Chapter 66
Chapter 66
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 66
Conversation ended just like that.
It was a moment someone might call cringeworthy.
But at least to Asher, that sincere exchange had done plenty to stabilize Versia more than before.
And sure enough, the very next day, the effects were already visible.
For starters, her pale complexion had brightened.
She'd stopped mumbling nonsensical words under her breath, and above all, she even apologized for what happened the day before.
It was the exact progress Asher had hoped for.
Of course, he couldn't claim one conversation had solved all her problems.
After all, wasn't a person's personality the crystallization of their ingrained habits?
Without repeated training to broaden her mindset, this would end up as just a fleeting incident.
But Asher didn't let himself get impatient.
He saw this as an opportunity to instill a sense of awareness in her and lay the foundation for a relationship where they could support each other.
Nothing ever filled the belly on the first bite, after all.
That was when the thought crossed his mind.
'It's just like teaching a child.'
Asher let out a puff of laughter at the idea.
In terms of roles alone, it wasn't all that different, really.
It was his job to instill the social knowledge she lacked due to her upbringing.
And Versia, shaped by her environment, was all too accustomed to demands that bordered on coercion.
Even now, it was plain to see.
Though she seemed more stable than before, her emotions hadn't fully settled, and she was still clutching Asher's collar.
She might have been acting on pure instinct, but it was hard not to think she looked like a child.
That was when it happened.
"...Whats so funny?"
Vesia squeezed the fabric of his collar harder, like a pinch.
Her gaze was languid yet prim, looking up at him from below.
The sudden visual hit him with an unexpected reaction.
Asher's face flushed helplessly.
It reminded him of the moment she'd abruptly pulled him into a hug just before.
He averted his eyes from hers.
"It's nothing...!"
When had it started?
While facing her with their bodies swapped, Asher occasionally found himself lost in fantasies like 'if this were my original body.'
This reaction was probably because that delusion had come true in an unforeseen way.
And if he had to describe the feeling...
'Mm...'
It was more embarrassing and ticklish than he'd expected.
Especially with the visual input amplifying it.
Objectively speaking, Versia was a beauty.
Even he sometimes found himself staring blankly at the mirror when moving that body.
And her aura was unique too.
With her sky-blue hair, blue eyes, porcelain skin, and her signature blank expression, how else could she look?
Graceful and aloof, that's how.
People were creatures heavily influenced by aura as much as looks.
Her temperament might cause flaws in personality and behavior, but on the surface, that aloofness offered a beauty unmatched by others.
Asher knew she adored him.
He couldn't pinpoint what sparked that emotion, but it still shook him all the same.
He turned his gaze away from her even more fiercely.
In response, Versia's eyes narrowed with deeper suspicion.
"Why are you laughing alone? Share it with me."
"I-I wasn't thinking anything."
"Didn't you say we need to trust and understand each other? That you'd give me your trust?"
"No, that's not the same as this..."
"I'm starting to feel like I don't know what's going on inside that knightly head of yours. One minute you're chuckling, now your face is red. It's scary."
Was it because she'd already seen the depths of him that she had nothing left to hesitate about?
Her brazen attitude left Asher speechless, even drawing a hollow laugh from him.
And inwardly, he sighed.
'Ah...'
Why did the ability to hide expressions vary so much from person to person?
Asher felt resentful toward the Parent God for creating such disparities in talent.
Of course, that wouldn't suddenly grant him the skill to mask his face, leaving him with the same choices.
Tell the saintess his chest tickled just looking at her, or brush it off.
The latter was his forced option, really.
"C-come to think of it, your body still hasn't swapped back...!"
"Oh ho, changing the subject."
"I-I'm not! This is important!"
At that moment, Versia smirked, lifting just one corner of her mouth.
Her eyes weren't smiling, though, so Asher instantly sensed he'd slipped up.
"'Swapped back.' That's how you put it. Now."
"No! Take it back! Tak..."
"So my body's gotten more comfortable for you. Acting all girly and grinning like that feels more natural now... Yeah. I get it per..."
"Stop that! You don't need to! And I wasn't grinning or acting girly! I'm a man with a firm center!"
"A firm center? Your right side's curving..."
"Ack!"
Asher clapped a hand over Versia's mouth in horror.
In that instant, he realized something he'd overlooked.
His shoulders trembled.
"Please... just watch your words...!"
Versia's language had always crossed Asher's lines even before.
Even if she'd said it with his face, it would've mortified him to death.
But now, hearing her say it with his own body made it hit even harder.
Before, it might've felt a bit playful, but now it was outright teasing.
Asher's glare sharpened.
Versia scanned his face intently, her mouth covered by his hand.
Soon, her eyes took on a languid satisfaction.
Right then.
*Lick.*
"Eek!"
Asher jolted back in shock at the sensation of her tongue on his hand.
Versia smacked her lips nonchalantly and spoke.
"Salty."
"W-what did you just do?!"
"I licked it. You didn't even notice?"
"That's not what I'm... Ah...!"
The back of his neck tightened.
A dilemma hit him.
Would it be better to swap back and feel less of this humiliation?
Or endure it and hope this state lasted a bit longer?
What a... difficult, difficult problem.
Asher squeezed his eyes shut.
* * *
In the end, Asher spent the day getting tossed around by Versia.
Only then did he lament and realize it wasn't the body swap making him yield to her.
It was just their human compatibility; he simply couldn't outtalk her.
He'd vaguely known this, but admitting it left a bitter taste.
His stomach felt empty for no reason, and his bed felt uncomfortable.
'...No.'
One correction.
The uncomfortable bed was because he'd grown too used to Versia's.
Asher let out a hollow laugh as he reminded himself.
To take such luxury for granted when he wasn't even a real saintess.
The saintess position really was one that corrupted people.
Feeling a twinge of crisis at the idle thought, Asher scolded himself.
'It wasn't mine to enjoy in the first place. I shouldn't even feel regret.'
He'd have to be careful not to get too accustomed, even if they swapped back.
Though if it stayed like this forever, that'd be ideal... but no.
Asher was starting to sense it faintly now.
'It's for the saintess's sake.'
He didn't know the Parent God's full intentions, but this miracle of body-swapping seemed designed to respond more sensitively to her.
In other words, the swap's outcome was meant to benefit her.
He didn't feel particularly deprived by that.
If this miracle was for Versia, he'd gladly throw his body into it.
It was just her words and actions that were a bit tough.
If only that could be fixed...
'Mm...'
His head throbbed again, and Asher closed his eyes.
His thoughts looped endlessly until sleep took him.
Whichever way they twisted, they ended in prayer.
'Parent God.'
He wouldn't even ask for their bodies to fully swap back nowjust tone down the saintess's language a bit.
With that, Asher fell asleep.
And the next day arrived.
"Why on earth has it gotten worse?"
Asher felt bewildered.
They'd come to Judith's lab for an examination of the yin gate.
The results showed it was still growing.
Judith asked.
"...Did you have naughty dreams last night? Or did that guy grope your body?"
"No, nothing like tha...!"
"Then why's it progressing? It's grown by a finger's width. And hey, I'm not asking you."
Asher brimmed with injustice at Judith's sharp reaction.
He'd truly done his best.
'It wasn't progressing when I was using that body. I checked right before sleeping the night before the swap, so it's certain.'
So why had the yin gate advanced further?
Asher looked to Versia with eyes pleading for an explanation.
But her response was utter despair.
"......"
Versia avoided his gaze.
Clear evasion.
Asher's eyes squeezed shut.