Chapter 155: Noble Goddess

“Ugh…!”

That was close.

Right now, my waist was in direct contact with Nia’s stomach, without even a thin piece of cloth in between.

In that position, with Nia pressing down on my stomach, I almost lost control and let go.

If I were to let go like this, it would definitely end up on Nia’s body.

Just the thought of it made my face flush.

“No, no matter how I think about it, this can’t happen…!”

I carefully pushed Nia away and extricated myself from Viviana’s embrace.

I couldn’t let something so impure come out in front of my precious childhood friend.

In reality, there wouldn’t have been any real issue.

Since I had been marked, the only thing that could come out of my body was holy water.

Nia’s body was also essentially a shell made from divine power, so even if the holy water touched her, it wouldn’t have been a problem.

But there was still the ethical issue.

To let something like that touch my precious childhood friend’s body… It was something I couldn’t do in my right mind, no, as a human being.

“E-everyone, please leave! I’ll handle this alone…!”

After shooing Viviana and Nia away, I let out a deep sigh.

In the end, I had no choice but to handle it alone.

But because of this body of mine that wouldn’t release properly unless someone pressed on my stomach, I ended up having to leave in an uncomfortable state.

I thought about asking Viviana for help later that night, but…

Nia clung to me so tightly that I had no choice but to endure the physiological urge until the next morning.

***

In the quiet prayer room, the flickering candlelight cast a faint glow.

In the air, filled with a subtle fragrance, I bowed my head deeply with my hands neatly folded.

Once again, to offer my prayers to Her.

‘If I had known it would come to this… I should have asked Lady Viviana for help.’

I’ve been holding on until now, but it seems like I’m reaching my limit.

To be honest, I want to run to the bathroom right now, but…

This time of prayer to the Goddess is the happiest moment of my day.

So… I guess you could say it’s a waste?

I can go to the bathroom anytime, but the time I can spend talking to the Goddess is limited.

So, I want to hold on as long as I can and speak to Her.

Hmm, talking about it now, I ended up bringing up something embarrassing.

Actually, these are worries I can’t even bring myself to tell my mother, but strangely, in front of the Goddess, I find myself confessing even my most shameful thoughts.

Lady Lillian once told me that the Goddess loves all life unconditionally.

Maybe… I find comfort in those words.

I am an insufficient, ugly human being… but even someone like me is cared for by Her.

That’s why I really love Her.

The Goddess, who loves even a insignificant being like me endlessly… I really love Her.

I love Her today too. And I’m sure I’ll love Her tomorrow as well.

Please stay healthy, Goddess. If there’s ever any pain or suffering You must endure, let me bear it instead.

If I can be of even the slightest help to the goddess, that alone would make me truly happy.

Ah….

Uh… um, uhh….

Well… that is….

I guess I should stop praying here.

I wanted to hold on a bit longer… but it seems like I’ve really reached my limit.

I can’t afford to be disrespectful in front of the goddess.

Even just sitting still, my body keeps twitching… hehe.

I’ll definitely come back tomorrow.

So… please have a good day—

Squish—

…Huh?

Just now… something pressed against my stomach…?

That’s strange. There’s nothing there… was it just my imagination?

I think I’ve really hit my limit now.

But still, it’s a relief.

I almost made a sound and disrupted Lady Viviana’s prayers.

Squuuish—!

“Uh…!”

Once again, an unfamiliar sensation rose from my lower abdomen, and my eyes shot open.

…Something definitely pressed against my stomach.

But no matter how much I looked around, the only thing I could see was Viviana, sitting quietly in the distance with her eyes closed.

Squish—!

“….?!?!”

I immediately covered my mouth with both hands.

If I hadn’t, a sound would have escaped.

‘What… what is this…?’

It was too vivid to dismiss as my imagination. The sensation on my skin was unmistakable.

With a strange, déjà vu-like feeling, I slowly lifted the hem of my dress.

My bare skin and navel were revealed.

And soon—

Squish—!

The area around my lower abdomen, which had been still, was pressed inward.

Once again, the sensation of something pressing against my stomach overwhelmed me.

Squeeze—

‘Ugh…!’

I covered my mouth.

I barely managed to swallow the sound that threatened to escape.

‘…Something is definitely pressing on me.’

It’s not my imagination.

I saw it clearly with my own eyes.

My lower abdomen slowly, but surely, caved inward.

But what on earth is it?

Viviana still sat with her eyes closed, not moving a muscle. Whether she was praying or meditating, it was clear she wasn’t the one doing this.

It couldn’t be Nia either. She wasn’t even here, and she was trapped in a thick barrier of divine energy, unable to exert any strength.

Squish—!

“Ugh…!”

A much stronger pressure pressed deep into my lower abdomen.

At that moment, the strength in my waist gave out, and something hot and wet soaked my lower body.

The first sensation that overwhelmed me was fear.

Something invisible was touching me.

My whole body shrank back at this incomprehensible, unexplainable supernatural phenomenon.

And the next emotion that rose was doubt.

The unknown entity was touching my lower abdomen, of all places.

And right now, in this precarious state where even the slightest stimulation could cause me to lose control.

Moreover, just moments ago, I had confessed a secret about my body to the goddess.

With all these circumstances overlapping, only one suspicion came to mind.

I knelt down again, clasped my hands together, and bowed my head deeply.

‘C-could it be… the goddess?’

As if responding to my question, my lower abdomen was pressed in deeply again.

‘Ugh…!’

I forcibly swallowed back the moan that threatened to escape.

My neatly folded legs trembled uncontrollably.

Now, I was almost certain.

The one pressing on my lower abdomen now, even if it wasn’t the goddess, was some other presence watching over me from somewhere in this space.

‘Go, Goddess… Is, is that you?’

An invisible force pressed down on my stomach again. But this time, it didn’t stop at just once.

Without any sign of stopping, it began to press on my stomach repeatedly.

‘W, wait a moment…!’

Despite my plea, it didn’t stop.

‘A, ah no…! S, stop…!’

I clasped my hands together and prayed fervently, but it was no use.

It seemed to have no intention of listening to me.

‘I, I’m too sensitive right now… P, please stop…!’

For some reason.

As if stimulated by my words, the force moved even more roughly.

‘A, ah…! Hah…!’

I was already nearing my limit.

If I endured any longer, it would really… really be dangerous.

Just as I thought of calling Viviana and was about to open my mouth—

“Ugh…!”

Something unknown forcefully blocked my mouth.

Because of that, I couldn’t make any sound.

Could it be that the goddess was also the one blocking my mouth?

‘A, ah no…! S, stop…! I, I don’t want to be rude in front of the goddess…!’

But as soon as my words ended, the force grew even fiercer.

Far from stopping, it pressed down even faster and stronger.

My lower abdomen was under constant pressure. Gradually, the strength in my waist was fading.

‘Go, Goddess…! I, I really… might make a mistake, please…!’

But there was still no sign of stopping.

No, rather, it grew rougher every time I prayed.

As if granting permission for my loss of control.

‘A, uh…! I, I don’t know… P, please…!’

From my thighs to my waist, my whole body twitched and trembled.

The force grew even more intense.

Now, it was so strong that it felt like it was beating my lower abdomen.

A thought crossed my mind.

The same goddess wouldn’t do this just to tease me.

I had prayed to her about my poor physical condition. So, perhaps the goddess was trying to relieve my suffering.

Maybe she recognized my physical state and intended to alleviate my discomfort.

The goddess might just be trying to help me, trapped in pain.

Ah, so that’s what it was.

The goddess was trying to help me.

‘A, ah! S, sorry, Goddess…! I, I didn’t know… your intention, ah, I, didn’t… know.’

I was happy.

It felt like my prayers had been answered. Just the thought of receiving a response from someone like the goddess filled me with happiness.

‘Th, the goddess… heard my prayers…! I, I’m happy…! Ah, hah! I, I’m happy…!’

My whole body jerked and jumped from the intense impact.

‘Hah, ah… ugh…! Go, Goddess…! I love you… S, sorry, Goddess… I, I think… I’m going to make a mistake…!’

Did my words anger something?

The intangible force began to rage wildly.

‘A, sorry…! S, sorry…! Sorry, I’m… sorry…!’

Finally, my body reached its limit.

Reflexively, the strength in my waist gave out.

And then—

‘A, ah…! A, ah…! I, it’s coming…! S, sorry… sorry…!’

The space between my legs grew hot and wet.

Soon, warm liquid trickled down my thighs and dripped onto the floor.

A puddle formed beneath the hem of my skirt.

As I looked at the scene, a wave of shame washed over me, and my face flushed red.

“Ah… Ugh… Goddess…”

As soon as I lost control, my voice, which had been blocked as if by a miracle, burst out again.

“Tina?”

At the sound of my voice, Viviana raised her head.

Perhaps noticing something unusual about me, she approached with a concerned look in her eyes.

“Ah, oh, please don’t come closer, Lady Viviana…!”

No.

She’s going to find out that I lost control.

The puddle beneath me was undeniable evidence.

I absolutely couldn’t let Viviana see this.

But before I could even try to stop her, she was already standing right in front of me.

“Ah, um, well…”

She noticed.

The realization that she had discovered my accident made my face burn with embarrassment.

“What’s wrong, Tina? Are you hurt?”

“Huh?”

“You look pale. Do you have a fever?”

Strangely, though, Viviana didn’t seem to notice anything.

That couldn’t be.

The puddle was so clearly visible at my feet…

“Huh?”

The puddle that had been pooling beneath me just moments ago was now gone. Only the dry tile floor remained.

Stunned by the surreal sight, I blinked in confusion.

It was impossible for it to have dried so quickly.

It was more like it had vanished.

“Tina, are you okay?”

“Huh? Ah, um… well… yes….”

Though confused, I took Viviana’s hand and stood up.

It was strange, but…

The fact that the goddess had answered my prayer filled me with such joy that I could forget all my doubts.

Moreover, the discomfort I had been feeling was completely gone.

If I ignored my embarrassment, everything had turned out well.

‘…Goddess.’

A faint sense of guilt and a warm happiness filled my heart.

To think that she would care for me so deeply, even though I couldn’t control myself…

As Lillian had said, she truly was a noble being.

I clasped my hands together and offered a prayer of gratitude to the goddess.

With my devotion to the goddess deepening, I took Viviana’s hand and walked out of the temple.

[What on earth have you done!!]

[I-it’s not my fault, she was the one who—]

[Oh, please!!!]

By the way, I feel like I’m hearing something…

It must be my imagination, right?