How to Save a Time-Limited Heroine

Deltain did not make excuses.

This was because he himself knew it was a rather fatal mistake.

Indeed, it had never been an easy game, yet he had become overconfident after clearing the main story, so he had a lot to reflect on.

However, there was a silver lining.

Agnes had been infected because of him, and he had only just realized it, but that was the end of it.

All the mistakes up until now were mistakes that Deltain could still .

“So, just wait. The demon’s temptation will disappear once the demon, the source, is killed. Until then, Kaltara will be in charge of your protection.”

Deltain said this to Agnes.

Agnes asked.

She was not smiling as usual.

“And you?”

“I’m going to hunt the demon. After roughly calculating the route of my infection, it seems to have started the day I went to the underground sewer. If I calculate the time from when you were infected, went through the incubation period, and broke out, it matches.”

“Isn’t it dangerous? You said you were tempted too.”

“Strictly speaking, I’m a carrier. A carrier without symptoms. No matter how much the seed of temptation is inside me, it can’t harm me. Because I don’t create any gaps in my mind.”

No, that was not true.

Deltain knew that he had shown signs of being weak to her temptation lately, which was definitely an influence of the temptation.

But since it wasn’t to an extreme degree, he considered it as having no effect.

“And from now on, even the slightest possibility of temptation will disappear. Now that I’m aware of the temptation, I will never let my mind have any gaps.”

This was true.

Deltain was not a careless person to be swayed by emotions he already knew the cause of.

“So, stay still. I’ll finish everything by next week at the latest.”

Deltain said this and tried to get up.

At that moment, Agnes grabbed his collar.

“Deltain, I’m scared.”

“It’s the influence of the temptation.”

“I know, but even knowing that I’m scared.”

“Because you have no resistance to temptation.”

Deltain sighed.

This behavior was not like Agnes at all.

‘… should I reassure her a little?’

The reason why the temptation of the emotional amplifier was dangerous was clear.

It could ignite even the smallest emotional spark to the extreme, making one act irrationally.

To the extent that could be an example of such behavior.

Deltain sat back down.

“Just 20 minutes. I’ll give you that much time. Vent out.”

Agnes closed her mouth and thought.

She knew the reason she was like this was because of the demon’s temptation.

She knew that everything would be okay once Deltain defeated the demon.

But that wasn’t the problem.

“This is a temptation that amplifies emotions. It doesn’t create emotions that aren’t there.”

“So what?”

“I realized that I might have been anxious for a long time.”

“Everyone feels anxious.”

“Not me.”

Agnes was still expressionless.

“I’m not anxious about anything. Not even my own death.”

That was what Agnes said.

She had never once feared her death throughout her life.

There was only one reason, fear was an emotion that came from the desire for life, and the desire for life came from emotions.

Agnes had never experienced deep emotions until she met Deltain.

Moreover, even the emotions she felt now were not in the form of a desire for life.

Agnes was still indifferent to her own life.

Therefore, this anxiety was frightening.

Deltain chuckled at Agnes’s words.

“Of course, there’s no need to be anxious. Because I’ll definitely save you.”

Startle.

Agnes’s body trembled.

She remembered what Kaltara had said.

-The boss is persistent. And he always wins with that persistence.

Thump.

Thump.

Her heart was beating irregularly.

“Hey, your expression is getting weird again. Are you really okay?”

Deltain frowned and reached out his hand.

It touched Agnes’s neck.

Their faces got closer.

Agnes stared at Deltain’s golden eyes, which became clearer.

Then a strange phenomenon occurred.

Thump.

Thump.

The irregular heartbeat changed.

No, it slowed down.

Agnes felt her heart tighten.

She felt her breath heat up.

This was a reaction Agnes had never experienced in her life.

Her thoughts became fuzzy.

Agnes was bewildered and tried to hold on to her sanity.

But it was not easy.

“… hey. Hey.”

Deltain’s voice overlapped with her heartbeat.

And it engraved itself in her mind.

“Agnes.”

The moment her name came out of his mouth, Agnes’s pupils trembled.

“… ah.”

“What?”

“I think I understand.”

Only then did Agnes realize.

“I understand what I’m anxious about.”

She realized something she had never thought of before, having lived distantly from emotions.

A smile bloomed on Agnes’s lips.

It was a smile that felt eerie to those who saw it, as her eyes remained expressionless.

“So that’s what it was.”

“What is it? Why are you muttering to yourself?”

Deltain frowned deeply.

Agnes, lying down, reached out and placed her hand on his cheek.

‘It’s emotions. It was emotions that were scary.’

Agnes admitted it.

This was a negligence born from ignorance.

Not considering that emotions never flow in just one direction, it was what Deltain would call a .

“Everything carries a risk.”

She engraved her name in the other’s heart.

It was certainly possible that in the process, the other’s name would be engraved in hers as well.

Trying to swallow the life of Deltain, she might end up being swallowed by him instead.

She might end up wanting to live even one more day with him.

A giggle escaped Agnes’s lips.

“Oh, I’m not anxious anymore.”

She sat up.

Deltain still looked at her with concern.

He sensed that Agnes was highly vulnerable to temptation.

Of course, Agnes wasn’t aware of this.

Or rather, she didn’t care.

‘It’s actually fortunate.’

If her emotions hadn’t amplified like this, she wouldn’t have known that she had been anxious.

And she wouldn’t have known the reason for that anxiety.

Like Kaltara said, trying to capture a Deltain might end up with a collar around her own neck.

It was an opportunity.

Therefore, Agnes thought.

“Deltain.”

“What.”

“Sleep with me. Right now.”

Deltain’s breath caught.

His eyes widened as much as they could.

Ignoring his reaction, Agnes leaned forward.

Barely getting up from the bed, she sat on his thigh.

“I want to sleep with you. Now. Continuously.”

Agnes’s thin hand stroked Deltain’s cheek.

Then it fell to his neck.

The light in her cherry blossom-colored eyes was dark, yet intense.

“It feels like it would work.”

Agnes thought.

If this anxiety stemmed from her growing affection over time, or from an attachment to life, then before those feelings grew, she needed to conquer Deltain.

She needed to be more aggressive.

She had to finish everything before her slow heart could move.

“Right? Make me yours.”

Agnes’s head tilted forward.

It was a motion as if she was about to kiss.

The more she continued, the farther her thoughts drifted from reason.

Thwack—

Deltain covered Agnes’s mouth with his hand.

Though his face was slightly flushed, his eyes retained their rational light.

“This is crazy.”

Agnes tilted her head.

Straining with her meager strength, she tried to reach his lips.

Deltain spoke to her.

“I told you, you’re under the demon’s temptation.”

Saying so, he pulled her head back.

His hand dropped afterward.

“Calm down. You’re not thinking rationally right now.”

“I don’t care. I told you, amplifying emotions doesn’t create feelings that aren’t there. I’ve always wanted to sleep with you.”

“If you’re that horny, do something about it yourself. Why are you coming to me?”

“It has to be you. It’s not about lust, I need you. I want you to get excited while touching me.”

Deltain’s eyes twitched.

Shaking off his rising heat, he spoke.

“… you’re too emotional right now.”

“That’s right. I’m expressing my true feelings.”

Deltain frowned.

He found this situation uncomfortable.

So, he provoked her.

“Then kneel and beg. Beg me to love you.”

“No. You have to confess first. But if I kneel, will you sleep with me?”

Agnes spoke without thinking.

The amplification of her emotions.

It had started reaching its peak.

Deltain exhaled sharply.

Then, pulling himself together, he placed his hands on her waist.

Lifting her lightly, he laid her on the bed.

Thwack—

He flicked her forehead.

“We’ll talk about this later. After we catch the demon.”

“My answer won’t change.”

“I guarantee it will. No one who went crazy under temptation didn’t regret it later.”

“If it doesn’t change, what will you do? Will you sleep with me then?”

“Kneel and beg, and I’ll consider it.”

“You like kneeling? Hmm, you have a strong desire for control. I’ll remember that. I’ll beg to you with my hands together. But I won’t confess.”

“What kind of twisted thoughts lead to such insane ideas?”

Deltain looked down at Agnes with exasperation.

Agnes stared blankly at him before asking.

“Are you mad at me?”

“You didn’t know? I’ve always been mad.”

“For asking for your subordinate? Or for being unreasonable?”

“You’re just thinking about that now? Oh right, you’ve always been shameless.”

“Sorry. I wasn’t like this before. It’s the demon’s temptation.”

“Apologize to the demon. You’ve always been a jerk. Don’t blame others for your faults.”

“I always kept within bounds. I only spoke provocatively if it didn’t hurt your pride.”

“That’s the biggest disrespect, you crazy woman.”

Deltain felt a throbbing in his head.

So, he snapped his fingers.

Thwack—!

“”

Agnes fell asleep.

Deltain rubbed his face with his hands.

Then he left the room.

There, Kaltara was waiting.

She gave him a thumbs up.

“As expected of the boss! If it were me, I would’ve taken her on the spot!”

“Choose your words carefully. And apologize for comparing yourself to me. We’re not on the same level. Know your place.”

“Hmm! The boss is definitely rational! Go catch the demon! I’ll handle things here!”

“Behave yourself.”

Leaving those words, Deltain walked down the corridor.

He thought to himself.

‘Damn demon.’

He had almost fallen for Agnes because of that temptation.