The Hero's Trial (2)
As soon as the carriage left the outskirts of the city, six mounted knights fell in behind us as if they'd been waiting. White tunics emblazoned with the symbol of the sun. Cathedral Knights.
Ashu had the carriage halt briefly so she could receive their salutes and reports, then introduced me.
She explained that I was the Hero of Prosek, bound to her by the Connection Ring, and asked them to treat me with the same care they showed her.
From now on, I'm getting saintess-level treatment from these guys. Feels kinda weird.
"I'm Derai, from the Paraskarania branch. It's an honor to meet the Miracle Hero in person."
Once the introductions were done, the captain reported to Ashu but made a point of greeting me too.
Even as leader of just six riders, he held a rank equivalent to a company commander.
A knight with real status and experience.
I tried to introduce myself politely, but "I'm Kirgil, the Hero of Prosek" felt kinda short. No family lineage or fancy title to back it up—it came off half-assed somehow.
"I'm Kirgil, Hero of Prosek, who has received the Light's Guidance alongside Saintess Ashushikara. Thank you, Captain Derai, for the escort from the knights who illuminate the dark paths."
Hanging around Ashu, picking up on all this etiquette crap... suddenly my words are getting all literary without me even trying.
Mixing in metaphors and flowery bullshit like that makes my chest itch. I'm this close to cringing.
"We are grateful for the Hero's acknowledgment. Please continue to look after the Saintess!"
Luckily... no, the reaction was great. The knights all slapped hands to chests in unison and saluted.
Ashu's smile had a satisfied edge I'd never seen before. I half-expected a halo to glow behind her.
A bit embarrassing.
Maybe it was from games or comics I'd seen back home, but part of me wondered if hanging with knights meant some kind of initiation rite.
'So you're that famous hero, huh? Show me what you got! Beat me and I'll acknowledge you!' That kinda thing.
But these Cathedral Knights showed no sign of it.
Feels like I'm being worshipped.
The carriage rolled out again, the knights forming up front and rear in escort formation.
Ashu scooted right up next to me. If no one was watching, she'd probably have linked arms and plastered herself against me.
It was a three-day trip, so we stopped at a village around sunset to book lodging.
Unlike the scholar's road, this was a route for Darania's nobles, so the village had a separate high-end inn for VIPs.
Derai even planned rotating night watches to patrol the area around the inn.
Solid protection, but right now it felt like a burden. No wonder Ashu had gone out of her way to refuse Cathedral Knight escorts.
Ashu's smile as she received the report carried her usual hint of annoyance.
These guys saw it as their duty and calling—you couldn't just turn them down.
So I suggested they patrol at a distance and signal any emergencies with shouts or bells instead of rushing in.
My reasoning?
"It would disturb the Saintess's prayers. And you might get caught in my fighting style."
To convince him, I showed the captain the power of Hodo's crossbow—just a bolt into a tree at my command. For good measure, we sparred lightly too.
Tedious process, but testing Cathedral Knight swordplay wasn't bad. More shieldwork than sword, really.
They specialized in protection, so their timing for shield bashes and counters was spot-on. When they went for the edge, it looked more threatening than a blade.
Moving around loosened up my body, stiff from the long ride.
Anyway, once they acknowledged my strength and style, close escort switched to distant surveillance.
No more prying eyes on our rooms.
Now Ashu's smile finally had that fresh, carefree glow.
Hmm, I can read her moods at a glance these days. Even I'm impressed with myself.
Why bring people along? Obvious—to enjoy private time without prying eyes.
Hard to say out loud, but back at the academy, I'd prioritized Agnes.
Not some Confucian respect-for-elders instinct. Agnes just needed me more emotionally than Ashu did. She missed me even from afar, and time was limited.
Later, Agnes felt guilty for hogging me and made some weird concessions to Ashu. Led to them fighting all day.
Call it merging parties or whatever...
Ashu, with her student council prez vibe, flat-out refused to accept it.
Learned the hard way that good intentions don't always lead to good results—can even spark new fights.
Anyway, Ashu seemed to have high expectations for tonight.
She finished dinner faster than me, then headed to her room to wash up and primp.
I get it without her saying. Mess this up and I'm in deep shit.
If I wasn't feeling great, I'd wanna zip my training hoodie to my chin. But tonight, I had something I wanted to try.
I busied myself checking and cleaning weapons for a couple hours, giving her space, then headed to the inn.
It'd seemed like a decent, clean room when we arrived.
Now it smelled of flowers, decked out with fancy decorations.
Ashu's prep work always surprises me. This is beyond obsession—it's a hobby. She doesn't lug this stuff around, so how'd she source it locally so fast?
Her outfit... like that magical girl getup Agnes wore once. They must've made a matching set.
Explains Agnes's weird suggestion.
Tonight, I'd switch things up too.
I laid blushing Ashu on the bed face-down, back to me.
"Eek!!"
She yelped. I'd pressed hard on the sole of her foot with my hand.
After that horn-and-head massage before, I'd been curious about giving this world's people a proper massage.
Ferio once called it "new torture" she'd never tried. Healing magic made the idea unthinkable.
No chance back then, and no way to compare to spells.
Now, with a peak healer priestess ass-up in front of me, perfect chance to test.
"Y-you... eek... ahh... too much. Hnng... suddenly."
"Sorry, couldn't do this with anyone but you. It's not a joke—it's legit treatment from my world. Hate it?"
"......"
Ashu peeked at me, then buried her face in the pillow.
Good, she doesn't hate it. That face and reaction? Just embarrassed.
I always recommend hand massages for elderly parents or bedridden folks back home.
No need to be pro. Just light rubbing—they love it.
Even unconscious ones do. Careful around wounds or sore spots, obviously. Hygiene goes without saying.
Working Ashu's soles, toes, calves, thighs... her skin was thin and soft, but the muscles underneath were firm. Thighs yielded softly under pressure, then bounced back resiliently.
Never seen her train or work out, and she never looked drained from travel or all-nighters.
But her ass was plush. My palm sank right in. Unavoidable?
By the time I'd worked both legs up to her lower back, even breathing steadied.
Shed been moaning sleepily moments ago—now out cold.
Kept going anyway.
Wanna hear how refreshed she feels tomorrow.
Shifting her for better access occasionally revealed her drooling, dopey sleeping face popping off the pillow.
Rare sight—wish I had a camera for some shots.
Post it as 'Defenseless Magical Saintess' on a board and it'd hit best-of for sure.
"Whew, sneakily tiring."
Full body from toes to scalp, and I was sweating.
Worth it, though. Couldn't get her feedback while asleep, but her complexion visibly improved.
She'd prepped her outfit and room big-time, but she was sleeping so soundly I couldn't wake her.
Still a satisfying night.
Love doesn't have to mean sex every time.
...Was that the problem?
The moment I lay down, Ashu opened her eyes.
Good color meant her body was that warmed up.
Shed just napped deep—condition looked prime.
...Anyway.
Never seen Ashu tire out easy.
The next morning, Derai came by before breakfast for a quick situation report to me and Ashu.
"The Saintess shines even more beautifully today."
"Thank you, Sir Derai. Last night felt like receiving the divine presence."
Ashu, in high spirits, even bantered lightly while accepting the knights' greetings.
She really did glow. Deep sleep, knots worked out.
"Hero, you alright? You look exhausted."
"Kirgil stayed tense for my sake late into the night and barely slept."
True, I was tense. Especially my lower half.
No lie in that saintly packaging.
Diplomacy talk, huh?
Ugh... what're they saying? Sleepy brain's wandering.
"Hahaha, a reliable hero indeed. We'll guard during the day—rest well in the carriage."
Saintess decree: massage effects highly satisfactory.
First time for this kind of affection, apparently.
Whole body feels refreshed, she says.
No, Ashu. It was treatment.
Sigh. Gotta stop casually spreading my world's stuff.
She's liking it too much—kinda scary.
New civilizations could be poison here.
Gotta rethink that ondol floor plan I've dreamed of someday.