Chapter 739: The 6th Apostle
Chapter 739: The 6th Apostle
“……Huh?”
In response to my question, Vanessa looked utterly shocked.
And this time, I don’t mean surprised by her standards—she looked genuinely, visibly shocked, the way any normal person would.
Seeing Vanessa with her eyes wide in surprise, I felt a strange sense of accomplishment.
Of course she’d be surprised.
Well, to be honest, even as I said it, I was incredibly surprised myself.
I mean, of all my women, Vanessa was the only one I hadn’t been able to appoint as an Apostle, right?
So after I came inside her, I just tried using Apostle Appointment without any real expectations… or rather, almost unconsciously.
But what do you know, it actually activated.
Because I was focusing on our sweet conversation and used the skill unconsciously, I was also super surprised when the seal configuration window suddenly popped up in front of me.
What was even more pathetic was that even now, I had no idea why I hadn’t been able to appoint her as an Apostle until this point.
It seemed almost certain that, like in a game, each person had some kind of quest that triggered a change of heart, but I couldn't figure out what Vanessa's crucial quest had been.
There were so many possibilities that it was actually harder to pinpoint one.
Maybe, as Vanessa had said, I’d truly neglected her for too long.
After all, our relationship had progressed quite a bit in the time between the last time we were together and today.
We’d had our first date, I’d gotten her to wear casual clothes, and although I said it indirectly, I’d even told her I’d like it if she showed her Dragonian form more often. I’d even tried to place myself above Diana in her heart.
Well, that last one was more of an attempt than a successful execution.
Anyway, that was all the progress we'd made until now, and on top of that, we'd made quite a bit of progress today, too.
For example, getting Vanessa to wear casual clothes inside the mansion on her own.
No, it wasn't that I made her; she chose to wear them herself.
In any case, what might seem like a trivial act was probably a huge step forward for Vanessa.
It meant that Vanessa, who had always acted strictly as a butler in the mansion, had broken out of that mold on her own.
In fact, just a little while ago, she’d even said herself that she wasn’t a butler at that moment.
And another thing: just now, she had moved the hand covering her face and openly showed me her embarrassed expression.
This, too, could be seen as her heart's door opening even wider.
Hmph. To say that I wasn't acting purely on lewd thoughts today... no, that's probably too much of a bluff.
Well, it might be half-forcing the pieces to fit, but it was certain that you could see it that way depending on your perspective.
Anyway, with so many potential clues, it actually became harder to figure out what Vanessa's quest was.
Well, I've cleared it anyway, so what's the point in figuring it out now?
Besides, right now, sharing this joy with the Vanessa in front of me is more important than worrying about what the condition was.
Having sorted out my thoughts while we both caught our breath after climaxing, I did my best to act nonchalant as I told Vanessa the news that I could appoint her as an Apostle.
“Hh… Mmph…!”
“So, where do you want it?”
Vanessa's eyes were wide as if asking what I meant, but she wasn't making that face because she hadn't heard me.
On the contrary, she was making that face precisely because she had heard me.
So I gave her parted lips another light kiss and pressed her for an answer.
And I didn't miss how Vanessa's gaze reflexively darted toward her own lower abdomen when she heard my question.
“So you want it on your lower abdomen, just like Diana?”
She must know where Diana's Apostle's Seal is.
There was that time Sara wore low-rise pants, and Diana made a fuss, saying she would show off her Apostle's Seal too.
No, even without that, I'm sure Vanessa would know the location of Diana's seal.
I know she helps her dress and bathe, after all.
“……”
But in response to my question, Vanessa didn't readily nod.
No. In fact, she seemed subtly displeased.
Though maybe it just felt that way because her surprised face had returned to its usual expressionless state.
“…Sir Guwon.”
“Hm?”
“Sir Guwon, where would you like it?”
And after a brief silence, the answer that came from her lips wasn't an expression of her own will, but a question asking for my opinion.
“Me? You want me to put it where I want?”
“……Yes.”
“The place I want to put it isn't there. Are you okay with that?”
“Ngh… Hah… Yes….”
As I spoke, tracing my fingertips over her smooth lower abdomen, Vanessa gave a slight shiver and replied.
And the moment I heard her answer, my earlier suspicion was confirmed.
It wasn't just my imagination because her face had gone blank again.
She really did look slightly upset.
But why? This is the moment she should be happiest, the moment we're engraving the Apostle's Seal after our hearts have connected.
The idea that she's unhappy about getting the seal itself is out of the question.
If that were the case, the Apostle Appointment wouldn't have even activated in the first place.
But if that's true, then the reason she's suddenly upset must be something else… Ah, wait a minute. Come to think of it, both times she looked displeased were when I mentioned Diana.
Does that mean… really?
I never even considered she’d be like this, but thinking about it now, I was definitely being insensitive.
“Kghh…?!”
As a sign of my repentance, I squeezed the hand I had wedged between the bed and her chest, gripping her large breast from the side.
“Sorry. I said something strange. But you don't have to be so jealous. You know, right? The fact that the Apostle Appointment activated properly means that it's not just you—I've fallen head over heels for you, too.”
That's right. The reason she looked upset just now was none other than jealousy.
Because another woman's name came out of my mouth while we were having sex, at the very moment I was about to appoint her as an Apostle.
Even if that woman was Diana, whom she respected so deeply, Vanessa couldn't help but feel jealous.
Perhaps my plan to make myself more important than Diana in Vanessa's heart was proceeding much more smoothly than I thought.
No. Even if Diana was more important to her, maybe anyone would get unconsciously jealous in a situation like that.
“Ngh…!”
Hearing me point it out, Vanessa's eyes widened again as she stared at me.
Seeing her reaction, it seemed Vanessa herself hadn't realized she'd been jealous of Diana.
Only after I pointed it out did she finally become conscious of her own feelings.
“Ah, don't you try to deny it now. You've fallen head over heels for me too, haven't you?”
But if we keep talking about this, Diana's name will just keep coming up.
She reacted with jealousy because she didn't like that, so I can't keep doing it.
Therefore, even though I knew exactly why Vanessa had just let out that moan, I deliberately pretended not to and guided the conversation elsewhere.
“I… have never tried to do such a thing.”
And Vanessa, for her part, followed my lead well.
“Really? Then were you just embarrassed to hear that I've fallen head over heels for you?”
“……”
“You always clam up when you're at a disadvantage.”
“…That is not it.”
Having taken complete control of the conversation, I continued teasingly, but in the warmest voice I could manage.
However, it seemed my dear butler had no intention of just meekly letting me have my way.
“Then?”
“It is merely that, since I have not yet received the Apostle's Seal, I was thinking that I have no way of knowing if the Apostle Appointment has truly activated.”
And the butler's counterattack was far more powerful than I'd imagined.
“Hey! Doubting me on this is just too much, don't you think?! You think I'd lie about something like that?! I'm telling you, it really activated!”
“…Then please hurry and engrave the seal.”
“You don't have to tell me… Hah.”
I almost fell for Vanessa's provocation, but I caught myself mid-sentence and realized the true meaning behind her words.
“…What is it?”
“You could just honestly say you're so excited to get the Apostle's Seal on your body that you don't know what to do.”
“…If it has activated, why are you not doing it?”
Look at her. She's not denying it, just trying to change the subject.
The sight of Vanessa looking toward my face but subtly avoiding eye contact couldn't have been more satisfying.
But as Vanessa said, I can't just keep delaying things like this.
First, I should hurry up and engrave the seal.
“Well, as you know, I've basically always engraved the Apostle's Seal on an erogenous zone.”
Though there are exceptions, like Matilda.
No, in a way, you could say Matilda's was placed on a proper erogenous zone, couldn't you?
Well, anyway.
“But my naughty Vanessa has two of the most sensitive spots. So I'm trying to decide where I should put it.”
“Ngh…!”
Vanessa herself must know exactly which two spots I'm talking about.
Her thick tail, lying limp on the bed, quivered once, and Vanessa whipped her head to face forward—which, from my perspective as she lay on her side, was away from me.
“Getting all embarrassed.”
“…I am not embarrassed.”
As I poked her cheek, Vanessa forced a blunt tone and talked back again.
“Really? You look embarrassed to me.”
“It is just….”
“Hm?”
Wait a minute. This development, just like before...
“It is just that I was thinking the good mood we had was completely ruined by what you just said, Sir Guwon.”
I was momentarily flustered, but fortunately, what came out of Vanessa's mouth this time was something I could handle.
“Really? I think the mood couldn't be any better right now.”
“Hahh… Nn… Mmph… Mmm… Heuh….”
I grabbed her horn and turned her head to face upward again, then gave her lips a soft kiss.
It was a rather sticky kiss, but one without tongue, using only our lips.
After giving her lower lip a final nip with my own, I pulled away to see that Vanessa's expressionless face had softened slightly.
“You feel it too, don't you? So how about you stop blaming the mood with words you don't mean and just be honest? The truth is, you were just embarrassed, right?”
“…That is not it.”
I smoothed back her messy hair with my hand and spoke in a gentle voice, but it seemed Vanessa still had no intention of being honest.
She's really something else.
Well, a person's personality doesn't change that easily.
And this side of her is part of her charm.
Thinking that, I was about to let it go for today, but Vanessa wasn't finished speaking.
“…isn't it.”
“Hm?”
“If you engrave it on my horns or tail… it won't be visible normally, will it.”
“……”
“…Wouldn't it be better if you said something?”
Hearing Vanessa's words, I was so shocked that I just stared blankly without saying anything. Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Vanessa averted her gaze and muttered.
“You're Vanessa, right?”
“Ngh! What is that sup—Hnghh…!”
Ah, sorry. You said something that really got to me, so I couldn't help but move my hips.
“Hahh… Hah… S-So… the seal….”
It seemed Vanessa had no intention of calling me out on it either, as she panted and pressed me for an answer.
Well, she must have been quite embarrassed saying it.
She wouldn't be satisfied until she heard my answer.
“Hm? Ah, yeah. Of course I'm going to put it on your horns or tail.”
“Wha…!?”
“You wanted me to put it where I want, right?”
“That… hngh… is true, but….”
“And I like the horns or the tail.”
“…That's unfair.”
As I deliberately whispered in a pleasant voice right by her ear, Vanessa muttered as if she'd finally given up.
Come to think of it, she said that was unfair earlier, too.
Wait. Then could it be that she said it for the same reason back then?
Finally understanding the hidden meaning behind Vanessa's words after we'd already finished, I felt my emotions surge once again.
I'm telling you, your ways of showing affection are so hard to understand. Though that's what makes you so damn cute.
“Ngh… that expression again….”
I hadn't said anything out loud, but it seemed my inner thought—that Vanessa was so cute I could die—was transmitted to her directly.
Vanessa bit her lip slightly and averted her gaze again.
Alright. I've decided.
The Apostle's Seal is best viewed together with that expression of hers when she occasionally breaks character.
“Anyway, if that's the case, then hurr—Hieeeeeeegh!?”
Without even waiting for Vanessa to press me, I engraved the Apostle's Seal on her horns.
So that the outstretched wings would trace along each of the two horns.
This way, the heart shape at the crown of her head would be hidden by her hair, but that wasn't really important.
And the moment the Apostle's Seal was engraved, Vanessa, just as I'd hoped, beautifully shattered her expressionless facade, revealing a face overwhelmed with happiness.