The Bliss of a Head Pat
Feels so good… And he’s so skilled at it, too.
I was staring at the fresh, newly created Dark Elf that Elisa had given me as a “gift,” quietly considering how I would make use of her in the years to come, when it happened.
“Um… Hero? So… what do you think? Do you like my gift?”
Elisa’s voice carried a hint of nervous tension. In that instant I noticed her cheeks were faintly flushed, her expression brimming with clear anticipation. Those wide, ruby eyes sparkled as they gazed up at me, reminding me of an eager kitten waiting to be praised. In response, I spoke from the heart, thanking her for the “gift” currently bowing low before me.
“Yes, I like it very much. Truth be told, I’ve always wanted to give this one a proper lesson someday. Not only did you capture her for me, you even handled the cleanup afterward. I’m truly grateful.”
“R-really…? That’s a relief. I was worried you might not like the gift… To be honest, since she has such a bad history with you, Hero, I did wonder whether it might be better for you to deal with her personally rather than through me.”
“No, you did the right thing. Of course I thought about making her suffer myself, but honestly, no matter what I did, I doubt I could have inflicted the same level of torment you managed, Elisa.”
“Well… if you say so, I’m glad.”
Elisa smiled shyly, looking both embarrassed and delighted by my sincere gratitude. Seeing a girl who appeared so young show such an expression, I felt an automatic warmth bloom inside my chest.
What should I call this feeling… It’s exactly like watching my little cousin bouncing with joy after getting a perfect score on a math test and being praised by her mother…
As I watched her, I suddenly recalled something the Demon King had once told me. To her, Elisa was both a subordinate and something like a younger sister. Though she usually acted aloof, she secretly craved praise; treat her kindly and she would open up quickly. The Demon King had especially emphasized that Elisa loved having her head patted after completing a mission.
Remembering those words, I—now the Demon King’s lover and, in a sense, something like an older brother to Elisa—reached out my hand according to the emotion I felt in that moment.
And then…
“Ah…”
I gently stroked Elisa’s head. The gesture was warm, my fingers moving through her soft hair to convey gratitude and praise. Depending on how one looked at it the act might have seemed slightly awkward, yet if you judged solely by appearances it was nothing more or less than an older brother figure patting an elementary- or middle-school-aged younger sister, so I felt no discomfort whatsoever.
Crucially, Elisa offered not the slightest resistance. Instead she began to radiate open, unmistakable happiness. Her face glowed crimson, a melted, blissful smile curved her lips, and her body trembled faintly with pleasure. The sight truly resembled a cat being stroked by its owner.
I nodded inwardly, convinced my slightly impulsive choice had been correct.
From what I heard, she grew up without a father, so she’s surprisingly prone to loneliness… In that light, it makes sense that she enjoys receiving praise like this.
Since she always clung to her mother Ilios without reservation and acted spoiled with her, this level of contact between close comrades probably felt perfectly natural. So I continued patting her head with genuine pleasure for some time, expressing my “gratitude.” In response, Elisa smiled as though asking me to keep going and subtly leaned her body against me.
Elisa, receiving head pats from the Hero. In this moment she was experiencing a profound ecstasy she had never felt before, utterly consumed by unparalleled happiness.
Ahh… The Hero is patting my head…
It was a situation in which the person she loved was expressing affection. Because of her noticeably youthful appearance, Elisa often received this sort of treatment from those close to her; in a way, the act could even be considered a simple greeting. In fact, only a week earlier the Demon King had patted her head while praising her for a job well done.
Yet the head pat the Hero was giving her now felt vastly different from any ordinary case. If the usual strokes from the Demon King or her mother were like water with a single spoonful of sugar, what the Hero offered now felt like thick, irresistibly sweet honey.
The Hero’s touch… feels so good… and he’s so skilled…
His head pats somehow conveyed the joy of the entire world. In truth, his technique was astonishingly superior to anyone she had experienced before—including her own mother. Without applying too much pressure, his fingers moved softly and fluidly, stimulating the acupoints along her scalp and bringing her absolute calm and tranquility. On top of that, her preexisting affection for the Hero amplified the sensation, turning it into an overwhelmingly intense happiness.
This is the first time a head pat has made me this happy… I feel like I could get addicted… Ahh… As expected, the Hero is the best… I don’t want to lose him to anyone…
While savoring a joy far beyond her imagination, Elisa’s obsession with the Hero only grew stronger.
A short while later—though the patting had lasted quite a while, to Elisa it had felt far too brief—she barely suppressed the regret and excitement blooming across her face, looked at the Hero, and spoke.
“Ahem… ahem… Well then, let’s consider the greeting finished. The question now is what to do with this one.”
Elisa glanced at the Dark Elf Amelda, who remained silently prostrated on the floor. She carefully read the Hero’s expression before asking cautiously.
“Since I’ve already turned her into a Dark Elf… what would you like to do with her, Hero? She’s currently my subordinate after the fresh brainwashing, but if you wish I can hand her over to you immediately.”
Although transforming a high-ranking elf of such power had consumed a considerable amount of mana, at this point Elisa honestly didn’t care what happened to the wretch. She might prove somewhat useful in battle, but what mattered most was earning even a little more of the Hero’s favor. She could transfer ownership to him at once, and if necessary she was fully prepared to rip off her limbs, gouge out her eyes, and sever her neck.
The Hero thought for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
“I’m fine. At the moment she became a Dark Elf she already experienced the worst fate possible for her. I have no intention of paying her any further attention.”
“Hmm? Is that so? Well… I suppose that’s true.”
Most elves valued honor above life itself and considered its loss the greatest, most horrific agony. For them, corruption into a Dark Elf was the ultimate desecration—an act that completely erased their honor. A Dark Elf was regarded as blasphemy against the gods by their very existence. Having endured that fall over several days, and finally having her last remaining will shattered while looking at the Hero’s face, the physical and mental torment she had suffered could truly be called the worst imaginable.
Taking all that into account, the Hero expressed his wish not to dirty his own hands any further by doing more to her.
“Still, she seems fairly competent despite everything, so I’d appreciate it if you made good use of her, Elisa. Since you went to the trouble, you should at least receive that much compensation.”
“…I’ve already received more than enough compensation…”
“Pardon?”
“N-nothing… In any case, if that is your wish, Hero, I will gladly accept her. She possesses strong combat ability, and as a former high-ranking elf she should hold plenty of useful information.”
With that short exchange the two decided Amelda’s fate.
Meanwhile, the Dark Elf Amelda—who had been pressing her forehead to the floor while listening to their conversation—thought to herself.
At least I’m still alive… Of course, if it is Lady Elisa’s command I would gladly die, but… I’m relieved. In any event, this has given me the chance to continue offering my loyalty to Lady Elisa… and also the opportunity to apologize to the Hero…