Chapter 130
Chapter 130
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 130
Chapter Title: Floating Island Siege Battle
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"My head hurts."
The words slipped out of my mouth the moment I woke up.
I'd slept way too much.
It had been two days since the Murderers' assault on the floating island and Almiras' seizure of it.
In that time, I'd been lying in bed all day at the Hart estate.
My body felt heavy and numb.
The heaviness was purely because my couch-potato nature had kicked in—I'd spent the whole day glued to the bed—but the muscle pain was courtesy of "Flame of the Self."
It was a cheat skill with no penalties, but that just meant no debuffs from activating it. The strain on my muscles from pushing beyond my physical limits was unavoidable.
This was gonna last at least a week.
I gingerly pressed my shoulder.
Ow.
But this lovely pain...
The kind you could get addicted to!
Not that I'm a masochist or anything.
You all know what I mean, right? You overdo it at the gym, your whole body aches, and a few days later when the soreness eases up a bit, sleeping feels kinda good.
...Am I the only one?
It wasn't just my couch-potato tendencies keeping me holed up in the estate.
With the situation so complicated, Gold had asked me to stay home for at least a day, even if it was frustrating.
Didn't I say it was day two of fusing with the bed?
After resting one day, I just wanted to stay home on the second too.
Of course, there were people I wanted to see.
Like Asita.
We seemed to have made up, but I still minded her cursing me out, and I was curious why the noble red beauty was so thrilled to learn she was Lady Prostia.
Lady Prostia. What was that noble dragon up to?
With her temper, it wouldn't be weird if she stormed in demanding I grant her any wish, but her eerie quietness was nagging at me.
Mayal got hurt too—hope she's okay.
El... Flat's probably taking good care of her.
From the looks of it, El might be nursing Flat through the aftermath of being controlled by the Murderers, but either way, the couple's probably all lovey-dovey.
Clarier's face was pretty swollen—wonder if it's better now.
...Wait, why am I worrying about her?
She's the one who always ragged on me. If she's hurt, isn't that a win for me?
Mystery.
Guess I did think of her as something like a friend.
I was shocked at how pissed I got seeing her swollen face.
The other girls. Raies and the ones whose names I barely know—I'm a little worried about them too.
The guys?
Don't care about anyone but Gold.
Especially that Kaiz bastard—I hoped he'd croaked...
Even though he didn't do much directly this time, he took out the Blue Moon, fought like hell against powerhouses, and didn't have a single scratch.
The hero and regressor lived up to his name.
Man, I'm bored.
Gold brought me books and games out of consideration, but the games in this world, Elryunar, were all multiplayer board games that needed other people, so I couldn't play. And books? Just didn't feel like reading.
Truth is, I wanna do something naughty.
If Repelt came by, we could sneak in some fun...
The door burst open.
Who is it? Oh. It was Repelt, exactly who I'd been thinking of!
That naughty body of hers—right now, I could just... I started to get up, but froze.
Repelt's eyelids were red and swollen.
Why was she crying? Who for?
"Repelt."
"Yeah... You okay, Dre? Sorry to bother you while you're resting, but a guest is here."
She didn't say why she'd cried.
Doesn't wanna talk about it? Then I won't pry...
.....
......Who am I kidding? I won't ask?
After fighting with Asita and not talking for a while, I learned my lesson.
Bracing for her to hate me, I asked.
"Repelt. Were you crying?"
"Um... Well. A bunch of my comrades went to join Narnar-nim. So I was just..."
"...Ah."
Of course. After that mess, there had to be casualties.
Did Gijaier the vice principal and Alfred think there'd be no damage just because they brought in the Murderers?
...No, normally there wouldn't have been victims.
They didn't expect the irregular Almiras to pull off something so insane, so the plan fell apart.
Still, those two were at fault.
They should face proper consequences, but that's not my concern right now.
What matters is Repelt crying.
I threw off the covers, got up, and approached her.
She noticed I was shirtless and her face flushed a bit.
"Oh? Uh. Um... Are you... right now...?"
I gently stroked her forehead as she panicked.
"You okay?"
"......"
Repelt, who'd widened her eyes in surprise, buried her face in my chest. As I slowly stroked the back of her head, her breathing evened out like she'd found relief.
"Mmm... Feels good."
"......"
What feels good?
Don't tell me... me? I like you too!
Filled with deep satisfaction, I kept stroking her.
A few minutes passed like that.
Repelt pulled away quickly. I worried maybe I smelled, but she said,
"If we stay like this, I won't wanna let go... And the guest is waiting..."
How could she say something so sweet?
A bold beauty knight blushing and fumbling her words—it was seriously turning me on as a guy.
Now that I was aroused, the bed behind me naturally caught my eye.
But I held back.
Seducing a woman grieving her comrades' severe injuries? Even my tiny conscience got in the way.
Unaware or not of my thoughts, Repelt added an excuse.
"The guest is here, and I have to visit Kaisir too."
"Kaisir got hurt too?"
"He might have to retire as a knight. His lord's looking for healers, but..."
She trailed off, so it probably wasn't going well.
I stared blankly at her worried face, and Repelt forced a laugh to reassure me.
"Don't worry, Dre! Overall, the damage is basically zero!"
"Is that so."
"Yeah! So don't sweat it and go see the guest. It's already been like ten minutes."
"Sure. I'll come back and we can talk more."
"I've got a backlog of work. Can't do that."
.....
Wait. Is she avoiding me?
She's turning me down politely—is this me being too pushy?
My resolve wavered, but Repelt fidgeted her lips and mumbled in a tiny voice.
"So... after my shift ends, that... place from before, you know..."
"...Which place?"
I knew exactly what she meant.
I knew, but seeing her so cute, I couldn't resist teasing with a mischievous tone.
Repelt squirmed at my question—she was adorable.
"Th-that... hotel."
"Yeah."
"Will you... stay with me there?"
"No reason not to."
Damn, I'm acting all high and mighty.
I inwardly called myself pathetic, but Repelt beamed with joy at my answer.
"Th-then I'll go! The guest is in the drawing room!"
I watched fondly as she dashed out, then realized something.
Who was this guest waiting for me?
Whatever, I'd find out when I got there.
I grabbed my rumpled shirt from the floor and headed to the drawing room.
"Nom nom nom."
"?"
Right outside the drawing room, I heard a weird sound.
"How is the taste?"
I knew that voice.
It was the head maid I'd seen often since staying at the Hart estate.
"It's delicious!"
I knew that voice too.
Asita.
...Asita?
What the hell.
I wasn't mentally prepared to see her yet.
Would she just curse me out again the second she saw me?
Hoo. Hah. Hoo. Hah. Deep breaths. Just in case my breath stank.
I'd assumed the "guest" was that Kaiz bastard and cursed myself.
He dropped by often, so I figured it was him again...
That's why I came out all sloppy, but nope. Useless prick as always.
Calming my nerves, I entered the drawing room as naturally as possible.
There sat Asita in her uniform, munching away. In front of her was a massive cake that looked filling just to see.
Without her glasses, she looked like a model shooting a cake ad.
If this went viral as an ad, sales would skyrocket—she was that pretty.
"Oh? Um..."
Asita spotted me, glanced at her cake and fork, then gulped it down.
She cleared her throat, looked at me again... and huffed, turning her head away.
You came to see me—why the attitude?
"Oh my. Master Dre."
"Good work."
The head maid greeted me warmly with a smile, so I returned it.
That moment.
"Hmph hmph."
"......"
"Would you like something too, Master Dre?"
"No, I'm good."
"Hmph hmph hmph."
What was that cute little protest?
The head maid next to her looked like she was dying of cuteness overload.
"It's been two days, Asita."
"...?!"
What?
Why the shocked face?
Before I could puzzle it out, her expression turned angry.
She puffed her cheeks and whipped her head away.
"Ohoho. I should step out then."
The head maid scurried off.
No need—she was heading out of the estate anyway.
"Asita. Shall we talk outside?"
"...Hmph."
"Asita?"
"......"
Why won't you answer, you brat?
Think you're too pretty for it?
Think I won't smack your head because you're pretty?
.....
Thinking about it, yeah, I probably wouldn't.
But why's she acting like this?
No matter how I racked my brain, I hadn't done anything wrong.
If anything, I'd been polite and respectful...
......Ah! Maybe it's the formality?
I remembered how happy she'd been when I used casual speech before.
Unsure, I tried calling her again.
"Asita. Let's go out."
"......"
Not it either, you nerd.
The moment I thought that, her lips twitched, she huffed, but stood up.
She jerked her chin as if to say "lead the way," and I couldn't help but chuckle.
She glared daggers but kept up her "I'm not mad" act by closing her eyes.
"Follow me."
I was heading outside the estate—specifically, somewhere without surveillance.
As Kaiz mentioned before, the estate was riddled with magical devices acting as the family head's eyes. Now, I could even sense them if I focused.
So, to a blind spot.
It didn't take long to find one.
Surprisingly, behind a pillar just off from the entrance, close to the main gate. No surveillance there—was security okay with that?
Maybe because it's visible from inside and outside the estate.
What, no need to go there? Just go to the spot Kaiz dragged me to before?
I don't wanna owe that guy even for something trivial.
"So, what's up? Asi..."
"......"
"What brings you here, Asita?"
"...Um..."
Her hands clasped in front of her chest, fingers fidgeting as she pondered—it was the kind of pose that'd make you laugh "playing cute" on anyone else.
But on Asita, it was just cute and pretty. That's the trap.
Asita cleared her throat and said,
"Explain."
What?
I didn't ask.
"Where to start."
Probably from the beginning.
So, I told her everything.
From her constitution, to what I did fighting Prostia. How holding hands lets her sense it.
And why I'd suggested meeting often.
After hearing it all, Asita said flatly,
"Hard to believe."
"Yeah."
Her body was one with the world's nature—turning into mana someday? As forced as my body collapsing from spamming sure-kill moves.
"Then how'd you know about my body?"
This tone.
Serious Asita.
"Got a skill that lets me see that."
"Hmm. Okay."
Asita's clear eyes met my murky ones head-on.
The purity screamed "no lies allowed," and I tensed up without realizing.
"Why help me? You're basically a stranger. Whether I turn to mana or not doesn't affect you, right?"
"...Um."
I thought a bit, then said,
"Felt responsible for using that skill on you to awaken your mana affinity. And I can't just leave someone in trouble..."
But under her piercing gaze, I dropped the lame excuses.
Time for a straight fastball.
Someone friend-like always said I beat around the bush too much.
And I wanted to be honest with Asita.
"Just 'cause I like you."
"....."
"Same as what I said in front of Almiras. I don't have friends. Kinda-sorta ones, maybe... So I didn't want you to die."
"That's all?"
"......."
She might get mad, but I had to say it.
"And, well, you're pretty cute."
"......"
"To fix your constitution, we've gotta get physical, right? Honestly, I wanted the perks of touching your body. But purely touching—no funny business, I swear."
I hurriedly added no lewd thoughts, but Asita stayed expressionless.
Pissed?
Idiot me.
Then, Asita grabbed my hand.
"Kyaa?!"
The sweet connection between us! Just touching sends her off! Thanks to the skill, Asita shuddered like she'd been shocked, staggering.
I caught her quickly. A bead of sweat on her face, she mumbled,
"It's real... Holding hands, and... everything tingles."
"......"
Super curious exactly where.
"So this means you don't love me—it's just the skill and my constitution?"
"Huh? You love me?"
Did she misunderstand?
This is bad.
Wasn't that why she got close to me?
Now knowing it's not love, she might say stay away.
But Asita hugged me tight instead.
The peach scent wrapping around me froze my body.
"Wh-what?"
"Why panic? Go on, examine my body."
Still hugging, she looked up with just her eyes.
Her upturned eyes mixed innocence and allure so contradictorily... I hugged her slender body tight without thinking.
Warm. Cozy.
Asita rested her cheek on my chest.
"...Sniff sniff."
"Hey, hold up. Why sniff?"
Come to think of it, the system said she had a smell fetish.
"Sniff... Did you not wash properly?"
"I did."
"Hmm... Barely passing grade."
She said, sniffing again. This was embarrassing.
More than that, this was a dangerous scene.
Hugging a girl with a boyfriend in someone else's house in broad daylight.
...Feels like cheating. Heart-pounding thrill of betrayal.
Trying not to let her hear my heartbeat, Asita looked up sullenly.
"So you hid the truth from me this whole time?"
"Yeah."
No way was I saying "forgive me, it was for your sake."
Instead, Asita hugged me tighter.
"Fine, I forgive you. So fix my body."
"...That does it?"
"Yes. So... from now on, meet often in private spots and fix me quick... What do you say?"
"Uh, just us? Isn't that risky?"
"Risky? How?"
How what.
You gotta make me say it to call me scum?
Is she really this innocent, or teasing?
That fox-like smile says teasing.
"Well, I am pretty cute. Plus physical contact, and holding hands makes me lose my mind, so alone you'd probably give in to your dirty desires and make a move... Kyaa!"
That's what I get for staying quiet.
I grabbed her head and shook it after ages, and Asita giggled "ehehe."
"One question."
"Yeah?"
"That woman, the dragon? Prostia?"
"The dignified redhead?"
"...Skip dignified."
She poked my stomach with her cute hand.
What's wrong with "dignified"?
"Yeah, pretty much."
"I see."
Asita buried her face fully in my stomach.
Doesn't she have a boyfriend? This feels off... But for me, it was awesome, so I let it be.
I even occasionally rested my hand on her head.
Didn't stroke, fearing she'd snap.
"......"
"......"
But how long we doing this?
"Not gonna stroke my head?"
"Huh?"
"Kept touching, thought you'd stroke."
"Didn't wanna overstep. You were waiting for it?"
"Hng..." Asita made a mischievous little-devil face, then pulled away.
My "were you waiting?" sparked her defiance.
Damn shame.
My idle hand twitched in the air.
"So, find a private spot and figure out how to fix my body~ all on you."
Oh ho.
Thinks it's all my fault, huh.
"Hey. It's your body on the line—shouldn't you help? And it's not just me; you misunderstood too..."
"Exactly."
Asita cut me off, cheeks flushing slightly.
"I-I'll let you do a little naughty stuff."
"......"
"Friend-level skinship only!"
She added hastily, but "naughty" stuck in my head.
This body, now bundled in clothes—seeing it, touching...
"Dre?"
"Y-yeah, of course."
"Ehet."
Asita smiled and tugged my hand.
"Wanna take a short walk?"
"Huh? Walk?"
"Nice park nearby. Let's get some air."
"...Sure, whatever."
No reason to refuse.
But going out like this? I said I'd change, but Asita refused vehemently.
Why?
We arrived at the park.
As she said, spacious, well-landscaped, few people—peaceful vibe.
Entrance fee was unexpected.
I sat on a bench, staring blankly at the sky.
Asita dashed off saying she'd grab drinks.
.....
Is this a date?
Nah, she has a boyfriend.
Or can you date even with one?
What do I know, loner me.
I fiddled with the communicator the head maid gave for Asita.
Said it'd be useful.
I get the "talk often" intent, but giving it to a girl with a boyfriend? Might just piss her off.
Head down, eyes closed, pondering—no answer. Switched to current events.
Asita said the floating island was restored to normal in one minute by the principal.
Vivid crystals swirled, reassembling like a fairy tale.
Back to usual in under a minute. Impressive.
Must've been a spectacle to see.
The Murderers are under discussion for punishment. Nothing specific on Alfred or Vice Principal Gijaier, but rumors say the principal penalized them.
The island lost major trust, naturally. Now full effort to rebuild it and reassure residents.
Academy expected closure, but operating normally to show the island's fine.
So Asita visiting me now? Playing hooky.
Nah, she got permission.
About me: instructors discussing, but she doesn't know details.
Duh, world's prettiest student Asita—what would she know.
And Almiras.
Obviously, academy, kingdom, foreigners, major factions tracking him—but trace vanished cleanly.
No body, so he escaped unscathed.
With his skill, weirder if caught then.
I recalled him.
Ridiculously skilled warrior.
I won, but he had constraints.
Wanna rematch a full-powered him. Plus reasons, judged not pure evil.
So spared him.
Wonder what he's doing now... That thought hit as my senses picked something up.
Cautious but unhidden steps—expert footing.
I looked up: healthy tanned skin, toned abs.
Jeans, crop top, off-shoulder hoodie. Hip-hop vibe girl.
Long black hair, moderately muscled—elasticity defined her sexy, no, insanely hot body.
Breasts huge. Breasts huge.
Important, said twice.
Exotic beauty face. Middle Eastern-Western mix.
Anyway, rivals kingdom's top 12 beauties.
Not a girl—my age? Maybe slightly older, radiating mature allure.
TL;DR: all charms combined into a total knockout babe.
And she was staring right at me.
"Mind if I sit?"
I pondered briefly.
"Suit yourself."
"Cool."
The exotic babe sat beside me without hesitation, legs together, hands neatly on knees, staring.
"We know each other, right?"
"Huh? Yeah."
"Right? Saw you at the festival morning. I was the dancer, you the guest."
"Yeah."
"Guest but outperformed any troupe member—shocked me. Well, I was part-time help."
"Was ya."
"Yep."
Brief silence. Sloppy guy and sexy babe—we both gazed at the sky.
"So."
"Yeah?"
"Here for revenge? Almiras."
My words made her mouth gape, then she grinned ferociously.
Finally, that deadly aura from before.
"Two days, huh. Yerddre."
The monster rabbit's true form sat beside me now.