Chapter 14: I Have Fallen For You
Zhe Chouhen chuckled at Daoist Panda's remark. (Now that you mentioned it...)
'Leandro' smirked at the dazed Daniele and immediately pressed his hand on his own lips and then placed it on Daniele's.
Daniele's long eyelashes fluttered. "W-Why did you do that?"
'Leandro' just smiled at him."Why do you think?"
Daniele's face reddened. Is Leandro saying what he thinks he's saying.....?
"I love you, Daniele. From the time we were alive, to the time that you traveled with me across hell itself, I had always loved you." 'Leandro' took both of Daniele's hands and solemnly kissed them.
Daniele didn't know how to respond.
Their relationship so far had been in the gray area and full of uncertainty, Leandro had always been vague. He felt like he was afraid to know who was this 'forbidden love' that Leandro was referring to. Even if it was him.....
Can he honestly say that he shares the same feelings? He felt like he does, but it felt wrong so he kept dismissing it as brotherly love. But they are now long past that boundary, he no longer calls Leandro 'brother'.
He felt like realizing this was enough..... but is Leandro asking him to state his feelings clearly? Can he manage to say he loves him too?
"Leandro.... I...." Daniele gulped. "This is very difficult for me, so I hope you understand. I don't think I can—"
"Shh. Why are you so nervous?" 'Leandro' pressed a finger to his lips. "I'm not asking you to return the same gesture. If you don't, that is alright. Take your time to settle how you feel about it. I have a whole eternity to wait for you, and I don't mind it."
Daniele felt moved that 'Leandro' was willing to wait for him for as long as it takes, and he could not help but embrace him. "T-Thank you."
The group of sodomites saw this and clapped. They don't really know for sure what happened, but they sensed that the two newcomers had a major moment, so they gave the two their support. Signore Bruno and Narciso nodded at each other and cheered for their new friends.
"That was a brave confession, my boy." Signore Bruno patted 'Leandro's' back. "That was an even better confession than I could ever manage to come up with. We wish you both happiness even in these tough times."
[Love Meter raised to 80%]
[Satisfaction Meter raised to 65%]
After the confession, somehow, Zhe Chouhen didn't feel compelled to run anymore. It was like a part of him was apprehensive and restless, but it calmed down once he revealed his feelings for Daniele. Strange....
He waved goodbye to the sodomites, taking Daniele's hand with him to go in the opposite direction. "We will be going now, friends, to the next circle of hell. It was nice meeting all of you."
Narciso, Signore Bruno, and a few others waved back, wishing them safe passage on their travels. The two exited the Circle of Violence, at last, stepping out of the Burning Plains with their hands together.
(Hell yeah! I earned on both Love and Satisfaction without even raising the Scum Meter!)
[Pfft, your confession wasn't even that good.]
Zhe Chouhen sneered. (Oh really? Then why did the readers like it, huh?)
[..... I agree with you now. My readers' taste is shit.]
(Hey, no need to insult your readers when they're finally siding with me.) Zhe Chouhen chuckled. (By the way, why did I stop running once the confession was over? Any ideas?)
[I have a theory... But nevermind. You won't believe me and sass me again if I tell you.]
(No, no, no! Tell me! Whatever it is, I'll hear you out seriously, I promise.) Zhe Chouhen pleaded. (I just need some clue on what the hell is going on.)
[Okay. Hear me out. What if..... There's still a part of Leandro residing within you?]
(Huh??? Is that even possible?)
Daoist Panda shrugged. [I'm not really sure either.]
(Some system you are, always unsure.)
[I'm a human system, not some AI or programmed one! I make mistakes too!]
(But damn...) Zhe Chouhen considered this theory. (That's a little creepy. What if Leandro's soul burst out and take over at the last minute? Does that mean I go back to my world or am I stuck here forever as a subdued spirit in his body?)
[....You read too many novels for your own good. Don't think so pessimistically! You're making me nervous too. I didn't plan for all that to happen, I just wanted to teach you a lesson!]
(Teach a lesson my ass. You're just being petty, honestly. Anyway....) Zhe Chouhen stretched his arms and shoulders. (I better get my good ending with a 100% Love Meter and 0% Scum Meter soon. Then this will be all over.)
They traveled further and finally left the Circle of Violence, moving even deeper into Lower Hell.
They soon met with a cliff and the sounds of a gushing waterfall falling from almost a thousand feet of height.
Zombie-like people move to these cliffs and jump, not caring if their bodies become broken like porcelain dolls later when they fall. Their bodies are pale and thin and they muttered nonsense, before leaping to the freezing water.
"How do we get down from here, brother?" Daniele looked from such a height and gulped, unconsciously holding on to Leandro's hand. "D-Do we have to jump like those strange people?"
"Those are the shades, they are sinners that lost their mind completely from the torment of the first 7 rings." 'Leandro' explained.
(Another inaccuracy to the source material, just wanted to point out.)
[I want zombie shades, so deal with it.]
Zhe Chouhen just sighed, and continue acting as 'Leandro'. "We don't have to copy their insane behavior to get past the Great Cliff. Just wait."
They soon saw a figure flying at the distance, distorted and soaring through the hazy, green air of the Great Cliff.
'Leandro' whistled, and the creature flew towards them. Daniele was petrified by the sight of it.
It was absolutely hideous. The beast had the shape of the wyvern but the tail of a scorpion, hairy arms, gaudily marked reptilian body... But the face of a sweet human baby.
"This is a Geryon. But it is not the usual type with three heads and three conjoined bodies. This is a fraudulent version of it."
'Leandro' moved a little bit closer to give the baby's head a scratch on the chin. Even Zhe Chouhen was amused by this creature deep inside.
"The Eight Circle is the Circle of the Fraud and Malice. This fake Geryon represents people with evil intentions, yet bears a gentle, harmless face."
[Like you, a black-bellied tangyuan.]
(Shut up.)
"Then.... Is it dangerous, or not?" Daniele moved to the Geryon cautiously.
It looked at him with its large-eyed baby face, and he yelped. The Geryon just made a strange sound that seems to be in between a whine and a neigh and a bark, and smiled at him.
"It is not dangerous, at least for us." 'Leandro' patted the Geryon's back and climbed on it. "You're a good Geryon, aren't you? You'll take us to the Eight Circle without eating us, right?"
It made a sound between a meow and a cackle.
"I take that as a yes." 'Leandro' shrugged.
He turned to Daniele and offered his hand like he always does. "Come on, do not be afraid. If the Geryon did try something, I will protect you."
"But what if we disturb it and it pushes us off its back?" Daniele looked down at the tall cliff again, just worsening his acrophobia.
"Then I will break the fall for you, and let my body be the one that's crushed to the ground." 'Leandro' promised.
Daniele knew that even though 'Leandro' was merely acting chivalrous and heroic, he never breaks his promises to save and protect him. He always felt safe and settled by his side even when he have his doubts, and so, he took his hand and they rode on the Geryon's back.
[Love Meter raised to 87%]
[Satisfaction Meter raised to 70%]
[Scum Meter lowered to 25%]
(The readers are being so kind to me now! Adding my Love and Satisfaction Meter while lowering my Scum Meter! Ah, I knew they would come around and like this ancestor's good, not-scummy MLs!)
[The change in numbers is so small anyway, it's not worth celebrating.]
(I don't listen to downer pandas like you that are always reeking of vinegar.) Zhe Chouhen said.
Then he thought. (But you do have a point. I have to lower the 25% Scum Meter all the way while keeping the Love and Satisfaction Meter higher, and we're already at the Eight Circle. I should come up with a better strategy.)
[Oh?] Daoist Panda was really curious about what kind of things his avid hater has up his sleeves. [What kind of strategies are you planning to implement?]
(First, my delivery of impactful lines should be even more dashing, fully making Daniele see my attractiveness and make him fall head over heels for me.)
Daoist Panda: [(—_—''')]
Zhe Chouhen chuckled. (Second, I should figure out what things lower the Scum Meter and while at the same time adds up the Love Meter. Is it because of merely use my powers to do something good for Daniele? Or could it be something else?)
[I did notice that I'm gaining more fans that have more different tastes than before, and they were commenting about how they like that I improved the male lead.]
(Really??? That's awesome!)
[Yeah, but they're also expecting you to do something out of the blue like to make Daniele strip or something in exchange for your kindness.]
(..... Your readers haven't improved at all.)
[So when are you going to strip him?]
(No non-consensual stripping will happen today, tomorrow, or any time in the future! I am a gentleman, not a gentlebeast!)
Daoist Panda snickered evilly. (But be honest..... Have your little brother never reacted in any of the strip-tease scenes I wrote? Isn't that why you keep reading on anyway? Beating that small airplane*?]
(What small airplane!? And anyway, those reactions were purely out of my control! In my mind, I'm reprimanding Leandro and myself for doing that to the poor boy!)
[Oh, so you do feel guilty somewhat then, because you like the idea of imagining Daniele so helpless and flustered? Are you imagining what he would look like right now, once those thick puffy clothes were taken from him to reveal his smooth, delectable flesh—]
(Lalalalalala! Pineapples and bananas! Apples, mangos, strawberries! Grapefruit, peach, and papaya!)
Daniele just blinked as he saw his brother closing his eyes and covering his ears while humming a weird tune. The Geryon hummed along with it like a donkey-ostritch hybrid would, swooping down to bring them below the cliff with its baby face drooling.
Panda: (—_—*)
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