Chapter 132
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Perhaps
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A heavy silence hung over the elf-style tree house.
"......"
My eyes were enjoying the sight, but I couldn't stay like this forever, so I let out a sigh and opened my mouth.
"Damn, you've got a great figure."
"...Th-thank you...?"
She seemed unfamiliar with this situation too, her face flushing red as she wiggled her toes.
"......"
But seriously, it was an amazing body.
Taut muscles without a hint of excess fat, overlaid with soft, feminine curves that traced strong yet seductive, elegant lines.
There were scars here and there like Murel's, but far from ugly, they only added to her allure.
Of course, the real eye-catchers were her wide hips, moon-like buttocks, and those full breasts shaking with their pink tips.
"So, why the sudden move?"
"Well..."
She hesitated at my question, trembling like a fragile reed, her face growing even redder.
"...I couldn't think of any other way to repay you."
"So you stripped? At this timing?"
"Yes. If I didn't act on it right away, I felt my resolve might waver..."
"Hmm..."
I thought for a moment, then blatantly scanned her body up and down.
"Eek...!"
True to her master-level prowess, she twitched sensitively wherever my gaze landed, reflexively trying to cover herself before gritting her teeth and forcing her back straight.
...Honestly, it was a pretty tantalizing situation.
"So, that means you think your body's worth that much?"
"...Pardon?"
I teased the bewildered woman with a mischievous look.
"Wow, pretty girls always know their own beauty best, huh? Isn't your confidence a bit over the top? What if I refuse?"
"Ah...! Th-that's...!"
As if she hadn't even considered that, she flushed with embarrassment and couldn't hold back, finally covering her body.
"Lord Alzen. That's an incredibly rude thing to say."
"Huh?"
At that moment, Murel shot me a cold glare after chiming in.
...Was she still holding a grudge from that one time in the past when she tried to persuade me and I refused?
"Sigh... Thing is, I'm not used to stuff like this."
"...Is that so?"
Nemes looked mildly surprised, as if it was unexpected.
...Yeah, just from that expression, I could tell what kind of image 'Starnassila Alzen' had.
It'd been a while since I felt this overlap between 'Starnassila Alzen' and myself.
"Lord Alzen. In this world, a woman offering her body is akin to the highest form of gratitude she can give. A man should accept it honorably."
"That's exactly why I'm not used to it."
I shook my head at the medieval fantasy world's values and glanced at Nemes standing there blankly.
"...Anyway, so you're offering your body as repayment?"
"Yes."
"Hmm, aren't you overvaluing yourself? Thinking one round covers it..."
"N-no, that's not it at all!"
"Then what is it?"
"W-well..."
She turned her head away shyly, avoiding my gaze, and answered in a tiny voice.
"If you wish, I'll do it as many times as you want, for as long as you want... That's the resolve I have standing here."
"...Oh?"
I chuckled amusedly.
"Weren't you following Arpe?"
"That's separate from this."
"Is it? Really? What do you think?"
I glanced at Murel and Rebecca, who both nodded.
"Loyalty and love are indeed different realms."
"Exactly. Cases where they align are probably rarer."
"Really? Interesting. Hmm..."
I'd never been in that position, so it was a realm I couldn't comprehend.
"Ah, um! I-I think they do align... for me!"
At that moment, Lampoon Pashutra, who had been quietly gauging the mood, shot her hand up and bounced around.
Oolrooong! Oolrooong!
Doing it right next to me, that massive hunk of flesh rubbed against my face wildly.
"Is that so? Lampoon Pashutra."
"Eh? Oh, uh, y-yes... Ah, wait. Is this a confession...? W-wait a sec! Ugh...! Y-yes...! It is...!"
Her idiotic charm, drumming up her own dilemma and admitting it solo, was so funny I burst out laughing.
"Um... For me, it's not quite love, but..."
Nemes timidly spoke up, staring blankly at the scene, but Murel firmly shook her head.
"That doesn't convince anyone, Nazares Nemes."
"Wh-what...!?"
"It wasn't force or blackmail, and you had other options, yet you bared yourself before Lord Alzen like this. That's proof enough of your feelings for him."
"No way that's... Or is it...?"
As she looked confused, I beckoned her with a finger.
"Feelings aside, Nemes. I'm not looking for repayment right now."
"Ah... S-sorry. My body must not be enough. With all these attractive women around you already..."
I frantically waved my hands at her crestfallen expression to say no.
"No, not like that. Truth is, I haven't gone all the way with the women by my side either. Personal reasons."
"I-is that so...?"
She genuinely looked surprised, tilting her head and glancing at Murel, Rebecca, Kachiora, and Lampoon Pashutra in turn.
"...Sigh."
"Mm..."
"Ahem..."
For some reason, the three women excluding Pashutra frowned, their faces flushing with what seemed like frustration and embarrassment under those gazes.
Sensing an ominous arrow of emotion heading my way, I quickly took the initiative.
"So, just serve the drinks for now. That's plenty."
"...Understood."
As she fumbled to grab her clothes, I raised a hand to stop her.
"No, naked."
"......"
I met her half-lidded glare calmly and grinned slyly.
"Why? I wanna enjoy it with my eyes and hands at least. Not allowed?"
"Haa... No. Actually, maybe I should be relieved."
I had no idea what was relieving about it, but she sighed and carefully approached, sitting beside me and picking up the bottle.
"I'll help."
"M-me too!"
"Ahem... Well, no choice."
"Huh? Huh? Why's everyone stripping? Do I have to too?"
Then, as if it were the most natural thing, the other women stripped off too, pressing their bare skin against me openly.
Pashutra, flustered at first, soon steeled herself and tossed her clothes aside as well.
"......"
"......"
"......"
Pashutra's figure was nothing short of a bombshell, impossible even for the women to ignore.
"I-I'll serve drinks too!"
"Heh, go ahead."
The women's expressions, tinged with odd defeat, were comical, so I used that as a side dish while downing the drinks Nemes and Pashutra poured nonstop.
That night, we lingered late in a strange, heated atmosphere, sharing drinks and many stories.
I eradicated the plague gnawing at the World Tree in one fell swoop.
I uprooted the spiritual contagion spreading among the elves.
The rift between elves and dark elves, which should have deepened emotionally, was instantly bridged into tight alliance through my mediation.
From Sukra's perspective, it must have been an absurd, ridiculous thwarting of her long-cherished plan.
And Sukra wasn't the type of demon with the patience or cold composure to endure such a situation.
"Wh-what is that!?"
"I-it's coming! Just as the Incarnation of Nature said! It's comingggg!"
It began with a purple plague that sinisterly tainted the very space.
Twisting and warping space to distort perspective, it turned the bountiful forest itself into a hostile, ferocious monster.
Plants forgot their purpose, clumsily forming legs to stomp the ground.
Tiny creatures like insects and small rodents rooted into those plants, becoming muscle and bone.
Mid-sized and large beasts and magical creatures became vectors themselves, spraying purple plague everywhere.
—Kieeeek!
—Grraaaaaah!!
The roars of pitiful lives profaned echoed through the forest.
It was a sudden assault, but the elves, faithful to my words, were already prepared.
"Fire!!"
At Ratifi's shout, countless arrows infused with mana and nature affinities surged toward the monsters.
The powerfully enchanted arrows didn't just pierce; they wrought more havoc.
The ground froze, binding their feet solid.
Storms tore the area apart.
Intense explosions scattered searing heat everywhere.
Blue lightning spiderwebbed out, burning flesh and causing necrosis.
Disastrous enough already, but it didn't end there.
"Don't waver! Keep the magic circle steady! Focus your mana calmly! Stand by after chanting!"
Under Grand Mage Benuit's command, the elf mages cohesively deployed a massive magic circle, sweating profusely.
As the thick dust and smoke cleared, the horrific devastation revealed itself.
—Grraaaaaah!!
—Kikikikik!!
The monsters didn't die so easily.
With purple smoke warping space, second and third waves crashed toward the village like relentless tides.
"Deploy the magic circle!"
Benuit's grim glare and shout rang out, followed by a colossal magic circle enveloping the entire village glowing blindingly.
Then, silent black lightning lanced out in all directions.
Inky black like pitch, soundless and scentless, it erased everything it touched without a trace.
"Ooh... A grand mage indeed."
My first glimpse of a Rank 2 spell in this world drew an involuntary gasp.
In standard fantasy circle magic, it equated to a whopping 8th circle.
Benuit could cast it solo, but with the other mages' aid, she could spam it all day.
"Hngh, ugh...!"
"Aah, aaah...!"
"Our... forest...!"
"The World Tree's blessing... it's being twisted...!"
Despite the clear advantage, the elves weren't celebrating; tears streamed as they sobbed.
Understandable.
Their forest—their very identity—morphed into monsters by that damned demon, and they were destroying them with their own hands. Like killing zombie family members themselves.
"...Hmm."
I took in the scene, searching for Sukra.
But she showed no sign of appearing anywhere.
"Tch. Planning a war of attrition? She knows better than anyone it's futile..."
As I'd said many times, elves were a truly formidable group.
Without showing herself, she'd never win these petty assaults, not even in a lifetime.
"......"
Did she have some other scheme, or had she lost her reason entirely...? Pondering her character, I sighed deeply.
Perhaps some unexpected variable I hadn't considered.