Legend of the Crimson Demon

After making it absolutely clear that he would never join the Axis Cult, Zunzun forcibly threw Cecily out of the suite.

Even when she shouted and whined at the door, he refused to respond.

Before long, a hotel staff member appeared and led her away.

Even if she was a priest of the Axis Cult, disrupting hotel business was unforgivable. Zunzun knew this, so he simply ignored her.

Now, at last, he was soaking in the hot spring.

After a long day of travel, plus the spiritual torment of dealing with Cecily, his body was sticky with sweat and stress. A bath was overdue.

He'd invited Yunyun to join him, but his shy fiancée had already bathed and politely declined.

Like a gentleman, Zunzun waited until she finished, then slipped into the private hot spring behind the suite.

"Ahhh~ bliss…"

The hot springs of Arcanletia really were famous for a reason. The water melted away his fatigue, and the night sky above, littered with stars, added to the dreamlike atmosphere. The garden lights glowed softly around the courtyard.

Zunzun leaned back on the edge of the stone pool with a rare, peaceful smile.

That peace didn't last.

A soft voice whispered behind him, "Guest, would you like some room service?"

"…No."

"…I see. Then, excuse me—"

"Wait, I said no—?!"

Zunzun turned his head.

Cecily stood there.

Golden hair tied back, creamy shoulders bare, limbs pale and glistening under the bathhouse lights—she wore nothing but a loosely wrapped towel. In her hands was a tray bearing two jelly-like desserts. Agar Slimes. Each wobbling treat was topped with a pink cherry.

"Aw, don't look at me like that," she said coyly.

She stepped into the pool.

Zunzun recoiled on instinct, putting distance between them.

"Big Sister brought you the most delicious Agar Slimes," she cooed, placing the wooden tray onto the water. It floated gently, rippling the surface. "They're good for you."

If there had been a wine glass on the tray, Zunzun would've assumed he was the guest and she the hostess.

Fortunately, there wasn't.

"You're seriously clingy."

"Clingy?"

"It means clingy."

"Hehe~ well, not giving up is my best quality," Cecily said proudly. "I don't admit defeat, and I never abandon people. That's what makes me special!"

She said this like it was a good thing.

Zunzun crossed his arms and frowned. "No matter how many times you ask, I'm not joining the Axis Cult. Please leave."

"Aww, do I look like the kind of woman who clings?"

"Yes. What of it?"

"Eeeeh—?!"

Even Cecily, the human manifestation of shamelessness, was briefly stunned.

But as she'd just said—she didn't give up easily.

"Actually, I'm not just here to pester you," she said cheerfully. "I'm your new room attendant!"

"…Huh?"

"I spoke with the hotel owner. He agreed to let me work here for free today. So now, I'll be serving you in the room! Look! This cherry-flavored Agar Slime is a special treat for you~"

She swam toward him with the tray.

Zunzun immediately dodged, but his avoidance only fired Cecily up. She lunged after him like a heat-seeking missile. Her smooth skin pressed shamelessly against his, from her muscular chest to her resilient legs.

"C'mon, let me spoil you a little!"

"That's enough!"

Zunzun grabbed her and slammed her against the edge of the hot spring. Her upper body landed on the stone, towel slipping dangerously low, while her legs still trailed in the water.

He pinned her arms down.

They were way too close.

If his hands slipped even slightly, they'd make contact with…

Abort! Abort! This is a landmine situation!

"Hnn~ you like taking charge, huh?" Cecily purred, turning her head away, cheeks flushed. "Fine… do what you want…啾～♡"

She puckered her lips and tilted her head back invitingly.

Zunzun's expression twisted into disgust.

"——Hey!"

He spat to the side.

No matter how beautiful Cecily was—and she was beautiful—he had zero interest in dealing with landmine types. She was a walking disaster, a full-blown scumbag. Just the kind of fool who'd rush toward Lady Aqua.

With a grunt, he let go of her hands, grabbed his towel, and scrambled out of the hot spring. He slammed the sliding door shut, locked it, wrapped himself in a quilt, and pretended none of this had happened.

There was no blanket in the common room, but Cecily could sleep on the couch for all he cared. He was done.

Zunzun slowly drifted into sleep.

But…

The moonlight pouring through the paper window was too bright.

He cracked his eyes open—

—and saw something crawling in through the window.

A silhouette with wild, tangled hair. A woman. She dragged herself inside inch by inch, like something out of a horror film. A hoarse whisper escaped her lips:

"I… won't give up…"

"AHHHHHHHHHHH—!"

Zunzun clutched his face and let out a very masculine shriek (purely for catharsis). For a second, his heart genuinely stopped.

This feeling… I haven't felt this scared since I was born!

The ghost-like figure stumbled across the floorboards, reached the futon, and pounced.

"Hehe~ I won't give up!"

"GET OFF! You're Cecily, aren't you?! I knew it!"

Zunzun wrestled with the madwoman in the moonlight. Her hair was a mess, but her blonde and blue eyes were unmistakable.

It was Cecily!

She was crawling all over him, one hand stroking his chest, the other groping his face. He tried to push her off, but she clung like taffy.

Damn it! Is she really a priest!?

Even with the body of a god, Zunzun couldn't overpower her easily.

Something was very wrong with this woman!

After a long struggle, Zunzun finally wrapped Cecily in a futon and bound her with rope like a mummy.

"Hey… if this is your thing, I can go along with it…" Cecily said, wiggling suggestively.

"…Hey!" Zunzun spat again and stormed out of the room.

He crossed the suite and knocked on the second bedroom door.

From inside, a flustered voice responded:

"Wh-Who is it!?"

"It's me."

"Zunzun? What's wrong?"

The door opened slightly. Yunyun peeked out, confused.

Zunzun bowed deeply, hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Please—let me sleep in your room tonight!"

"H-Huuuuuuh————?!"

Apparently, she misunderstood something.

-End Chapter-

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