Chapter 174: And So I….
The four pots on the table were empty of ingredients.
They had been delicious and popular, and the prepared ingredients had disappeared at an incredible speed.
I suspected a little white token powder had been added, so I had given Sharle some to make them even if I wasn’t there.
At first she had refused, but I pushed through because they could be found in the mountains and handed them over.
Of course I had also told her they would be made empty every time, and she had smiled wryly.
I had also worried about the fairy wings taking up too much space, but apparently they could be made smaller.
I learned that Sharle and the others’ current wing size was palm-sized, and because over half their bodies were made of magic power, it was possible.
Thinking about it, I understood the mystery of growing by absorbing magic power.
Now for the pot. The ingredients were gone, but there was still vegetable broth left in the pots.
Without udon noodles or rice, I couldn’t finish it. I hadn’t found any in the capital yet, and I didn’t know if they existed.
If there was pasta, I could try that... Hmm, what to do.
Maybe I should just use the pasta for a quick trial? I took a sip of the wine while thinking.
Looking at everyone smiling with satisfied faces, I asked with a smile.
"Do you have a plan for the finish? Want to eat it?"
"Finish?"
"What is ’finish’?"
Sharle and Teine on the opposite side of the table tilted their heads at my words.
Of course they didn’t know, so I smiled wryly and began explaining.
I explained that instead of udon or rice, we could make something with the remaining broth, and the satisfied faces of everyone around the table began to shine again.
When I said there was a chance of failure, they begged me to still make it anyway.
When I asked Sharle, she said the pasta in the magic bag was made by Teine, Senai, and Merry.
Then I decided to make some variation like soup pasta. Honestly, I also wanted a bit more alcohol.
I stood up and said I was going to put pasta in the pot, but some vegetables would be better.
Two of them stood up happily and followed me to the kitchen.
The one who took vegetables from the magic bag in the kitchen was Miina, who had a gentle face.
She cut the vegetables with slow, graceful movements. Her wavy hair reaching her waist and tied at the shoulders had an atmosphere like a married woman.
Miina noticed my gaze from behind, turned her head, and smiled "kusu" at me.
"You’re staring too much?"
"Sorry, I got a little dazed."
"Oh my, you’re being flirted with."
With a playful smile, Miina turned forward and started working again, and I felt embarrassed and scratched my cheek with a finger.
Standing next to Miina’s right, I took pasta from the magic bag, and Luru peeked with a "nishi nishi" laugh from my left.
Her wavy light-blue hair was curled at the ends, and she looked up at me while her melon-like chest swayed.
She deliberately swayed her body left and right, making her breasts bounce, and through the gaps in her clothes I saw her nipples and quickly looked away.
"Nishi nishi! I’ll help."
"Ah, thanks. Can you carry this?"
"Yeah... Ah, I’ll flirt with you later too."
"...If you flirt, will you answer?"
"Hmm, who knows~"
Laughing happily, Luru took the pasta from my hand and walked away.
Smiling wryly at the feeling of being teased, Miina pressed her pear-like chest against my arm and showed me the basket of cut vegetables.
"Wow, are you getting shy? It’s cute."
"It’s been a while since someone said I’m cute at my age."
’Fufufu, then I’ll tell you one thing?’
Miina smiled happily and pressed her chest firmly against me before carrying the basket of vegetables to the table.
Honestly, I was losing confidence in enduring the seduction...
Even when I turned my back, I was troubled by the gazes I could feel.
When I looked back, everyone was already waiting at the table.
The finishing of the pot went well, and everyone was full and smiling happily.
The pasta had been a little hard, but adding more cooking time had worked.
While I sipped my wine and chatted with everyone, Sharle coughed and gave me a serious expression.
Everyone else fell quiet and waited for Sharle to speak.
I stopped drinking, sat up straight, and tilted my head, wondering what was wrong, as I looked at Sharle.
"It’s about Hilbyid-sama. King Adom told me to do whatever Raide-sama likes."
"Hmm... do whatever I like, huh."
"Also, trust Raide-sama. We eleven have become Raide-sama’s exclusive. Please treat us well."
"That’s heavy words. Why not something better? You had important duties."
"It’s fine. We have to give them experience to the others too. Also, with us now, we want Raide-sama to be our top priority."
"...I’m happy to hear it, but please don’t force yourself. Thinking about what might happen to Sharle and the others is painful."
"Of course. It’s fine. We won’t leave you. We don’t want to leave either."
Sharle and the others smiled with affectionate eyes, and when I saw their expressions I smiled and let out a small sigh.
They had said it in words, but I knew they were forcing themselves... I would seriously look for that herb.
If I had it, the survival rate of Sharle and the others, the students, and my lovers would definitely rise.
...But I was worried whether it would reach the capital and whether the effect was actually being tested.
I knew that since it wasn’t famous yet, the effect hadn’t been tested, but...
I explained how I would move regarding Hilbyid.
Everyone listened to me with serious expressions, and when I finished, their eyes widened in surprise.
When they asked Sharle and the others if it was true, I said "probably," and they smiled wryly.
Then, unlike before, they worried that I wouldn’t force myself, and when I said it was fine, they said "we’ve heard that many times" and I smiled wryly.
After that, for a while we chatted about various things, and we ended up receiving the bath first... It was tough.
I stopped Teine from trying to join me, and used words to stop Senai and Merry from invading to wash my back.
I was happy to hear it, but after only just reuniting, it felt embarrassing to go that far.
I had realized that if they saw Sharle and the others naked, my lower body would definitely react and I couldn’t control it, so I had desperately stopped them.
If they said "if you’re prepared to hold me, you can hold me right now," that was it, but...
Now I was in the room prepared for me, sitting on the sofa drinking a little wine to calm my mood.
Perhaps because I was a bit tense, today’s alcohol didn’t hit me.
Even though I knew it was bad, I sipped it slowly to suppress the rising feeling.
Since I was drinking little by little, I hadn’t drunk enough... probably.
The wonderful thing about this room was that from the large window I could see the outside view, and it was hidden from outside by magic.
The fountain of the royal castle and the academy under the moonlight were mystical, so the wine kept flowing.
Suddenly I heard a knock on the door, I answered and sat on the sofa, looking at the door only with my face.
When the door opened and Sharle entered, I was stunned and lost my words.
"Good evening, Raide-sama."
"Ah, ah... good evening."
"Kusu, what’s wrong?"
"No, you look good."
"Thank you very much."
Sharle was wearing a swimsuit the same light-blue color as her hair, and the hem reached just above her knees.
The problem wasn’t there; because it was made of sheer fabric, in the bright room it was almost naked.
There was nothing to block her plain white skin, so the body lines were emphasized, and her beautiful nipple shape was clear. It was honestly beautiful.
When I stared, her cheeks flushed slightly as she smiled and walked toward me.
When she came right in front of me, her strong body gave off the scent of a spring breeze.
She placed the wine glass on the small table beside the sofa, and without thinking I wrapped my arm around her waist and hugged her tightly.
Even though I suddenly hugged her, Sharle didn’t panic and gently hugged me back, holding my head.
While pressing my face into her stomach, I said with an apologetic voice.
"Sorry, I couldn’t help hugging you. If you don’t like it, tell me."
"No, I’m happy. I’ve wanted to hold you like this... for a long time."
"Sharle..."
"Since the moment I found you, I’ve wanted this. We won’t be apart anymore, absolutely... absolutely."
Sharle gently stroked the back of my hair, and with Sharle’s body temperature it felt incredibly good.
When I strengthened my hug to feel her body, Sharle didn’t resist; instead, Sharle hugged me back strongly.
When I rubbed my face against her, the alcohol was finally hitting me, making my eyelids heavy.
Before I fell asleep, I spoke so Sharle could hear.
"I won’t leave Sharle and the others either... absolutely..."
"Yes."
"So... don’t leave me for the rest of your life..."
"Yes, I promise."
Listening to Sharle’s calm voice, I fell asleep.
Probably when I woke up I would think about today many times... while thinking that—
Sharle looked at Raide, who was starting to snore, with affectionate eyes.
How adorable. Just by hugging him, happiness overflowed.
Her heart was full of joy and happiness to the point that if she let go, tears would come.
How many times she had almost been jealous of Raide’s lovers.
How many times she had thought she wanted to be the one held by Raide.
She had finally touched Raide.
She had finally been held by Raide.
Sharle hugged Raide’s head like a child and rubbed her cheek against his head, smiling and whispering.
"I love you, Raide-sama."