Chapter 15
Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: What to Do About This Throbbing Erection?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ariana Katrin summoned me the very next day. Considering what had happened, I'd figured it might take a few more days, but luckily, I got the call right away.
"What I'm going to teach you today, Daron, is the basics of mana manipulation."
She acted as if yesterday's incident had never happened, treating me just like before.
"First, we need to figure out how much mana you can hold. Do you know how to use mana at all?"
"Just a tiny bit. Like wrapping it around my body, that sort of thing."
I could coat my body in mana, making it feel a little lighter—that was about it. But hey, it was something.
"Good, looks like we can skip the step of sensing mana. That's plenty. But before that, we need to get you warmed up."
"Warmed up?"
"When we spar using mana, your mana circuits will activate. That's when I can take a closer look."
Ariana smiled brightly as she handed me a sword. This girl—compared to yesterday, she must have been pretty impressed by what I'd shown her. Her face was full of anticipation at the thought of crossing blades with me.
"Here I come!"
"Come at me with everything you've got!"
Maybe she wanted to taste that extreme edge again, because Ariana minimized her mana use this time too. She squeezed out every last drop of her nearly depleted mana, like rainwater pooled on the ground, but my attacks might as well have had no mana at all.
Something I'd realized after clashing swords with Ariana several times: she wasn't just some ordinary genius. I could spot openings, but she'd already adapted somewhat to my fighting style that mixed in hand-to-hand. Still, without using mana on either side, I figured I could win. But this time, she didn't go easy. She used just enough mana to push me to my limits, and it looked like she was eager to grow even further herself.
The spar ended with Ariana Katrin's victory.
"Hah... hah... That was really fun. I'll train harder too, so someday I'll beat you without mana."
Even with just a tiny bit of mana, Ariana's swordsmanship was fierce.
"Sorry about that. I won ugly, but if I lost again, it'd be embarrassing for me."
She was my teacher, after all—no way she could lose to her student. And with her apologizing so straightforwardly, I had nothing to say. No malice on her end, so I wasn't upset at all.
"Here."
Ariana extended her hand to me as I sat on the ground, pushed back by her final strike. Even right after a simple workout, she was incredibly alluring. Staring at her thighs clinging tightly to her body, I got my daily eye candy.
I took Ariana's hand and stood up.
"Now, your mana circuits should be a bit more open... Excuse me."
Ariana placed her hand on my back, measuring the mana gathered around my heart. A strange sensation flowed through my whole body. It felt alive—like, this is mana.
"Still way too small."
"Too small, you say?"
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping for some hidden potential. After regressing and all, it'd be nice if my mana capacity was huge too.
"No need to worry. If it's small, we just make it bigger."
Noticing my dejected expression, Ariana patted my back to cheer me up.
"Can you really make it bigger?"
"Some people are born with huge talent, sure. But small doesn't mean you can't get strong. Of course, everyone has limits to expanding their mana vessel, but you've got plenty of room left."
It wasn't a body optimized for fighting like the Hero's, but this was still welcome news.
"How do I expand it?"
"Normally, you'd take it step by step to harmonize with your swordsmanship... but..."
Ariana trailed off ambiguously, her face conflicted, before steeling herself.
"You don't need to bother with that, Daron. I'll clear the path for you."
"Thank you!"
"Truth is... this is a method traditionally used in noble martial houses like the Katrins... for direct heirs."
What?
Did that mean this was some exclusive noble cheat code?
"Th-that doesn't mean it's super fast or anything. It's just paving the way. Expanding mana requires daily training to overcome that intense resistance, but this makes it easier."
"So, what's the method?"
Was it because it was for direct heirs? She'd been hemming and hawing since she decided to teach me. If you're gonna tell me, just spit it out!
"Well... um..."
It was frustrating seeing Ariana, of all people, fumbling like this. She twisted her fingers together and made her request.
"Could you... take off your shirt?"
"...Sure!"
"N-not like that! Just the top, the top is fine!"
Realizing my misunderstanding, she hurriedly corrected herself. For a second, I thought she meant everything. Anyway, I took off my shirt. My body wasn't fully toned yet, but it wasn't fat either, so a week's worth of training showed some muscle.
Ariana had me lie down, then stared intently at my upper body. She'd seen plenty of men's torsos before, no doubt. But the reason she was blushing like this was because she'd be touching me directly.
The warm palm of her hand pressed against the center of my chest. Her other hand went to my lower abdomen.
"It might hurt a little."
The spots where Ariana and I touched began to glow. Something inside me writhed and churned.
Right after, it felt like mana particles were popping one by one inside me. It was bearable pain. For getting stronger, this was nothing.
...Tough guy act aside, it hurt.
Enough to grit my teeth?
As I clenched my eyes shut and endured, I felt something soft press against my body. When I looked, Ariana was leaning forward, her hands still on me, her magnificent breasts now resting on my torso.
Breasts way too impressive for a warrior. I'd wanted to touch them again ever since that brief graze, and now I was feeling them directly against my bare solar plexus.
The pressure from her breasts grew stronger. Huh? Upon closer inspection... no bra?
I felt something poke out.
...Just sleep.
Sleep, sleep, sleep.
Please go down, please.
"Hm?"
She was nearly done, withdrawing her mana. She examined the changes in my body.
"Uh... um."
Once my dick got going, it stood straight up at full mast.
Ariana flushed red, unable to continue, just like yesterday.
"Sorry!"
It's because the Knight Commander's tits are so perky!
—No way I could say that.
"It's just that my constitution down there is more active than most!"
Rather than mentioning Ariana, I threw myself under the bus. Sure, a lowly soldier lusting after the Knight Commander, but I cleverly buried that while emphasizing my "unique physiology."
"I-is that so."
Apologize first, then explain—it seemed to convince her. Being upfront left her with nothing to say.
Good thing that vice commander bitch wasn't glaring at me. Alone with Ariana, I could talk my way out of anything.
"But... are men's... things... usually this big?"
"My dick's on the bigger side."
"D-dick? Dick. Ahem, right."
She cleared her throat, caught off guard by the crude word.
"Still, if this happens every training session, it'll be a problem..."
True that.
During training with Ariana, the only eyes on the private field were the vice commander's, so I was used to thin clothes. This golden-haired Knight Commander needed to know her figure was too stimulating.
"Since it's a unique constitution, I can't really say much."
"Sorry."
"...Let's end today's training here."
"Pardon?"
I figured with her new tolerance, we'd keep going like last time, but no.
"Try activating your mana yourself, and you'll see what's changed. I've cleared it out, so now you handle the expansion."
"Yes, ma'am."
"More importantly, doesn't it bother you always getting that hard? For now, I'll look into how to keep your di—er, dick—from... you know."
"Dick."
"...From getting erect. Next training after that."
Gasp.
Ways to keep my dick from getting hard.
Did that mean no more seeing her in that outfit?
"Dismissed!"
After training with Ariana Katrin, I could clearly feel the difference in my body.
Unlike the previous timeline, where my mana circuits were completely tangled from that fire, things were intact now. Thanks to her, I realized mana flowed more smoothly.
"Still a long way to go, though."
I knew I had good combat sense. But I couldn't beat mana users. That had always been my hang-up, and now it felt like a highway had opened up.
"Hup—cha."
One downside, though.
I'd expected some physical training too, but it ended after one spar. So I went to my usual spot and worked out as always.
"Hey."
In the middle of lifting a barbell loaded with weights, the cute head chef showed up.
"Hey."
Ray greeted me shyly today. No usual bounce in her step.
"You've been working out hard lately. Thought you'd quit after a day or two."
My consistent, intense workouts must look totally different from before. Pre-regression me just ate enough and schemed to survive—no drive to get stronger, so it made sense.
"What do you think? Muscles filling out, right?"
"Can't tell just by looking."
"Wanna feel?"
Normal Ray would've iced me with, "Why the hell would I touch you?" But...
"How's it feel?"
"Firm..."
"Abs are coming in too."
"..."
Ray didn't refuse. She squeezed my forearm a few times, then placed her hand on my stomach. My thin shirt made her touch feel so close.
A young woman's scent wafted from Ray as she gently felt my abs up close.
I'd been killing two birds with one stone—working off the lust from Ariana while exercising...
"Hm?"
Perfect timing for the next step, actually. I looked down at Ray silently and smiled. Her face twisted.
"Ray."
"...Get your dick away."