Chapter 903: Fiona, Covered in Ointment
After exchanging information over a quick drink at the tavern, we decided to head back to the Celesta Mansion. We could have stayed for a proper meal, but we were worried about the others we’d left behind at the mansion. And about Fiona’s condition, too. Since Dianne, who has some medical training, was there to witness the whole thing, I don’t think it’s anything serious, but still.
“Hey, Smithson-san. I’ve got something I’d like to discuss with you”
“I really don’t know anything about how to be popular with women, so you’d be better off just asking the girl you’re interested in and going along with what she says”
“W, Wait, I haven’t said anything yet!”
I gave Herman some safe, straightforward advice. Honestly, when it comes to my own popularity, there’s a part of it that can only be described as 「Being popular made me even more popular」. It’s a strange phenomenon, but it’s like how money attracts more money, or how cities attract more people, I suppose there’s a certain threshold like that for everything. And I really can’t explain how to cross that line. ……And to a desperate Herman like that, Berga offered surprisingly sincere advice.
“Herman. I get it, you’re a young guy who’s only just started getting a taste for women, but I think you should have hobbies besides chasing girls. Especially if you want to date mature, composed women, you’ll need more topics of conversation to keep the conversation going”
“Even if I pick up a few more, I can’t compete with a hundred-year-old like you! Don’t you dare act all smug using that long-lived race advantage of yours! To be honest, I’m still holding a grudge over the whole Merie thing!”
“Her life is her own. It’s neither mine nor yours. It’s just that Merie couldn’t take things seriously with you yet, that’s all there is to it”
When Herman has a drink, his mood really does get closer to how it was back when he was cheerful. I guess he’s basically a bit of a troublemaker at heart.
Leaving Berga and the others behind, we returned to the Celesta Mansion with everyone else, where Hilda had already smeared Fiona head to toe in ointment. She’s in a pretty revealing outfit, but seeing her whole body slick with ointment in various colors, green, brown, purple, makes me feel more like take care of yourself than anything else.
“You’ve got all sorts of stuff smeared on her, does she have that complicated of an injury?”
“It’s just bruises and muscle fatigue, so there’s really no need to worry. But since we’re at it, I’m experimenting with a new concoction☆”
“……It doesn’t have any addictive properties or anything like that, does it?”
“Andy-kun, what do you take me for? Unlike that drug dealer in Lapal, I’m a proper doctor, you know☆”
“Well……I feel like I’ve been given some pretty borderline medicines a few times”
“I don’t think I’m making anything that evil, though. This one just takes a slightly different approach. It focuses more on promoting blood circulation than on muscle fiber repair, and lately, people have been saying this might actually shorten the overall recovery time. There’s been an ongoing debate about that for a while, but there are various theories regarding racial traits and the types of magic used in combination”
“……Ah, uh, sorry, I don’t really get it, so I just wanted to know if it’s safe”
“I told you, it’s not dangerous at all! ……It just smells a little stronger than the conventional stuff☆”
“Ah, okay”
Yeah. The smell is intense. And it’s not exactly a pleasant smell.
“Anyway, if you’re really worried, you could just go back to Polka right now and put her in the Spirit Spring. Then, no matter how suspicious this ointment is, it’d all be for nothing☆”
“Well, that’s true”
It’s not that I don’t trust her……but. I don’t think it’s just because I’m ignorant that I can’t help but get defensive whenever I hear 「New medicine」. I can’t help but wonder if there’s some scheme to use the side effects to make her horny and suddenly speed up the complicated relationships around her……or something like that. I don’t think I can completely dismiss it as paranoia. Princess Ran would probably give the green light to something like that. But you see, precisely because Princess Ran is coming on so strong, I want to take my relationship with Fiona seriously. I really want to avoid having sex in some weird situation where I’m making her scream and end up in some unclear position of dominance. Precisely because there’s an unavoidable 「Necessity」 with Princess Ran, I think it’ll be more advantageous in the long run to at least be sincere with Fiona.
“But you really do have nice breasts, Fiona”
“Well……I guess she can’t beat Sharon-chan, but maybe I’m better than Nord-chan?”
I said this with a straight face, and Hilda-san, without making any particular comment, simply responded normally while staring intently at Fiona’s chest. Being cautious about physical intimacy and, at the same time, wanting to praise her breasts aren’t mutually exclusive.
“What on earth are you two talking about……”
Fiona lifted her head reluctantly and glared at us. Yes. I admit it was an inappropriate remark.
“Did you get any bruises on your boobs?”
“I did, yeah. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t wear armor during sword training”
“So how come you can have a normal conversation like that?”
Even if you ask me why, it’s because it’s Hilda and me. Yes.
“Always going straight to the boobs……and yet, you make a move on women like Anzeros and Irina-dono……you’re such a mystery……”
“Fiona. Big boobs are justice, but small boobs are art. Since the world has both, they’re both beautiful”
“Don’t say that to a woman!”
I got scolded. ……But.
“……B, But……well, it doesn’t seem like you have a thing for Ran-sama either……it’d be a pity if she didn’t return your feelings, given how much you admire her”
She’s muttering under her breath. Maybe she thought it was okay to mutter to herself as long as she spoke in a low voice because it was in the Southern dialect. It seems she’s actually quite concerned about the princess’s love life.
“……Are you, by any chance, in favor of me making a move on the princess?”
“W, Were you listening!? ……No, whether I approve or disapprove……if that’s what Princess Ran thinks, I can’t go against it”
……Maybe she’s more flexible than I thought. Or rather, she must have noticed that Princess Ran was actively trying to get me to take her. I suppose that makes sense.
“……For the heir to the Blue Moon to be swept away by a selfish romance……I don’t exactly think it’s a good thing, but this is the first love of someone who was once said to have no tomorrow. I don’t think it’s right for commoners like us to crush that. Besides, from Princess Ran’s perspective, you probably look like a Prince Charming who has it all. Considering her feelings, it’s only natural……”
……It seems she’s able to imagine Princess Ran’s feelings in her own way.
“……N, No, forget it. In any case, it’s not for me to arbitrarily decide whether to forgive or not. After all……after all, Princess Ran’s position exists only because of the nation of Saint Gardo”
“……Yeah”
Fiona said that, closed her eyes, and fell silent.