We Called It Pure Love
Lahan returned to the city with Estella after carefully observing the movements of the mutant crocodyl.
When the pair entered the Adventurers Guild, receptionist Rona was already at the counter, smiling as she prepared to greet Lahan by name.
“…”
“Ehehe~♥”
“…”
Lahan had no idea why, but the moment he stepped inside, his eyes landed on Estella. She clung tightly to his arm, her face buried happily against it, rubbing her cheek against his sleeve like an overjoyed kitten. The woman with long black hair and her signature witch’s hat looked utterly content.
“What…?”
Rona’s eyes widened in surprise at the sight. She blinked a few times, trying to make sense of it.
The moment they approached, Rona shook off her distracted gaze and greeted them with the same cheerful smile she always wore as a receptionist.
“Welcome. Did you complete the commission to investigate the mutant crocodyl’s movements safely?”
Lahan simply nodded without a word.
“Ah, I see. But…?”
Rona’s voice trailed off as she noticed Estella still wrapped happily around Lahan’s arm, and her expression shifted to one of clear curiosity.
“You two… don’t tell me…”
Lahan nodded.
“Ehehe!”
Rona was more startled than she expected by Lahan’s affirmative nod, her face showing unmistakable embarrassment.
“Y-yes. C-congratulations, then.”
“Thank you! Hehe!”
Estella’s adorable, genuine smile hid the fact that Rona could not conceal her awkward expression.
After a small cough, Rona continued.
“Well, it’s not unusual for colleagues of the opposite gender who work together to accidentally catch feelings.”
“Anyway, that’s all about the report on the mutant crocodyl.”
Lahan provided Rona with a detailed account of what they had observed.
“…I see. Thank you for the report. Good work.”
Lahan nodded.
“Then please wait a moment. I’ll pay you the reward for completing the commission right away.”
Rona turned and walked into the storage room behind the counter where the safe was kept.
Stumble,
For some reason, Rona’s foot slipped on the clean floor, and she almost lost her balance before stepping into the storage room.
*She must have polished the floor too well today and slipped for a second.*
Lahan was still lost in his own thoughts about the slip when Rona reappeared from the storage room.
“Here you are. The reward I mentioned.”
Lahan nodded.
“Ehehe~!”
Unable to hide his discomfort at Estella’s constant clinging, Lahan tried to look away.
How long has she been like this? All day, every day.
Estella, oblivious to his awkwardness, squeezed his arm even tighter, as if saying “I can’t stop~.”
Her large, soft breasts pressed firmly against his arm, completely enveloping it in a warm, yielding embrace.
“Ahaha, you two seem to get along so well. It’s quite a sight.”
Rona’s eyes were completely devoid of any smile, delivering the words with forced cheer.
*What’s bothering her? Does she dislike them? Or is something making her uneasy?*
Lahan, who had little experience with women’s subtle minds, simply hadn’t noticed the odd atmosphere around them.
“So, why does her face look like that when she sees you and Estella together? It feels gloomy and dark…”
Rona had apparently developed a strange mix of admiration and curiosity toward Lahan… but the reason for her expression remained a mystery.
“Truly, how envious. You seem so happy together.”
Rona’s words carried a hidden undertone of longing as she observed Lahan and Estella.
* * *
“Rahan! Ah~!”
“…I’ll eat it myself. So stop already.”
“I don’t want that! Do you not like when I feed you, Rahan?”
“…That’s…”
“Don’t say that. Just say ‘ah~’ like this. Or do you want to eat this instead?”
“…”
Estella stood in front of him, cheeks slightly flushed from embarrassment, lifting one side of her chest with one hand while holding a forkful of food in the other.
*How is such a seductive woman still a virgin? Even I’m starting to wonder about it.*
After all, Estella had spent her entire life living secretly in the quiet Witch’s Forest until she reached adulthood, never meeting another adult man or even a young boy—until she came here.
Lahan had overheard a passing rumor about that at the tavern a few days ago.
*Mom? …*
So why was she lifting one breast with such a lewd question? Was she trying to make him eat? After all, the food was in her other hand.
Since becoming lovers with Estella, Lahan had become far more susceptible to her bold, teasing touches and relentless affection.
Every wink, every gesture was a direct assault on his willpower.
*Is this what happens when a virgin saint dies in his previous life? Or was she a succubus?*
He could only imagine how she had managed to reject countless men and still be here safely.
*Her figure is perfect, too…*
“Hah, ah~.”
“Perfect~! Ah~!”
Finally, with a resigned expression, Lahan accepted the forkful of food Estella offered.
Chew, chew,
“Ahgu~! Delicious!”
This felt less like a lover and more like a spoiled child or a mother feeding her kid…
Estella’s smile was radiant with joy as she leaned against the other hand, which still held the fork, her cheek resting on it.
She tilted her head lovingly toward Lahan, her eyes sparkling with pure affection.
*If she ever has children, her infinite love will undoubtedly pour down upon them just like this.*
*That’s called unconditional love…*
Lahan had been forced to stay glued to Estella’s side—both at night and during the day—without any breaks.
It was no exaggeration; it was literal.
“…”
“Koohoo…”
Even now they shared one bed instead of separate rooms. Estella had already fallen asleep under the moonlight streaming through the window.
*Wow, what the heck now?*
Some might call this blissful worry, but a married girlfriend who refused to go home at all sounded more like a nightmare.
And it was permanent… twenty-four hours a day, every day…
She was no longer even a girlfriend.
“Ughnya, ughnya, Rahan…♥”
“…?”
Even her sleepy mutterings of his name were strangely cute. Maybe that was why he wondered if they might actually get married.
Lahan had finally fallen asleep sometime in the late hours of the night.
Perhaps tomorrow…
The sun would rise and he would quietly hole up in the inn…
The next morning,
“Awhuung~! Uuuung~!”
Estella stretched lazily on the bed, her arms reaching toward the ceiling as morning sunlight filtered through the curtains. She stared at Lahan’s sleeping face beside her.
For some reason, Lahan’s face was turned toward her, still fast asleep. *Did he fall asleep while looking at my face?*
“Hehe.”
Lahan’s left arm had left a long imprint on her hair.
*Oops, his arm must be sore.*
Estella reached out and cast a healing spell on his arm.
“Heal.”
She also activated a cleaning spell on her own body, even though she was still wearing only her underwear.
“Water Shower.”
Water droplets materialized around her, then clung to her cheeks, legs, arms, and shoulders, absorbing dirt and dead skin like a sponge.
That was the reason Estella could always stay fresh and clean in the morning without having to use the inn’s facilities.
She even used the droplets to brush her teeth inside her mouth.
The water magic had also been gently applied to Lahan’s body while he slept.
“Goodnight, Rahan, okay?”
She leaned over and kissed his cheek with the back of her black hair, a soft, lingering touch.
After pulling away, Estella gazed at the sleeping Lahan for a moment with loving eyes.
Then she stood up and went to fetch the clothes she had taken off.
Currently, she wore nothing but pure white negligee over her underwear.
The contrast between her flawless black hair and the snowy fabric was stunning.
If another man had seen her, he might have been unable to resist and pulled her into his arms.
Estella brushed her jet-black hair free from the collar of her clothes and headed toward the full-length mirror placed in one corner of the room.
Surprisingly, the inn possessed a full-length mirror—the kind once used only by nobles.
Perhaps glassmaking had become easier these days. The price had dropped significantly, maybe because of magic stones?
Estella posed in various angles and positions in front of the mirror, admiring her reflection.
She noticed her own reflection in the mirror and, with a curious gaze, bent forward, one hand resting on her hip and the other on her chin, staring intently at herself.
“Hmm… I suppose I should dress up a bit more, huh?”
Estella was the kind of woman who wanted to look beautiful from every possible angle and pose for the man she loved.
We call that pure love,
or in another name, something even deeper.
“Uhuung~♪”
Humming a gentle, uplifting tune, Estella headed out to the clothing shop in front of the room to shop for something new to wear.
She had plenty of clothes in her Subdimensional Pocket, but nothing satisfied her yet. She wanted to show Lahan prettier outfits, to make herself look more beautiful, to surprise him.
*Click.*
After closing the door behind her and leaving, Lahan remained alone in the room.
He simply continued sleeping, face relaxed and peaceful, completely unaware of what was coming next.