Chapter 104
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 104
Chapter Title: 24. Friendship Date. (3)
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Hoo.
Allen and Natasha finally caught their breath after climbing out of the cramped carriage. The streets outside were just as packed with people, but at least they didn't have to rub shoulders with some scruffy guy anymore.
Of course, the whores and their johns were out in force here too, hawking their wares to potential customers. If you had a prime spot like this and no playmate to enjoy it with, wouldn't that be a shame?
Even before they reached the lake, couples were locked in sloppy, slurping makeout sessions all over the place, putting on quite the show. Mercenaries who fucked openly in Vermandua weren't about to act all prim and proper anywhere else.
The nobles would hole up in their villas and amuse themselves elegantly anyway, so they probably wouldn't give a damn if the lowly rabble turned the woods into a mating ground.
Allen bought some dried fruits and jerky near the stop—snacks that could double as baby food—and headed to the lake with Natasha. Passing through the sparsely wooded forest, a stunning lake sparkling under the sunlight came into full view all at once.
Ah.
The gum-tit swordswoman, who had survived against all odds to behold such breathtaking scenery for the first time in her life, couldn't suppress the overwhelming ecstasy surging within her.
This beautiful lake vista she could now witness, having endured and lived on... the emotion was beyond words.
Natasha instinctively clung tightly to Allen's arm beside her and glanced up at him with a radiant smile.
"Thank you. Thank you... for letting me see this."
Leader Allen responded with a soft smile, saying nothing. Sometimes, a silent smile conveyed emotions more effectively than a hundred words.
Along the lakeshore, families, lovers, or comrades lounged on blankets or grass, savoring the leisure. Peace and tranquility bloomed warmly in the gum-tit swordswoman's friendship-filled heart like a flower unfurling.
Allen gallantly offered his right arm, bent like an escort for a noble lady. This time, she accepted it without hesitation.
The two strolled along the shore, admiring the gently rippling water. They found a spot away from prying eyes, plopped down on the grass, and settled in.
The soft sunlight enveloped their bodies warmly. The lake's waves lapped quietly. Every now and then, a fish would leap with a plop. She beamed like a kid seeing the biggest puddle ever.
Allen, worn out from work lately, alternated between gazing at Natasha and the lake until he drifted off into a light sleep. The warm sun and cool breeze had relaxed his tension completely.
...Ah...
The gum-tit swordswoman, mesmerized by the lake's beauty, felt her heart inexplicably flutter upon confirming that the leader had dozed off.
She stared intently at his sleeping face. Smooth forehead, gently closed eyes, sharp nose, slightly parted lips... She etched each feature deep into her memory.
Her gaze lingered longest on his lips. Memories surfaced of that couple earlier, sucking and smooching shamelessly in public...
...I have to overcome this with my willpower...!
But this burning friendship for her comrade refused to cool.
Suddenly, Natasha recalled a fairy tale from her childhood. To awaken the princess lost in eternal slumber, the prince's loving kiss was needed... Wasn't this exactly how the prince felt before a beautiful princess?
Then, moans of ahn ahn started echoing from the nearby woods. Another couple getting it on. Normally, she'd scoff at such lowbrow antics, her iron will unscathed. But now, she couldn't shake it off so easily.
The gum-tit swordswoman desperately craved something from Allen. Yet she couldn't voice it, suffering in silence.
Friendship... If only she could express this deep friendship just a little more...
Natasha didn't want to dismiss her feelings as mere carnal lust. Her life so far—and the one ahead—had never been about that.
Physical desire was base. What she yearned for was purely spiritual fulfillment... or so she told herself.
"...Ah."
Just then, Allen stirred awake. The crude moans continued unabated.
"...Guess I dozed off for a bit."
"You can sleep more if you want. You've been tired lately..."
"Nah, I'm up."
The leader stretched his limbs while lying down, letting out a groan.
"Feels good... right?"
"Yeah, amazing..."
"We'll stick around a few more days, so bring the others here too. Build some camaraderie while sightseeing. Can't have you all cooped up inside. Got it? That's an order from your leader."
"Yes."
The conversation lulled. A cool breeze filled the silence, rustling the leaves with a soft shaaa like falling rain.
"Merc life isn't as romantic as you imagined, huh?"
"Still, I'm satisfied. Seeing lakes like this. Meeting all these people..."
Allen glanced at Natasha and continued cautiously.
"...Don't take on too much pressure. The corps is a team of members, not just individuals. Everyone together makes the whole."
"I still have to handle my duties perfectly."
Of course, if she could do that flawlessly, nothing could be better... but devil pox survivors often developed mental issues. Even Natasha, with her top-tier willpower, wasn't immune.
Curing devil pox boosted affinity sky-high, making recruitment easy—but those mental quirks were a constant worry. As leader, Allen had to monitor it closely. That's why he kept watching her, even pretending not to... which was how he'd learned about her weird sexual tastes.
[Genius] [Indomitable Will] [Bravado] [Narcissism] [Sensitive] [Insomnia] [Enlightenment] [Trust] [Attachment] [Curiosity] [Delusions]
Her steadily rising stats were impressive, no doubt... but two new traits that had appeared ages ago kept nagging at the leader.
[Curiosity] and [Delusions].
Her excessive willpower and self-control seemed to have twisted oddly when mixed with the anguish from her devil pox days.
Not a major issue yet, but if [Attachment] and [Delusions] morphed into [Obsession] and [Delusional Disorder], it'd be a headache. That's the classic yandere trait combo.
A talent like hers—with [Genius], [Indomitable Will], and [Enlightenment]—turning into a monster with those? Unthinkable.
Even after pouring years into the [Guild Master], Allen had never seen these five traits together. [Enlightenment] was rarer than true [Genius] by far—maybe once every ten runs. And [Obsession]/[Delusional Disorder] only popped from max-affinity neglect play, which was perverse.
This was a freakishly improbable convergence waiting to happen.
...Gotta prevent that at all costs. Can't lose a gem like her!
"Nobody's perfect. So if something's bothering you or weighing you down, come to me. Got it? ...Oh, if it's awkward 'cause I'm a guy, talk to Elena or the cyclops instead."
With all that "friendship kiss," "friendship boobs," "friendship dick" talk, maybe she was hesitant because he was male. Especially with her strong [Narcissism].
"No, it's not that. No worries either."
"Good to hear..."
But Allen couldn't shake off a faint unease.
...Need to help her vent those delusions somehow.
The incessant ahn ahn moans from the woods weren't helping—her state was getting weird. Especially fantasizing hard about that friendship kiss. (Of course, Allen had no clue what a "friendship kiss" even meant.)
"Wanna walk a bit?"
"...Sure."
Allen decided to move spots. Truth be told, even he was feeling a bit lewd from all the moaning.
They strolled quietly along the serene lakeshore. The mood settled again.
He figured he needed to figure out what "friendship" meant to her first. Then he'd understand the kiss, boobs, and dick nonsense.
"Natasha."
"Yes."
"What is friendship?"
The gum-tit swordswoman slowly turned to her leader.
"...Sharing the same intentions... isn't that it...?"
"Same intentions?"
"I mean..."
She answered calmly, but her cheeks flushed pink.
"Like... between you and me, Leader...!"
That was friendship!
Such touching words.
...Minus the friendship dick.