Chapter 8

This is a continuation of the story right before and after the last sentence of the previous chapter. I didn't include it in the previous chapter because it would have ruined the flow.

By the way, this is a chapter about harassment. Please be cautious if you are uncomfortable with such content.

---

Gazer and Eight left with a smirk, saying something like, "We're heading back first."

After a moment of hesitation, I couldn't bring myself to use it now. The scene of Gazer shaking his hand up and down was still stuck in my head. The more unpleasant the image, the harder it is to forget. I just can't do it now. I'm not in the mood.

I can't use the slime jelly in this state. Resolving my libido is an important issue, but lowering the quality of this experience is tantamount to lowering the quality of my life as a man.

The slime jelly I received from Eight is limited in quantity. I need to be careful about when to use it. At the very least, not now.

---

I returned to the table and looked around. In front of me was Yuel. As usual, she was smiling at me. Yuel, who has been eating well lately, seemed to have plumped up a bit. Her large, innocent eyes, slightly flushed cheeks, and plump lips. When I looked down, I could see a modest, child-like bulge barely pushing against her clothes.

Yuel leaned forward to reach for the food in the center of the table. Her collar gradually opened, revealing her neck, collarbone, and then the gentle curve of her chest.

I immediately covered my face with my hand.

What was I trying to see? What was I thinking?

I wanted to erase Gazer's smirking face from my mind. I wanted to overwrite it with a more impressive scene. I wanted to use the slime jelly.

But what did I see just now? Yuel. The young dark elf girl who looks up to me. This is wrong. This is unacceptable.

I feel intense self-loathing. But a part of my mind is still boiling hot. If I let my guard down, I might commit a sin driven by my libido.

I need to distract myself. Yes, I'll focus on eating. Eating is surprisingly nerve-wracking.

I focused on the food, accurately bringing it to my mouth. The smell that passed through my nose, the taste that spread in my mouth. I enjoyed the texture of the ingredients with my tongue and the satisfying sound of chewing with my teeth. Eating engages all five senses, making it perfect for concentration and distraction.

In the center of the table was a stew that Yuel seemed to have ordered while I was in the bathroom. I took a portion from the large plate and brought it to my mouth. It had a mild, light flavor, similar to chicken, but it was more jelly-like and had a deeper taste. After finishing my portion, I wondered what kind of meat it was.

"Yuel, what kind of meat is this?"

"It's turtle."

"Why?!"

Why? Why did you choose turtle? And why is there even a turtle in this world?

"Um, Gazer recommended it. Was it wrong?"

It's Gazer's fault. That idiot never does anything right. I must have startled Yuel with my sudden outburst.

"No, it's not wrong. It's not wrong at all. Yuel, you did nothing wrong."

"Master?"

Yuel's voice was puzzled. It was her usual voice, like a child's soprano, but to me, it sounded sweeter than a pancake drenched in syrup. Even though Yuel was on the other side of the table, it felt like she was whispering softly next to my face.

"Please, don't worry about it."

This is also due to the accumulated libido. And Gazer. My instincts are overwhelming my reason. I don't know what kind of turtle this world has, but my body feels hot. This is beyond a placebo. It's dangerous.

I want to rush to the bathroom, but I can't use the slime jelly yet.

If I go to the bathroom now, the image in my head will undoubtedly be Yuel.

That's not allowed. I can't defile such an innocent and adorable girl, even in my mind. This is a line I won't cross.

I took Yuel out of my sight and desperately looked around.

---

The waitress's miniskirt was fluttering.

She wore a frilly button-up shirt with a large collar, and a corset that covered from below her chest to her waist. The corset pushed her chest up, creating a shape that could be described as a breast bag. On top of it was the face of a lively, yet still somewhat childish, seventeen-year-old girl.

Every time she took orders, her long, blonde hair sparkled.

It seemed she wasn't very good at her job, as she often made mistakes and apologized to the customers.

But I couldn't see what I wanted to see.

Every time the waitress bowed to apologize, the hem of her miniskirt rose, revealing her white, firm thighs. But the fabric covering the top of her thighs, just a little bit more, was always out of sight. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't see it.

It wasn't enough. To erase Yuel from my mind and make the slime jelly usable, I needed a decisive image, a vivid vision.

I kept watching the waitress as she apologized to the customers.

Of course, I didn't let Yuel notice. I positioned my hand to block her view and arranged my fingers. I furrowed my brow, creating an atmosphere that suggested I was deep in thought, making it seem like I didn't want to be disturbed.

---

It was almost visible... but not quite... almost visible... but not quite... almost visible... but not quite.

How much time had passed as I stared at the hem of the skirt? The angle of the sunlight through the window hadn't changed at all, meaning almost no time had passed. My anxiety was slowing down my perception of time.

I kept waiting for the decisive moment.

---

And then, the moment arrived, dramatically.

A beer mug rolled across the floor, having fallen from a drunk customer's hand. This was the MVP of the scene.

The waitress was walking slowly in our direction. The beer mug was between us.

Just as the mug was about to reach the waitress, another customer called out to her. This was the second contributor to the scene.

The waitress turned her head to respond while walking.

And then—distracted, she stepped on the mug with her right foot.

"Ah, ah, kyaaah!"

Her right foot, which had been lifted, lost balance, and her body fell backward.

---

A provocative black.

I shivered. The black underwear of the lively, still somewhat childish girl. Under that one piece of fabric, there was a seductive, mature face.

The waitress fell backward, her hands touching the ground, and her legs spread wide, leaving nothing to hide.

"Ah, ah, kyaaah!"

She blushed with embarrassment and quickly closed her legs.

But it was too late. The vivid black image was already burned into my retina.

I approached the waitress, asked if she was okay, and offered to help her up. She didn't seem to be injured, but the pain would subside.

While helping her, I observed her embarrassed face closely, maintaining a bright, innocent smile.

"It's fine, no need to thank me."

"Y-Yes, thank you."

She thanked me sincerely, unaware of my true intentions. I looked at her blushing face with a bright, innocent smile and offered my hand. She took my "right hand" hesitantly. I gently held her hand, savoring the soft, warm touch, and helped her stand up.

As she stood up, I placed my hand slightly below her waist to support her.

The soft, fleshy sensation.

She stiffened for a moment.

But there was no sense of rejection, only confusion. She probably believed it was a gesture of goodwill.

"Ah, sorry!"

I immediately let go and stepped back, pretending it was an accident. I had seen enough. It was time to leave.

"Ah, no, thank you."

She didn't show any suspicion, just gratitude. I felt like saying thank you to her. No, maybe "thank you for the meal" would be more appropriate.

I left the scene, saying, "Be careful," with as gentle a voice as I could manage.

---

A short while later, I returned to the table with Yuel on my lap. This was at Yuel's request. It was unusual for her to be so close in public.

It was easy to pet her head, but her recently plumper, cute bottom was pressing against my thighs. She frequently adjusted her seating, and even a young girl like Yuel might be slightly aware of it. I even wondered if she was pressing against me on purpose.

I glanced at Yuel's face from the side, and her ears were flushed red.

I had a bad feeling.

Every time she adjusted her seating, the soft, squishy sensation on my thighs was almost continuous.

I had a bad feeling.

Looking at the table, the large plate of turtle stew was completely finished.

I couldn't do this. I shouldn't keep Yuel on my lap.

---

But that's what I would do normally.

Now, I have the slime jelly.

For a while, I will be a completely rational man, immune to any temptation. In game terms, it's like being in invincible mode. Or, more simply, sage mode.

With the slime jelly, I won't be affected by Yuel's closeness.

I owe a lot to the slime jelly and to Eight.