Chapter 590
Chapter 590
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 590
Chapter Title: Is Spring Coming?
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"It's simple. Just look at women like stones, without being swayed by lust. But you can't do that with your wives, so only treat other women that way."
Elise recommended that I practice restraining my desires.
"Starting now."
This might be a common method used widely in the Brass Celestial Society.
"Holy Saint... it's like the temptations of a succubus, those mighty demonic beasts from the old tales. Even the sturdiest knights fall to feminine charms and meet ruin. There are countless examples. Humans are imperfect beings, after all—we can never be completely free from desire."
Elise referenced classic knightly epics, teaching me that asceticism holds its own value.
Fusion Confucianism teaches us to ruthlessly discard or abandon desires that are unethical or harmful to ourselves.
In that sense, I could already call myself a sufficiently ascetic man.
"Not asceticism—self-restraint."
Self-restraint, not asceticism.
"Self-restraint, not asceticism..."
Indeed, lately I'd been indulging in carnal pleasures with my wives from evening straight through till morning, ravaging them wildly and reveling in my lust.
With such beautiful wives before me, how could I possibly hold back my sexual urges?
When I see their breasts, I want to bury my face in them or knead them. Their asses make me want to grab hold. And then, naturally, slide inside. It's not the kind of desire you can just endure. Of course, I never get tired even after going all night, and there's no backlash from expending my stamina recklessly, so that's why I do it.
So, is there any reason to hold back?
Does asceticism even have value?
"You seem to have quite a serious issue with women, Holy Saint. Isn't that right? With five wives, it's inevitable."
A serious issue with women...
"Is that... so?"
I didn't think I had one...
"Yes, exactly."
Before I knew it, Elise had sat down right beside me, taking both my hands in hers and meeting my gaze. There wasn't a flicker of doubt in her eyes.
"You're carrying a major problem right now, Holy Saint."
A major problem for me.
"A very major one."
Elise's demeanor was utterly serious, shining with the pure benevolence of a true believer. Her concern as my Divine Friend was valid.
I might not realize it myself, but from an outsider's perspective, there could be something off. People always have blind spots about their own issues. That's why others need to point them out.
"Think it over carefully, Holy Saint. You'll see I'm right."
A problem... I pondered it for a moment.
"Yeah... I guess I do have a big problem..."
Listening to Elise, I started feeling like there really was an issue.
If there wasn't, she wouldn't be saying this so earnestly. Somehow, she'd picked up on it from me.
As my Divine Friend, she worried enough to point out my flaws like this sometimes.
"What do you think the problem is?"
"The problem... I don't know. Not yet... But hearing you, it feels like there might be something."
"That's a very good sign."
Elise squeezed my hands tightly and flashed a bright smile.
Whatever it was, with Elise here, it'd be fine.
Her smile was that radiant.
"Only by becoming aware can you start to resolve it. As I said, your issue is being too immersed in feminine charms. As your Divine Friend—and as a fellow believer—I just want to guide you toward the proper path."
The proper path... what could that be?
Fusion Confucianism teaches that if something's wrong, it must be corrected.
Even if it's one of its own doctrines.
"That's why now is the time for you to practice asceticism. It will make you a more devout and resilient being."
"Asceticism...!"
"This comes from my genuine concern for you, Holy Saint."
Genuine concern for me!
"Right! Elise is spot on...!"
—Tremble.
My hands were trembling in my grip. Looking down at them, it felt like excess desire was spilling between my fingers like grains of sand.
—Excessive desire.
It was flowing out.
So excessive that it couldn't bear its own weight and collapsed.
"Excessive indulgence in women is no good...!"
I immediately clutched my hair, trying to shake off the turmoil. The vibration started in my hands and spread through my whole body.
Elise was right.
Too much indulgence in women would surely lead to my downfall one day...!
"From now on, I'll see every woman except my own—Claudia, Winia, Karin, Lishia, and Lizstina—as stones."
I'd lived too swept up by women stronger than me.
Now that I wielded greater power, such things would never happen again.
"Of course! You're my Divine Stone Friend from now on too, Elise!"
Elise was now a sacred rock friend.
She'd surely be delighted by my resolve.
"...Stone Friend?"
The moment I declared it, Elise's eyes widened, her pupils contracting—what the hell, what's this reaction!
"Holy Saint."
"W-What! Elise, what's wrong now?!"
Far from joyful, she fixed me with the same terrifying gaze I'd seen before. Sweat beaded down my back as tension gripped me.
"Why that scary look again...!"
She'd been smiling so warmly just moments ago, and now this sudden shift made it utterly frightening.
Don't tell me... she doesn't like Stone Friend?
Didn't she tell me to look at women like stones?
"You don't need to see me as a stone, too."
—Whoosh.
She erased that terrifying expression in an instant and spoke calmly.
"I'm your Divine Friend, after all."
"Ah."
Got it.
"...Right, yeah. I get it, Elise. So you'll stay my regular Divine Friend."
"Exactly, Holy Saint. That's how you should think of it."
"Heh heh, gotcha?"
I wasn't entirely sure, but Elise was right.
I'd been too swept up by stronger women all this time. Now it was time to wield the authority of the household head.
"Thanks. Feels like my eyes have been opened a bit."
"I'm glad I could help. That eases my mind."
—Sigh.
Elise placed a hand on her chest and exhaled.
"Hee hee, talking with you like this chases away that weird feeling I had. Yes, Holy Saint—from now on, just practice asceticism alongside me."
"But specifically, how do I do it?"
"Follow my words: start by viewing other women like stones."
Guess I'll give that a shot.
Come to think of it, I'd always treated women other than my wives like stones anyway.
"The more wives you take, the higher the risk of problems for you."
"Yeah, could be."
With that, we finished our talk and left the restaurant.
Talking with Elise really did offer all sorts of guidance.
I still had some time left.
Heck, all I'd done today was stop by the church, pick up the missive, and grab lunch with Elise.
"So, Elise—what're you up to now?"
"From now on, you mean?"
Elise paused, staring intently at my face.
"...today."
"Today?"
"I've received an official dispatch, so we'll part here. I'll stay in Isvant for a while to sort things out. I won't leave right away, so if you think of me, come visit."
"Oh, did something else come to mind you wanna add?"
"Yes."
If she had work, I couldn't hold her back. She wasn't leaving immediately anyway, so I could drop by anytime. No way she'd sneak off without telling me.
"Alright, I'll visit next time then. Thanks for today."
"It was just obvious advice. Farewell."
Elise gave a calm parting bow and headed toward her lodging.
Today, I learned about asceticism. It didn't hit me as urgently, but since Elise was so worried, I'd give it some serious thought.
I turned right around, bought some bread and desserts and such, then headed home.
"Katt, you're back early?"
"Yeah. Claudia."
The moment I opened the door, Claudia threw herself into my arms.
Naturally, I wrapped an arm around her waist, and she cupped my face.
"...Katt? Something bothering you? You look lost in thought."
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"It's obvious from your face. So, what's up?"
Claudia helped me remove my gear as she asked.
"Nothing big. I went out earlier to grab that church missive, then straight to Elise to pass it on."
"Mm-hmm, and?"
"While handing it over, we chatted, and she sounded a bit worried."
"About what?"
"Said I'm too caught up in women."
"Women?"
Once my gear was fully off, Alraune approached and started organizing it all. Not just organizing—she was wiping down the outer surface of my armor with a white cloth in hand.
Taking care of maintenance the second I walked in.
She's well-trained.
"Alraune, you're a pro at this. Keep it up."
"Yes. I will, Papa."
Alraune smiled brightly and polished even harder. I handed her my discounted sword too, telling her to clean that.
Anyway, back to the women talk.
"She said she's worried about me and suggested I need some asceticism."
"Hmm... women, huh."
Claudia toyed with her lips, then pushed me toward the sofa. Wondering what was up, she climbed right on top. She was in black lingerie.
"It's true, isn't it?"
"...You think so too?"
Even my own woman says I'm too into women. Guess Elise was right.
This might really be the time for asceticism.
"Katt, like I always say—a great warrior indulging in women isn't bad. You even draw strength and drive from it."
This contradicts Elise...
"The stronger the warrior, the more right he has to many heirs. Isn't Mama's goal to make you that kind of man?"
With that, Claudia slowly ground her hips against me, caressing my face tenderly. The exquisite stimulation had me seriously hardening.
Hidden by my pants, but even without penetration, Claudia expertly teased me.
How could a dark elf's body be this lewd?
"I want to give you everything, Katt. Love, power, women—even the heirs I can't bear. I'm more worried you'll lose interest in all that."
Hearing this was driving me mad.
"Claudia..."
"And, don't you like women? Leaving it like this, all hard?"
"No, of course I love it. Elise was talking about asceticism... so I was just thinking it over."
"Katt. Asceticism is just an illusion."
Claudia spoke in the gentlest tone, peppering my cheeks with kisses.
"People should live as they please. Like how I'm treating you right now."
"As I please?"
"Yeah. That's the best way."
"Still, she was worried... and it got me thinking maybe she's onto something."
My answer made Claudia suddenly look sad, her ears drooping long.
W-What! Claudia, why!
"What is it, Claudia! What's wrong?!"
"...Is that nun's word more important to you than mine?"
"H-Huh? No, that's not—"
"Whose words matter more to you—mine, or the nun's?"
"Yours, obviously, Claudia!"
I couldn't bear seeing Claudia sad.
—Flutter flutter.
Quick as that, her long ears began flapping happily.
"Hee hee hee, yes. Just follow Mama's words, Katt."
"That's the way!"
"Asceticism doesn't suit a warrior. Kill as much as you want to kill, seize as much as you want to seize. And claim every woman who catches your eye."
Smiling, Claudia unhooked her bra. Seeing her breasts, I instinctively buried my nose between them.
They always smelled amazing.
Dizzyingly so.
"Mama wants you to live that life, Katt. Okay? Can't do that?"
"It's not that I can't..."
"Hee hee hee, and you're already plenty ascetic, Katt. You only have five wives still? You're already living ascetic and distant from women, just like that nun said."
Is that... true?
Am I already living ascetic, shunning women?
"So, don't overthink it. No—don't think about it at all. You won't, right?"
Claudia stroked the back of my head as she spoke. Somehow, it all made perfect sense now.
"...Yeah, you're right. I'll go with what Claudia says."
I couldn't tell anymore who was right—Elise or Claudia. But right now, Claudia was here in front of me. Her words couldn't possibly be wrong.
Asceticism was an illusion.
Elise had just been needlessly worried.
"Then, shall we do your favorite thing, Katt?"
"Yeah... let's."
Claudia slid off me and pulled down my pants.