Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: 17. Cold and Fever (5)
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Yeah. I had a feeling it would turn out like this.
Anyone else, and it might've been different, but the other person was Neria.
For a game-addicted shut-in witch, what could be more dangerous than the world outside her blankets?
At least Neria didn't look too seriously ill, which was a relief.
It would've been bad if she'd been lying there groaning, but right now, she was just wrapped in her blanket like a cape, coughing now and then.
For starters, I shut the front door tight to keep out the winter chill.
"I told you several times I might catch it too, and you didn't have to come."
"Bad luck. I didn't think it'd hit me right away either."
"And you, Neria, who stays cooped up at home all the time... you should've been extra careful..."
"Enough. What's done is done. So now, you take care of me."
"Of course. I'll look after you, but please don't push yourself like this next time."
"Cough...! Got it, got it. If my charger's sick, I can just stay home like a good girl. I'll do that from now on. Promise."
"......"
"......Hmph."
"...Come to think of it, I wasn't coughing at all. Maybe it's because you went wandering around in the winter..."
"Oh, really? Gonna play it like that? Fine, then. Let's test if I caught it from you or not..."
"Wait..."
I'd tossed out the joke sensing the tense vibe, but maybe I shouldn't have.
Besides, what were two sick people even doing? But before any rational talk, Neria moved faster.
The classic body slam. The move that gets tossed in the trash in games but somehow becomes a finisher in animations.
Luckily, Neria was such a noob gamer that she'd follow the game's logic over the anime's.
Not wanting to get dragged into something tiring, I let her hit me once without resisting.
"......"
"Feeling a bit better now...?"
True to her noob status, all I heard was a soft pop where we touched.
The only other thing was... her feverish body heat, just like you'd expect from someone sick.
Part of it was me coming in from outside, but even so, she definitely had a mild fever.
This probably meant pushing through with today's mana recharge wasn't feasible.
Best to let her rest a bit, then take her to the hospital.
"......"
...Wait. Do witches even go to regular hospitals...?
What about health insurance...?
She mentioned witches who research healing magic, so maybe I should find one of those?
As I pondered briefly, Neria pushed away from me with both arms, stretching them out fully.
It looked just like a cat batting someone away with its paws.
"N-Nam Dowon."
"I'm listening."
"Why didn't you block me? You just sat there."
"You seemed like you wanted to vent, so I took it. Honestly, it didn't even hurt."
"That's not it... You deliberately let me hug you..., to, uh..."
That wasn't my intention.
It wasn't.
...But it was kinda hard to deny outright. Just like she said, it looked exactly like that. A warm, soft body pressing right up against me, straight out of some shojo manga.
And on top of that.
"Sorry, but my head hurts and I'm wiped out today. Can't do it with you."
"I know. You don't have to apologize to me."
"The guy who knows that..., why's your dick hard...?"
"......"
"...While hugging me, no less."
Maybe because I hadn't even jerked off yesterday.
My body reacted on its own the moment it touched Neria's.
"It's not fully hard. ...Blood's rushing a bit, sure."
"Still counts as an erection. Am I wrong?"
"...You're right, Neria."
"See? Pervert. You touch me and all you can think about is..., cough, dirty stuff."
She was bundled up thick for a cold, but still wearing her usual baggy sweats.
The second we touched, I could feel every curve of her body all too clearly.
Any guy with working limbs would've been hard as a rock right then, so I deserved credit for holding back.
...And with blood still pooling down there even now, my response came out pretty pathetic.
"...Can't help it. It's you, Neria."
"......"
A lame excuse that'd be game over if she got offended.
Neria stared blankly for a moment, then—thankfully—flashed a smug grin.
"...Hee hee, well, can't be helped. I'm not some ordinary girl. ...Cough! Of course guys wanna sneak a hug. Makes your libido boil over."
I thought she'd be mad, but she seemed pleased?
Instead of scolding me, she puffed out her chest proudly.
No dignity with the sneeze mixed in, but at least the crisis was averted.
But then Neria shyly adjusted her blanket, mumbling in a small voice.
"......If you wanna hug again, just say so anytime. I'll allow it, specially for you."
"......"
"You gave me this cold. Won't catch it from you again, right?"
Even while fighting back sneezes.
She'd latched onto some weird idea.
"Let's head to the bedroom for now. I got what you gave me yesterday, so I'll nurse you as best I can."
"Y-yeah.... And not 'as best'—do it properly. Tons."
"Of course."
"Heh heh..."
...Honestly, Neria wasn't always like this.
She used to be a bit more sharp-tongued,
a bit more bratty.
Ever since last mana recharge, maybe?
She's been a little off.
...That sounds negative.
Let's say she's changed a bit.
Hard to explain, but...
From treating me like just another annoying civil servant, now there's a hint of something special...
Anyway, it felt good.
What guy wouldn't like a stunningly beautiful witch showing him favor?
If only controlling the blood rushing south wasn't such a pain.
"Cough!"
I patted Neria's back as she kept looking uncomfortable, and luckily, she followed along without resistance.
At the bedside, she added another blanket layer and flopped right in before I could say anything.
Meanwhile, I borrowed her gaming chair, sat down, and sorted out what needed doing.
"What about the hospital? Can witches even go? Or do we need special healing magic from other witches...?"
"It's fine. Biologically, we're almost the same as humans. That's why colds spread."
"Oh, right..."
"Plus, we get free treatment at certain hospitals...? As thanks for 'exterminating monsters'."
Certain hospitals, huh.
If it was the health center, she'd have said so. Must be special state-run ones.
Makes sense—the Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department is under city hall too.
Looks like they've set up perks for witches settling in Korea that normals don't know about.
Sometimes you hear about departments sucking up crazy budgets.
Guess this is where it goes.
Finally makes sense.
"Then we should go to the hospital first. Or have you already?"
"Tch, too far and annoying. Just grab some cold meds from the convenience store."
"Got it. You're feeling heavy all over anyway, so no choice."
"......And if they wanna give me a shot, it'd be a disaster."
"......"
She slipped it in casually, but clearly, fear of needles was the real reason.
Just tell the doctor no shots, then.
A simple solution popped up, but I kept quiet.
Imagining the argument with Neria afterward made my head throb.
"Anyway, cold meds are what you need.... For food, should I make you porridge like you did for me yesterday?"
"You gonna make it yourself, Nam Dowon?"
"Nah. Never made it before. Might burn it a few times."
"...Forget it. I'll skip lunch. Not hungry anyway."
"Got it. Anything else you need?"
"Nope. Just the meds."
Really, just cold medicine?
That I could handle with a quick convenience store run.
It really took less than ten minutes to get meds for Neria.
I even opened the bottle for her struggling hands and watched her grimace swallowing the bitter pills...
Now I was truly out of things to do.
Not used to nursing, I had no clue what else to try.
...The classic wet cloth on the forehead, maybe?
"Nam Dowon."
"Yes, Neria."
As I mulled it over, Neria peeked out from her cozy blanket nest.
Looked kinda cute, like a turtle peeking from its shell.
"Come here quick."
"To you? ...You're not gonna say turn off the lights as a joke, right?"
"Nope. Go away if you don't wanna—I'll make you clear all your overdue daily quests instead. Which sounds better?"
"On my way."
I left the comfy gaming chair and headed to Neria's bed.
Just as soft, but no backrest.
I sat on the edge, and Neria patted the spot next to her, issuing my next order.
"You, cough, lie here with me till I fall asleep."
"...?"
"Why the look? I just wanna use you like a body pillow to hug while sleeping."
"......"
"Don't wanna?"
Not that I hated it,
just hard to understand the command.
"I'll do it if needed, but is it really necessary...?"
"Dakimakura's famous, right? Those pillows you hug to sleep."
"Yeah, I know of them."
"That's why I'm asking. You're useful for it..., and you get hard right away when I hug you, cough. Win-win."
"...How about 'excited' instead of that word."
"Anyway. I get to sleep comfy hugging you. You get your dirty memory. Right?"
Even rethinking it myself, no real flaws in her logic.
The issue of it being super uncomfortable just staying semi-hard with no release aside, the rest made sense enough.
...I'd just slip out carefully once she was snoring away.
Handle the aftermath solo if needed.
"Just take off your coat and hang it on the chair. Yeah, like that."
Never thought I'd end up dakimakura-ing on the job.
Not a bad gig regardless, so I went along happily.
Plus, my cold wasn't fully gone either.
I'd dragged my body here wanting to lie down ASAP anyway.
"...Eek, why're you so cold?"
"Just got back from the store for your meds..."
"Hmm. Well, being cold might actually..., help with the fever?"
Shirt. Pants.
Down to minimal clothes, I slipped under the blanket into hot, humid warmth enveloping my body.
Obviously all from Neria's body heat.
"Nam Dowon. Stretch one arm this way. You're bigger than I thought—hard to hug comfy."
"...Here."
"Hm. Not quite..."
"......"
"How about lying on your side?"
The soft sensation clinging to my left arm pulled away.
Following orders, I turned sideways, and now it pressed against my back.
...Finally satisfied? She hummed a little tune and snuggled closer.
Her whispers kept tickling my ear.
"Too hot?"
"...Fine. I'm still a patient too. Just warm."
"Heh. Lucky you today. Go to work and the witch is sick—two days off in a row."
"Ahaha..."
"Shouldn't get paid for days like this, huh? Should I snitch to the department witch that you slacked off today?"
"...You have her number?"
"Nah, me? But your master does. You said you two are friends."
"Ah.... Like that..."
"Gonna say you sucked honey today.... Heh heh..."
"......"
"Hey, Nam Dowon. Later..."
"Yeah...?"
"Oh, right.... That thing......"
"......"
"......"
"......"
Bzzz.
The vibration in my pants pocket jolted me from deep sleep.
...I remembered Neria chattering away while hugging me from behind.
After humoring her bit by bit, I'd passed out alongside her.
As I came to, the vibration hit again from my pocket.
Had to be my smartphone.
Ringing repeatedly meant a call.
Usually older folks preferred calls, so probably Team Leader or Erzel.
I slipped out of Neria's still-snoring embrace and answered in the kitchen.
"Hello?"
- Busy fucking? Took you long enough.
"...I'm good now. All done."
- Perfect timing then. Was gonna reschedule if you were busy.
Reschedule what?
The question formed just as Rin spoke.
- Got a sec? Dorothy's free too, wants to meet you even if it's a scam.
- What's this 'Apprentice Witch Rehabilitation Support Department'? Some weird division exist?