Chapter 116 – A Simple Man

"Wait… does that mean… I can still live past my twenty?!"

Lowering her lashes, Himeko held her hands out before her, gazing at her snow-pale fingers glowing faintly under the light.

She slowly clenched them into fists, almost disbelieving the sensation in her own body.

Looking up in a daze, she turned her gaze to the boy who was still acting all playful and teasing.

The relief that washed over her felt surreal—like the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.

She understood what Nagami meant perfectly well.

That was the problem.

She knew what his words implied.

And she could hardly believe it.

Not only did Nagami know about the state of her body, he had even managed to fix it.

The side effects of the artificial Stigmata—something not even the Archbishop of Schicksal could solve—and yet this boy had done it.

Himeko let out a long sigh, brushing aside the flood of thoughts in her head.

Her expression twisted into something unreadable—complex, tender, vulnerable.

"I never imagined… you'd be able to pull off something like this."

Instead of answering Nagami directly, Himeko gave him a smirk and spoke in a teasing tone.

"But tell me, little punk… you didn't become a Herrscher just to win my affection, did you?"

"Wow, you figured it out!" Nagami gasped, putting on a dramatically exaggerated expression. "Aren't you touched? Don't you just feel this irresistible urge to throw yourself into my arms?"

He released his hold on her, letting her sit up from his lap, his grin still wide.

He was a healthy young man, and if that closeness had gone on much longer, things might've gotten way too real.

Of course, Himeko wasn't deluded enough to believe he did all this for her.

And as for the nonsense Nagami was spouting… yeah, she wasn't buying it either.

"Please. You already struggle with that little harem of yours—just managing all those teenage girls wears you out. I'll come be your hardworking servant in the next life~"

Her voice was light, carefree, her lips curled into a smile—one so soft and girlish, it almost didn't seem like her.

But instead of moving away, she leaned in closer, tilting her head toward the dumbfounded Nagami… and kissed him.

Warm, soft lips met his, full and unhesitant.

"This one's for twenty more years," she whispered, lips still brushing his.

Nagami's eyes widened to the size of saucers.

She kissed him.

She actually kissed him.

For a brief moment, his mind short-circuited—totally blanked out by the sheer surprise.

But before things spiraled too far out of hand, Nagami shoved her away with both arms, backing up as if she were a wild animal about to pounce.

He clutched his chest like some poor maiden in danger of being violated.

"Are you seriously not worried about starting a fire with that kind of move?!"

He wiped his lips with the back of his hand—still slightly red and moist—and gave her a look that was half stunned, half accusatory.

"Although now that I think about it… maybe being your 'servant' wouldn't be that bad…"

To be honest, Nagami had always treated Himeko more like a stubborn older sister than a romantic interest.

She was bold, brash, a little wild—and thanks to the impression left by Crimson Knight: Himeko, someone he deeply respected.

But in a situation like this?

Goddamn it—how could he not be flustered?!

A big-sister type with no blood ties to him, who drank like a fish, lived in a pigsty of a room, and had the temper of a dragon. And yet—

As his lips twitched and he mentally listed her flaws, the heat in his chest finally began to fade.

"That was just a thank-you gift," Himeko said coolly.

She ran a finger along her lips, collecting the lingering moisture, then popped it into her mouth like it was nothing.

Watching Nagami recoil at the speed of light, she couldn't help chuckling.

"Can't believe my first kiss, which I'd saved for over twenty years, bought me another twenty years of life. Pretty good deal, huh~?"

She raised a perfectly arched brow, planted one hand on her hip, and draped the other over Nagami's shoulder.

"But seriously—what's with that face? That 'ugh' expression? And the way you ran off like I was gonna eat you alive? You saying my kiss wasn't sweet?"

"It was sweet," Nagami replied dryly, "but it's not like I can eat it for dinner. Also…"

He narrowed his eyes, voice calm and oddly factual.

"You said twenty years. Shouldn't it be thirty?"

Himeko's smile froze.

Her breathing hitched.

Her hand trembled against his shoulder.

Her eyes sparkled with a dangerous glint beneath a surface smile that had turned just a bit… unhinged.

"You said… thirty years?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper, ice-cold and sweet as poison.

Nagami stiffened.

His instincts were screaming that staying here would result in a brutal, no-mercy beatdown.

Retreat! Now!

"Well, if we do two or three more steamy bath sessions like this, you might even make it back to full normal-human lifespan."

'Though I do plan on turning you into a Herrscher afterward… and lifespan might get a bit more complicated then.'

He said it casually, like it was no big deal—just enough to stun Himeko into silence.

Taking advantage of her daze, Nagami darted out from under her and bolted.

As he stepped out of the bath, he grabbed the towel that had been slipping off Himeko's body, wrapping it around himself to hide any… visual side effects of the situation.

Waving casually with his back turned, Nagami hunched slightly as he disappeared into the foggy mist of the steamy bathhouse.

Himeko, left standing there completely bare, didn't even flinch.

She didn't blush, didn't scream, didn't chase him.

She just stood still, eyes glazed over, watching his silhouette fade into the mist like a dream.

Her expression was unreadable, lost in thought.

For a moment, the bathhouse was quiet—still.

Then Himeko let out a long sigh.

She sank back into the warm water, letting her tired body relax, her back leaning against the massage jets as she closed her eyes.

Her fiery red hair spread out around her like a blooming rose on the surface of the water.

"…Tch."

She clicked her tongue, teeth lightly clenched.

Then, suddenly, she bolted upright, water droplets flying off her hair like gems.

Staring into the water's reflection, she scowled.

"Why the hell is my luck so bad?!"

Her red hair fell forward, covering her chest, as she grabbed it in frustration and shouted.

"I finally meet a guy whose personality actually clicks with mine—and he's completely oblivious! Aaaagh!!"

"My poor heart! I can't take this!"

Despite all of Nagami's teasing and offhanded words about "offering herself," Himeko could feel it—he genuinely didn't see her that way.

And a kiss—no matter how meaningful—wasn't enough to repay what he'd given her.

If the other Valkyries tormented by artificial Stigmata ever found out that a kiss was all it took to be cured…

Nagami could probably march into Saint Freya or even Schicksal headquarters singing "Every Kiss Begins With K" and walk out with an entire army of volunteers.

Not a single Valkyrie would hesitate to trade one kiss for their future.

But this…

This wasn't something that could be paid back so easily.

Giving herself to him? That wasn't really on the table anymore.

Originally, Himeko had approached Nagami so aggressively because she thought her days were numbered—wanted to do something wild, meaningful before the end.

But now?

Now that he'd saved her?

That changed everything.

And all those careful strategies to gauge Nagami's risk level… they were slowly starting to fall apart.

Their time together at Saint Freya hadn't been long, but…

Himeko was starting to believe something else.

A simple person… is easy to see through.

What's that?

You're saying Nagami isn't simple?

Don't be ridiculous.

He's a totally pure-hearted LSP (Lewd, Simple Person).

And if an LSP is still human…

Then Nagami must be…just a simple man.