Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

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On the way back to the branch.

Just as I thought that yet another task had been completed, a wave of exhaustion swept over my entire body.

Looking back, it’s almost miraculous that I didn’t collapse sooner; there had been so much happening.

Memories pouring in, even though I was reluctant to accept them at the time.

My super cowardice mode was actually just Oko.

Wandering around in such a fractured state, even hearing the princess’s awkward proposal.

It had been mentally taxing in many ways.

On the positive side, with my memories returning, it was clear what I needed to do.

Dragging my swaying body, I barely made it to the branch building.

Upon entering, I spotted the branch manager, anxiously pacing with a worried expression.

What’s going on?

Is something wrong?

I wondered if he was fretting over the lack of manpower since I was absent and rushed over to him.

“Branch Manager, I’m back.”

“Ah… Tanton. You’ve returned.”

The moment the branch manager saw me, the worried look he’d been wearing vanished, replaced by a bright smile.

Oh, so it wasn’t that he was short-staffed; he was just looking for me.

Did the headquarters notify him of my return?

Anyway, I was curious why he was pacing so anxiously.

“Have you regained your memories, Tanton?”

“Yes, I have.”

So they did inform him.

As I answered the branch manager’s question, he twisted his lips a bit, then spoke in a slightly hesitant voice.

“Then how should I treat you now?”

Oh, so he was pondering that?

He must think I would be quite different now that I regained my memories.

It seems the branch manager often agonizes over trivial things.

Of course, it’s that sensitivity that makes me think highly of him.

“Even though I’ve regained my memories, I’m still the same Leydan Tanton, Branch Manager. You can treat me just the same.”

“Are you not planning to return to Lintpia?”

Is that why he asked, anticipating that I might say I’d go back to Lintpia?

This is my home now; where would I even go?

“Yes, I’ll be staying here.”

At that, the branch manager flashed a bright smile for a moment before clearing his throat and trying to act nonchalant.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at his adorable behavior.

“Ahem, right. You worked hard today. Go on in and rest.”

It seemed he felt a bit embarrassed about displaying such a smile, as he spoke to me in a rather stern voice.

After saluting the branch manager, I hurried back to my room.

I also needed to let Asti know that I was back.

But the moment I lay down on the bed, my body refused to listen anymore.

Right, I’ll greet her first thing in the morning.

For now, I’ll just… sleep….

#

Hmm.

Have I already regained consciousness?

It felt like I hadn’t slept even an hour.

You know how it is, right?

When you’re too tired, sometimes you wake up even more.

Thinking this, I opened my eyes and was instantly taken aback.

Everything was engulfed in a black void.

For a moment, I was startled, but quickly realized.

This was clearly the dream world.

Is it because of Nutricha’s influence? Now, any sign of something off immediately makes me recognize it as a dream.

It felt like the effects of interacting with the divine race related to dreams and the unconscious were significant.

Now that I think about it, it had been ages since I last met Nutricha.

Lately, I’d been so worn out that I often just fell asleep without dreaming.

It’s not like I could meet her anyway.

I had said I’d play with her last time, but I wonder if she might really be getting angry.

First, I needed to figure out what kind of dream this was, so I got up and looked around.

Ever since my memories returned, my resistance to fear had increased a lot, but still, unexpected surprises were unwelcome.

Each time I went out to hunt foreign divine races, I felt like I’d become a nervous wreck from the gods suddenly popping up out of nowhere.

Of course, I promptly dealt with any god that startled me in a reflexive manner.

A pitch-black abyss.

That was a fitting description of the space I was in.

I couldn’t quite explain why, but it felt as if this space had been deliberately created to make it clear that it was not reality.

Then again, how could a dream be this dark?

While pondering this, I felt a shiver running down my back, causing me to stop in my tracks.

Wait a minute.

Thinking about it, darkness is usually something hard to find in dreams.

And I felt like I had seen this form once before.

Where?

When I wandered through the unconscious with Nutricha.

Ah…

Why did it take me so long to realize?

Once I recognized it and looked around, I realized this space was that unique area I had been in with Nutricha.

Which means…

At that moment, the thought hit me, making me glance around uneasily.

And by the time something caught my eye, my body was already bound.

“Ugh!”

For who knows how long, I found my body tied up in pink ropes, unable to move.

No matter how much I tried to muster strength to free myself, it was impossible.

And as I watched someone approach me, I swallowed hard.

A chilling laughter echoed.

“What a long time since I’ve seen your face. Or did you happen to slip and roll in here, Sir Leydan Tanton?”

Despite the usual tone, there was something sinister about it that made my lips dry.

Just as I was about to say something, a sudden kick caused me to lose my balance and fall.

“Ugh!”

I tumbled backward, landing against what felt like a soft surface, propped up against the wall.

I shook my head to regain my vision and looked at what was around me.

Smooth skin.

A tantalizing outfit that suggested nothing less than a succubus.

Pink hair.

Horns.

As I slowly raised my gaze, I could make out the scene.

“Oh, you at least know that you did something wrong? I thought you might put on an aggrieved face.”

The unique, sultry tone of Nutricha’s voice brushed against my ears.

She moved closer to me, knelt in front of me, and lifted my chin with one hand.

Now I was able to meet her eyes.

They were pouting, clearly displaying her displeasure.

But despite that, her lips were curved into a smile.

I couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of that expression, but it clearly hinted at one thing.

She wanted something from me—quite a lot, actually.

That much I could tell.

“If you know your sins, it means you’re ready to accept whatever I decide to do from now on, right?”

Her breathy voice suggested she might allure me into something.

Hearing that, I couldn’t help but think that perhaps Nutricha’s essence was truly that of a succubus.

And I could guess what she was planning to do with me, prompting me to quickly speak up.

“N-Nutricha. Wait a second.”

“Oh my, you’re speaking without even waiting for your turn?”

Nutricha drew her face close and suddenly bit my neck lightly.

W-What is she doing?!

“Ugh, Nutricha! What are you doing…?”

“Someone gets to touch a lady’s behind as they please, and I can’t do this?”

There was blood on her teeth.

It was a trace of injury.

Since it was a dream, it didn’t hurt, but the sight felt oddly alluring, and I turned my gaze away.

“Uh, I didn’t touch your behind; it was more of a punishment for your outrageous behavior back then…”

“You know that’s the same thing, right?”

She said with a teasing smile, clearly provoking me.

It seemed she had maneuvered me into this dream deliberately because she was quite upset I hadn’t visited her in a while.

The Nutricha I knew often taught me lessons in different ways when she was mad.

But isn’t this scene a bit… embarrassing to witness?

“I did want to apologize to you. Not keeping my promise was wrong…”

“Hmm, I see.”

Nutricha said that and wore a mischievous smile, as if she’d thought of something amusing.

Ah, no.

It shouldn’t be ominous.

Considering my position, it would be right to grant her what she wanted within reason.

Nutricha usually spends all her time alone in the unconscious realm.

The only time she interacts with anyone is during brief moments in meetings hosted by Fiore with close divine races.

Thinking about that made this even more of a responsibility.

Nutricha stood up and looked upward.

“Right. How about we slightly change the agreement you made with me?”

Nutricha said with a gluttonous grin.

“I want you to play with me in my desired virtual world, okay?”

Hoo.

Is it just me, or does this feel like something big is about to happen?

 

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