Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Triumphal Return! (1)
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『Gob's Perspective』
Laboratory 1.
The mysterious liquid in the cauldron poured thickly over the strainer.
Pink liquid collected in the glass bottle placed below.
I killed time staring blankly at the refining process, which somehow made me feel uplifted.
Sniff sniff... It smells sweet.
The raw stuff had a horrific stench, but after refining, it smelled great.
It reminded me of peaches. The moment I smelled it, Sera's face popped into my head. Wonder if there's some connection.
[What's this for?]
I scribbled on the notepad and held it out to Lucy.
Lucy stood side by side with me, watching the bottle fill up.
She noticed my movement, turned her head toward me, and read the note.
"Purification gel. Planning to use it on Sera's purification today."
[What does it do?]
"Increases sensitivity. Induces sexual arousal."
...Huh? Isn't that just an aphrodisiac?
No wonder it was that shady pink color.
They plan to slather that on Sera's body and go at it?
If I tag along for that, Sera's gonna hate it...
In the worst case, she might bolt the second she sees my face.
Having felt her contemptuous gaze before, my visions of the future were all leaning darkly pessimistic.
[Can I come along for the purification too?]
"Sure."
[Sera hates seeing me.]
"Why."
[I'm a goblin, and she hates monsters.]
"You're a person. You tricked me. Question."
The temperature seemed to drop five degrees under Lucy's icy stare.
[I'm not tricking you—I'm saying that's how it'll look to Sera. She doesn't know I'm human.]
I hurriedly wrote to clear up the misunderstanding.
"I'll tell her."
[She won't believe you.]
"Whether she believes it is up to her. Telling the truth is my part."
She had a point...
I hung my head, frustrated.
My small, ugly green foot came into view.
"Gob."
A hand rested on my shoulder.
Smooth, pretty white skin, so different from mine.
I looked up at Lucy. Her sky-blue eyes were as clear as ever.
My heart thumped hard once.
"Sera's a good girl. As good as you."
Lucy's hand left my shoulder and cupped my cheek.
Her hand smelled like apples—my favorite fruit, of all things.
Thump. Thump. My heartbeat echoed in my ears. Hope she couldn't hear it.
"Sera hates monsters, but she's not the type to ignore sincerity."
Nod nod...
I nodded, mesmerized by her words.
"Don't worry. I'll convince her."
Nod.
I'll trust only in you, Teacher...
Lucy slid her palm off my cheek.
Phew... That sudden closeness startled me. Nearly gave me a heart attack.
Being around Lucy, even as a beauty, doesn't spark lewd thoughts.
Quest windows never pop up when I'm with her.
But my heart races constantly, to the point it hurts.
This isn't right. I'm a pure-love kind of guy.
Get it together. I decided to focus only on Sera!
I hate people who waver, can't pick a lane.
True romance is eyes for one alone! True love!
If it's real love, why would your heart ever waver?
I'm utterly devoted to Sera alone.
Sure, things are rocky now... but a little more effort, and she'll turn back to me.
『Sera's Perspective』
Sera's room.
Sera lay naked on the bed, caressing her heated body.
Her breasts felt fuller and heavier than usual, swollen with milk inside.
"Haa... Ahh..."
She let out breathy moans as she gently teased her nipples.
They tingled sharply, and milk began to leak from the tips.
'Like milking a cow, slowly... Ungh...'
Sera gripped her breast and pulled downward. A single drop of white milk clung to her finger.
Just one drop. Even that was a struggle alone. And she had to empty these huge things completely.
'At this rate, I'd be at it all day and still not finish...'
Until the milk was gone, the heat in her body wouldn't subside.
Her nipples stood stiff, poking visibly even through clothes.
Her sensitivity was so heightened that mere fabric brushing against them made her jolt.
'But I can't just leave it...'
Sera could endure her own discomfort, but not if it affected others.
Yin energy leaked from her body, sending humans and monsters alike into heat indiscriminately.
Once, she'd attended a church event in this state—disastrous.
The yin energy filled the building, arousing everyone inside.
Male devotees had bulging pants, awkwardly thrusting their hips back.
Female devotees crossed their arms over their chests and rubbed their thighs like they needed to pee.
Sera knew it was all her fault, too mortified to lift her head.
'What do I do...'
She couldn't go to Lucy, struggling alone was tough, but she couldn't stop.
Swallow her pride or collapse from exhaustion—that was the choice.
Her headache was bad enough; now dizziness joined in.
In that hopeless moment.
Knock knock.
"Sera. Can I come in?"
Lucy's signature flat voice.
Sera startled, her body freezing stiff.
"W-Wait just a moment!"
She scrambled off the bed, summoned her robes, and draped them on.
She straightened her clothes, calmed her heart, and opened the door.
Lucy stood tall in the doorway, looking down at Sera.
Her 180cm frame seemed especially imposing today.
"W-What brings you here?"
Her tongue tripped, stuttering.
"I have something to say about the purification."
"Then come in."
Lucy entered and immediately narrowed her eyes slightly—a subtle change easy to miss without focus.
Sera, watching her closely, caught it.
Sera sensed a scolding coming from that expression.
"Your condition is severe. How long has the curse been active?"
Flat, emotionless reprimand—Lucy's way of getting angry.
Sera feared this more than yelling or curses.
"S-Since... this morning..."
Her voice trailed off meekly.
"I told you to come to me immediately if the curse manifests. Why didn't you tell me?"
"...After our fight, it felt awkward to come."
She started with an excuse but ended up telling the truth.
Honesty was always best with Lucy.
"Fight? What are you talking about?"
"We fought yesterday. You and me."
"..."
Lucy stared silently at Sera for a moment.
"I thought back on yesterday, but I have no idea what you mean."
"You don't remember? I snapped, got irritated, slammed the door on my way out."
Sera figured Lucy was uncharacteristically playing dumb.
"That was a fight?"
Lucy expressed pure, innocent puzzlement.
"No..."
Sera was at a loss for words.
Did Lucy feel nothing from the start? Was it just Sera overthinking alone?
"Maybe... it wasn't a fight after all."
Her energy drained away. What had she been doing all this time?
She was the one who'd gotten mad, the one stewing inside.
"If it wasn't a fight, why didn't you come to me?"
"Good question. I don't even know anymore."
Sera gave a wry smile.
She felt so foolish, wanting to hide anywhere.
"Sorry for snapping and getting irritated yesterday. It was my own foolishness."
"Why were you angry?"
"I got mad the moment I saw the goblin."
She'd vented her goblin-fueled anger on Lucy.
Realizing it made her cheeks burn.
"I know you hate monsters. But Gob is my assistant."
"You're right. It wasn't my place."
Only after time passed could Sera admit her wrong straightforwardly.
Her hating monsters didn't mean Lucy had to as well.
"But... can I ask one thing?"
"Sure."
"Why on earth did you make a goblin your assistant?"
Sera felt sorry toward Lucy, but this was baffling.
Lucy had pride too—why take on a goblin of all things?
"After hearing Gob's story, I judged treating him as a mere test subject was unfair."
"His story?"
"Not exactly 'hearing'—I saw it. We exchanged notes."
"That goblin can write? I didn't know."
She'd never seen him write around her. Had he been hiding it?
Whatever his intentions, focus on the conversation first.
"What did he tell you? That working under the Demon King was tough?"
What sob story convinced her it was unfair?
Exaggerating his hardships to tug at heartstrings, probably.
Nothing more than that, Sera thought.
But...
"Gob used to be human."
"...What?"
Sera doubted her own ears.