Chapter 24 : Dig a Hole and Bury It
Watching Kuru fall into the lava, cry out in agony, then gradually be swallowed...
Lonis knew this battle had finally come to an end: there was no danger around now, and she could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
"Elucia, are you alright?"
Lonis wanted to check on Elucia's condition, but discovered...
Thud.
Elucia collapsed to the ground.
As if countless thin threads had cut across her body, bright red blood poured from her skin, slowly flowing down.
"Elucia?"
Her hands and feet scared cold, Lonis quickly ran forward.
But this black-haired loli gave a gentle smile, acting like nothing was wrong: "Hmph, my strength seems to end here."
"Huh?"
"Lonis, you don't need to worry about me. Just return the way you came using the stairs over there."
"Elucia, what are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? Lonis, don't you want a gentle and considerate girl? Someone like me shouldn't be your companion."
Elucia moved her arm, rejecting Lonis's outstretched hand.
But just this one action made more blood seep from her skin—bright red blood continuously flowed out, dyeing her clothes and black stockings a dark red color:
"Haven't you always wanted to escape my control? Now is exactly such an opportunity: I can't move now, and you can take this chance to escape... It's best to escape far away, otherwise after I recover, I might catch you again."
"!!!"
Lonis was stunned. From a rational perspective, this was indeed a good opportunity to escape from Elucia.
Didn't she hate being treated as a slave?
Didn't she want to gain freedom?
So leaving this sadistic Elucia who liked tormenting people would be the best choice.
But...
......
『Lonis, it's all reverse psychology.』
......
Although there was no evidence, Lonis had a feeling: Elucia was now at the end of her rope, and if she left her here, she would definitely die.
Just like that, quietly...
In this city where she once lived,
In this sunless dungeon,
Slowly dying, gradually becoming bones, completely forgotten by the world.
......
So,
Lonis clenched her fists and shouted with all her might:
"Elucia, don't get it wrong! I'm the master!!!!!!"
"Huh?"
"You've tormented me and bullied me in the past... So don't think you can just die so simply. While you can't move, I'm going to take revenge on you!"
"What are you... saying? Looking for death?!"
Elucia gritted her teeth, her gaze seemingly filled with resentment as she stared at Lonis... If she had strength, she would have punched Lonis in the face long ago.
But Elucia currently had no strength at all and could only be forcefully supported by the silver-haired girl:
"And you're that cunning silver-haired princess, right? Hmph, in your previous life you wanted to escape our wedding, but this time, I absolutely won't let you succeed."
"...!"
"I don't care how sadistic, cunning, tsundere, or perverted your personality is, but as long as you're my wife, you must be obedient, kind, considerate, and responsible! Even if you resist, I'll keep training you!!"
Carrying Elucia on her back, Lonis swayed unsteadily as she walked forward.
But unexpectedly, the girl behind her slowly closed her eyes.
『...』
『You...』
『You're still the same... as before.』
......
Although Lonis thought her words and actions were very manly, very masculine!
But after walking less than a hundred meters...
She realized her limitations: a girl's body was really too delicate. Even just carrying a little loli on her back, she was already exhausted.
Her legs were unsteady, cold sweat continuously pouring from her back, making her little dress and stockings wet.
Her "chest muscles" were also aching faintly, seemingly pulled when she lay on the ground earlier to avoid Kuru's bite.
Lonis didn't know how much longer she could hold on, but the belief in her heart kept telling her: absolutely cannot abandon Elucia, must bring her out alive.
......
And at this moment...
Elucia, who had been silent all along, finally spoke:
"Lonis, are you an idiot?"
"Huh?"
Lonis couldn't see Elucia's expression, only feeling warmth on her back, proving Elucia's body temperature was still normal.
"I'm seriously injured now. If you bring me out of the prison into the ice and snow, I'll still die."
"Th-that's true, isn't it?"
Lonis blinked. She had just been moving forward with pure passion, completely unaware of where to go.
And thinking about it now...
Outside was wilderness with no suitable place to settle Elucia.
"Hmph, really an idiot, aren't you?"
"Don't call me stupid. Elucia, where should we go?"
"Go left, after seeing a red lotus symbol, reach out and activate the second switch, then enter the elevator."
"Huh?"
"That's where I used to harmonize the Flame Abyss when I was a princess... Only the Flame Abyss's power can heal my injuries."
"Oh... oh!"
"Of course, you could also consider that place a trap. As soon as you enter, you might be instantly devoured and ravaged by terrifying tentacle monsters, while I sit safely on the side watching you get violated."
"Don't make such jokes when you're seriously ill!!!!"
......
Of course Lonis didn't think Elucia would harm her.
Admittedly, this girl's personality was a bit strange, but essentially... she was a very kind girl.
Rather,
ever since seeing Elucia's past, Lonis had decided: this girl was her wife. No matter if the sky fell down, no matter how others tormented her, she was her wife!
Because although Lonis liked soft girls, she liked bullied soft girls even more~
Her pride as a hero gave her a natural protective instinct, wanting to see Elucia happy!
......
However...
The stubborn "girl hero" still encountered tremendous difficulties:
"Is, is it this way... Why doesn't anything happen when I pull the lever?"
"Hmph, probably from years of disrepair."
"Huh? Then what should we do?"
"Dig a hole, that should about do it."
"Dig a hole—dig directly to that place?!"
"No, first you dig a hole, then bury me in it. That way, you shouldn't have any guilt, right? If you do, just put up a tombstone~"
"Elucia, talk seriously!! No joking!!!!!"
Realizing she was being teased, Lonis became angry from embarrassment.
"Alright, alright~ There should still be fire crystals in my storage ring. Put them in the magic furnace next to it, and you should be able to restart the elevator."
"Why didn't you say such a simple thing earlier?"
"Huh? Simple... I think digging a hole would be simpler. Just sleeping like that without thinking about anything would be nice."
"Elucia!!!!!"