11. Woman in Disguise
This might seem out of the blue, but for some reason, I've become quite popular lately. You could say it's all good, but it's not exactly the kind of popularity I was hoping for.
Here, popularity refers to the number of people who, in subcultural terms, follow me around like a shadow, practically stalking(?) me.
"Hmm... I'm thirsty."
The moment I mutter something like this to myself, Inyoung pops out from somewhere and hands me a cup filled with water.
"Noah-nim! I brought you some water!"
"Ah, um. Thanks, Shuri."
"Hehe...."
Shuri watches me drink the water with a pleased expression before quietly slipping away somewhere. She'll probably pop out again from somewhere else later.
It's the same when I'm strolling around the flower beds near the church building, enjoying the pleasant breeze.
"Maybe I should try growing something when I'm bored. I wonder if rice would grow?"
"... Hehe, Noah-nim. What a wonderful idea! I, Elize, will immediately create a flower bed just for you!"
"Ah, um. No. I was just thinking out loud...."
Elize looks at me with adoring eyes, and of course,
"Oh my, Noah-nim. What a coincidence, it's been a while—may I join you in the bath?"
"... I'm not sure if this is really a coincidence."
"Huhu."
Whenever I go to the bathhouse to shower, I frequently run into Senior Priest Irene, who always claims it's a 'coincidence.' It seems she's memorized my bathing schedule and made it part of her routine.
If a coincidence happens seven days in a row, it's no longer a coincidence—it's inevitable. Of course, I don't mind bathing together, but she approaches me in a way that feels a bit burdensome...
Still, one fortunate thing about roaming around the church lately is,
that pig Valerius is hardly ever seen. I heard he's bedridden with some illness or something. He's even been visiting the brothel less often lately.
Maybe I squeezed him too hard, but whatever, it's none of my business. He's already squeezed out all the money he could from me anyway.
"Hello, Noah-nim."
"Good morning."
"Are you taking the children on an outing again today? How warm-hearted of you...."
"May I come by today to eat the fried rice you make?"
One way or another, everyone at the church greets me warmly whenever they see me. Some even ask what's for lunch or dinner today...
From this perspective, it's not such bad popularity. And since they seem to pick people based on looks, most of them are beauties. There are some ugly ones too, but they're all on Valerius's side, so they don't even show their faces around me in the first place.
The problem was... after leaving the church.
"... Elf. Going to the market again today?"
"Yeah. I'm thinking of grilling some meat today. Here. Carry this and follow me, or don't."
"I am not a pack mule, though...."
Whether he complained or not, I handed the basket to Argoll and left the church.
Sometimes the children cling to me, saying they want to come along when I go shopping, but since they're so young, it feels a bit wrong to use them as pack mules.
So, for now, I'm using this guy as my pack mule. Except for the first few complaints, Argoll quietly follows behind me and carries the bags.
I can blatantly feel his gaze constantly directed at my butt—
Not a chance.
I'd rather he get a proper job and come back to the brothel. Then he could touch my butt as much as he wants. But it seems like he's just leaching money for now.
And it's not like I'm popular just because of Argoll alone.
"But... it's a bit unfair that only I have to carry the bags. Why aren't you making him do anything?"
"Ah, um... I, if there's anything I can do...."
At some point, this guy started subtly appearing and following me around like a shadow.
His name was Ibel, an adventurer.
"I don't recall ever saying I'd take you as my disciple. If I give you errands, it'll feel like I have to accept you as my disciple, and that's annoying. So, I have nothing for you to do."
"S-sorry for being a nuisance...."
"No, well. It's not that much of a nuisance."
For a guy who left home to become an adventurer, he seems a bit timid, doesn't he?
His voice sounds familiar, but I've never seen a man with this appearance before. Must be my imagination. The hero guy was quite handsome too, but Ibel is a step above—more like a pretty boy who's almost feminine...?
"Well then, Elf. You're dumping all sorts of things on me, but my request—"
"Ah, shopkeeper. Did you get any good pork today?"
"Haha, we caught a pretty sturdy one today. Shall I give you the same amount as last time?"
"I like how quick you are. Give it to me like that."
I naturally brush off Argoll's complaint with a conversation with the shopkeeper. As a bonus, I gesture for him to hand the chunk of meat to the orc guy.
One way or another, our group couldn't help but attract attention. A large orc, a famous elf from Bellua, and a rather pretty-looking young man.
"...... I hope it doesn't get any bigger than this."
After walking ahead for a while, I glance back. Ibel and Argoll have gotten quite close and are talking.
"Ah, I do small jobs like finding lost cats or cleaning stables. I have some savings, so I can cover my food expenses."
"... Hmm. Cleaning stables, huh. Ibel. Can you come to the Guild with me later?"
"Ah, um. I'm not sure if I'll be much help, but if you need me...."
Now that I think about it,
in this world, the professions of adventurer and mercenary are practically no different from day laborers.
It seems the orc guy is starting to feel the heat too.
Of course, that's his problem to deal with.
"Arlog! If you're going to follow, hurry up—!"
"M-my name is not Arlog, it's Argoll!"
"Ah, hah! I'll come too!"
Argoll runs toward me angrily, and Ibel scrambles to follow beside him.
Watching them, I unconsciously smirk and continue walking—a peaceful afternoon like that.
That's been my daily life lately, never boring.
===
... or so I thought. Normally, things should have quieted down again after returning to the church, but.
"Ah, thank you. Then I'll be in your care for a while."
"Huhu. You seemed to have quite a story, so I'm giving you a room. You said you could handle odd jobs too... Well, I don't think you'd do this, but you really have to work hard, okay?"
"I'll do my best! Priest Elize-nim."
Somehow, Ibel got a room at the church. They cleaned up a room that was being used as a storage space...
I heard that while I was out shopping, Elize cleaned it up by herself. She didn't seem particularly interested in men, so was it just out of kindness?
I let out a small sigh and walked between the two standing face-to-face, heading toward the kitchen.
"Take care, Noah-nim! Mr. Ibel!"
Elize said her work was done and whoosh, disappeared. And sure enough, the sound of footsteps following closely behind me.
I paid no mind and started sorting the leafy vegetables I bought at the market. As I was doing that, he awkwardly approached my side and immediately started helping sort the vegetables.
"... I said I had no intention of giving you errands."
At my reproach, Ibel kept his hands busy but answered right away.
"Don't worry... Right now, I'm just working off my meals at the church in exchange for the room... I won't bring up the disciple thing for a while."
"......"
He sure has a smooth way with words.
Instead of replying, I kept my mouth shut and focused on sorting. But surprisingly, this guy is good at work.
I didn't even tell him how to sort, yet he makes no mistakes and works quickly...
The vegetable sorting was done in no time.
"......"
Subtly, very subtly, his eyes seem to ask, 'I did well, right?' But sorry, I have no warm praise for a leech-like man.
I quickly turned my head and moved to the other table. As he tried to follow me right away,
"Ah, right. Go bring a few griddles from the back."
"Ah, yes! I'll be right back!"
Just giving him one errand, and he's so happy—he disappears with a bright smile and a whoosh.
His way of speaking, his behavior...
If I think of him as a man, it should be quite annoying, so why don't I mind? Hmm, I don't know.
I guess good looks are the answer in this world. Because he's good-looking, even if he's a guy, there's an underlying fondness. Hmm hmm.
"But I still have no intention of taking you as a disciple."
I shook my head and started making the dipping sauce. Preparing for the evening pork belly party takes more work than you'd think.
Since it's for the children, I have to cut the meat into appropriate sizes, prepare enough plates for that...
I don't have the knowledge to make kimchi, but I can make scallion salad, so I make quite a bit of that too.
While I was clattering around for a while, Ibel returned with an armful of griddles. He neatly arranged the griddles and quietly helped with odd jobs.
Chopping garlic, washing dishes, carrying ingredients... etc.
He went back and forth behind me, never complaining, working very hard.
===
Creeeak—
She closed the door. Ibel, no, Isabella, immediately found a candlestick in the dark room and lit it. The flame flickered, casting Isabella's shadow on the wall.
Squeak...
Isabella sat in a chair and stared blankly at the flame for a moment. A strange smile spread across her lips. It had been a more enjoyable day than she expected.
The orphanage children were all bright and kind, and Noah wasn't that cold to her either.
Elize was the same, and all the priests she met...
They were all good people.
"I shouldn't have such thoughts about people like that...."
Isabella let out a low sigh.
Then, she pulled out the thick leather diary she had tucked among her belongings. A habit she had kept without fail since leaving her hometown.
Usually, she just wrote her daily records in a list-like manner... but today was different.
Isabella dipped her pen in ink and slowly began to press the letters onto the page.
[ XXX Year X Month XX Day ]
[ Today's Tasks: Observing Noah-nim shopping. Moved belongings to the church. Helped with odd jobs in the kitchen. Had a pork belly party. ]
And after skipping a line,
[ It was incredibly difficult to resist masturbating today. It never bothered me before, so why has my body become like this...? ]
She began to pour out her inner turmoil in writing, like a confession.
Just like at the brothel, once she started letting it out, Isabella's confession poured forth endlessly.
[ Miss Elize's butt was incredibly lewd. Why is the church outfit open at the sides? It was so hard to hold back my erection. ]
All day long, her mind was filled with thoughts like 'I want to masturbate. I want to masturbate. I want to masturbate.'
[ ... Noah-nim. Your nape is so pretty. Your waist is so thin. That retreating figure was so beautiful. Can someone like me, having such thoughts, even dare to ask to become your disciple? ]
[ Even when shopping, you kept swaying your butt while walking... Mr. Argoll was also constantly staring at Noah-nim's butt. ]
Isabella's gaze was always fixed on Noah.
Even while doing odd jobs. She had been subtly stealing glances at Noah's backside.
Isabella let out a soft "Hoo..." and wrote the final sentence.
[ ... Since I resisted masturbating today, I plan to go to that place tomorrow. As a reward for holding back these past few days. I want to consult with her about my worries too. It's expensive, but it's fine. If it's just occasionally, I still have some leeway... ]
Just thinking about tomorrow made her dick harden instantly... but Isabella could resist.
Because the more she resisted, the more she could finally have sex again tomorrow.