Chapter 54
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: 14. This Feels Way Too Much Like Lovers' Sex (2)
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It resembled a plot device you'd stick into a novel.
Hearing that expression brought one of Team Leader's secrets naturally to mind.
...Those numerous erotic stories she'd written as a hobby were still a form of novel, after all.
"Totally like a fox. A real fox. To think someone like Eve put her head to such clever use?"
A small hobby had become an ingrained habit.
And eventually, that habit had seeped into her actions.
As I speculated moderately, Erzel's splashing footsteps joined in beside mine.
The downpour was still heavy, leaving the ground thoroughly soaked.
"Or did she use me as an excuse to dodge Dowon? Hmm~ There's maybe a sliver of possibility, but nah, probably not. Not after bragging about him to me so much."
"You're talking about those messages you showed me last time."
"Exactly. The ones packed full of praise for Dowon."
"So Team Leader really did it on purpose..."
"One hundred percent. Sneaking around without getting caught, even after someone warned her not to? Way more sly than I thought..., ahem."
Something must've clicked. Woman-to-woman empathy, maybe.
No need for a guy like me to butt in, so I just smiled.
"...Still, don't let Eve distract you so much that you forget about Neria. Got it?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Eve can take her time charging up. First, fuck Neria until she's drenched in the smell of semen..., ah, right."
As if she'd just remembered something, she halted and turned toward me.
Her dress swayed softly to a stop, and she propped her umbrella casually on her shoulder before asking,
"Speaking of which, how often do you do it with Neria? You know, how many times a day?"
"Usually once, steadily."
Not even every single day, at that.
One day we'd do it. The next, rest. Then the day after, do it again.
That's how we'd been passing the time.
Thinking back on it now, from her master's perspective, it probably seemed woefully inadequate.
And sure enough, Erzel had tilted her head like some inquisitive parrot.
"Once, steadily...? Once? Just once?"
"Well, Neria doesn't have much experience yet..., so she tends to chase me out after just one go."
"Then you need to rack up a whole lot more to make up for it, don't you?"
"...I got nothing."
Neria, still clumsy at sex, saw it as some shameful act—which was probably the normal perspective, honestly. But to Erzel, sex was just a pleasant way to recover mana at best.
She couldn't help acting like a trainer yelling "One more set!"
And Neria fleeing with a flushed face to escape her? Yeah, that tracked too.
Whatever the case, time would sort it out eventually, right?
I was lost in that optimistic line of thought when...
A pair of water-hued eyes, just like Neria's, stepped right up to me.
...Her noticeable chest was one thing, but the lovely fragrance teasing my nose was making things awkward.
"Sounds like Neria's the one chasing you off. So, I take it that means you want to keep going?"
"Uh......"
Honestly? Yeah. If she'd give me the chance, I'd go with Neria until we both collapsed from exhaustion.
Team Leader would've read that on my face alone.
...But standing in front of me now was Erzel.
The rain's rhythmic patter, previously drowned out by our chatter, rang clear as I cautiously nodded.
"Well, no helping it then. I figured we'd just chat till the elevator..."
"......?"
"I'll lend a hand for a bit."
"...Master?"
"Been well?"
"You've seen me just a few days ago, so asking if I've been well again feels a bit..."
"Anyway, mind if I come in? This rain's got no end in sight."
"Huh...? Can't you just make it stop yourself, Master...?"
"When a guest arrives, you serve drinks first."
And that netted me the ultimate weapon against Neria.
Erzel might ooze lewd vibes like a pervert under normal circumstances, but the moment she stood before Neria, she became the picture of a proper master.
Once we crossed the entryway together, Neria's face—who'd just dashed out moments ago to open the door—shifted into something profoundly awkward in real time.
Didn't witches have some kind of 'auto-witch detection sensor'? She'd clearly thought I'd arrived alone, as usual.
...I hadn't realized you could read mounting stress so plainly just from an expression.
What chaos would unfold once Erzel left later?
Shoes off amid those cruel imaginings.
"Drinks-wise, I've only got mineral water and cola..."
"Water."
"...One sec."
"Ah, before you go fetch it. Hold on."
Erzel paid my grim future no mind, too busy playing the perfect master.
She even turned her apprentice into a glorified water-fetcher before settling comfortably onto the sofa.
Still, Neria obediently tugged up her hoodie zipper and moved—until Erzel's single word brought her to a dead halt.
It had to be routine between master and apprentice, no matter how irritating.
Taking Neria's side would've looked off instead.
All I could do was stand awkwardly nearby like an idiot.
"Dowon?"
"Yes. Erzel."
Erzel beckoned at me like she was summoning a servant.
...The motion was so natural, like she'd done it a thousand times, that I followed without thinking.
"Dowon, just stay put for now. Neria?"
"...What."
"Word is you only go once a day with Dowon. Got any counterarguments?"
"......"
"......"
And just like that, Erzel cut straight to the chase.
As flustered me and Neria exchanged glances, Erzel leaned back even more comfortably and continued,
"Starting today, a minimum of three times with Dowon."
...Delivering the line with a sly smile that only I seemed to catch.
"Th-three...? You mean mana charge three times a day...?"
"What's so weird about that?"
"...Um......"
"You've been cooped up forever, so you've got tons of empty mana reserves. Fastest way to fill up is this, right?"
"......"
I know that much.
That was written all over her face, clear as day.
But it's embarrassing.
That inner plea flashed alongside her reddening ears before fading fast.
Nam Dowon, say something!
Her expression growled at me for a split second.
But I had zilch to add.
Think class president election for an easy analogy.
Erzel had campaigned on more sex with Neria, so of course I'd back her platform.
If Neria wanted my vote, she could promise maid cosplay sex or something—even if it meant fewer rounds overall.
Balance had to be struck somehow.
She apparently hadn't clocked that basic dynamic, her gaze drilling into me relentlessly instead.
Staring so hard my skin prickled.
"Break this rule, and Dowon reports straight to me. Simple, yeah?"
"...Understood."
"Hey, why'd you answer that?!"
Neria barked, but thankfully it ended there.
I could picture her grabbing my collar and shaking me silly, but with Master right there, she held back.
Which meant peril for my collar once Erzel left and it was just us...
But three guaranteed rounds a day? Total win.
No regrets.
"Hey, Nam Do..., no, whatever, you pervert moron. ...Master."
"Speak."
"I get that it's important to get used to mana charging with his help ASAP. I do. But..."
"......"
"I'm not used to multiple rounds yet. We could build up slowly over time..."
"How much time?"
"Well..."
Neria trailed off, her head flicking faintly my way.
Faintly. A mere glance that ended there.
Then she crept up to Erzel and started whispering.
"...One day?"
"Ah, um..., ...Yeah. Just for today..."
Erzel's booming echo—totally on purpose, given her personality—ruined any secrecy.
Neria gave up whispering and switched to her normal voice.
"Twice starting tomorrow, then three or four once I'm used to it..."
"I get you, but why only once today?"
"...I made plans with Nam Dowon for something else today, ...and it's, um, really embarrassing. ...No way I can do three."
"With Dowon?"
"Sex-related.... Something like that..."
"For real? Dowon?"
Erzel craned her head back from the sofa to look at me standing right behind her.
...Both of them seemed to be waiting for my take, so I stammered,
"Plans...?"
"......"
...No, seriously couldn't remember.
First, pitched low for Neria alone.
"......You for real don't remember?"
"...Wasn't anything worth calling plans, was there?"
"I mean..., ......Huh. Thinking about it, maybe not an actual promise..."
"When'd this happen...?"
"Yesterday...! Don't you remember our talk after sex yesterday...?"
Just yesterday, so of course I did.
"Next time, you'll let me kiss during sex..."
"Y-yeah! You said you'd let me do it with kisses! How am I supposed to squeeze in three rounds with that...!"
Neria's voice rose as she softened the phrasing a tad.
...Erzel had clearly overheard from the side-eye, but
Belatedly, Neria dropped to a whisper.
"...Just once. For today."