After the Aphrodisiac Haze
*Cough cough.* While I was sniffing the fresh, sweet scent, my surroundings suddenly shifted. Before I could even panic, I was swept away by it, utterly clueless. My body floated in the air. On top of that, all the worries and anxieties in my head seemed to vanish. I didn't even have time to feel annoyed at having my emotions manipulated. The clinking of gold coins rang out around me, and a rich milky aroma filled the air. It felt good. Pure bliss. A silly grin spread across my face without me realizing it.
Suddenly, something unknown interrupted me. I brushed it aside and licked the ecstatic fruit. Happiness returned. My mind grew hazy for some reason. Warmth spread through me. Sweetness in my mouth. Something teasing my tongue. The happy time was short-lived. As I smacked my lips in regret, the scent started wafting again. I chased it frantically, sniffing wildly. This time, it was huge. A bit overwhelming, but... it still felt good. An unidentified liquid pounded at my throat. My breath caught; I had no choice but to swallow. If it hadn't been that blissful scent, I probably couldn't have endured it. Along with the sensation of fullness... the thing that had made me so happy seemed to run out. My body still floating... I dazedly savored the lingering aftertaste.
The world around me began to melt into a gooey mess. The melted gold coins and milk mingled together. Eventually, it converged into a single point... transforming into golden eyes. A few blinks, and it became a familiar face. It was Claudia, looking down at me with a strangely refreshed expression.
...What the hell had happened to me? My memories were fuzzy. Only the lingering image of pure happiness remained. For some reason, my throat stung. I'd had a proper meal, but my stomach felt queasy. To clear up the confusion, I opened my mouth toward the pristine Claudia. My jaw ached a little. Something had definitely happened... but what?
"...Claudia."
"Back with us, Sha'a?"
"...From the way you're saying that, something did happen, huh."
"Oh, yeah..."
Claudia scratched her head sheepishly. Then, in a voice tinged with distant nostalgia, she spoke. Her words left me stunned.
"...You're saying there's an herb like that?"
"Yeah. Better be careful for a while."
Thankfully, it only affected felines, so Claudia hadn't lost her reason. Same for Veronica and Cecil; they were unaffected. I was relieved, but also a bit resentful. What had I done to deserve this...? It felt like the world was out to torment me.
I shook my head inwardly, banishing the thought. What was done was done... and hazy as it was, the good feeling lingered. My body didn't crave more, so the herb itself wasn't addictive. Next, I needed to figure out what this stuffiness was.
"...Did anything else happen?"
Claudia's face twisted in discomfort. But soon enough, she told me the truth.
...I regretted asking. Maybe it was better not knowing. I'd pounced on Claudia and... done that.... My face burned.
"Don't worry. I enjoyed it."
"...I didn't ask about that."
At least she didn't remember doing that to me. Thinking about it, I was lying with my head pillowed on Claudia's thigh right now. Which meant... if I turned my head, it'd be right there? My mind snapped alert, and I bolted upright.
"Kinda disappointing."
"...Why would you be disappointed, Dia?"
"I'm not?"
"..."
From my higher vantage, I glanced at the next bed. Cecil and Veronica were still asleep. Relief washed over me that they hadn't woken. But now, memories of last night flooded back. ...I didn't want to do this, but it seemed unavoidable.
"Dia, got some time today?"
"Huh? Outta nowhere?"
Claudia blinked, looking like someone hit with an unexpected question. Then she flashed a sly grin.
"Of course. If you want it, I'd clear my schedule even if it was packed."
I had no idea what she was expecting... but it sure wasn't what I had in mind.
"Good."
I slid off the bed, scanned the room, and turned to Claudia.
"Help me tidy up the house."
"..."
Her face fell into obvious disappointment. Bitter smile and all, she'd probably guessed it wasn't that... so why expect and get let down? I brushed past her sleeve-rolling self and shook Veronica and Cecil awake. Their ears perked up atop their heads as they rose with refreshed faces—Veronica full of questions and reluctance, Cecil purely delighted that I had woken her. Together with Claudia, we headed out to sort the room that had become a warehouse.
Cecil was thrilled about cleaning, oblivious to what it might unleash. Veronica muttered about why now... but got up anyway. Claudia, hearing my plan, asked if it was really okay.
"You sure it's fine if you just rearrange however?"
"...Master said we should tidy up soon anyway. If we finish before she gets back... she'll be pleased."
"Oh?"
"Yeah."
Leaving Claudia eyeing the oddly compliant Veronica, I placed my hand on the door of the long-neglected warehouse—no, room. Truth be told, I'd jokingly called it a warehouse and couldn't even remember what was inside. Well, if I'd forgotten, it probably wasn't important. Just toss it all. ...Hopefully something valuable for cash. With a touch of greed, I pushed open the creaky, unmanaged door.
It screeched ominously—creeeak—revealing the interior.
"Whoa."
"...What the hell."
"First time seeing inside the room!"
.... This was gonna be a pain.
I cursed my past self. No wonder I was broke—I'd hoarded all this useless junk. Sure, curiosity drove me to buy and experiment... but shouldn't I have disposed of it after? Why cram it all in the room?!
...Probably my fault for hesitating when Claudia and Veronica asked if we should toss it. Y'know, maybe it'd be useful someday? Those things weren't made to be thrown away...?
As I hemmed and hawed, Claudia eyed the items thoughtfully—unlike Veronica, who claimed she knew me best and started chucking the "junk"—er, items—into the trash. I couldn't retort; in the end, my collection got treated like garbage.
...Well, it was garbage.
Cecil, unable to sort, got the vital job of hauling the cleared stuff to the yard. As I gazed wistfully at the items, Veronica sidled up and quietly scolded me. No time-wasting. Like you're my wife or something! What business is it of yours! Of course, I kept that to myself.
Still, there were plenty of usable materials left. Mostly meaningless scraps, but the truly promising ones went into the workshop's preservation chest.
...After strict approval from Inspector Veronica.
One was slime secretions—the stuff probably in my current bed. Why I'd saved it... I couldn't recall. Moisturizer, maybe? Being stuffed in storage suggested it flopped.
Anyway. The original plan was just to clear rooms for Veronica and Cecil—two rooms max. But thanks to Veronica insisting we might as well do them all... we ended up emptying every residential room.
It was a ton. Sorting and clearing junk took the whole day. When I came to, the sun had set, darkness falling outside.
"Finally done!"
Stretching, I looked around. Three dust-covered figures. Claudia's black hair turned ashen as she brushed off her white shirt. Cecil's silver hair matched, standing beside me. Veronica's red hair an odd hue, slumped on the floor panting from exhaustion. She looked regretful despite starting it.
The scary part? Tomorrow, we'd clean it all.
...At least it'd emptied out, so a few potions would finish it quick. That could wait.
"You all worked hard... Let's wash up first? Then grab some food."
At my weary words, Veronica nodded vigorously. I handed the immobile her to Cecil for the lower floor. Claudia caught my eye.
"What about you, Dia?"
"Huh?"
"Staying for dinner?"
"Oh, yeah."
Claudia chuckled slyly.
"Since we're at it, mind if I crash?"
"...Pardon?"
"I'm beat, y'know. *Cough.* Inhaled too much dust, maybe."
"...Do whatever."
Totally playing it up. Cecil and Claudia were still spry. Only Veronica and I were wiped. With Claudia here... she'd probably cook dinner. Nice.
Heading to the bath with her, I saw Cecil and Veronica undressing. Some instinct screamed don't look; I averted my eyes. Claudia stared, face saying you coming in?
...Saying I'd go separately would seem weird, right?
...Nothing to be shy about. I'd already endured worse.
Suppressing the sudden shame, I rationalized that they should be embarrassed—not me—and stepped into the bath.