Catherine's push caught Yuto off guard, and he fell back onto the ground with a surprised grunt.
He looked up at her, a mixture of surprise and confusion on his face as he sat on the grass.
"Cat, what are you..."
<-System->
[ Already giving her a nickname? ]
["Do something about this!"]
<-System->
[ I'll try ]
She straddled him, her hands on his chest to keep her balance.
The intensity of her actions surprised even her, but now that she was in this position, she wasn't sure she wanted to stop.
"Shhh..." she murmured, looking down at him with a mixture of shyness and determination.
"Are you sure?"
Catherine didn't trust her voice, so she simply nodded her answer.
Her heart was pounding now, and she could feel the heat emanating from Yuto's body.
The desire and need that had been building up inside her for so long demanded release.
"O-okay"
Catherine's breath hitched in her throat as Yuto's words sent a wave of anticipation through her.
She leaned forward, her body pressing against his as her eyes locked onto his.
"Promise you'll... teach me..." she whispered, her voice shaky with both nervousness and excitement.
All Yuto could give her was a simple nod.
"Please..." she whispered, her hands clenching onto his shirt.
"Please, show me. Teach me everything"
Her plea came out more desperate than a request, but she didn't care anymore.
She wanted nothing more than to explore every sensation and feeling that was so foreign to her.
Yuto gently flipped them over, his body pinning Catherine down onto the ground.
She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed and her breath coming in short gasps. She was nervous, certainly, but also excited and curious.
He leaned down, his lips hovering close to hers, "Ready...?"
Catherine could only manage a frantic nod, her body already surrendering to the overwhelming sensations coursing through her.
Yuto smiled at her response, his warm breath brushing against her skin.
He began by placing soft, gentle kisses along her jawline, trailing down towards her neck.
A soft gasp escaped Catherine's lips as Yuto's lips explored the sensitive skin of her neck.
She had never felt anything like this before, the combination of his touch and his hot breath sending shivers down her spine.
Her fingers grasped at the grass beneath her, trying to anchor herself in this new and unfamiliar sensation.
Yuto continued his trail of kisses down her neck, his hands roaming over her body, slowly exploring and claiming her as his own.
Catherine couldn't help but arch her back towards him, her body responding involuntarily to his touch.
His hands found the edge of her dress, pushing it up ever so slightly to reveal a bit more of her milky, smooth skin.
His touches were becoming more demanding now, more possessive, as if he was claiming her as his own.
["She's very beautiful, I should-"]
Catherine couldn't help but let out a small moan at the sensation, the sound escaping her lips before she could stop it.
["..."]
Yuto lifted his head from her neck, "You're so beautiful," he murmured, his voice thick with arousal.
He leaned down again, his lips finding hers in a deep, claiming kiss.
Catherine was lost in a whirlwind of sensations, her senses completely overwhelmed by Yuto's touch.
The kiss was everything she had imagined it would be and more; intense, passionate, addictive.
She found herself responding to him, her lips moving against his, her tongue meeting his in a dance of desire.
"Ughhh… M-more!"
Yuto's hands continued their exploratory journey over her body, moving from her hips up under her dress.
His touch was now rough but not unkind, his fingers tracing her ribs and caressing her stomach.
"Ahhh"
Catherine felt a sudden gasp escape her throat as his fingers brushed against the underside of her breast, the sensation both foreign and exhilarating.
He broke the kiss, his head moving back to her neck again, his mouth trailing open-mouthed kisses down her collarbone.
His hands continued their exploration of her body, his touch growing more eager, more intoxicating.
"Y-yutooo"
She could feel her body responding, her hips arching involuntarily towards him, her fingers curling into fists against the grass.
Yuto seemed to sense her growing passion, his breathing becoming more rapid and shallow.
He moved lower, his lips finding the swell of her breast, his tongue tracing the underside of her bra.
"Mmhhhh"
Catherine let out a soft moan, her head falling back against the grass, her eyes closed tightly as she lost herself in the overwhelming sensation.
<- System ->
[ Demonic Charm is now off ]
Yuto stepped back. He saw Catherine's eyes, pleading for more, but this was enough—at least for now.
This was enough to satisfy her… at least he hoped.
"W-we can stop, look think again, we can get to know each other a bit more"
Catherine blinked, her fog-filled mind trying to process Yuto's words.
She had completely lost herself in the moment, her entire being focused on the sensations he was evoking in her.
His sudden offer of a pause brought reality crashing back in a rush.
She swallowed hard, nodding in agreement.
Her voice came out in a quiet, shaky whisper.
"You're... you're right. We should... slow down, get to know each other better"
Yuto gave her a soft smile as he ruffled her hair, "Need help with the zipper?"
Catherine's cheeks flushed yet again, her eyes darting away from Yuto's.
"Y-yes, actually"
She sat up, turning her back to him. She could feel his fingers on her back, a fire trail against her skin as he slowly zipped her dress back up.
With a deep breath, she turned back to face him, tucking her hair behind her ears shyly.
"Thanks"
Yuto helped her up and they continued walking, the atmosphere was awkward before Yuto spoke up, "I'm sorry"
Catherine looked at Yuto, surprised by his apology.
"You're sorry?" she repeated, tilting her head quizzically.
She hadn't expected an apology. She'd figured he would just shrug it off and move on.
The fact that he seemed genuinely sorry took her aback a little.
"Look, I know it's exciting and all but uh I'm not the best guy to give such a precious thing to"
Catherine blinked.
Yuto's words hung in the air between them, heavy and unexpected.
She hadn't been expecting him to say something like that.
"Why not?" she asked, looking at him curiously.
He scratched his head, "What do you see when you look at me?"
Catherine's brow furrowed as she considered his question.
The image that came to her mind was a mix of contradictions.
Yuto was undeniably strong, yet he could be unexpectedly tender.
He was confident, even cocky, but there was a vulnerability there if you looked hard enough.
"Strength and... kindness," Catherine answered, her tone soft.
"You're strong, but not just physically. You've got a gentle side to you, too. And, well, you're... handsome"
A soft chuckle escaped his lips, "Never thought anyone besides Mizuki would say that"
Catherine couldn't help the small smile that tugged at the corners of her lips at that.
"You don't believe it?" she teased lightly, her eyes twinkling slightly.
"You don't think you're handsome?"
"No, I know I am, just... being called gentle is funny"
Catherine raised a brow at Yuto's response. "You find it funny to be called gentle?" she repeated, her tone light and teasing.
She was trying to keep the conversation light, but beneath her banter, there was a note of genuine curiosity.
"Well you saw how I dealt with the bandits"
Catherine sighed, rolling her eyes at the reminder.
"Yes, I did see what you did with the bandits," she confirmed.
"But being strong doesn't preclude you from also being gentle, Yuto. The two can coexist"
"Nah"
Catherine couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter.
"Your refusal to even consider the possibility is almost adorable, Yuto," she said, her voice amused.
"You think it's a weakness? Is that it?"
"..."
Catherine's laughter died down as she saw the frown on Yuto's face. "Hey..." she said softly, reaching out to touch his arm gently.
"I'm only teasing, you know"
He flicked her forehead, "Don't get ahead of yourself"
Catherine let out a cry of mock pain, dramatically clutching at her forehead, "Ow! I can't believe you just flicked my forehead, Yuto," she protested, pouting exaggeratedly.
Yuto placed his right hand on his chest, "Ahhh, haven't done that in years"
Catherine looked at him in disbelief, "You haven't flicked someone's forehead in two years?" she repeated, her tone half-joking, half-shocked.
"I guess I should feel honored then," she added, still rubbing at her forehead dramatically though she was trying to hide a smile.
"..."
"Hey Cat"
"Yeah?"
"W-we can still kiss and stuff"
A mischievous grin curved over her lips as she leaned a little closer, "Just kissing and stuff? Really?" she teased, her voice playful.
"Is this really how a priestess should act?"
Catherine let out a dramatic gasp, placing her hand on her chest in mock horror.
"Are you trying to guilt trip me, Yuto? You're going to pull the 'priestess' card now?"
She tried to sound indignant, but the amusement in her eyes betrayed her.
Yuto smirked in response, clearly enjoying their playful banter.
"It's not guilt tripping if it's true, Cat," he teased, his voice light.
"You should be setting an example, not shamelessly flirting with me like this"
Catherine couldn't help but laugh at that.
"Oh, come on, Yuto. As if you're not enjoying every second of my shameless flirting," she shot back, grinning.
"Don't pretend you're a saint either, you know you love the attention"
"Hey if the heavens blessed me with good looks, it's my right to brag"
Catherine gave him a playful swat on the arm, "You're incorrigible, Yuto. I bet you look in the mirror every morning and give yourself a compliment, don't you?" she teased, laughter in her eyes.
"..."
"Don't tell me"
"..."
"Yuto"
"I refuse to say anything"
She raised her hands in defense, "Alright"
They continued walking when Catherine spoke up again, "I never did ask but what are the names of your 3 partners?"
"Huh?"
"You said you had 3 other lovers and I would like to know their names"
"Oh… well I'll start with my first lover Mizuki, she's an ego sword"
"An ego sword?"
"It's a sword with a soul of its own, they grow alongside their partners"
"Woah, never heard of anything like that"
"Yeah, then there's Freya, she's an elven princess and Kana who's a dragon princess as well"
"..."
"Catherine?"
"Dragons and elves are real?"
"Yup"
"Not a myth?"
"Nope"
"And they both agreed to be a part of this?"
"Yes"
"That's so cool, I can't wait to meet them!"
"Yeah… they are an amazing bunch…"
"Yuto…"
"Yeah?"
"I'm getting a bit sleepy…"
"It's fine, I'll continue running so sleep"
"Okay…"
"This is unexpectedly comfy," she mumbled softly, her voice slightly muffled against his back.
In seconds she fell asleep, "She must have been exhausted"
"..."
"Cat… you asleep?"
"Z…Z…Z"
"Haha…System, how is my humanity right now?"
<- System ->
[ 95% ]
Error
<- System ->
[ 75% ]
"W-what?"
"Why did it drop by 20?"
A good question.
Why did Yuto's humanity drop?
Was it his tone?
His actions?
Or just plain stupidity?
<- System ->
[ It dropped by 15 for cruelly killing the bandits ]
"I did it to save someone's life. Does that not count?"
<- System ->
[ Not when you had other options ]
["Fuck, can I not kill bad people anymore?"]
"Fine, what about the last 5 percent?"
<- System ->
[ For almost sleeping with the priestess ]
"..."
"You gotta be shitting me"
<- System ->
[ As the Goddess Elise's chosen warrior, it was unholy for one with demonic energy to approach such a being ]
"What demonic energy?"
<- System ->
[ Demonic Power: 20,000 ]
"It's higher than my holy power?"
"Why the fuck did you not tell me?"
<- System ->
[ It's common sense ]
"..."
["If we ever meet, I'm gonna bash your fucking skull in"]
Yuto let out a deep sigh, trying to keep his voice low so that Catherine wouldn't wake up.
"What are the consequences?"
<- System ->
[ Please be more specific ]
"What are the consequences for my humanity dropping lower?"
<- System ->
[ If below 70, you will lose the feelings of Guilt and Understanding ]
[ If below 60 you will lose the feelings of anger and grief ]
[ If below 50 you will lose the feelings of love and happiness ]
[ By the time you hit 40, you would have already lost the will to live ]
[ If below 30 and are still alive, the demonic transformation will start, and you will become more violent ]
[ By 20, you will become a killing machine, without thought or reason ]
[ If dropped any lower, I'm afraid you will now shift to a different being, now in control of your body, but a different personality ]
"..."
"Haha"
"Hahaha"
"..."
System
[ Master? ]
"System"
"..."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
<- System ->
[ I'm sorry ]
"Don't give me that shit, because I feel like ripping you apart"
"Answer me this, or so help me"
<- System ->
[ Yes? ]
"Are you someone in the heavenly realm?"
<- System ->
[ ... ]
"I'll take that silence as a yes, don't ever appear in my line of sight unless I call for you"
"Do you understand?"
<- System ->
[ Yes, Master ]
"Be gone now,
...
Yuto sighed as the system shut off and left him with the sound of Catherine's soft breathing.
"Fuck"
Many questions swirled in his head, many that made him feel like dropping to his knees.
Does he deserve to be by their side?
Is it selfish to want love and understanding?
Why was he being punished?
Elise, did she lie to him?
He shook his head, "No, keep your head up, Yuto, find the truth, find the reasons, keep walking"
He set up camp just a few miles away from the city.
It would take about 3 hours when the sun rose for them to get to the city of Driffield, and not many monsters were around, so it was fine to sleep.
As he set up a barrier and laid Catherine down, just as he was kneeling, he heard her voice.
"Yuto?"
"Oh, did I wake you, Catherine?"
Catherine's quiet question broke the silence of the night.
She sat up, rubbing her eyes as she looked up at Yuto.
"You didn't wake me," she replied, her voice still a little groggy from sleep.
"I just... woke up on my own"
"I see... we're almost there so you should go back to sleep"
Catherine nodded, a soft yawn escaping her.
"Yeah, I suppose I should," she murmured, lying back down. But she didn't close her eyes just yet, instead looking up at Yuto.
"Yuto... can I ask you something?"
Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.
"What?"
"It's just...," she began, her voice just above a whisper, "You seem a bit... troubled. Like there's something heavy on your mind"
"..."
Catherine studied Yuto's expression, reading his silence.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she said gently.
"I just... I just wanted you to know that I'm here if you ever need someone to listen"
She reached out, placing a tentative hand on his arm, her eyes meeting his in the half-light of the night.
"Cat"
"Yes?"
"You've been to the Church of Elise before right?"
Catherine tilted her head to the side, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
"Yes, I have," she replied, her hand still on his arm.
"Why do you ask?"
"All your questions will be answered when we get there… okay?"
Catherine's curiosity was piqued further, but the tiredness in her eyes told her it would be best to rest first.
"Alright," she murmured, her tone quiet but reassuring.
"We'll talk about it in the morning then. Until then, try to get some rest, Yuto"
"Night Cat"
"Night Yuto"
The morning sun slowly crept over the horizon, signaling the start of a new day.
As Catherine stirred and opened her eyes, she saw Yuto already up and packing their belongings.
"Morning," she mumbled, her voice still laced with sleep.
"Morning," Yuto replied, offering a small smile.
"We'll be entering the city in a few minutes"
The city of Driffield slowly came into view, appearing as a picturesque town with its cobblestone streets and wooden houses.
Once inside, they made their way to the heart of the city - the huge cathedral dedicated to Elise.
As Catherine opens the giant doors of the church Yuto notices an older woman in the middle praying to the statue of the Goddess Elise, decorated with flowers and gifts.
"Hey, Catherine, who is she?" Yuto asked with a dreamy-like tone Catherine notices this and smacks his back.
"It better not be what I think you thinking Yuto, you know it's against the laws of the kingdom to touch our Cardinal"
"Is someone there?"
The Cardinal looked at Yuto, she was a very beautiful woman with long pink hair and eyes that were covered with a veil eye mask.
"Names Yuto Akimitsu and I am here to-"
The Cardinal began to tear up as she approached Yuto.
"H-how can your heart be so pure yet your mind so scarred?"
Yuto looked confused asking Catherine what the deal was here as she too began to well up with tears as she looked at him.
"To make the cardinal cry, how are you still able to stand with so much burden on your heart?"
"...I don't know honestly but what I do now is that my journey will not end with misery but hope for the future"
The Cardinal smiled as she came down the stairs and pulled him into a hug.
["Wow, she's so soft…"]
She grabbed his shoulders and for the first time in years opened her eyes revealing the beautiful blue color
"My name is Luna le Moon and in the name of the Goddess Elise I ask you this"
"How many times did you go back to save everyone?"
Upon hearing this Yuto's face darkened, "How do you know about that?"
Yuto tried to reach for his sword but Luna stopped him, holding onto his hand that was on his blade.
"I see to a certain extent you know about the regressions"
"I do… Has the goddess Elise said anything about it then?"
He let go of his blade as he crossed his arms, giving her the go-ahead to continue.
Luna nodded and began to speak of the prayer she heard.
"A warrior of old shall come back and when he does he shall shake the world once again, to stop evil one must sacrifice a part of them"
"..."
"Cat... step outside please, I wish to talk to Luna in private"
Catherine, who had been quietly watching the exchange unfold, looked at Yuto with a small amount of surprise.
"Alright," she said, nodding.
"I'll be right outside"
She gave Yuto one last glance before stepping outside, closing the church door behind her.
As Catherine left and closed the door, Yuto gently pushed Luna aside, "You"
Luna looked at Yuto with a mixture of surprise and curiosity as he gently pushed her aside.
"Yes?" she said, her voice soft and melodic.
"Is what you said true?"
Luna looked at Yuto, taking in the seriousness and intensity in his gaze.
For a moment, she paused, gathering her thoughts before she spoke.
"It is," she finally said, her voice steady.
"I was bestowed the ability to hear the wishes and prayers of those who come to this cathedral. The prayer spoke of a warrior of old returning to shake the world once again"
"That's not what I'm asking, are you confirming the fact that I'm a regressor?"
As Yuto's question hung in the air, a knowing look passed across Luna's face.
"Yes," she said slowly, her voice carrying a sense of gravity, "I am confirming that you are a regressor"
"Did Elise tell you that?"
Luna nodded, "Yes," she responded, her hands clasped together in front of her, "The goddess Elise confirmed it herself"
"And please treat her name with more respect"
"..."
Luna studied Yuto's face, sensing the conflicting emotions that simmered beneath his gaze.
"You are troubled," she observed, her voice gentle.
"Wouldn't you be as well? I could be a crazy person who could kill you right now"
"And yet you haven't," she replied simply, her eyes boring into his.
"Because you have a problem that requires my help, am I correct?"
Yuto let out a soft chuckle as he sat down, "Can't fool you"
Once Yuto settled on the bench, Luna took a seat beside him.
She observed him for a moment, noting the weariness on his face.
"Speak then," she said gently, her voice soft.
"What is it that troubles you so?"
"... My humanity is slipping and I'm afraid of hurting those dear to me"
Luna's expression softened as Yuto spoke, listening intently to his words.
She could sense the pain and fear in his voice, the weight of his burden weighing heavily on his shoulders.
"I see," she murmured.
"It sounds like you are struggling to control something within you, something dark and powerful"
"Any possible solutions to that then?"
Luna thought for a moment, her eyes lowering in thought.
"There might just be a way," she said, her words slow and measured.
"There is an ancient text within this cathedral that speaks of how to suppress demonic energy. But it comes at a price"
"Which is?"
Luna looked at Yuto, her expression serious.
"The purification ritual requires a significant amount of holy energy. So much so that it could drain the caster almost to their last drop"
"It would require me to recite an ancient chant while channeling my holy energy through that chant. It will suppress your demonic energy... but only for a while. To fully suppress the energy you require, the ritual would have to be repeated several times"
"Wow, I was worried for nothing"
Luna raised an eyebrow, taken slightly back by Yuto's reaction.
"You're rather calm about this," she observed, her voice laced with slight confusion.
"Well, I also have a lot of holy magic"
Luna's eyes widened slightly in surprise at Yuto's revelation. But she quickly composed herself and nodded.
"I see," she said, her voice still holding a sense of gravitas.
"But the ritual would still take a significant toll on your strength. It's not a simple process, you understand"
"My strength stat is also rather high"
Luna chuckled softly, her lips curling up in a slight smile.
"You are certainly confident," she remarked, her voice lightly laced with amusement.
"But there's no harm in trying, I suppose. Do you wish for me to start the ritual now?"
"Tomorrow, for now, I want to enjoy being in this city after four years of being out of it"
Luna nodded, understanding Yuto's wish.
"Of course," she replied. "I will prepare the necessary chants and materials for the ritual by tomorrow"
"But in the meantime, if you don't mind me asking, how many times have you regressed?"
"... I don't know, my ego sword is also on the same page as me, we're aware of the regressions but not how far they go"
Her eyes widened at Yuto's words, her curiosity piqued.
"Your ego sword is also aware? That's quite intriguing..."
She paused momentarily, her mind processing the newfound information.
"But not knowing how many times you have regressed... That must be tough to deal with"
"Yeah… it sure is"
[ Demonic Charm is now active ]
"S-shit Luna!"
Caught off guard by the sudden change in Yuto's demeanor, Luna tensed slightly. Her eyes widened as she sensed the change in his aura.
"Yuto...?" she asked cautiously, her voice trembling slightly.
'W-what are these feelings?'
Yuto did his best not to touch her but kept her from falling, "You okay?"
Despite his best efforts, the effects of his demonic charm were working on Luna.
Her cheeks flushed, and she found herself leaning into his touch without realizing it.
"Y-yes... I'm fine..." she replied, her voice soft and a little breathless.
The sensations from Yuto's presence overpowered Luna's thoughts, her mind foggy with desire.
She stepped closer, her eyes locking onto him with an intensity that betrayed her usual calm demeanor.
"Y-Yuto," she murmured, her voice betraying her inner thoughts, "There's something I have to ask you..."
"W-what is it?"
Luna moved even closer to Yuto, her body just a few inches away from his.
Her heart was pounding in her chest, the feeling of his closeness sending shivers down her spine.
"Can I ask you for a favor...?"
She whispered, her voice barely above a moan.
["SYSTEM TURN OFF THE FUCKING PASSIVE, HURRY!"]
"Yuto…"
"Yes?"
Luna's eyes were half-lidded and sultry.
The feeling of Yuto's closeness was overpowering her. She stepped even closer, her body now pressed against his.
"Please...," she whispered, her voice soft and pleading. "Just this once... let me feel your embrace..."
[ Demonic Charm is now off ]
As the effects of Yuto's demonic charm wore off, Luna suddenly found herself back at her full senses.
She blushed furiously as she realized the position she had put herself in, her body still dangerously close to Yuto's.
"I-I..." she stammered, her words stuck in her throat.
"I don't know what came over me..."
"It's not your fault... it's my stupid demonic charm... I'm sorry"
Luna took a step back, creating a small distance between herself and Yuto.
She ran a trembling hand through her hair, trying to recompose herself.
"I-it's okay," she replied, her voice still shaky.
"You... you can't control it, can you...?"
"Not really"
Luna took a deep breath, trying to steady her erratic heartbeat.
She studied Yuto for a moment, her eyes filled with a mix of understanding and concern.
"Do people often react this way to your charm?"
She asked softly, her voice still tinged with a hint of weakness.
"Only on women"
Luna let out a soft sigh, her expression still a bit bewildered.
"I see... It's quite a powerful ability, isn't it...?"
A beat of silence passed before she spoke again, in a low voice.
"I wouldn't mind"
"Huh?"
Luna blushed deeply at her own words, realizing that she had said them out loud.
She fidgeted with her hands, avoiding Yuto's gaze.
"N-never mind... forget I said anything," she mumbled, her voice flustered.
She tried to run but tripped on her feet landing on his lap.
Luna's eyes widened as she fell onto Yuto's lap, her body landing in a rather embarrassing position.
"Ah-!"
She exclaimed, her voice cracking from the surprise.
She quickly tried to get up, but her clumsiness only served to make the situation more awkward.
Her arms and legs moved in awkward ways, causing her to fall back onto Yuto's lap again.
"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered, her face turning a vibrant shade of red.
"Ah…"
Yuto could not help himself anymore as he turned her face towards his and pressed a kiss, a soft, tender kiss.
Luna was taken aback by the unexpected kiss, her mind momentarily freezing.
But as their lips met, an inexplicable rush of emotions washed over her.
Her eyes widened in surprise, then slowly fluttered shut as she leaned into the kiss.
Her heart rate quickened, her hands trembled slightly, but she didn't pull away.
This feeling... it was too good, too intense.
She returned the kiss, her lips moving softly against Yuto's, her body leaning against him.