Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Gob on the Brink of Death. The Truth Revealed
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After finishing our bath, we got ready for bed.
As usual, I was about to pull out the leaf blanket when Sera grabbed my shoulder.
"Hold on. I brought a blanket."
She rummaged through her bundle and pulled out the magic tool box again.
She tossed it into a corner of the cabin, and a burst of light exploded outward.
I squeezed my eyes shut against the bright light and opened them to find a bed sitting there plump and ready.
"Ta-da~ It's a portable bed."
A portable bathroom and now a portable bed. They really had every gadget imaginable.
At this rate, a portable mansion wouldn't be surprising.
"Want to give it a try?"
At Sera's suggestion, I cautiously lay down on the bed.
So soft. I sank into it like I'd fallen into water.
"How is it? Super fluffy, right?"
-Nod nod.
Just like the bed from my past life.
"Heh, I should've brought it out sooner."
Sera said that as she slipped into the bed.
I burrowed into her arms like always.
Poof. I buried my face in her warm, soft breasts.
With my face pressed into her chest, the gentle texture enveloped my entire face.
The bed was plush, her body was plush—double the coziness.
"Sorry. For always insisting we sleep together like this."
"Keruk keruk."
I shook my head to say there was nothing to apologize for.
Ever since she realized sleeping with me kept her nightmares away, she'd been sharing my bed every night.
At first, I was disappointed it was an F-rank skill, but now it seemed like they'd gotten the rank wrong.
If the skill's effect was sleeping in Sera's arms every night, it was SSS-rank—no, EX-rank.
"I don't think I could sleep without you anymore."
Sera whispered from above my head.
I felt the same way. I'd become the type who couldn't sleep without her.
I couldn't drift off without burying my face in her soft breasts and inhaling that warm, milky scent.
"Goodnight, Gob."
"Kerrr."
You too.
I closed my eyes and savored the fresh peach fragrance.
Snore... Sera quickly fell into steady breathing.
She falls asleep so fast. Is it thanks to the skill?
The world grew so quiet that only Sera's breathing filled the air. Then, a grotesque sound came from my left arm.
Crack... sizzle... The sound of flesh tearing and pus oozing out.
Another wound reopening because I failed the quest again.
Every time I met Sera, a quest window popped up without fail.
I'd fail it, fail again, and the wounds would worsen in a vicious cycle.
In a way, meeting Sera was slowly killing me.
But even if it killed me, I had no intention of stopping these meetings.
I reached my hand toward Sera's face.
"Mm..." As my hand drew near, she furrowed her delicate brows in her sleep.
Is it the smell?
Goblin's unique foul body odor doesn't wash off, no matter how much I scrub.
I felt bad about it during the bath today, too.
Is there a way? Maybe buy a skill?
I checked the skill shop, and one caught my eye.
Pheromone (C): Emits a body scent that seduces the opposite sex.
It was exactly the points I'd saved up so far.
A body scent that seduces the opposite sex... Would this make it better?
There were better, pricier skills, but this was the best I could afford.
I hesitated just before hitting purchase.
I need points to become human—should I really spend them like this?
...I'm probably dying soon anyway. What's the point?
To become human, I need 10,000 SP.
At this rate, I won't even hit 1,000 before I die.
Yeah. Screw it. I hit purchase.
Purchase completed. Skill applied.
After the notification, I reached toward Sera again.
"Mm..." Sera furrowed her brows once more.
But as I kept my hand there, her expression gradually relaxed.
Snooze... snooze... She breathed evenly, as if nothing had happened.
Definitely better. Should've bought it sooner.
Sera's Perspective
Over a month had passed since Sera first met Gob.
She stroked the head of Gob, who lay on the bed.
Gob rolled his eyes to look at her.
His neck and chest were stained deep purple; he couldn't even turn his head.
His weakened heart made even the slightest movement bring shortness of breath right to his throat.
Blink, blink. Only the flicker of his eyes proved he was still alive.
'What do I do...'
Sera's eyes grew hot, tears welling up and blurring her vision.
She blinked, and the tears streamed down her cheeks.
'Is there no way for Gob to recover? If I let him touch my breasts, would that give him some strength?'
At that thought, Sera didn't hesitate and pulled off her top.
Jiggle. Her massive breasts bounced up with the fabric and settled back down.
"Gob, want to touch big sis's breasts?"
"..."
Gob stared up at Sera blankly, then raised his one somewhat intact right arm.
"That's right, your favorite breasts. Touch them as much as you want."
Seeing him move brought a smile to Sera's lips.
If it could help him recover, she'd give him her breasts a thousand times over.
But Gob's hand passed by her breasts and reached for her face.
Swipe. His slender finger wiped away the tear hanging on her cheek.
His frail arm dropped as if it had done its job.
Gob's eyes slowly closed.
In that moment, waves crashed through Sera's heart, making it pound.
"Gob. Gob...? Gob!"
Sera called his name repeatedly, shaking his body.
Anxiety swallowed her whole, dragging her into the cold, deep abyss of the sea.
The sensation of flailing in pitch-black darkness where she couldn't see an inch ahead.
"Gob!"
She cried his name like a drowning person gasping out their last breath.
Gob slowly opened his eyes, as if waking from sleep.
"Ahh... Thank goodness..."
Sera collapsed atop him, her strength draining away.
To push away the anxiety, she pressed her ear to his chest.
Thump... thump... The faint heartbeat reassured her somewhat, but the fear lingered.
The rhythm was as dim as a candle about to flicker out.
Every time he closed his eyes, it felt like he'd slip into eternal sleep.
'At this rate, three days at most.'
I have to find a way. I can't just watch him fade like this.
"Gob, I'll be right back."
"..."
Gob reached out and grabbed her collar.
A grip so weak it couldn't even toss aside a child.
Yet from those fragile fingertips, intense emotions poured through.
Don't go. Don't leave me alone. Stay with me until the end.
That desperation gripped her heart fiercely, but...
"I'll be quick. So please wait for me. Promise."
She steeled herself once more and dashed out of the cabin.
...
Back home, Sera rushed to find Lucy.
The already vast house felt even larger today.
Sera finally reached the door to Lucy's lab after sprinting.
Bang! She kicked it open without knocking.
Lucy was inside the lab.
She was using telekinesis to manipulate a long rod, stirring a massive cauldron.
"Lucy!"
"Don't come in without permission. It's dangerous."
Lucy said in her usual curt tone.
"Sorry. It's an emergency."
"What is it?"
"Is there no medicine better than that healing potion you gave me last time?"
"That's the best I have."
Lucy wouldn't lie. She might stay silent, but she never lied.
That left only one option.
"Lucy, please grant me one request."
"What request?"
"Restore my 'memories'."
Lucy's eyes widened slightly at Sera's words.
A tiny change anyone not watching closely would miss.
And even that vanished in an instant, returning to normal.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. Release the spell you cast on me and give my memories back."
"..."
Lucy stared straight into Sera's eyes.
As if gauging the thoughts in her head, intently.
Sera waited calmly for Lucy to speak.
"How did you figure it out?"
The long silence broke not with denial, but a question.
"If I tell you, will you restore them?"
"No point hiding it now that you've caught on. I'll do it."
'It worked as planned!'
Hope swelled in Sera's heart.
It wasn't certain, but reclaiming her memories might reveal a way to heal Gob.
There could be a cure hidden in what she'd lost.
"How did you know?"
"I pieced it together. Once I thought about it, the answer was clear."
"How?"
"You're protecting me, so it doesn't make sense for someone to steal my memories."
Dragons were the strongest beings on land. Even hordes of knights and mages would struggle against one.
"You said it yourself. You're the strongest in the world. As long as I'm with you, I have nothing to fear. Right?"
"I did."
"But you were always by my side when I lost my memories. If you're protecting me, who could harm me?"
Lucy never lied.
For her words to hold without contradiction, the culprit could only be Lucy.
"No one else could be the culprit. If there is one, it has to be you."
"..."
Lucy broke her silence.
"You're right. Simple logic."
"So, you'll restore my memories now?"
"It's a contract breach, but I can just recast it after. No big deal."
"What? You'll cast it again? Then what's the point of restoring them!"
Sera shouted.
Restore them just to take them away again? That was no different from never getting them back.
"Don't worry. I won't take them unless you ask me to."
"Why would I ask that?"
"Why do you think you wouldn't?"
"No one sane asks to have their memories stolen!"
"..."
Lucy's blue eyes fixed straight on Sera.
"Idiot."
The word slipped from Lucy's lips—something she'd never expect her to say.