Ch. 206

               

I was foolishly covering my mouth with that hand.

Ah, I’ve been caught.

The taste was so shockingly bad that I’d openly shown the hand wearing the ring.

As I frantically swallowed what remained in my mouth, I tried to come up with an excuse.

Should I say I found it? Or that I’ve always had it?

“Uh… this is, well…”

“What happened to your hand? Where did this happen? It wasn’t like this this morning.”

Extremely annoyingly, what had startled Ash wasn’t the ring but my swollen little finger. Does this guy only see me when I’m hurt?

“…It’s nothing. I was just messing around with Rai earlier.”

There was no need to truthfully recount how I’d stupidly attempted a clumsy martial arts move due to unfounded confidence.

I have an elegant image to maintain.

Even though I know nobody actually believes it.

Only at Ash’s fussing did I glance at my finger, and it wasn’t that serious.

It would heal after a day or two of rest. Maybe a week?

-…Hey. This person… don’t…

[What did you say, Rai?]

[Huh? I didn’t say anything?]

Impossible.

I definitely heard some voice.

I pulled my hand free from Ash’s grasp and scanned the surroundings.

What was that just now?

It was a voice, but not the kind spoken aloud—rather, the kind that resonates directly in your mind.

Similar to a spirit’s voice, but a bit more blurred and opaque. As if heard from underwater.

“What’s wrong, Geenie?”

As I looked around, I’d found the source of that sudden, mysterious voice, but no matter how much I strained my senses, there were only the three of us here. Strange.

“Ash, it’s just us here, right?”

“Yes. But why?”

“Are you sure?”

When I questioned him suspiciously, Ash proudly displayed his elegant neckline as he looked around.

For a moment, it seemed he was concentrating to sense any presence, but soon he shook his head.

If Ash couldn’t sense it, there was no way I could.

But I definitely heard a voice. With the bitter taste of medicine lingering in my mouth, I continued to be wary of my surroundings, my face contorted.

Like a scent-tracking hound, unable to let go of suspicion, I kept looking around, but unlike me, Ash’s concern was solely focused on my hand.

Before I knew it, he had taken my hand and was examining my finger again. The meticulous tracing of his touch inevitably made it ticklish…

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem sprained.”

-Thank goodness.

“But it would be best to splint it.”

-Since this person gets hurt so often.

“Are you listening to me? Geenie?”

…Huh?

I forgot to breathe, forgot to blink, and lost all my words.

Why that expression? With those wide eyes.

This… was absolutely not a misunderstanding.

What I was hearing in my mind right now was clearly Ash’s inner thoughts. I didn’t know why I could hear them, but it was certain.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just now… that, voi… ce… Ah!”

Ah.

It’s the ring, because of the ring.

As I drew in the breath I’d been holding, I realized it was because of that thing on my hand. I stared terrifyingly at the ring that seemed to draw my gaze.

[Rai! Can you hear this sound too?]

[What sound? Why are you acting like this, Master?]

Damn it, damn it.

This is way more incredible than I thought. I get it. I’ve discovered it. I’ve figured it out—that this ring has the power to read people’s inner thoughts!

“Geenie?”

I took a large step closer to Ash, who was looking down at me with concern.

Grabbing his collar, I looked up at him desperately.

Think something, anything! Quickly!

I needed more confirmation about the ring.

However Ash interpreted my gaze, he firmly held out the medicine bowl. The one I’d discreetly returned earlier while feeling nauseous.

Tch, I thought I was being smooth.

“You need to finish your medicine.”

“The medicine isn’t the issue right now. I’m more curious about your inner thoughts!”

“…Why go through such roundabout ways to say you don’t want to take your medicine? Geenie, I told you my heart isn’t something to play with.”

“No! Your real inner thoughts! I’m curious, I’m telling you!”

Strange. Suddenly, Ash’s inner thoughts seemed to have cut off completely.

Why, I wonder.

Is it because he’s not thinking anything else right now? Or because he’s speaking his thoughts aloud, so nothing is being read?

Somehow growing impatient, I unnecessarily fumbled over Ash’s chest and arms.

There must be certain conditions for hearing inner thoughts.

Pondering what had changed from before, I suddenly recalled that when I heard the voice, Ash had been holding my hand.

We need to be touching!

I grabbed Ash’s hand. And interlocking our fingers firmly, almost obsessively, I looked up at his eyes with anticipation.

“Geenie, if you think this will make my heart race…”

-It’s racing.

“…You’re mistaken…”

-This is a disaster. My heart isn’t listening again.

This guy’s such a fool too.

My fool. Though it’s obvious just from looking at his face, seeing right through him like this means there’s nothing left for Ash to hide from me.

“Ahem, I know it tastes bad. But you still need to take all your medicine. To get the proper effect, you must take the full dose. Understand?”

“I get that you really like me a lot.”

“…Well, that’s. Something that goes without saying.”

The man blushing while looking at me, straining with all his might to hold back his embarrassment, was unbearably adorable.

I watched Ash’s cheeks flush red with love for me, and while hearing his transparent inner thoughts, I was filled with the certainty that I was loved.

So this is what Rai meant.

I thought it was nothing special, but it has its own incredible power.

The certainty of being loved made me special, and it made the other person special too.

The reason I suddenly let go of Ash’s hand and stepped back was because such a thought abruptly pierced through my mind.

The thought that this is a truly wicked act.

The nauseating guilt toward someone treating me sincerely.

Those things momentarily confused me.

‘This is fun, but… peeking into someone else’s mind, reading it, knowing it completely. If this ring’s ability is that, it’s truly amazing, but… at the same time, isn’t it incredibly rude?’

Isn’t it? Peeking into someone else’s mind at will—if it were me, I’d definitely hate it.

The thought of someone arbitrarily peeking into my mind and secretly learning all my inner thoughts made me angry.

If you have a conscience, it’s something you shouldn’t dare do. This is far too selfish and wicked.

‘…Oh right? I originally have no conscience and am selfish! I forgot. Come to think of it, that’s just me, isn’t it?’

Correcting my momentarily shaken identity was quick.

I readily accepted the selfish desires boiling inside me.

Then my heart became truly at ease. Indeed, being true to my instincts rather than right and wrong suits me better.

When I moved thoroughly according to what drew me, everything became easier.

I approached Ash, gently enveloping his large hand, and smiled.

“Ash, I’m curious about something. Won’t you tell me?”

“…I don’t know what you’re trying to get at, but… if you finish your medicine, I’ll tell you.”

-I have to make her take it. I need to stay sharp. Epiros. The opponent is Geenie Crowell. When she acts strange, there’s definitely a reason.

After using it a bit, I understood.

This ring—when you touch someone’s bare skin with the hand wearing the ring, their thoughts become readable. The clearer the point of contact, the more clearly the thoughts are read.

I don’t know what kind of item this was used for, but it’s certainly incredibly useful for gathering information.

“Alright, I’ll take it. I’ll take it, so. Focus on me.”

“I’m always focused on you.”

“…Wow.”

-If I take my eyes off her for even a moment, someone gets hurt, or she gets hurt, so how could I not watch? Of course, she’s so strong-willed and free that I can’t help but be captivated, but.

Reading someone else’s inner thoughts was unavoidably burdensome and ticklish.

Especially when the other person was Ash. His mind was entirely filled with nothing but praise for me—it was unbearable.

Ugh, my mental strength. I won’t be able to endure this long. This goodness. I’ll be purified!

“So… what I’m curious about is…”

I need to make him say something to read his inner thoughts, but nothing readily came to mind for what question to ask.

I’m the type to say whatever I’m curious about right away, and Ash, at least toward me, had nothing particularly secretive.

What was I curious about regarding Ash? What doubts had I ever had about him?

“That’s right, Ash! What do you think when you see me?”

-…I want to be your precious person.

“To you, what kind of person am I?”

-Someone I want to cherish, but someone I’m not allowed to step forward for. She is perfect on her own.

Even if Ash only moved his lips, his complete inner thoughts were conveyed to me intact.

The ring’s effect was incredible, and in an instant, it made it seem like there were no secrets at all, enough to give me goosebumps.

-I want to be your precious person, but I don’t want to be a burden. I know I would become someone who confines you. Because I am not a free person.

I had thought until now that Ash was a man of few words.

But that was simply because he swallowed far too many words inside.

“Geenie, you are a more precious person than I am.”

Ash whispered this and, unaware I was eavesdropping on his inner thoughts, worried about and felt pain for the injury on my hand that he was holding.

“So I wish you would cherish yourself too.”

-She seems to have no fear whatsoever, and doesn’t even care if her own body gets hurt. There’s no way this doesn’t hurt.

“…It doesn’t hurt?”

“Geenie, I’ve realized this time. You lack a sense of caution toward danger. Probably because you’ve experienced much more dangerous things in your life, so they feel trivial to you… But please, take care of yourself.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have known what those quiet eyes meant. But now I had no choice but to know.

The ring’s power worked clearly on me too.

It made it impossible to have even a shred of misunderstanding.

-I wish I could caress that white forehead, kiss this hand and these lips.

…Do men always think about wanting to kiss?I was foolishly covering my mouth with that hand.

Ah, I’ve been caught.

The taste was so shockingly bad that I’d openly shown the hand wearing the ring.

As I frantically swallowed what remained in my mouth, I tried to come up with an excuse.

Should I say I found it? Or that I’ve always had it?

“Uh… this is, well…”

“What happened to your hand? Where did this happen? It wasn’t like this this morning.”

Extremely annoyingly, what had startled Ash wasn’t the ring but my swollen little finger. Does this guy only see me when I’m hurt?

“…It’s nothing. I was just messing around with Rai earlier.”

There was no need to truthfully recount how I’d stupidly attempted a clumsy martial arts move due to unfounded confidence.

I have an elegant image to maintain.

Even though I know nobody actually believes it.

Only at Ash’s fussing did I glance at my finger, and it wasn’t that serious.

It would heal after a day or two of rest. Maybe a week?

-…Hey. This person… don’t…

[What did you say, Rai?]

[Huh? I didn’t say anything?]

Impossible.

I definitely heard some voice.

I pulled my hand free from Ash’s grasp and scanned the surroundings.

What was that just now?

It was a voice, but not the kind spoken aloud—rather, the kind that resonates directly in your mind.

Similar to a spirit’s voice, but a bit more blurred and opaque. As if heard from underwater.

“What’s wrong, Geenie?”

As I looked around, I’d found the source of that sudden, mysterious voice, but no matter how much I strained my senses, there were only the three of us here. Strange.

“Ash, it’s just us here, right?”

“Yes. But why?”

“Are you sure?”

When I questioned him suspiciously, Ash proudly displayed his elegant neckline as he looked around.

For a moment, it seemed he was concentrating to sense any presence, but soon he shook his head.

If Ash couldn’t sense it, there was no way I could.

But I definitely heard a voice. With the bitter taste of medicine lingering in my mouth, I continued to be wary of my surroundings, my face contorted.

Like a scent-tracking hound, unable to let go of suspicion, I kept looking around, but unlike me, Ash’s concern was solely focused on my hand.

Before I knew it, he had taken my hand and was examining my finger again. The meticulous tracing of his touch inevitably made it ticklish…

“Fortunately, it doesn’t seem sprained.”

-Thank goodness.

“But it would be best to splint it.”

-Since this person gets hurt so often.

“Are you listening to me? Geenie?”

…Huh?

I forgot to breathe, forgot to blink, and lost all my words.

Why that expression? With those wide eyes.

This… was absolutely not a misunderstanding.

What I was hearing in my mind right now was clearly Ash’s inner thoughts. I didn’t know why I could hear them, but it was certain.

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Just now… that, voi… ce… Ah!”

Ah.

It’s the ring, because of the ring.

As I drew in the breath I’d been holding, I realized it was because of that thing on my hand. I stared terrifyingly at the ring that seemed to draw my gaze.

[Rai! Can you hear this sound too?]

[What sound? Why are you acting like this, Master?]

Damn it, damn it.

This is way more incredible than I thought. I get it. I’ve discovered it. I’ve figured it out—that this ring has the power to read people’s inner thoughts!

“Geenie?”

I took a large step closer to Ash, who was looking down at me with concern.

Grabbing his collar, I looked up at him desperately.

Think something, anything! Quickly!

I needed more confirmation about the ring.

However Ash interpreted my gaze, he firmly held out the medicine bowl. The one I’d discreetly returned earlier while feeling nauseous.

Tch, I thought I was being smooth.

“You need to finish your medicine.”

“The medicine isn’t the issue right now. I’m more curious about your inner thoughts!”

“…Why go through such roundabout ways to say you don’t want to take your medicine? Geenie, I told you my heart isn’t something to play with.”

“No! Your real inner thoughts! I’m curious, I’m telling you!”

Strange. Suddenly, Ash’s inner thoughts seemed to have cut off completely.

Why, I wonder.

Is it because he’s not thinking anything else right now? Or because he’s speaking his thoughts aloud, so nothing is being read?

Somehow growing impatient, I unnecessarily fumbled over Ash’s chest and arms.

There must be certain conditions for hearing inner thoughts.

Pondering what had changed from before, I suddenly recalled that when I heard the voice, Ash had been holding my hand.

We need to be touching!

I grabbed Ash’s hand. And interlocking our fingers firmly, almost obsessively, I looked up at his eyes with anticipation.

“Geenie, if you think this will make my heart race…”

-It’s racing.

“…You’re mistaken…”

-This is a disaster. My heart isn’t listening again.

This guy’s such a fool too.

My fool. Though it’s obvious just from looking at his face, seeing right through him like this means there’s nothing left for Ash to hide from me.

“Ahem, I know it tastes bad. But you still need to take all your medicine. To get the proper effect, you must take the full dose. Understand?”

“I get that you really like me a lot.”

“…Well, that’s. Something that goes without saying.”

The man blushing while looking at me, straining with all his might to hold back his embarrassment, was unbearably adorable.

I watched Ash’s cheeks flush red with love for me, and while hearing his transparent inner thoughts, I was filled with the certainty that I was loved.

So this is what Rai meant.

I thought it was nothing special, but it has its own incredible power.

The certainty of being loved made me special, and it made the other person special too.

The reason I suddenly let go of Ash’s hand and stepped back was because such a thought abruptly pierced through my mind.

The thought that this is a truly wicked act.

The nauseating guilt toward someone treating me sincerely.

Those things momentarily confused me.

‘This is fun, but… peeking into someone else’s mind, reading it, knowing it completely. If this ring’s ability is that, it’s truly amazing, but… at the same time, isn’t it incredibly rude?’

Isn’t it? Peeking into someone else’s mind at will—if it were me, I’d definitely hate it.

The thought of someone arbitrarily peeking into my mind and secretly learning all my inner thoughts made me angry.

If you have a conscience, it’s something you shouldn’t dare do. This is far too selfish and wicked.

‘…Oh right? I originally have no conscience and am selfish! I forgot. Come to think of it, that’s just me, isn’t it?’

Correcting my momentarily shaken identity was quick.

I readily accepted the selfish desires boiling inside me.

Then my heart became truly at ease. Indeed, being true to my instincts rather than right and wrong suits me better.

When I moved thoroughly according to what drew me, everything became easier.

I approached Ash, gently enveloping his large hand, and smiled.

“Ash, I’m curious about something. Won’t you tell me?”

“…I don’t know what you’re trying to get at, but… if you finish your medicine, I’ll tell you.”

-I have to make her take it. I need to stay sharp. Epiros. The opponent is Geenie Crowell. When she acts strange, there’s definitely a reason.

After using it a bit, I understood.

This ring—when you touch someone’s bare skin with the hand wearing the ring, their thoughts become readable. The clearer the point of contact, the more clearly the thoughts are read.

I don’t know what kind of item this was used for, but it’s certainly incredibly useful for gathering information.

“Alright, I’ll take it. I’ll take it, so. Focus on me.”

“I’m always focused on you.”

“…Wow.”

-If I take my eyes off her for even a moment, someone gets hurt, or she gets hurt, so how could I not watch? Of course, she’s so strong-willed and free that I can’t help but be captivated, but.

Reading someone else’s inner thoughts was unavoidably burdensome and ticklish.

Especially when the other person was Ash. His mind was entirely filled with nothing but praise for me—it was unbearable.

Ugh, my mental strength. I won’t be able to endure this long. This goodness. I’ll be purified!

“So… what I’m curious about is…”

I need to make him say something to read his inner thoughts, but nothing readily came to mind for what question to ask.

I’m the type to say whatever I’m curious about right away, and Ash, at least toward me, had nothing particularly secretive.

What was I curious about regarding Ash? What doubts had I ever had about him?

“That’s right, Ash! What do you think when you see me?”

-…I want to be your precious person.

“To you, what kind of person am I?”

-Someone I want to cherish, but someone I’m not allowed to step forward for. She is perfect on her own.

Even if Ash only moved his lips, his complete inner thoughts were conveyed to me intact.

The ring’s effect was incredible, and in an instant, it made it seem like there were no secrets at all, enough to give me goosebumps.

-I want to be your precious person, but I don’t want to be a burden. I know I would become someone who confines you. Because I am not a free person.

I had thought until now that Ash was a man of few words.

But that was simply because he swallowed far too many words inside.

“Geenie, you are a more precious person than I am.”

Ash whispered this and, unaware I was eavesdropping on his inner thoughts, worried about and felt pain for the injury on my hand that he was holding.

“So I wish you would cherish yourself too.”

-She seems to have no fear whatsoever, and doesn’t even care if her own body gets hurt. There’s no way this doesn’t hurt.

“…It doesn’t hurt?”

“Geenie, I’ve realized this time. You lack a sense of caution toward danger. Probably because you’ve experienced much more dangerous things in your life, so they feel trivial to you… But please, take care of yourself.”

Normally, I wouldn’t have known what those quiet eyes meant. But now I had no choice but to know.

The ring’s power worked clearly on me too.

It made it impossible to have even a shred of misunderstanding.

-I wish I could caress that white forehead, kiss this hand and these lips.

…Do men always think about wanting to kiss?