A Promise Sealed in Passion
Irenne nodded at his words.
She had been so wrapped up in the purification that she had nearly forgotten, but she had always planned to seek him out and speak her request. She needed to change the agreement she had made with him—one time per month for the dungeon rewards—to once a week.
She had been mulling over exactly how to phrase it when she felt something shift inside her.
*If I’ve worn him out this much… surely he’ll grant the favor I ask?*
She had pushed herself to her limits with the purification last night, and the thought that she could ask for a little more now felt almost shameless.
Besides, he was the kind of man who would surely grant her wish out of guilt alone……
“No, that’s impossible.”
Contrary to what she expected, he refused her request without hesitation.
She was about to turn away in embarrassment when he added, “One week is not enough. I would like you to receive the purification at least every three days.”
“Eh?”
What was he talking about?
The request had been hers, not his.
“Wasn’t this about the purification?”
“No, that’s not it… but the dungeon rewards. I’d like you to change it from once a month to once a week.”
She hadn’t been trying to manipulate him at all, yet her body had grown so weak that she found herself pleading with a trembling voice.
“Ah, you mean the rewards. Understood. I’ll arrange it.”
He accepted her request almost immediately, as if he had never been planning to deny her.
*If I’d known he’d give in so easily, I would have said something sooner.*
A strange sense of grievance filled her.
*Still, it’s a relief. I’ll be able to enter the dungeon more often.*
That meant more chances to obtain the artifact she had been watching for.
The knot of worry in her chest finally loosened. At the same time, something far more intense than before surged through her body.
“Anyway… you promised…”
She had been trying to see him off when her vision suddenly went dark.
“Of course. In return, you’ll receive the purification more often from now on.”
Irenne nodded with difficulty at Michael’s words.
If she entered the dungeon more frequently, she would need purification more often too.
Since he had been attacked by monsters in a different dungeon last time, the need for frequent purification was only natural.
“I understand…”
“You have my word.”
Through her blurred vision she could see Michael smiling.
She was glad he looked so relaxed.
*It’s only risen from tenth rank to ninth rank.*
In this lifetime, at least, the purification had worked properly.
His voice grew faint in her ears as she drifted toward the abyss of demonic energy.
“…I’ll hold that for tonight.”
Before she could wonder what he meant, Irenne’s consciousness slipped into complete darkness.
---
**Michael closed the door behind him and glanced at the empty room.**
The corridor outside was quiet. Far away, he could hear the noise of other pairs and their labored breathing.
They were probably all busy with purification after returning from today’s dungeon raid.
It was the usual night scene of this fortress.
For him, though, it was a private night.
He muttered to himself, “No need to hurry.”
Michael looked at the closed door and let out a low chuckle.
Tonight Irenne had purified him. From now on, that would be her duty every single night.
Tonight, simply telling her had been enough.
---
Irenne lay on the bed and let out a long sigh.
The noon bell had just rung through the fortress, signaling midday.
*Time to get up…*
She had managed to sit up with great effort, but when she tried to swing her legs over the edge of the bed—
*Thud.*
Her legs wobbled, and she sank back onto the mattress.
She collapsed backward and blinked up at the ceiling.
*My strength… it’s not coming back.*
Her body felt as if she had done heavy labor all night. It had not moved at all until now.
But it was better than in the morning, when she could barely lift a finger.
After lying there for a long time, Irenne finally struggled to her feet and made her way to the table.
*Thud.*
She collapsed into the chair. The table was covered with food—breakfast and lunch that the maids had prepared.
It hadn’t been a request she had made, yet the dishes were exactly what she liked.
They must have figured out her preferences from the food she had left behind.
Maybe they had noticed she wouldn’t be able to eat much.
While she ate the cool cold soup slowly, Irenne sank into thought.
*So this is what purification is…*
She had known that the effect varied by rank, but last night had been nothing like she expected.
*Sigh.*
Irenne let out another deep breath and brushed a hand across her face.
Her cheeks were still burning red. She could not deny what she had felt.
*It felt… like we were mixing our bodies.*
She had only touched him with one hand.
Yet every time he grabbed her, she had let out a moan, and when his fingers slipped inside her, her mind had melted away.
Recalling the purification from last night, Irenne fell into confusion.
Did other people feel this way too? Or was there something wrong with her?
Suddenly, the words he had spoken right before she fell asleep returned to her.
*You’ll receive the purification more often.*
As long as the wound in her chest remained, the demonic energy would keep living inside him.
Besides, because she had asked for the rewards yesterday, he would have to enter the dungeon at least once more.
*Does that mean I’ll have to purify him every time?*
The moment the thought crossed her mind, Irenne trembled.
It had been torture the entire time they were connected.
If it had only hurt, it would have been fine. But the way her body had gotten so wet and swollen had been mortifying.
*If Michael ever finds out about this…*
Her face burned even hotter. If he learned how her body reacted to him, how lewd would he think she was?
*No way.*
In this life she had finally found a way to maintain a decent relationship with him.
If she kept doing things like that, contempt would return to his eyes.
*I have to endure it.*
Irenne made up her mind that she would never let him see her like that again.
---
After eating, Irenne lay in bed for a while longer. Slowly, strength began to return to her body.
She had been wondering whether to stay in bed, but she changed her clothes and stepped outside.
*I need to check a few things.*
The document storage room in the fortress was her destination.
All records of past dungeons and monsters, as well as current ones, were kept here.
As Irenne entered, the staff members bowed slightly and greeted her.
*In my previous life I never even looked at them.*
In the past she had visited the archive every day, but no one had ever answered her greetings.
Moreover, even though purifiers were allowed to read any records freely, when she asked for something specific, they would refuse.
*Even these small things have changed.*
Unlike last time, she had not asked Michael to be her pair. And the clothes she was wearing now were far more elegant, thanks to the kingdom of Tirenia’s sponsorship.
*It must be the clothes that make the difference.*
Money was absolute inside the fortress. Stronger purifiers earned more.
It was a good thing, all around.
The staff brought every record she requested without a single complaint.
They even offered, “If there’s anything you need, we can transcribe it quickly—whenever you say the word.”
But Irenne smiled and declined.
*Everything comes down to money.*
That was why she had never asked them to transcribe anything before.
Now, though, the fee for the transcription would be paid by the kingdom of Tirenia.
She did not want to create unnecessary debt, and she needed to verify the records against her own memories anyway.
Irenne reviewed the list of dungeons that had occurred during the current period and the rewards obtained from each.
“There’s nothing.”
She had been hoping, but the transparent ring had not appeared in any dungeon report so far.
*Of course. If it had, the fortress would have been in chaos.*
Irenne rested her chin on her hand and fell into thought.
All dungeons except number 181 had remained unchanged.
*But why only that one?*
If it had appeared in another dungeon, she would have accepted it. Yet the ring had simply vanished.
*It’s strange.*
If she had the ring, she could have left the fortress immediately.
But complaining now would not make it appear.
Irenne wiped her face once more with both hands and reached for another record.
*There’s one more change.*
It was Michael himself.
*The wound in his chest… how did it heal?*