected, Murmur-nim is someone who can become the Demon King. She's the only being who can save our Nectar's descendants.'
To be able to become the bride of such a being.
Sitri, who had even received a promise of marriage, felt her heart beat faster for no reason.
"Sitri... I'm sorry."
"It's alright. I was the one who brought up the topic of food first."
"But Sitri almost got hurt."
Sitri smiled and gently stroked their interlocked hands.
They were both drenched in sweat, making it feel strangely sticky, but neither Sitri nor Murmur had any intention of letting go.
"I'm planning to become Murmur-nim's bride. I'm not a fool who can't even endure this much hardship."
"Uh-huh, really?"
Sitri gave Murmur a kiss on the forehead as she looked up at her.
Murmur didn't refuse this time either, as she was completely drained of energy.
Instead, she gave a faint smile, as if relieved.
"Hah, but Murmur-nim? If you could move your face a little..."
"Huh? Ah? Oh, it's because it hurts..."
Murmur looked at Sitri for a moment, then suddenly stuck out her tongue.
"Hi, kyaa?!"
Murmur licked the skin where blood was flowing.
That action was purely to use 'healing magic'.
"Mu, Murmur-nim! Murmur-nim! I, I am! Going to be a bride, but! I want to do things like this in bed!"
"Bed? What are you talking about?"
Sitri's face turned as red as her hair, and she trembled.
She was the only one who was conscious of the position.
Murmur was on top of her small body.
Her pure white skin was clearly visible.
They were close enough to feel each other's warmth.
"D, don't pretend you don't know?!"
In the end, Sitri couldn't overcome her embarrassment and tried to cover her face with both hands. The moonlight shone on her bright red ears, as if emphasizing them.
"...Sitri, are you a pervert?"
At Murmur's playful words, Sitri shook her head with an even redder face.
"Murmur-nim made me like this?!"
"But Murmur didn't do anything..."
"Can you say that after seeing my legs and the position I'm in?!"
Murmur chuckled.
Sitri's position was certainly quite suggestive.
Her legs were spread apart, and Murmur was on top of her, so it was natural.
"Sitri is a slut..."
The tension from just a moment ago had completely disappeared, and their usual playful atmosphere had returned.
"I'm not!! Absolutely not?!"
Sitri was horrified and hugged Murmur tightly, raising her upper body.
She was drenched in sweat from head to toe, but strangely, she felt refreshed.
"But don't worry, Sitri."
"What is it?"
"Murmur wants to do it in bed next time."
Murmur said with a cool smile.
"So, that's why..."
Sitri was distressed by her pounding heart and covered her face with both hands.
"Murmur-nim said words that I couldn't help but misunderstand..."
Sitri couldn't bring herself to say what she had imagined.