It Can’t Be Helped

I regained consciousness in the late afternoon.

This time, Claudia was by my side. She was wearing comfortable clothes, sitting in a chair, and seriously cleaning her equipment. When she moved her hands a little vigorously, her unrestrained flesh jiggled. It was quite a stimulating sight.

Unconsciously, I squinted my eyes and peeked. Then, with a chuckle, a warm hand rested on my forehead.

“If you’re awake, why don’t you say something instead of doing that?”

“…I thought you were concentrating.”

…She didn’t catch me secretly looking at her chest, did she?

Claudia removed her hand from my forehead, put away the weapon she was cleaning, and then clung to me. Not in that sense, but rather… to check my condition. That must have been her intention, but her chest kept brushing against my body. A warm body temperature was transmitted to me.

For some reason… my lower abdomen trembled.

Unlike me, Claudia looked at my complexion with a worried expression.

“I heard you woke up and then fainted again. Are you okay? Your face is a bit red.”

“I-I’m fine….”

I took a deep breath and calmed myself.

“You must be hungry since you haven’t eaten anything. I’ll go warm up some soup, so just wait a moment.”

I stared blankly at Claudia as she turned around, then snapped out of it and got off the bed. Claudia caught me as I swayed slightly.

…My head was briefly buried in her chest.

“Where are you going in that state? Why don’t you just wait?”

“No… let’s go down together. I was fine when I woke up earlier… I think I moved too quickly.”

“…If you insist, let’s go together.”

Claudia sighed and supported my body. It seemed unnecessary, but I accepted it obediently, fearing she would just keep me cooped up in the room otherwise. As we descended the stairs, where the sound of wood creaking could be heard, I asked her a question.

“Was I really asleep for three days?”

I had thought about it a moment ago, but my body felt too normal for that. Moreover… the experiences I had then were a bit blurry after waking up. Even more so because everyone else was acting as if nothing had happened.

Claudia looked at me with a complex expression, smiled, and replied.

“I don’t know exactly what happened, but your body was a mess. Fortunately, Veronica-ssi and I were there, so we made you a Potion and fed it to you, which is why you’re relatively fine now.”

Then… do the others not have clear memories? Still, they seemed to have a vague idea of what had happened. They were awkwardly smiling and subtly avoiding my gaze.

I felt a little wronged.

However, on the other hand, I felt relieved. The fact that no one remembered me in that state, even if I wasn’t in my right mind.

Anyway, I don’t remember anything from the middle either….

Just then, a sudden sensation from that time made my body tremble slightly, and I stumbled. Claudia snatched me as I was about to fall down the stairs. I was embraced, buried in her firm abs and chest.

“Are you okay?”

Claudia’s surprised voice reached my ears. Her worried tone made me feel embarrassed. I could guess what she was worried about.

However… contrary to her thoughts, I wasn’t writhing in pain.

It was because I felt the lingering sensation of the rod stirring inside my body. My lower body felt a little… wet.

Therefore… I couldn’t answer no and could only stammer. The other reason I couldn’t say it out loud… was the kind of thing I couldn’t possibly say myself.

Claudia, unaware of this fact, gently stroked my forehead with a hand full of worry.

“Your face is red too… Perhaps it would be better to rest in bed?”

“…I’m fine. I was just thinking about something else for a moment.”

“Hmm….”

Finally, Claudia let me down on the floor only after we had descended the stairs. She sighed, saying she would go to the Workshop for a moment, and I left her behind, heading to the Workshop.

I fanned myself with my hand to cool down my slightly heated body.

When I arrived at the Workshop and opened the door, I saw Cecil and Veronica making Potions. Cecil was making the things I had asked her to, as usual… and Veronica… it seemed she was making the Potions I was supposed to make instead.

Hearing the door open, the two of them widened their eyes and approached me. Cecil clung to me like she did this morning, while Veronica, unlike this morning, approached with cautious steps, fidgeting with her fingers.

While I was stroking Cecil’s head, Veronica, who had been silent, opened her mouth.

“A-Are you okay?”

…It seemed my fainting again had bothered her quite a bit. I decided to forgive her like a man.

“I’m fine. You said you made a Potion and fed it to me, right?”

“Ah, yes. Claudia-ssi brought good materials, so I was able to make a good one.”

“Alright… let’s just call it even then. By the way, what were you making?”

Veronica, whose expression had returned to normal, sighed and replied.

“What else but the Potions you were supposed to make? I even made and delivered the Potions you said needed to be delivered yesterday.”

“…You did?”

When I thanked the triumphant Veronica, Cecil, who was still clinging to me, said she helped too and asked for more head pats. When I gently stroked her head more, she giggled.

…Suddenly, my butt ached. It must be because the memory was that intense. Since no one else remembers… like a man, I just have to get over it myself.

I shook my head internally and asked Veronica. For some reason, I was looking at Cecil. When I spoke to her, she flinched in surprise. What was she thinking?

I didn’t feel like pressing her, nor did I have the energy, so I asked what I wanted to know.

“What about the payment?”

Then, Veronica cleared her throat and pointed upwards.

“I didn’t know the safe combination, so I just put it on top of it.”

“I see.”

“By the way, where’s Claudia-ssi? Weren’t you with her?”

When I said I wanted to stop by the Workshop first instead of having her make soup, Veronica’s expression became a little… strange. I watched her expression for a moment, then detached Cecil from my embrace and grabbed both of Veronica’s hands.

Veronica seemed startled, surprised by the sudden contact. Her face was slightly red.

“W-What, what’s with the suddenness?!”

“Veronica… I have a favor to ask you.”

“Uh, ugh… yes?”

Looking at Veronica, who had delivered the goods in my stead, and recalling the lingering images that kept surfacing, I made up my mind. To start right now.

“…Could you handle the Workshop work for me for a while?”

“Huh?”

It seemed… I needed to focus on research to return to normal for a while. But I couldn’t just abandon the requests I had already accepted, so I thought this was the best option. There were no special Potions, so Veronica would surely make them excellently.

After all, I couldn’t just keep waiting indefinitely for Master-nim’s reply. At first, I thought about going to find her, but… that seemed difficult for now. And I was a little reluctant to squeeze into crowds of people in this body.

It was urgent, but… not yet… it’s still okay.

However, Veronica didn’t seem very keen on it. I thought she’d be fine since she delivered in my place, but….

“…If that’s the case, couldn’t you just not accept requests for a while?”

“I can’t cancel accepted requests….”

Then… I’d have to pay a penalty.

Veronica started looking at me with a very dubious expression. It was as if she was asking if that was the real reason.

“Ve-Veronica, please, I’m begging you! There’s no one else I can ask…!”

Her expression was sullen, but then she suddenly started blushing. It seemed she was unaccustomed to being asked for favors. Well… considering Veronica’s personality, that might be the case.

Veronica pondered for a moment, then sighed and gave her answer.

“…Just this once. I’ll only handle the amount you’ve already received.”

Her answer was an unavoidable affirmation. In my joy, I tightened my grip.

“Ah, that hurts….”

“Sorry.”

I released Veronica’s hands and stepped back, and then it was Cecil’s turn.

“Asha-nim… Is there anything Cecil can help you with…?”

She was mumbling, wanting to be helpful. Even when I told her that just making simple Potions was a great help, she fidgeted with her fingers, as if disappointed.

…Come to think of it, the research I’m about to start cannot even begin without Cecil’s help. Master-nim took all the essence I had collected.

“…There will be something you can help with soon.”

“Understood! I will wait!”

After that, I headed to the dining room for my gurgling stomach. I ate the warm soup Claudia had made for me and then saw her off as she said she had to go out for a while for work.

But why was she talking as if she was going to live here…? I figured she was just worried about me, so I called Cecil over.

…She came with a large beaker.

It was too cramped to extract it in the bathroom, and Veronica might come, so I went into one of the rooms I had tidied up. Contrary to my expectation that it would be a bit messy, it was cleanly swept.

They didn’t even remember what they had done… but it seemed they were quite concerned.

Anyway.

I held the beaker and spoke to Cecil.

“Um… Cecil, I think I need to collect some of the fluid that comes out when it gets hard. Is that okay?”

Cecil replied cheerfully.

“Of course! Asha-nim!”

Having said that, Cecil, with a spirited voice, lifted her Dress. Seeing her lift it so unhesitatingly, my face felt a little hot. I should tell her later not to do that to just anyone.

Cecil was wearing the unnecessarily lewd black panties that Claudia had bought her. I hadn’t worn them and had forgotten about them, tucked away in a corner… I didn’t expect to see them here.

Did she have nothing else to wear…?

The lewd black panties, nestled below her smooth and soft-looking abdomen… felt somewhat out of place yet exuded a strange sensuality.

I cleared my throat, held the beaker, and looked at Cecil, who had an anxious expression. Why was she suddenly like this?

When I asked Cecil, I received a somewhat… awkward answer.

“Asha-nim. It’s not getting hard.”

…It gets an erection every morning, so why won’t it get hard when I actually need it?

I looked at the tearful Cecil, then sighed and approached her.

…Helping it get an erection… should be fine. It’s unavoidable if I want to return to normal.