Unexpected Intimacy with Rabi

“What’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“Th-that hole in my chest… Is it that thing? The one that pierces through morale…”

“Had I shown you that before? It’s been so long, I can’t quite recall.”

‘Did I tell him about it when I visited before? It’s all a blur. It certainly wasn’t before or immediately after I made him a Tower Lord.’

“Still…?”

“It’s fine. It’ll all be over once we catch them all.”

‘It’s not a contagious disease, so it doesn’t really matter.’ Rabi clung to me, not even standing properly, and wrapped his arms around me. ‘It’s rare for Rabi to act so childish.’

‘It’s a shame I can’t take a screenshot. Will this be saved as an event scene? I’m not sure about that either.’

“Surely, you must take me with you. I could be of some help, couldn’t I?”

“No. You’re already max level, there’s nothing more to raise. And perhaps because you’ve been developed too broadly, your burst damage is lacking. Your dispelling magic isn’t properly leveled either, making it meaningless.”

“Don’t, don’t be so cruel.”

‘The kid isn’t even trying to walk.’ I simply lifted Rabi, still clinging to me, as if picking up a child. Rabi was so tall that his legs seemed to brush above my knees, but there was nothing to be done.

‘I thought my character’s height setting was quite tall, but why did he grow so much on his own? I fed him plenty of good things, but his legs are just too long.’

“Do you remember my name?”

‘It suddenly occurred to me. Everyone couldn’t recognize my name, could they? Seeing as he still calls me Pata, his nickname seems to be the same, but I wonder if he remembers my full name.’ Rabi thought for a moment, then shook his head.

“I don’t know why, but at some point, I could no longer recall it. It’s as if something is blocking it.”

“So, it’s like that for everyone, then. I wonder if it’s the same for Bodangbo?”

“Bodangbo never knew your name from the start. He couldn’t recognize it. It seems you… are the type whose name must be told directly.”

“It’s almost as if I’m some kind of true-named dragon.”

“You have lived longer than most dragons, after all.”

‘That’s just in game time, though. While it has been quite a long time in reality, it’s not that long.’ When I chuckled, Rabi placed a hand on my head and gently stroked it.

“Pata.”

“Hm?”

“If the demons, all the demons in this world, were to leave…”

I listened to Rabi’s words as I walked. Rabi was held very docilely in my arms. ‘It seems I’ve made them all too fond of being held. Is it because I carried them around so much when they were young? I’ve spoiled them.’

‘Though that’s also a cute trait.’

“If all the demons leave?”

“May I follow you?”

“Whom? To where?”

“You. If I go with you…”

‘Does this one know I’m going to seal this game once it’s over? No, that can’t be.’ I dismissed it casually, as if it were nothing important.

“No. You’ll be happier staying here.”

“Why must you decide that?”

“I won’t die. But you will. Even if it takes a long time.”

‘Bebe died too, in the end. You’ll remain because you’re a named character, but I want to raise something new. I’ll create a green woodlouse and name it Pea. Of course, I don’t plan to start right away.’

‘For a while, I’ll be too distraught to log back in.’

“Find another human NPC. One who is very cool, cute, and lovable.”

“But you can return, can’t you? If the demons are gone, there will be no need to fight.”

“That’s true, but…”

‘It feels like this will never end.’ As I walked, I arrived at the warp magic circle for the Tower’s floors. I activated the magic circle, selecting the top floor, the Tower Lord’s private chambers.

A blinding flash of intense light erupted, and the location instantly changed. This was Rabi’s place. Only then did I set down Rabi, whom I had been carrying.

“Don’t wait. Even without demons, there’s plenty of work to do.”

‘He’s just a game character. Just an NPC. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to lie. Even if it lowered his affection, I didn’t want to make a promise I couldn’t keep.’

‘It seems I’d grown fonder of Rabi than I thought.’

“I’m leaving now. Sleep well—?”

“W-wait. Pata.”

“Hm?”

Rabi snatched at my sleeve. When I turned, Rabi stammered out his words.

“Didn’t you say you would stay the night?”

“You said you didn’t want to.”

“I never said I didn’t… want to.”

‘As expected, Rabi is still cute, even after a long time.’

‘Even after repeatedly sleeping with Nocturne, the ‘Void State’ debuff hadn’t been removed. However, the last time I slept with Rabi, the Void debuff was cleared, so I brought it up, wondering if it might still be effective.’

‘I wondered if this was also related to affection levels. If so, Nocturne couldn’t possibly have any affection for me. Though tied as a companion, he was strictly just a hired mercenary.’

I pulled out a handful of colorful underwear from my inventory, clutching them in both hands.

“I’ll let you pick something special. What do you like?”

At my words, Rabi’s gaze wavered. Then, he squeezed his eyes shut.

“Anything is fine, but I hope it’s not that rainbow-shifting, glowing, glitter-effect underwear.”

“But this is my signature style; it’s a shame you don’t appreciate it.”

“Please… you’re not still walking around only in that, are you?”

“Well, I haven’t been able to wear it lately because there are many places that require proper attire. I’ll start wearing it again tomorrow, though. Oh, I don’t think I’ve shown you the ‘Soft Slime Set for Adults Only,’ have I? I have five in different colors. Want one too?”

Rabi sighed.

“I am fine. Truly.”

‘What, he really seems to dislike it.’ I put on the tiger-faced underwear from the ones I was holding. Then I took Rabi’s hand and pulled him along.

“What should we have for dinner? I was going to sleep, but I suppose you need to eat.”

“No! It’s fine! Are you thinking of going out again wearing that?!”

“Whoa… why are you yelling so much? Don’t you like this?”

‘Changing clothes myself is too much of a hassle.’ I reluctantly took it off again and changed into black, sequined thong underwear.

“I’ll wear this one especially for you. Let’s go.”

“Pa-Pata! Don’t you want to wear new clothes? I have an outfit prepared this time!”

“Hm? It’s fine. I have most things already.”

“I, I… I wish you would wear the same clothes as me!”

‘Oh. This is a bit too cute.’ There was indeed an outfit one received upon becoming a Sage Tower Lord. It was a pure white cloak with elaborate fur trim on the hood, and a suit in a white and blue combination underneath.

“Honestly, you. You still like to match outfits with me?”

I cheerfully pulled out the ‘Seeker of Knowledge’ set from my inventory and put it on. I didn’t bother changing my underwear, keeping the thong I had just put on. It was too troublesome to change again. Besides, it wouldn’t even show, would it?

Rabi approached and helped me with my clothes. Though his hands trembled slightly as he saw my underwear.

“I don’t know why everyone is so surprised by my underwear.”

“…Well…”

“Never mind. Since Rabi wants to match outfits with me, there’s nothing for it.”

‘Perhaps he gained some high-ranking characteristic after becoming the Tower Lord, or something; he hadn’t said anything before, but at some point, he seemed to dislike me wearing only underwear.’

‘But it seems to have gotten worse recently. Since the others do it too, I know it’s not just him who’s changed.’

“Rabi, should I give you a kiss?”

I said it teasingly, but suddenly Rabi stepped forward and pecked my cheek.

‘Huh, wait? Was there even a motion like that?’ I cupped the cheek that had been kissed and stared foolishly, while Rabi smiled kindly.

“Now I’ve grown tall enough to do it too.”

“You’re right. Rabi has grown so much.”

‘This feels incredibly… strange?’

Rabi smiled so brightly his eyes disappeared. Watching him, I felt a complicated mix of emotions that I couldn’t quite articulate. ‘What on earth is this? Why is this happening?’

It had been a very long time since I was with Rabi like this. After all, I’d never really been here except when grinding for the Charm skill. And since I was catching three or four demons every day, there was no real need to sleep.

“Dinner was really delicious.”

“You’ve eaten it before, haven’t you?”

“It’s different somehow. Not the same taste.”

‘Even if something unfamiliar abruptly intrudes like this, as long as it’s delicious, that’s what matters, right? This level of taste makes me feel like I’d seek it out occasionally, even without any buff effects.’

After dinner with Rabi, we returned to the Tower, and as I boasted about the demons I’d caught, I even ended up telling him about meeting Jack and Faust.

“Why are Hamman’s priests necessary? I am far more…!!”

“I’m not raising them because they’re necessary, but because they’re newbies, I keep telling you.”

‘Why didn’t I go back to base? Somehow, I just didn’t feel like it. I also felt a bit uneasy about seeing Nocturne, and I needed to test if Rabi was functioning properly.’

“Let’s go to bed now. You need to sleep, don’t you?”

“Pata, shouldn’t you at least wash up?”

“I’m fine, though?”

‘It’s not that there’s absolutely no bathing function, but it’s literally just a motion for fun. In a fantasy RPG, it would be difficult if characters had to wash and eat every single time. And troublesome, too.’

“I, I… I would like to wash up, however…”

“Oh, really? Go ahead then.”

“May I wash with you?”

‘Was there an event like this? Just by the motion, it looks like a character from a dating sim. But it’s Rabi, right?’ I nodded indifferently.

“Sure, why not. It’s an event I haven’t seen before, so I’m curious what happens.”

‘I wonder why his face is so flushed?’

There was nothing special, really. Just saw a motion of him scrubbing my back, that sort of thing. Rabi had indeed grown a lot. I recalled his head only reaching my chin, but now Rabi’s chin was almost at my eye level.

His subtly stiff demeanor was a bit bothersome, but I casually pulled him along. Normal human NPCs usually go to sleep around 10 PM. I just thought it was because it was past that time.

It was only after getting into bed, embracing Rabi, and kissing him that I realized something was amiss.

I closed my eyes, but I didn’t fall asleep immediately. The situation continued without even a skip function. ‘Uh, wait?’ I was startled and tried to pull away, but Rabi’s hand gripped the back of my head and pulled me closer.

A tongue plunged into the shallow gap that had opened. A firm, erect tongue forced its way between my teeth, pushing in until it met my own, crushing against it. A wet, sticky sound echoed, filling my mind.

‘No. This isn’t it. This isn’t right!’ Startled, I belatedly pushed Rabi away. Rabi’s lips glistened with someone’s unknown saliva. Seeing my face, Rabi tilted his head and asked.

“Pata, what is wrong?”

“Th-that is, this… this feels wrong somehow?”

“I don’t understand what you mean. Haven’t we done this occasionally?”

Smack—with a wet sound, Rabi’s tongue licked his lips. Rabi pulled me into an embrace again, clinging to me.