Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: the Saint’s Inner Thoughts
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Led by Victoria, we arrived at a restaurant with a sign rather blatantly depicting a man and woman entwined.
Whether it specialized in cooking fish similar to eels, a savory aroma wafted up from the surroundings.
Normally, a place like this would be scandalous enough just for a Saint and Mage of the Hero's party to visit.
I sprinkled Perception Hindrance Magic around while looking around.
"Here. A mask to hide your identity."
—Mr. Astal, you should take the cat mask, since you're always the one acting cold while saving me...!
Victoria put on a fox mask and, placing a finger over her lips, made a "shh" gesture. I even began to hallucinate a tail swaying behind her back.
"...Do we have to wear this even to eat?"
Looking like we were at a masquerade ball, I didn't understand why we had to go through this trouble. One Perception Hindrance Magic should be enough.
"Yes, it's the principle of this place to keep the customers' identities secret."
"Then what are all these names?"
I asked while putting on the cat mask Victoria gave me. Signs with reviews that were too explicit for supposedly hiding identities.
—After eating the gem eel tail, my relationship with my neglectful husband improved. Thank you!
—I came with my fiancé, who I just promised to marry today... The effect was too good. I'll come again.
—Until I learned about this shop, I honestly didn't know if love could be shared even between different species...!
Below each sign were the names of the couples. As if proudly showcasing their relationship to the outside world.
"It's fine. Hardly anyone here believes the names are real."
Seeing the scene, Victoria nonchalantly grabbed my hand and stepped forward. I fixed my gaze on her figure to not lose her in the crowd.
"So, you could just write fake names of other people?"
"Who knows? Well, if it got out that Flower Saint Victoria and the Harmless Mage Astal visited a place like this together, the continent might turn upside down."
—That's exactly what I'm aiming for. Lying outright might make you refuse, so I'll go with provocation here.
It was similar to what I had guessed. This was also a place where various false rumors about celebrities originated, so you couldn't know who the real protagonists of the restaurant reviews were.
Just as you hide a tree in a forest and a person in a crowd.
The numerous reviews bore traces of various heroes having flocked to this shop.
"Surely you're not afraid our relationship will be exposed to the world? Rumors will spread among the knights soon anyway."
—Mr. Astal has strong pride. Provoked like this, he'll definitely eat the food and try to leave a bad review.
"......"
Hearing Victoria's inner thoughts, I crossed my arms. Right now, there was something more important than easing her mood.
"Kyle is holding the gate alone. Don't you think a dangerous situation could arise?"
Unlike our continent, the Demon Realm, teeming with all sorts of monsters and demons, was a dangerous place where even a moment of carelessness could be fatal.
To lessen Hero Kyle's burden, we needed to return to the Demon Realm as soon as possible.
"...Then, let's get it to go. I wanted to have a fairly deep conversation with you in an atmospheric place, but it's a shame."
—Ah, I didn't think of that...! I was just so happy and thrilled to be alone with Mr. Astal...
After rolling her eyes thoughtfully a few times, Victoria soon presented a compromise. She had also seen Kyle guarding the gate.
"So, what exactly are the effects of the food written here? Aphrodisiac, stamina enhancement, protein content... What exactly are you trying to feed me?"
I gulped while looking at the long text written on the restaurant's exterior wall. Because I was scared why Victoria had brought me to such a place.
"I can't tell you. I was just curious, wanting to confirm whether you're impotent or not."
To keep the identity of the food to be packed a secret, Victoria whispered secretly to a staff member and managed her expression.
"Tsk! Convivium Hybridationis!"
Hearing her words, a staff member who looked like a female orc nodded and relayed the order to the kitchen in a dialect.
—Formal Hybrid Breeding. It's food that increases the chance of pregnancy even between different species. I plan to test seducing you tonight.
I could hear all of Victoria's inner thoughts like that. Seeing her appearance, having already lost self-control, made me dizzy.
"Why are you checking that...!"
"Because I've never seen you solving your sexual urges yourself or getting hard, even though you're always sharing a room with a charming woman like me."
—I could check while you're sleeping, but that's too perverted! Provoking you gently like this so you come to me yourself has the highest chance!
Victoria secretly groped my thigh, showing a sinister smile. I was even using magic to block blood flow to avoid reacting.
"See. If it's like this now, wouldn't your future lover be pitiful? The continent's strongest mage suffering from erectile dysfunction..."
"Absolutely not. I just don't react to you."
"Oh my, really?"
Squish, squish.
As if searching for my weak point, Victoria's hand gradually kneaded further inward on my thigh.
"If that's really true, then my pride is a bit hurt..."
—Even his thigh is hard and firm like a rock... He must have been training constantly to fight monsters. If I were pinned under this body, how helplessly would I thrash in pleasure...
"...Where are you putting your hand right now?"
I grabbed and caught Victoria's hand as it reached an inappropriate area. A man who admired her might have enjoyed this physical contact, but that wasn't me.
"If you dislike it, I apologize."
—Did he become disillusioned with me? Might he misunderstand me as a woman who only likes such lewd things... I'm only like this in front of you...
Victoria's eyes slightly wavered as she trembled. She wanted to seduce me but hated being disliked even more.
"It's not that. Do things like this with someone you truly like, don't do it with a man you don't even have feelings for..."
"...So if I had feelings for you, it would be okay?"
—Even though I've come to like you fervently, I'm afraid you'll reject me. What I fear most is not even remaining friends and having to keep my distance...
Then, Victoria mustered a little courage and revealed her inner thoughts. She was cleverly hinting at her feelings for me.
"Let me say it again, we're in a contract relationship. Once we defeat the Succubus Queen, or after a month passes, we should go back to being nothing to each other."
I said while holding Victoria’s shoulders. I could see her trying to narrow the distance between us, so I wanted to tell her to stop.
At this rate, it felt like we might really cross the line.
I didn’t want to experience losing someone precious in front of my eyes ever again, and I couldn’t think that it was okay to love someone.
Maybe I was afraid that Victoria was gradually changing me.
“So, are you afraid you might fall for me?”
“……”
Victoria looked up at me from below. As her star-like eyes hidden behind the fox mask met my gaze, it even felt as if time had stopped.
“Shall I tell you one of my secrets, Astal?”
“What is it, why again.”
I thought it might be a confession, so I listened while preparing to refuse.
“I may look like this, but I’m actually quite shy and not good at getting close to people.”
But then,
“…You? Really?”
What came out of Victoria’s mouth was quite unexpected.
“Yes, I am truly passive, timid, and have a fragile side. Because of severe past trauma, I cannot easily trust people.”
“You’ve never been like that with me….”
I couldn’t easily believe her sincere words. She had always been thoroughly cold or played rough pranks with me.
Right now, her Inner Thoughts were calm. Meaning there was no difference between her outward appearance and her heart.
“It’s very strange. A man like you always has something that makes me smile. Honestly, even when you get angry, you’re not that scary.”
“Hey, is that a compliment or an insult?”
“Well. What do you think? Misunderstanding is free….”
—It’s a compliment. If it’s not you, I put up walls so others can’t come any closer.
Victoria let out a chuckle with a meaningful smile, then returned with the finished food and linked arms with me.
“One thing that is certain….”
Victoria once again pressed her chest against my arm, narrowing the distance between us.
“…When I’m with you, a corner of my heart truly feels at ease.”
—Because I like you.
“……”
Hearing Victoria’s Inner Thoughts, I had no choice but to hesitate for a moment.
‘If another man heard that, it’s something that could easily be misunderstood….’
If someone else heard it, it was a statement that could easily make them think she liked them.
“Well… that’s good then.”
I avoided it by turning my gaze.
“Looks like the food is all packed, so shall we go to Kyle now?”
The proper way to act tactfully was to pretend to be tactless like this.
“You really have no sense at all.”
—Do you know how much courage it took for me to say that…!
Ignoring Victoria’s puffed cheeks, I walked out of the shop and headed toward the teleportation gate.
* * *
And so, when we came out of the teleportation gate and arrived again at the Demon Realm.
“…So, you’re saying you were this late just to pack one food?!”
We reunited with the Hero, Kyle Dragonica, who was catching his breath while cutting down all the surrounding Monsters.
“Sorry.”
“We’re sorry….”
We bowed our heads toward him, and seeing that, the Hero let out a deep sigh and added one remark.
“…Yeah, I’m just glad the relationship between you two improved. But next time, don’t be this late without any notice.”
Seeing Kyle smile brightly as if his earlier exhausted expression had disappeared, I came to fear the day I would part with Victoria.
If this guy finds out later that it was a Contract Relationship.
He really seems like he’ll get angry.