Chapter 84
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Stealing a Comrade's Man (1)
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Minerva's common sense alteration? I knew what that was.
I'd been too busy at first to notice, but not anymore.
In other words, I already knew how to approach her.
Creating an angle with her was a piece of cake.
...Or so I'd thought, before actually trying it.
"Minerva, over there."
"Oh, Hyun~? Here to see Lumi again?"
"Mmph♡ Hyun's so...♡"
"......"
Lumi was always glued to Minerva's side.
So how was I supposed to make my move?
Friend shield, right off the bat. I'd toss Lumi aside and bail.
And she'd grin at me like, good luck with that.
"Sorry, I have some business with Minerva today."
"Ah, right... Not here to see me, then..."
"Boo, Hyun's being mean~ Making Lumi cry~."
"No, I'll take you out on a date tonight instead, Lumi. Just wait a bit."
"...Okay."
Of course, Lumi didn't always block me purely out of sex radar.
If I soothed her, she'd back off quietly.
Then I'd get some alone time with Minerva for that angle...
-Peek.
"Mmmph..."
"......"
Those antennae are showing, Saintess.
No chance for that angle.
Not with Lumi stuck to her like gum, keeping watch.
Ignore her completely and it's neglect play—she'll climax from that, right?
"Sigh."
This left me in a real bind.
One of the three days before heading to Eisenhardt wasted like this.
Need to conquer her quick and shut her up, but how do I peel Lumi off...?
Day two of Operation Minerva.
I finally succeeded in prying Lumi away with a brilliant plan.
[—Mmmph♡ Mmm, mmmphhh♡]
[—It's fine. Go wild, then rest up for the day.]
[—Mmmphhhh...♡]
Just wear her out completely.
Holy Room bangfest. Full throttle.
Healing arts or whatever—she couldn't compete with raw stamina.
Lumi passed out.
I'd bought myself a full day off her.
Minerva smirked when I filled her in.
"Young folks these days, huh~."
"By imperial standards, I'm past marriageable age—through the roof, even."
"Says the guy marrying the Imperial Princess."
"Not a sore spot, but why rub salt in it?"
"Just kidding~."
"You're such a sly one."
I slid in next to her naturally.
Time to set up that angle.
Minerva scooted away to the opposite side.
"Whoa, too close. It's hot."
"Come on. I wanted to ask about the Hero search—personnel details and such..."
"I don't wanna get tangled up near the Princess, Second Knight Captain, and Lumi's man."
"......"
She'd figured it out.
In just two days since I started coming here.
No intention of spilling right now... but if Hilde, Silpi, or even Luna finds out, I'm screwed.
Stonewall defense.
Going straight at it wouldn't work.
Time for a detour, then.
"Well, Minerva, since I'm here, teach me a few things?"
No teeth? Go for the gums.
I eased into buildup mode.
Minerva didn't turn that down.
"Got questions? Fire away. I'll answer what I can."
"Hmm, Hero info's off-limits, right?"
"Not as bad as with you, but her blessing resists mine hard. Baseline's a year."
"Fair enough. Can you teach me mana control, then?"
Shelve 'that' angle for now. Start wholesome.
I asked how to learn mana control properly.
Felt it healing Lumi—my mana handling sucked for a one-trick pony.
Minerva's eyes drifted upward.
"Hm, I can teach basics... Got connections in the First Knight Order?"
"Know the captain by face. Why?"
"Seraphina, First Knight Captain—she's the empire's best at this. Probably tops most mages."
"Ah."
Oh yeah, her.
During the Citri subjugation, she'd siphoned mana from other mages and pumped it into me.
Makes sense—with a blessing like that, she'd handle mana like a pro.
Should hit her up sometime.
Just a topic pivot, but why's this so damn useful?
"Can I ask about this too? Actually, I..."
"That's Blanc's turf..."
I got into it, firing off questions eagerly.
Minerva answered with a smile.
Common sense alteration? Or just her nature?
She seemed thrilled sharing knowledge with me.
"Okay, um, minor dilemma here."
"Laying it on thick~? Love troubles~?"
"Nah, just wondering how to level up personally going forward."
Eventually hit stat allocation.
Contribution points on hold—no buys yet. What to prioritize?
Quick answer came.
"Hard to get your personal info... Huh? Why'd this pop right up?"
"What'd it say?"
"Boosting intellect is top priority."
"......"
That blessing—salesman BM?
Grind intelligence first? Kinda hits the pride.
Still, 1.9 now—basically 190 full points.
Really priority one, Minerva?
"Better to pump strength or agility."
"Said study up."
"Tch, got it."
Next point was going to INT anyway.
I let it slide.
Status window's 5x price hike per buy—INT's the value king now.
Already top of my list anyway...
This ain't the point right now.
Time-killer turned goldmine, but goal was Minerva conquest.
Buildup solid. Time to breach.
I tested the waters.
"By the way, about Lumi..."
"Lumi? Heh, what're you so curious about with our Lumi~?"
"Isn't she too sensitive?"
"Ah."
A sigh escaped.
She furrowed her brow.
"Still? Even after that desensitizing potion I made her?"
"Not mid-confession squirting, but yeah. Whispers alone soak her."
"It's working some, but still too much..."
Minerva crossed her arms.
Gazed into space, pupils darting—like scanning with her blessing.
"...That's the limit without side effects. Push further, she might go half-paralyzed."
"Big trouble~ Right?"
"Minor catastrophe. Better than all-or-nothing senses, but a saintess creaming from whispers? Weird."
"Spot on!"
Buildup good. Flow good.
Sweet-talk her into bed next.
Because her common sense alteration...
That's the one.
If someone's curious, she has to teach.
Seems innocuous at first glance, but...
I knew it was potent.
Empress Luna even left a sex ed video to teach her heir.
Confidence was sky-high.
"But skipping nights with Lumi's impossible, right? Misses one and she's super sulky."
"Yeah, she's got that clingy side."
"So I wanna know—how to tone her sensitivity down so we can spend longer nights together?"
You wouldn't get it.
Virgin Minerva wouldn't know.
So she'd "study" to answer me.
Like Luna devouring dick first for heir training.
Checkmate.
"Well..."
And then...
Minerva's eyes narrowed.
"You really that curious?"
"Huh?"
"No matter how I spin it, you know this better than me. Whether you need it or not."
"Eh."
What vibe was this?
Did I slip up?
"Goal's 'longer' with Lumi? She already lasts plenty on her own."
"...!!!"
Right—she voyeured me railing Lumi with healing!!
Heart dropped.
She'd watched me straight-up.
Lumi pulling every healing trick to stay conscious.
"Too sensitive is awkward, no?"
"True. Especially if she hates it."
"Exactly! She doesn't wanna pass out every time."
"So, she hated it?"
"...Well."
"Our Lumi wouldn't complain~ She'd brag about taking it all."
Bonk—she flicked my forehead lightly.
Didn't hurt a bit.
"Still, sweet of you. Thanks for caring about Lumi, Hyun."
"...Yeah."
Game over.
Thought flashed, but I held it in.
Couldn't show it here.
Level's meh anyway—give up the lay? Talk to Lumi, she might keep quiet...
Deep worries that day.
Next morning.
"Urgh, ha♡ Effect's... still..."
[NTL added to target's sexual barriers.]
"...?"
What? Not common sense alteration?
Day before Eisenhardt departure—anti-tutoring tutoring began.