Chapter 65: The Beastkin Priestess
Chapter 65: The Beastkin Priestess
“So you’re saying Leia drains life force through that act?”
The High Priestess’s already stern-looking face hardened as she spoke with a grave expression.
“To determine the cause, Leia has even slept with a male High Priest before. If what you say is true, there’s no way he would have died without being able to heal himself, is there?”
That was something Guwon had already considered on his own.
He had several hypotheses.
First, it was possible Leia’s body had been taken over, preventing the priest from using his healing magic. After all, a priest’s healing magic, much like a mage’s spell, required a preliminary action like putting one’s hands together in prayer and chanting an incantation.
But could someone of a High Priest’s caliber really be unable to cast healing magic without an incantation?
If so, there was also the possibility that he didn’t even realize his life force was being drained.
Even Guwon hadn’t noticed until he saw his own health bar.
Blinded by the strangely intense pleasure Leia provided, he might have simply died without ever knowing his life force was being siphoned away.
Finally, there was the possibility that he had run out of divine power.
Just kissing Leia had been enough to make Guwon’s health bar visibly deplete. If a priest’s life force was being drained at that speed, he would probably have to cast healing magic over and over again. It was possible he had kept healing himself until his divine power was completely exhausted.
He couldn’t be certain which was the correct answer, but Guwon organized his hypotheses and explained them.
The High Priestess’s face grew even more rigid.
“Then how did you manage to escape?”
“Me? Well… thanks to my job, there was something I could do even in that state… When I made Leia reach her climax, she let go.”
“Do not lie to me! We priests are second to none in that department. You’re telling me you accomplished what a High Priest could not?” the High Priestess exclaimed, as if she couldn’t possibly believe it.
Seriously? I thought you said there were lots of outsiders here with special jobs. Is it really that strange? Why is she being so defensive?
Besides, no matter how much they prided themselves on being second to none, they had probably only polished their techniques. It was impossible to escape without a skill like mine.
But looking at the High Priestess’s stern face, it seemed she wouldn’t understand no matter how much he tried to explain it with words.
“Fine. Then I’ll prove it to you directly.”
Guwon activated Saint’s Touch and reached for the High Priestess’s voluptuous chest… but that would be a huge mistake, wouldn’t it?
Where should I touch her…?
Anywhere he touched seemed like it would be sexual harassment.
Damn it. Why are women’s bodies so full of places you can’t just touch?
After a moment of deliberation, Guwon simply gave the High Priestess’s earlobe a light touch. Among a woman’s major erogenous zones, it seemed to be the only place he could touch and get away with just a scolding.
“What is this…! What do you think you’re doing?”
The High Priestess’s eyebrow twitched slightly in what looked like surprise, but she immediately composed her expression and glared at Guwon.
Huh? It didn’t work? Don’t tell me…
Guwon hastily used Analyze on the High Priestess.
As he feared, he couldn’t see her level or job.
I’m screwed. Just like with Diana before her reincarnation, it seemed the skill wasn’t working because of the level difference.
Realizing the situation, Guwon panicked and started babbling.
“I-I’m telling the truth! If you really don’t believe me, would you like to watch me and Leia do it?”
“What utter nonsense are you spouting now!” the High Priestess roared.
Whoops. Is showing or watching others have sex a taboo for priests or something?
“Leia. I still think a party with a man like this is…”
“Guwon-ssi is just an outsider, so he doesn’t know the common sense of this place yet.”
“Are you saying you truly wish to travel with this man?”
“Yes. I feel that if I’m with Guwon-ssi, I might be able to cure this condition. And you felt it too, didn’t you, High Priestess?”
The High Priestess and Leia stared intently at each other for a long moment, exchanging a silent message.
“Hah… I suppose I have no choice. I will trust your intuition, Leia.”
“Thank you, High Priestess.”
“However, I cannot permit you to become a wandering priestess. You are a proud priestess of this temple. I will process the paperwork as a long-term dispatch.”
“High Priestess…”
“And Leia. As you know, let us keep what happens to you at night a secret confined to this place.”
“Yes.”
“You understand as well, don’t you?” the High Priestess asked, turning to Guwon.
“Yes. Of course.”
Guwon had absolutely no intention of blabbing about something like that.
“And!”
The High Priestess rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought for a moment, before pointing a finger squarely at Guwon.
“Y-Yes?!”
“There is a condition for taking Leia with you. From now on, you must visit this temple once a week.”
“What? Why?”
“Do you really think I can entrust our Leia to a man like you who lacks all common sense? I will personally drill the common sense of this world into you.”
The High Priestess fixed Guwon with a strict gaze.
Damn it… Don’t tell me I have to study even after coming to this world. No way.
“Um… I’m an adventurer, so once a week might be a little difficult…”
As Guwon made a last-ditch excuse, the High Priestess shot him a glare before speaking as if she had no other choice.
“Then at the very least, you will visit once after you return from the dungeon. Leia will be coming to the temple on her days off anyway, so you can come with her then.”
“Yes…”
It seemed there was no escaping the studying.
As Guwon answered dejectedly, the High Priestess spoke with displeasure.
“What’s with that reaction? Are you dissatisfied with such a simple condition for having our Leia as a companion?”
“No, not at all. I’m just speechless at my own incredible luck.”
Sigh… Fine. A little studying is nothing.
When he thought of Leia’s beauty as she stood beside him, covering her mouth and giggling as if she found his predicament amusing, it really was no big deal.
Guwon decided to look on the bright side.
By the time Guwon and Leia finally emerged from the temple after all the twists and turns, the sky was already growing dark.
“The sun has completely set.”
“It has. When I came out of the dungeon, it was still too early for dinner…”
Guwon trailed off as the reality of the situation finally hit him.
I’m so screwed. How many hours has it been since then?
“Guwon-ssi? What’s wrong?”
“Uh, huh? No, it’s nothing. Hey, Leia. Can we walk a little faster?”
He knew it was already too late, but in a final, desperate effort, Guwon quickened his pace to a near-sprint.
Of course, his actions were nothing more than locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.
“…Oh my, welcome back. You’re back so soon?”
“It seems my words mean nothing to you.”
“…I’m sorry.”
As he entered the inn, he saw Sara and Diana sitting side-by-side at a dining table with a view of the entrance.
They were just sitting there, but he could almost see an aura of fury radiating from their bodies.
Come to think of it, they’re a Hero and an Archmage. That aura might not be my imagination.
Guwon immediately dropped to his knees and begged.
I, Guwon, am a man who can kneel whenever necessary.
“I was wondering why you were so late, and here you are with Leia-ssi in tow. You must have had a wonderful time. Did you enjoy your date?”
“Of course he enjoyed it! It was a date he enjoyed while we sat in this dining room, waiting and waiting for him to return.”
Lately, Sara and Diana’s synergy seemed to be a little too perfect.
“No. It’s not like that…”
“Then what is it like? Are you saying you have an excuse for what we told you when we parted ways?”
“No. An excuse?”
“Do you remember what I said to you? Recite it for me!”
“You told me not to get sidetracked.”
“And what did you say then?”
“‘I’m not a k-kid…’”
“And you still have something to say for yourself?”
“No. Just that I’m sorry…”
At Guwon’s words, Diana shot up from the table.
“You clearly don’t take my words seriously. It seems I’ll have to take this opportunity to make my position perfectly clear. You had best prepare yourself for tonight.”
The voice with which Diana spoke was filled with a dignity befitting the title of Archmage.
“Wait a minute, Diana. Tonight? But today is my turn, isn’t it?”
But it seemed even that dignity was ineffective against a Hero.
Sara mercilessly shot down Diana’s declaration.
“W-Well?! B-But my words were…”
“He ignored my words just the same. Diana, you can have tomorrow night…”
“But we can’t do it if we go to the dungeon tomorrow!”
The two, who had just been showing off their fantastic teamwork, suddenly started bickering.
“Everyone, I’m so sorry. It’s my fault.”
Leia smoothly inserted herself between the two who had suddenly started arguing.
“The truth is, the High Priestess was curious about the party I would be joining, so the paperwork didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped. I ran into Guwon-ssi on my way back to tell you all, and he’s been helping me with the process this whole time. It’s my fault for taking him with me, not realizing you would all be waiting.”
Leia bowed deeply as she spoke.
It was a perfect alibi, skillfully mixing truth and lies.
And on top of that, she was even sacrificing herself to protect Guwon.
She’s an angel. Angels really do exist.
A halo seemed to shine so brightly behind Leia that Guwon found it hard to look directly at her.
“N-No. Leia-ssi, you have nothing to apologize for.”
“You didn’t know. You are not the one who should be apologizing.”
“I’m really sorry. I should have told you before I left…”
Guwon didn’t miss his chance and immediately jumped in with an apology. He couldn’t let the opportunity Leia had created for him go to waste.
“Do you really think you’re sorry?”
“O-Of course. I mean it. If you want, I can work extra hard tonight and level you up twice as much as usual.”
Remembering Sara and Diana’s argument from a moment ago, Guwon answered instantly.
“Then I’ll see how you do and decide whether to forgive you. You said twice as much.”
Ugh. I said it myself, but twice as much… I can probably do it if I pull an all-nighter, right?
He’d already pulled an all-nighter yesterday, so he was a little worried… but at this point, all he could do was trust in Healing Sex!
Sara spoke coyly.
“I, for one, have not forgiven him yet.”
“Diana, you can have tomorrow night… We can just go to the dungeon tomorrow like we did today! I’ll do anything you say. I’ll spare no effort in cooperating with your research. Please, don’t be angry anymore.”
Seeing Diana’s expression flare up mid-sentence, Guwon hastily added more.
“There will not be a second time. If you ignore my words again, you had best be prepared.”
Diana’s words were filled with such a genuine spirit that they were firmly etched into Guwon’s mind.
It was easy to forget because of her appearance, but she was an Archmage. I’d better be careful from now on.
“I’m so glad.”
Leia turned her head toward Guwon and, winking the eye that Sara and Diana couldn’t see, gave him a little nod.
“But the three of you are really close, aren’t you?”
Watching them, Leia smiled and spoke in a tone that was partly envious.
Does it really look that way? I messed up and I’m getting chewed out.
Maybe in the eyes of an angel like her, everything in the world was filtered to look good.
“W-What are you talking about?”
“I-I am merely educating a disobedient child.”
Though Sara and Diana said as much, they didn’t seem displeased.
Seeing this, Leia just giggled.
“Leia is part of the party now, too. From now on, the four of us should get along, not just the three of you.”
Wanting to ride the current and create a harmonious atmosphere, Guwon tossed out a cliché line he’d probably heard somewhere.
“Oh my. Hehe. Yes.”
As expected, Leia responded to Guwon’s words with a top-tier smile.
Mmm. That’s me. I’ve perfectly ridden the wave.
Guwon was inwardly pleased with himself, but when he turned his head toward the table, Sara and Diana’s expressions had somehow turned terrifying again.
Wait, why? What did I do?
“On second thought, I believe you still require a bit of a lecture. Have a seat over there.”
“I agree. We need to give him a stern warning so that something like this doesn’t happen again.”
In the end, Guwon had to endure being scolded by Sara and Diana throughout the entire meal.