Four Ikemen Chapter 82

82 Dy’s Inner Thoughts

 

There was only me and my little brother in my world, no one else.

Ever since Rio slept for a very long time, I traveled amongst the people looking for a parasitic host.

I melted the arms of those whose magic power didn’t match with mine, I made those that did match live longer to exploit them as much as I could and extracted their magic power little by little.

Without the fulfilling appearance of a host who has the four attributes of Fire, Wind, Earth, and Darkness, my magic power intake was inefficient and my hunger was never appeased.

Rio might wake up with the influence of my magic power, and though I know that that chance is almost non-existent, I continued to send my scarce magic power into my little brother with that wish.

Exceeding the limit of my hunger, I killed my host and consumed his magic power with his life force and then moved on to the next prey.

Simply hoping for Rio to awaken, I somehow extended his life by sacrificing others for many years.
And on that day, I met Rei.

The moment Rei took the me who was dozing off inside the bangle in his hands, a pleasant magic power flowed in.

It is a gentle and powerful magic power unlike any others as it smoothly penetrates inside my body.

Engrossed, I guided Rei and succeeded in placing the bangle around his arm.

It’s useless even if you try to take it off, I will absolutely never let you.

That night, I materialized and gazed at my host’s face.

Even though the amount of magic power flowing into me can cause an ordinary Human child to dry up completely, there were no signs of suffering nor were there any signs of his condition worsening, he’s totally fast asleep.

In the first place, as long as I don’t suck the magic power from the mucous membrane, it shouldn’t flow in so much.
The possible reason, although it’s unbelievable, is probably that he has more magic power than me.

I intently observe him with great curiosity.
The young, small, and innocent sleeping appearance of the child has a very adorable face when I took a closer look at it.
H~m, his face may be to my taste.

Suddenly, I felt mischievous and nibbled his ear.
Passing through the mucous membrane in my mouth, sweet magic power pours in.
…Delicious.
As I get absorbed in savoring the sweetness, the child languidly groaned.

The child who has glossy black hair like me and beautiful obsidian pupils opens his eyes and raised a disarrayed scream.

It was so cute and comical, I wondered, it seemed that I was interested in this child.

If he has this much magic power then I wonder if he will be fine even if I call his name. When I thought that he might not lose his consciousness, it made me want to try it.

I uttered the name that I heard he was called in front of the inn earlier.

[Rei.]

Rei’s spine shuddered for a moment, and then he stared at me with intelligent eyes.
Ohh, indeed!
Will anyone else understand the happiness I’m feeling at this moment?

After becoming the so-called Demon Race, it appeared that magic power would be embedded in my voice no matter what, and when I call a name, as if taming a monster, I would end up controlling those who have lower magic power than me.

It seems that that doesn’t work on this child. No matter how many times I call his name, Rei doesn’t lose his consciousness like a puppet.

The only names I can call directly are Rei, Rio, and our father who passed away a long time ago.

I will never lose this child, it was the moment that I vowed to protect him.

My world became me, Rio, and Rei, and no one else.

Suitors attracted by Rei’s magic power gathered like bugs. I rethink chasing them away.

Nothing is absolute, no matter how strong Rei turns out, even if I’m being watchful, there is always a possibility of him being taken from me.

If so, in order to lower that chance even a little, isn’t it fine to just use them?

Once I decided, I acted quickly. In order to prevent Rei from liking me, I talked as if I didn’t have any feelings for him, I treated him as if he’s my treasured pet, I acted as if to avert his attention to his surroundings.

Even though magic power still poured in just by sticking on his arm and I didn’t starve, I also intentionally absorbed it through my mouth to get the unwilling Rei used to it.

Honestly, I wanted to do just that.

Even though I poured in the magic power I got from Rei which couldn’t be compared to anyone else’s until now into his body, Rio didn’t wake up.
I understood that it was useless halfway through.

Nevertheless, of course, there was also because it was delicious, but the reason why I was taking magic power was that I simply wanted to do so.
I will never say that even if my mouth gets torn, though.

 

Successfully winning over the Swordsman, Elf, and the Lizard, I’ve had a great time ever since.

Being with Rei was fun, and instead of the other extras rubbing me the wrong way, they were being cautious towards me.

The Lizard came to probe me once, but I dodged him with an impregnable smile.
Just what will become of it if I say that I love Rei now? Rei should hate me by now.

The charmingly drowsy Rei was so adorable that I was not able to stop myself from embracing him until his consciousness flew even though he disliked it, and the ancient magic was too cruel that he was drawn back*. (TN: * when he used that ancient magic during their fight against a lot of monsters.)
I am aware that Rei’s treatment of me is rough compared to everyone else.

Of‌ ‌course, it’s the result of my treatment towards him, but that’s exactly why it’s foolish to confess to him now.

In addition, I was excessively absorbing Rei’s magic power and was hiding that I was sending it to my younger brother.

I don’t think that I, who am thoroughly stained with blood, can accept Rei’s confession

Even with just what we have now, I’m already quite happy.

A war, he said? Impossible. The border area uses the highly-dense magic power flowing from the Zohana Lake to increase the number of monsters, and though it’s not much, it’s not a place where troops can pass.

An accident has surely happened to Rio.

I want to go and check on Rio, but I don’t want him to be known.
As a compromise, in order to interrogate a person who might know the cause, I decided to go to the leader who waged the war.
Fortunately, Rei and the others seemed to also plan to stop the war and persuaded Alfred.

Blood somehow completely rushed to my head and I unconsciously end up talking to Alfred in a seemingly sarcastic manner.

The truth was that I wanted to go directly to the Zohana Lake without making such a detour.

But since I couldn’t get far away from my real body which was my real body, I planned to make Rei unconscious and go to Rio at first.

I didn’t really want to do it because if I were to do such a thing, the already little trust they have would drop below where even a chance of recovering will be lost.

I didn’t want to destroy this current comfortable mood.

While hurrying without composure, even though I was being conscious not to put Rei in danger, I was put into a state that made me unable to guard him by that

I knew that Cieltzwarm** was coming during that time with the pale slime* so I didn’t panic, but this time, my magic power is being disturbed and I can’t even grasp what’s happening around me. (TN: ** – Ciel’s first name. * – as you know, it’s the only slime we’ve known.)
My worry didn’t come true, it seemed that Ragna came and we managed to escape our predicament.
It was great that Rei didn’t get hurt, as I thought, I’m so glad they were drawn in.

If it’s Ragna and the others, they probably won’t allow Rei to get hurt so I can leave him to them without worries.

However, seeing how he loved Rei to get rid of the aphr*d*siac’s effect, I became jealous of Alfred.

Alfred often whispers his love for Rei. Even I want to say it, too. But I can’t let Rei be bothered after I say it so I don’t.

The reason why I only kept making fun of Alfred might be because I’m envious.
Being that straightforward in conveying his love, and being loved back by Rei… How nice.

I can’t lament even if I regret it. That it’s already too late.

Even though I’ve had a bad feeling ever since from the very beginning, I ended up coming here without being able to do anything.

In the end, if it’s already been set that we’re going to where Rio is, I should have revealed him from the start.

I will revive Rio, I won’t let anybody get in the way, I won’t let them say that no matter what I do is useless.

I didn’t want people to point out the truth that I didn’t want to accept so I hid it at all cost, but it meant nothing.

I had been living in order to meet Rio again.
To be precise, it is to atone to Rio.

That day that the kingdom fell, I was convinced that the magic would activate properly without any doubt.

Rio was worried, asking ‘Would it really go well?’ repeatedly, but I was prideful and did not try to stop.

Admired as the heavenly Twin Kings with unparalleled magical powers, I was full of myself thinking that I can do anything.
Moreover, I wanted to fulfill Rio’s gentle wish.
Making it a warless, peaceful world, such a dream’s tale where a wish was turned true, I also wanted to see it.

The result was gruesome. Far from being peaceful, a major spontaneous discharge occurred and involved even the citizens that we needed to protect.
My body was blown off after suffering the blast of the highly-dense magic power, Rio in reverse gathered too much magic power that his soul’s vessel shut down.

Thinking of atoning for things, I have been controlling the monsters at the border area to prevent wars from happening, but if Rio disappears then there’s no meaning to doing it anymore.

So everything I’ve done was useless. Just like this, I will quietly disappear.

Although that’s what I was thinking.
Rei, you tell me to live.

[Once you, are gone then it’s obvious that I will cry! Even if you insist that you’re using me, I at least know that you like me! Hic… Even I understand how my loved one is feeling.]

Moreover, unbelievably, he says that he loves me on top of the things he learned about me.

Even though I no longer planned on receiving his magic power, my hands naturally move and hug Rei’s waist.

[I wonder why, even though I think that I don’t need your magic power anymore… Right now, I unbearably want to touch you.]

As my voice disgracefully trembled, I remembered Rio’s last words.

{Nii-san, thank you. Be happy.}

Rio, for the likes of me, you wish for the happiness of someone like me who ended up killing you.

I’m sorry for using magic without listening to you back then.
For artificially keeping you alive, for not finding the method of bringing you back to life, I’m so sorry for having been unable to do anything.

If you tell someone like me to live, then.

I will live for Rei, who revived and accepted me.

[Hey, Rei, let me be yours. I want to love you, be devoted to you, and for you to be my reason for living.]

Will you give me the privilege to love you?
Ever since a long time ago, I have always wanted to treasure and love you.