I wonder if the Sage gave me a special treatment. (This episode contains some sexual content. If you are not comfortable with it, you do not need to read it, as it will not greatly affect the story’s progression.)
Ugh, it feels like I went through an intense experience. But thanks to that, my body feels lighter. The wounds I sustained in battle are also healing! This is truly the Sage’s magic. Maybe I’ve returned to being a man. Well, I’ll confirm that later. For the time being, I’m just incredibly thirsty.
I tried getting up from the bed. I felt a little dizzy, but I seem to be alright. Right, what about everyone else? Knowing them, my worries are probably groundless.
When I stepped outside the room, a hallway with a red carpet appeared. As expected, they’ve booked a luxurious inn. But not everyone will be staying here. The other party members must be staying at cheaper lodgings.
“Hey, brother, you’re awake?”
Ugh, there she is. She’s everywhere.
“Are you alright yourself?”
“Huh? You’re worried about me? I’m happy!”
Karubene, too, was covered in mud and fought to her limit. She must have been blown away by the Earthworms.
“I’m completely fine. I received treatment and slept soundly. So, where are you going?”
“I just want to drink some water.”
If that’s the case, Karubene led me to her room. However, only her luggage was there, and no one was around.
“Where is everyone?”
“They’re talking in the next room. They’re also receiving treatment from the Sage.”
Hearing the word “treatment,” my stomach felt a sudden heaviness. Karubene took a bottle of water from her luggage and handed it to me. I downed it all at once. My parched throat regained its moisture.
“Haa, thank you. That was a lifesaver.”
“Brother, you drank it all. Were you that thirsty?”
She turned the bottle I had emptied upside down and caught the scant drops of water with her tongue. The spilled water streamed down her chin and down her throat.
With my mouth open, I moved only my eyes and looked at her, grinning. This girl knows exactly what she’s doing.
“What are you looking at?”
“No, is that all you have?”
“No, I have more. Here, another one.”
She twisted the cap with a pop and opened the lid. Her extended tongue brushed against the aluminum rim.
“Stop doing weird things and drink it quickly.”
“Mmm, wait a sec, mmm, *cough*, ahh!”
She held it in her mouth and started coughing. *Cough, cough*, spitting out droplets of water. Normally, I would have playfully nudged her and said something like, “What are you doing, you idiot?” but for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Her cheeks, slightly flushed from lack of oxygen, and her wet lips.
“Heh heh, brother, did you get a little turned on? No way, what are you looking at with those eyes? Ah, brother?”
Without a word, I approached her and cupped her chin as she crouched. Looking up close, her eyelashes were surprisingly long. And she had freckles on her nose.
“Wh-what? Hey, brother.”
“Are you doing this on purpose?”
I passed by her face and whispered in her ear. With my right hand, I gently ran my fingertips from the back of her head to her neck.
“Eh? Eh? What’s wrong? Geez.”
Then, I slipped my hand under her shirt and lightly tickled her side. It was a touch-and-go distance.
“Hmph, huh?”
A surprised sound escaped her lips, which had been smirking just moments before. Then, I placed my left hand on her shoulder and gently applied pressure. Slowly, Karubene’s body began to lean backward. She seemed to want to say something.
What’s wrong? Where’s your usual spirit? When I tickled her side from the bottom up, her abdominal muscles twitched. My fingers traced her ribs and got caught on her navel. I felt Karubene take a short breath, “Hyuu.”
My fingers didn’t stop, tracing the groove of her thin abdominal muscles and lightly pulling the hem of her pants. Karubene’s perplexed face was right in front of me. The one-horned warrior, who had battled countless times, was losing her legs at the slightest touch of my fingers. A strange sensation crept up my spine.
“If it’s a girl, it doesn’t count, right?”
“No, it—!”
I traced her thigh inward. I lightly lifted the hem of her shorts and stroked her fur-covered leg.
“B-but, brother, you’ve returned to being a man, right?”
“Hmm, how can I say? Shall we try and find out?”
I took Karubene’s hand and placed it on my abdomen. Her palm was hot and clammy with sweat. Even though I wasn’t touching her heart, I could feel its rapid beat.
“Let’s compare, mine and yours. I’m a virgin, so I haven’t seen it.”
“See, here.”
I lightly ran my index finger along her horn. Midway, my nail caught on a joint, and I quickly pulled my hand back.
“Hic, ahh!”
She clapped her hand over her mouth, her face turning bright red.
“What? Your nerves go all the way there too?”
“Idiot! You did that on purpose! Now, let go.”
“Agggh!”
She kicked me hard in the stomach with her hard hoof. Karubene left the room, her hooves clattering. I might have teased her a bit too much. I just got carried away. Or maybe annoyed. She says vulgar things, but when she becomes the target, she suddenly becomes meek.
I think I went too far, so I’ll apologize later.
