Episode 52

After breakfast, it was tea time.

To be precise, since we were drinking alcohol, it should be called beer time, whiskey time, or alcohol time.

But the atmosphere was similar enough that such minor details could be overlooked.

'I wonder what those two are talking about over there.'

I thought to myself as I stared at Aron and Todin, who had the atmosphere of a drinking party as if they'd just become adults, unlike our quiet cafe-like atmosphere.

Pania, who had been drinking wine as if it were tea, quietly asked from beside me.

"It seems you followed my advice?"

"Ahem! Cough! N-no? What do you mean? I didn't really..."

I reflexively turned my head at the sudden question.

When my eyes met Pania's, she gave me an understanding smile and nodded lightly.

That smile actually made me feel more embarrassed.

Her relaxed attitude that clearly said 'It's okay. I understand.' was enough to drive anyone crazy.

"R-really, nothing happened..."

Though there wasn't a single trustworthy thing about my expression or voice, Pania nodded.

"Yes, I know. More importantly, how was it? It seemed like it was your first time."

A question that was completely different from her saying she knew.

I glanced at Aron who was chatting with Todin in front of us, then answered Pania.

"It was so good. Really... I couldn't even gather my senses and just kept getting pinned down."

"It was that good even though it was your first time?"

"Yeah..."

"You two must be really compatible. Usually, the first time is painful and physically exhausting."

It was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠physically exhausting.

It was a bit shocking that even now, when my growth as a beastkin was essentially complete, I still wasn't enough, but I felt happiness beyond that.

A happiness so great that I imagined this must be what taking drugs feels like.

"But I won't allow it too often."

At my firm voice, Pania gave a playful smile.

"May I ask why you decided that?"

"Well, if I give it to him too easily, he might think I'm an easy woman. That would hurt my feelings..."

"That couldn't possibly happen."

"But there are too many pretty women around him. He might get tired of someone like me quickly."

Pania nodded several times.

"I completely understand. Since Aron-nim has more than one or two women around him, that's understandable. But isn't this actually an opportunity?"

"An opportunity?"

"Yes, while there are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no other women, Mia should completely take the initiative. Even if you can't stop him from creating a harem... shouldn't you at least become the legal wife?"

"Legal wife..."

Thinking about it, the legal wife was important even in harems.

Even when the male protagonist created a harem, the woman who always stayed by his side and helped him would take the position of legal wife.

If I secure the position of legal wife?

At the very least, I won't be abandoned, and I'll be the most loved.

"That's important. That definitely makes sense."

"Exactly! If you can't stop the harem anyway, shouldn't you at least secure an advantage within it?"

I nodded vigorously at Pania's words.

Both my hands clenched into tight fists.

"You're right! That's exactly it! I shouldn't forget that this is my opportunity!"

"Exactly! This is your chance to turn things around!"

"Yes! This is exactly the chance to turn things around!"

Listening to Pania, I finally realized.

Right now, with three powerful competitors absent, is my opportunity.

If I miss this chance, I might never get another one.

"Then what should I do? Should I... pounce on him every night?"

"Frequency is important, but so are new atmospheres and feelings. Sometimes act like a woman deeply in love, other times play a little hard to get, and occasionally you should take the lead."

"Le... lead, huh."

I close my eyes for a moment.

I recall the massive monstrosity that conquered me all day long and think about it.

Could I possibly control that enormous weapon?

'The moment it goes in, my female switch turns on unconditionally. Unconditionally.'

With that objective conclusion, I asked Pania a question.

"Is there maybe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a method? That... Aron is too big... I don't know what to do..."

"Is he very big? You should be fine once you get used to it."

"Um... well..."

After looking around briefly, I extend my arm and bring the edge of my other hand to about the midpoint.

"I think it's about this much."

Even considering Mia's slender arms, the length was unusually impressive from the start.

Pania was briefly surprised too but quickly offered a solution.

"Oh my, it really is quite big. Then... you need to learn techniques. Hands, chest, feet, mouth. You should make him surrender by drawing it out completely using whatever means necessary, don't you think?"

"There's a method like that. How do I practice?"

"Of course you practice with Aron. If you do it every day, you'll eventually get used to it."

"Every day with Aron?"

My face instantly grew hot.

The thought of being pinned under Aron every day and whimpering made my lower abdomen tighten instantly.

"I'll think about that a bit. I'd be too embarrassed to ask for it every day..."

"That kind of mindset won't do. What is there to be embarrassed about? This much is natural to claim the person you love."

"That may be true, but I..."

If possible, I don't want to completely forget that I was originally a man.

If I could really return to Earth, I'd have to live as a man again then.

But what if I get pounded by Aron every day?

'I'd probably become Aron's onahole in less than a month. Maybe even within a week.'

Although Aron wouldn't treat me roughly given his personality, I might actually ask for it myself by then.

I feel like I'd be begging him to pound me like an animal and impregnate me.

I need to prevent that at least.

"I'm still a bit embarrassed, so I'll try to work on it gradually."

"That's understandable. I'll cheer you on! By the way, have you heard? The Dwarf Delegation heading to the dragon is departing tomorrow at noon."

"They're leaving sooner than I thought. I expected it would take about a week."

"If we planned conservatively, it would take that long, but this time we had more volunteers than expected."

"Is there a reason?"

"Didn't you say you met a Master Craftsman before?"

When she said Master Craftsman, I remembered the dwarf who was fighting the bear beastkin.

He said he would repay the favor, but I didn't expect it would be in this way.

"Yes, I met him briefly at the market."

"He said that joining the delegation was nothing if it was for his benefactor. Thanks to that, we found a Master Craftsman quickly."

"That's really fortunate."

Pania nodded lightly and then stood up from her seat.

Her gaze turned forward.

Following her line of sight, I saw Aron and Todin glancing our way and checking on us.

"It seems they're finished over there too, shall we get up as well? If we leave them like that, they might drink heavily again."

At Pania's playful words, I chuckled and stood up.

"We should probably stop that."

As we stood, Aron and Todin approached us with relieved expressions.

Pania walked toward Todin, and I stood in place waiting for Aron.

"Did you have fun?"

I spread my arms as I looked at Aron approaching, and he naturally picked me up in his arms.

"Yeah, it's nice to meet a friend after so long."

"You had friends in the forest too."

"Um... well... I think it's a bit difficult to call them purely real friends?"

"So you know too?"

I poked Aron's cheek with my finger, and he laughed awkwardly.

"We made a promise between the three of us, so we had to maintain a friendship. I didn't particularly enjoy that ambiguous relationship either."

"What kind of promise?"

"We promised that until we're freed from the curse, none of us would date or marry me."

I understood at Aron's words.

With that crazy woman targeting Aron, that kind of promise actually felt natural.

It might even be for their own safety.

If one of them secretly got married without the others, she might kill them.

But I immediately noticed a huge loophole in that promise.

"But Aron..."

I pulled Aron's neck close and whispered in his ear.

"It was a promise between three people. So I'm not involved, right? Then I should snatch you up before those other bitches return."

"Huh, huh? What are you..."

Aron was quite flustered by Mia's sudden demanding mode, given how shy she usually was.

She wouldn't make such expressions unless she was drunk.

"Are you drunk?"

At Aron's question, I pressed both hands firmly against his cheeks and met his gaze.

We looked at each other from a distance close enough to feel each other's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠breath as I answered.

"No. Not drunk at all. I didn't even drink any alcohol just in case."

I slowly licked my lips with my tongue and spoke.

"But I think it's about time the man got drunk. I feel like if I miss this chance, it'll really be difficult. So... you'll cooperate obediently. Understood?"

Aron inwardly marveled at Mia's proactive and simultaneously captivating words.

What on earth did she learn from Pania?

Whenever she had conversations with her, Mia changed dramatically.

Of course, since it was a change in a direction he liked, Aron cooperated obediently.

"Of course I'll cooperate. So... what exactly should I cooperate with today?"

"For today, let's go to the bedroom and take a bath first? Let's go in together... relax warmly in the water, and then think about it."

"That's more ordinary than I expected? But okay, I understand."

I looked at Aron for a moment, considering kissing his forehead, but instead I hugged him tightly.

It seemed like kissing him while fully conscious was still too much for me.