Chapter 76
Chapter 76
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Leaving Illunite
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Haaah... Another miraculously perfect start to the day."
The night before, after hearing Prelia's chilling declaration that sent shivers down my spine for reasons I couldn't quite place, I'd tossed and turned for ages before finally drifting off.
Full-on seduction? What the hell did that even mean?
"Shotel..."
"Right here, darling."
"Ah, th-thank you, Preliiiiia...?"
A sudden sense of déjà vu hit me, and I whipped my head to the side.
"Good morning, darling?"
"Whoa!"
Prelia stood right beside my bed, handing me my shotel.
Startled, I clutched the blanket and scooted as far to the edge of the bed as I could.
"P-P-Prelia?"
"Yep, darling."
"Why... are you in my room...?"
"You called me out last night all of a sudden, so I figured you might sleep in. Came to wake you up! But you got up on your own, huh?"
"I... guess so?"
Honestly, her logic was full of holes, but I knew arguing would just lead to her brushing it off, so I shut my mouth.
This was Prelia, after all—the one who'd declared last night that she'd go all out to seduce me.
'Gotta be careful. Super careful.'
Truth be told, I'm the kind of guy who could easily be called a "quick-fall romantic."
Never got much love from my parents in my past life, and with my timid personality, I didn't make many friends either. So whenever someone treats me nicely, my defenses crumble fast.
It hadn't taken long for me to fall for Ariana, either.
Stella Nun was more like a mom or big sister, so she was the exception.
'Sorry, Prelia, but I'm not giving in. No way.'
If I'd possessed the protagonist or been the Hero, maybe. But right now, I'm just a Holy Knight directly under the Saintess.
I'm stronger than your average Holy Knight at this point, but I was nowhere near the level of the Seven Virtues Holy Knights.
"Alright then... morning hug!"
"Huh? W-wait a sec!"
"Hehehe, Illunite!"
"Gah!"
Trapped at the edge of the bed with nowhere to go, I ended up in Prelia's embrace.
Damn it, I hadn't put on my armor yet, so I could feel every soft curve of her body.
"It's touching! It's touching me!"
"I don't mind! If it's you, darling!"
"I do! I mind!"
I struggled desperately, but I couldn't just shove her off with brute force, so I spent a solid five minutes pressed up against her.
"Now, off to training, right? I'll come with, darling."
"...Yeah."
Thank goodness she at least respected my training time. She let me go without a fuss and quietly followed as I grabbed my shotel and headed out.
'She really is cute, though.'
Glancing back on the way, she looked like a puppy holding back from playing because its owner was busy.
Trailing silently behind me, she was like a baby bird following its mother—proof that Prelia wasn't just seductive; she had that adorable side too.
Which made her even more out of my league.
-Step. Step.
I stepped out into the courtyard without a word.
Illunite being a magical city, there were no dedicated training grounds for knights. So we made do by swinging our shotels in the courtyard.
"Hoo..."
"Ooh, starting now?"
"...Yeah."
"Ah! I'll be quiet! Shh!"
'She's too damn cute...!'
Actions I'd brushed off as cute before were now getting under my skin thanks to her declaration last night.
Prelia was the seductive-yet-adorable heroine type.
Was every little move calculated to tempt me, or was it just her oblivious flirting? No way to tell.
But dwelling on it would ruin my training.
"Hoo..."
I steadied my breath, calming my mind and body.
My head clearing bit by bit.
"Hup!"
I swung my shotel like always, honing my body.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ -Knock knock knock.
"...I conclude this morning's prayer."
Ariana had risen early, as usual, and offered her routine prayers to the Goddess.
At the punctual knock, she said it was fine to enter.
The door opened, and in came—
"Heya~ It's me, the Saintess!"
"...Prelia?"
She'd expected Is, but Prelia peeked her head in instead.
Starting her mornings seeing Is was her routine, so her face darkened slightly at the sudden disruption.
"Sorry, Saintess. Things got like this since I was with Prelia."
"...Is!"
Is appeared next, and her lips curved back up instantly.
Her halo spun gently in tune with her emotions.
Ariana smiled, relieved that Is had come too—not just Prelia. But then she noticed something off.
'Huh? Why are they together...?'
From the morning, Is and Prelia had come to her room. Together.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "...Is?"
"Yes, Saintess."
"May I ask why you two came to my room together this morning?"
"Ah... well—"
"I went to Is's room first thing!"
-Whirr whirr whirr...!
Ariana's halo spun wildly above her head at Prelia's words.
It was clearly furious.
"What business did you have... in Is's... room? First thing in the morning?"
"Hm..."
Prelia gave Ariana a meaningful look.
Her eyes curved into soft arcs, then she shouted casually as if it were no big deal.
"No biggie! We just had some stuff going on last night, darling and me!"
"What?!"
"Pfft! Prelia?!"
"He slept later than usual because of it, so I worried he might oversleep and went to wake him myself!"
"...Is?"
"N-no, Saintess! It's not like that at all! I swear on my role as your direct Holy Knight, nothing sexual happened!"
"...Really?"
"Yes! Totally true!"
"...So what did happen?"
"Well..."
'Can't exactly say she confessed to me!'
Even if I'd turned Prelia down, you don't blab about that in front of others.
It could hurt her feelings.
As I pondered what to say, Prelia spoke up.
"I confessed to darling."
"Whaaaaat?!"
"Wait...!"
Prelia dropped the bomb like it was nothing.
While Ariana and I floundered speechless, she continued.
"But he shot me down~ Said he has someone he likes~"
"What?!"
"Hold on, Prelia!"
I clamped my hand over her mouth, propriety be damned.
"Mmph! Mmmph!"
Prelia seemed to enjoy even this, gazing at me with smiling eyes.
"Prelia, even so, that's not something to say in front of the Saintess—"
-Lick.
"Gya?!"
She licked my hand!
I yanked it away instantly—armor or not, I couldn't handle that—and let her go.
"Hehe, okay okay. If you insist that hard, darling, I'll hold back."
"Wait! Who is it that you like?!"
"No idea~ Retreating for now!"
"Hold on!"
After dropping a nuke of a statement, Prelia grinned mischievously and bolted from the room.
Naturally, Ariana's gaze turned to me.
I averted my eyes.
"..."
"...Is?"
"Ahem, Saintess! Shall we head out?"
"Is?"
"Saintess, please forget what Prelia just said. As your direct Holy Knight, nothing you might worry about will happen."
"...Alright."
Surprisingly, she accepted it readily.
I sighed in relief and left the room with her.
After that, Prelia's antics didn't let up.
"Morning hug~"
"Darling, wanna take a walk?"
"Darling~"
"Darling!"
"Darling, here! Ahh~"
From morning embraces to seductive glances inviting late-night strolls, pressing her body against mine everywhere, even feeding me like lovers do.
All sorts of flirting, but I'd become a master of restraint serving the Goddess.
I barely held out against her temptations.
Having endured Prelia's seduction with great difficulty, the day to leave Illunite finally arrived.
At the carriage, I faced Ariana, Prelia, Blind, Bellinda, and the Red Tower Lord.
"So we part ways here. We've gathered the Tower Lords' opinions and informed the palace—you'll get proper rewards."
Bellinda and the Red Tower Lord nodded at Blind's words.
"Darling, leaving already?"
"...I'm sad too."
"I'm sadder."
"Haha..."
We chatted a lot with Prelia, but time was up, and we boarded the carriage.
"Well then, we'll be off. I'll visit whenever I can."
"Yeah, take care, both of you~"
Prelia waved us off with a bright smile on our last day, and we wrapped up our time in Illunite.
Probably wouldn't see Prelia for a while.
That's what I thought.