Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Charm
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“……Iris?”
I called her name carefully again.
Iris stared at me with a dazed look on her face. Then her eyes suddenly widened round, as if her mind had cleared a little. She must have realized what she’d just done.
“F-Fine… I’m f-fine.”
“Not even a little.”
Her mouth insisted she was fine, but her body told a different story. Her breaths came in short gasps, her eyes remained glazed, and her cheeks burned red.
The symptoms were almost identical to Helga’s when she’d been charmed. Iris’s condition was plain as day.
While I racked my brain for a solution, Iris—who’d been hugging herself and trembling—staggered unsteadily to her feet. She looked ready to collapse or topple over at any second.
I reached out to steady her, only to freeze as the memory of that moan from moments ago flooded back. Another one like that, and we’d both die of embarrassment.
Sensing my hesitation, Iris forced a faint smile.
“Really… I’m fine. Just caught off guard for a second.”
“You sure?”
She nodded lightly by way of reply.
She’d broken out in a serious sweat in that short time. Her sleeveless top clung wetly to her skin in places, translucent enough to reveal what lay beneath. Even the peaks at her chest took on a faint pink tint. I whipped my gaze away.
“……I’ve confirmed the demon’s form. Thank you for the courtesy, Delta. We can leave now.”
Iris kept stumbling but somehow held her balance as she dipped her head toward me in a bow. Then her strength gave out all at once, her upper body pitching forward.
Her breasts swayed heavily with the motion, tugged downward by their own weight. Sweat gathered at her collarbone traced a graceful curve before vanishing into the cleft between them.
“One more time before we go. You really okay?”
I fixed Iris with a steady stare as I asked. She flicked her eyes away from mine, perhaps pricked by her own conscience. No one knew better than her that something was wrong with her body.
And anyone could see she was in bad shape. Her half-lidded silver eyes stayed locked on me, refusing to budge. The hand clutching her other arm shook uncontrollably.
Sweat poured from her everywhere, making her already form-fitting sleeveless cling even tighter and trace the contours of her skin. Her dolphin pants glistened faintly with moisture too.
Left to her own devices, she wouldn’t make it three steps before keeling over.
“…….”
Iris hesitated, mumbling to herself for a moment. Then, as if she’d come to a decision, she quietly extended one hand.
“On second thought… I don’t think I am.”
“About time.”
I clasped her hand. Her body jolted the instant our palms met. Iris clapped a hand over her mouth on reflex. I ignored it and tugged her arm. Her feverish body yielded and came along without protest.
Heat seeped through from her palm. It was nice and toasty.
“What’s the plan? I can just hold you up if you wanna try walking. Or piggyback?”
“……No idea.”
“If you’re that out of it, walking solo’s off the table. Let’s move. The battle nuns can probably purify you or whatever.”
I dropped to one knee and turned my back to her.
“Hop on.”
“……Got it. Sorry for the trouble.”
Iris wobbled into position atop my back. Her body radiated warmth like she was running a fever.
Full weight settled on, and something soft and yielding pressed against my shoulder blades. I shoved the sensation from my mind. Wrong time, wrong place.
My hands cupped the backs of her thighs for support. Sweat-slick skin molded perfectly to my palms. Incredibly soft, but again—ignore.
I rose to my feet.
“Ngh…….”
A sugary moan purred right in my ear. Iris’s head rested on my shoulder.
One of her arms looped around my neck. The other clamped my bicep. Or tried to—barely any strength behind it.
“Your body’s so cool, Delta… Feels good. Really good.”
She pressed in closer and breathed the words into my ear.
“……Pretty sure it’s not me being cool. You’re just burning up, Iris.”
“I’m fine, Delta.”
“Yeah, sure. Whatever you say. You’re totally normal, Iris.”
Even though she’d just admitted otherwise.
No point arguing with someone under the weather, so I mumbled agreement and got moving. She didn’t like my tone—her lips ghosted toward my ear again.
“I mean it, Delta.”
“Got it. You’re peachy.”
Would’ve been great if that ended it. No such luck.
Iris suddenly started grinding between her legs against my back. No need to spell out what that meant.
“…….”
Couldn’t exactly blurt out “Stop rubbing your pussy on me,” so I squeezed her thigh harder to get the message across.
Whatever she took that for, her hips only bucked harder. I battled the spongy sensation bleeding through our clothes and kicked the door wide.
“What happened?!”
The door flew open. Battle nuns stationed at the holy barrier—who’d been waiting for us—rushed up with shocked expressions. I jerked my chin at Iris, still humping away for all she was worth.
“No clue. Demon got to her, I think. Can you take a look?”
“Of course we will. Lay her down here, please.”
My mention of the demon had every battle nun in the temple area crowding around us. One dropped to her knees and patted her thigh invitingly.
Lay her there. I eased Iris down carefully. Nuns seized her arms to steady her.
The kneeling one pillowed Iris’s head against her chest. Iris’s noggin nudged the warm flesh aside in the cleavage. Sideboob bulged out toward her armpit.
Iris’s eyes stayed glued to me. In those few moments, the charm had dug in deeper—her gaze burned with even more desperate longing.
The nuns traded glances. One bolted off into the distance. Fetching Stella, most likely.
“Pardon the intrusion, honored guest.”
The first nun to approach planted herself in front of Iris.
“……Doing what, exactly?”
“Apologies for the indelicate phrasing, but if the honored guest is correct and she’s been touched by a demon, we must verify her purity.”
Purity check equaled heresy judgment.
I backed off without protest. I couldn’t interfere with the Holy Kingdom’s rites anyway—and I trusted Iris would pass.
Just charmed? Soul shouldn’t be tainted yet. Helga proved it. Hell, the whole city did.
Iris would be fine.
“Look me right in the eyes, please.”
Iris’s gaze drifted slowly to the nun standing before her. Silver pupils locked on, the nun reached for the chest flap of her habit.
No hesitation—right hand snatched the triangular cloth.
‘Hold up.’
The sight jogged a detail I’d blanked on in the shock. No time to look away.
─Rustle.
Up flipped the flap.
What lay beneath slammed into my vision like a gut punch.
Breasts like Stella’s—so huge one hand couldn’t even cup half. And crowning those massive hills, pink nipples. The works.
Iris watched the whole thing, but the nun adjusted her habit like it was nothing and carried on. I shook off my daze too late—the ritual was over.
While I stood there dumbfounded, the nun finished tidying up and spoke evenly.
“We’re done, honored guest. Her soul remains pure.”
“Uh…… Whew, good to hear.”
I managed a stuttered response. Never saw that coming again.
“So…… yeah, you can fix her up?”
“Likely. Matches the symptoms folks showed before you put down that foul demon, honored guest. Demon-triggered?”
“Guessing so. Kicked off right after I ID’d Behemoth’s corpse.”
“Then I’ll attempt purification.”
She produced a holy catalyst from her belt. Knelt quietly. Clasped hands before her chest and began to pray. Soft sunlight bloomed around her.
Sunlight bathed Iris’s body. Her breathing eased. Working.
“Honored guest!”
Stella arrived moments later. Blinding speed.
“Someone made contact with a demon—”
“Heretic check’s done. Soul’s clean. No direct contact either—just looked at it.”
I laid out the facts calmly. Stella’s face relaxed.
“Thank goodness. What went down? Got the short version.”
I recapped the incident.
Emperor’s orders—Iris and I checked Behemoth’s body. Unveiled the face, and bam, she lost it.
Stella hung on every word. She eyed Iris—now reclined with her head nestled between the nun’s breasts—her expression fully eased.
“Outta the way.”
“Yes, Inquisitor.”
Stella nudged the praying nun aside. Clapped her hands together before Iris. Sunlight erupted, far brighter than before.
Light coiled around Iris. Her breaths evened out in seconds. Glaze fled her eyes, flush drained from her cheeks.
Suddenly herself again, Iris propped up and patted down her body in confusion. Our eyes met. Silver pupils swirled.
“Uh…….”
“Save it. No explanations needed. Just crash.”
I cut off her flustered attempt at excuses. Nothing to explain anyway—demon did it. Duh.
Instead, I shot Stella a look: inside? She got it and followed me in.
She peered at Behemoth’s corpse and spoke.
“Thought corpses couldn’t spread curses.”
“Same here. No precedent. Beats me.”
“And the effect? Way stronger than when it was alive.”
“Stronger than alive?”
“Definitely.”
Spotted it because Helga pulled the same stunt on me first. Iris’s charm hit harder, no question.
Why it flipped to full-on heat? Still clueless.
“Hmm… Not certain, but I’ve got a hunch.”
Stella pondered, then offered an upbeat maybe.
“What’s that?”
Stella’s lips parted cautiously.