Chapter 327: Guwon’s Counterattack
Chapter 327: Guwon’s Counterattack
“Matilda.”
When I returned to the room, Matilda was just opening her eyes.
After noticing the empty space beside her, a lonely look crossed her face. But then, hearing my voice from directly in front of her, she shot up in surprise.
As she did, the blanket I had placed over her slid down, precariously covering her from her legs to just above her pubic mound.
She didn't do that on purpose, did she?
It was a sight that stirred a man's base instincts.
“Wh-What?!”
“I knew it. Sex was the right way to break the curse.”
Ignoring the flustered, naked Matilda, I pressed on without letting myself get distracted.
Momentum is key in situations like this.
“Look at the marks.”
Matilda, still disoriented from having just woken up, reflexively glanced down at her lower abdomen.
“No. Not there. Here.”
I grabbed her wrist and held it up before her eyes.
“See? They’ve faded, haven’t they?”
“Ah, ahh…!”
“I had a hunch when I heard the marks of the curse spread each time another man fell victim to it. It seems you have to do it as many times as there were victims to break the curse completely.”
I wasn’t sure if Matilda was even listening to me. She just stared intently at her own arm, looking as if she were about to cry.
Just as I thought. Even though she brought this upon herself, it must have been incredibly difficult.
But it’s okay now. I’m going to free her from this curse completely.
“So, Matilda. If you want to break the curse, you’re staying with me from now on.”
It felt a little awkward saying this to a girl who’s already been squatting in my house.
But, well, I didn’t literally mean just staying together.
“Eh?! Eh?! B-But… what about the three women by your side…?!”
“I already got their permission. Of course, it’s not like we’ll be formally bound like I am with them. It’ll be more like my relationship with Silvia… You know what I mean, right?”
She’s been living in this mansion for quite some time now.
It was more than enough time for anyone with a bit of sense to figure out the relationships here.
And Matilda wasn’t that dense.
She must have known that I was with Silvia every day when we were in the dungeon together.
Yet, just now, she only mentioned the three women by my side, leaving Silvia out.
In other words, she had a rough idea of what kind of relationship Silvia and I had.
“Th-That is…”
“Well, you might not like it. But you don’t have a choice. At least, not until the curse is broken.”
I had actually planned on giving her a choice.
It seemed like Matilda already knew that I didn’t truly love her.
But the more I thought about it, the more I felt that giving her a choice would be crueler.
After all, even if I gave her the option, she could never choose to refuse.
She wasn’t the only one affected by this curse.
For the sake of all the men who had been rendered impotent, Matilda had no choice but to accept.
So, rather than make her agonize over it, I decided to force her hand, even if it meant playing the villain.
“Matilda. You want to be my woman and stay by my side, don’t you?”
“Yes… Ngh!”
I stepped closer, took her chin in my hand, and tilted her head up. As I whispered in a soft voice, her expression immediately turned hazy, and she affirmed.
But after a moment of trembling, she shook her head, as if desperately resisting her own instincts.
Yet it seemed she couldn’t lie to her own feelings. When she looked up at me again, her eyes were moist with desire.
“Can you just answer one thing for me?”
“Answer what?”
“Yes. You said it, didn’t you? That you only recently realized you weren’t affected by my curse. When exactly did you find out?”
Even as she asked, Matilda’s body trembled.
It was as if she was desperately trying to stop herself from throwing herself into my arms.
“Hm? Is that important right now?”
“I-It is. It might not be for you, but for me, it’s very important. So please…”
Tell me.
That’s what Matilda’s trembling eyes were saying to me.
“It was after we beat the 5th Floor Boss in the dungeon. After I woke up from fainting, you properly confessed your love to me, remember? It was strange that I still got an erection, so I checked my abilities again and found I’d gained that trait at some point.”
“After we beat the 5th Floor Boss…”
After saying that, Matilda suddenly rushed into my arms.
“I understand. I’ll… I’ll stay by your side.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I love you…”
The hesitant girl from moments ago was gone. Matilda looked up at me with a dazed expression, as if her mind was completely painted pink, and spoke.
Did she really even think about it?
Didn’t she just make her decision based on her instincts?
Well, I suppose it doesn’t matter either way.
But this was a problem.
Of course, it was much better than her constantly challenging me with that slightly arrogant attitude like before, but having her cling to me with this love-struck face all the time was also a bit… much.
In more ways than one.
For starters, I felt like I might get swept up in the mood and start whispering words of love back.
I had to restrain myself from doing that, at least.
For the sake of the three who had allowed me to keep Matilda around.
No, wait, what would happen if the three of them saw Matilda like this right now?
They’d definitely get incredibly jealous.
“Wanting to be by the side of trash like me. You even love me? You really have a strange taste in men…”
“Wh-Who would ever… a man like you…!”
When I said that, Matilda’s reaction was immediate, almost a spinal reflex.
From her expression, she seemed quite surprised herself. It was a look that said, I didn’t mean to do that.
I see. So that’s how it is. She’s been acting for so long that the attitude just comes out reflexively without her realizing it.
“You don’t love me?”
“I-I do love you…”
But when I whispered softly again, Matilda’s voice turned sweet as she cooed at me once more.
This is dangerous. This might actually be a little fun.
“Well, get dressed first. Let’s go get something to eat.”
“Huh? Aah! Look away!”
It seemed Matilda had only just realized she was still naked.
To only notice now… just how defenseless can you be?
Well, I guess it can’t be helped, since her head is half-full of flowers.
“I can’t watch? I want to look at Matilda for even a little longer.”
“Okay…”
“To think you like being seen naked by trash.”
“Look away…! Really!”
Matilda started to snap back reflexively again, but then she realized what she was doing and stomped her foot in frustration.
This is really dangerous. This girl is too much fun.
“Don’t pout, don’t pout. You’re cute.”
“Y-You’re handsome, too.”
And so, following Silvia, I now had one more new toy… no, one more person with whom I would continue this ambiguous relationship.
*
“Looks like things went well.”
As we entered the dining hall, Diana spoke with a vein throbbing slightly on her forehead, her expression sullen.
“Hm? How did you know?”
“How could I not, seeing that look on Miss Matilda’s face?”
I glanced at Matilda’s face.
She was staring intently at me with the face of someone in love.
I see. So that’s why Diana looked so sullen.
She may have given her permission, but seeing it so openly must have been unavoidably unpleasant.
“Diana. I love you.”
“What is this all of a sudden? Don’t tell me…! Did you do something wrong to me again?”
“N-No! I didn’t do anything like that!”
“Then why the sudden declaration of love?”
Well, it was because Diana looked upset, and I wanted to cheer her up…
After dealing with Matilda, who melted at any softly whispered words, I had reflexively tried to take the easy way out.
Damn it. That Matilda. Her conquest difficulty is so low that dealing with her feels like it’s actually lowering my romance EXP.
But I couldn’t say that to Diana’s face.
She’d only feel worse if she knew I was treating her the same way I treated Matilda.
“W-Well… actually, I have a favor to ask of you, Diana.”
“Oh? A favor? What is it?”
“Can you eat with me on my lap today? For some reason, I really feel like being spoiled by Diana-nuna today.”
But the romance EXP I lost dealing with Matilda was only temporary!
The experience I’ve gained from being trained by these girls isn’t going anywhere!
I landed a critical hit.
“My, my. Was that it? You’re built like a mountain, yet you ask for affection like a child.”
“I can’t help it when I’m with you, Diana-nuna.”
“Hmph. Is that so? Truly, it cannot be helped. Here, have a seat. I shall make a special exception, just for today.”
Diana approached with a satisfied smile, stood on her tiptoes, and patted my head. Then she took my hand and led me to the chair she had been sitting in.
Hahahat! See that? This is experience! This is what you call crisis aversion!
I won’t be the one on the receiving end forever…!
“Hmph. So you wanted to eat with Diana that badly. Should I switch tonight’s turn with her, too?”
If only Diana had been the only one here, it would have been perfect.
“S-Sara. Calm down.”
“What are you talking about? I’m perfectly calm. Do I look like I’m rampaging?”
Yes. Your expression might be blank, but I can see the flames of jealousy raging behind you.
“Hehe. Please calm down, Sara. Today is your night with Guwon, so I’m sure he’s just trying to soothe us during dinner. Right, Guwon?”
And in this moment of crisis, the one who came to my rescue was, as always, my angel.
My angel! I love you! Your halo is dazzling! And your breasts are the best, too!
“A-As expected of Leia! You know me so well! Sara, I’m sorry, but please look forward to tonight.”
I offered infinite thanks and praise in my heart to the angel who sat beside me and subtly wrapped her arms around mine, then turned to Sara and spoke.
“……”
H-Huh? The flames of fury radiating from behind Sara… aren’t subsiding?
In fact, I feel like they’ve gotten even stronger…
Despite that, Sara said nothing more and simply ate her meal in silence.
What’s with her? Acting like that is even scarier.
Feeling uneasy, I spent the entire meal cracking jokes, paying more attention to Sara in front of me than to Diana on my lap or Leia by my side.
But Sara didn’t react at all, maintaining an expression that showed she was displeased about something.
Her anger seemed to have subsided a little, but in its place, I could see another negative emotion. What on earth was it?
By the time we finished eating, Sara’s mood hadn’t improved.
She said she was going to wash up and headed to the bathroom, but she’s not going to just not come back, is she?
“Haaaah…”
Contrary to my worries, Sara did come to my room after washing up.
Though she let out a heavy sigh the moment she walked in.
Ever since Sara and I connected our hearts—no, ever since we started sleeping together, I don’t think I’ve ever seen her so reluctant to spend the night with me.
“Sara? Are you still mad?”
“No. It’s not that.”
Sara shook her head with a deep sigh.
“…Hey, Guwon. Do you really want me to switch with Diana or Leia?”
“S-Sara?! Did I really do something wrong?! Please, just tell me!”
“No. You didn’t do anything wrong. It’s just my problem.”
“What kind of problem is it? Talk to me.”
I pulled Sara into a tight hug so she couldn’t escape and stared into her gloomy eyes as I spoke.
“…It’s just… my Charm is low…”
“What are you talking about?! Sara, you’re beautiful!”
“I know that much!”
Ah, so she knows. Right. Well. I knew she was confident in her looks. Right.
No. Then what’s the problem?
“But compared to Diana or Leia… And I don’t know for sure, but probably even Silvia and Miss Matilda…”
I see. So that’s what it is.
I think I understood why Sara was feeling insecure.
As it happened, I could see Charm as a numerical value. Well, it was limited to those on whom I’d bestowed the Apostle’s Seal.
And as it also happened, among them, Sara had the lowest Charm stat.
If it were just low, that would be one thing, but for a while, it’s impossible for that stat to even increase.
Of course she’d be anxious.
On top of that, the fact that the first person I made a move on in the dining hall happened to be Diana, the one with the highest Charm, must have played a part.
Perhaps—no, she must have misunderstood, thinking I did it because Diana’s Charm was the highest.