Ch.155Turning Point (6)

# Turning Point (6)

Lug knows.

If he accepts this, it will create a rift within the hero’s party.

That’s why he used purity as an excuse. Of course, that wasn’t entirely without self-interest…

“As I’ve said before, I…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Déjà vu.

Lug had already seen once that this excuse wouldn’t work.

Wasn’t there someone who didn’t care about the bond of marriage? But he thought that was just Millia being unusual, and Eirene would be different.

“I’m just your follower anyway. I don’t mind becoming your slave rather than your wife.”

“Your choice of words is a bit…”

A thousand thoughts flashed through Lug’s troubled mind.

Though he managed to exercise restraint, the problem was that his lower half was beginning to raise its head.

“…”

Seeing this undisguisable reaction, Eirene—who had come to seduce Lug—froze with a deeply flushed face.

But soon, as if strengthening her resolve, she approached Lug despite seeing his condition.

“I know you were close with Extra.”

Eirene plopped down beside Lug and took his hand.

Though she had come to seduce him, her tone seemed closer to consolation.

Yes, she was a Saintess after all.

And she was also someone who understood people’s hearts best.

“You’ve been pushing forward without proper time to mourn.”

That’s why she noticed.

The feelings of sorrow and doubt that had subtly sprouted in Lug’s heart.

“How could I just stand by and watch when the person I want to serve is suffering and troubled like this?”

She is the Saintess who serves the Celestial God.

So this is only natural.

Who else would dare to fathom the will of a god if not her?

“T-this time I won’t run away like before. S-so…”

Despite her obvious embarrassment, Eirene looked directly into Lug’s eyes without avoiding them. And with firm resolve, she revealed her heart.

“You can do whatever you want with me.”

***

When Lug came to his senses, he found himself kissing Eirene.

It was nothing short of astonishing.

Just moments ago, his mind had been filled with questions about his actions, but with Eirene’s single statement, his mind had gone completely blank, unable to think of anything else.

Lug was grateful for that. He could worry anytime, but right now he needed a break.

“Mmm…”

As she had told Lug, Eirene didn’t avoid him this time.

Lug’s kiss was more considerate than before, but that lasted only briefly.

Once again, their tongues began to intertwine, and wet sounds started to fill the previously silent room.

Flinch!

Eirene, seemingly startled by the situation, flinched and clenched her fists tightly, but that was all.

As she had said beforehand, she tried not to do anything, which manifested as her clenched fists grasping at nothing.

After flinching for a while, just as Eirene seemed to be getting used to it and starting to relax…

“Mmph?!”

Lug suddenly gently grabbed her breast, causing Eirene to flinch violently again.

The timing was as if he had noticed she was getting used to the stimulation.

For a moment, Eirene reached toward Lug’s hand that was gripping her breast, but she had to put it down after merely brushing his hand.

As Eirene’s mind began to turn blank amid the continuing stimulation and confusion…

“Haa… haa…”

When the long kiss finally ended, Eirene was freed from Lug.

Unconsciously breathing heavily, she gazed at Lug with dreamy eyes.

She seemed to have forgotten her past embarrassment and shame, melting into the atmosphere.

“Ah!”

The second kiss that followed left marks on her neckline.

As Lug’s head moved down to the strap precariously hanging on Eirene’s shoulder…

“…”

Lug’s movements, which had seemed about to cross the line at any moment, stopped.

It took Eirene, who had been flinching and feeling dazed, a moment to realize this.

“I think we should stop after all.”

“Lug… sir?”

Lug shook his head with a serious expression. He liked Eirene.

He didn’t want to end their relationship this way.

“Saintess, aren’t you doing this because you feel guilty toward me?”

“…”

“I know you’re trying to comfort me. I know you love me. But at the foundation of this action is guilt, isn’t it?”

Eirene is the Saintess of the Celestial God religion. She represents those who interpret the will of Lug, the Celestial God, and volunteer to be his servants.

As such, she couldn’t help but feel guilty toward Lug. Even if Lug had forgiven her and the Celestial God religion, what the previous Pope did to him doesn’t just disappear.

Eirene’s love began from faith, which led her to show such radical attitudes.

She, who would startle at the slightest touch, was forcing herself just to accommodate Lug.

That wasn’t right. Love is about mutual devotion, not one-sided love.

“Faith and love are different.”

Yes, Eirene’s love was like faith—serving without expecting anything in return.

Her faith was interfering with the love she should be enjoying.

“Your heart is admirable, but let’s not rush and take things slowly.”

Lug briefly kissed Eirene’s forehead. It felt fresh, like a couple who had just started dating.

“Your feelings alone are enough to comfort me.”

Lug smiled gently and softly held Eirene’s hand.

Eirene’s hand, which had been clenched due to the successive stimulations, was pale white, and only when Lug’s hand touched it could it finally unfold gently.

Yes, she had been afraid of crossing the line.

“Yes… Lug sir.”

Eirene nodded.

A sign that she accepted his feelings.

“…”

…However, when she nodded and saw Lug’s lower half, she couldn’t help but doubt his intentions.

Come to think of it, if he had intended to stop, shouldn’t he have not started in the first place? The fact that they had gone almost all the way made Lug’s sincerity questionable.

“Haha.”

Seeing his undisguisable true feelings, Eirene finally burst into laughter.

Lug had endured. He had really tried incredibly hard to hold back.

That fact secretly made her happy.

It meant he wanted to have her that much, but more than that, he cherished and loved her.

“I understand, Lug sir.”

Eirene got up and dusted herself off.

Love that began from faith. Actions that were certainly accompanied by guilt.

But as she got up and dusted herself off, she also shook off that guilt.

“I won’t be impatient.”

It’s true that she had felt rushed due to the aggressive advances of Millia and Tina.

She thought she shouldn’t fall behind, shouldn’t let him be taken away. So she compromised and wanted to stay by his side as his servant even if they couldn’t be together.

But now it was okay.

“Will you match my pace?”

Eirene extended the back of her hand.

There was no impatience or malice on her face. Yes, only a smile that showed her happiness was displaying her beauty.

“Of course, my Saintess.”

Lug carefully placed his hand over Eirene’s extended hand and briefly kissed the back of it.

“Then, Lug sir.”

After receiving the kiss on the back of her hand, she approached Lug again, quietly and gently embraced him, and whispered in his ear.

“Please rest well today, Lug sir. Don’t be too disheartened. If you have any worries, I’ll always be here to listen.”

“Yes, I will. And anyway, I don’t think I’ll be able to think of anything else today because of thoughts of you, Saintess.”

“Ahaha…”

Eirene glanced at Lug’s lower half and then shyly hugged herself while laughing.

Only then did she remember her attire. As belated shame washed over her, Eirene covered her body, visible through the lingerie, with her arms, but unfortunately, she didn’t know that was counterproductive.

“Well then.”

With those words, Eirene was about to leave the room when she turned around with her hand on the doorknob.

Then, making sure Lug could see, she briefly kissed the back of her own hand.

The spot where Lug had kissed.

She placed her lips over that spot, showing an indirect kiss.

When her lips, which had been hidden behind her hand, became visible again, there was a mischievous smile on them.

“Goodnight.”

With that awkward smile, Eirene returned to her room.

“…”

Once again, silence filled the room.

Lug stared in the direction Eirene had gone for a while, then muttered with a serious expression.

“What a waste…”

He was regretting it, hitting the ground.

He thought it would have been good if he had just closed his eyes and gone through with it.

But he held back. Eirene knew that too. He held back because he genuinely cherished her, but…

Regret always comes late.

“Yes, this is right.”

Having lived a long life, he knows. A tower built hastily will collapse. Just as a tower must be built step by step to prevent it from collapsing, relationships with people are the same.

“…”

Still, it’s regrettable. But Lug can endure it. There was a reason for that.

A room where he could be alone after a long time.

Time to be by himself without worrying about anyone’s gaze.

“…Good.”

It was time to become a sage again after a long while.