How to Seduce a Man with an Unrequited Crush (Exhibitionism)
6) How to Seduce a Guy You Have a Crush On (Exhibitionism)
This ability is complicated to explain, and since it’s tied to those fanatic jerks, there’s nothing good about it that I’d want to share, so I tried to keep it hidden.
“I learned a self-healing spell. It’s in a secluded part of the forest, and since it’s kind of a secret, it’s hard to talk about.”
I mumbled that.
It’s hard to call it “brushing it off,” though—whether I say I learned it in a secret place or got captured by some fanatics, it amounts to the same thing.
Come to think of it, it’s still pretty embarrassing that I ended up cutting open my stomach and expelling my organs in my underwear in front of a rookie adventurer couple, even if it wasn’t on purpose.
But seriously, I was in so much pain just a moment ago I thought I was going to die.
I was still in my underwear, wrapped in my blanket, and I was way, way, way too exhausted to wipe all the blood off my body, so I just left the dried blood as it was.
Just a little while ago, I felt refreshed after a good sleep, but I got tired so quickly after doing this. Maybe it’s because I used up all my energy on my regenerative abilities.
“ “We were planning to rest anyway, so don’t worry about it—just get some good rest.”
Liliel, who decided we should be on a first-name basis since we’re the same age, is holding me in her arms from behind.
It’s a bit embarrassing to do this with someone I just met who’s my age, but even though I’m in pain, if I move even slightly the wrong way, the wound on my stomach feels like it might burst open at any moment.
And there’s another reason I’m hesitant.
Swish…
Her hand movements are suspicious.
It’s not like she’s being perverted or sexually harassing me, but it feels like she’s touching me the way a girl might fondle a teddy bear she likes—as if she’s trying to make herself attractive to me.
Is this all because of pheromones, too?
“Um… Sharu-en.”
“?”
Lenia creeps closer from the side.
“What’s the secret to your figure?”
I’m going crazy.
Asking such an embarrassing question to someone who has a hole in their stomach right now and was just spilling their guts a moment ago.
I glanced away, and since we were separated by a wall with a door, there was no way Draian could hear our conversation.
Draian was hugging his shield and sleeping soundly, having fainted after whatever had happened before he met me.
Sure, my figure has gotten a bit more provocative because of the succubus—though it feels weird for me to say this—but it wasn’t that bad before either.
Her hips are wider and her waist is thinner than before, though.
The fact that her figure wasn’t bad before was partly because she practiced swordsmanship a lot.
“Well… I don’t really eat a lot of late-night snacks, and since I’m a heavy sleeper, I skip breakfast and eat two meals a day. I practice swordsmanship for four hours and run for an hour every day. I don’t really like sweets either. Also…”
“Wow, that’s crazy intense…”
“Do you really need to push yourself that hard? Is it because of Drayan?”
“Ah…! It’s you. You’re supposed to work on your figure to look good—what reason do you need to work out?”
Well, I guess that makes sense.
“I told you, didn’t I? Just don’t start dating each other.”
“Sis...!”
“Once we finish this dungeon run, if you’re up for it, consider sticking around for a few more days. With a tank, a mage, and an elementalist, I’m a little worried about our balance.”
I don’t know if I should be happy that it’s popular or annoyed that it’s such a hassle.
It’s impossible to raise my adventure rank on my own, and finding people on the spot is a chore in itself.
I guess I should have just teamed up with Ms. Helien.
Taking two kids along is a huge burden, and I’m not confident in my skills. I don’t plan on sticking with anyone for long, but I’ll probably have to cut this trip even shorter.
“Just for a few days, then.”
“Hehe.”
Lelaine bowed her head and looked down at me.
“Phew, ugh…!”
“S-sorry!”
I couldn’t help but sneeze when her hair fluttered across my face, and the effort made my stomach tighten, causing me to collapse.
Slimes, succubi, whatever—why is everything so ambiguous?
Maybe I should actually meet some real succubi.
“Should I work out a lot too? My chest might get bigger, right?”
They weren’t exactly small even before the experiment.
“...I think it’s probably genetic.”
“Ehh...”
“Isn’t this fine? It’s not like you’re super fat and trying to lose weight.”
“Guys go crazy over pretty girls and good figures. You know that well, right?”
Didn’t she just naturally admit that she likes Drayan?
“I’ve never been in a relationship.”
“Huh?”
“What?”
The two of them looked at me in surprise at the same time, which was kind of annoying.
Everyone is surprised whenever I say I’ve never been in a relationship. It was embarrassing the first few times, but since it’s the same every time, it’s starting to get on my nerves.
“Well... haven’t you at least had someone confess their feelings to you, or liked someone yourself?”
“I’ve actually gotten more confessions from girls than guys. It feels like I’m bragging, so it’s kind of embarrassing to say.”
“Look, guys go crazy over pretty faces and good bodies, you know.”
“Even if someone’s pretty and has a good body, it doesn’t mean it’ll work out.”
I’m definitely not saying this because my crush on that senior ended in rejection.
“What? Did you get rejected, sis?”
You’re so perceptive.
“It’s all written all over your face.”
“I didn’t confess, so I wasn’t rejected. Anyway, don’t worry so much about your looks. It’s been less than a day since I met you, so I don’t really have any advice to offer based on the situation.”
“Ugh, guess I’m destined to be single. Even if I cry and beg him to date me later on, I’ll just have to go live in the mountains or something.”
“So it wasn’t a situation where you both liked each other but neither of you confessed—it was a one-sided crush?”
“Yeah. We met when I was 8, and I’m 18 now, so it’s been 10 years. What a jerk.”
Come to think of it, even though I’m a local who’s lived in the same place for 22 years, I don’t have any childhood friends.
I’ve been attending the academy for almost 10 years, so I don’t really know anyone back home.
I know a lot of people from helping out at the restaurant from time to time, but there’s no one I’d call a childhood friend.
“If you showed him your best side, wouldn’t he fall for you?”
“I’m working hard on that.”
“But you actually fell for Drayan because he showed you a cooler side of himself.”
“Sis…!”
So that’s how it was.
“By the way, wasn’t that ring some kind of couple’s ring?”
?
“Oh, this one.”
I don’t usually wear rings or necklaces, so I’d forgotten about it.
If I fiddle with the ring, it’ll trigger the sword’s ability—but this is too valuable an item to explain. Even before considering whether I trust those two, I might end up in trouble if information leaks out for no reason.
Oh, come to think of it, damn it, this sword’s ability hasn’t activated yet?
“I just bought it because it looked pretty as an accessory.”
“I saw you wearing it on your ring finger, so I thought you had a boyfriend.”
Since the size adjusts to fit the thickness of my finger, it doesn’t matter where I wear it, and there’s no risk of it falling off, so I just slipped it onto my left ring finger without giving it much thought.
“I have no plans to get one.”
Before I knew it, Lenya had slipped a cloth under my leg and was lying down with her head resting on it.
“If things don’t work out with Drayan, who’s just nice to everyone, should I set my sights on the ring finger of your other hand?”
“I guess I’ll have to buy another ring and slip it on there in advance.”
Lenia let out a deep sigh, stretched out her arms and legs, and stared into space.
I’m a mess—in my underwear, covered in dried blood—but I’m letting a girl use my knee as a pillow while another woman hugs me from behind.
It’s not bad, but if I could just smoke a cigarette right now, it would be perfect.
I closed my eyes, making do with what I had, and found solace by habitually stroking Lenya’s hair.
Before I knew it, the two women were hugging me and sleeping with their heads on my legs.
Since they said they came here to rest, it’s no wonder they fell asleep so quickly.
“......”
I’m bored.
“......”
It’s incredibly rude to touch other people’s things, but just taking a quick peek should be okay.
In fact, if it’s something they’re attached to, they might even be happy that someone’s showing interest.
I’m just annoyed, but I’d be happy if someone took an interest in my sword.
Swish...
I carefully moved Liliel and Renia aside and picked up Drayan’s wooden shield.
Well, I tried to lift it.
It’s heavy as hell.
It’s definitely not too heavy to lift, but since I’m just trying to take a quiet look, if I drop it while forcing it up, it’d be a disaster.
I realized once again just how much my strength has weakened.
Ah, fuck, you scared me!
“Y-you’re awake?”
It was Drayan, who had gotten up without me noticing and was glancing at me.
Say something!
Ah, I tensed up from the shock and now my stomach hurts...
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“No, I’m the one who’s sorry for waking you up.”
“No, I just woke up too. Are you okay? It looks like you strained your stomach from the shock.”
I frowned and waved my hand, saying I was fine, but the pain was unavoidable.
Come to think of it, I had no choice earlier because I had to pull out the tentacles, but now that it’s all over, standing in front of a man in just my underwear is a bit...
I hadn’t been conscious of my attire until just now, so I quickly covered myself with the blanket.
“I’m, I’m sorry. You can go ahead and look at the shield. I’ll turn my back to you.”
“No, I was the one who was like this, so there’s no need to apologize.”
Still covered by the blanket, I examined the shield from all angles. It wasn’t really something that took that long to look at, but I felt awkward for no reason and ended up just turning the poor shield this way and that.
“Th-there’s blood on the bandage.”
“Oh.”
I hadn’t really noticed because of the blood on me, but the bandage covering my stomach had gotten quite damp, and judging by how it still hurt when I touched it lightly, it seems my ability really is pretty weak.
Then again, considering I survived a fall, maybe that’s not entirely true.
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll help you.”
“Ah, uh.”
I accepted without thinking and lifted the blanket slightly in front of Drayan, who had brought the bandages.
I’ve often been lightly dressed in front of boys while exercising, but being in just my underwear like this...
My face flushed as I opened the blanket, and because of the way Drayan was positioning himself to unwrap the bandages, we ended up pressed close together.
But since Draian is the one Lenya likes, I wonder if this is really okay.
“......”
Honestly, I’m a little embarrassed, but I’m also strangely excited—it’s thrilling.
It’s cute how not just me, but Drayan too, is flustered and doesn’t know what to do.
If he was going to be that hesitant, what kind of courage made him offer to wrap the bandage?
Or maybe he’s just gritting his teeth and helping me even though he’s embarrassed—that’s probably why Lenya fell for him too, with all this kindness.
...He was pretty clumsy, but it’s only because he was trying to help.
“Huff...”
“...!”
I squirmed as if uncomfortable, casually pulling the blanket up to expose my chest—essentially revealing my entire body, which was practically in just my underwear.