CHAPTER 43
Rogiana’s violet mana surged, growing more intense and powerful. In her eyes, something thick and heavy wavered, threatening to overflow.
The mana she had absorbed from Mephisto had now raised her to the tenth circle and was pushing her beyond that, steadily filling toward the completion of the eleventh circle.
She was only about one and a half circles away from reaching the level of a 12th-circle Demon King.
She hadn’t sought contact with Mephisto, nor had she intended to recharge her mana through him.
However, the one she was kissing now—that choice was entirely Rogiana’s.
A man with the perfect conditions to draw mana from.
If she had to kiss and make physical contact to absorb mana, he was the one she would choose, without hesitation.
He just happened to be right there beside her.
Just as Asterios opened his mouth to speak, she quickly closed the gap and swallowed his breath. Her soft tongue slipped into his mouth as he gasped in surprise, and she eagerly drew in everything inside. She could feel his body freeze in shock.
There was the taste of blood from the earlier battle in the Demon King’s castle, but even so, his lips and the inside of his mouth were indescribably sweet and tender.
His fragrant masculine scent and his mana flowed rapidly into Rogiana’s body.
“Hup!”
Asterios let out a nasal sound, perhaps from the sense of power draining from him.
After a long, deep kiss, with their saliva mixed and her lips greedily sucking him in, Rogiana finally pulled away.
“Haa…”
Breathing heavily, she gazed down at him—still bound in place.
Asterios’s flushed face was visible as he tried to catch his breath.
“…Do you prefer As, or Tenebres?”
Rogiana murmured, following up on a question she’d asked earlier.
In truth, the name didn’t matter to her.
It didn’t matter what he was called.
Whether he was Asterios or Tenebres—the one she called was the same person.
“No… You’re still ‘As’.”
Rogiana, speaking with Erica’s voice, lifted herself from him, her eyes still glowing a deep ruby red.
“Because right now, you’re a broken Tenebres.”
“……”
She was right.
He was a shattered vessel. An incomplete Tenebres.
The part of his power that had been sealed away could only be reclaimed when the final fragment Edwin held was returned to his body.
“When I kissed you, I realized it. As. You really fought Mephisto in that condition?”
Her words meant that his internal mana was in a deplorable state.
Speaking calmly, Rogiana sat down in a chair a bit away from the bed, crossing one leg over the other.
Seeing her now—her speech and demeanor fully returned to Erica—made Asterios’s heart tremble uncontrollably. His lips, still tingling from their earlier kiss, felt hot.
The reason he had to travel to the Demon Realm and use the power of the dark dragon through Nox’s body… the reason the summoning of Black Breath required a connection to the middle world… it was all because he was an incomplete Tenebres.
She’d seen through it all with just a kiss.
Then, from her lips came words that were hard to believe she had spoken.
“…You may be incomplete, but you’re still good enough to be my prey.”
“!”
Even through the shock, Asterios couldn’t help but think that her glistening, saliva-wet lips looked unbearably seductive.
And at the same time, he realized—
She was extremely angry.
“Why did you do it, huh?!”
Suddenly, Rogiana’s voice rose sharply, echoing in the room. Then, with a face on the verge of tears, she asked:
“Did you think I’d be happy… surviving after everyone else disappeared?!”
You, of all people, shouldn’t have done that!
You could’ve just asked me to fight by your side!
Even though she didn’t shout the words, her expression and eyes conveyed everything.
“Did I… seem that weak to you…?”
He knew exactly what moment she was referring to.
Still bound to the sacred tree, Asterios struggled to rise and knelt on the bed.
“That’s not it…”
It wasn’t because she was weak.
Among the many reasons he’d tried to protect her, not trusting her strength wasn’t one of them.
“…It was just…”
His own selfishness. The decision to rob her of the chance to face her fate head-on had been his greed.
“I…”
He faltered again, unsure if he even had the right to ask for forgiveness.
Their gazes met in midair, locking with unspoken feelings.
Memories from centuries ago flashed through their minds.
The four seasons they’d traveled together.
The beautiful Witch’s Forest, and their hands that had never let go even once.
The strong arms that had embraced her, the soft shoulders he had held close.
Her lovely violet eyes, his dark eyes full of love.
They had been completely one—sharing countless days and nights together.
As she recalled the hill in the Witch’s Forest where they used to count stars and talk all night, he remembered the grassy slope below, where he happily picked fruit for their journey.
While he was thinking of her smile that outshone the star-filled sky the first night they stayed up together, she remembered the expression on his face when he caught her just before she fell.
How his face turned pale—like he had lost the world—over a simple twisted ankle, and how that had made her heart ache.
The sweaters they made for each other, the carefully embroidered bags, the hair ties filled with rare jewels, and the one-of-a-kind earrings. Even the drawer where they stored it all.
Her world and his were interwoven through memory, built and shared by one another.
As their eyes lingered on each other and retraced time, all those long-lost memories came flooding back.
Eventually, with her eyes brimming red, Rogiana finally spoke again.
“…Atone. By becoming my prey.”
Her trembling voice was full of tears.
Asterios’s eyes quivered helplessly.
Even her twisted, angry words—delivered with that beautiful face—felt like forgiveness to him.
So gentle, even now.
Tears welled up in his eyes, and soon heat spread across his cheeks.
Even though his vision blurred, he couldn’t raise his head—he didn’t want her to see him crying.
His chest twisted with pain, his insides felt like they were burning.
Gathering his strength, Asterios responded in a strained, agonized voice:
“Truly… I’m sorry, Erica. I know… I don’t even deserve to ask for your forgiveness.”
Though the woman before him was Rogiana, he clearly addressed his apology to Erica.
Lifting his head, Asterios looked at her.
Meeting her red, tear-stained eyes, he spoke each word with clarity. With the same lips that had just shared warmth and passion with her.
“If even a little… I can atone. I will gladly…”
Before he could finish, Rogiana scowled and raised her hand.
Chrrrrk!
The sacred tree’s branches binding Asterios released him instantly, returning to their original form in her hand.
“…Grant me the honor of being your prey.”
By the time Asterios finished his words, the sacred white staff had quietly surrendered to the saint’s power.
“I accept your answer, Asterios Tenebres.”
Rogiana’s voice was cold as she spoke, then pushed his broad chest, still kneeling, and knocked him flat onto the bed.
“!”
Laying down her staff, her pale hands pressed firmly against his chest.
“The cage of this place—and Graham’s sacred tree—will be proof of your vow.”
Then, the violet witch’s mana vanished completely.
Still with eyes red as rubies, Rogiana roughly tore open Asterios’s shirt.
Ah.
Then, lowering her head, she pressed her lips to his once more.
It was a kiss too hot to contain, with no telling where it might lead.
How much time had passed?
Smack. Slurp.
Dozens of times, Asterios had nearly passed out, only for the overwhelming heat and wet friction filling the room to keep him tethered to consciousness.
His whole body felt like it was melting from the deep, prolonged kisses. His mind fogged over, his thoughts dulled, and his body burned.
And now, her lips were brushing against the bare skin beneath his open shirt…
