Chapter #79

AN: Sorry for the delay, my life is getting messier by the day. I am unfortunately no longer able to post a chapter per day and can only write on weekends.

Please ignore the fact I posted this chapter on Friday... I had some time during work. Also sorry for the messiness of the chapter, I am trying to get back on my game.

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Days passed as Yue and Zeno got closer. It was as if a dam blew up after Zeno asked about Renia that allowed Yue to ask personal questions.

At first it was small stuff like how was it to be trained as a Witcher, the conditions of the keep and other small stuff.

Unsurprisingly she learned about the sacking, Yue who learned that Zeno basically lost most people he could call family was silent for a day before she resumed her questions.

Naturally Zeno didn't hold back his own questions about her and her powers.

She revealed that she indeed can see people's emotions, Zeno likened the ability similar to Vahn Mason's View Affection ability but not as OP as the actual ability.

She also revealed that she can somehow devour those emotions, she couldn't describe how it worked since she rarely used that part of her abilities.

All of these conversations somehow lead up to Yue asking about Zeno's age since she can feel that his body is young but her special perception of the world allowed her to glimpse into his actual age.

Zeno never has lied about his age if someone genuinely asked him, so he was honest with his age, even though he lacked a definite number he was well over two thousand years old if one included his life as Ouryuu.

"Wait, isn't that super old!" Yue exclaimed as she took another glance at Zeno.

Meanwhile Zeno quickly made a cane and pretended to be an old man. "What?! I can't hear you! Youngsters these days..." The cave was filled with Yue's giggles.

While things were going on in a cheerful tone, Zeno asked about Yue's contact and future travel companion.

"Ahh, his name is Dettlaff. He is a weird one but I didn't sense anything negative from him. Unlike you, others can't hide from my gaze." Yue said absentmindedly and casually complained about Zeno's ability.

Zeno inwardly groaned after hearing the vampire's name. While indeed Dettlaff isn't necessarily a bad person his world view is messed up. The thought of him being Yue's father didn't help him either...

"He promised me to find my father as well, even though I told him I no longer care about it. Just helping my mother is enough." Yue continued unaware of Zeno's inner conflict.

'This is worse!' Zeno exclaimed in his head. Something must have slipped on his face because Yue started to intently stare at him.

Unfortunately he and Yue didn't share a relationship close enough to make her not go with Dettlaff and have her world view messed up beyond recognition.

"By the way Zeno, do you have a mate?" Yue asked out of the blue.

The suddenness of the question made Zeno's mind go blank but he answered truthfully once again. There was no need for him to lie about his harem.

Unfortunately Yue, who had lived in the mountains all her life with minimal social interactions, didn't understand the concept.

Zeno had to explain to her in an awkward manner about polygamy and how it works while answering Yue's questions, still he couldn't answer all of them.

For example Yue asked why he could have more than one lover while the other girls in his harem only have him.

It didn't help that her common sense was non-existent and she was just curious, Vilas didn't have such concepts as they just made love with whomever they loved.

If they stopped loving the other party they would just leave, so not even the concept of loyalty was foreign to her.

Realizing all of that made Zeno sweat cold as he realized he was about to send an innocent sheep into wolf's den.

So Zeno sat her down and explained all of the concepts she didn't know. Yue was smart and understood quickly.

In the end she asked a question, one he couldn't answer once again.

"I understand what you're trying to say but I still don't understand why you are going with a harem. I can see that you love the women you talked about but... It feels like you're running away from something, what are you running away from?." Yue said as she muttered the ending.

Her soft and gentle voice made Zeno involuntarily remember Kaya's death. This naturally triggered some emotions like the entire year he spent watching her decompose.

Yue watched in horror as a vortex of negative emotions formed over Zeno's head. Ouryuu immediately suppresses the emotions.

Yue who noticed his immense sorrow hugged him tightly as Zeno recovered, he didn't know why Yue is able to affect him to this degree but he at least knows that she isn't doing it maliciously.

'In the end I need to have some sort of character development right?' Zeno questioned himself only to hear a snort from the only resident in his head.

"As I thought, you're afraid of losing people..." Yue said as she kept hugging him.

Unfortunately that wasn't the answer Zeno came up with.

"I admit, such fears are always present due to knowing the horrors of this world but no. My reason for having a harem is because I am immature and can't be satisfied with what I have and I am honestly tired of feeling guilty about it." Zeno said

"..." Yue was dumbfounded, she knew he was honest since he didn't hide his emotions but going from mind breaking sorrow to childish desires was too much for her.

Here she was thinking he was having an emotional moment, a moment she could use to get closer to him but how is she supposed to repair the pink atmosphere he crushed into dust.

"Thank you for being honest." Yue stiffly said.

"... Sorry?" Zeno apologized knowing he ruined the moment but he didn't want to piggyback on Ouryuu's tragedy to get close to Yue.

'I am no longer the powerless noob, I can seduce women on my own without a tragic background.' Zeno renewed his resolve.

"Well, at least you were honest." Yue giggled before she started squirming in his lap until she straddled him.

"Can I have some blood?" Yue asked timidly.

"Huh? Do you need it?" Zeno asked, he honestly didn't know what would happen to her if she drank his blood.

'Then again, Merlin might be a bastard but he doesn't slack when he does something. She should be fine.' Zeno reasoned.

"Well, I never drank blood but being this close I can't help but want to have a sip..." Yue wriggled awkwardly in his lap making him chuckle.

"Fine, go ahead." Zeno smiled wryly while presenting his neck, his natural defenses were lowered allowing her small fangs to pierce his skin.

<Huh, I never thought it would be you that would get penetrated in this relationship...> The dragon muttered in amazement.

'...' Zeno didn't know what to say.

At that time Yue started to let out some lewd sounds as she squirmed in his lap before she shuddered and went slack like she lost consciousness.

Zeno wordlessly lifted Yue and laid her to her bed, he could guess what happened, so he just cleaned her up before going to bed.

Yue, who had been pretending to be unconscious due to her newfound emotion of embarrassment, screamed in her mind.

'I did such a shameful thing while I drank blood, but it was so tasty and made my heart flutter!' Yue kept screaming in her head while she rolled on her bed made from blankets and pillows.