Chapter 24
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Conflict (1)
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Barrier technique was one of Lete's main divine spells. The platinum power spread out like ripples on water, instantly blocking all sound in the area.
A bit more precisely, it sealed our conversation from leaking outside.
We'd already been caught once, but there was no need to create more witnesses, right?
One voyeuristic pervert was plenty. Eliya Ruben was easy enough to handle on her own.
Once I confirmed the barrier was firmly in place, I turned back around.
Just as Eliya Ruben wanted, giving her a chance to explain herself.
'No matter what she says or how she spins it, it won't change the fact that she was peeping on Lete and me while getting herself off...'
Still, if I didn't at least hear her out like this, she'd just keep pestering me with that clingy personality of hers.
Better to wrap this up here than watch her grovel endlessly.
I squatted down in front of Eliya in a somewhat sloppy posture, matching eye level with her sprawled-out form and staring intently...
"C-Could you not stare so blatantly?"
Eliya noticed my gaze landing on her lower half and clutched the hem of her skirt with trembling fingertips. It didn't cover everything, though.
I gazed at the blushing Eliya with renewed wonder. Who would've thought that Eliya Ruben would show such a girlish reaction.
It was beyond refreshing—practically miraculous. Her flushed face suddenly seemed oddly cute.
"Haven't you already been parading around with plenty of embarrassing sights on display? What's with hiding your bare skin now?"
Of course, my personal thoughts aside, the words that came out weren't particularly kind.
Thinking Eliya was 'cute' felt like a humiliation in itself.
"Ah...!"
I snatched her hand away, briefly exposing the bold underwear beneath her skirt and her pale skin.
That moisture on her inner thighs—was it from her recent self-pleasure session?
I nodded to myself as I pondered it alone, and Eliya let out a frantic squeal.
"I-It's different when I show it myself versus being forced to expose it! Even for me, this is embarrassing!"
She looked even more tearful, pressing down her skirt with her other hand. Seeing that expression welling up with tears made me feel like the bad guy for some reason.
Like some barbarian trying to force himself on an innocent girl.
Since I'd grabbed her without thinking, I couldn't help feeling flustered.
I awkwardly released her wrist—
Flash!
Eliya seized the opening and swiftly scooted backward.
Then she glared at me venomously.
"What... do you want me to do?"
"...Hmph."
My attitude remained consistent regardless. She trembled with rage and lowered her eyes as I responded indifferently, like it was none of my business.
Her face boiled with shame, embarrassment, unjust anger, and all sorts of frustrations.
"Ugh."
She knew she couldn't raise her voice here and quickly shrank back.
She tried to compose her expression, but her pouting lips said it all.
Clearly, she was dissatisfied with how I was treating her.
Lete, watching from a step behind, let out a small chuckle. Her faint murmur of 'So cute...' was probably only audible to me.
"Anyway."
Before the mood soured further, it was time for a breather. I clapped my hands lightly, and Eliya hurriedly straightened her skirt.
"Shall we talk now? You said you had something to say, so I waited specially. Ruben."
"...Mm, uhmm."
Under my subtle pressure, Eliya stood awkwardly, letting out a groan. Her fingers fidgeted endlessly, her distress plain as day.
I figured she'd grabbed us because she couldn't just let us leave pretending she hadn't seen anything, but...
"So, like... you know?"
She had nothing concrete to say and was fumbling. Her spinning eyes were proof she had no confidence in smoothing this over.
What could she even say? She'd meant to explain, but any excuse would just make it more unsightly.
Sticking around like this was just begrudging curiosity: 'Let's hear what nonsense she spouts.'
Lete and I waited for Eliya to speak, each harboring different expectations.
"...Urgh!"
After a long pause, she couldn't bear the silence and squeezed her eyes shut.
Then, with a thud, Eliya gave up entirely and plopped down right there.
"I'msorryreallyI'vebeenfrustratedlatelyandcausedtroubleI'msodeeplyashamed...!"
She mumbled her apology in a barely audible voice, then looked up at Lete and me with teary eyes full of desperate grievance.
It was so intense we flinched in surprise.
And that wasn't all—she crawled across the grass on all fours, grabbed my pant leg again, and clung tight.
I recoiled in disgust and tried to pull away, but she stuck like glue.
"Seriously, why are you like this?"
I was gently prying her off, ready to flick divine power at her forehead if needed—
"I'll really... put aside all my pride and beg you desperately, Evan."
Eliya rubbed her forehead against my knee, her words slurred with desperation.
Her voice trembled so much it shook—even I, with my habitual Eliya aversion, felt my resolve waver for a moment.
"I-I won't ask to sleep with you. If you hate it, fine. We don't have to go all the way."
An oddly contradictory opener from someone who'd always craved a night with me.
I sobered up a bit and listened closely.
I didn't particularly like Eliya, but if asked if I hated her, that wasn't true either.
Among the Sun Church nobles, few didn't scorn or envy me.
She was consistent from start to finish. Always boldly propositioning me for fun—steadfastly pervy and slutty...
...Sounds like double insult, but it meant she was genuine front and back.
We had some camaraderie, so if she had real troubles, I'd hear her out seriously.
"Just... really, just once, could you touch me down there...?"
"...".
"I'm so worked up right now. Watching you and Lete was too stimulating... I'm going crazy, so Evan, if you'd just man up and finger me once— Agh!"
If that was the fresh nonsense she came out with, it was hard to hold back.
I snapped my fingers, leaving a red mark on her forehead. I'd worried for nothing.
"I'm really leaving."
"Y-You're really going?!"
I stood abruptly, and Eliya clutched her forehead, shocked that even her final plea failed.
I turned away with a slight frown. She took it as displeasure and panicked, but...
'...Damn, what a mess.'
It was a misunderstanding far from the truth.
Quite the opposite, actually.
I felt blood rushing southward and had to turn so Eliya wouldn't notice.
Honestly? Yeah, I was tempted. It was an offer hard to refuse.
The reason I'd always rejected Eliya's one-night stands? One thing: fear my divine constitution would get tainted during sex with her.
Eliya was blessed among saintess candidates, but compared to Lete or me, she was a step or two below.
So, spending a night with her tempting body would lead to regret.
But what if we stopped short of full intercourse, no penetration?
Just contact to relieve lust?
'Is there... any reason not to?'
Plainly, no downside. Just the bonus of making the annoying girl whimper with my own hands.
I turned back to Eliya, inwardly nurturing the seed of conflict.
Unable to read my silence, she peeked at me nervously.
Had she gone too far? Made me mad? Her worries were transparent.
But I was focused on her overall appearance.
Purple twin tails, clear eyes wavering pitifully. Shorter than Lete, but her petite frame contrasted with seductively voluptuous curves—prominent breasts, alluring waist, and hips.
Gulp.
A body that made saliva pool naturally. No normal straight guy could stay unmoved.
'Get a grip...'
I sighed softly, suppressing my urges. Tempted, sure—but acting on it was another matter.
Lete was here too, after all.
I glanced at Lete, who'd been unusually quiet.
Coincidentally, she turned, and our eyes met.
'What?'
I flinched. Lete Heresia wore an expression I'd never seen in four years.
How to describe it?
Not quite agitation, but clearly emotional turmoil showing through.
Her small lips parted as if to speak, then clamped shut.
"...Isn't that fine?"
She gripped her arm tightly and forced out words probably far from her true feelings.
Fine, huh.
"What are you talking about?"
"...".
I shot back, and Lete averted her gaze, biting her lip.
"Well, just... you know?"
She tried to sound nonchalant, as if forcing herself to seem indifferent.
"Eliya's begging like that, no loss for you. Didn't think you'd refuse."
"...".
"You looked tempted earlier."
I shut my half-open mouth. Cold sweat trickled instead.
'Sharp as ever.'
How'd she notice? After years together, she picks up on things wordlessly—but still...
"...Sigh."
I ruffled my hair in irritation and glared at Lete.
"Hey, Lete Heresia."
"What."
She snapped back curtly. Clearly something bothered her.
Did she think I wouldn't notice? Or hope I would?
Either way, troublesome. I sighed deeply.
"Why not just say it straight? No beating around the bush or sulking alone."
"...No idea what you mean."
Playing dumb to the end? Or was I off base?
Now I was confused. Uncertainty made my words come out sharp.
"Really...? No clue?"
"Yeah, really."
"Then I could roll around with Eliya right here, and you'd be fine?"
"...".
Lete's lips thinned into a line.
I added irritably.
"Make it clear. Don't be annoying."
Short and thoughtless words.
"...Annoying?"
The air chilled instantly.
Lete murmured coldly, and I clamped my mouth shut, realizing my slip. Not what I meant.
"...I mean, that's not—"
Too late to fix. Lete crossed her arms with a sneer.
"My consideration annoys and burdens you, huh, Evan Lane? Sorry, what now?"
"That's not it. Why take it so sensitively?"
"...You said it to make me react that way."
Lete growled lowly, hurt, and I was left speechless.
An inexplicable frustration filled my chest. She shrugged off harsher words usually—why here?
I scowled hard at her; Lete chewed her lip silently.
A heavier silence descended, different from before.
The air turned frigid; conversation halted.
Neither Lete nor I wanted to speak first—we just glared murderously.
"Jeez, you two are too much..."
Eliya, left alone, looked fed up, glancing between us.
"Got someone on the brink of madness from horniness right here—what's this? Flirting among yourselves?"
"...".
"You both wanna get hit?"
She brandished clenched fists threateningly—but
"...".
"...".
"...Uh, ahem!"
When our combined glares turned on her, she wilted instantly.
"O-Okay, fight it out without me. I'll just... masturbate alone..."
She crawled backward pathetically.
Even popular Eliya turned total loser between us.
"...Haa."
The tension deflated absurdly. I raked back my bangs roughly; Lete turned away sullenly.
Exactly opposite me.