Chapter 495: Aftermath
Chapter 495: Aftermath
Come to think of it, Matilda has been acting like that lately.
She’s been that way ever since before we entered the dungeon—or to be more precise, ever since she got back from the temple.
I'd forgotten about it for a moment because of the whole shipwreck incident.
I don't know what she discussed with the Pope, but has the issue still not been resolved?
Ah, right. She said she was on the 4th floor the entire time I was stranded.
It seems she prioritized finding me over her duties to the Church. And now that I'm back safely, she's fallen back into her worries.
For a Cardinal to prioritize me over the Church's affairs... Matilda really is... No. Maybe it's just because I'm the Saint, which makes me an important figure to the Church as well.
Speaking of which, I wonder if the Church also mobilized to find me when I was missing?
Since the ladies from the Mage Association are here in the same mansion, I knew right away that they'd helped, but I never paid attention to the Church's response.
“…Hey. When you were looking for me, did more people get involved besides the Mage Association?”
“What are you talking about now...? Of course they did. Matilda was trying to call in people from the Church, and Silvia contacted the princess to send the knight order. It was absolute chaos.”
As I asked this, savoring the feeling of Silvia trembling in my arms, Sara, who was pouting slightly beside me, answered.
…For real? Not just the Church, but the royal family too?
It seems the commotion was far bigger than I'd imagined.
“There aren't many in the Church who can swim, so we weren't much help. At most, we were only able to ask the clerics who were already working as adventurers on the 4th floor.”
“I-I, too... The number of knight orders in the entire kingdom capable of underwater combat is limited, so... um... before they could even arrive....”
Matilda and Silvia were being modest, but I thought they had done more than enough.
They couldn't search for me themselves because they can't swim, but they were still trying this hard for me.
“No. The important thing is that you did all that for me. Thank you. I should go to the temple and the palace later to offer my thanks in person.”
“Aeuuut....”
“N-No... It was for you....”
When I expressed my sincere gratitude, Silvia and Matilda each showed their own unique reactions. Seriously, are they always like this, even at times like these?
Can they really end up with me like this?
Especially Silvia. If I give you an Apostle's Seal, are you going to die of happiness for real?
“But Matilda, you managed to contact the Church just fine. A man... Ah, wait, did Silvia go with you?”
“Hah! Y-Yes. That's right. We both had to use communication magic anyway. And swimming, too....”
When I said that with a look of disbelief, Matilda, startled out of her rosy-cheeked mode, trailed off in her reply.
I see. I thought the combination of Silvia and Matilda was a bit awkward yesterday, but it seems they got closer by going around together for that reason.
Well, still, spending the whole day in the bathroom together is strange.
No... I have a rough idea of what they were doing.
I didn't notice yesterday, but Matilda's answer just now gave me a hint.
In that case, they must be doing it today, too... Should I probe a little?
“Silvia....”
“Hiiik! Y-Yeees...?”
When I brought my lips to Silvia's ear and whispered softly, she stiffened, looking like she was about to cry as she answered.
Hey. Don't cry. I just got hit with Sara's weird tear attack a moment ago, don't you start with a weird tear attack of your own.
No, I know you'd be crying from pleasure. But aren't tears of joy usually different from this?
Whatever. In any case, it looks like she's unable to think straight, just as I planned.
“Are you going to be in the bathroom with Matilda all day today, too?”
“Y-Yeees... Ehet....”
“S-Silvia!”
Silvia answered with absurd simplicity.
Immediately after, she must have realized her mistake and covered her mouth, and Matilda also hurriedly tried to stop her, but I had already heard the answer.
“I see. I wonder what the two of you were doing in the bathroom, hiding it from me?”
“Huuup. G-G-G-Guwon! N-No...!”
“W-Wait a moment. Please don't misunderstand. I-It's not what you're thinking!”
When I spoke with a meaningful smile, both of them reacted intensely.
Silvia turned her upper body back, took a deep breath, then placed a hand on my chest and shook her head. Matilda's face turned bright red as she hastily denied it.
“Hm? What I'm thinking?”
“A-Are you trying to make me say it with my own mouth? H-How shameless!”
It was only after seeing Matilda's reaction that I realized there was some huge misunderstanding between us.
“Shameless... No. Hey! What do you take me for! I wasn't thinking anything like that this time!”
Do these girls think that's all I ever think about?!
No. Fine. I can let it slide with Matilda. But you too, Silvia... On second thought, I do hug and tease Silvia whenever I see her. Yeah. It's understandable they'd think that.
Of course, that doesn't mean I have any intention of holding back from now on.
Quite the opposite. Since this is how they see me anyway, I'll just have to drive Silvia to death by happiness even more intensely in the future!
With that resolve, I forcefully pulled Silvia's body, her hand still on my chest, into a tight hug.
“You idiot... 'This time' means you usually do think like that....”
Sara, you stay out of it and be quiet!
What's wrong with a guy having lewd thoughts! It's an instinct engraved in our genes!
“Haaah... Well, whatever. I get it now.”
“A-Aren't you going to question us further?”
“What's there to question? You two were probably just practicing swimming. You kept it a secret from me so I wouldn't worry unnecessarily, right? So that I, tired from just having returned, could rest without a care in the world. Am I wrong?”
“Ugh... W-Well... you're right.”
When I said that, Matilda replied with a slightly humiliated expression.
Why the long face? You guys are fundamentally good-natured, so you're easy to predict.
“Let me be clear, you don't have to worry about me at all. In fact, just sitting or lying around all day makes me feel even more sluggish. I'd welcome helping you with swimming practice. It's a good way to kill time. And above all....”
It's a legitimate way to enter the bathroom and observe your bodies. Since you're practicing swimming in the bathroom, you must be naked, right?
I'm at the point where I want to beg you to let me help.
“...Above all, what?”
“No, it's nothing. Anyway, I'd like to help, but I have some business to attend to today.”
As I said that, I glanced over at Diana.
Diana was still lost in thought, muttering something under her breath.
Despite all the noise we're making right next to her, her concentration is incredible. As expected of the great Archmage.
“Sorry, but it'll be difficult today.”
“N-No. We were planning on doing it with just the two of us from the start. You have nothing to apologize for.”
As she said that, Matilda wore a strange expression.
Hm? What's with her? Surely she's not going to say she feels a sense of dissonance because I'm being too earnest again, right?
“Um... Guwon...?”
Just then, Leia, who had been quietly eating and listening to our conversation, lightly wiped her mouth and spoke to me in a cautious voice.
“Yeah? What is it?”
“Well... don't you think it might be dangerous if you don't let go of Silvia soon?”
“Huh? Gasp! S-Silviaaa!”
Silvia, held in my arms, had at some point stopped trembling and was smiling peacefully, as if she were about to pass on to the next life.
No wonder she's been so quiet! Was this why Matilda was making that face! You should have said something sooner!
“Guwon... I'm a goner....”
Usually in these situations, Silvia would say she wasn't dead, but it seemed she had been overstimulated for too long this time, reaching her limit.
Silvia muttered as if leaving her last words just before passing on.
“W-What are you talking about! I can't let you die like this! Quick, the defibrillator...! Dammit. Of course something like that wouldn't exist in this world! In that case, let's do this the fantasy world way, with a prince's kiss...!”
“A ki... Hieeeee?!”
Ah, she's alive.
The moment she heard the word 'kiss,' Silvia instantly flailed to her feet and ran to a corner.
It seems even in her post-bliss state, a kiss is too much for her to handle.
She revived just from the thought of it, without me even doing anything. Just how low is her resistance?
“Silvia. Come here.”
“N-N-No! I'll die!”
I beckoned to Silvia again, but unlike before, she shook her head and resisted desperately.
“I told you to stop playing with Silvia. What are you going to do if she actually dies one of these days?”
Sara said with a deep sigh, as if she'd half given up on my teasing of Silvia.
No. I mean, I am trying to control myself. I just got caught up in the conversation and forgot for a moment.
But just as Sara said, I felt bad holding her any longer, so I let Silvia go and decided to eat.
I'd had enough of my Silvia-therapy, anyway.
“Alright, first! Miss Sara! Try taking your hand off this man's body.”
After finishing our meal, Sara, Diana, and I gathered in a room.
To treat Sara's age regression, of course.
Oh, for the record, Leia went to the bathroom with Silvia and Matilda.
She said she wouldn't be much help on our end, so she'd go help them instead.
That angel is a help just by being near me. Mostly for my own peace of mind.
Anyway, after the three of us came to the room, Diana immediately looked at Sara and spoke.
“What? But if I let go....”
“We are trying to ascertain at what distance, and for how long, you can endure it. And during that time, I want you to pay close attention to the emotions you yourself are feeling, Miss Sara.”
Even if we're testing it... Diana, you saw her cry when she let go for just a second before.
That's what I thought, but Sara nodded as if she understood something.
“I-I see. Then... I'll do it.”
After taking a deep breath, Sara slowly pulled her hand away from mine.
The distance grew... one centimeter... five... By the time it reached about ten centimeters, Sara's body began to tremble.
Oh, she's holding out a little better than before.
Has she stabilized a bit from spending time with me?
No. Considering there wasn't much progress as of last night, that seems unlikely.
…Could it be because we had sex?
Maybe the Healing Sex helped. The skill description does say it increases natural healing ability.
Since problems like the one Sara is experiencing usually resolve naturally over time, it's possible that falls within the scope of the natural healing ability boosted by Healing Sex.
“Uuuut...! Waaaaah... I knew it, I can't do iiiit! I don't wanna be away from Guwoooon!”
But the time Sara's hand was off my body didn't last long.
Before long, Sara grabbed my hand again, and even then, she couldn't seem to calm down, sniffling.
“Hmm. Just as I thought. It appears she has recovered a little.”
And seeing Sara like that, Diana nodded as if she had expected it.
“Huh? Just as you thought?”
“Well... it is because you two mixed bodies.”
When I asked, Diana averted her gaze and muttered quietly, as if she didn't particularly want to talk about last night.
But that meant Diana also thought the reason for Sara's recovery was Healing Sex.
“So. Miss Sara. I apologize for asking while you are crying, but I have a question. What did you feel when you were separated from this man? Can you put it into words?”
“Sniffle... Yes. I can... Uuu... Guwon, can you cover your ears?”
Ooh. A cute reaction from Sara while she's in her right mind for once.