Chapter 219
Chapter 219
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 219
Chapter Title: Chapter 5-2. Rest
-----------------------------------------------------------------
As soon as they sat down, the queen offered drinks and snacks, then thanked Via who had followed them in, asking her to close the door on her way out. Via bowed her head and backed out, closing the door behind her. Once she was gone, the queen bowed deeply to Yuda.
"Thank you."
With graceful poise, she expressed her gratitude and continued. She had been deeply worried that her aged body wouldn't allow her to take the field and command directly, but thanks to him, they had achieved victory in this disadvantageous war. She promised to provide every comfort during his stay in the forest and, as long as he never betrayed the elves, they would be eternal friends.
The queen tried to avoid bringing up Bell-Terza if possible, but the flow of conversation made it inevitable. Even from this place a day's distance from Loengrim, his presence had been palpable, she said with a fearful expression. Every elf who sensed Bell-Terza's presence had felt terror in that moment, praying to the gods and the World Tree that no great calamity had befallen them.
Of course, sensing Bell-Terza's presence without knowing anything would do that. Without his <Player> trait, Yuda might have lost his mind to sheer terror upon encountering such a being. A monarch was a walking calamity. Simply revealing himself could sow massive chaos in the mid realms.
Yet, even though Bell-Terza had appeared and vanished, no harm had come to the elves—in fact, they had heard through magic that he had helped them, bringing great relief. The queen made no mention of the human sacrifice. If she had heard reports, she must have known of Bell-Terza's voice echoing across that vast space, yet she said nothing.
Yuda took a sip of the drink she had prepared and tossed out a mischievous question.
"Aren't you afraid?"
The system message had said it: thankful, but afraid. That was Bell-Terza's nature. No matter that he had punished humans and spared elves at Yuda's request, his descent would normally have meant death for all nearby life. The queen let out a soft chuckle at Yuda's question.
"Of whom? You?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
The queen wore an enigmatic smile, her face thoughtful, as if debating whether to tease him. From that, Yuda could tell she felt no fear at all. She continued slowly.
"Fortunately, I'm not afraid. The power to summon that being to this land is certainly terrifying, but... didn't you make that choice for the sake of the elves? I can't be certain since I wasn't there, but judging from what I heard..."
The queen met Yuda's eyes directly.
"I don't think there's any need to be wary or fearful. Above all, if you were a dangerous or evil being, the World Tree's magic wouldn't have stayed silent, and the priest at your side couldn't possibly bear the magic of Holy King Gabriel."
She had her reasons for trust, she added, which was why she wasn't afraid. The rest of the conversation was uneventful. As initially promised, he could take the fragment Lusen Ardaan; once postwar recovery stabilized, they planned a festival, so if he intended to leave soon, she asked him to stay a bit longer.
Since he planned to rest here for a while anyway, he gladly accepted. After the meeting with the queen, he considered staying, but Arhil wanted to help Loengrim's patients first, so they headed back. With plans to remain for some time, building more goodwill with the elves wasn't a bad idea. Her words came from pure kindness, but Yuda decided to help her to dispel even the faint fear the elves might hold toward them.
They met Via and returned to Loengrim. Wounded were still plentiful. They couldn't all heal in a day. The World Tree's sap wasn't infinite; it was reserved for the gravely injured or dying, with others treated via magic and herbs.
The elves apparently lacked priests, so mage-sorcerers cast healing spells, though they didn't seem all that effective. High-ranking ones like the elders suffered aftereffects from death and resurrection, plus mana depletion, leaving them in recovery.
Arhil gladly used holy magic for them, reducing patient numbers, while Yuda didn't just watch—he made medicines using herb knowledge learned from Tia at Serenia Castle.
'She taught me nothing but useful stuff.'
Tracking game, erasing tracks, warding off cold while camping, starting fires fast... Some skills were redundant thanks to player perks and the system, but distinguishing medicinal from poisonous herbs and treating wounds with them proved handy.
'Hm... I miss her.'
Grinding herbs, Yuda suddenly felt nostalgia from memories with her. If he'd stayed at Serenia Castle, he wouldn't be suffering like this. Days of physical and mental comfort, making love with her.
'......'
Making love. The word conjured vivid memories of intimacy throughout the house. His first in this world made them burn bright. He'd been with Isabel, Black Tree Tribe chief, too. Recalling nights with such beauties, Yuda vented on innocent herbs, squeezing out juice. He ground them, mixed, and made ointments for wounds. Unsure if effective on elves, but item info noted good results for cuts and stabs.
He showed his medicines to assisting elf pharmacists, explained effects, and they tested together. Not instant like potions or spells, but after time, they confirmed efficacy and asked for recipes, which he shared freely.
Dizzy from patients' groans and herb smells, Yuda sought Arhil. She moved busily amid the chaos, casting holy magic, trapped in the atmosphere.
Still ignoring her own state. Not having eaten, Yuda approached, excused himself to her elf helper, and tapped her shoulder.
"Eek!"
"W-Why?"
Her startle startled him back. Arhil turned, panting, then slowly shook her head as if nothing was wrong.
Something was definitely off.
Suspicious or strange—he wasn't sure, but her condition wasn't normal.
Yuda suggested she eat and rest, excused her to her elf shadow, and led her outside. Humans drew stares in elven society, even as benefactors.
"......"
On the walk home, Arhil said nothing. She staggered mid-stride, legs buckling, worrying him deeply. He asked if she was okay; she forced a smile.
He opened the unlocked door, sat her on the living room sofa to rest, then prepped a meal while glancing at her steady breathing.
'Status window.'
Yuda checked her info, rarely viewed.
──────────────────────
「Status Window」
[Name: Arhil]
[Title: Savior]
[True Name: One Who Never Loses Hope]
[Level: 47]
[Job: Saintess of Purity (A)]
[Race: Human]
[Strength: 30 (D) / Potential C]
[Vitality: 41 (C) / Potential B]
[Agility: 32 (D) / Potential C]
[Holy Power: 71 (B) / Potential S]
[Magic Resistance: 56 (C) / Potential S]
[Faith: 70 (B) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Knowledge: 40 (C) / Potential A] ◀ Special
[Luck: 59 (C) / Potential C] ◀ Special
[Affection: 65 (Interest)]
[Trust: 100 (Friendship)]
「Traits 6/6」
[Gabriel's Apostle] - Rank: A
[Savior] - Rank: A
[Holy Amplification] - Rank: B
[Uncontrollable Temptation] - Rank: A
[For You] - Rank: C (S)
[Saintess of Purity] - Rank: A
「Skills 4/5」
[Holy Magic - Blessing] - Rank: A
[Holy Magic - Defense] - Rank: A
[Holy Martial Arts] - Rank: B
[Self-Defense Technique] - Rank: B
──────────────────────
Level up confirmed, stats risen notably, if not as much as his, from events. Some games let status views reveal minds or ailments, but this system showed nothing.
Checking traits and skills, he spotted the issue.
[Uncontrollable Temptation] - Rank: A / Workmanship: Master
Innate figure, looks, and voice seduce sanity; holds libertine values. Vitality and Agility +10, athleticism and reflexes +30%.
└Influence of the Seven Deadly Sins, Asmodeus: Holy Magic - Blessing instills faint lust in caster and target (stacks).
'My god.'
Chopping veggies for warm soup, Yuda froze. He'd never bothered checking; now this useless trait. No wonder buffs from her stirred him oddly—it wasn't imagination.
For groaning patients, she'd cast healing as mana allowed. Faint per use, but dozens or hundreds stacking? No mere lust.
'...Just leave it?'
Couldn't help directly.
Like Pandora's box—better ignorant, brushing it off mindlessly. Sighing, he resumed chopping.
"Nggh..."
Sudden moan halted him. Heart raced. Lust buildup plus moan drew eyes to her in the living room. Yuda tried ignoring her, focusing on food. Struggled but finished.
"Arhil!"
"Y-Yes!?"
"Food's ready—come eat!"
Weak reply; back from bathroom, she beamed at the table.
"Wow! Looks delicious! Who taught you to cook like this?"
Bright tone felt masked. Yuda pretended not to notice, answered, and they ate. Routine: eat together, help patients like commuting, return to rest.
Arhil's state worsened over time.
Blank stares or bitten lips, clenched fists like enduring something. But addressed, she smiled brightly as if nothing.
Worried, first night passed; second day dawned.
Same routine, night fell. Waking for bathroom, Yuda quietly opened door, descending stairs—then heard sobbing.
"Hic..."
Misheard? Tilted head, tried again—same sound. Muffled, moonlit voice from Arhil's room clearly. Beyond closed door, stifled moans gripping something: masturbation, no doubt.
Tempted to eavesdrop, but wrong; he went to bathroom, back to bed.
'Yeah, better she relieves it that way.'
Part of him fantasized a passionate night, but awkwardness after... Crossing lines might bring guilt.
Such thoughts recalled Tia, Isabel. More than guilt, hypnotizing Arhil weighed heaviest. Before bigger regrets, soon lift it, he thought, seeking sleep.
But her lusty moan lingered; groin heavy.
"Urgh...!"