Chapter 19
note : oh my god, it’s only one week in for school but these teachers are already giving out so many assignments… being 12th grader suck lol (can’t imagine how hard uni life would be, I’m fcked)
anyway… sorry for any errors, enjoy!
“Harold-san! Let’s do our best together today!”
When I arrived at the guild hall, Erina, who was waiting for me, came running like an excited child with a bright smile.
“Yeah…, you look like you’re in good mood today…?”
I responded appropriately to her bright words and looked around.
Before I arrived, the atmosphere among the people seemed tense, discomforted by Erina’s presence.
Some even appeared relieved after I came here too…
How on earth do people exude such an atmosphere every day before I come?Even Paulo, who is friendly to everyone, seemed to dislike Erina a little.
ssk
hug
Despite the numerous onlookers, Erina immediately embraced me, drawing everyone’s attention to our proximity.
As the crowd’s gaze fixated on us, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of embarrassment.
“E-Erina…?”
Even though we were exposed to everyone’s view, when I displayed reluctance, she hugged me even tighter, as if emphasizing the current situation rather than being ashamed of anything.
Her aggressive behavior right now is something that I had never experienced before, causing confusion to flood my mind and momentarily halting my ability to think clearly.
“Are you very surprised? Hehe, if that’s the case, I’m sorry, I’m in a good mood today~”
The reason behind Erina’s attitude was unclear, but she showed no mercy in the strength with which she held me around my waist, leaving no doubt about it.
note : something like this maybe?
Though her embrace appeared gentle, the pain I felt was far more intense than expected.
It may sound exaggerated, but I even feared that my back could be in trouble if luck wasn’t on my side.
Erina’s growth rate is terrifyingly fast, and thanks to her somewhat good mood today, her abilities seems like to be giving her a lot of strength, so it was a level that I couldn’t handle.
“O-Okay, can you let go now…? I can’t breathe properly…also everyone is looking at us…”
I tried to watch ask her as gently as possible, trying not to hurt her feelings-
ssssk…
I felt a sense of freedom after she let go of the hug.
“Haha… Is that so… After all, it’s a little odd to do this in front of people…? I’m sorry…”
Despite her words, anyone who observes her would notice a tinge of melancholy in her voice, as if her heart is hurt, along with her trembling shoulders.
It happened… she’s 100% disappointed…
It’s true that Erina’s growth has been remarkable and her progress has been exceptional, but along with that, her emotions seem to fluctuate much more frequently than before.
Dealing with her can be exhausting, especially when the changes in her emotions are so frequent compared to when we first met.
Even though there is a sense of incongruity in her actions, Erina is aware of her mistakes, and she is humble enough to reflect on them.
However, she struggles to hide her true feelings.
When she apologizes and bows her head when she did something wrong, there are moments where she refused to do so too.
According to the advice of Goddess Abne, she compared Erina current state to the second stage of growth as a person, and said that although she has achieved a certain degree of inner maturity, she is unstable and can easily be twisted.
Still, she said that this moment is a crisis, and that if we pass it well, I can get the results I want, so I have to try my best.
“It’s not that I hate it…, it’s just a little embarrassing in front of so many people…”
After those words were spoken, she appeared slightly relieved, but the atmosphere didn’t return to what it was before.
“Then…! I’ll hug you whenever there are no people…”
She whispered a soft murmur into my ear, ensuring no one else could hear it, and in response, I nodded, feeling a little nervous.
It appeared that she had made a decision on everything, but she didn’t take my feelings of being burdened into consideration…
ssk
“Hum~! What shall we do today, Harold-san~?”
Holding my hand, she led me to the quest board
◆◆◆
Shiiiingggg ㅡ!!!
Every time Erina swung her sword, humanoid pig monsters, slightly larger than the average adult male, fell like fallen leaves in front of a raging typhoon.
Her condition is good these days, but she seems to be in a particularly good mood today, so her steps and movements looks better.
“……”
This time, I just watched her as she was one step away, but there was something I realized while spending time with Erina recently.
Until now, there has been no progress with the original story.
In other words, the next main quest didn’t happen even after enough time had elapsed, as if progress had stopped after the Mir incident.
After I met her, the story was centered on Erina, not me, so at this point, I had no choice but to be certain.
The fact that Erina, the main character in the game, is very important to achieve the goal I want.
Not long ago, I already fought Mir, and now it’s time for an event related to Mir should happen ….
That arouse a question in my mind-
The quests we’ve undertaken thus far have been successful because the targets were unspecified monsters.
However, the situation with Mir is unique as she’s a specific individual rather than a generic foe.
And since I have already solved the Mir case, there is a blank space where Mir quest should be.
So, as the story progresses, what will happen if the time to subdue Mir approaches…
Will the guild confirm Mir’s survival and write a subjugation quest again, or will it be replaced with something else…
When those thoughts came to my mind, I couldn’t easily shake off the feeling of dread.
Erina excitedly declared-
“With this last monster, it’s the 30th! I caught twice as many as the 15 required for the quest, and I even received a bunch of pledge tokens too~!”
In the meantime, she handed me 5 tokens, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and exhaled a proud sigh, as if she had accomplished a job well done today.
Phew!
“…Then, shall we go back? How about taking a break here?”
Seeing that she was tired and breathing heavily, I suggested that she take a rest. She smiled happily, as if agreeing with the idea of taking a break.
“Sounds like a plan! Once I’ve collected all the magic stones and tokens, let’s take a break under the shady tree over there, Harold-san! Would that be okay?”
She asks if I would like to rest under the huge tree in front of us.
Just the thought of us, running around under the scorching sun and getting our clothes soaked, and then resting under the cool breeze in the shade, already brings a sense of relief.
“Huh…! Is it because spring is over and summer is coming? These days, the sun is hotter than the usual…”
As she leaned against a tree, her gaze fixed on the sunlight filtered through the branches and leaves, she spoke those words to me.
“It’s getting hotter and I think it’s going to be difficult to act outside for a long time…”
Swish!
When I tossed a bottle of water to her, she expressed a quick thank-you before promptly unscrewing the cap and taking a big gulp, quenching her thirst.
Gulp
Gulp!
Erina, who quickly drank all the water, shakes off the empty bottle upside down, but despite that, not a drop comes out.
Shake-
“Uh… I already drank it all…”
“Then drink a little of mine, too, because you sweat more than me, so I don’t mind.”
Despite my good intentions, she shook her head with a light smile as if saying it’s okay.
Shh…
“Erina?”
Instead, she sit close to me and rest her head on my shoulders.
“I can’t imagine how tough it is to run, but when I take a break, the exhaustion seems to hit me all at once… Oh, it’s so hot,”
She tries to get closer to me, wiping the sweat that has flowed down to her chin.
I’ve been wondering about Erina’s different words and actions as she just said it was obviously hot, but instead tried to get closer to me.
…
..
“Hey…Harold-san, do you remember the promise I made earlier?”
Leaning on my shoulder, she remained silent for a moment, then brought out those words at once.
“Promise…?”
Then she blushes and begins to tremble a little
“I said earlier at the guild, that if there were no people around us, I would hug you..?”
Ah…
Hearing her words, I briefly resented my past self, but since she had already expressed her feelings, I soon decided to just let her do it.
ssk..!
hug
As soon as I gave up and relaxed my body, she hugged me and touched my clothes moistened with sweat, and a cold sensation flashed through my body.
“Harold-san sweaty clothes… what does it smell like?”
She murmured something to herself, and tried to put her face on my chest, but I tried to resist-
Grip-
So far, I’m at a level where I can somehow resist, but since she fights using a sword, where strength and speed are important, it seems like I will soon be pushed back in terms of strength.
“On a hot day like this, why don’t we conserve our energy and come to an agreement? Let’s just hold each other and relax, Harold-san…”
In terms of physical strength, Erina must have consumed more than me after the fight, but there was no sign of her losing any strength at all.
And then, the worst possible thought crossed my mind.
Would we end up in this meaningless war of attrition, gradually being worn down, until we are forced to give in, and our last defense line collapses and falls?
Gulp-
My choice is…
“Okay… Instead, I’m also wet with sweat, and it doesn’t feels nice….so let’s not take too long, okay…,?”
Ultimately, a sense of loss was etched on her face, but she accepted the proposal I had suggested.
“Yes!, don’t worry, I’ll hold you tight just once.”
At the same time as she said that, she dug into my arms and pressed her face to my chest at once.
Huff-
Sniff!
sssk
As expected, the situation felt ominous, and I could sense her heavy breathing.
However, I made an effort to clear my mind as much as possible and maintain composure, despite the strange emotions swirling within me.
“huh…?”
sniiifff!
So Erina took a deep breath and raised her head to me.
“What’s wrong…?”
Suddenly, a cold wave swept through the scorching weather, bringing a cool atmosphere that matched her dark eyes, which seemed devoid of any light.
“Harold-san… have you ever met a woman other than me…?”
“What…? Ugh?!”
sssk!
Like a snake tightening its grip on its prey, she constricts and suppresses my body, holding me tight-
Ugh!
What?!
Erina’s tremendous strength, unlike anything I’ve experienced before, is no joke. It’s genuinely concerning, making me worry about the condition of my bones under such pressure.
Ggrrrt!
“W-what are you talking about…?”
The smell of another woman…? Who the hell… what kind of nonsense-
ah…
In that moment, the image of someone’s face flashed through my mind, and suddenly I understood why she had made that statement.
“I can smell her scent on you… It’s all over your body. Don’t you think she’s been touching you more than once or twice?”
Just yesterday, while discussing Erina with Eleanor, I made a wrong remark that nearly shattered my self-esteem.
Fortunately, I managed to avoid a dangerous situation by pleading and begging for forgiveness.
‘Instead, I have to leave enough traces of mine on you, so lie down here.’
Instead, I was ‘shamed’ in many ways… Maybe that was a problem…?
“Maybe… a woman other than me-“
“I have contact with the Goddess I worship! Just like you meeting Goddess Abne every day, I also have contact with the Goddess I worship, so I think it’s her smell…”
The atmosphere grew increasingly tense, and I felt that if the explanation was delayed any longer, the situation might become bad for me.
“I don’t think it was just a simple contact… well…I’ll trust you for now, Harold-san.”
Still, she set aside doubts and-
“mm… mm…”
Lick-
Schlurp!
“?!!”
I wanted to go, but suddenly she starts licking the nape of my neck like a puppy.
“I’ll trust you that the traces you have are from the goddess you serve, but I can’t help but feel concerned. It reminded me of something I had forgotten,”
“Ugh?!”
At the same time as saying those words, she hugs the nape of my neck and fixes it firmly so that I cannot resist.
“Harold-san~, you’re all sweaty, I’ll wipe it clean so you don’t catch a cold~ ♡”
Schlurp!
Slrp!
Slurp!
Then, she begins to gently lick the sweat from my cheeks to neck one by one.
As her moist, warm tongue touches my cold skin and tickles me, blasphemous thoughts continue to attack my reason, and warning signs begin to ring in my head.
Slurp-
Huff!….calm down, Harold! Shake off your defilements and keep your mind clear…
After reflecting on those words, brainwashing myslef, and holding on with clenched fist, Erina’s use of force was finally stopped.
“That’s enough marking– No… It looks like I’ve wiped off your sweat perfectly, so I’ll end it for now ♡~.”
At the same time, I breathes a sigh of relief while enjoying the freedom
“I think we’ve had enough rest, so let’s go back to the Guild Hall, get today’s pay and go eat at a nice place, Harold-san~”
Leaving the tree shadow, I wiped off the leftover saliva from my skin, all the while watching Erina’s back as she walked with excitement.
And it is a natural question that arises.
It’s one thing to get sweaty, but why would she wipe my sweat by licking it…?
ugh….
In the midst of the embarrassing and crisis-filled situation, only after everything is over do I realize how abnormal it was.
I want to argue, but Erina has already gone so far away that she’s about to disappear.
Even though it’s something she did anyway, I know there won’t be any good outcome if I ask.
So, I choose to bury the question in my heart and believe it’s the best option…
‘Ah… this happened…then naturally Eleanor would find out… How can I make an excuse…?’
sigh
Rather, it seemed that it would be a wiser choice for me to think about how to survive Eleanor punishment.
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