Chapter 341
Chapter 341
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 341
Chapter Title: Chapter 8-1. Beastkin Nation, Reillysa.
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Judah stopped in front of his door and turned around. Celine, who had been following about two steps behind, froze in surprise. Watching her flustered expression, Judah let out a small chuckle. Her face turned bright red. He reached out and slipped his hand between her horns. She flinched as if startled and squeezed her eyes shut.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"Oh, no. Nothing..."
He gently stroked her hair, and she slowly opened her eyes. Her horns kept bumping against his hand, so he couldn't stroke too vigorously. He wondered if she disliked it, but fortunately, she didn't seem to. She let out a relieved breath and lowered her head to make it easier for him to pet her.
With her eyes squeezed shut and flinching, she focused entirely on Judah's hand stroking her hair. Her hair felt soft. It even carried a pleasant scent.
"It feels good."
Judah's eyes widened at her soft murmur. For a moment, he thought she'd read his mind—like the thief feeling guilty at the mention of his own sore feet. He continued petting her blankly for about three more minutes before pulling his hand away.
"Ah..."
If only her posture had been more relaxed, he could have kept petting her like a puppy or a cat. It was a shame, but it was time to stop. Judah smiled softly.
"Come on, time to head to your room and rest."
"What you just did... that was rest enough for me..."
"I'll do it again later. What would people think if they saw us petting like this in the middle of the hallway?"
Judah meant it as consideration for her, but Celine sighed. It wouldn't matter much if someone saw. She didn't care if they gossiped or plotted behind her back. She was simply happy with everything Judah did for her.
Eye contact felt good. His attention felt good.
A light touch now and then made her feel like she'd melt into that warmth.
She didn't mind any smells coming from him. There was no repulsion. As long as it was from Judah, everything brought her joy.
But if she clung to him or demanded more, he'd find it annoying. He'd dislike it. And eventually, he'd grow tired of her. She didn't want that. She wanted to whine for more petting. She wanted to ask if they could share a room. But that would annoy him. He might end up tiring of her. She didn't want to see that look in his eyes.
Celine nodded, her expression tinged with regret.
"...Understood."
"Don't look so down. Someone might think I threatened you."
"I'm sorry."
Celine bowed her head in apology. It wasn't something to apologize for. Judah hadn't expected an apology. But if he said that, she'd make an even guiltier face. Standing at his door, Judah gave a wry smile as he looked at her with those lingering, wistful eyes.
"Alright, looks like you really hate being apart from me."
Judah nodded repeatedly in short bursts. After a brief moment of thought, he spoke as if bestowing a favor.
"If you really can't sleep alone at night, come to my room. I'm keeping distance not to torment you, but for your sake anyway."
"R-Really? Is that okay?"
"Of course. But no slacking off or coming too early without trying."
"Yes! I'll try my best."
Celine's face lit up with a bright, radiant smile, as if her gloom had never been there. However, Judah had no idea what ripples his permission—for her to come to him at night—would cause later.
'It should be fine. Yeah, it'll be okay.'
Even if she slipped into his room at night, they'd just sleep. Like when they camped outdoors.
Truth be told, Celine was a beauty with an incredibly sensual figure, so imagining sharing a bed alone with her made him uneasy about stray thoughts or doing something foolish. But nothing would happen. He could just ignore it and sleep like always. It was simply sharing a blanket and a bed. A very straightforward matter.
"Alright then. Get some good rest."
"You've had a hard day too, Judah."
She spoke with such excessive politeness that it felt burdensome. Judah waved as he opened his door and stepped inside. She didn't seem ready to leave yet, so he went in and closed the door.
"Well then..."
He turned his gaze to the person now inside the room. Standing in the center was a maid in a black-and-white maid outfit that covered her completely, balanced evenly in color. Her perky ears and wagging tail indicated she was a beastkin. The maid bowed deeply and greeted him as their eyes met.
"Pleased to meet you. I am 'Setel,' assigned to attend to you while you stay here, Lord Judah Arshel."
"I didn't call for a maid."
"I am your dedicated maid, assigned to ensure you have no inconveniences during your stay. Please let me know if you need anything."
"Hm...?"
Judah glanced around the room. Sure enough, the bed he'd rolled around on before leaving was now neatly made, like in a hotel. The maid approached and helped him undress.
"The clothes you left hanging in front of the bathroom—I found them while cleaning and sent them for laundering. They'll be dried and returned by tomorrow."
"Oh, you didn't have to. Thanks. Take your time."
Now only his pants remained. Once she removed his shirt, she sniffed it right there, apparently deeming it fine, and neatly folded it onto a shelf in the wardrobe.
The maid followed Judah, who headed to the bathroom for a quick rinse.
"You're not planning to help with bathing too, are you?"
"Do you dislike it? If not, I'll wait outside."
Judah nodded. He still wasn't used to someone helping him bathe. And unless he settled down to live idly somewhere, he probably never would.
"Wait outside. Actually, you're not sleeping here tonight anyway, right?"
"...If that's what you wish, Lord Judah Arshel, I will stay."
"No need. Don't bother. Just clean up after I leave the room. No other services required, so you can go."
"Understood. If you need anything, please ring the bell in the room, and I'll arrive within five minutes."
Judah nodded, finished removing his pants, and entered the bathroom. He heard the soft click of the door closing as the maid left.
'Beastkin, huh...'
He turned on the shower, checked the water temperature, and fell into thought. The moment he'd seen the beastkin maid's tail and ears in the room, a nostalgic face had come to mind.
Jentia.
His mentor, his first love in this world, his emotional anchor. He pictured her in her sweater, smoking herb leaves like cigarettes as a hobby. Seeing Celine's tail and horns hadn't fazed him at all. The beastkin on the streets of Reillysa hadn't either. He hadn't connected them to her at all—yet the instant he saw this maid's tail and ears, Jentia's face flashed in his mind. As hot water from the shower soaked his body, Judah sighed.
'I wonder if she's doing well.'
He was curious how she was faring. Worried if anything had happened, if she was in trouble.
'Does she still remember me? She hasn't forgotten, right.'
It'd be nice if she thought of him occasionally. He hoped she was well in that house, that room. When he'd left Serenia Castle, he'd told her she didn't need to wait—that it was fine to love another man. He'd said it for her sake back then. But selfishly, after sleeping with other women and spending nights with them, he wanted her to pine only for him, to love and remember only him.
"Tch."
He clicked his tongue.
He wanted to visit her once. He didn't miss his parents or friends from his original world intensely—no impulsive urges—since there was no way back yet. But Serenia Castle was reachable if he willed it, and that made him suddenly ache for Tia, crave seeing her.
Thinking about it, almost everything with her had been a first. It was amusing now that he rarely used it, but she'd taught him herb gathering, the basics of combat that formed his foundation today, and the [Mercenary-Style Left-Hand Dagger Throw] he still found useful. She'd even bought him the leather belt for sheathing his dagger.
She was his first love, his first experience. She'd comforted him in place of his deceased parents. Perhaps because the beastkin had reminded him of her, the longing surged like a tide. Even after washing and stepping out, the thoughts lingered.
"This is troubling."
He was starting to feel truly lonely, hollow. A hole seemed punched through his heart. Lying alone in this room like this—nights when she'd sneak in and he'd wake to her sleeping beside him had been routine. Sometimes he'd visit her room first, playfully fondle her breasts, leading to a strange mood where they'd explore each other's bodies, sweating through the night.
Mornings, they'd squeeze into the small bathroom to wash together... He'd laughed at her when she couldn't rise from sleepiness. They'd fed each other during meals. Judah buried his face in the bed and inhaled deeply through his nose. He missed her. He wanted her warm, cozy embrace. To smell her skin, spend a hot night. Now, he reminisced past their moments together, recalling the passionate nights and experiences with her.
His lower body stiffened, poised to pierce the bed. A natural reaction, but terribly inconvenient.
'Sexually frustrated, huh...'
Judah sighed.