Chapter 133: The 2nd Floor
Chapter 133: The 2nd Floor
Having confirmed that Holy Ground Proclamation was little more than a taunt, the party decided to call it a day.
Staying in the town inside the dungeon was certainly convenient in many ways.
It reminded me of when we used to hunt around the dungeon entrance. No, with the hunting grounds right at our doorstep, this was even better.
We finished hunting around the same time as usual, but the best part was being able to return to town and enjoy a leisurely meal.
“So. Is it okay if I try out Holy Ground Proclamation now?”
After finishing our meal and enjoying a light beer, I asked in a casual tone.
“My dear boy… Surely you don't mean right here?”
Diana said, pulling her lips away from the large mug in her hand.
She had been gulping it down heartily, even letting out a satisfied ‘Ahhh!’, but for the record, it wasn't alcohol. It was juice.
Diana herself claimed she wasn't a lightweight. However, she said that drinking dulled her mind, and since a sharp mind was vital for a mage, they generally avoided alcohol.
Watching her, though, I suspected she just really liked juice.
“It's not like it's very powerful, so what's the big deal? I want to hear everyone's impressions, not just one person's. And for that, now is the perfect time, while we're all together, right?”
“Is that really all? You don't have any other reason?”
Sara eyed me with suspicion.
For the record, she was also holding a glass of juice.
She looked like the type who could drink all night without getting drunk, but in reality, she'd be wasted after a single sip.
“What other reason could there be? You think I'm harboring some kind of lecherous thoughts in a crowded place like this? I'm not so much of a pervert that I'd do something like that in public without batting an eye.”
As I spoke with confidence, Sara fell silent, apparently having nothing more to say.
She probably couldn't imagine I'd actually try anything here.
“Um… but when you say everyone's impressions, does that include me?”
Leia asked, looking slightly worried.
Ugh. Don't tell me even my angel doesn't trust me.
When I put on a hurt expression, Leia quickly waved her hands and said, “Ah, please don't misunderstand. It's not that I don't trust you, Guwon-ssi, it's just… my condition…”
Ah, right.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
Of course. My angel would never look at me like that. I was a fool for doubting her, even for a second.
But I see. There was a risk that Holy Ground Proclamation could cause Leia to transform into her Gumiho form.
“Hmm. It'll probably be fine. Last time, you were okay up to a point as long as you focused on mind control, right? The stimulation from this will be much weaker than that, so you should be fine as long as you keep your composure.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah. Still, it's better to be safe. Do you want to stand a little farther away, Leia?”
“No. I want to give you my impressions, too.”
“Huh? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I want to be helpful to you, Guwon-ssi. And… if something does go wrong, you'll be able to handle it, won't you?”
Leia blushed faintly and looked up at me imploringly.
“Of course! You can count on me!”
I, of course, answered in a loud voice.
If she really does turn into a Gumiho, I'll just drag her to a room and unload a round or two. So what if it's Diana's turn tonight? I'm sure she'll understand.
“Alright, here I go.”
At my signal, all three women looked at me, their expressions tense.
I checked to make sure no one else was within the skill's range before activating it.
“So, how is it?”
“Huh? Did you activate it?”
“Is it that hard to feel?”
“Yes. I can't feel a thing.”
Diana and Leia nodded in agreement.
Even Sara, the one with the most sensitive senses, couldn't feel anything. This skill is total garbage.
No. It's a skill that applies continuous stimulation, like a damage-over-time effect. Maybe they'll start to feel it after a little while.
I held on to that sliver of hope and kept the skill active.
And after about ten seconds, there was a reaction.
As expected, the first to react was Sara.
A faint blush crept onto her face, and she began to fidget slightly.
“I think I'm starting to feel something now.”
“What does it feel like?”
“Mmm… it's not really pleasure… more like a slight… tickling sensation.”
“Hmm. I see. The stimulation is even weaker than your other skills were back when they were still low-level.”
“Yes. I can handle this level of sensation.”
Faint as it was, the stimulation was still stimulation. All three had a slight blush on their faces, but that was it.
Hmm. What a shame.
No, it's not like I was expecting them to go into heat or anything.
I was just purely disappointed in the skill's power.
To think that even Leia was taking it calmly, with no sign of transforming into a Gumiho.
Was it really just a pipe dream to think this alone could make the mosquitoes drop like flies?
Sigh… I had high hopes for it since it was a new skill.
Maybe it'll become somewhat useful if I raise its skill level a lot?
“You've heard our impressions, so you can turn the skill off now.”
“Huh?”
“Don't ‘huh?’ me. I know it's weak, but how long do you plan on keeping a skill like this active in such a crowded place?”
It's not having much of an effect anyway, so it's fine. We're done fighting for the day, so I want to keep it active and use up my essence to the limit. I have to level up the skill somehow.
“S-Sara is right! I-In such a crowded place!”
Diana reacted vehemently, nodding so hard in agreement with Sara that it was almost an exaggeration.
Huh? This is kind of suspicious.
She seemed to be putting a strange amount of emphasis on the ‘crowded place’ part.
I stared intently at Diana's face.
“W-What is it? Did I say something wrong?”
Just a moment ago, her reaction had been no different from the other two, but now her face alone was exceptionally red.
Her thighs, pressed together, also seemed to be subtly shifting, as if rubbing against each other.
I knew it. This damn exhibitionist.
She was more turned on by the fact that she was feeling pleasure in public than by the pleasure from the skill itself.
And she has the nerve to call me a pervert.
Wouldn't it be fun to see what happens if I just leave the skill on?
Such a devilish whisper echoed in my ear.
“Since we're at it, I'd like to experiment a little more. Could you let me know when it starts to feel like actual pleasure? I want to check how long I have to keep the skill active to reach that point.”
“You…!”
“I see. Understood.”
Diana was about to protest, but Sara coolly agreed before she could.
Nice! Sara, I love you.
With Sara and Leia acting completely normal, she couldn't possibly admit that she was already feeling pleasure, could she?
Diana grew restless, chugging her juice and trying her best to feign composure.
Of course she can't say she's feeling it already. She's not getting off on my skill, she's getting off on her own kink.
I'd been wondering how to get back at her for dumping the magic stone processing on me, and now a chance for revenge has fallen right into my lap.
I leisurely sipped my beer, observing Diana's reaction.
“Ngh. Mmph. Hngh.”
Diana subtly fidgeted with her thighs, trying not to be noticed, and constantly picked up and put down her juice mug, looking anxious the whole time.
Her breathing gradually shifted from her nose to her mouth, and a sweet, unconscious sigh seemed to escape with every exhale.
But despite it all, Diana endured.
She kept glancing at Sara and Leia, who still wore nonchalant expressions despite the slight tickling sensation.
Her face was a desperate plea, begging for either of them to hurry up and say they couldn't take it anymore.
But reality was cruel.
As one minute, then two, passed with no significant reaction from Sara or Leia, a look of panic flashed across Diana's face.
“Haaaah. G-Getting a little sleepy.”
Was that a moan she just tried to pass off as a yawn?
I, who had been watching her intently, noticed immediately, but it seemed Sara and Leia hadn't.
Then again, it would be hard to imagine someone getting worked up from such weak stimulation.
After desperately faking the yawn, Diana slumped forward onto the table.
Obviously, it wasn't because she was sleepy. She hadn't been drinking, so there was no reason for her to be tired already.
The proof was her thighs, which were still fidgeting under the table.
Sara and Leia, sitting across from her, couldn't see it, but I, sitting beside her, had a clear view.
“Diana-ssi. Are you okay? You shouldn't sleep here.”
“I-I'm fine. I just want to stay like this for a moment.”
Diana said, her tone sounding like she was desperately trying to suppress the trembling in her voice.
A little more time passed, and now Diana looked like she was truly in trouble.
Her back had started twitching, but more importantly, her hands were becoming a problem.
Her hand would start to move toward her crotch, then, as if deciding against it, she'd pinch her thigh instead. Then her hand would subtly start to slide toward her crotch again before she'd snatch it away in alarm. Her hand movements were a perfect expression of human agony.
Still, impressive. To endure this much without touching herself. As expected of the great Archmage.
It looked like this was the limit. Any further would be dangerous. If this went on, people around us would definitely notice.
If it weren't for her signature large mage's hat and loose-fitting robes, she would have been found out long ago.
My essence is about to run out anyway. Maybe I should stop here.
“Um… Guwon-ssi.”
Just as I was about to deactivate the skill, Leia spoke to me.
“It's starting to…”
“Ah, does it feel like pleasure now?”
“Yes. Though it's not strong.”
“How strong? It's obviously weaker than Saint's Touch. Is it about the level of me just touching you normally?”
“W-What if someone hears you asking things like that!”
“I-It seems a little weaker than that.”
Sara protested, worried about the people around them, but Leia, despite her face turning bright red with embarrassment, answered faithfully.
“Ah, sorry. I was just curious. I'll turn it off now.”
I immediately deactivated the skill.
The total time that had passed was about ten minutes.
To think that after being on for so long, the stimulation was still weaker than foreplay. What an incredibly disappointing skill.
Well, it did have the unexpected side effect of putting Diana in this state when used outside, so maybe it was worth the skill points I invested.
“Haaaaah.”
As the skill dissipated, a long, deep breath was heard from beside me.
Diana took a few more deep breaths before finally lifting her head.
“Mmm? Is it over?”
Her tone was barely feigning nonchalance, but she couldn't will her flushed skin back to its normal color.
“Are you okay, Diana? Your face is red.”
“Hmm. I'm fine. I must have had too much to drink.”
No. I'm telling you, you weren't drinking alcohol.
What kind of juice makes your face turn red?
“Perhaps that's why I feel the need to use the restroom. I shall excuse myself for a moment.”
Diana finished speaking quickly and dashed off toward the inn's public restroom.
“Oh my. She must have really needed to go.”
Leia commented in a carefree voice.
“Seems so.”
Though it probably wasn't pee she was desperate for.
I reached out and discreetly touched the chair where Diana had been sitting.
The chair was warm, and in the center, I felt a slick, damp liquid.
“Well, I'm going to use the restroom, too.”
Having just finished my beer, I had a natural excuse to follow Diana toward the restroom.
Standing at the entrance to the restroom, I used Stealth, a basic Assassin skill.
With both my job and skill levels so low, it wouldn't be much help, but it was better than nothing.
Of course, the restroom I planned to enter using the skill wasn't the men's, but the women's.
Now then, I wonder what our great Archmage is up to in there.