Welcome to the Innocent World - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: End of the Arc

“What are you doing here?” she asked, her tone sharp, covering the subtle terror in her voice.

I leaned casually against her neck, my lips curling into a sly smile. “Just came to check on my queen,” I said, my voice low and heavy. “I thoroughly enjoyed my sweet time with you that day.”

Her eyes narrowed, a spark of anger flashing in them. “Came here to mock me? To laugh at me?”

“Not at all,” I replied smoothly, “I seriously enjoyed spending time with you.”

Before she could protest, I slid my hand up, my fingers tracing the delicate curve of her chest. Her breath hitched, and though she tried to maintain her glare, the faint pink flush creeping across her cheeks betrayed her. Still angry, but unable to ignore the warmth spreading under my touch, she stayed stopped in place.

My hand moved lower, grazing her stomach, slow and deliberate.

“You should know,” she said, her voice tight with restraint, “you’re a national-level threat right now. If anyone sees you, you’re dead.”

“Then you can tell them not to worry,” I murmured, leaning in so close my breath caressed her ear. “Because I’m staying close to you.”

I shifted, brushing my lips along the sensitive skin of her neck. She stiffened, her irritation evident in the way her lips pressed into a thin line. But even as she frowned, her body betrayed her—her skin tingling under my touch, her breath catching.

“Enough,” she said abruptly, trying to step forward, to put space between us.

“Not yet,” I whispered, pulling her back against me with a firm grip. Her breath hitched again, the sound of her sigh escaping in a soft gasp.

“Ahhm…” she exhaled, her breathing uneven now, her chest rising and falling as her resolve wavered. The tension between us hung heavy in the air.

“Tell me, my queen,” I murmured, my voice deep and teasing.

“W-what is it?” she stammered, her breath uneven as my hands continued their smooth, tracing journey across her body.

“What’s your name?” I asked, leaning closer, my lips barely brushing her neck.

“It’s… Amor,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Amor,” I repeated, savoring the name as though tasting something sweet. “What a beautiful name,” I said, my hands moving lower, sliding behind her to rub along her firm ass. I gave her a gentle squeeze, leaning in closer. “Perfect for such a beautiful woman.”

Her breath hitched again, her chest rising and falling as she struggled to keep her composure. “Ahm…” she exhaled shakily, the sound somewhere between frustration and surrender. “Thank you, but… can you stop doing this and just talk straight?” she managed, though her voice was trembling.

“I’m enjoying it, though,” I replied with a grin, shifting my hips and letting her feel the growing hardness pressing against her ass.

“And… what’s yours?” she asked, trying to regain some emotional control. “Zero doesn’t seem so heroic.” She smirked faintly, trying to distract herself.

I chuckled lowly, tightening my grip on her and grinding my dick against her in a slow, deliberate motion. “If I told you my real name, you wouldn’t be able to resist me. You’d always find yourself sneaking into my room,” I teased, brushing my lips along her neck while my hands moved up to grope her boobs.

Her body shivered under my touch, her knees almost buckling as she bit down hard on her lip.

“Fuck you!” she spat, her voice laced with anger, but the way she gritted her teeth and arched slightly told a different story.

Her defiance only made my grin widen. The game we played was intoxicating, her resistance making her surrender even more.

“Do it then,” I said, a sly smirk curling my lips.

She exhaled heavily, her chest rising and falling as she loosened my grip and settled my hand on her stomach. Her gaze sharpened, narrowing as she thought about me.

“What do you want with this country?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

“Nothing,” I replied, my tone calm as I looked up at the sky, my expression softening. “I don’t mean any harm to anyone. I just want to live a life where I’m not suffering anymore.” A shadow crossed my face as fragments of my past life resurfaced in my mind.

“Hmph! No harm, you say? Not after what you did to the kingdom,” she countered, her voice carrying the weight of her frustration.

“Oh, come on now,” I said, letting out a soft chuckle. “That’s what we both did because of our little fight.” My smile widened, teasingly.

She huffed. “Talking to you is pointless.”

“You’ll get used to it,” I said with a shrug, my grin unfaltering.

Her eyes narrowed further as her tone turned serious. “Then why do you meddle in my kingdom’s affairs? Who are you to decide what is right?”

“Because your knights are broken,” I said bluntly, smooching on her neck with unwavering confidence. “And your kingdom festers from within.”

Her posture stiffened, her jaw tightening. “What did you say?” she asked, her tone sharp and defiant.

“You can’t see the shadows growing under your very nose,” I said, reaching out to gently tap the tip of her nose.

She exhaled, a flicker of realization crossing her face.

“Look at what Seraphine had to go through,” I continued, my voice lowering. “And yet the criminal who did it sits comfortably, enjoying his seat in your parliament.”

Her expression fell, bitterness darkening her features as she looked down.

“If I hadn’t stepped in, Seraphine would’ve lost her life as well,” I said, my voice firm, yet calm. “Isn’t it your job to see all this before it gets so far?”

She gulped, her eyes clouded with the weight of the truth. “I—” she began, her voice faltering.

“There’s no need to stress out,” I interrupted, my voice softening. “I’m here for you. Just keep up the good work.”

Her head snapped up, frustration burning in her eyes. “We definitely don’t need your help!” she snapped.

“Don’t be like that now,” I said with a small laugh, leaning in closer.

“Muahh*” Before she could react, I pressed a gentle kiss to her cheek.

A heavy silence lingered between us, broken only by the sound of her unsteady breathing. After a long pause, she noticed my grip loosening on her, the tension slipping away like melting ice.

Sensing her chance, she spun around quickly, her fist glowing with a vibrant red aura as it cut through the cold air.

—But there was nothing.

Her eyes widened as she froze mid-motion, scanning the empty street in disbelief. I was already gone, vanished without a trace.

The streets lay eerily still, illuminated only by the faint, flickering glow of streetlights. Snow blanketed the ground, crunching faintly under her boots as she adjusted her stance. The cold flew at her exposed skin, but she hardly noticed, her mind racing.

A soft meow broke the silence, and her eyes darted to the side. A stray cat emerged from the shadows, its thin body weaving between the mounds of snow as it stopped to gaze at her curiously.

She let out an irritated sigh, rubbing her temple in frustration. “Zero…” she muttered under her breath, her voice low and venomous.

The cat meowed again, but she paid it no mind, turning on her heel and walking down the snowy path, her footsteps echoing faintly in the cold night.

“You… I will kill you for sure!” she muttered, her voice silent through the empty street.

Her declaration hung in the air, unanswered, as the snow continued to fall, its quiet beauty mocking her frustration.

This world is bizarre and unique in its own way, and I intend to cherish every bit of it. Every moment here feels like a second chance, a twisted yet fulfilling redemption for the hollow existence I once endured. Back then, I was nothing but a pebble, kicked aside and ignored by everyone. Here, I am Zero—a force to be reckoned with, a hero shrouded in darkness.

The women in this world are unlike any I’ve known. Each one shares a special bond with me, a connection that’s unexplainable yet undeniable. They laugh with me, challenge me, and stand beside me as if we were always meant to be. They see me for who I am, not the empty shell I used to be. For the first time, I feel like I belong.

But the darkness above us hasn’t faded. Shadows continue to gather, and evil forces linger in places I have yet to uncover. Their presence is a constant reminder that my work is far from over. There are battles to be fought, enemies to bring to their knees, and a world to protect.

Until then, I will keep moving forward, carving my path through this strange and unpredictable world. I will do what I must, not as a man seeking redemption, but as the Hero of Darkness—Zero.

This is my story, my world, and I’ll make sure to leave my mark on it.