Chapter 10

"Hey, want to go explore the dungeon together tomorrow?"

After leaving the weapon shop and heading straight to the tavern, I was eating a casual meal when Ruruka came to our table and said this. Then, she sat down without hesitation, took some food from the large plate, and even started ordering more drinks. It seemed she was alone today.

"No, didn't you say you wouldn't team up with me? Besides, that flat-chested girl would definitely be against it."

Could it be?

Could it be that she's trying to poach someone?

Her target isn't me but Yuel.

Could she be trying to poach my cute, excellent, and adorable Yuel?

"......Don't say that in front of her, okay? She's really sensitive about it. And, didn't you say you wanted to explore the dungeon with Shiki when there's no party? From today, Fran's not feeling well, so the party is taking a short break."

Ah, right, she did say that.

I see.

So, it's okay to go with Ruruka on a day off.

It's like a temporary party.

I was a bit worried about our combat strength, but it might be good to see how far we can go with three people.

"Ah, right. But is Fran not feeling well? If Ruruka can do something, or if she asks directly, I might be able to treat her."

"A, ah, ahaha. Well, it's not that kind of thing, so you don't need to worry. It's fine, really."

What's this, she's hesitating.

Not feeling well.

It's not that kind of thing.

From today.

A short break.

No need to worry.

Ah.

My lips curled up naturally.

So, there are days like this sometimes.

She's a girl, after all.

Once a month, she might feel unwell.

So, it starts today.

How long is the cycle?

Probably about a month.

Ah, I feel like I want to say "It's about time, isn't it?" a month from now.

At first, Fran would be confused and make a puzzled face.

But then, seeing my smirking face, she would understand the meaning, feel confused about how I know, be embarrassed that it's known, and be disgusted by me saying it out loud, all mixed together in her expression.

Yeah, if I see Fran today or tomorrow, maybe I should ask about her cycle.

Fran's expression, with her twin drills pointing to the sky in anger, would be quite a sight.

"Don't do anything to make her angry, okay? She really hates that kind of thing."

Ruruka sighed and said this.

Did she guess what I was thinking just from my expression?

She really understands.

Well, I probably won't actually do it.

She's a member of Ruruka's party.

If I say something, I might end up being disliked by Ruruka.

Ruruka seems to be quite tolerant, but making a party member angry might not be the same.

No, with Fran, she might even call the guards or cast a spell.

She's known to be quite clean.

That would be bad.

But if I actually see Fran, I might say something.

If she acts like she hates me, it would be natural to want to make her blush with embarrassment.

It would almost be like a setup.

"Hey, Shiki, can I stay at the same inn as you? It's just to avoid the hassle of meeting up, and we'll have separate rooms, okay?"

When we left the tavern, Ruruka brought this up.

This is that, right?

The "I'm drunk, can you take me home?" kind of thing.

Is my love season finally here?

Her face is slightly flushed.

She might be expecting to be taken home.

This must be what a woman's face looks like.

Going straight to bed without a date.

She's being proactive.

Is she usually this proactive?

No, at most, she might let me touch her chest through her clothes, press it against me, or let me touch it for a moment, in exchange for treatment fees.

So, is my love season finally here?

To make Ruruka this proactive, I must be quite a sinner.

Oh, my face is smirking.

I need to be careful.

"Ah, of course not in that sense. It's just to avoid the hassle of meeting up. We'll have separate rooms."

Ah, a misunderstanding.

Right, her face is red because she drank.

I feel a bit embarrassed and disappointed.

Maybe I was a bit tipsy too.

Even if we were in the same room and bed, with Yuel there, nothing would have happened anyway.

"By the way, do you and Yuel sleep in the same room?"

After checking into the inn, Ruruka asked this.

Is she curious about my relationship with Yuel?

I'm curious about her intention in asking this.

Is she jealous of our intimate relationship?

Or is she trying to check if I'm a lolicon?

I'm curious.

"Yeah, we do. It's also a waste of money."

Actually, it's because Yuel doesn't like it, but I don't need to say that.

"I always sleep in the same bed as Master."

Yuel, you don't need to say that.

Yuel's words made Ruruka stare at me intently.

Her expression was serious, as if trying to uncover the truth.

Ah, so she suspected I was a lolicon.

I can't look away.

If I look away now, I'll be labeled as a lolicon by Ruruka.

If that happens, she might be repulsed and stop giving me special treatment during negotiations.

Worse, she might not even look at me or listen to me.

For a woman who wants to have children, a lolicon is a highly repulsive target.

No, that's not true.

I really haven't done anything.

I returned her gaze with an equally serious expression.

"......I think I'll change to the room next to yours, okay?"

Is this to check for strange noises or sounds at night?

The walls of this cheap inn are thin.

If we do anything, it will be heard next door.

It seems I haven't gained her trust.

Despite my efforts not to do anything to Yuel.

I feel a bit unjust.

Where should I direct this feeling?

"Unn... haa... How is it, Master?"

Yuel is stimulating my sensitive spots with all her might.

A warm sensation spreads where she touches, and I feel intense pleasure.

"Ah, it's really good. Yuel is the best. It feels amazing."

Yuel seems to be struggling a bit.

And, though she doesn't say it, her technique isn't that good.

It's understandable since it's her first time.

But that's what makes it good.

It must be because Yuel is doing it that it feels this good.

"Haa... haa... I... it hurts, but I'll try my best!"

Yuel, who is touching the hard flesh, continues to stimulate me despite the pain.

Does it hurt?

It must be tough for a twelve-year-old like Yuel.

"It hurts? You don't have to push yourself. You can stop if you want."

"No, I can do it for Master!"

She's so earnest.

Yuel continues to stimulate me with all her might, even as she sweats and her sweat drips onto my body.

Ragged breath, leaking sounds, dripping sweat.

"Hey, what are you doing!? Don't touch Yuel...!"

And then—Ruruka burst into the room, seeing the scene.

The scene where I'm getting a shoulder massage from Yuel.

Just as planned.

"Huh? What's wrong, Ruruka? You seem so flustered. Is there something you're worried about?"

"E, eh, well, that, the..."

Of course, it was intentional.

I asked Yuel to massage my shoulders and made it difficult for her by tensing them.

I also made my voice a bit louder so it could be heard through the wall.

Ruruka, who usually initiates things, seemed embarrassed by this misunderstanding, blushing and stuttering.

Ruruka is more of the type to take the initiative.

I usually get taken advantage of by her, and she extracts money from me.

It's not a common expression.

It's a rare sight.

I'm not just a pushover for Ruruka.

"What's wrong? If you burst in like this, there must be a reason. Why don't you tell me?"

Ruruka blushed and glared at me with a deadpan expression.

Of course, she can't say it.

Right, she can't say she misunderstood and thought we were doing something inappropriate.

It's embarrassing.

And Yuel is there, rubbing her thumb to ease the pain.

Her expression, stained with embarrassment, is accentuated by her thin nightgown.

A henley shirt and soft, short pants, or maybe culottes.

She usually wears thick denim shorts, but the difference in material makes a big difference in the atmosphere.

I can almost see the outline of her underwear from behind.

I take my time, looking her over from head to toe.

The thin fabric pulled by gravity, the slight curves of her flesh.

Her expression, which I usually don't see, adds a nice touch.

However, Ruruka closed her eyes, sighed deeply, and returned to a disappointed expression.

Ah, it's over.

She must have realized it was a setup.

Ruruka really understands.

And she can switch quickly.

I thought she might get angry, but I didn't actually do anything.

I just got a shoulder massage from Yuel.

It's true that I asked Yuel to massage my shoulders and chose my words to make it easy for Ruruka to misunderstand, but I only expressed how good it felt.

I made it a bit harder for Yuel to massage my shoulders, but Ruruka wouldn't know that.

There's no lie.

Ruruka herself made the embarrassing misunderstanding.

That's why she can't get angry and is just disappointed.

This is a good counterattack.

I can consider the lolicon suspicion cleared.

Today is decided by Ruruka's thin nightgown and her blushing face.