Abel Wakes Up in Celine's Thigh and Then Escapes the Monster!
Ah, Hero-nim. Don't touch there.
“...Huh...?”
Wait... when did I fall asleep? Hmm, what am I lying on? Why is this so comfortable?
“You’re awake, Hero-nim?”
“...?”
Eh? Celine’s voice is coming from above. Wait, why am I lying down like this? I definitely fell asleep sitting, right?
“Is my thigh soft enough for you?”
“...Huh?”
Thigh...? No way.
“!?!?”
I jolted upright in a panic. Wait, I’ve been sleeping on Celine’s thigh the whole time?!
I stared at her with wide eyes, utterly stunned. She was smiling lightly, clearly amused by my reaction.
“Why are you so startled? I was only doing what the Hero did for me.”
“No... wait...”
...Am I some kind of idiot? I was out cold even after Celine teased me like this? What if a monster had shown up?
“...I’m sorry. I should have kept watch around us. I just let my eyes close for a moment...”
“What are you apologizing for? Yesterday the Hero kept watch, so today it’s my turn.”
“I can’t make a sick person do guard duty.”
“I’m already much better. The fever has almost vanished. Hic!”
“Let me see.”
Celine lifted her fringe as if telling me to check for myself. When the smooth, snow-white forehead was revealed, an odd feeling crept over me.
...I should really take her temperature before the fever returns.
I reached out and touched her forehead, then pulled my hand back.
“...It’s already down quite a bit.”
“Right? Thanks to the Hero’s care yesterday, I’m feeling much better now.”
“Good. You don’t seem in much pain.”
“...You were worried about me, Hero-nim?”
“Of course. Anyone would worry about a sick person.”
That’s right. Even a companion would worry. Right?
Celine giggled softly.
“It’s not the answer I wanted, but that’s very much the Hero for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing.”
Celine rose to her feet and brushed the dust from her backside with quick flicks.
“Speaking of which, we should find water soon. I drank a lot yesterday.”
“True. We need to go a little further down. The valley or whatever should be somewhere that way.”
“Hmm... Shall we go the same way as last time?”
“Eh?”
Celine spread her arms wide.
“Carry me.”
“Eh?!?”
“Why? We did it that way last time too.”
Oh... so that’s what she means... Damn, that startled me.
“Don’t scare me like that, Celine...”
“Why did you jump?”
“Because you suddenly asked me to carry you.”
“What are you thinking about, Hero-nim?”
Celine’s lips curled up slightly as she said it.
Haha, it looks like teasing has already gotten under your skin. Then I’ll have to counter with some of my own, Celine.
“...I knew you’d say that.”
“......”
Her surprised expression was priceless. For once, Celine had no comeback. I was used to Estelle’s mesugaki antics by now.
Now she’ll probably get flustered. Just like I planned.
But that was my mistake.
“...You can, you know.”
“Eh?”
“If you’re going to hug me properly, then you can do it.”
“...Eh?”
Celine tilted her head.
“If the Hero wants to, I’d be happy.”
“...Eh?”
...What the hell is going on? I kept repeating the same dumb answer because I couldn’t understand the situation.
“Come on. My arms are getting tired.”
“...W-wait...”
Celine approached slowly. I took a cautious step backward. She stopped mid-stride, then burst out laughing.
“Fuhahaha!”
“...Eh?”
...She got me again? After I thought I’d finally broken free from Estelle’s teasing, another one got me, haha.
Celine reached out again with a giggle.
“We really should get going, Hero-nim. Since the Hero is much faster, carrying me on your back or in your arms will be quicker.”
“...That’s true.”
Sigh... My fate is sealed.
I set down the Holy Sword and offered my back to Celine.
“This time you’re carrying me? But if I do it like this...”
“Is there a problem?”
When I looked back, Celine crossed her arms.
“Your chest will touch the Hero’s back.”
That sounded way too much like her chest. I shouted instantly.
“I’m wearing armor! I won’t feel a thing!”
“Oh, right. I forgot about that.”
...Don’t lie.
Celine smiled and climbed onto my back. I supported her hips with my free hand and rose lightly.
“...Ah, Hero-nim. Don’t touch there. If you grope a lady’s backside like that, what are you thinking?!”
“What else can I do?!”
“Fuhuhu, I was joking.”
...Seriously, why is she acting like this?
“...The Hero’s back is so broad.”
“...After all that hard work, if it didn’t broaden, wouldn’t that be a problem?”
“Huhu, yes.”
Celine laughed happily, clearly enjoying the teasing.
...I wish she’d stop. My limit is getting close.
#
Meanwhile, Abel and Celine had been unintentionally stranded somewhere far away. At the same moment, Estelle had slipped out of the dungeon and was now visiting the manor of the Repelrit family, the noble house that governed the city of Burbon.
It wasn’t really a visit. It was more like breaking in. No one had invited her, and she hadn’t even informed them she was coming.
Yet the manor’s servants opened the gate the instant they sensed the unusual aura and the priestly robes of the Solaria Church coming from her.
“What brings the Church’s priestess here?”
“Where is Duke Repelrit?!”
“Eh? I mean, no matter who you are, even if you’re a priestess, you can’t just barge in and demand to see our duke like this—”
“It’s an emergency! I beg you, let me speak with the duke!”
But Estelle had good reason for this. The Repelrit family was famously devout followers of the Solaria Church. Even if she committed some slight offense, they would forgive her out of respect.
“Even so, please—”
“What is it?”
A deep, heavy voice answered. A middle-aged man in his prime appeared.
“Duke Repelrit.”
Estelle greeted him politely. The duke, a true Solaria devotee, recognized her at once.
“Wait... Holy Saint? What are you doing here?”
“I need your help, Duke.”
“Holy Saint needing my help? Weren’t you traveling with the Hero?”
“...The Hero was teleported by some spell. I have to find him.”
“Teleported? How did that even—”
Estelle poured out the whole story to the duke. After hearing it, he said in alarm.
“Wait, so the Saint of the Ludria Church has gone missing too?”
“Yes. So please inform the Besta Royal Family immediately. I’ll head straight to the Church headquarters.”
“Understood. I’ll send my knights to search our territory and the surrounding area as well.”
“...Thank you. Truly, thank you.”
Estelle bowed repeatedly. The duke waved his hand.
“As a servant of Solaria, how could I refuse to help the Holy Saint?”
“...Even though it’s shameless, could you lend me just one word?”
“Of course. I hope to see you again at mass sometime.”
“Thank you. I won’t forget this kindness, Duke.”
With that word, Estelle headed to Valua City, the nearest city with a Solaria Church headquarters.
“...Abel.”
Estelle galloped, thinking. Her expression was one of deep worry. But inside her mind, she added.
“He must not be eaten by Celine!!!”
That was Estelle’s odd, possessive worry.
#
“Hmm?”
I had been descending rapidly along the rocky cliff when the sound of flowing water reached my ears. I stopped.
“...I hear water.”
“Eh?!”
Celine suddenly poked her head up from my back.
Whoa, she’s so bold. Peeking out like that.
“Where is it?”
“Over there... along with an odd sound too.”
There was a problem. It wasn’t just the water. An eerie cry was coming from the same direction.
“There’s also this weird sound. It sounds almost like an animal...”
“Weird sound? Could it be a monster’s cry?”
“...What do I do then?”
The last of the water in my flask was gone, and I needed water to survive. I had to refill it.
Celine slid off my back and said, “I guess there’s no choice.”
“Yeah, it’s inevitable.”
I wished there were an easy monster to catch.
Both Celine and I moved silently toward the sound. When the sight of the flowing valley came into view, I finally spotted the owner of that odd cry.
It looked almost human. But not an ogre, troll, or giant like Goliath. It stood at a human height, yet its body was covered in something like insect carapace, standing perfectly upright on two legs. In its hand it gripped an oddly shaped sword.
The moment I saw it, a memory flashed before me—the bone-chilling feeling I had felt when I first fought a Barbatos-class monster with Elfride.
Instantly, I understood. This was no ordinary Upper-class monster. This was something far more dangerous.
“...Hero-nim, you should step back for now.”
“Celine.”
“...Yes?”
“That... looks like it’s ranked high.”
Celine’s eyes widened.
“Hero-nim, don’t do anything stupid. This is a monster nest. High-risk monsters usually have other monsters with them... so this one probably does too. It’s better to retreat before it notices us.”
“But I need water.”
“...Then find another valley.”
“That’s going to be tough. Honestly, I’m thirsty right now.”
I tried to reason with her.
“There’s also the blessing. If it’s not Barbatos-class or higher, we can take it down easily.”
“This is the territory of the North Queen. Killing a high-risk monster here might alert the Mother. She could notice.”
“Not a guarantee.”
“The odds are high.”
I gripped the Holy Sword tighter. Celine grabbed my arm and shook her head.
“Hero-nim, no. It’s too dangerous. We know it’s high-risk, but we don’t know the rank. If it’s Gorgon-class, fine, but if it’s Barbatos-class or higher, we’re in trouble.”
“If we can’t get water here, we might never get it. Then we’ll both die. That’s a bigger problem than anything else.”
I had no intention of dying here. I stared at the enemy, Holy Sword in hand. It still didn’t know our position. Then...
“I’m going back to Estelle. You’re coming with me, Celine.”
“...Hero-nim!”
When Celine called out, I was already kicking off the ground. The body strengthened by the blessing moved with explosive force. It wasn’t quite as powerful as Estelle’s, but it was fast enough to make monsters struggle to react.
In an instant I burst out of the bushes and swung the Holy Sword wide. Even as the blade cut through the air, the monster didn’t turn its head once.
I knew the ambush had worked perfectly.
Clang!
“!?”
The monster’s strange blade blocked my white sword. Just a moment ago it had shown no reaction. What was going on?
The monster moved its six glowing eyes toward me. Its mouth opened wide and it spat words.
“...Kuk... a human... hng... why are you... here...?”
Hmph. If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll end this quickly. As I pulled the sword back to swing again, the monster’s hand shot forward.
“Ouch?!”
“...You... I know you...”
...I know you? The monster gripped my chin and spoke meaningfully.
“...Aah... yeah... it’s you...”
The grip tightened, sharp claws digging into my skin.
“...Hng, what are you saying...”
“Hero-nim!”
“Divine Sword!”
Clang!!
A sword whipped through the wind like a storm and struck the monster. But it dodged in a flash, avoiding the Holy Blade.
“Ugh...”
...Thanks to Celine, I got to live one more time.
“Are you okay?”
“Celine... what rank is that exactly?”
“Just looking at the speed... it’s probably Leviathan-class.”
Leviathan-class? But I had once successfully ambushed an Amon-class monster.
Was it the difference in blessings? My body felt slower than before, but...
Yet Estelle and Celine were both Saints. How could their power differ so much?
“The type is...”
The monster, armored in a hard, carapace-like shell, gripped its sword firmly and pointed it straight at Celine and me. It stood in a stance like a single human knight.
“...Knight type.”