My Wife is a Dead Villainess, and I'm Her Living Weapon-Chapter 31: Want

"Elian, can you please tell me your plans?"

He looked over, watching her tendrils pulse as they wrapped around the jagged Tyrant fragments—still large enough to look like broken doors. The core was taking longer than usual to digest, probably because it was a full boss core, not just a sliver of one.

Bianca's visage was eating. Again.

A conjured turkey sandwich floated in her hand. She spoke between bites like it was the most natural thing in the world.

What are you even doing, Bianca?

Elian smiled as living metal tore apart the corpses around them.

"There's not much to say, Master," he replied calmly. "Short term, I'm restoring your HP. Midterm, I want to stockpile Tyrant cores to act as your HP piggy bank. Long term..."

His voice trailed. The boy gazed at his fists as he clenched them, his brows twitching.

I should tell her when I have a plan. It's too early.

He smiled again, turned to her, continuing.

"I'll tell you later. Right now, your health comes first."

Bianca stood and walked over, still chewing slowly. She didn't say anything else. The beauty just watched him as she ate her meal. Imaginary as it was.

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He appreciated that. She knew better than to press. The ripples hadn't fully died down.

That's what she called it—rippling. Whenever his thoughts grew unsettled, the Living Metal at his feet would shift, react. They weren't like lake ripples—they were spines. Like a hedgehog bristling, ready to strike. Similar to how a cat retracts its claws, the rippling did the same.

He could feel the weight of Living Metal shifting as it rippled—fluid like water one moment, hard and unyielding the next. Spikes, spears, swords, every ripple fashioned blades and raised them. Elian's body no longer just included his humanoid form. Each drop of living metal was a part of him.

And while he had Adamant, that suppression didn't extend to the sea around him. Thus his emotions that ran rampant manifested in the rippling the rest of his body did unconsciously. It was like living metal sharpened itself in preparation for what was to come.

How apt, Elian commented inwardly.

"Elian," Bianca called, her face grew serious as she paused. "Those are your plans for me. You haven't said anything you wished for yourself. Come now, I'm a kind master. You've worked hard. Do you have anything you want to do?"

He froze. If someone saw him then, they'd think him robotic. Mechanical. Maybe even synthetic.

"What I want?"

What do I even want?

His mind stalled. Its calculations all stopped.

He used to have dreams—Talent. Purpose.

Now, he had both.

And yet, he had nothing.

Apart from his goals and dreams to keep Bianca safe, there wasn't much anything else. It was as if his mind made a deliberate choice to stop thinking of Elian Reed as an individual but an object. A weapon.

Weapon... are weapons allowed to have wants?

As Elian contemplated, Bianca came closer. Her face was downcast. Her expression looked painful and lonely. Maybe even sad. Then Elian remembered the first time Bianca cried in front of him.

"Why? You should be livid! I lied and cheated you for my own purposes. I was prepared to earn your hate and spend the rest of my life in recompense. Why do you accept it so easily? Is it because of Adamant?"

Ah, Bianca feels guilty for what happened to me. Come on... Think of something. Anything.

Then a quiet thought sprang up from his core. And just for a second, his shoulders dropped in loneliness. As if he had a hole in his heart.

"I—I'd like to visit my parents," he said quietly. "I don't intend to go back to being their son. I just... want to see them. Even just from afar."

It was simple. So simple even animals might share it. And that—its simplicity—made it something everyone could understand.

Bianca didn't reply right away.

But her gaze shifted. It wasn't divine or icy this time. It was warm. Pained, maybe.

She stepped closer.

"You seem to have great affection for them," she said gently. "Do you mind sharing a few stories?"

The weapon found himself smiling, "Sure, I don't mind. But... could you put away the sandwich? You've been eating for half an hour. I'm starting to grow envious."

"Oh?" she tilted her head. "Do you want some?"

"No, it just looks really good."

"It is. The image helps my mind process the taste. This is way better than any core I've had to date. The taste has layers—like bread, then meat. So I created the image of a sandwich to help simulate eating it," she replied proudly.

"Sounds complicated." Elian chuckled. "I can't actually taste anything. I can see, hear, smell—but when I chew a core, it's like flavorless gum balls. Dry, crunchy but bland."

Bianca paused.

He noticed her glance at the sandwich, then at him, her expression dimming slightly.

"Hmm. I'm in the same boat," she admitted. "I only have four senses. The one I'm missing is touch."

Without warning, she flickered.

One moment she stood meters away—the next, she was in front of him.

She raised a hand and held it out.

Understanding what she wanted, he mirrored her, placing his palm against hers.

"It's so cool," he murmured.

"Cool?" she asked. "You mean like cold not freezing?"

"Yes," he said. "Whenever your soul body appears, I feel a soft chill. When you touch me, it feels comforting, like everything will be all right... Lately, just sensing it improves my mood greatly."

Elian's clear, honest words caused Bianca to suddenly flush. When the boy saw his master's embarrassed expression, he belatedly understood what he had done. But he bore no guilt as every single word was without any falsehood.

Bianca leapt back like a cat which got its tail stepped on. She couldn't hold eye contact and began to take deep breaths as if to calm herself. Her lips were curled slightly upwards, although she tried to hide it.

"R-Right... uhm... Your parents!" she blurted. "Do you mind telling me about them? I remember you said they were good people. What did they spend their time on?"

"Their names are Tom and Susan. My dad works in construction and my mom is a housewife. I owe them everything. And while we weren't that well off, they gave me the best life they could."

Unknowingly, Elian felt his heart stir. Despite Adamant still being active, he felt happy. Content even. Bianca suddenly came near as she made a dazzling smile.

"Seeing how they still bring you joy, I cannot wait to meet them. Although, they might resent me for what I have done to their beloved son. But my vow to you, I intend to fulfill. Once we return you are free to use all my remaining assets to their care and comfort. I owe you that much."

Hearing his master's words, Elian kneeled to Bianca and said in gratitude.

"Thank you, Bianca, I mean that, I will forever be grateful."

At that point the woman wrapped her sandwich with a tissue before putting it behind her back. A loud crack followed, the core her soulgem fed from lost its light and shattered. It turned to dust in the very next moment.

"Perfect. I have finished eating. Thank you for the meal, Elian. That was my first proper meal in over a decade. I look forward to the next time you take me out on a date."

Elian, who heard her words, chuckled before gesturing to the devastated hall around them.

"I am afraid I am a man of poor talents my lady. If I am the one with you, I can only take you to lands fraught with danger." He grinned, "Although, I assure you it will be an adventure unlike any other."

Bianca nodded in satisfaction. She held her hand out like a lady waiting to be escorted. Then the maiden stuck up her nose and began to act like a sheltered rich noble.

"Oh my, that sounds dangerous, are you certain you can protect someone as weak and innocent as me?"

"Pfft!" Elian snorted. "Innocent?"

As Elian broke character, Bianca glared at him as she pouted. Rather than withdraw her hand, she jabbed it forward, urging her knight to fulfill his duty.

"Ehem, my apologies. Why, of course, my lady, it will be my pleasure. Then let us go to our next destination! Crestfall City!"

Elian finally reached for Bianca's hand and took it. Her eyes widened in surprise. As their hands touched, she whispered something. So soft, he didn't catch it.

"Warm..."

"Excuse me?"

Bianca quickly shook her head as she looked forward, "N-Nothing! Nothing! Let us go my knight! Onward!"

They walked hand in hand, caught in their little skit. Both knew it was foolish. But for now, it was enough. They had each other. Such innocent interactions made them forget the weight tomorrow will bring, and the choices they would have to make in response.

For now, this is enough, so long as I am with her. I can figure out my wants in the future.