Ch.325Failing NPC. (6)

Objectively and subjectively, it’s impossible not to notice how much Ira adores her brother. So even though he doesn’t resemble Ira at all, I can somehow accept that this handsome man who seems like the type women would flock to—as if advertising their shared bloodline—isn’t a bad person. But still.

“Do you understand? Ira is only thirteen! It’s a serious problem that her guardian has been away for an entire year, and even lost his job! Think about it! From now on, Ira will grow even more intelligent, beautiful, and adorable! When that happens, she’ll surely encounter people of higher status! Nobles like myself, in fact! And when that time comes!! Someone might ask, ‘Oh, you’re quite clever and cute. What do your parents do for a living~?’ Just imagine Ira answering, ‘Oh, my brother is unemployed!!’ Sob!! The mere thought brings tears to my eyes…!!!”

That’s one thing, and this is another.

What good is it if someone is kind and gentle? A person who lacks money and ability, making their family suffer, isn’t kind and gentle—they’re just foolish and ignorant of the world. At least, that’s what Grace Mueller thought, and reality doesn’t entirely disagree with her assessment. So when this noble lady passionately pressed Jack, his awkward smile began to be accompanied by cold sweat.

‘…Wow. Ira’s friend is quite sharp. And she’s even worried about Ira’s distant future, much more than I am.’

Including his past life, his mental age was approaching his forties. So when his sister’s friend, whom he was meeting for the first time, “rightfully scolded” him with her clumsy acting, Jack was slightly taken aback but not angry. Rather, he felt a warmth in his heart thinking that his sister had made a good friend.

“Ahaha, you’re not wrong. Well, as for a job, I was thinking that if Ira is okay with it, we might start over together as adventurers…”

“What did you say? Did you get fired from your gold rank position because you did something wrong?! And now you want to start from the bottom again?! Well, with Ira and Gor, you might rise quickly, but still, that doesn’t seem right!! First of all, even though Gor is a golem, she’s female, and for a man to leech off women, especially his sister, is just…!!”

“…Miss Grace. There seems to be a misunderstanding, but my master is about three times stronger than I am.”

“See! Even Gor says you’re three times stronger than… Huh?”

“And, my master is not the unemployed, penniless person you imagine him to be. The house where Ira and I live in Naty was rented by my master for 8 million cans for six years, and the tuition fees have already been paid in full up to the third year of high school. Moreover, this staff that my master bought for Ira is worth 15 million cans—rare equipment that even children of high nobles would find difficult to obtain. If he truly needed money, selling just this staff would provide enough to live comfortably for a lifetime.”

Additionally, the sword and gun he gave to Ray and Ragni could easily fetch 10 million cans if resold. In other words, if he really needed money, he could just sell the weapons. Furthermore, what about those two who would go berserk if told to sell the weapons they received from their master? Ray is already one of the strongest swordsmen in humanity, just not deliberately white-ranked yet. And Ragni is a monster who could scrape together money from anywhere with just a bit of thought. Of course, Gor wouldn’t mention this part, but seeing Jack not fighting back against Grace’s words made her feel a bit sorry for him, so she stepped in to help. As expected, Grace’s eyes widened in shock.

“Fif-fifteen million? This staff…? Is that how much money a gold-ranked adventurer can earn…? No, if he’s three times stronger than Gor, wouldn’t that make him white-ranked, not gold?!! How could a white-ranked adventurer possibly be expelled?!!”

“Furthermore, while my master might seem like an irresponsible person who left his clever and adorable Ira alone for a year…”

“Kuherk?!!”

“?… Ahem. While he might seem that way, he actually accomplished something quite remarkable. Just between us, he defeated the leader of those demons you met before, cleaned up the aftermath of their actions, and even established connections with high-ranking elves. Yes, the very elf elders that even the nobles you mentioned would have to bow to.”

“E-elf elders!! Don’t elves hate humans?!! C-could it be that your brother has personal connections with elves?!!”

As Gor compiled all the information she could share with Grace for Jack’s sake, the girl’s gaze toward Jack completely changed. If before she had been looking at a handsome but unemployed good-for-nothing, now she was staring at someone with incredible connections and power.

“Haha, I know you’re trying to help me, Gor, but that kind of hurts?”

“Eh? Did I say something wrong?”

He knew Gor was trying to help by summarizing things, but was it necessary to insert those words and deal splash damage? And bragging about having money to nobles—wouldn’t nobles have more anyway? With these thoughts, Jack clutched his chest and gave Gor an awkward smile.

Seeing Jack clutch his chest, Ira grabbed Grace’s hand and made a gesture asking if she could uncover her ears now. Grace, as if she had forgotten she was covering Ira’s ears, released them, and Ira immediately climbed back onto Jack’s lap.

“What were you talking about? Was it something I shouldn’t hear again?”

“No. We were just saying how much your friend cares about you. Right?”

“Ah, y-yes…”

“Ira has made a very good friend. That’s what we were discussing.”

“Hehe. That’s right! Grace is my most precious friend!!”

As the conversation concluded and Ira smiled brightly at Grace, the latter’s face turned red. Seeing this, Jack also smiled softly. He was truly glad that Ira had made such a good friend during their time apart.

*

“Ugh, I’m so thirsty. Gor…”

Ray groaned, knowing she was on a soft bed but unable to move her body at all, almost to the point of tears. Her newly acquired skill, [Herald Release], had a severe drawback—if used twice within 30 minutes, it would drain all her strength for at least 24 hours. That’s why she couldn’t move at all right now.

“…Huu, please, take care of me.”

She could barely open her fluttering eyes, but there was no presence around her. It was the dead of night outside. She could easily tell that no one would come even if she groaned like this, but for Ray, that was the least of her problems. She was just really, really thirsty. And as she was whimpering and searching for Gor…

-Creeak.

“Really, that’s too much. I tried so hard to save you, Gor…”

Finally, the sound of the door opening and footsteps approaching. Gor had said she never slept and was always checking her surroundings, so Ray thought she would definitely come. As she waited for Gor to bring water to her lips…

“Thank you. You really worked hard.”

-Smooch.

“?!”

A male voice that made her doubt her ears, lips suddenly becoming moist, and a small amount of water being pushed into her mouth along with a soft sensation—Ray opened her eyes with all her might. Even with all her might, they only opened halfway due to exhaustion.

“Want more water?”

“…Jack?”

Seeing her beloved with gray hair that seemed to shine like silver in the moonlight, looking at her with tender eyes, Ray’s mind stopped working. And then.

‘Ah, I must still have my eyes closed. This must be a dream.’

Her barely functioning reason gave up on recognizing reality. She didn’t have the energy to think properly, and her exhausted body and brain discouraged any further thought.

“Hehe, do you have dreams like this when you collapse from using skills? My, a dream where you give me water through a kiss. How romantic…”

“Haha! Is being unable to move your entire body romantic?”

“…That’s why it’s even better. If you were to take me now, I would be completely yours.”

However, even the Jack in her dreams wouldn’t do that to her. No matter how frustrated she might be, Jack, the man beyond her ideals, wasn’t the type to act that way. And, as if confirming her thoughts, Jack gently brushed her bangs from her forehead, slowly moved his lips to kiss her forehead, and then awkwardly smiled, saying, ‘I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.’

Haha, see? Even in dreams, Jack is still Jack.

“Want more water?”

“Yes. Can you give it to me with your lips again?”

“Is that even a question?”

But dreams will be dreams, right? Jack taking water into his mouth and then pressing his lips against hers as if it were the most natural thing—it was ecstatic, even if it was a dream. And so, feeling the water and what seemed like Jack’s tongue in her dry mouth, she slowly moistened her throat. After repeating this two or three times…

“…Jack?”

“Yes?”

“This is a dream, right?”

“Do you want it to be?”

“…Huh, is it not?”

Jack, who had climbed onto the bed as if to sleep beside her, chuckled amusingly, and her body, now supplied with water, began to move her brain little by little. Wait, can you normally smell scents in dreams? And feel sensations like sweat on your body? Or is this sleep paralysis? But then, am I being haunted by Jack’s ghost…? No, there’s no way Jack would be dead.

“Ray, let me say it again. Thank you. Thanks to you, Gor and Ira are all safe. You’re truly the woman I love and trust.”

“Hmm. I see. This is definitely a dream. There’s no reason for Jack to be so sweet to me and tell me he loves me for doing something so obvious…?!”

Just as she was about to declare her reasoning as correct, Jack pulled her waist and chin and kissed her again, this time without water. Ah, this is quite intense. It’s so sweet I could die♡

“…Chu. You fainted during our first kiss, but now you don’t?”

“Puha♥ Hehe. Where would I go if I fainted in a dream?”

“Who knows. At least not to tomorrow morning, I guess?”

“That’s so like you, Jack, I can’t even laugh. I must really miss you.”

She wanted to hug the man close to her, but her limbs, which wouldn’t move even in this dream, were truly frustrating. The skill’s backlash seems to bind me even in dreams.

“…Jack, I can’t move right now.”

“Yeah, I heard. You pushed yourself to save Ira and everyone.”

“So, are you going to praise me more?”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll keep going until you fall asleep.”

“…Can you also spank me?”

“Without alcohol, that’s a bit… Plus, this is someone else’s house.”

“Then, what if I said I’d be happy with you just caressing my waist and occasionally below that?”

“…Sigh, my night is going to be incredibly long. If you get everything you want today, does that mean nothing for a while?”

The Jack in my dreams is incredibly accurate!

With that thought, Ray asked him to massage below her waist, kiss her, praise her, and stroke her hair, and the dream Jack, though sighing, complied with all her requests. And so, after Ray closed her eyes while sharing various intimate skinship with the Jack she thought was a dream, the next afternoon…

“My bottom feels tingly? Did the dream Jack come out to the real world and my bottom… Huh? There are handprints? Um… these marks…?”

When Ray realized that the Jack she thought was a dream was actually in the same mansion, she screamed in despair, realizing she had wasted an incredible opportunity by indulging in her desires.