Episode 310. Alice (3)

‘How should I react to this?’

I seriously pondered, looking at Alice, who was stuck to my body.

Alice lay still, making a humming sound like ‘Hmm-‘, and it was obvious she was awkward, like she had no experience lying down with someone.

And she even asked, ‘What about you?’…

‘Obviously, it’s fucking great.’

The scent of her skin, her butt touching my lower abdomen, and her firm yet soft back. It was just that every part of the woman named Alice was the problem. I liked it so much I wanted to hug her and pounce on her right now.

But I couldn’t say that.

Even a piece of trash like me has a pure heart.

I calmly opened Alice’s status window.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Alice]

• [ Affection: 92 ]

• [ Lust: 80 ]

• [ Appetite: 40 ]

• [ Fatigue: 40 ]

Current Status: It’s warm, though. A different kind of warmth than a massage… Is she perhaps getting hot because she’s embarrassed?

“….”

‘What is this?’

‘Is she trying to seduce me?’

‘I just need to naturally open my arms and hug her, right? Correct?’

‘Did settling things with the Guild Master yesterday have such a big effect that she’s acting like this?’

As I was contemplating to achieve the best outcome, Alice spoke first.

“What are you doing just lying here?”

“What situation are you referring to, exactly?”

“When you’re hugging other women like this?”

This time, I was genuinely a little scared. I felt I needed to understand why Alice was acting like this first. What was clear was that hugging her back now would be the wrong answer. Since beating around the bush might lead to strange results, I spoke directly.

“…Alice. Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

“There’s no particular reason.”

This is driving me crazy. Fortunately, perhaps she didn’t want a serious answer, Alice stopped the conversation and tilted her head back. Then, like a pet throwing a tantrum, she pressed the top of her head firmly against my chest.

Kkuuk- Kkuuk-

“Ughh.”

“…?”

What could this mean? Is it like a cat’s expression of affection? Alice didn’t seem to care about messing up her styled hair and rubbed her hair against my chest. Alice’s pleasant scent seemed to soak into my clothes. It certainly felt good. Because there’s nothing better than a beautiful woman acting cute. But since she’s acting like this out of the blue, I don’t know how to react. Seeing her move her head so much that her bangs swayed, she seemed to be trying hard, but why was she doing it? I had no choice but to offer my chest and watch Alice’s strange behavior. If I touched her, she might get angry, and since conversation wasn’t working, I could only stay still. Should I try giving my chest to take her chest, like giving up flesh to gain bones?

‘Yeah, that’s not it.’

Ttuk-

However, Alice’s cute act ended in less than 30 seconds. Alice, who had taken her head off my chest, instantly got up from the bed and looked down at me.

“How was it?”

“Uh, it was good.”

“Hmm. I see.”

Did I look too stupid just now? I should have given a better answer, but I couldn’t think of one properly. I sat up and looked at Alice. Alice frowned, brushed aside her bangs that were blocking her vision, and continued speaking.

“Thank you. It’s completely different from what I thought.”

“What did you think?”

“I thought you wouldn’t feel anything.”

Alice walked across the living room to the full-length mirror and tidied her messy hair again. As if she didn’t even care that I was there, Alice finished fixing her hair and walked back to the bed.

“Since you did me a favor, I’ll buy you a meal. Let’s go.”

“…Alice?”

“I’ll wait outside. Get ready and come out.”

Alice turned, opened the front door, and went outside.

Peong!

“She just leaves like that because she’s really pretty!”

At the same moment, the necklace in the corner of the bed transformed into Liliana.

“Isn’t that right? She barges in, makes physical contact as she pleases, and then tells me to come out. Totally selfish. A human who thinks being pretty makes everything okay. Hmph.”

“…You need to reflect on your own usual behavior.”

“I’m not human, I’m a succubus?”

This succubus, perhaps unaware that she herself benefited the most from her looks among the women around me, kept complaining.

“…I’m going out for a bit. I guess I should go grab lunch.”

Honestly, I’m still dumbfounded. Liliana isn’t wrong. She suddenly barged in, did something strange, and then just left. If it were anyone else, it would be understandable to get angry, but…

‘She’s too cute.’

And since she’s pretty too, the effect is doubled. Did she finally realize how to use her looks?

“Take me too!”

“I’ll be back soon, so wait here. Play with Scarlet.”

“You disappeared because of that woman. I’m bored.”

“We’re going to eat, so anyway… Sigh, fine. Let’s go.”

Seeing Liliana clinging to my arm, I gave up trying to persuade her. As expected, succubi are the best at abusing their looks. In the end, I put Liliana around my neck and went outside.

*

Seeing the incredibly luxurious exterior of the restaurant, I felt slightly intimidated.

• I bet the Demon King of the Underworld’s residence looks similar to this.

“…I agree.”

‘Is this a restaurant or a castle?’ The restaurant Scarlet took me to last time was luxurious enough, but this place was a bit overwhelming. Of course, this is probably normal for Alice.

Alice and I approached the guard blocking the entrance.

“Do you have a reservation?”

“Sorry. We just came today.”

“Understood. Miss Alice and one guest. I’ll inform them. Please proceed inside.”

The guard smiled, bowed his head, and stepped aside. If he was going to do that, why did he ask? Alice walked inside without hesitation, and I followed behind her wordlessly.

“Wow…”

• Broadcasting from here would be a huge hit. Right? Wouldn’t stealing just one decoration here be enough for a family of four’s living expenses for a year?

We were led further inside by a waiter. Deeper inside, there were private rooms, likely for VVIPs like Alice.

“I’ll help you with your order.”

“Two orders of the usual, please.”

The waiter took the order and left, leaving just Alice and me at the table. Alice was staring right at my face, which was quite burdensome. I tried to start a conversation to break the awkwardness.

“…How have you been feeling lately? Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m definitely better than before. I’m taking this week off though, because I don’t like the guild’s training room.”

“I was also disappointed that I couldn’t train since coming here, so you feel the same.”

It wasn’t just me who disliked it. I bet there are definitely guild members who dislike it but can’t say anything.

“Why do you live so diligently?”

At that moment, Alice brought it up.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“I was just curious.”

She’s doing a lot of things for no reason today. Since she probably wouldn’t answer even if I asked why, I thought about my response.

“Life is just like that, isn’t it? You don’t know when it might go downhill, so you have to work hard when things are going well.”

My deliberation was short. If you let your guard down when things are going well, it can all fall apart quickly. That’s why I managed to get by in my previous life, and it’s also why I’m building relationships with the women now. It’s hard to answer if asked whether I lived like trash, but if asked if I lived diligently, the answer is definitely YES.

Hearing my answer, Alice blinked. Blinked. Then continued speaking.

“If you join the Iris Guild, I can support you.”

“…Seriously, why are you acting like this today.”

Just then, the waiter brought the appetizers. Alice chuckled playfully, ‘Keuk.’, and put the salad in her mouth. The person sitting opposite me was burning up inside, yet the food went right into her mouth.

‘This is like I’m being seduced, not the other way around.’

I grumbled inwardly and brought the soup placed in front of me to my lips.

I still didn’t know what Alice was thinking, but I had to eat. As soon as the spoon entered my mouth, I placed it back on the table.

“…What is this.”

The moment the soup touched my tongue, my whole body recognized it. This had transcended the realm of food. Even though my mouth wanted another bite, it was hard to eat because I felt it was a waste for the soup in the bowl to diminish.

“Everyone reacts like that the first time they try it.”

Alice, sitting opposite me, scooped up the soup with familiarity.

Seeing that, I snapped back to reality a bit. Right. I came here with Alice, I can’t just show a pathetic side. If a woman brings a man she likes to a restaurant, and his first impression is that he can’t eat because he feels it’s a waste, all affection will disappear. I ate as calmly as possible. Of course, when the main course came out, I cut the steak into the smallest pieces possible because I felt it was too precious, but she probably didn’t notice.

“Did you like it?”

“Yeah. It’s incredibly delicious.”

We chatted while eating dessert. If I had a status window, my affection for Alice would have increased by 10 points, it was that delicious. Plus, she’s buying me a meal. Is she perhaps an angel?

• Give me some too! Tell her to pack it up quickly!

In contrast, the devil in my head had been spouting nonsense since earlier. It was quiet during the appetizer, which looked unappetizing, but it started causing a ruckus from the main course, the steak.

“…Sigh.”

• Pack it up! If you don’t, I’ll tell the scout!

Right. I expected something to happen from the moment she brought me here.

“Hey, Alice.”

“Yeah?”

Alice was enjoying the aftertaste of the meal while eating her dessert, the ice cream. I decided not to be a pathetic guy, but because of this crazy succubus, I ended up saying this.

“…Do you do takeout here?”

“Takeout?”

Alice mulled over my words for a moment, then smiled as if incredulously. Although I felt embarrassed, Alice’s face was quite cute even amidst it. When Alice pressed the button next to her, a waiter quickly entered the room.

“Is there anything you need?”

“Please pack up the menu we had today. I want to eat it at home.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll inform the chef.”

Alice said it was for herself, but I clearly saw the waiter’s eyes glance at me for a moment. Since I’ve never made such a request, he must be suspicious of me. Of course, he might not be, but I felt guilty anyway.

• Yay! Steak! Steak!

Liliana, unaware of my inner turmoil, excitedly cheered for steak. Let’s really deal with you when we get back.

“…Thank you.”

I expressed my gratitude to Alice, who took the blame for me. I still didn’t quite grasp the concept of today, but seeing Alice’s expression, I felt maybe it was okay to just let it slide. It’s better to go with the flow. Was she perhaps hoping for a dinner date? Then why did she lie down on the bed?

“How was today?”

“Huh?”

Alice’s words interrupted my thoughts. Before I knew it, Alice, who had finished her ice cream, was looking straight into my eyes.

“I’m asking how the meal with me was.”

“It was an honor. The meal was delicious, and the partner was great too.”

Fortunately, my tension eased a little. I seemed to have gotten a little used to Alice’s strange behavior.

“Are the words you said back then still valid?”

“When?”

“The words you said after meeting Unnie.”

“…Are you talking about the appearance thing?”

“Yeah.”

There was indeed such an occasion. The words I said to Alice, who seemed jealous of Irene’s looks. I had told her that among the people I knew, Alice was the most beautiful.

“Of course, they’re still valid. They’ll probably remain valid for life.”

“Hmm. Really?”

Alice tapped the glass with her spoon, nodded, and then her lips curled upwards.

“You pass.”

“Pass what?”

“It’s just something.”

Isaac definitely said something similar to me. Father and daughter are just the same.

“Shall we get going soon? If you want to eat here again, just say so. We can come together.”

“Okay.”

Alice smiled brightly and stood up from her seat. I’m not sure exactly, but it felt like a wall that had been holding her back had crumbled. She would never have spoken directly about her appearance before, so this was a big change. With her confidence backed by her looks and abilities, she was someone you couldn’t help but like. Moreover, her pride was evident in every action she took. It didn’t seem like inferiority towards others, but rather a genuine increase in self-love, and from my perspective, it felt like we had grown closer, making it a good day.

And, if I ever come here again, I should definitely not bring Liliana.