Pushing a few hairs away from her eyes, Flora looked at the handful of red hair in her hands, playing a bit with it, making some temporary knots or braids...
The only thing covering her at the moment was the blanket on the bed; under it, her skin was bare, but she didn't feel cold at all, thanks to the other naked body on the bed.
Settling a little better on top of her personal heater, she let out a pleased sigh at how warm her skin felt against his.
The sound of raindrops hitting the bedroom window, as well as the quiet beating of his heart in her ear, was the only noise there was. The sun had not even risen yet, a sign of how early it was.
Raising her head slightly, she looked up at the face of the red-haired man who was holding the Feynapotter Children's Stories artifact in his right hand and stroking her head gently with his left.
"Good morning," Adryan greeted in a somewhat hoarse voice, having not long ago gotten up.
"Morning," Flora greeted in the same husky voice with a hint of gravely.
Her gaze naturally shifted from his face to his neck and shoulders, to the various bite marks, scratches, and hickeys. Which became more bite marks the lower she went.
'The only way to hide that is with the skills of a faceless...' Noting that, a small smile formed on her face at his artwork.
She ran a hand across her neck, where she was sure there were also several marks where the princess had passed with his mouth...
And it was surely not the only place he had left marks.
At that sudden thought, her ears warmed slightly.
Sighing faintly, Flora pressed herself a little closer to her personal heater and murmured with a small growl, "Hunters have some demoness in them too..."
As far as she knew, the princess had never known the touch of a woman. Something he himself affirmed as soon as they reached the bed.
She was supposed to be the one to guide him, and that was at first. A little while into foreplay, and he was already moving as if he had been doing it all his life.
Flora was sure it was because of his path.
Remembering how quickly she had lost control, she huffed lightly, "If it wasn't for that stupid thing you did, I wouldn't be like this."
While he had been gentle as she had asked, that didn't matter much if she still didn't feel like moving.
Looking down from the children's storybook, Adryan laughed a little mischievously, "Oh? I didn't hear any complaints last night."
Not having the energy to say much more nor wanting to ruin such a good morning, Flora just gave a small murmur of affirmation and closed her eyes.
"Whatever you say, virgin boy..."
Stroking the head of his dear worm, Adryan stuck the wound a little more, "I'm not the one who ended up being a quivering mumbler with just my mouth.
"Who knew the great Flora had such a silent part~"
"Using your powers was cheating and you know it," Flora replied without opening her eyes, her legs trembling a bit as she remembered it.
"Again, no complaints~" Adryan winked coquettishly.
Weakness Investigation to look for weak spots, combined with Cull to make every hit vital, a Reaper was able to apply it to any part of his body.
Such a combination gave rise to many opportunities and possibilities for use outside of combat. Like in the bedroom, for example.
Honestly, he never thought the first time he would use that ability would be against the woman in his arms, but he had no complaints... Well, at least one.
Looking at the bites covering his body, he sighed, "Surely there isn't a bit of rat left in you?"
It looked like he'd been attacked by a zombie... A zombie rat that hadn't had a piece of cheese in years.
The white-haired woman smiled without opening her eyes, "No comment."
Shaking his head, Adryan continued to calmly read Feynapotter Children Stories, still well short of the artifact's time.
"Go back to sleep, I'll wake you up in a bit for breakfast."
The Jacob just mumbled a yes and closed her eyes, having no desire whatsoever to discuss such a good offer.
The rhythmic sound of the heart, the gentle patting of the rain on the window, and the hand caressing her head, making her even sleepier...
Lying on the bed, Flora rested her cheek in her palm as she looked at the red-headed man sitting on the edge of the bed.
Clutching the remnants of his pants that were now mere rags, Adryan sighed, "Was it necessary to tear my clothes? I was careful with your dress."
"That's what you get for being such an annoying tease," Jacob replied with the corners of her lips slightly raised.
Being that she now saw his back, she could see the large scratch marks she had left on his back, very noticeable and slightly bloody- they looked like they were made by a very large cat.
Shaking his head, the redhead looked at the rags in his hand and tossed them into the metal trash can in his room, one that also had what he had worn all night, tied and stuffed.
Snap!
With the snap of his fingers, the inside of the dumpster ignited in crimson flames, quickly turning everything to ash and cleaning it out.
Something like that wasn't something he could afford to just throw away.
"Just be more careful next time," Adryan said as he stood up from the bed and moved to his closet, still naked.
"Mhm." The woman made a sound of affirmation without really putting much effort into it, watching him move.
Inevitably, the woman's gray eyes lowered to the man's crotch...
"..." She still couldn't believe all that was inside her.
'We may not be as flexible as the Seers. But the Marauders have their own thing...' She was internally thankful.
"Enjoying the show?" Grabbing a fresh pair of pants, the red-haired man grinned at the woman.
And while he looked confident, a tinge of pink adorned his cheeks.
Flora had already seen him naked a great number of times, but he still wasn't used to being able to see her when she watched him...
Considering everything they had just done, this was a bit meaningless, but he couldn't help but feel that way.
And there being someone who knew him very well here, this person took the opportunity to have a little fun.
"Mmm, not as much as I'd like..." Closing one eye, Flora sat up a bit as she opened the blanket that covered her ever so slightly.
She didn't open it all the way, but it did show a pale shoulder and a bit of her chest, both with several hickeys.
Eyes sparkling playfully, Flora laughed in a smooth voice.
"Why don't you come a little closer? You're too far away to see well~" She whispered teasingly.
"You still have energy after last night?" Adryan smiled and, tossing aside his pants, he moved closer to the bed.
Seeing him approach, Flora let go of the blanket and let it fall, revealing her body.
"We are Sequence 5 Princess, energy is something we have plenty of."
It was one thing to be limp and exhausted. It was another to be so satisfied that you had no desire to move.
Stepping back a little until her back hit the bed frame, she bit her lip as she watched him climb the bed slowly.
Stopping between her legs, Adryan softly grabbed her thigh and gave it a small kiss.
"Fufu~" Giggling a little, the white-haired woman placed a pillow under her back, prepared for what was to come.
Giving small pecks to her thighs and slowly descending, Adryan looked up and smiled mischievously. His eyes took on a predatory gleam.
"By the way... We'll just do this for now."
The playfulness in the woman's eyes disappeared, replaced by curious doubt, "Why?"
"Mhm, we used both boxes last night." Keeping that smile, he held her thighs with both hands.
A fearful shiver ran up her spine, "Adryan, don't you-
Before she could finish speaking, the redhead went all the way down.
"Ah-" covering her mouth with her hands, Flora bit her tongue to keep from screaming, her whole body trembling.
That was a weak spot!
In just 20 seconds, the tremors changed to spasms, and by reflex, one of Flora's hands grabbed a handful of red hair and pulled hard.
"MMM!"
Her legs squeezed his head with great force, a force that would pop a ripe watermelon with no problem and break an average person's jaw, but with the augmentations he had received in Reaper, that was no problem for Adryan.
Coming down from her sudden heaven, the Jacob looked teary-eyed at the man, saliva dripping from her mouth.
"Y-you did it again... Huff Huff..." She said in agitation, looking at him betrayingly.
"Fufu. I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist."
Gently kissing her belly button in apology and looking up, Adryan winked playfully.
"By the way, thanks for the meal~" Licking his glossy lips, he laughed in great amusement.
He had always wanted to say that.
"Huff...Argh. You're an idiot."
Covering her eyes with one hand as she sank onto the bed, breathless with a heavy blush, Flora grunted in chagrin.
What kind of monster had she released upon herself?
A while later.
"Not a word," Flora said flatly, ears glistening as she hugged his neck.
She was now wearing thick, light blue robes that retained heat well. While, as usual, the redhead was wearing black pants and a simple white shirt with several buttons unbuttoned.
"I won't." Laughing softly, Adryan continued his way to the kitchen, in his arms carrying a white-haired lady who looked like a real tomato, almost as red as his hair.
And he didn't blame her; his movement earlier left her practically immobile. Having to bathe together and needing help to get dressed.
Arriving in the living room, he deposited his dear worm on her favorite couch.
Quickly making herself comfortable, Flora looked at him disdainfully, "I expect a commensurate breakfast, Princess."
Smiling, he nodded, "Anything for my bride."
Not even pausing to see Flora's reaction, he disappeared in tongues of flames.
Staring at the spot where the man stood a moment ago, her mouth half open.
After a few seconds, a small smile formed on his face. One without mischief or trickery, a genuine, soft smile.
Resting her cheek on her palm on the frame of the couch, Flora calmly looked around the kitchen, where her boyfriend had already brought out various ingredients to prepare their first meal of the day.
With movements that were now second nature, she twisted her wrist slightly. In the blink of an eye, the trunk with the strawberries on the shelf appeared in her hands.
With her snack ready, Flora popped a red strawberry into her mouth and sighed happily, the fruit tasting sweeter than usual.
'Today is a good day.' Smiling, she ate in silence as she watched her princess cook.
A small ball of crimson fire appeared in his hand, and Adryan placed it on the stove, controlling the intensity of the flame so as not to char the food. He pulled out a pan and put it on the flame to warm it up.
His threads passed him a clean bowl while he grabbed the unsalted butter, salt, milk, cheese, and starch.
Rolling up his sleeves and washing his hands in the kitchen sink, the starch and salt soon coalesced in the bowl, followed slowly by the milk.
As he poured the milk, Adryan grabbed the butter with his hand and squeezed a little; his fist burst into flames, but only lasted a second before it was extinguished.
'Again, the powers of a Pyromaniac are very useful for cooking.'
Laughing a little, he placed the now semi-melted butter in the bowl and began mixing with his hands until the dough took on a sandy consistency.
Grabbing the leftover butter and spreading it on the pan, he began to pour the sandy batter in circles across its surface.
As he watched to make sure the mbeju didn't burn and kept turning it over when he smelled it was ready, the red-haired man's mind took a little trip.
It was strange.
He... He felt good. Great even.
Since coming here, he had never felt as relaxed as he did now.
'Feeling good is strange... ha...
'Did I really get used to being so stressed out that feeling truly calm is uncomfortable? Fuck, how pathetic!' Letting out a small chuckle, the redhead shook his head at the ridiculousness of it.
But while he was saying that, it was undeniable. To put it briefly, his life was stressful.
Not stressful like when he had to worry about handing in Research Methodology, or when an exam he hadn't even studied for was due.
Nah, those were 'problems' he missed now.
He would prefer those problems a thousand and one times over.
Much more than having to worry about not having his body possessed by a Three Flavor Soup whose ingredients were two Archangels and a King of Angels, or by a being who called herself 'Primordial Demoness'.
Not to mention his problems with three of the seven Orthodox Churches and the bounty on his head from them, with the strange Rose School of Thought, the Bastard who brought him here...
And that's not to mention what awaited him off planet... Well, the feeling was mutual anyway.
Inwardly, Adryan chuckled to himself.
'Only 5 months here, and more than half the planet is my enemy. I'm an unlucky bastard without a doubt!'
It was now that he could see that it really was a miracle that his hair wasn't as white as his dear worm's, something that was surely due more to his path and what he was carrying than anything else.
Thinking of his dear worm and remembering what they had talked about last night before their little game, the redhead sighed internally.
'She almost completely figured out my plan. Maybe if she knew I was the Scarlet Monarch, she'd have a better idea, but the one she has right now isn't that far off the mark... Sigh.'
That Flora had come so close to discovering his plan only confirmed what he had long ago held as a possibility.
While the beyonders of the Marauder Pathway could not directly face a beyonder of the Red Priest Pathway, they had something that made them more dangerous and lethal against them.
The Marauders, starting from Sequence 7 Cryptologist, had the potential to crack a Conspirator's conspiracy, something that would only increase as the sequences escalated. As con artists and cheaters, it naturally included the ability to turn the conspiracy in their favor with great ease.
It was no longer so ridiculous to him that the Red Angel had fallen as he did. After all, the most dangerous of Ravens was one of the two forces that clipped his wings.
'If Seers are the natural counter to Spectators, then Marauders are the natural counter to Hunters...' Adryan added serenely in his heart, but he was calm.
With the first batch ready and ignoring how one of the mbeju had suddenly disappeared, he calmly began to pour the second.
While the possibility of his act being ruined was enormous, the advantages far outweighed it....
'Flora herself said it, the Jacobs not only survived the fall of the Blood Emperor during the War of the Four Emperors, but everything that came after. The hunt for the Churches, the Pale Disaster, the Broken Oath War, the 20-Year War... A family that refuses to die.'
With all this in mind, it was obvious why she was not at all concerned about what the Monarch was planning. History showed that the Jacobs would survive no matter what.
Besides, he could get a very accurate idea of how she thought.
This was not only because he knew her so well, but it came with the increased mental capacity brought by being a Reaper.
With a deep understanding of his target, as well as having an idea of the information it possessed, he could 'predict' and 'think' almost as well as she did. It was almost as if he could see the future and know what she would do with precision - this was the evolution of his ability to gather information from Conspirator.
To Flora, the Scarlet Monarch was an ancient existence that was trying to regain His lost authority. It had very few believers, and the only powerful and outstanding one was His blessed Adryan Kenway; His influence and power were very limited.
With what was done by His blessed one, it was clear that the Monarch was not an evil existence; it could even be seen as a benign one in a way. This was reinforced by the attitude of the Church of the God of Knowledge and Wisdom that protected His blessed one.
Something they clearly would not do if the Monarch were truly an evil existence.
All these facts taken together meant that, at worst, a fate worse than death was something they didn't have to worry about, so the possibility of negotiation existed.
And Flora knew that they would end up winning each and every one of them.
In the exchange of the Scarlet Monarch and the Hermits of Fate, the ones who would end up winning the most would be the Hermits.
If they supported Him, the Jacob and Zoroast families would regain the power they once held in the distant Fourth Epoch, along with coming out of the hole they had been hiding in for over 2,000 years. If they didn't, they would simply stay in the hole without changing much.
On the other hand, the Monarch was the one who truly needed the support. Not only for the coming war, but to have a chance to take back His throne.
In all cases, in Flora's eyes, the Hermits of Fate had everything to gain and nothing to lose. The gains far outweigh the small risk involved.
Of course, all this was in her eyes and with the information she had.
Just as Adryan wanted.
Controlling the corners of his mouth from turning up, the red-haired man could only chuckle internally in small amusement.
Like a good conspirator, having his natural counter at his side was no reason for his conspiracy to be ruined.
All it took was a little trick to hide the most important thing, and the conspiracy would still go on its way despite being 'discovered.'
And the name of that trick was Scarlet Monarch, an ancient 'god ' who seeks to regain his throne.
'The simplest of tricks is the most effective after all~'
Humming a little, the red-haired man poured milk into two cups and heated them with his fire, then poured chunks of chocolate into them and, using his threads, stirred them, like a blender.
With the hot chocolate ready and the mbeju served on plates, he grabbed the plate with the food and walked over to where Flora stood with a hum.
"Breakfast is ready."
Using a handkerchief, he had no idea where she got it from, Flora casually wiped her mouth
Looking at him with a raised eyebrow, she remarked, "That was quick."
Taking a seat next to her, he grabbed one of the white discs and took a leisurely bite.
"It's mbeju, 10 minutes is enough to make plenty for two."
And that was true, even if he couldn't directly control the intensity of the fire, making them would never take more than 10 minutes apiece. It was a really simple meal.
With the mug of hot chocolate appearing in her hand, Flora leaned her back against his shoulder and took a light bite of another mbeju, which she had taken at some point.
Relaxing for a moment at the warmth coming from his body, the Jacob sighed comfortably.
"Mmm, not bad. That gorilla mentioned this food a while back, how you did it for her and her chew toy." Pausing to take another bite, she looked at the disk with mild interest.
"It's a curious dish. It doesn't look it, but it's pretty filling."
"I always put a little extra cheese on it when I cook it, it's how I like it best." Adryan smiled thinly, taking a sip of his chocolate.
This was a good and classic paraguayan breakfast; it would only be missing the chipa and cocido to make it perfect, but he couldn't complain.
"Princess" Flora looked over her shoulder at him curiously, "Why didn't you take the blood from that harlot like you did with that sanguine?"
Ignoring what she had called the Barbarian, Adryan sighed a little.
"It was more out of my own caution than anything else. I have no idea what kind of artifacts she carries with her, so one might react if I draw blood or injure her in any way.
"Altering her recent memories is about as far as I'm willing to try my luck with her."
Flora mumbled a disinterested 'mmm' and looked up at the ceiling a bit absent-mindedly.
Sipping some of her hot chocolate, she closed her eyes and leaned back a little better against the redhead, who, without saying much, settled in better to make her more comfortable.
This was repeated a few times, ending with Flora now sitting between his legs, leaning against his chest as she drank from her cup and ate quietly.
At that moment, the redhead rested his chin on her head and sighed lightly, a small smile on his face.
"Thank you for last night, Flora. I really enjoyed it."
Flora snorted in amusement, ears red, "You didn't do too bad yourself, for a former virgin."
Adryan laughed a little, "Hehe. That's another thing you can claim you've already taken possession of."
A small smile formed on the face of the woman who moved her head a little to look him straight in the eyes, "It's good that you remember who you belong."
Then, she raised her head a little and bit his neck with some force, just below his apple.
Pulling away a little not before kissing where she had left another bite mark, Flora laughed softly as she returned to the pose from before, "Now, be a good boyfriend and warm me up, it's a little breezy in here."
Rolling his eyes a bit, Adryan moved his left arm and wrapped it around his beloved worm's neck while warming his body temperature with his spirituality.
"Again, I've spoiled you." He said, amused.
Flora hummed in agreement as she drank her chocolate and snuggled closer to his body, "Mhm ~"
Laughing another little laugh, Adryan quietly ate his mbeju with his right hand.
Neither said anything else, enjoying each other's company and warmth on this cold but cozy Monday morning.
...
Several hours later.
In the palace of the giants bathed in the endless gray fog, a mysterious hand rose and followed by that, several crimson flashes appeared along the moldy bronze table.
A moment later, a happy, youthful voice rang out.
"Good afternoon, Mr Fool~"
---
A 'polar bomb' is hitting my country now, we went from highs of 35 and lows of 30 to highs of 15 and lows of 7 overnight.
And with this cold peeling my skin, I can only say that the envy I feel for Flora right now is suffocating!
Not only does she have a walking campfire to keep her company every night in bed or to stick to when it's cold, but he's also part demoness!
Some people don't know how easy they have it....