Chapter 60
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 60
Chapter Title: Secret Trust (2)
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Aria said that the part clearly exposing her privates was supposed to be covered by high-leg underwear.
Now that he'd heard that beforehand, Kalt found Aria's current outfit even more provocative.
'What do I do?'
Unable to tear his eyes away from Aria's lower half, Kalt racked his brain over how to handle things going forward.
He didn't think his actions had been wrong, but the result was so embarrassing.
'Yeah, what's done is done.'
Kalt shook off the awkwardness and instead focused on how to turn this situation around.
Apparently, going without panties was actually more practical in terms of performance.
Aria was in the backline providing heals or holy attacks as support, so she didn't need to move around vigorously.
In other words, as long as she wasn't deliberately flashing it, just walking around wouldn't reveal the secret.
But if she got flustered every time, the chances of getting caught would skyrocket.
So.
'She just needs to get used to it.'
Kalt decided to use hypnosis here.
To solve Aria's issue in a way that was a bit more enjoyable for him.
Maybe it was a rebound from always trying to live virtuously up until now.
The thought of playing naughty pranks on Aria brought Kalt a spark of pleasure.
It was the result of his long-repressed masculine mischief and honest lust finally asserting themselves more strongly.
"Aria, pull your clothes back down and sit beside me."
"Yes..."
Once Aria was back in her original position, Kalt continued.
"Aria, you'll feel extremely embarrassed and want to hide it from me when it comes to talking about this. But in your head, this thought will keep popping up: hiding your worries from me could lead to even worse outcomes."
"Hiding worries from Kalt could lead to worse outcomes..."
"That's right. No matter how embarrassing or secretive it is, hiding it from me will definitely backfire later. After all, it might be something I can help with."
"Something Kalt... can fix..."
"Exactly. And... you'll find my solutions convincing."
"Kalt's solutions will be... convincing..."
"Yeah. You'll start believing that following my advice will solve the worry you have right now."
"Belief..."
This was a hypnosis method Kalt rarely used, one that restricted the direction of her thoughts.
But now that he was committed to living true to his desires, he figured this was nothing.
He already knew hypnosis could enable far worse things.
From his past life, he knew how extreme and depraved the hypnosis genre in adult content could get.
Compared to that, Kalt decided what he was doing was just light teasing.
Besides, to seriously train the three of them, their skills needed to improve more first.
Until then, he needed some fun to tide him over.
Rolling up his sleeves, Kalt said to Aria.
"It's okay, Aria. If you really have a worry... tell me."
"Uh... Kalt..."
Even though she'd just been about to say it was nothing and he didn't need to worry,
when Kalt asked directly, anxiety flooded her.
He worried about her so much.
And he'd just seen the root of her biggest issue.
What if she kept hiding it from him and something went wrong?
What could be worse than him thinking she was dressed like a slut just because she was hiding this skimpy outfit?
She couldn't picture it specifically, but a vague dread swelled in her chest—what if something even more serious happened?
'And with Kalt...'
He'd already offered a solution that showed progress on a problem she thought unsolvable.
Maybe he'd give her a brilliant fix she hadn't even imagined?
That hopeful thought bloomed alongside the anxiety.
"Kalt... Th-there's actually something bothering me."
"I knew it. What is it?"
"Well..."
Aria spilled everything without holding back—what her worry was,
and what kind of outfit she was wearing right now.
"Th-that's how it happened..."
Given the topic, Aria's face flushed beet red.
"I see. I had no idea you'd be worrying about something like that... Sorry. It must've been hard to talk about."
"N-no! You were just worried about me!"
'G-good. He doesn't look at me strangely.'
In the worst case, if he'd reacted with shock like, "Wait, you're dressed like a total slut?", Aria would've wanted to bury her head in the bed.
Kalt kept a serious expression as he spoke to her.
"So, in the end, you're worried about other people seeing inside that holy outfit, right? Afraid it might show."
"Ah... Yes."
"Then don't worry too much, Aria. You don't have to move vigorously anyway, right? You're a healer."
"Uh... That's true."
"No need to stress. At least while walking, it won't show."
'This world is full of hero parties in even bolder outfits.'
"You're right...! That makes sense!"
Aria, perceiving Kalt's words as convincing and trustworthy thanks to the hypnosis, felt immense relief.
Thinking calmly, as a backliner, she wouldn't move much, and living normally shouldn't expose it.
He'd just reassured her, but she already felt like the problem was solved.
'I did the right thing telling Kalt! It was embarrassing, but I'm glad I did!'
As Aria relaxed,
Kalt adopted a slightly more serious expression.
"But situations where I might see... those could come up quite a bit."
"What?!"
"Even in the backline, requests and adventures bring all sorts of scenarios. Being together, there might be days you move vigorously."
"Th-that...!"
"Plus... it's awkward for me to say since I told you to open up, but hearing your worry is making me a bit self-conscious now too."
"Ah...!"
Thinking her feared scenario had arrived, Aria trembled.
"D-do you think I'm a sl-sl-slut now?!"
"No, nothing like that. I heard the circumstances—why would I?"
"Ah... That's a relief."
Thanks to Kalt's hypnosis, Aria quickly found reassurance in his words.
Words that shame and nerves might have blocked out now sank deep into her mind with belief.
"The most important thing here is you, Aria."
"Me?"
"Yeah. I'm a little bothered, but it won't affect combat. I fight in front of you most of the time anyway."
"True."
"But you're still worried I might see, right?"
"...Yes."
"We're consulting to fix your issue right now, but ignoring this could mess up the progress on that."
"S-such a thing...!"
"So... even if it's a bit extreme, we need some special measures."
"Wh-what kind of special measures? Tell me."
For Aria, the current issue—
overcoming her trauma to keep using blessings and holy attacks—was paramount.
She was determined to try anything for that solution.
"Better to just get used to me seeing it."
"...Pardon?"
"If you're anxious about me seeing inside, getting used to it means no more worry, right?"
"Uh... Huh? Th-that... makes sense? B-but to do that, I'd still end up showing you... what I was worried about?"
"Exactly."
"...!"
Kalt flashed a bright salesman smile, like pitching a hot new product.
"Let's just get you used to it with me, Aria. Then you won't have to worry."
'If I get used to it, I won't care! That's logical, but...!'
She recognized Kalt's words as right.
The belief grew that it would solve everything.
Still, it was embarrassing.
"B-but Kalt...!"
"Plus, Aria, this is important."
"Important?"
"If you keep fretting and lose focus at a critical moment, it could endanger the party."
'Endanger the party...!'
"So we fix this early! That's the priority!"
"Ugh...!"
It could endanger the party.
This was for the party.
For everyone—that rationale meshed perfectly with the hypnosis making Kalt's words persuasive and reliable.
It let Aria justify accepting his method herself.
'Yes. This is for everyone... And it's Kalt, so I can trust him. So...!'
"O-okay, Kalt. I'll try to get used to it."
"Thanks for deciding that, Aria."
In her mind, options like wearing undergarments despite performance loss or layering something over it had vanished.
"Then let's start right now. Show me."
"...Yes."
Steeling herself, Aria lifted the front of her holy outfit—not from hypnosis, but her own will this time.
"Ah... Uh. Ah..."
When she lifted it fully, her head burned hot.
'He's seeing it! He's seeing it! He's seeing my precious place! Even with the inner lining, it's completely visible to Kalt!'
The shame and humiliation remained.
But it was for solving her problem—no helping it.
Aria glanced at Kalt's face.
Curious what reaction he'd have to this sight.
And Kalt, who'd already pictured this, covered his mouth with one hand and said,
"It's... truly beautiful, Aria."
"Pardon?!"
Words utterly unexpected from Aria slipped from Kalt's lips.