Chapter 66
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: 17. Cold (3)
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"...Neria's going to feed it to me herself?"
"Then who else is here besides me?"
Neria shrugged and started opening the takeout containers in place of me, who was staring blankly.
The clattering lids popped open and piled up haphazardly in the corner of the table, as if telling neatness to go to hell.
And to cap it off, as expected, was the porridge.
Neria scooped up a spoonful of it—which was billowing white steam as if boasting its scalding heat—and held it out toward me.
...Up until that gesture, I had already conveyed to Neria my thoughts like 'I can manage on my own,' 'Won't this be too much trouble for you, Neria...?' and 'It's not fatal or anything, Neria.'
But all those efforts had oxidized away, meaningless.
All that was left was the spoon sliding right in front of me.
"Open your mouth before it spills."
"No, setting everything else aside, how am I supposed to eat something that hot right away..."
"Ah."
Moreover, the way it teetered like it might spill any second was a total minus.
If she'd at least held a hand or a plate underneath, that'd be one thing—but using my pajama pants and thighs as a tray? What the hell.
I didn't want a burn on top of my cold, so in a panic, I yanked my chair back half a step and fled.
"You're right when you put it that way. ...Sorry! This is my first time nursing someone, after all."
"No need to apologize. You don't have to feel bad over something like this..."
"Yeah? Then I'm not sorry."
"......"
"Why are you looking at me like that? You said not to apologize."
"...Yes. You're right."
Are you seriously some ten-year-old kid?
I really held back from a snide remark this time.
"......"
...Anyway, this situation was, honestly speaking, somehow...
Weird.
Yeah. Nothing captured my feelings right now better than that word.
I'd noticed that Neria, the apprentice witch, was kinder than she let on around the time I'd sparred with her back when she was still a virgin.
So it made sense for her to look after the health of someone as efficient a mana blanket as me.
But even factoring that in, this unusually close proximity today was... something. Something off.
If I racked my brain for some special event between us, all that came to mind was the recent 'mana recharge.'
That is, the time Neria had been in such a good mood that she'd graciously cleaned my dick with her mouth.
...Had I ever done anything for her to deserve treatment like this?
Was that cleaning fellatio part of it?
The more I thought about it, the more confused I got.
"Looking at it again, yeah, it's definitely hot. Just wait a sec."
Thankfully, instead of throwing a fit, Neria returned the spoonful of porridge she'd just scooped to its bowl.
If it had been me, I'd have set that spoonful aside to cool separately first.
Well, a mere civil servant like me couldn't exactly question the philosophy of an apprentice witch.
Slosh, squish—the sound of her vigorously stirring the porridge with the spoon rang out.
Following that came the sound of me dragging my chair closer after my earlier escape.
...But with no real conversation to fill the air, the only sounds between us were those of the spoon for a brief moment.
"Nyam."
"......"
"...Hiss, hot..."
After tasting about half a spoonful, Neria irritably set the spoon down.
"Why isn't this cooling off? It feels hotter than freshly boiled stew."
"Porridge has a tendency to stay hot like that. But once it starts cooling, it goes fast."
"I know that. I was just venting because it's hot."
"...Ah, yes."
"Ugh... Anyway, you try it too. It's hot for me—is it edible for you?"
"......"
"What? I said try it."
With this spoon? Or should I grab a new one?
Despite agonizing over a snide remark just moments ago, the question that popped into my head was straight out of middle school.
No, an indirect kiss might even give kindergarteners a run for their money.
But in the end, I barely choked it down.
If it'd been the other way around, Neria might've been grossed out—but in this order, it should be fine, I figured.
Besides, it wasn't like my cold-ridden saliva had touched it first. It was like that Japanese bathhouse custom where adults go first.
Shoving aside those pointless rituals, I picked up the spoon.
"...Mm."
After taking a tiny bite, yeah—it was definitely hot for me too.
I could force it down with a grimace if I had to, but it wasn't an appealing temperature.
A little more cooling would be perfect.
"I'd prefer it a bit cooler too..., anyway, Neria."
"Why?"
"I've said it several times already, but I can handle eating porridge on my own just fine."
"Sure, your arms aren't broken or anything. But Master always did this for me whenever I got sick. It's still a fond memory."
"......"
"Like feeding me porridge right now, or making me swallow that nasty potion... Hm, now that I think about it, the forced medicine part wasn't so great..."
At this point, I had nothing to say.
I'd been flustered by the awkward vibe, but if this was purely out of innocent goodwill, that changed everything.
In the end, I had to yield to Neria once more this time.
"...Do as you please."
"Yeah? Then it must've cooled some—open up."
"......"
"Wider. That little bit and the porridge'll hit your lips."
"......"
...On the other hand, if she had memories of being nursed like that by Lady Erzel, why'd she texted earlier 'Witches don't catch colds!'?
I didn't bother pointing it out to tease her.
"Hmm. Tasty?"
"...Yes. Neria."
"Here, again. Ah~"
"......"
Porridge payback.
"Hm. You've got the room pretty tidy."
After the meal wrapped up in a flash.
I was just starting to think I should send her home before my cold actually infected her for real.
Then another quest popped up in real time.
She wanted to check out my bedroom before heading back, or something.
It wouldn't take long, so I nodded readily.
There wasn't any real privacy to worry about anyway.
"But it's kinda weird? A guy's room should have game consoles and stuff everywhere, right? Just a computer."
"I like them, but I can't afford to buy a bunch."
"...Ah, yeah. I heard about that before."
Parents passed early, so I had to figure out how to survive, and civil servant was all that was left.
She must've recalled me telling her something like that.
Neria gave an awkward cough and stepped further into the bedroom.
After admiring the interior for a bit, she plopped down by the bed and asked,
"And no dirty stuff in sight. I figured that's why you wouldn't let me come."
"As if I'd have something like that..."
"What if you rushed to hide it since I was coming? You're a total perv, Nam Dowon."
"That's..."
Not entirely wrong—but wouldn't any man turn into a massive perv standing before a witch?
Even Maitreya Buddha?
"No good. Gotta do an inspection. Like here, say..."
While I trailed off, Neria—claiming she'd seen something—started searching under the bed.
But of course, there was nothing like that there.
Finding porn mags under the bed was a cliché limited to Japanese light novels.
Not satisfied with that, though, Neria flipped up my perfectly fine blankets with a whoosh-whoosh.
The pillows shivering beside them got the same treatment.
Then she even checked the blinds by the window next to the bed.
Naturally, not a single adult toy turned up.
Well, duh—there wasn't a single one in the house.
The wireless onahole linked to the team leader was still at the office after yesterday's antics.
But Neria kept her arms crossed under her chest.
Meaning she still wasn't satisfied.
...At this rate, she must've binged some detective drama lately.
After diligently continuing her search, Neria stroked her chin with her fingertips for a moment before announcing her next plan.
"Nam Dowon, go brush your teeth. You were gonna do it before bed anyway, right?"
"...Yeah."
"I'll search your room while you're gone. There has to be an onahole hidden somewhere..."
"Yes, well, good luck..."
"Or maybe secret porn stashed on the computer...?"
"None. If you're curious, go ahead and check yourself, Neria."
"Huh, you're the one telling me to search?"
"Yes."
She seemed bored, so I'd play along just this far and send her home.
Decision made, I headed to the bathroom to brush as promised.
Rummaging sounds came from the closet behind me, but it was tidy enough.
Shh, shh, shh—just the feel of rifling through clothes.
Nothing much to clean up after, so I relaxed, finished brushing, and returned to the bedroom.
"...? What are you doing?"
"Done brushing already?"
About four minutes had passed.
What greeted me wasn't Neria inspecting the closet then the ceiling.
Her interest had turned to something much easier to access.
The computer I'd mentioned last.
"...Since your computer's already on, figured I'd finish that self-study I mentioned last time."
Neria had logged into some special site, acting like it was no big deal.
But with her ear tips flushed pink, she showed me a video.
"......"
"......"
A muscular guy pounding away vigorously from behind a woman lying almost prone.
...He grabbed the chin of the woman, who was too busy catching her breath,
and kissed her, pressing down from above.
Finally creaming messily all over her back and ass.
A bit unexpected for something Neria picked.
"This one..., the woman's expression looks just like the face she makes when she's feeling really good..."
But apparently, her tastes were aimed right at this right now.
"...I'll reference it for next time."
She'd clearly asked for gentle at first.
Her whole body had begged for it that way.