“Episode 21”
A weary time had arrived. From morning, a feeling of nausea lurked in the stomach, and the only appetizing food was meat. Various kinds of meat adorned the table: roasted duck, fried chicken, deer tenderloin, pork loin, and more. Despite the metallic smell making his stomach churn, Clodan mechanically cut and ate the meat. He had no choice but to eat. If he didn’t fill his stomach, who knows what else he might have to endure.
He took medicine every three hours. It didn’t have a significant effect, but it slightly alleviated the persistent feeling of being stabbed. However, the pain, like having one’s ears torn off, persisted. Because of this, his nerves were sharp, and his senses heightened all day long. It was a repetitive cycle.
“Clodan, are you hurting anywhere?”
A caring inquiry came from Ray, who had been lying face down reading a book. Worriedly observing Clodan’s pale complexion, she gently placed her hand on his forehead, as if feeling for fever. Ray tilted her head.
“I don’t think I have a fever…”
Ray didn’t know. He suffered from migraines dozens of times a day. He felt like plunging a knife into his lineage or returning to the beginning. Yet she calmly brushed biscuit crumbs off her lips and smiled as if she would accept anything. Clodan, swallowing dry saliva, managed a smile-like expression on his lips.
“It’s hurting.”
“Really? Where?”
“It feels like I’m going to throw up.”
“It seems like… it might be indigestion. You ate too much meat earlier.”
Ray looked anxious and restless like a lost bird. She nervously bit her nails and then approached Clodan’s back, gently patting it. That was supposed to help with digestion.
“Do you feel a bit better now?”
“Not really.”
“Oh? What should I do…”
“It’s not like I did anything to get sick.”
She gently massaged his temples with cold hands. She was naturally affectionate. Different from him and rooted in a different reality. Clodan was once again flipped by the truth he had realized.
“My head hurts.”
“What should we do? Lie down. Okay?”
“I need water.”
“Water? Okay, just a moment.”
Clodan grabbed Ray’s wrist as she tried to get up.
“Not that water.”
“Huh? Then…”
“You know.”
As the tense atmosphere filled the room, Ray looked puzzled. She changed her demeanor from relaxed to cautious.
“You’re in pain. Don’t do this.”
“What did I do?”
“It’s just once or twice.”
“I just asked for water.”
“Not that water!”
“Okay, not the water from the pitcher. Get me cold water.”
“Huh? What?”
Ray’s confused eyes quivered pitifully. With a tense buttock, Ray handed Clodan the water from the pitcher. Then she spoke in a strained voice.
“Just drink any water.”
“What water did you mean?”
“I didn’t mean anything!”
“Could it be that water?”
As soon as his backside moved away, his senses were heightened like an alert animal. It was time to realize that once he took a step, there would be no turning back. But the retreated part didn’t change.
“Come closer.”
“I don’t want to. I’ll stay here.”
“Make a pillow with your knees. My head feels like it’s splitting.”
Ray opened her eyes suspiciously. She was cautious, as if she might dissolve with three coughs. Clodan didn’t rush. He breathed slowly. As if carefully selecting a breath filled with warmth. His chest rose and fell. He covered his eyes with his wrist. That was enough for Ray to peer curiously.
“Are you kidding?”
“I’m not feeling well.”
“Really?”
It was partially true. He struggled with pain that controlled his body, but he wasn’t exaggerating. He hadn’t fallen that far yet. Clodan knelt down with Ray, who looked anxiously worried, and quietly took the bait he had shaken without any suspicion.
“Lie down quickly.”
He tried to play it off naturally with a smile. He thought he had the luxury to do so. But it was a conceited misconception.
Blood started to rise in his throat one after another. It seemed like the curse he tried to erase with medicine had reached its limit. He felt swollen with pride today. Clodan bit his molars. Cold sweat broke out on his spine, and he hurriedly raised his upper body.
“Clodan?”
“Get out.”
“What?”
On days when the curse erupted strongly, it was torturous to control his fierce emotions. It worsened as the night wore on. It made him surrender to inflammation like a disease.
With the reins loosened, he prioritized only his instincts. Ray was the dangerous one here. She was a perfect target. Even now, thoughts of Ray made his throat dry. Clodan clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles bulged.
“Go away.”
He wanted to be cruel immediately. It seemed like relief if barefoot Ray cried. During his rut, his genitalia didn’t deflate during ejaculation.
He longed for the pleasure of that time. Ray had her first experience then. While she was relatively gentle back then, it was hard to speak frankly today.
“Clodan.”
Ray approached unknowingly. He wanted to chew her roughly. But Clodan gathered even his dormant patience and gently pushed Ray’s forehead as if playing with her.
“You’re catching a cold.”
“Even so, it’s okay. I’ll take care of you.”
“I don’t want you to.”
Each minute and second felt like jumping over flames. Heat surged in his eyes. The dark pupils shone like gold. He wanted to unearth the female genitals in the dark, wherever they were, catch them, and taste them. Clodan swallowed sticky saliva. His throat felt hot. Ray’s naked body kept repeating in his mind. It was a dangerous level of arousal.
“Then, Clodan, you won’t come tonight either?”
He let out a bitter laugh. If such a situation occurred, Clodan alone would be walking on air. Ray, on the other hand, disagreed. It wasn’t a time when things could be controlled moderately. He vividly imagined himself recklessly licking and thrusting into Ray, who was exhausted. The problem was that it seemed appealing. He desperately wanted it.
“Ray.”
“Yeah?”
“Let’s make a promise.”
“What promise?”
He used magic that he hadn’t used in a long time too forcefully. He had to pay for that with today’s curse. Clodan pulled Ray’s arm out of the door.
“If I come to you tonight, you won’t open the door.”
“What kind of promise is that? Are you playing a trick again?”
“If you win, we’ll go see the sea. Let’s make a bet. Do you dislike it?”
He knew she sighed deeply as she looked at the landscape painting of the sea. She had never seen the sea, even with her hair grown out. He hoped that if he bet on that, Ray would develop the resolve to deal with their bet.
“If I lose?”
“Don’t lose.”
“Hmm… So I just don’t open the door?”
“That’s right.”
Ray looked puzzled. Clodan laughed and waved his trembling hand behind his back.
“Starting now, don’t come out like you did last time.”
“Already?”
“Yeah.”
“Really, showing the sea makes sense.”
“Of course.”
Determined, Ray turned her shoes towards the stairs. Glancing back at Clodan, she slowly walked away. She even waved one hand as she moved further away.
“Clodan, make sure to take your medicine. Okay?”
Clodan, who was pinching his thigh with his fingernails, waved his hand back.
“If you say it was just a joke later, I’ll be really mad.”
“I know.”
“You have to win.”
“…”
“Then, Clodan, goodbye for real.”
Ray’s regretful words faded away. A few seconds later, Clodan collapsed in that spot. His shoulders moved violently, indicating his state. Clodan squeezed his fists and shouted.
“Philip!”
Time was not on his side. Philip had calculated the dates and was waiting nearby in advance. He rushed out from the back room and swiftly ran to Clodan, who was kneeling.
“Master.”
“What’s the plan?”
“I’ve checked it. It’s going back to normal.”
It was a device developed by Clodan. Once installed inside a door, it creates a protective barrier that cannot be easily broken through or entered without permission. However, all magic has its duality. It couldn’t be opened from the outside, but it could be opened from the inside.
“Check it again.”
“Understood.”
Clodan took a bottle of medicine from his pocket and swallowed a pill. It tasted bitter. The medicine only delayed, but it couldn’t stop the curse that was approaching. It was the time of the impending curse. Clodan fell asleep, and it was time for the beast to awaken.
—
Ray found her bed uncomfortable. No matter how she tossed and turned, her back felt stiff. She had become so accustomed to Clodan’s arm pillow that she couldn’t sleep without it. The sound of his arm stretching out was familiar.
Ray stretched out her arms and legs and looked up at the ceiling. And she reflected on today.
Clodan was in pain. It was the first time his illness had become so noticeable. That’s why she had trouble sleeping out of worry. She also couldn’t help but think of Mrs. Mary’s words, who had looked after her bed.
“You made such a bet?”
“Yes. It’s really strange. If he’s coming, he’s coming, and if he’s not, he’s not. But he came, and he told me not to open the door. Isn’t that weird?”
“Listen to him.”
“Clodan’s words?”
“He’s probably thinking of you.”
With that, she wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes. Mrs. Mary attributed her emotional state to her age, saying that emotions tend to be heightened in the evenings as one gets older. She quickly left. She also checked the door lock multiple times.
“What on earth is going on…”
Even Ray, who was not the most sensible person, found it difficult to understand what was happening. While contemplating with Clodan’s pillow, which smelled of his flesh, footsteps were heard outside the door. At first, she thought it was Philip passing by. But the footsteps didn’t go away. A shadow lingered outside the door.
Ray sat up in bed. There might not be anyone visiting at this late hour, but it could be a matter that was difficult to convey. Ray watched for a long time. The shadow remained fixed outside the door.
Ray tiptoed to the door with caution. That’s when it happened. Someone outside approached the door even more. The shadow crossed over under the door. Ray wanted to know who it was. She calmly brought her eye closer to the keyhole.
There stood Clodan, smiling.
