Yamiyo no Hotaru

Chapter 143

 "Ah, huh...?"

 A faint consciousness stirred in the midst of my light slumber. What escaped next was a dry exhale. Lagging behind were the chills and aches that tormented my body.

 "What's happening...?"

 My entire body felt painfully chilled. Joint pain attacked every part of my body. Instinctively, I curled up to reduce my surface area, retaining as much body heat as possible.

 In a strange way, this unpleasant sensation was oddly familiar. I had memories of this chilling feeling. Yes, it was akin to the sensation that followed after pushing myself to do outdoor work in the middle of a snowstorm during the winter, only to fall victim to it the next day.

 It was the feeling one had when they let a cold escalate, and their body was wracked with fever...

 "This is... not good."

 Even with my eyelids unable to open, I strained my drowsy mind, forcing out a feverish breath. In reality, the situation I found myself in was quite dire. Considering our family finances, just one less pair of hands was a major issue.

 If it were just one person less, it would be manageable to muddle through, but becoming bedridden would be a different story. I needed to somehow get up and inform my family, isolate myself... This world was already one where life was cheap, and our family was especially impoverished, even by the standards of this low-average standard of living.

 If our entire family fell victim to a cold, it would be far from a laughing matter.

 But this...

 "It's hot, it's cold..."

 My insides were boiling hot, but the surface of my body was unbearably cold. It was exactly the typical symptoms of a cold. Oh no, this is bad. I can't summon any strength. I have to tell my family somehow.

 "...Warm?"

 Suddenly, I felt a pleasant warmth in my embrace. Without thinking, I entwined my trembling arms and legs around it.

 As the cold limbs met the warmth, the coldness slowly subsided. The warmth, though not excessively hot, was perfect, and it alleviated my chills.

 "It's soft..."

 I instinctively clung to it with my entire body. There was a slight, almost imperceptible movement, but my dulled brain didn't pay it any attention. I only sought this comforting warmth.

 "It smells nice...?"

 Tickling my nostrils was a faintly sweet fragrance. Whether it was the scent of incense, perfume, or something else entirely, it was a fragrance I shouldn't have encountered in this lifetime. And precisely because it was something so far removed from my life, I yearned for it all the more.

 I embraced it. With my whole body, I sought it...

 "Ah... Kyaa!? Wh-What are you doing!? Servant!? Stop it! You're being rude...!!?"

 I felt like I heard a voice. But I didn't care. I didn't have the time to care. Right now, this warm embrace was my everything. Anything else, everything else, was irrelevant.

 "Hyaa!!? Wh-Where are you putting your face...!? P-Pervert!? Stop, stop it...!"

 I buried my face in the warm softness. I pressed against it as if seeking comfort. The sweetness melted my brain.

 "No, stop... Please, don't be so rough, please, not like... this...!?"

 Suppressing her delicate resistance, I pressed and squeezed her. I would resort to any means to monopolize this gentle warmth. I didn't want to choose. Being cold was painful. Being in pain was painful. To escape from that, there was no room for concern about her loud screams.