Stigma Effect

Proofreader: kuroneko_chan

“There was a terrorism threat if all the monster core in the Alchemist Tower were not destroyed. Because of that, the Alchemist Tower asked Albraka for support....”

“Terrorism? The Tower’s exterior wall repairs were only completed a few days ago. Did they threaten to destroy it?”

"Huh. So, it seems like they wanted Commander Raphlet to come and protect them. It seems like they want the monster cores to be moved to a safer place than they are now."

Yuriel heard Baraha's words and made a groan of pain. While the Tower's outer walls were being repaired, many knights were recruited in consideration of the threat of other terrorist attacks. Raphlet would occasionally go to the Alchemist Tower.

The alchemists, who nearly lost all of the monster cores due to the monsters’ attack, asked Raphlet to protect the cores, and part of the monster cores stored in the Alchemist Tower was moved to Albraka.

Thanks to this, Yuriel's ability to detect the monster cores was developing day by day. It was difficult to judge accurately as there has not been any monster subjugation recently, but if subjugation starts again, Yuriel vaguely felt that her abilities would be more helpful than before.

Yuriel, recalling the past, tilted her head and said to Baraha.

“Baraha, can’t you just stick with them? You almost always live in the Alchemist Tower.... You can escort them with the other knights.”

He shook his head slightly.

“I’m not good at protecting, and I will only make them more anxious if I do it.”

“That’s right….”

Yuriel, who was about to hand over the work to Baraha, agreed that Raphlet would be very busy if he accepted the job.

If Baraha volunteers to escort, no one will be relieved.

Wouldn't he let a gang of terrorists come and he wouldn’t know anything about it?

Seeing Baraha's hazy appearance, Yuriel let out a short sigh. Yuriel mumbled and showed no signs of moving, but Baraha touched Yuriel's arm that was still.

“You said you have to write quickly and write an inspection report.”

At the sight of Baraha urging in a slow tone, Yuriel completed the paperwork with tears in her eyes. The face filling out the papers requesting Raphlet's support was very contorted.

If it was to protect the Alchemist Tower, he would have to spend at least ten days there, but it was clear that Raphlet and her would not be able to share a room during that time.

Since confirming their hearts, the two have been sticking together everyday. Yuriel predicted that Raphlet's absence would be unbearably difficult to stand alone.

The thought of not being able to touch Raphlet's body was terrifying.

"I'm depressed….”

Yuriel muttered gloomy and moved her hand. As neat letters began to fill the page, she became even more depressed.

“… Would you like some sweets?”

Baraha, who was looking at Yuriel who had become noticeably pale, asked a question. When Yuriel nodded, Baraha, who had called the employee, ordered to bring a sweet treat.

Unfamiliar with Baraha's call, the employee listened to him awkwardly, and immediately prepared sweet foods and drinks according to his orders.

"Here."

For Yuriel, who was holding the paper with her left hand and writing diligently with her right hand, Baraha placed a cookie in her mouth. The sweet taste spread all over her mouth, but Yuriel's eyebrows didn't seem to open.

"It tastes awful? Shall I ask them to bring something else?”

“No, it tastes good….”

Baraha, who was watching Yuriel's expression, asked again.

Yuriel, who took the sweets from Baraha's hand and filled out the paperwork instead, could not escape her depression until she finished writing the gun inspection report.

＊＊＊

Seeing Raphlet still conducting training at the training ground, Yuriel went back to his room. Before Raphlet returned, she cleaned up the room and placed the gun inspection report and some papers that Baraha had given her on his desk.

Raphlet, who returned when Yuriel had finished cleaning up, looked at Yuriel's lifeless face and approached her worriedly.

The fingers around her cheek were cold, but Yuriel quietly pressed her face to his hand. Raphlet asked, sweeping Yuriel's cheek.

“Did anything bad happen?”

“Not yet, but it will happen ….”

A muffled voice came back. Yuriel, holding Raphlet's hand with both hands, blinked at the papers she had prepared on the desk and said.

“Would you like to check the documents first?”

“If that is the cause of your depression, I should check it first. I'll check it out soon, so wait a minute."

"Yes."

Raphlet kissed Yuriel's forehead lightly and said. His hand on her cheek fell, but Yuriel grabbed Raphlet’s arm and moved with him as he moved.

“Yuriel.”

Yuriel, who had been hugging Raphlet's neck from behind, bowed her head at his call. Raphlet tried to avoid touching Yuriel as much as possible during his work, but he couldn't leave Yuriel depressed today.

"Come here."

With his arms outstretched, Yuriel smiled broadly and took a seat on Raphlet's thigh. Raphlet's mood was relieved a little at the sight of her wriggling while holding his chest tight.

Kissing Yuriel's head, he turned to the papers to find out what had made her depressed.

Instead of the bad handwriting of Commander Baraha, it was a document full of neat letters belonging to Yuriel.

Yuriel put her ear to his chest and blinked quietly while Raphlet checked the paperwork. The dull heartbeat in her ear was one of Yuriel's recent favorite things. When she listened quietly like this, she felt as if she had become one with Raphlet.

Her second favorite thing after the heartbeat was Raphlet's moans during their engagement. Also, she liked the way he comforted her during their engagement.

As Yuriel was thinking about the things she had come to love, Raphlet opened his mouth, checking the documents.

“Are you so down because of this request to dispatch to the Alchemist Tower?”

It was a somewhat despondent question whether he thought it was not a big deal compared to her worries. Not knowing how sad Yuriel was, Raphlet calmly comforted Yuriel.

“It’s not that dangerous, so don’t worry. If I watch the situation for about ten days and move the monster cores to a safe place, I’ll be back soon."

“How fast is ten days?”

As if shocked by Raphlet's calmness, Yuriel opened her eyes wide and asked.

“Lord Raphlet, is it okay if you don’t see me for ten days?”

Her trembling lips clearly showed how shocked Yuriel was. Raphlet frowned in awkwardness.

It was the patience that he had cultivated for the past seven years of not meeting Yuriel. It was not difficult for Raphlet to endure for about ten days. It was out of the question to go with Yuriel to the Alchemist Tower, which was obviously more dangerous than being unable to bear being away for a while.

“It’s better than being in a dangerous situation.”

“Are you telling me to patiently wait here?”

"That’s right."

“I thought you would say that.”

Yuriel shook her head gloomy.

After confirming Raphlet's heart, she found that Raphlet hated having her be in any dangerous situations so much that he was terrified of her being hurt or suffering.

Yuriel was astonished to learn that as she was laying ill at the Krug Ruins, Raphlet had destroyed the ruins; that was the reason she became ill at the Ruins.

Yuriel, who saw how much the princess loved it, was terrified for a long time for fear that she would harm Raphlet. When the assassin, believed to have been sent by the princess, visited Raphlet's room several times, she experienced a heartstopping sensation.

Raphlet didn't seem to care about the assassin, but it seemed that he protested to the princess the next day when he saw Yuriel, who was asleep in his bed, awakened due to the commotion and stopped breathing.

It was fortunate that even the princess could not easily touch Raphlet, the main character of the prophecy.

It was easy to guess that Raphlet would not take her to a dangerous place.

She knew that even if she went, she wouldn't be of any help if it wasn't a monster attack, but a terrorist attack by humans.

Instead of insisting on going with him, Yuriel let out a short sigh and said,

“Well then, Lord Raphlet. Please hold me as much as you can to make up for the time you are away.”

Yuriel, who hugged Raphlet's neck and kissed him, said as if pleading. All the papers on the desk fell to the floor in an instant.

＊＊＊

Yuriel, who was carried into the bathroom in Raphlet's arms, rested her head on his shoulder. She had to take a bath, but she didn't even have the strength to lift her fingers.

She was doing enough exercises to increase her stamina, but it seemed that Raphlet's stamina was incomparable. Yuriel felt desperately that Raphlet had been taking care of her.

She asked him to do everything he would not be able to do while he was away, and he did it until dawn.

The relationship that started before nightfall continued until dawn. Raphlet didn't back down even when Yuriel said she thought it was enough.

“Then, ten days…. I think I can hold out, Master.”

Yuriel said while lying in Raphlet's arms, as she melted in the warm water. Raphlet laughed with excitement.