[Chapter 44]
“…Their bodies switch?”
Sunlight-like glimmers flashed in Raylia’s pale green eyes.
“Yes. The medium sealed in this book is said to guide souls that have been switched and can’t find their original bodies. But since the medium itself has been sealed, sadly, that soul must be trapped inside the book as well.”
Cedric nodded. He felt a thrill at being able to read ancient texts that ordinary people couldn’t, especially when he could stir someone’s curiosity through his interpretations.
“If you open the book, perhaps the soul might jump out? Of course, you can’t actually see it.”
Raylia leaned forward slightly, folding her knees, as if trying to peer into the book to glimpse the trapped soul inside.
“That’s kind of sad. The medium, sure, but what did the soul do to deserve that?”
It was an unexpected response. Cedric, who had been about to look away and turn his attention to another book, was caught off guard and looked at Raylia again. After what had happened earlier with Deon, he had formed a bit of a negative impression of her. But this moment of empathy showed she might not be so bad after all.
‘I thought she was someone who only pushed her own views without listening, but maybe that’s not the case.’
She was even listening intently to his explanation.
“As a Saint, you witness many tragic circumstances. I’ve seen so many that I started to believe every life has a predestined fate.”
“Fate exists to be changed.”
Cedric smiled faintly, letting his guard down a little.
“That’s a good attitude.”
“No, I’m serious. You really can change fate. I’ll save them.”
“Rayli— Lady Raylia?”
But his smile quickly turned into horror at what she did next. From the pocket of her prison uniform, she suddenly pulled out a gun and started smashing the glass. Cedric, who had been so absorbed in their intelligent and graceful conversation, was paralyzed by the ear-splitting noise.
Shards of shattered glass clinked under the heel of her boots. Raylia swept the pieces away with her foot and reached for the book tightly bound with thin chains and a padlock.
“I’m not opening the book now. If I did, the medium might escape and become dangerous. I just want to increase the chance that the poor soul might be saved.”
Her words were righteous, but her actions were straight-up theft. No—worse than theft. She was planning to help a prisoner escape from prison.
“Lady Raylia, I know things aren’t exactly normal in this prison, but you can’t just steal the book like this—”
“It’s not the book I’m taking. It’s the soul. The soul!”
There was no getting through to her.
“Cedric, if the soul reenters a body, we can return the book to the prison, right? Then it’s not stealing—it’s borrowing.”
Her slender white fingers playfully tapped the cover of the book. Cedric’s heart pounded at the thought that even that might release the seal, but Raylia, looking pleased with herself, simply stuffed the book into her bag.
“What are you waiting for? Let’s go.”
Cedric scratched the back of his neck, clearly flustered. If Deon or Ian were here—no, even Lemoni—maybe they could have stopped her. But he knew all too well that he was weaker than this reckless woman.
“Uh, should I go first?”
As Raylia tilted her head and hummed a tune, walking off cheerfully, Cedric’s eyes widened, helpless and sighing.
“Raylia! Please just browse the rest of the books—don’t break anything else!”
“Cedric, what’s this?”
Oh no. She had taken interest in another book. It felt like watching a student who shows up every day but only ever causes trouble. A bit nervous, Cedric resolved to stop her this time. This was a matter of survival.
But then—
“…What is this?”
Cedric frowned.
He hadn’t found the book on a well-lit display at eye level, but rather in a dark corner of the corridor. It looked like someone had tossed it there, lying open on a random page.
“I don’t know. It was just lying there on the floor, but I looked around and didn’t see any broken glass. I think it might’ve fallen from another floor?”
He nodded.
“If it was already open, maybe that’s why we got dragged to Ward E. Could you hand me the book? I’ll try translating it.”
He carefully took the hardcover book and examined the cover and introduction. As expected, it was written in ancient script.
“The other book I read described the background of how the medium was created and its abilities in detail. Hmm… This book says the medium sealed within it was created by a dark sorcerer who fell in love with a blonde woman. He had a good relationship with this woman, named Isabella, but after she suddenly cheated on him, he was devastated and…”
Could this really be true?
Cedric narrowed his eyes and paused.
“…It says the blonde woman’s five senses become heightened, and she becomes sexually aroused.”
* * *
What do I do? I’m going crazy.
Hhh…
A soft groan escaped my lips. My palm pressed against something hard like a wall, but soon curled up. I had to do something—anything. It felt like bugs were crawling under my skin; I was going insane. No, it wasn’t an itch. It felt like my whole body was melting like butter. No—more than that. There was a heavy pull in my lower abdomen…
“Wait. I’ll support Lemoni—”
“Don’t touch me.”
“Then what, just leave her like this? We have to do something—she can’t even talk right now!”
Sharp and dazed voices echoed above me. I flinched instinctively, and perhaps someone noticed that I was scared, because a hand gently stroked down my back. Ah. I gasped as a tingling moan escaped me. It was like cold water filled with ice cubes touching a parched tongue.
This was it.
This was the answer.
“…Deon.”
But a single touch wasn’t enough to calm my body. As I peeked out from his embrace and called his name, Deon stared down at me with clenched teeth, his entire body stiffened. His trembling red eyes were stunning.
“Deon.”
“You said you didn’t like me.”
“…Mm, Deon.”
As I whimpered and called again, he turned away and sighed deeply, his expression twisted as if trying to hold something back. But why? He used to kiss me without hesitation—why hold back now?
“…Why won’t you?”
When I asked desperately, silence hung between us.
Then everything happened in a flash. Someone’s touch grew rough as they suddenly pulled me close by the waist. Before I could even react, something soft nearly touched my lips—but another hand grabbed my chin and turned me to face him.
“I’ll do it.”
It was Ian.
My body was pulled toward him, and as I stared at him with flushed ears and hazy eyes, he let out a short laugh and smiled sweetly.
“He only does it because he has to. But I can do it right, Lemoni.”
Then, with a forceful movement, something brushed past my cheek and shoved Deon’s shoulder. Caught off guard, Deon stumbled back half a step, and Ian slipped into the gap. One of his strong arms swept my head, grabbing a fistful of hair.
“What do you want? I’ll do everything. Okay?”
His deep voice rang in my ears, more desperate than I was. As his hot breath tickled my skin and made me gasp, he lowered himself. A wet, warm mass grazed the nape of my neck.
Hh…
The moment that moist, soft thing touched me, my face twisted. Something was wrong. It felt like I was getting more thirsty, even though I was being drenched in water.
“…I-Ian.”
“Yeah?”
“That… tickles…”
“Feels good, right?”
His voice vibrated against my neck. And yet he didn’t stop.
“I said… it tickles.”
“Then say it feels good.”
The hand that gripped my hair began stroking me gently, like soothing a child. Wherever he touched felt like my skin was melting. Trapped in this huge man’s arms, I clung to his broad forearm like it was a cage. Then the arm that had been focused on my neck tensed before he knelt down and leaned over me.
“What should I do next?”
He bit my neck lightly and asked in a lower tone.
“Hm? I won’t hurt you. You don’t like pain. I’m sorry about before.”
My mind was foggy. I could barely breathe, let alone reply. As I gasped like a fish out of water, Ian’s gaze deepened.
“What feels good?”
I can’t answer that. Just calm me down already. I gripped his arms again, and he gave a wry smile, as if testing his limits.
“I won’t do anything else until you speak. If I keep going, I won’t be able to stop.”
Warmth. I needed warmth. I was hot, yet something inside felt so empty. If I could just touch more of him, I thought I could calm down. If I could just release all this burning heat swelling inside me like a balloon…
Like a wanderer drawn to an oasis, I cupped his cheek with my hand.
“…Come here.”
My voice was cracked from thirst, but the golden eyes staring back at me lit up with both madness and ecstasy, as if hearing the voice of a god.
And the man obeyed.
Or at least, he was about to—
