Chapter 28: The Archmage
Chapter 28: The Archmage
Despite the passionate night, Guwon still woke up early the next morning.
He’d had a rough time of it after everything that happened yesterday.
While washing every inch of Diana’s unconscious body, he couldn't exactly jump a girl who was passed out, but he was so turned on he thought he was going to lose his mind.
To think I still had this much libido left after all that.
It’s great that becoming a Saint has boosted my stamina, but I see now that it can be inconvenient, too.
With great power comes great responsibility, is that it? No, maybe that doesn't quite fit the situation.
In any case, by the time he had washed Diana clean and changed the bedsheets, it was quite late, so Guwon quickly fell asleep.
In the same bed as Diana, of course.
What else could I do? It was a room with only one bed. It was unavoidable.
My intention to create the dream-like scenario of sleeping under the same blanket as a beautiful girl was only a very small factor. Really.
Turning his head, he looked beside him. Diana was still sleeping soundly, her breathing soft and even.
She hadn't shown any signs of waking up while I was washing her yesterday, either. She must have been exhausted.
No matter how experienced she was, her body had reverted to an inexperienced state. I guess it couldn't be helped.
Anyway, waking up in the morning to find such a pretty girl sleeping right next to me was a sight I could never have imagined before coming to this world.
Even without having sex, just being like this with a girl feels… nice.
It’s a different kind of fulfillment than sex.
Guwon gazed intently at Diana’s face, as if captivated.
Yesterday, he had been a little disappointed because her pre-reincarnation form had been so overwhelmingly beautiful, and he’d been too lost in the sex to really observe her properly.
But looking at her closely like this again, he realized her face was truly pretty.
It was a wonder how her large eyes, small nose, and cute pink lips all fit on such a tiny face, maintaining a miraculous balance.
And despite her youthful face, that warm, almost maternal impression she gave off was still clearly there.
Or am I just seeing her that way because of my preconception that she’s old?
Either way, she was stunningly beautiful.
Then again, if she grew up just like this, she would become that super-beauty he saw before her reincarnation.
Even with the level bonuses, you wouldn't get a result like that if the original model wasn't this pretty to begin with.
How much time had passed?
As Guwon was lost in her beauty, gazing at her endlessly, Diana finally opened her eyes with a drowsy flutter.
“Sleep well?”
“Mmm? Ah… A good morning to you.”
Diana answered in a daze, not yet fully awake.
Her voice and way of speaking had seemed mismatched even before her reincarnation, but hearing that tone from an even younger voice created an incredible sense of dissonance.
“How are you feeling? Are you okay?”
“Mmm? What about?”
“You passed out yesterday. Don’t you remember?”
“Mmm. So I did. I wonder how long it has been since this body last fainted from sex… The power of a unique job and its skills is truly fearsome.”
“Haha. Right? I was really surprised by how you were moving when Sara showed up.”
“Sara? Why would Sara come up? Yesterday, I was having sex with you, refused when you tried to force a Mana Contract, and then…”
It seemed she had no memory of when Sara arrived.
Then what was with the way she was moving her hips like crazy yesterday? Did she do it unconsciously?
“Right. You. Kneel there and sit properly. We need to talk.”
Diana suddenly spoke with a stern expression. Not that it had much impact, coming from a face younger than his, but Guwon, feeling guilty, obediently knelt on the bed.
“What was that yesterday?”
“W-What do you mean?”
“I speak of you forcing a Mana Contract. Do you have any idea what it means to demand a Mana Contract from a mage?”
“No. To be honest, I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I just threw it out there…”
“Hah… Be more careful in the future. To a mage, mana is more important than life itself. A Mana Contract is an act that demands one wager something more than their very life. If you weren’t an ignorant stranger, I would have given you a severe scolding.”
“I see. I’m sorry.”
He figured there wasn't much a level-reset Diana could do to scold him anyway, but Guwon apologized meekly.
He had only wanted to make sure Diana wouldn't just up and leave, but forcing her to wager something more precious than her life was definitely wrong.
“And to think that what you wanted to secure with a Mana Contract was merely for me not to leave the party. I may be to your liking, but are you a ten-year-old child?”
…I couldn’t deny it.
To be precise, he’d fallen for her pre-reincarnation form, but Guwon had definitely fallen for Diana at first sight. Her being an Archmage was just an excuse; he had thrown a childish tantrum just to keep her by his side.
If I had any dating experience, I might have tried to sweet-talk her somehow.
But since I’ve never been in a real relationship, my attempts to keep a girl I like—first with Sara, and now with Diana—are on the level of a grade-schooler.
As Guwon hung his head low, unable to say a word, Diana seemed to decide he had reflected on his actions enough.
“Hah… You needn’t worry so. This body will likely not be going anywhere until the day you die. The method to transcend the limits of one’s level is a realm this body has failed to reach even after countless ages. It is not a problem that can be solved so quickly.”
As she spoke, Diana looked at Guwon with a benevolent smile, like a grandmother watching her mischievous grandson.
It felt strange, being looked at with such an expression by a girl who looked so much younger than me.
Still, hearing her say she’d be with me until I died made a part of me happy.
To think I’d be happy even though the prerequisite was Diana not finding a clue to the realm she sought. I really am a selfish bastard, after all.
“How about it? Do you feel a bit more at ease now?”
Diana asked teasingly, still wearing that warm, grandmotherly smile.
“Shut up. If you’re awake, let’s wash up and go get something to eat.”
“Hoho. Look at you, getting all embarrassed.”
Ignoring Diana as she playfully poked him in the ribs, Guwon headed for the washbasin.
To think she’d act so sly after clinging to me and sobbing her eyes out last night. I guess she didn't live all those years for nothing.
He washed up quickly, knocked on Sara’s door to wake her while Diana was washing, and then went down to the dining hall.
It was early, so the dining hall was still mostly empty, and the cool air felt particularly refreshing.
To think I could feel this refreshed just one day after waking up in such a foul mood. You really never know what life will throw at you.
“Good morning.”
“Yeah. Morning.”
Sara came down just as Guwon was lost in philosophical thoughts about life.
Diana woke up before her, so why isn't she down yet?
“You look like you’re in a good mood. Did something happen?”
“Hm? No, it’s nothing.”
Right, I’m supposed to have sex with her today, too.
Seeing Sara’s pretty, cool-as-ever face made his mood even better.
The world is a beautiful place.
Just then, Diana came down the stairs.
“Ah, Diana! Over here!”
“Huh? Lady Diana? But that appearance…”
Come to think of it, this was the first time Sara was seeing Diana after her reincarnation.
Diana approached, wearing the same robe as yesterday, its hem dragging on the floor.
At least today, she wasn’t wearing the robe’s hood.
“Hmph. Did you sleep well?”
“Huh? Yes. No, I mean, what in the world…”
“Actually, Diana reincarnated yesterday. So I immediately recruited her as our party’s mage! Pretty smart, right?” “What?! So the fairy tale about the Supreme Mage reincarnating was true!”
A fairy tale? Ah, so that’s why she knew of the Supreme Mage but not the name Diana.
“Mm. That is what happened. I look forward to working with you.”
“No, the pleasure is all mine. To think the Supreme Mage is in my party…”
Even as she said it, Sara’s expression looked somewhat complicated.
“We are party members now, so there is no need to be so formal. Feel free to call me Diana. In truth, having just reincarnated, I will be unable to perform as I did yesterday.”
“Speaking of which, what about your job level? Did that get reset when you reincarnated, too?”
“No. A job level represents proficiency. My memories have not reverted to the past, so it was not reset. It would be more accurate to say it is sealed by my level restriction.”
“So in other words, if you just raise your level, your job level will automatically go up with it?”
“Mm. Precisely.”
That’s completely broken.
One of the broken aspects of the Saint job is that when your level goes up, your job level goes up with it.
In short, Diana basically has that as a passive skill.
Then again, that must be why she could use a spell like reincarnation without any hesitation.
“But you’re still wearing that robe?”
“Hm?! W-Well, yes. I am used to it. It is nothing, so pay it no mind.”
Diana suddenly became noticeably flustered.
What’s with her all of a sudden?
“Really? But you’re not wearing the hood.”
“W-Well. Mm. This body did not wear it because I enjoyed it. When one’s Charm is too high, it can lead to all sorts of troublesome matters.”
“Aren’t you a little too confident in your looks?”
She certainly had the absurd beauty to back up that confidence, but Guwon decided to tease her anyway.
“I am merely stating a fact. Excessively high Charm has a powerful fascination effect all on its own. Have you not experienced it yourself with that body of yours?”
“What do you mean by that?”
Sara shot back sharply, as if sensing something unusual in those words.
“Mm. The truth is, this man, not knowing the value of his own life, did to this body…”
“Aaaah! Right! Yeah! I was totally stunned when you took off your hood! Wow, you were so pretty!”
Has she no shame? What was she about to say so brazenly!
Guwon shouted desperately, cutting Diana off.
I see. So that’s why I penetrated Diana even though I thought I would die.
I’m a guy who values his life, you know. I thought something was strange.
“…Hmph. I see. Is that so.”
He had definitely cut Diana off mid-sentence, but Sara’s mood had soured dramatically.
Guwon, who was slowly starting to learn how to read the room, immediately went into damage control.
“I wonder if Sara will become like that someday when her level gets higher? Seeing you two together, Sara is just as pretty as Diana. I’m already looking forward to it.”
It wasn’t just empty flattery meant to cheer her up, either.
Looking at Diana and Sara side-by-side, it was impossible to say who was prettier; it was merely a matter of taste. Both boasted superior beauty.
I really picked my party members well. I definitely have a good eye for people.
“I-I’m not happy at all to hear such sweet talk, you know?”
Sara said that, but she didn’t seem to dislike it.
She usually has such a cool expression, but her attitude is surprisingly easy to read.
“So. What is the plan from here?”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“This body’s purpose is to observe your skills, so I do not mind what we do. But you two must have a reason for going to the dungeon.”
Honestly, I don’t have such a grand goal.
If you could call it a goal, it was to become an adventurer capable of reaching the dungeon’s lower floors, become super popular with women, and build a harem! But with Sara and Diana by my side, I feel like I’ve already cleared that goal.
Neither of them likes me, but we’ve at least reached a point where we can sleep together, right?
And I can’t imagine finding any women prettier than these two.
If I had to find a reason to go to the dungeon now, there’s only one.
The promise I made yesterday to help Sara.
Right. I don’t have any other particular goals anyway. Let’s make this my objective for now.
“About that. For now, I want to focus on raising my and Sara’s combat-related job levels. It won’t have much to do with you, Diana, but is that okay?”
“Hmph. As long as this body can observe your skills, I do not mind.”
“Guwon… Thank you.”
Sara looked at Guwon, her expression filled with emotion.
I’m only doing it because I don’t have any other goals, so seeing her look so moved makes me feel a little awkward.
“Ahem. Anyway, let’s try going a little deeper than yesterday.”
In truth, considering the stats of Guwon, who had power-leveled once again from his session with the pre-reincarnation Diana, it wouldn’t be strange for them to skip several floors, not just go a little deeper. But Guwon decided to be cautious.
No matter how much his physical abilities improved, if his fighting techniques—that is, his combat job levels—didn’t rise to match, it would be like casting pearls before swine.
For now, let’s focus on raising my Martial Artist level.