Chapter 203 In a Cabin sneath a Tree I (2/2)
”Yeah, I've noticed you don't get along with yours. What's the deal with that?” she asked with a bizarre sort of curiosity.
”What's the deal with it?” Lino glanced up. ”He's a cunt, that's what's the deal with it.”
”...”
”Are you waiting for me to elaborate or are you still processing it?”
”...”
”Right, so processing it.” Lino said, sighing. ”Where the heck did you even take me?”
”B-back up a second there,” Thunder said as she took a deep breath. ”Did you just call him what I think you called him?”
”Eh? Yea, I called him a cunt.”
”... and you're still alive?”
”... alright, seriously dude,” Lino exclaimed. ”Just what in god's name did you and the rest of the Empyreans do to earn this reputation? Everyone I know who knows had the same reaction as her. It's not cool!”
”... why are you talking out loud? Why not just telepathically ask him?” Thunder rolled her eyes at him.
”... w-wait... you... you can do that?” Lino's eyes narrowed into slits as he questioned.
”... why did I save you?”
”I'd have lived either way.”
”You really think you'd live long in the Emperor's clutches?” she asked with a smirk.
”Oh, yeah, that bastard. Yeah, you're right. I'd be long dead.” Lino nodded lightly. ”Anyway, what's with the mask?”
”What do you mean?” she asked.
”Well, you saw mine so, you know, show me yours.”
”... forgive me. I did not know you treated your glory rod with such importance. But I cannot strip naked for you.”
”... don't know what's more disturbing,” Lino shook momentarily. ”That you'd call my dick a 'glory rod', or that you'd even think for a second that's what I meant.”
”So you don't want to explore my holy garden?”
”I'd like to explore what goes on in that weird head of yours instead.”
”... is that some sort of a euphemism?”
”Yeah, it means I want to crack your skull open and see whether you've got a brain or not.”
”I assure you I do.” she said.
”Prove it.” Lino said.
”How?”
”Take off the mask.”
”How would that prove anything?”
”It wouldn't,” Lino said. ”I just wanna see what you look like.”
”I can show you my well-made self-portrait.”
”Are you ugly?”
”Eh?”
”Well, I can't really think of another reason,” he shrugged. ”But, don't worry, there's no need to be self-conscious. Whatever you look like, I've probably fucked worse. This chicken's quite good actually.”
”... you really have changed a lot... yet not at all... he he...” a faint quickly filled the room as Lino looked up.
”You know me?” he asked, frowning.
”I do.” she nodded.
”And I know you?”
”You knew, at the very least.” she said.
”Eh, that makes it easier! We've already boned so I've seen everything anyway!”
”... eh, I'd like to play the guessing game, though.” she said, ignoring his jab.
”A game?” Lino frowned.
”Hm,” she nodded. ”With proper rest, you should recover roughly in a month. So, you have a month to figure out who I am -- and, you can't just go on guessing randomly. You have one chance -- just one to guess my name.”
”... what do I win if I guess right?” Lino asked, seemingly interested.
”I'll help you fix your Wings.”
”And if I don't?” Lino asked.
”You'll become my servant for a year.”
”So, I win either way?” Lino mumbled with a faint grin. ”Alright, we'll play.”
”Good luck~~”
”Heh, why would I need luck?” Lino said. ”I'll have you know, I remember every single woman down to her finest detail, so there's no way...” as he went on rambling, Hannah stared at him dubiously wondering just when did that shy boy he used to be die and was replaced by... this.