Chapter 340: Sweet Night (3)
by Shini
Chapter
340: Sweet Night (3)
There’s
one thing I’ve learned from busting my ass in this other world.
That
humans are creatures of emotion.
Many
blindly chase after profits like money and wealth, but people are
swayed by emotions even more than that.
The
extravagant hospitality received when one’s pockets are full and one
is well-off is taken for granted.
However,
the bowl of soup received during times of poverty and hardship
remains deeply etched in the heart.
Even
more so if that person not only provided that bowl of soup but also
supported you in every way whenever you were struggling and
exhausted.
“Haa,
Bal, kaan…”
After
a lingering kiss, Diana slightly opened her eyes, which had been
closed, and let out a panting breath.
Balkan
smiled slightly as he looked at her.
“You’re
not feeling well, why go through all this trouble to prepare?”
“Hehe…
Good memories, the more the better, aren’t they?”
Diana,
who had been plagued by the [Curse of the Demon of Lust] for years,
chose to commemorate the day she met the person more precious than
her own well-being.
How
many people wouldn’t be moved by that kind and pure heart?
“Besides,
Ellie and Denshi helped a lot too…”
Diana
gestured with her eyes towards the two women holding cakes in both
hands.
“We’ve
been preparing together since Brother left this morning!”
Ellie
slightly puffed out her cheeks as she watched her stepmother and
brother’s passionate kiss.
“……”
Whether
it was due to the influence of the Netorare Blessing or whether it
had now entered the realm of preference, Denshi was gazing at the two
people clinging to each other with a subtle look.
The
kindness of the two could not be ignored either.
On
the table visible over their shoulders, a splendid feast was laid
out.
Imagining
the two women clumsily making the dishes with Diana, a warm feeling
welled up from the depths of Balkan’s heart.
Balkan
approached Ellie and gave her a small kiss on the forehead.
“H-Hweet…”
Ellie’s
red eyes widened in an instant, and her elf ears fluttered.
Her
slender fingertips dazedly touched the forehead where his lips had
touched.
Although
she showed a slightly jealous look, Ellie’s cheeks flushed as red as
her eyes and hair when she felt the sensation of lips after a long
time.
He
was about to give her a real kiss because of her cute appearance, but
Denshi, who had come up unnoticed, subtly poked him in the side.
“The
food will get cold. Master.”
“Ugh…!”
Ellie
puffed out her cheeks at having her precious moment interrupted, but
Denshi’s words were also true.
Food
filled with goodwill tastes best when it’s warm.
“Then…
shall we eat this together too?”
Balkan
held up the high-end champagne and cake he had obtained for Diana’s
curse-removal celebration party.
A
feast cannot be without alcohol.
***
“Uub…”
Ellie,
with her red hair draped over the table, hiccuped and mumbled softly.
Ellie,
who had become an adult, once again tilted her champagne glass with a
confident look, and before she could even finish one glass, she was
drunk and collapsed on the table.
She
was originally weak to alcohol, but even more so in an atmosphere
like this.
The
dim night.
The
light emitted from the crimson lantern illuminating the tavern of the
inn, which only had four people, was already charming.
On
top of that, with delicious food and alcohol, even if they only
continued with silly conversations, joyful emotions welled up to the
point where they would burst into laughter.
Ellie,
slightly drunk from the alcohol and the gentle, hazy atmosphere, soon
began to make small snoring sounds.
The
adults, who were still holding their seats, continued their small
talk and popped open the second bottle of champagne.
Pop!
Denshi,
who had woven the Puppeteer’s magic threads to pop the cork, poured
the champagne with precision.
Denshi,
who came from the outlaw zone, had never even tasted high-end
champagne, but she had acquired basic serving skills while helping
out at Diana’s inn.
“Ooh—”
Clap
clap clap.
Diana,
who was in a good mood, clapped her hands with small admiration at
Denshi’s skill, tilting her glass in succession and getting slightly
drunk.
“You’ve
already gotten used to using magic threads?”
Balkan
admired Denshi, who had become skilled at using the Puppeteer’s
power.
“The
Puppeteer is quite cooperative… and it seems to have a strangely
good compatibility with my body.”
Denshi
was able to use the Puppeteer’s magic threads because the Puppeteer
supplied Denshi with magic power and demonic energy and taught her
how to use it.
In
the process, ordinary people feel a great burden on their brains and
bodies, but Denshi, who has a high link compatibility with the
Puppeteer, had relatively less of that burden.
‘Even
for Denshi, it would be difficult to maintain the Puppeteer’s power
at all times.’
Still,
she will be an even more reliable force in emergencies than ever
before.
Of
course, she will be able to play a role in many ways in this Ellie
escort request as well.
“A
labyrinth, huh…”
As
he was talking to Denshi about this request, Diana watched the scene
and muttered softly.
There
was a small amount of regret left in her voice.
The
[Curse of the Demon of Lust] that Diana had been afflicted with was a
curse that turned all the blessings she had obtained so far, and even
the blessings she would obtain in the future, into lewd things.
Thanks
to Lilith, Diana’s status window, who had been cursed, is now in this
state.
[Diana
Ordia LV.65]
[Current
blessings and curses possessed by Diana Ordia: 3]
[◆
Blessing of Ice Magic]
[◆
Blessing of Perfect Accuracy]
[◆
Curse of Sensitive Constitution]
The
total number of blessings and curses, which was 6, has been reduced
to 3.
[Curse
of Rejection of Shabby Dick Intrusion], [Curse of Milk Ejaculation
Stat Drain], and [Curse of the Demon of Lust] completely disappeared
during the curse removal process.
[Curse
of Lewd Weakling Corruption Mark] and one other curse returned to the
original blessing that Diana had when [Curse of the Demon of Lust]
was removed.
The
[Curse of Sensitive Constitution], which had been embedded for too
long, could not be completely removed because it remained like a
brand on Diana’s soul.
It
would have been best to remove only the [Curse of the Demon of Lust]
and return all the other curses to blessings, but Lilith herself was
in a state of overexerting herself to borrow the power of the Demon
of Lust, so perfect curse removal was impossible.
Lilith
used all the means she could and collapsed as if fainting, so later
she would have to give a big and sweet carrot to the familiar who
kept her promise and worked hard.
“Ah,
come to think of it.”
Balkan
asked as if he had belatedly realized.
“Now
that the curse has been lifted, can’t you get a new blessing?”
Diana
retired from her life as an explorer after receiving the curse of
lust.
As
long as she had the [Curse of the Demon of Lust], any blessing she
would obtain in the future would be turned into a lewd curse.
But
now, the curse that had been binding her had disappeared.
In
other words, the biggest reason Diana had decided to retire had
disappeared.
“Uh-huh.
I guess so…”
Diana
smiled gently and propped her chin up with her hand.
“My
lingering feelings for the labyrinth haven’t completely disappeared.
When I went into the labyrinth last time, my heart fluttered at the
feeling of stepping into an unknown place again… But.”
Diana,
who trailed off, gently swept back the bangs of the sleeping Ellie
with a hazy look.
“In
the days when I had nothing, I just recklessly went into the
labyrinth… But as time passed, I became concerned about the child
who needs me.”
“Umm…”
The
adopted daughter, whom she had raised like her own, smiled bashfully
at her stepmother’s touch even in her sleep.
A
person with something to protect can’t help but be more cautious
before making any decisions.
Especially
if it’s a beloved family member.
Moreover,
for Diana, the unknown was beyond the 34th floor, the end of the
labyrinth, and even Diana and Idelbert could not guarantee safety in
such a place.
“I
didn’t push you. The most important thing is Diana’s heart.”
“Hehe.
Thank you for understanding. That doesn’t mean I won’t go into the
labyrinth, though? I opened a second branch on the 15th floor.”
He
smiled slightly at the answer that she would support him as before
when he went above the 15th floor and raised his champagne glass.
The
glass clinked, making a clear sound, and the night deepened.
***
The
party celebrating Diana’s curse removal and their meeting lasted
about three hours.
But
they didn’t run until the end of their drinking capacity.
They
drank champagne just enough to feel good and accept everything in the
world cheerfully.
After
laying Ellie, who was completely drunk, on the bed in the room, we
did some tidying up and then went into our respective rooms.
Click.
“Master.”
Just
before closing the door, Denshi, who was holding onto the doorframe,
handed something over.
“…I
thought you might need it today.”
Balkan
stared blankly at what was in Denshi’s hand.
Condoms
and stamina-enhancing herbs.
“…Since
when did you know?”
“Since
the two of you were hugging and kissing. I could see the look in your
eyes that you wanted to see her later.”
Really,
Denshi is quick-witted.
She
noticed it even though they only made eye contact for a moment.
“Are
you okay with it?”
“…What
can I do to stop Master’s will? And.”
Denshi
smiled slightly with a confident face.
“If
I interfere with Diana-nim’s meaningful day, won’t the meaningful
day that will come to me someday be interfered with? It’s only
natural.”
Balkan
chuckled as soon as he heard those words.
What
a commendable girl.
She
must have been disappointed that she could only feel it through the
memories of the Puppeteer, but she willingly helps Diana.
She
used to be so wary of Diana, but now Denshi has also felt Diana’s
sincerity.
“I’ll
go to bed early.”
“Okay.”
Balkan
gently stroked Denshi’s collar, then went back down the stairs and
headed to the inn’s kitchen.
To
be exact, to Diana’s room inside the kitchen.
Knock
knock.
Immediately
after carefully knocking on the door, the door opened on its own.
“……”
“……”
In
front of the door stood Diana, wrapped in a red cloth like a birthday
present.
“A
commemorative, a present…”
Diana,
her face flushed red, smiled awkwardly and opened her eyes.
“Maybe…
you don’t like it…?”
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