The Retreat's Conclusion
“Alright, let’s move on to the second game! This game is—”
The winner of the body-language game was Class 2, represented by Ethan Gloucester, an Apostle of the Dark Cult. Perhaps because he had mastered spatial magic to such a high level, his senses were exceptionally sharp, allowing him to instantly grasp shapes and functions from the slightest gestures. Thanks to that, he answered every question perfectly. For reference, Scadia’s team scored zero. The male student explaining the problems must have had a peculiar mental world, turning even simple questions into bizarre, incomprehensible gestures.
We didn’t do particularly well either, but compared to Class 2, we looked like saints.
Game after game passed in that manner until the final stage arrived. Students paired up around a blazing campfire in the clearing and began dancing the folk dance. Abel and Yuni, Sara and Verdan Roosevelt, along with countless other couples, filled the space.
Without a second thought, I left the area and climbed to the rooftop overlooking the clearing.
“Finally, it’s over.”
Thinking back, the retreat had been short, yet quite a few incidents had unfolded. What should have been a minor service event had become something special to me. The longer I stayed here, the more memories accumulated and the thinner my thirst for revenge grew.
“Haa…”
Just as I let out a long sigh, a familiar voice reached me from behind.
“So this is where you were.”
I turned to find the Saintess smiling at me.
“How did you find your way up here, Saintess?”
“Because I have business! I heard a virgin ghost appeared on the mountain behind us last night. I came specifically to perform an exorcism.”
“Was that really necessary? You didn’t have to come in person.”
It wasn’t even a high-ranking spirit—just a virgin ghost that went around stealing men’s yang energy. Sending the Saintess herself for something so trivial felt like overkill. As I tilted my head in confusion, the Saintess suddenly furrowed her brows.
“Exactly! There’s no reason I should have to come. But I did! More importantly, why are you on the rooftop? Do you know how hard it was to find you?”
“You were looking for me? Why?”
“To keep watch, obviously! I was worried that a pervert who loves breasts so much might go around groping random women!”
“Even I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Anyway! I’m glad I found you. I thought you might be hiding somewhere, touching someone’s chest again.”
“That’s not going to happen.”
The absurd misunderstanding from last time seemed to have been cleared up, but in its place, the Saintess had apparently come to view me as a complete lunatic obsessed with breasts. I shook my head in disbelief, and she stepped closer.
“By the way, if you want to dance, why don’t you go down? Stop just watching from up here.”
“It’s fine. I don’t particularly feel like dancing. Besides, is there even a girl who’d want to dance with me? I’m more comfortable staying here.”
I had no intention of ruining memories that should remain pleasant for everyone. Just as I was about to lean against the railing, the Saintess’s small voice tickled my ear.
“There is one right here.”
“…Pardon?”
Startled, I looked at her again. A pair of beautiful, delicate hands were extended toward me.
“Would you like to dance with me?”
The Saintess smiled. The moment I met that smile, my internal clock stopped. The surrounding noise faded, and it felt as though only the two of us existed in the world. Her radiant kindness breathed life into my long-cooled emotions.
Thump! Thump!
My heart pounded. Heat spread through my body as blood surged violently through my veins. Emotion welled up from deep in my chest, choking me. Unable to believe the reality before me, a question slipped naturally from my lips.
“Why? Why would you want to dance with me?”
“Do I need a reason? There’s someone lonely right in front of me, and I can ease that loneliness. So I’ll gladly offer my kindness. That’s all there is to it.”
“Ah…”
I see. To the Saintess—to Iris—what mattered was simply being able to save someone who was suffering. There was no room for any other reason to interfere. I took the Saintess’s hand.
“Then, may I ask for this dance?”
“Of course! Leave it to me!”
With an innocent smile, the Saintess led me to the center. This was our stage. With only moonlight and faint music, we could dance as much as we wanted. I met her gaze, shared her breath, and swept across the stage with her.
“Saintess, you’re quite good at dancing.”
“Hmph! This much is nothing. The basic form is similar to footwork techniques.”
“So it’s ‘all rivers return to the sea,’ huh.”
“All rivers return to the sea? That’s nice. I should use that phrase next time!”
Her grinning face was adorable—adorable enough that I wanted to kiss her right then and there. As the Saintess spun gracefully under my guidance, she spoke with a hint of surprise.
“By the way, you’re better at dancing than I expected. From the rumors, I thought my feet would be in tatters by now.”
“Are you referring to the rumors from the Royal Palace?”
“Yes. They said you crushed Lady Remian’s feet. Have you improved that much since then?”
The Saintess glanced worriedly at our feet. I looked down at her neat pink hair and shook my head.
“No. I haven’t practiced dancing at all. It seems your dancing skills are simply superior to Lady Remian’s.”
“Hehe, is that so? Then between me and Lady Isis, who dances better?”
“Excuse me?”
“Hurry up and answer. Who’s better?”
Grinning mischievously as if she’d found something to tease me with, the Saintess pressed for an answer. After serious consideration, I gave my response.
“You are, Saintess.”
“Liar.”
The Saintess denied it faster than light. She seemed to think I was lying to flatter her. But I was being sincere.
“It’s true.”
“What’s your reason?”
“The last time I danced with my sister was nearly ten years ago. Naturally, your dancing would be far superior to my sister’s from back then. How about that? Believable?”
“It’s frustrating, but you’re right. Tch!”
Though she wanted to make things harder for me, the Saintess clicked her tongue and stopped arguing, unwilling to accept that her dancing was inferior to Isis’s from ten years ago. A brief silence settled afterward, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. I felt more at peace than I had in a long time.
Then, suddenly, the Saintess pressed closer. Her ample breasts, wrapped in her nun’s habit, gently pushed against my chest, sending a pleasant sensation through me.
“I’ll settle for this today, got it?”
“Settle for what?”
“My breasts! Since they’ve touched you, that should be enough. You’re not allowed to touch any other woman’s chest!”
The Saintess’s expression was firm. She was merely warning me against committing sexual crimes, but anyone else might mistake it for jealousy. I couldn’t hold back my laughter and answered with a grin.
“Understood. I’ll be satisfied with the Saintess’s breasts today.”
“Good! It’s a promise!”
The Saintess’s fingers fidgeted before intertwining with mine, forming a small loop. She shook it a few times, then let go. Feeling a warmth in my chest, I couldn’t resist teasing her.
“Saintess, just so you know…”
“Yes?”
“There are two hours left until midnight.”
The promise was only until today. In other words, once two hours passed, it would be tomorrow, so touching another woman’s breasts would be allowed. For a brief moment, the Saintess’s eyes widened as she reached that conclusion.
“You scammer!”
The Saintess’s whining washed over me.
*
“Everyone, good work. You can head back now. Tomorrow’s a rest day, so I’ll see you in two days.”
The retreat had finally come to an end. I responded to Sara’s farewell with a glance and turned to leave the auditorium. Just as I was about to head toward the training room—
“Hey, friend. Where’re you going!”
“Luan! Let’s go together!”
Abel and Yas appeared and flanked me. Yas even threw an arm around my shoulder.
“What’s this all of a sudden?”
When I shot him a look asking if they needed something, Yas shrugged.
“That’s hurtful. Do we need a reason to hang out? We’re roommates, so I just figured we’d go together.”
“Then you shouldn’t be walking with me.”
“What? Why? Don’t tell me you’re going somewhere? Did you set up a meeting with some girls? Or maybe you’ve got a secret girlfriend who came to visit?”
Yas stood on tiptoe like a meerkat, scanning the surroundings. I had a rough idea of what this guy was usually thinking about.
“It’s nothing like that. Anyway, I’ve got things to do, so you two go on ahead. I’m heading off.”
“Ah! L-Luan!”
I left Abel’s voice behind and entered the training room. As expected, since we’d just returned from the retreat, the place was empty. I savored the peaceful atmosphere and headed for the treadmill. It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was similar enough that I decided to call it that.
I was in the middle of running when—
“Whoa! That’s insane!”
“Amazing…”
The training room door opened, and Yas and Abel entered, looking impressed. Their expressions were slightly unnerved.
“The thing you had to do was exercise? Why are you so diligent despite being a scoundrel? Right, Abel?”
“Huh? M-Me? I’ve never thought Luan was a scoundrel! …Still, it’s impressive. I feel like I need to reflect a bit.”
After their little comedy routine, the two had somehow made their way right in front of me. I sighed and stepped off the treadmill.
“What are you two doing? Did you follow me?”
“We were curious where you were going in such a hurry. Honestly, I thought you were sneaking off to meet a girl! Who told you to be so secretive about it?”
“Sorry, Luan.”
Yas blamed others in typical fashion while Abel readily admitted his mistake. My head was starting to hurt.
‘Still, it’s a relief in a way.’
Good thing it was these two who found out. If it had been someone else—especially a transmigrator—I would’ve been suspected immediately. If it had been Pernia, she probably would’ve realized I was a rapist and swung her sword right away.
“Anyway, it’s settled. The fact that I train here is a secret from everyone else. Got it?”
“Eh? Why? Wouldn’t it be good for you if people knew?”
“That’s right, Luan. If word got out, your image would improve.”
Both of them tilted their heads, unable to understand my request. It wasn’t like I was some charitable angel who didn’t want his good deeds publicized. The notorious scoundrel Luan Priulri was willingly throwing away a chance to improve his reputation! While their opinions made sense in general, they didn’t apply to me at all.
“That’s none of your concern. Either way, it’s a secret. Understand?”
“Hmm… Well, if that’s what you want, I guess there’s no helping it. I’ll keep it secret.”
“Yeah. You must have your own reasons, Luan. I’ll take this secret to my grave!”
Whether the fact that a scoundrel was training was such important information that it needed to be taken to the grave… I shook my head and turned away.
“Then I’m going to keep exercising, so you two can leave.”
I had no time to waste. Two weeks after the retreat ended, practical training would begin. To handle any variables that might arise there, I needed to get stronger, even if only a little. Before I could take more than a few steps—
“Hey, friend! Let me join you!”
“That’s right. I’ll train with you too! I should start working hard from today!”
“No, there’s no need for that…”
“Uwooooh! First up, Kegel exercises! For the sake of the pussy that’ll one day wrap around my dick!”
“Y-Yas! Watch your language! What if someone hears you?”
Arguing with each other, the two began their own workouts using the scattered equipment. They weren’t listening to me at all.
‘I guess there’s no choice…’
It wasn’t like training with them would give me a growth debuff, so I had no choice but to leave them be.