Ch.175Chapter 175 – For Fatigue Recovery… (3)

It was warm and soft, yet firm.

The sensation of flesh and muscle beneath the skin made my face flush without me even realizing it.

Of course, if it had ended there, I might have somehow maintained my composure.

“Mmm… ahh…”

“There, that feels good…”

“Haaah…”

‘This is driving me crazy.’

Eve’s moans were making it impossible to maintain any semblance of composure, and I felt like my head was going to explode.

To be absolutely clear, I was simply giving her a massage.

As I focused on her back, trying to concentrate on the massage by directing all my attention to my fingertips, I could feel something like tangled threads beneath them.

Thinking these might be knots in her muscles, I would focus on those spots, and each time I did, pleasurable moans would escape from Eve’s lips.

Naturally, my attention would then shift entirely to Eve, and to redirect my thoughts, I’d focus on my fingers again…

In short, an inexplicable chain reaction was occurring.

“Mmh… Kay, you’re better at this than I expected?”

“Y-yeah…”

The most troublesome part was when Eve would slightly turn her head, smile, and speak to me mid-massage.

The way she looked at me with smiling eyes while turning only her head, with her back still facing me, was strangely alluring.

I was afraid I might lose my grip on reason if I wasn’t careful.

Feeling like I might cause an incident if this continued, I stopped my hands.

“Kay, why did you stop?”

Eve would immediately turn her head and urge me to continue the massage.

“Kay?”

“I… I think this might be too difficult to continue…”

In a barely audible voice, I told Eve I wanted to stop.

I had been trying to endure until now, but I felt it was becoming impossible.

Eve immediately responded with a bright smile.

“Kay, you remember what you promised, right?”

“But that’s…”

“You promised not to suddenly stop, didn’t you?”

The corners of Eve’s mouth turned up significantly.

“Look, there are limits to…”

“If Kay breaks his promise, I’ll go outside crying.”

My thoughts froze at Eve’s words.

With a sudden feeling of anxiety, I gently asked:

“…You’ll put clothes on before going out, right?”

“I’ll go out exactly as I am now.”

Currently, Eve was only wearing pants.

She had removed her top completely for the massage, saying she might sweat during it, leaving her upper body exposed.

She had also taken off her shoes and socks when she got on the bed.

Going outside like that?

“…Wouldn’t that be problematic in various ways?”

“It certainly would be.”

Eve said with a smile.

“After all, I’d look like I was thrown out of a man’s room with my top off.”

Eve continued cheerfully, as if imagining what would happen next.

“In an inn like this, they keep records of all guests and their characteristics in case of sudden incidents, so the staff would quickly spread the word. Then as the story gets passed along through the merchants doing business here…”

“Are you saying I’d be socially dead?”

“No. I would be socially dead.”

Eve said, her expression turning slightly serious.

“People might point fingers at me, you know? Like I’m someone who… sells her body carelessly?”

“No, even so, it wouldn’t go that far…”

“It might, or it might not.”

Eve said with a smile.

“But there’s a possibility, don’t you think? Would Kay be okay with me being subjected to such finger-pointing?”

Of course not.

Moreover, I couldn’t even guarantee that things wouldn’t escalate to that point.

After all, this world had somewhat different values from what I was familiar with.

‘Though it does seem like Eve is being extremely unreasonable here…’

Was she planning to use her own body as a sacrifice to torment me?

Sensing my dilemma, Eve smiled and said:

“If Kay continues the massage and satisfies me, I think we can both end this feeling good. What do you say?”

“No, that’s, I mean…”

I don’t think my reason can hold out at this rate.

After watching me with amusement for a moment, Eve smiled and said:

“Come on, please continue, Kay.”

“But…”

“Or should I change positions?”

As Eve said this, she began to raise her body from its lying position.

Quickly placing my hands on her back, I said:

“I-I’ll continue in this position.”

“Alright.”

Eve smiled and showed me her back again.

In the end, I once more focused my senses on my fingertips and began stimulating the knotted areas of Eve’s body.

“Mmm…”

Once again, Eve’s moans began to fill the room.

And as I was somehow trying to clear my mind while touching Eve’s body:

‘…The towel is wet.’

As Eve had said, she was starting to sweat from the massage.

The light perspiration was dampening her white skin, and it looked strangely alluring…

‘Oh, seriously.’

This wasn’t going to work.

“…Eve, I’m sorry.”

“Kay?”

I quickly removed my hands from Eve and swiftly turned around.

“Kay, are you not going to continue?”

“I, I just need a moment to calm down.”

“…So Kay’s massage time ends this quickly.”

Eve said with a hint of sadness.

I quietly responded to her:

“It’s just that my face is too hot right now.”

“Is that so?”

I nodded without properly looking at Eve.

Honestly, if someone touched my face right now, they might get burned.

“…Then let’s take a short break.”

‘Couldn’t you just leave…’

I silently pleaded with Eve while trying to ignore the sound of her adjusting her position.

“By the way, Kay seems to have a talent for massage. I had many areas that were stiff or uncomfortable.”

“R-really?”

“Maybe it’s because your hands are sensitive.”

As I responded to the voice coming from behind me, I once again tried to calm myself down.

‘If I had known this would happen…’

I should never have promised to give a massage in the first place.

And I shouldn’t have accepted all the proposals she made out of consideration for her.

It seemed I had trapped myself by being too accommodating.

‘…I wish I could wear a helmet.’

Maybe the inside of a helmet could serve as a temporary refuge instead of a mouse hole.

Just as I was thinking that:

“Kay?”

“What?”

“Are you uncomfortable somewhere?”

A slightly worried voice reached me.

“No, I’m fine.”

“I see.”

Fortunately, Eve seemed reassured by this simple response, and I heard her let out a small sigh.

It seemed like Eve was also calming down a bit as her body cooled off.

‘…Should I suggest we end this?’

Though I felt a bit sorry for Eve, my reason might not hold out.

Besides, since we had calmed down a bit under the pretext of taking a break, and her heated body had probably cooled down somewhat, I thought Eve wouldn’t be unreasonable now.

“Um, Eve.”

Just as I was about to speak quietly:

Something very warm and soft touched my back.

‘…What is this…?’

I tried to recall what this soft thing might be.

No, actually, I knew what it was.

I was just too surprised by the sudden sensation.

And the next moment, arms with snow-white skin wrapped around my neck.

“Kay.”

Eve rested her head on my right shoulder and looked at me.

“What’s wrong?”

Eve’s voice resonated in my ear.

Her breath touched my ear.

My reason began to numb again.

‘Why on earth…’

Today’s Eve was a formidable opponent.

“…Um, Eve?”

“Yes?”

“Did I… do something wrong…?”

I barely managed to ask Eve a question with my numbed reason.

What had I done wrong to make her act like this?

Eve smiled.

“Not at all.”

After saying that, Eve seemed to be in a playful mood.

She brought her lips closer to my ear and:

“Hoo.”

She blew a gentle breath.

Heat began to rise tremendously to my head.

“…I really didn’t do anything wrong?”

“No, you didn’t. You didn’t.”

Eve said this, but she began to tighten her arms around my neck.

As a result, the soft something that was stuck to my back also pressed more firmly against my body.

“Ugh…”

Was too much blood rushing to my head?

It was hot.

It was burning.

Looking at me like this, Eve smiled.

“How cute.”

As she said this, Eve loosened her arms a bit.

Given how close we already were, it probably didn’t make much actual difference, but even that small change made it feel like air could circulate a bit.

“…Eve, why are you acting like this today…?”

“I wonder. Why am I?”

Eve said with a smile.

“Would you like to guess why I’m in such a good mood?”

‘How am I supposed to guess that…?’

Eve’s body, pressed tightly against me, was interfering with my thoughts.

The only answer that came out of my mouth was:

“…I don’t know.”

“Really. You’re so indifferent.”

Eve said with a smile.

And soon her mouth opened quietly.

“Kay.”

“Yes.”

Eve moved a bit away from me.

Thanks to that, I could look at her face without difficulty just by changing my posture.

I couldn’t move any further away, as I felt her bare skin below her neck would be completely visible if I did.

“It’s a really trivial and simple reason.”

A trivial reason.

After saying that, Eve spoke quietly.

“What reason?”

“Because I can spend today, tonight, with you.”

I was a bit taken aback by Eve’s words.

“Is that all?”

“It might be ‘just that’ to you, Kay, but not to me.”

Eve declared confidently.

“More than you might think, the time spent with you is precious to all of us.”

“Remember that, okay?” Eve added with a smile.

Then she pressed her body against mine again.

“…Besides, just a few days ago, there was a time when I worried I might never see Kay again.”

I could immediately understand what period Eve was referring to.

She was talking about the time when I had been asleep for days.

“…Everyone just said ‘good job’ so you wouldn’t worry, but it was a time when everyone was so concerned about you that they couldn’t even sleep properly.”

Eve’s arms, which were embracing me, tightened, suggesting she had truly been anxious during that time.

It seemed everyone had suffered more than I had realized.

‘I took it too lightly.’

I quietly apologized.

“…I’m sorry.”

“What are you sorry for? In the end, you came back to us.”

Eve said with a smile.

“…And if we resolve this matter well, we might even find a clue to restore your lifespan to normal.”

She was referring to the deal with the lich.

Worried that Eve might have misunderstood something, I decided to clarify.

“Eve. I said that lich thing was just a hypothesis.”

“You also said there were precedents. The lich probably offered it as a bargaining chip because he saw similarities between those precedents and you.”

Eve nodded quietly and said:

“Even if it’s a hypothesis, I don’t think he would have made a contract risking his soul if he wasn’t confident it would work.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

And Eve added that from her perspective, the lich didn’t seem to be lying.

“At the very least, I think it will be a great help in finding a way to restore your lifespan.”

More precisely, that’s what Eve seemed to think, but she appeared to believe that the possibility had at least increased.

After a moment, Eve spoke again.

“Kay.”

“Yes.”

“We’re all important to you, aren’t we?”

“Yes.”

Of course they were.

The reason I ended up in this body in the first place was because Eve, Sarah, Christina, and various other people were important to me.

And as if she had expected that answer, Eve continued immediately after I finished speaking.

“Just as you cherish us, we cherish you too.”

Eve said quietly.

“And the time spent with you is precious to all of us.”

After saying this, Eve lowered her head as if slightly embarrassed.

“…So I acted spoiled and unreasonable to spend even a little more time with you. I’m embarrassed.”

After a brief pause, Eve continued.

“If my unreasonableness made you uncomfortable, I apologize.”

After saying this, Eve pressed her body even closer to mine.

“Were you very displeased?”

Feeling Eve’s body heat through her skin, I spoke quietly.

‘I was surprised, but…’

If I had to say:

I wasn’t displeased.

“I wasn’t displeased at all.”

“I’m glad.”

After saying this, Eve leaned against me.

‘I’m always causing worry.’

Perhaps they were more concerned about my body than I was myself.

Not just Eve who was here, but Sarah and Christina too, I thought.

Maybe even Beatrice.

‘But right now, it’s Eve who’s in front of me.’

First, I should express my gratitude to her.

Looking at Eve, I quietly said:

“Eve.”

Stroking her hair, I spoke quietly.

“Thank you, always.”

Eve smiled at my response.

“I should be the one thanking you.”

I quietly changed my position and this time pulled Eve into my embrace.

After being in my arms for a while, Eve looked up at me as if she had made some decision.

“Kay.”

I quietly looked down at her.

I saw her with a flushed face, as if slightly embarrassed.

Strangely, I felt like I knew what she was going to say.

Probably because she was thinking the same thing I was.

“The night is still young, isn’t it?”

“…Yes.”

I quietly approached Eve’s face.

Soft sensations met each other’s lips.

Quietly holding Eve, I moved toward the bed where we had been earlier.

Without resistance, rather as if she herself desired it, she remained still in my arms.

And looking down at her, we quietly exchanged glances.

As I quietly examined her flushed face, wondering what she was thinking, Eve gave a small nod.

I laid down on the bed, still holding her in my arms.