CHAPTER 28: EMBARRASSED DEPARTURE

The next morning.

The sun rose lazily over the Bramble Region.

It painted the sky orange-gold.

Outside Merlin’s cottage.

Three horses were already saddled and waiting.

Lancelot, Vivianne, and Thorin sat mounted.

They looked like a mismatched trio from three different games entirely.

In his new adventurer’s gear, Lancelot looked at the bright sky with a heroic smile.

"Ah... the sun’s perfect today!"

He grinned so wide his teeth almost glimmered.

"We should move now before the sun gets tired."

Thorin let out a deep, soul-weary sigh.

"I had plans with me wife today..."

He grumbled like a little child.

"Somehow, Merlin still found a way to ruin that."

Vivianne’s half-lidded crimson eyes shifted slightly toward the dwarf in her usual dull look.

"But exploring ancient tombs is really fun though."

With how dull she sounded you’d think it was boring.

Thorin stared at her.

"Fun for Merlin and Lancelot maybe."

The dwarf leaned on his mountain-pony’s crest.

"You? You only go along with it because you do whatever Merlin wants."

Vivianne slowly yawned. Quietly. Sleepily.

Then, in the driest voice imaginable—

"That’s because Merlin’s the best..."

Her tone was so dead it could be mistaken for sarcasm.

But both men nodded with a tender smile.

Because they knew she meant it with her whole soul.

･･･

Meanwhile... inside Merlin’s room.

Merlin sat on her bed.

In nothing but her underwear.

Her long black hair spilled around her like a soft curtain as she held her face in both hands.

And her brain was a disaster.

All she could think about was last night.

Nero’s lips.

His hands on her body.

The heat running through her like liquid lightning.

His massive girth.

"Uuuugh..."

She groaned agonizingly.

"I peed myself in front of him..."

She folded forward until her forehead hit her knees.

"Why did I let myself do that...?"

She banged her forehead against her knees.

Then did it again, and again.

"What if I ruined everything with him...?"

Her precious student.

Her cute, reliable, hopelessly flustered student.

"Does he think I’m a perv... or desperate... or—"

CREAK.

The door opened slightly.

"Merlin?"

His voice.

His actual real-life warm male voice.

Her heart instantly shot up to her throat so fast she nearly choked on it.

A blue panel appeared in Nero’s vision.

[ⓘ EMOTION DETECTED]

‣ Merlin is experiencing extreme panic (93%)

Nero peeked in calmly.

She looked perfectly fine though.

"Are you... doing okay?" he asked gently.

He glanced around her utterly chaotic room.

The unmade bed.

The clothes on the floor.

Random vials. Books. Broken magic artifacts.

A hat sitting on a pillow for some reason.

"You... don’t look ready to leave..."

Still sitting on the bed half-naked, stared back at him like a stray cat caught stealing food.

Wide eyes. Mouth slightly open. Zero thoughts.

Right now, her brain was only static.

『...』

She tried to open her small mouth to say something.

But her thin luscious lips only parted, nothing more.

『HE’S HERE! HE’S HERE! HE’S HERE—』

Inside her mind, she imagined herself running in frantic circles as she waved her arms like an idiot.

But outwardly—

"Oh— I’m doing absolutely fine, dear."

She smiled.

A smooth, calm, elegant, charming smile.

The kind only a liar with high charisma could pull off.

Another system window opened beside Nero’s head.

[ⓘ Emotion Scan Successful!]

‣ Merlin is in Virgin Crisis Mode

Nero suppressed a laugh.

『Wow... she’s usually so nonchalant. And then last night she panicked more than me... How is she acting like she’s the only one who almost lost their virginity. She overreacted more than me, and I can’t even talk to pretty women...』

Sweat rolled down his temples.

『Besides, I think my body interpreted her vomiting all over my junk as some sort of rejection... I haven’t had bad dreams of getting bullied since I started living with Merlin. But after we almost did it... I had one. I woke up this morning and well uh... it wasn’t standing for some reason.』

He chuckled miserably.

To Merlin, it sounded like a soft, amused sound.

For some reason?

Her beautiful eyes narrowed.

"What’s funny, you big-dick son of a bitch?"

Nero blinked. "H-, Huh?"

She instantly flushed with shame.

Ugh.

Why did she say that out loud?

It sounded so immature.

She shot up from the bed in a panic and started cleaning her room, bending over as she picked up scrolls and all kinds of dirty clothes she always left laying around.

Her soft, round ass cheeks were practically pouring out of her panties... the fabric swallowed deep between her cheeks like it had given up resisting.

If she bent a little more you’d surely hear a rip!

Nero cleared his throat.

"Uh... maybe be a little conscious of your appearance when you bend like that..."

He said it with a smug little smile.

Merlin froze.

Her entire face went bright red.

For the first time in her life—

Merlin felt genuinely shy.

This was the same woman who could drink beer in her front yard wearing only underwear.

『WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME—!?』

She grabbed a bright blue potion, sprinkled a glowing herb into it, and stirred violently.

It began foaming and emitting smoke.

Nero watched her.

"If you add a Starleaf Root to a Thunderwater Base Potion like that, it’ll turn into an explosive—"

She threw it at him with a furious face.

"W-, WAIT—!"

Nero did NOT wait.

He slammed the door shut and bolted out of the cottage like his life depended on it.

･･･

Outside

Nero burst out panting like he’d just battled a boss.

Lancelot and Vivianne blinked.

Thorin paused mid-axe-sharpen.

"What happened to you?"

The dwarf asked as he squinted.

Nero put his hands on his knees.

"You three... should probably cover your ears..."

Vivianne tilted her head.

"Idiot."

Lancelot lifted a brow. "Are you okay, comrade?"

But half a minute passed.

No explosion.

Nero slowly straightened.

Then slapped his forehead.

"Oh. That wasn’t Thunderwater Base. That was—"

[ⓘ Item Identified!]

‣ The blue potion was a Soothing Skin Remedy.

‣ When applied on skin it makes it softer, smoother, and slightly shiny.

He groaned.

"She got me."

･･･

Back inside the room

Merlin now stood in front of her mirror.

Wearing her tight, elegant purple dress that hugged her waist perfectly.

Her cleavage looked divine.

It was shooting out in such a provocative way.

Just the way she liked it.

She adjusted her royal mage hat carefully.

A small, proud smile formed on her lips.

"He’s such an idiot. I’d ever throw an explosive at my precious student."

She rested both hands on her abundant chest.

"My cute Nero..."

A few minutes later.

Merlin stepped outside with her satchel and her magic staff wrapped in cloth.

Vivianne gave her the dullest smile known to elves.

"You look very pretty."

"Thank you, Vivi~" Merlin replied warmly.

Lancelot guided his horse closer and smiled brightly.

"I wore my new adventurer gear today too... but you didn’t say anything about how I look?"

He raised a brow with a teasing grin.

Vivianne ignored him.

"Compliments require saying something true."

She stared down at her reins with soulless eyes.

"In your case, you’re a pervert. Not a rapist."

Her long ears twitched.

Lancelot laughed lightly.

"That sounds more like an insult..."

"Exactly..."

That was the best compliment she could give him.

Thorin clapped loudly.

"Alright, alright, can we get going already?!"

Merlin smirked.

"Funny. I thought you didn’t want to come?"

She raised a brow exaggeratedly.

That usual "I’ve figured you out" look she loved.

"Something about leaving your wife?"

Thorin folded his arms dramatically.

"I just want to get back to her as soon as possible!"

Hmph! He tugged his reins and rode off first.

CLOP! CLOP! CLOP!

Merlin walked toward her horse.

Then she snapped her fingers at Nero.

"Nero, come help me get up—"

Then she imagined it.

His hands on her waist.

Her body lifted.

His face close enough to nibble on her lips.

Surely, he’d use that as an excuse to grab her ass again.

She was still recovering from how he did it last night.

Her brain short-circuited.

"NO!!"

Everyone jumped.

Her face was red like she’d swallowed a fireball.

She pointed at Lancelot desperately.

"You! Come help me instead!"

Lancelot gave Nero a sympathetic pat on the back.

[ⓘ ALERT!]

‣ Love Rival Plans to Take Advantage!

Nero’s eyes widened.

『NO WAY I’M LETTING HIM DO THAT!』

He already charged forward to tackle Lancelot.

Fortunately—

Vivianne gracefully stepped down from her horse.

"I’ll help."

She stepped behind Merlin with cool and steady hands then lifted her up with surprising strength.

Merlin landed softly on her saddle.

"Wow, Vivi. I didn’t know you were so strong."

"You’re not heavy..."

Vivianne replied, as deadpan as ever.

"So it wasn’t hard."

Her ears twitched again.

Merlin’s eyes shimmered.

She clutched her chest.

"Vivi... you always say the sweetest things..."

Vivianne just nodded.

"...Mmm..."

Completely expressionless.

Nero sat on his horse, tying his staff to the saddle straps.

He looked... troubled.

Merlin’s heart tightened.

『Oh gods... did I embarrass him? I did, didn’t I!? I’m so stupid and immature! He always helps me with everything I ask for and even when I don’t ask... he definitely just wanted to help me and I yelled at him like he was a pest.』

She sighed heavily.

『He’s my cherished student, he’d never use that as an excuse to grab my ass...』

She tiredly slapped a hand over her forehead.

But Nero was thinking the exact opposite.

『Phew, close one. Thank god Vivianne stepped in when she did. Lancelot almost took advantage... the bastard even gave me the little brother back pat. Next time she asks I need to move faster. Vivianne definitely knows Merlin and I have a thing... she’s helping me...』

He imagined Vivianne like a fat-chested goddess.

『She’s such a nice person!』

He smiled warmly at the dark elf.

Vivianne looked at him.

It was the same expressionless disgust as always.

"Idiot..." she muttered.

Nero laughed nervously.

"Okay, maybe she doesn’t show it."

It was possible Vivianne was a tsundere.

She didn’t have the personality type of one though.

She was too unbothered, but it was still possible.

[ⓘ Vivianne has ZERO interests in you!]

Nero’s face immediately soured like spoiled food.

『You ain’t gotta say it like that...』

But it was true and he knew it.

To him, Vivianne looked like the type to tell a man she wanted to peg him if she felt like it.

『I just know she gets freaky...』 (눈_눈)

He sighed heavily and adjusted his mage robes.

Merlin clicked her reins and started moving.

"Alright everyone—let’s get going!"

Thorin was already a speck in the distance.

Lancelot followed.

Vivianne rode beside Merlin.

Nero fell in line behind them as his heart pounded just a little too fast.

Today...

They would enter the tomb of the Spirit King.

Yet the real final boss was Merlin.

And his obstacle was Lancelot... and well, Merlin.