Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Found a Gap!
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"We're heading out to Alvheim on Thursday, so keep that in mind."
"Yes...? What do you..."
Right now, Kanf—one who'd been beaten into submission and turned obedient—is staring at me with a blank look on his face.
He seems too stunned by the sudden decision to keep up.
Suddenly, I found myself missing my classmates from the other academy halls. Everyone except Lancelot, that is.
After dealing with elites who grasped the point in seconds, this felt like staring at a new hire fumbling with earbuds.
I didn't feel like explaining at length, so I just gave him the gist.
"It's a covert trip, so we're putting off any formal agreements between nations. Explain it properly to the King of Alvheim, and as for classes... skip them."
"This is so sudden..."
Sorry, but this is me carving out time for you.
"Think about it. You're the lucky one who got this chance from me, and I can solve your country's problem."
Well, assuming I actually can...
The arrogant elf's lips twitched at the sight of an even more arrogant crown prince right in front of him.
I handed him a small note with the house address scribbled on it.
"Be at this address by 7 a.m. tomorrow. If you're not, we'll go without you."
"Yes, sir..."
Kanf's reluctant reply.
His expression is so dour, anyone would think we were off to conquer Alvheim.
I turned and headed out of the academy grounds before teleporting straight home.
With my chat with Kanf wrapped up, I hurried back.
The door swung open to Jenia greeting me with a bright smile.
"Welcome back! I've packed all the supplies into the subspace."
Jenia slipped the subspace bracelet onto my wrist with a snap.
I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my arms.
"Thanks. Where are the others?"
"Veronica went to resupply the agents, Lancelot's going over their reports, and as for her... I don't know..."
Jenia buried her face in my chest and whined.
Her forehead bumped against me in a dissatisfied pout, drawing a wry smile from my lips.
"What's got our crown princess so upset?"
She puffed out her cheeks and looked up at me, her face screaming, Cheer me up quick!
"Am I pretty? Is your heroine pretty?"
When your wife or girlfriend shoves some idol contest winner in your face, the right answers are things like, "Honestly, I don't see the appeal," or "Idol? Who?" or "That's supposed to be pretty?" But real men don't say it out loud.
I just grabbed Jenia behind the knees and hoisted her up.
"Eek!"
Now she naturally wrapped her arms around my neck and gazed at me.
I nodded and whispered in her ear.
"I'll show you just how pretty you are... with my body."
"N-No... you said we're leaving early tomorrow!"
"Just once."
"Don't lie! You said that last time too!"
"...Three times?"
"Y-You! Always when it's bad for me!"
[Master, I'm going to bed...]
"I was reviewing the Alvheim plans... Eek!"
She kept trying to bring up work, so I countered by making a crown prince heir.
I thought going to the academy with a full belly wouldn't be bad, but Jenia vehemently opposed it.
-I'm never letting our baby see tentacles, blood, organs, bones, or any of that!
And so, my contraception spell skills improved day by day.
Jenia lay sprawled on the bed.
"Jenia, what about dinner?"
She flicked her wrist dismissively to show her refusal, so I nodded and stepped out.
Heading to the dining hall, I crossed paths with Veronica on her way to her room.
"Apostle!"
She rushed toward me but froze mid-step, plugging her nose with holy power.
She nodded to herself, then charged at me again.
"Apostle!"
"Veronica... I cleaned up with magic. Do I still smell?"
This was a bit shocking...
I always handled cleanup thoroughly afterward, but Veronica sniffed it out every time.
Veronica pondered how to explain before speaking up.
"Um... I'm not sure about this part either... Just smelling it makes me feel good and my heart race, but that scent... it makes my head spin and my lower belly..."
"I-Is that so? Could it be the Goddess...?"
Sorry, Goddess, but does it make sense to go crazy just from a human scent? I had my doubts.
It's not like some hypnosis app...
"Ah! I asked her about that when I was little, and she said no!"
Veronica's bright response only complicated my feelings further, but since we're getting married anyway, it shouldn't matter.
Probably...?
The unsolved mystery sparked a mage's curiosity, but Veronica's cheerful smile snapped me out of it.
"Apostle! Dinner's ready! I'll take care of Jenia later!"
"Were you waiting?"
"Yes! Lancelot already ate, but Lea and I were waiting!"
"Sorry... I'll let you know ahead of time next time..."
They could all go days without eating, but my core DNA screamed, Cherish your meals.
I felt bad for making the two of them starve on my account.
I need to moderate...
Veronica took my hand and lowered her eyebrows.
"I'm fine since it's tomorrow, but... Lea didn't look too happy..."
Veronica, kind to everyone except heretics, had grown close to Lea in the meantime.
"Are you... okay with it...?"
I wasn't sure how Veronica felt. Had she accepted Lea? Or was it pure loyalty to me?
Veronica caught my meaning and smiled warmly.
"Hehe, I just want the Apostle to be as happy as possible, and anyone who loves the Apostle to be happy too. Sometimes it feels like hogging this joy all to myself goes against doctrine, and my conscience stings a bit..."
She dropped a touching line, then veered into socialist drift.
So I'd be communal property, prioritizing group happiness and collectivist mindset...
"Apostle?"
I blocked the nonsense echoing in my head and pulled Veronica into a tight hug.
"Kyaa!"
"Veronica, you're not just pretty on the outside—your heart's pretty too."
She wrapped her arms around my waist and grinned mischievously.
"Hehe, you didn't know?"
"I knew it best of all."
"Oh, really now?"
Looking ahead, Lea stood there with her eyes closed, arms crossed, and legs casually apart.
I felt completely innocent, but something deep inside rang an alarm, so I apologized quickly.
"Sorry, hungry...? Let's eat."
Veronica, sensing the pressure, wriggled free, straightened her hair, and cleared her throat.
"Ahem, Lea... shall we head to the dining hall?"
We looked just like a husband and mistress caught in the act—though reality was the opposite.
Lea opened her eyes at the sound of us separating and smirked.
"It's fine... Mine's coming soon anyway..."
Her voice was low and heavy...
I could even feel the spiritual pressure.
"Hurry up and come in. I'm starving."
She spun on her heel and marched into the dining hall. We let out our held breaths.
Veronica glanced at Lea worriedly before whispering in my ear.
"Apostle... talk to Lea, at least... She doesn't look angry—she looks sad..."
"Sad?"
She looked more like she'd snapped than sad.
But... we probably needed to talk. To redefine our relationship, if nothing else.
I nodded to Veronica and headed into the dining hall.
Mouthwatering steaks were already waiting at the table. We took our seats and dug in.
"Ooh, this tastes even better today?"
It was the usual flavor, but I tossed out a light topic to spark conversation.
Veronica eyed her plate and made a request.
"Apostle! Cut mine for me!"
I sliced her steak with magic as she beamed.
She grinned ear to ear—our table's time-honored tradition.
I cast the spell on Lea's plate too, where she sat slicing her steak with eyes closed.
She cracked her eyes open at the mana, glanced at her plate, and her furrowed brow relaxed a bit.
"Ah, you like cutting it yourself?"
Wondering if I'd been inconsiderate, I asked. She gave a faint smile.
"No... this is more convenient..."
Lea murmured softly, set down her utensils, and stood.
"I've got prep to do, so I'll head out first."
"Lea, you've barely touched it..."
She flashed Veronica a smile and turned.
"It's fine, really. Just not hungry."
As she left the dining hall, I grabbed my steak and followed.
I didn't know why, but it felt like I had to...
Her back today felt strangely unfamiliar.
She was already in her room, door locked.
I hesitated, then knocked.
Knock knock
"Lea? Mind if I come in?"
Normally she'd laugh brightly and toss a sex joke, but it was silent.
"Lea? Open up... let's talk?"
No reply...
I turned to leave... but didn't.
"Sorry, Lea!"
I spun my circle, and with a click, the door flew open from the other side.
Rude, I knew, but frustration got the better of me.
Lea sat on the bed, staring blankly between me and the plate. Tears streamed down her face.
She hurriedly wiped them and forced a smile.
"Busted...?"
I had no idea what to do.
I just set the plate on the table and approached her.
"Since it's come to this, can you hug me?"
I sat beside her and opened my arms. She wordlessly melted into my embrace.
But she hid her face in my chest, avoiding my eyes.
"I don't like seeing you cry, you know... right?"
Her voice trembled as she gauged my reaction.
I silently patted her back, and her shoulders began to shake.
"Baby... even with you right here, I feel so lonely... my heart hurts so much..."
"Sorry..."
"You were mine from the start, but I feel like some stray rock that rolled in."
"That's not true."
"I didn't want repayment... I was content just being by your side... but I want more now..."
"..."
"Even if it's a lie, just say you love me? Please..."
Her desperation vibrated through me as she trembled in my arms.
A million thoughts raced, but it was time to tie this knot.
"I don't want to lie to you."
She gripped my shirt tightly, her hands shaking as she fought the pain.
"Once this job's done, I'll tell you for sure... promise."
She looked up through her tears, staring endlessly into my eyes.
"Ah... if you're gonna say that, tell me now!"
She'd read something again...
Was Lea secretly a spy trained in divination?
And if I said it now, I might not hold back.
"We're leaving early tomorrow..."
"Hweeeeng! Just...! Sniff! W... wait, sniff... we won't have time later..."
Now she was compromising with herself. What to do...?
Even if I was being played... it'd be on me to handle it.
Didn't feel like it, though...
"Siii... how am I supposed to hold back... no, wait... a little prep..."
"Prep?"
"Don't know... you better brace yourself. Always fooling around with other girls, chirelle palelle... you don't even know how torn up I am inside..."
"...Something's off..."
No... fooling around with my fiancées... what's off about that...?
"Just hug me already!"
I swiftly grabbed the back of her head and buried her in my chest.
"Hweeeeng! You idiot... always stinking of it... fuck, that was all mine..."
"Watch your language..."
"Sex! Sex!"
"You brat! Pretty words!"
"Siiing... just treat me right... squeeze harder!"
I hugged her tighter as requested, and she wailed even harder.
Among crazy sex maniacs, she might be the cutest specimen...
I chuckled at Lea in my arms, making her cry even more pitifully.
"Hweeeeng! Sniff... sniff sniff! When did you do it this time, you dog! Hweeeeng..."
"???"
You too...?
I seriously considered handing her over to the magic tower for research, but I lacked the guts, and doing it myself felt gross...
"Siiing... once this is over, I'm gonna fuck you tons... dozens of times to make up for it..."
"Agh! Come on! Dignity!"
"Dignity? You threw that out when you made me call you 'Master'!"
"I don't remember that!"
"Shut up! This is your fault! Hweeeeng!"
I'm going crazy...
Lea bawled for a while before glaring at me with puffy eyes.
"I'm hungry..."
After all those tears... she really was something else.
I reached out, pulled the plate and utensils over, and offered them.
"Feed me..."
...I reheated the steak's outer layer to a golden crisp, just chasing away the chill.
Lea slinked onto my lap and opened wide.
"Ahh~"
Something was getting to me, but I just popped the steak into her mouth.
"Wipe it."
She stuck out her greasy lips.
Her brazenness pissed me off.
"You little...!"
"Lame."
Slurrrrp!
"Mmph! Hey!"
"Slurp! I like... wiping with saliva... haah... slurrrp..."
Before I could react to the ambush, I accepted her.
For a good long while... sticky and intense.
To the point I couldn't imagine how she'd held back.
Her face beet red, she panted heavily.
"Hoo... haa! ♥ Ugh! Feels good... damn... wanna go one round?"
Her 40-something dad-downing-jjambbong vibe left me speechless.
"Sigh... fine, gotta savor it... just this for today!"
I couldn't stop her as she closed her eyes in bliss and leaned in again.
"Aah... slurrrrrp... hehe! Gotta finish quick... slurp! ...Keeheehee!"
Her vulgar cackle killed the mood, but it made me laugh.