Chapter 90
Chapter 90
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 90
Chapter Title: The Saint's Inner Thoughts
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I was confined to bed for a while due to the recoil from using Idea.
Honestly, it was a miracle I was alive.
If not for the characteristic of the Poseyken Hollow that refused to die no matter what, the shock would have been enough to kill me.
"Here, say 'ahhh~.'"
"I can move my right hand a bit now. Victoria."
p>For nearly a week, Victoria had been taking care of me with the utmost devotion. She helped me with everything, from eating to the embarrassing task of going to the bathroom, saying it was all fine.
Listening to her say it didn't matter because I was the person she loved, I found myself thinking once again how lucky I was that Victoria genuinely liked me.
No matter how close we were as comrades, showing this side of myself to Kyle or Taryon would have been difficult.
"Don't you think I could start eating by myself soon?"
I spoke to Victoria, who was still feeding me. I felt bad about continuously relying on her help.
Besides, Victoria had no talent for cooking.
Seeing her make meals crammed with all sorts of good things to heal my body quickly, I had reached the limit of sugarcoating my words.
It was time to tell the truth. It would be better to buy food or cook it myself.
"No. Last time, you tried to use magic to go to the bathroom by yourself and almost got seriously hurt."
However, Victoria didn't budge an inch, holding out the spoon and gesturing for me to open my mouth.
As Victoria said, I had once tried to sneak to the bathroom alone to take care of business and nearly fell out of bed.
"That's because it's embarrassing, even with you."
Even though we had grown to like each other, it was embarrassing to keep showing her my private parts.
"…Even though we've already had physical communion in the nude? That's rather peculiar."
"That was a necessity to remove the flower from your body. That time and now are different."
"What does it matter? In the end, if we defeat the Demon King, won't it be a part of your body I'll see every day? Of course, such a firm and thick weapon should be kept safe by me, the Saint."
Victoria looked at me with a lewd glint in her eyes, not hesitating to make obscene jokes.
She even placed her hand on her lower abdomen, reenacting the length and thickness she had seen back then.
What on earth had made her this strange?
Come to think of it, the cause might lie with me.
Because I could hear Victoria's inner thoughts yet ignored her feelings, she might have changed so drastically.
"…You've gotten good at dirty jokes, huh?"
"It's because you only react when I do things like this. That's also why I made a heart-shaped hole in the chest part of the Saint's robes."
I tried a timid retort while covering my flushed face with my right hand, but Victoria only tempted me further by widening the hole in her clothes with her finger.
At the same time, she couldn't hide her reddened ears and stuck out her tongue slightly, pretending nothing was wrong. It was so adorable.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.
"Alright. I'll eat quietly, so stop teasing me. I'm already sensitive to stimulation from being in bed for so long."
Unlike before, I directly expressed my feelings to Victoria.
To be honest, I was turned on.
It would be strange not to react when a beautiful, kind-hearted woman like Victoria kept rubbing against me and making lewd comments.
"…By stimulation, do you mean these obscene jokes, or physical sexual contact?"
"Both. To be honest, the blood's rushing down and it's painful…. I wouldn't have cared with anyone else…. It's strange, but with you, I can't hold back."
In reality, I had never succumbed to lust or been seduced by feminine charms, even when facing the Succubus Queen, Bellamora.
No matter how beautiful or seductive a being tried to tempt me, my body wouldn't properly react unless it was Victoria.
Was it because she had saved my life, which had been crushed by guilt?
Or was it because she had now become the person I loved?
It was a problem even my mind, which always sought rational reasons or principles, couldn't solve. After all, love has no clear answer.
"……I see."
That's when it happened.
Victoria covered her face with her hands, avoiding my gaze, showing an embarrassed expression.
Her reaction was different from usual.
Normally, she would have said she was in heat or insulted me by calling me a pervert.
"S-sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I still don't know much about the male body…."
Victoria was apologizing to me now.
She didn't dare call me a lustful ape in front of the Saint or provoke me by labeling me a pervert.
"I didn't know… because you always pushed my heart away or drew a line to keep your distance…." Being able to hear Victoria's inner thoughts, I understood why she kept teasing me.
After I rejected Victoria's confession, she flailed desperately because she was afraid of being rejected again or even losing our friendship.
"I thought… if I kept making dirty jokes or physical contact… my chance would come again someday. Did I get too greedy? Then again, you almost died…." I gently stroked Victoria's head, smiling to show it was okay.
"Victoria, it's not your fault. It's a problem that arose because I tried not to accept your feelings."
It was too late to say I was sorry after causing such deep wounds. It would be right to talk about this properly after my body had fully recovered.
"……."
Victoria remained silent, perhaps finding it awkward that I was expressing such emotions for the first time, simply accepting the head pats.
"Astal, are you feeling better? Victoria was so worried that I came to check on your condition…."
*Creak—!*
At that moment, the firmly closed door opened, revealing familiar faces.
"I-I didn't see anything…!!"
"Ah, the mood was good. Sorry for interrupting."
"So the two of you really are dating. I honestly had some doubts."
The red-haired Hero, Kyle.
The brown-haired Spirit Mage with bear ears, Anima.
The archer with elven ears and green hair, Taryon.
My traveling companions had barged in, disregarding etiquette, and entered the inn room where Victoria and I were staying.
"No, it's fine. We can do this later. Right, Victoria?"
"Y-yes…."
I gave Victoria a slight smile, telling her I'd pat her head again later. She seemed surprised by my words, biting her tongue as she answered.
"So, why did you all come to see me so suddenly?"
I stopped my comrades as they tried to close the door again with awkward smiles.
There must be a reason for visiting me while I'm sick.
While they might have come out of concern for my condition, many unresolved problems remained.
Two of the Four Heavenly Kings were still alive, and to defeat the Demon King, Idea needed to be supplemented.
"Of course, we were worried about you…! Ah, actually, there's something we need to discuss about the corrupted Holy Sword…."
"I think it's better if Kyle just uses it. Since it's the Hero's Holy Sword, I think it can wound the Demon King."
The Spirit Mage, Anima, scratched the back of her neck, talking about the Holy Sword that sealed Dullahan.
To defeat the Demon King Ergothum, we couldn't afford to be picky about methods, so I honestly thought it would be better if Kyle, the Hero, used it.
"Well, the thing is, when I hold the Holy Sword, I hear the voices of the people Dullahan killed."
Kyle spoke with a serious expression.
If vengeful spirits attached to the Holy Sword were the problem, there were methods like having Victoria use holy magic to lay them to rest.
But Kyle wasn't taking that approach.
It felt awkward, even if it was to inflict greater pain on Dullahan.
"Among them… I think your parents and people from your hometown are there. I heard voices calling your name, looking for you."
"What? Is that true…?"
Hearing Kyle's words, my eyes widened. I thought I would never see them again. I thought I would never be forgiven.
Maybe they still missed me.
"It's not certain. Dullahan might be acting to escape the sword, and even if they are people you know, they might not be in their right minds."
"……."
"They might resent you or curse you. Do you want to try talking to them…?"
Hero Kyle broached the topic more cautiously than ever. He, better than anyone, knew that spilled water or the past couldn't be undone.
Sometimes, the action you thought was best could yield the worst outcome.
"Lord Astal, let's try talking to them."
Then, I felt a warm touch as someone held my hand.
"Victoria…"
"Besides, I haven't formally introduced myself to your parents yet. As your lover, isn't that something I should do?"
Victoria, who still hadn't received a proper answer to her confession and remained in the role of a fake lover.
Right. If it's a past I have to face someday, it's better to do it with the person I love.
"…Bring me the Holy Sword, Kyle. I won't run away anymore."
I nodded to Kyle and asked him to bring the Holy Sword that sealed Dullahan.