The Heroes' Oath (3)
Though it was a gathering of adventurers, everyone there was of noble status. With so few people, it could almost pass for a proper social event.
That's why they're all dressed up. Is fashion a form of diplomacy here too?
"No. I've wanted to go out with Kirgil like this for a while now—not as an adventurer or a priestess."
"Then I should've dressed up even more. This is embarrassing."
The meeting spot was a private room on the second floor of a restaurant on the main street. Last time, Inadia had footed the bill for a fancy banquet hall, but without the sponsor this time, they'd gone for something more modest.
Feels just like a company dinner.
But Panash, Hodo, and Hairil were all in casual everyday clothes. Ashu and I were the only ones who'd put in real effort with our outfits.
"Haha! With you two dressed like that, we look like wedding guests!"
Hodo's words made me realize—maybe Ashu had planned it that way. For some reason, Hairil was eyeing Ashu with envy too. Hairil, have you decided your fate or something?
Huh!?
Hairil suddenly looked serious. What was that about?
"Sniff… sniff… Um, Kirgil-nim. Ashushikara-nim seems strange. Sniff… Uh… something's off."
What? I glanced at Ashu beside me, and her face was flushed red. Her breathing was ragged too.
What the hell happened all of a sudden?
She'd just been smiling happily at Hodo's compliment moments ago.
Ashu seemed out of it—her response to my calls was dazed and distant. I touched her forehead, and she flinched in surprise.
She had a fever, alright.
"Sorry, everyone. Ashushikara doesn't seem well all of a sudden. Can we reschedule for tomorrow? I'll come back alone if I have to."
They all urged me to take her home and care for her right away. No need to worry, rest up, and don't push too hard tomorrow either.
I thanked and apologized to them, then scooped Ashu up and hurried back to the inn.
"Ugh… Kirgil… sorry. I'm so sorry… suddenly… ah… ugh… it's because of me… hnn…."
Ashu's body was burning hot. Her breaths came warm and sultry. What was going on all of a sudden?
Was it a side effect from that morning's medicine?
I opened the Status Window, but no debuffs or anything unusual popped up.
Stamina: 246/223
Huh!? No, it's not abnormal—there's something noteworthy.
Ashu's stamina had slightly exceeded its max!
What the hell is this!?
I knew it wasn't life-threatening, but was Agnes's medicine causing her stamina to overflow?
Either way, her whole body was radiating heat, so I laid her on the bed and started undressing her.
Shame she looked so cute in that outfit for once… huh?
"Ashu, move your hands. You've got a fever and you're sweating. Hurry."
"Ugh… please… no… don't… hnn… not like this…."
Ashu clutched her skirt hem, resisting. She pressed her legs together, trembling.
Why was she suddenly acting like this?
She didn't seem to be joking around.
I reassured her with head pats, held her hand instead of pulling at her clothes, and gently moved it aside.
Once I got her undressed… well, I noticed midway through anyway.
Her body was drenched in sweat, but more than that—her underwear was soaked through for very adult reasons.
Not the nicest way to put it, but her scent had intensified before I even started undressing her. It was so familiar that I didn't catch on right away.
"This is so embarrassing… I didn't want you to see me like this… I could die of shame. Hnn… sob…."
She really seemed mortified—covering her face with both hands, tears streaming down. She must've thought she'd shown a vulgar side unintentionally.
Every time she flinched… it stirred something strange in me too.
So that's what Agnes meant about it being too stimulating for women. Reshi said she got hot at night—guess reactions vary by person.
"Ashu, I'm sorry. I didn't know it'd turn out like this. But it's okay. I'll stay by your side until the fever breaks."
I kissed her to calm her down, but her scent grew even stronger. She smelled like fine wine—enough to make me dizzy without even drinking.
Crude as it sounds, Ashu's condition boiled down to heat. Somehow, we'd stumbled into a scenario straight out of an erotic game or adult manga.
Excited? Not at all. Ashu wasn't some disposable outlet for lust. She had feelings, thoughts—a person.
I worried she'd feel ashamed or tormented once this passed. Or worse, terrified at the thought of anyone else seeing her like this.
Today, I'd stay by her side and care for her attentively.
This day was hers.
Ugh… what?
Morning sun was blinding.
I must've passed out sometime last night.
Yesterday had left me utterly drained—not from overexertion in bed or anything.
That only happens in lewd comics or games.
I'd focused solely on reassuring and comforting Ashu—no naughty stuff. Mostly just holding her still or stroking her gently.
Ashu would cling to me desperately at times, biting my shoulder hard enough to hurt, leaving nail marks too.
It stung, but I'd endure, stroking her back through it.
She finally calmed down late that evening, after everyone else had gone to sleep.
That's when I used my back—for real. Not drugged, stone-cold sober.
Less about release, more confirming our feelings for each other.
But damn, it was exhausting.
After a full day of soothing and caressing, I must've conked out mid-way.
When I woke, Ashu was already bathed clean, dressed in a pure white outing gown different from yesterday's, reading a book.
Maybe because she'd shown such a disheveled side? This morning's Ashu was even more demure and innocent than usual.
"Ashu, you okay now?"
She noticed me stirring and came over.
"Thanks to you, I feel refreshed—like I had a good dream. Having you there… it was really, really nice."
She greeted me with a morning kiss.
"But if it hadn't been you by my side yesterday, I would've bitten my tongue and killed myself."
Whoa!? She got dead serious all of a sudden.
She seemed truly resolved—it scared me.
Over a simple breakfast, I explained more about the medicine that caused it.
It had great effects on me and others, and while Agnes noted precautions for women, even she hadn't anticipated this.
"I don't blame Agnes-sensei or you. Neither of you would give me something harmful.
In fact, I feel lighter this morning than usual. Partly thanks to you, but…."
"No need to push yourself."
"No, really—I'm not worried. Sensei did warn it might be stimulating at first, and it was. She knows the side effects and benefits well. So let's keep taking it. Plus, she said it'd settle down later."
"Fine. But on medicine days, I'm staying right by your side."
"Yessir~."
Glad yesterday wasn't a huge embarrassment or issue for her. But that reply was awfully chipper.
She wasn't looking forward to it, was she?
We'd bailed on the dungeon strategy dinner yesterday, so we were meeting again today. Time to get ready.
"Oh my, Kirgil—you're hurt…."
Ashu spotted the marks on my back and covered her mouth in shock.
All your doing, you know.
Nail scratches and bite marks everywhere—like a horror movie ruin wall.
Traces of yesterday's bloody battle…
I struck a proud pose, baring my "hero's reversal" scars like a champ… only to get insta-healed.
Not received—healed against my will!
No romance like in a shonen manga. These were reversal scars! But… they didn't heal.
"Of course. Even an almighty god wouldn't want to heal such cute marks."
"No! Don't insult the gods with your delusions!"
Ow!!
Now I had a freaky handprint on my back too.
"Ugh… so you don't see these as wounds, Kirgil. That's why they won't heal."
According to Ashu, if you viewed marks as part of yourself, minor scratches that'd fade quick, training blisters, painless scars, or ones tied to strong memories/impressions—they resisted healing.
She wasn't certain, but it probably involved the recipient's mental state.
"Figures. It's your desperate affection. If they scar, they might make nice memories."
"Eeeeek, so embarrassing—please! Let them heal! Oh right! Agnes-sensei's ointment! Put it on! Quick!"
Watching Ashu fluster and panic first thing in the morning filled me with inexplicable energy.
Was this the thrill of corrupting a pure maiden with shame?
As Ashu grabbed Agnes's special salve, I flexed my back muscles in a bodybuilder's double biceps pose.
Heh, back scars earned protecting a woman—true man's marks. Though maybe a swordsman's shame.
Smack!! Smack!!
Owww!!
Ashu slathered ointment on her palm and smacked my back like punishing a naughty kid's butt.
Damn, this handprint needs healing.