Chapter 598: The Conditions for Apostle Appointment
Chapter 598: The Conditions for Apostle Appointment
Of course, it was still too early to declare that my hypothesis—that a quest was necessary for an Apostle Appointment—had been proven.
Still, it was certain that an event that could be considered a quest had occurred for all of my girls.
Since I couldn’t think of any other reason why the Apostle Appointment might have failed, I decided to proceed under the assumption that a quest really did exist.
It was a little surprising that Matilda’s quest wasn’t ‘to break the curse’ but rather ‘to treat her normally while she was cursed,’ but the logic was no different from the others.
In other words, it was about soothing a heart wounded by trauma.
In games, quests to unlock the affection limit were usually like this, which lent even more weight to my hypothesis that a quest was needed for an Apostle Appointment.
But there were still some unanswered questions.
If my hypothesis was correct, then what in the world was Vanessa’s quest?
Soothing a heart wounded by trauma.
Looking at it that way, it would be natural for Vanessa’s quest to be about helping her overcome the trauma passed down through the Dragonian race.
The problem, however, was that Matilda’s quest wasn’t about breaking her curse.
It wasn’t about breaking the curse, but about treating her normally while she was cursed.
Applying that to Vanessa’s situation, it meant her quest was likely not about overcoming her Dragonian trauma, but rather ‘to affirm her Dragonian state and treat her normally.’
But I already did that! What more am I supposed to do?!
That’s the whole reason Vanessa fell for me in the first place! Isn’t that quest complete?!
Goddess! There’s a system error! I need a bug fix!
I looked up and protested vehemently in my mind, but of course, the Goddess didn’t respond.
If she could respond, she would have clarified that contract or whatever it was she made with me. Dammit.
“Y-You…?”
As I remained silent for a while after hearing her confession, Matilda, unable to bear the awkwardness, called my name while trembling with embarrassment.
Oops. She went so far as to confess in front of everyone. I can’t just leave her hanging.
“Hm? Ah, sorry. I was just thinking for a moment. Thank you for telling me. I love you.”
“Ahh. I love you toooo….”
When I said that with a smile, Matilda replied in an enraptured voice, wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed me.
“Hey. You idiot! Is this the time for that?!”
At the same time, Sara pinched my side and shot a look toward Vanessa.
Hey. You saw it too, I didn’t kiss her, she kissed me.
You’re just jealous, so you’re using Vanessa as an excuse to pinch me, aren’t you?!
Besides, Vanessa is the one who refused to even become my woman out of consideration for Diana. She’s not going to get jealous over something like this like you would. Right, Vanessa?
“……”
Huh? Wait a minute. Why do I get the feeling her eyes have gotten a little colder…?
Well, whatever… Vanessa’s issue is the priority, so I’ll let this go for now.
I placed my hands on Matilda’s shoulders and gently pushed her away.
“Aahnn…”
Hey. Stop making weird noises, will you?!
You were just embarrassed to confess in front of everyone a moment ago! Isn’t this even more embarrassing?!
“A-Anyway. I think I get the gist of it.”
Of course, the only thing I understood was that some kind of quest was likely necessary for an Apostle Appointment. I still had no clue what Vanessa’s quest could be.
“Hoo… Alright. Then for now…”
I need to have a one-on-one talk with Vanessa and figure out what this quest is.
The moment I was about to say that, I heard my name being called from an unexpected direction.
“E-Excuse me… Sir Guwon… I’m sorry to interrupt….”
It was the maid who had said she would be in charge of me for the day.
“Yes?”
“U-Um… W-Well… a gift has arrived for you, Sir Guwon….”
As not only my gaze but everyone else’s suddenly focused on her, the maid seemed quite flustered. Fidgeting, she held out a fruit basket to me.
This is…
I didn’t need to be told who sent the fruit basket. I hastily checked the time. And just as I expected, it was almost lunchtime.
“Hoo… Right. Did she say anything when she gave this to you?”
“N-No…. It seemed like she had something to say, but in the end, she just left.”
Again? At this point, it’s hard to believe she just dropped it off as a get-well gift.
She’s been avoiding me for several days since I got back from the dungeon. I should probably go see her soon.
But Vanessa… haah… I have too much to do these days. And I hate complicated things.
I guess I’ll just have to tackle them one by one.
“Vanessa. I need to talk to you. Everyone, I’ll be right back.”
I grabbed the arm of Vanessa, who was still standing silently a step behind Diana, and led her into a nearby empty room.
Vanessa flinched when I grabbed her arm but followed me without a word.
“…What is it, sir?”
“What do you think? It’s about the Apostle Appointment, of course. It’s not certain yet, but I think I might have a rough idea of why it failed.”
“Wha-?! Really?! What is the reason?!”
The moment I said that, Vanessa took a step closer, pressing her body against mine as she asked.
She was pretending to be stoic, but it seemed Vanessa really wanted to receive the Apostle Appointment too.
“The reason is…”
I was about to tell her about the quest to reassure her, but right before I spoke, a thought occurred to me.
Wait. Is it okay to tell her this?
I’m calling it a quest for convenience, like in a game, but in a word, this process is about unlocking the heart’s defenses.
If I tell her about it, how will she take it?
Even if my actions are sincere, she might perceive them as just something I’m doing to give her the Apostle Appointment—as an insincere act.
Would that even fulfill the quest conditions?
“…Sir Guwon?”
“Now that I think about it, I’m not sure how to explain it.”
“…Pardon?”
In the end, I concluded it would be better not to tell Vanessa.
So, I decided to fudge it with a mysterious-looking expression.
Though my reaction seemed to make Vanessa a little anxious, as one of her eyebrows twitched.
“Don’t make that face. It’s not like there’s a serious problem. It’s just… how do I put it into words… something like that. Anyway, don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
“Does that mean the Apostle Appointment is possible right away?”
“No. Not that. This is… something that requires time.”
“…You mean… I haven’t been your woman for long enough?”
“Well, something like that. It’s something time will solve.”
Come to think of it, the quests with my other girls were resolved naturally over time as our bonds deepened, all without me even knowing they existed.
With Vanessa, too, if we continue this relationship, that unknown quest will probably be resolved someday. So saying that time will solve it wasn’t a lie.
“So don’t get impatient. Let’s just slowly deepen our relationship. Besides, the fact that the Apostle Appointment didn’t work doesn’t change how I feel about you, or how you feel about me, right?”
“Mmm… Haaah… Yes….”
As I said that and gently brought my face close to hers, Vanessa didn’t turn away and accepted my kiss.
“Let’s go, then.”
I stroked her hair, sweeping it back once, then took her arm again and returned to the dining hall.
“Then I shall go prepare the meal.”
Vanessa had let me hold her arm all the way back to the dining hall, but as soon as we arrived, she pulled her hand away and spoke in a stoic tone.
“What? Why? Isn’t today your day off?”
“I was feigning illness.”
As if she had nothing left to be embarrassed about now that I’d told everyone the whole story, Vanessa replied in a cool voice and walked briskly toward Diana.
“Lady Diana. I apologize for skipping work by feigning illness. I will return to my duties immediately.”
Diana, who was still sitting in the same spot with a puzzled look, wore a slightly troubled expression as she looked at Vanessa.
“O-Oh? Hmm. I see. You… you can take today off, you know?”
Because she had so strongly affirmed that Vanessa could continue her butler duties earlier, it seemed a bit awkward for her to say the complete opposite now. But, as if she had to say what needed to be said, Diana cautiously suggested Vanessa take the day off.
Although she had confessed before, today was the day she was truly united with me.
Diana probably wanted to take care of Vanessa.
“No. It is quite alright.”
“I-Is that so.”
But whether she understood Diana’s feelings or not, Vanessa flatly refused her offer.
She usually acts like she’ll do anything Diana says, but she can be so stubborn about things like this.
I decided to add a little more weight to Diana’s suggestion.
“Come on. Why don’t you just rest? I want to be with you today, too.”
“No. I believe it would be best for you to go to Miss Rachel, Sir Guwon.”
Of course, even with my support, Vanessa didn’t budge.
And for a completely unexpected reason.
“What? Why are you suddenly bringing up Rachel’s name?”
“Is she not weighing on your mind?”
“Well, I mean, yes, but… still, today I want to be with you…”
“I am truly fine.”
Slightly flustered, I rambled in my response, and of course, speaking like that was not going to break the stubborn Vanessa’s resolve.
Therefore, I had no choice but to resort to physical action.
“Ngh…!”
I cupped Vanessa’s cheeks with both hands and brought my face right up to hers, causing her body to stiffen.
Unlike a moment ago when she naturally accepted my kiss when we were alone, doing this in front of everyone seemed to make even Vanessa nervous.
Well, it’s not like I was planning to kiss her.
“Really. Are you really okay?”
I looked directly into Vanessa’s eyes from point-blank range and asked again.
“Hh… I am fine. Besides, even if I were with you, would your thoughts of Miss Rachel truly leave your mind?”
Vanessa flinched slightly, as if my breath tickling her face was bothering her, but she still replied in a cool tone.
“What are you talking about? Of course they would…”
Well, I guess I wouldn’t completely stop thinking about Rachel.
“And I… can see you every day at the mansion.”
Looking at me, unable to offer a complete denial, Vanessa then spoke as if to reassure me.
She seemed aware that saying something like this was out of character for her, because unlike her usual self, she mumbled it in a faint whisper, so quiet that the others couldn’t hear.
Of course, no matter how quiet her voice was, I heard it clearly from this close.
Aww! To think that Vanessa would say something so sweet!
I immediately tried to pull her face in for a kiss.
“My apologies. Please refrain from such acts while I am on duty.”
This time, however, her hand blocked my lips.
Seriously? You’re already on duty?
“Then, I must be going to prepare the meal.”
Gently removing my hands from her face, Vanessa spoke in a tone that sounded stoic at first glance, then walked briskly toward the kitchen.
“So. Are you finally going to explain the situation to us?”
“Y-Yes! In the end, why did I have to make such an embarrassing confession in front of everyone?!”
And my girls, who hadn’t heard the explanation for the failed Apostle Appointment and couldn’t grasp the situation, immediately bombarded me with questions as soon as my conversation with Vanessa was over.
I guess I should be thankful they waited until I was done talking with Vanessa.
More importantly, Matilda. Looks like your lovey-dovey mode is over, huh? Don’t glare at me with those teary eyes. I’ll explain everything.