Today also began with gazing into Cecil's eyes.
The spirited Cecil diligently rubbed his equally spirited member.
Silver hair slightly damp with sweat, fair skin, and gem-like crimson eyes. Looking at the pretty face framed by those features made me feel good, but the ferocious sound coming from beside me roused my still drowsy mind from its morning haze.
Standing beside Cecil and watching his face, Cecil, with his dazed eyes, pressed his face against my body. He sniffed as if smelling me, rubbing his nose against me. When I patted his head with a faint sigh, he began to tremble and release his essence.
Perhaps because he had become too accustomed to stimulation, if I didn't do this now, his release was too slow. If I wanted to have even a slightly leisurely morning... there was no other way.
Time is gold... For me, time was literally gold, so I consoled myself, insisting it was a rational choice.
"...Finished?"
"Yes... Lady Asha."
His voice was still tinged with the lingering sensation of release.
"Then let's have breakfast now... and get to work."
"Yes."
Saying that, I left the bathroom, which was filled with a sweet scent. Smelling that scent made my body feel slightly warm. Probably... because those memories kept resurfacing.
Since I had no option to pull out, I washed it down with a glass of milk.
While having breakfast, I skimmed through the list of those who had expressed their intent to purchase Stamina Potions.
...Are these guys possessed by some desperate ghost? I selected buyers according to the criteria and went down to the Workshop with Cecil. I thought... the day would pass like that and evening would come, but...
Suddenly, a signal came that a visitor had arrived.
"...Who could it be?"
"What's wrong, Lady Asha?"
"There was no one scheduled to come today... Cecil, if someone comes in, can you call me Shaa then?"
"Lady Shaa?"
"Yes. Only call me Asha when it's just the two of us."
"Is it a secret between just us?"
Cecil's eyes sparkled.
"...You could say that."
"Understood! Lady Shaa!"
"Good, I like your enthusiasm. I'll go see who it is and come back, so wait here."
"Yes!"
Leaving Cecil in the Workshop and going out to check... it was Claudia. Seeing me, she grinned slyly and waved her hand.
"Hello, Shaa."
"...Claudia."
"Aren't you going to call me Dia anymore?"
Saying that, she fidgeted with a large bag that seemed to contain something. Even though I hadn't said anything yet, my mouth moved on its own as I hurriedly corrected myself.
"...Dia."
"Haha, you're still the same. Then shall we go inside and continue talking? You can offer me a cup of tea, right?"
"...Of course."
Seeing Claudia's face brought back memories of that time. Claudia crossed the threshold with a composed expression.
"Is Lord Astarote not here again today?"
"...Uh, um, yes."
"Is that so...?"
Claudia looked somewhat suspicious. I hurriedly searched for an excuse and rambled.
"M, Master went to see his Master's Master. So it might be a while..."
"Ah, so that's what it was?"
"Yes."
"But why are you so tense? I almost thought Shaa had buried Master or something."
"...Is that a joke?"
"Wasn't it funny?"
"It was the worst."
"Sorry. Pet my tail and calm down."
"...."
Seeing her tail, which smelled of beast, wagging right in front of my eyes, my hand almost reached out on its own, but I barely restrained myself.
"So, what brings you here so suddenly? The day for our regular meeting is still... a bit away, isn't it?"
"You're not really asking because you don't know, are you?"
Claudia fluttered the bag as if asking if I was genuinely unaware. I gulped.
"...Is what's in the bag really from a Minotaur subspecies calf?"
"Want to check?"
As if entranced, I nodded and reached for the bag, but Claudia lifted the bag above her head.
"How about having a cup of tea first and taking a look slowly?"
"...I'm busy."
"Really? Then I'll come back on our regular meeting day."
"I have time for a cup of tea."
I led the giggling Claudia to the reception room, the only space in my house meant for guests.
"Would you like something hot? Or something cold?"
"Since you're offering, something cool would be nice."
Claudia plopped down on the sofa and placed the bag on the table.
I wanted to tear it open roughly and check the contents, but I restrained my trembling hands and brought the drinks.
"Here you go."
"Thanks, I'll enjoy it."
Confirming that Claudia had the cup to her lips, I opened the bag. This time, Claudia didn't interfere. Calming my trembling hands, I checked the contents.
...It's real.
Inside the large bag were a horn tinged with a faint blue hue, tendons, and a ring-shaped internal organ. After checking, I carefully closed the bag, worried it might spoil.
My heart raced. As if I had fallen in love.
"...How did you get this?"
"I was lucky."
"Honestly... I thought you wouldn't get it and would bring something else."
The commonly talked-about breast-enlarging pill, the Breast Enhancement Pill, absolutely required this ingredient. But since it was an ingredient not easily obtained, I was about to give up and research other substitutes... but now that I have the real thing in hand, there's no need for that.
Now, all that's left is to sit on a pile of money.
"...Are you that happy?"
Claudia was looking at me with a blank expression. She seemed dissatisfied that she wasn't the center of my attention. The ears on top of her head flapped as if in displeasure.
"Ah, uh, yes... Ahaha... I got a little excited thinking about what I could make with this."
"What can you make with it?"
"Uh... a breast enlargement pill?"
Claudia's gaze turned toward my chest. It felt somewhat lecherous.
"...It's not for me to take, you know?"
"Haha, I didn't know Shaa would care about such things? But Shaa's size is decent enough to feel when touched."
"Ah... yes."
"There's a way to make them bigger, but I wonder if you know about it?"
"There's such a thing?"
This was the first I'd heard of it. There's another method besides this pill? It probably wasn't something like gaining weight. Wondering if it might help in making the Breast Enhancement Pill, I perked up my ears, and Claudia smiled brightly and sat down next to me.
"...?"
She gestured for me to bring my ear closer, so I leaned in. There's no one else here anyway, why be so cautious─
"Huh!?"
"Your voice is as cute as ever."
"Wh, why are you suddenly touching my chest!?"
"They say... if you touch them affectionately like this, they naturally grow bigger."
"Th, that's obviously nonsense. And you could have just told me, why do you have to t, touch me? Take your hand away quickly."
Claudia buried her nose in my neck and sniffed.
"You weren't thinking of doing that? You've been giving off a female scent since you came in."
"I wasn't!?"
"Is that so...?"
Her calloused hand invaded over my clothes and began gently scratching to pull out my nipple. My body, which had been slightly heated since morning, accepted it as pleasure. I bit my lip.
"St, stop it. I have not even a speck of such thoughts."
"Your body says otherwise, Shaa."
You, this ruttish dog...
Finally digging out my nipple, Claudia flicked it with her finger. My body shrank. A moan began to escape from my mouth.
"St, stop it..."
"Why? Master Astarote isn't here anyway, wouldn't it be nice to have a little fun?"
That Lord Astarote is me! Me! Burning with frustration I couldn't voice.
"...D, do you do this to anyone?"
"Huh? Do what?"
"Call them out, att, attempt to rape them, tease them whenever you feel like it, and all that!"
"Rape is too harsh a word, Shaa. I even brought you materials like this, are you going to keep acting like that?"
"... Th, that aside, why are you so hng, desperate to have me?"
"Of course, it's because I like you? Your scent is... sweet enough to be called addictive."
"Just for that reason..."
"Of course, that's not all. For some reason... I liked you from the first time I saw you. And I don't do this to just anyone, I'm quite the pure-hearted girl."
Pure-hearted girl, my foot... It seems I've been completely hunted. If she's the only one left, she can attach any label she wants, I suppose.
"Somehow I feel like I just heard some harsh insults, but is it my imagination?"
"...Probably your imagination."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. So please take that hand... away..."
"It doesn't seem like it, though...?"
Claudia licked my neck and rubbed my nipple. My thighs pressed together, and strength entered my hands. I struggled to hold back the moans that were leaking out.
To resist... this body had become far too weak and sensitive.
Breathing roughly, I was... helplessly teased by Claudia's fingers.
Then, the sound of footsteps was heard.
Claudia whispered in a low voice. She seemed somewhat wary.
"Shaa. Is there someone else here?"
"...Move aside."
It seemed Cecil, worried because I hadn't returned, had come looking.
Cecil... you came to save me. Whatever Cecil's intention, that's how it felt to me.
"There might be an intruder, so I'll go check."
I shook my head in my dazed state.
"That's not it."
"...Really? That's unusual. Do you have another disciple?"
"...He's my assistant. I'll introduce him now... so get off me. And if you keep... doing this, I'll really break the contract..."
"What a shame. Seems today isn't my day."
Claudia, knowing I couldn't break the contract, smacked her lips and obediently backed away.
Soon, the door opened, and Cecil appeared. He had a somewhat... discontented expression. Muttering with the face of a thoroughly sulky child.
"...Beast Odor."
It seemed he hadn't seen me, hidden by the sofa.
Claudia blinked, then laughed as if finding it absurd.
...The atmosphere was strange.
Author's Note (Author's Afterword)
Always the same! Kim Asha!