Just As Instructed

After conveying that the Saint’s help was absolutely necessary, a long silence continued.

However, perhaps because I had been soaking in warm water for so long, my mind was becoming increasingly hazy.

For some reason, I couldn’t put much strength into my body either.

Fearing I might completely go limp before receiving a definite answer, I eventually opened my mouth, moistened by steam. Once again.

“…Please help me. Even if you make any request, just help me… this once.”

I earnestly requested help while elevating her with another name.

No matter how I thought about it, there was no other way at the moment.

Nevertheless, the answer that came back from Daina was not in the form of a period, but a question mark.

“Does the head of the Lunatic Guild know that you’re going to the Tower, Lord Lua?”

“N-No…”

“I see, I thought something was strange. You came to the Holy Kingdom secretly from the Lunatic people too, right?”

“…Yes.”

And so, a deep sigh was exhaled from Daina, who had accurately grasped my current situation with just two questions.

What followed was Daina’s account of the person called me in her mind.

“I know that Lord Lua is no ordinary person. I also know you possess strange and powerful abilities that don’t suit a child.”

“You surely have… some thoughts. You must have had reasons to do these things behind the backs of people who care about you.”

“But still… I still don’t feel like I should let you go. The dungeon will be conquered even without Lord Lua, so why are you deliberately seeking danger!”

Where should I start explaining?

No, I didn’t think she would believe me even if I spilled everything from beginning to end.

It would be possible to force her to believe my words using memories from my first playthrough, but persuading is a different matter.

Unfortunately, I already knew from experience that a person with such a look in their eyes couldn’t be persuaded by any words.

Even Tana had a similar reaction when I brought up the Tower a few months ago.

‘Um, Tana. Could you take me to the Tower later… please?’

‘…You know very well that’s not possible, Miss Lua.’

‘But if I join later, it would be much safer—’

‘I don’t need safety that comes from hiding behind a child. No matter what.’

I eventually had to leave due to Tana’s threat to report various things to Asha if I kept insisting.

Even if I tried to persuade with dozens or hundreds of pieces of evidence, it would ultimately lead to the conclusion that they couldn’t put me in danger.

People for whom persuasion is meaningless.

In other words, it means they’re people who cherish me that much… but conquering the Tower is more important right now.

Instead of making them understand the reason, I needed to change their heart.

I kept trying to reassure her with words that while the Tower is indeed dangerous, ultimately no one would get hurt.

I tried to continuously reassure her that with the power that saved Daina from kidnappers long ago, there would be no problem.

However, the person who had been silently staring at me intently finally gave an answer that wasn’t a refusal.

“…You definitely said I could make any request, right?”

“What? Ah, yes…”

“Then first, come here.”

Although the slightly changed attitude was puzzling, as long as she would grant my request, I didn’t mind either way.

In the end, I got up and approached Daina again.

And, as soon as I carefully sat in Daina’s embrace as she instructed and slowly leaned back against her, rustle.

One of Daina’s hands burrowed over my shoulder and firmly bound my chest to prevent me from escaping.

Almost simultaneously, the other hand gently played with my tail, which had become wet and moist.

A whisper that crept between my wet ears and sent chills through my entire body followed.

“How long are you planning to stay in the Holy Kingdom?”

“A-About three more days, I think…”

“Three days, three days…”

The voice echoing in the spacious bathroom felt slightly dizzying.

Being firmly held in Daina’s embrace while having my tail touched, I felt like I had truly become Daina’s pet cat.

As drowsiness began to creep into my already hazy mind, I found it hard to stay alert.

“So, you’re saying you’ll leave me again in three days.”

“Ah, that… I’m sorry. But I’ll come visit again sometime later.”

“I don’t like waiting without a set date. I dislike empty promises even more.”

It was after this that the price I would pay in exchange for Daina granting my request was mentioned.

“I can lend you that mere sword. I can also bestow protection upon your companions.”

“Since you’re not someone I can hold onto even if I tried, if I can’t prevent you from going to the Tower, I should at least make it as safe as possible.”

“In exchange, I want you to grant my request now. Not after returning from the Tower.”

“Now…?”

“Yes, now.”

And so, splash.

Daina’s hand, which had descended into the warm water, burrowed between my fingers and soon gripped them tightly.

Right after, a smooth head was slowly lowered and gently placed on my chest.

Naturally, through the crimson hair that had settled down, Daina’s request to me was heard.

“While staying in the Holy Kingdom… become completely mine.”

“The time we spend together from now on must remain a secret, known only to the two of us, not to be revealed to anyone else.”

“No matter what I do to you, you can’t say you dislike it… This is the request I want to make.”

What I faced were noticeably flushed cheeks.

And yellow eyes with various emotions, including desperation, turbulently mixed together.

Perhaps because my mind and body were both just before becoming completely limp, I couldn’t quite predict what Daina was trying to do to me, but…

As before, I had no right of refusal.

As always, I didn’t feel any particular malice or hostility.

After silently making eye contact for a while, finally.

Nod

“…!”

I slowly nodded my head, promising to stay only by Daina’s side during my stay in the Holy Kingdom.

As expected, her face visibly brightened.

Well, as long as I could receive the Saint’s help, it didn’t matter anyway.

In the end, I was about to thank Daina for agreeing to help me, but.

Click

“…Huh…?”

At the same moment I realized something black had been fastened around my neck, something in my mind snapped.

A purple light that momentarily appeared before my eyes and then smoothly entered my forehead.

Why was my body gradually being raised while still firmly held by Daina’s hand?

“…Such a foolish person. How do you expect me to restrain myself when you’re this defenseless?”

“But don’t worry too much. I will keep my promise.”

After that, without knowing what was happening at all, I just blinked blankly.

“Then first, let me wash you.”

“…Yesss…”

My eyes closed completely at the warm stream of water that had begun to fall on my head from some point.

And so, white hair was gently washed by slender fingers.

Fragrant bubbles were applied everywhere without missing a spot, and then flowed away by another stream of water that fell.

“What scent do you prefer? Lavender? Jasmine?”

“Any is fine…”

“Then, lavender.”

Somehow, I lay quietly on a soft mat. Watching as lukewarm oil was thickly applied, I completely went limp when hands began to massage various parts of my body.

“I didn’t really understand when others did it, but doing it myself like this… it feels quite different.”

Slightly spreading my arms when asked to.

Rolling over when asked to.

Just, without any suspicion or thought, doing as Daina instructed.

Finally, coming out of the bath, after even the moisture in my ears was completely dried.

Wearing only a thin bathrobe, heading to the bedroom with Daina.

As we had done the day before parting with Daina, holding hands and lying face to face on the same bed.

“Tell me you love me. With sincerity.”

“I love… you…”

“A-Add my name too.”

“…I love you, Daina…”

Even embarrassing words were uttered naturally as Daina instructed.

Even when I was slowly pulled in and completely captured, I didn’t think there was anything strange about it.

I just thought all of this was natural.

“…I have a bad feeling.”

“Senior, you look even worse.”

“I agree.”

It was early afternoon, not long before the meeting with the Saint.

But perhaps due to having tossed and turned all night, wrapped in various worries and fantasies about the child.

The gazes of Iris and Adrian toward Rea herself contained no small amount of concern and worry.

“Too much worry isn’t good either. Honestly, I wonder if it’s really something to worry about that much.”

“You should have seen that cold gaze. The way she looked at Lua versus the way she looked at me was completely different!”

“…Wasn’t it the same gaze? No matter how I looked at it, it was a benevolent gaze.”

It was unfortunate.

Even if the child and the Saint had been close before meeting them.

Even if, as Adrian said, it was a natural psychology to want to spend time with a child one hasn’t seen in a long time.

Rea wished they would understand at least a little bit of this uncomfortable feeling of having lost the child in an instant.

“Look, Rea. Lua isn’t anyone’s possession. And didn’t Lua say she was fine?”

“No one knows if she’s really fine!”

Right after that, news that the Saint was coming to meet them was conveyed.

Inevitably, they stopped their minor quarrel for now and waited for the Saint and the child to arrive in this spacious reception room, but.

In fact, the Saint came to meet them alone without the child, and the news they eventually heard from the Saint was truly a bolt from the blue.

“Lord Lua also wants to spend time with me. Since I can’t let a beastkin like Lord Lua wander outside the temple, I’ll keep them with me for a while.”

“As for all of you, well, you might as well tour the Holy Kingdom. You’ll only be able to receive my blessing in three days anyway.”

“Ah, right. Iris, follow me. Lord Lua has asked me to give you something.”

With a distorted face, Rea seriously considered whether to throw a fireball at that shameless Saint’s face right now.

Thanks to Adrian, who noticed her feelings and urgently requested to let them meet the child for even a moment, she barely held back, but…

“Yes, I said I wanted to be with the Saint.”

“…What?”

“I’m really fine. Then, I’ll see you in three days.”

After finally meeting the child, who had somewhat cloudy eyes, she just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Not at all.