Ah, this really is heaven.
As I opened my eyes, I'm greeted by the gentle image of swaying breasts. Ms. Tirihi was changing my bandages, and her chest was awfully close to my face. It took everything in me not to embrace her here and now. The fruit of knowledge is within reach (quite literally), but you must wait, Rudeus. There's an order to these things, even if you're 99% sure that she's already fallen for you. If you force yourself on her now, that would just be sexual assault.
"Uhm, good evening, Ms. Tirihi. Thank you for changing my bandages. For how long was I out?"
I glanced around the room; outside of the wooden window, the sun had already set. The bed I'm lying in is rather spacious for a single person, but the padding was comfortable. It seemed well used. The room itself was not very spacious, and from a brief look-around I could tell that this was a two-room house. However, the running fireplace gave off a cozy atmosphere; this place wasn't much, but it was homely.
"XXX?"
Oh, right. I couldn't understand a thing she said.
"You know miss, I can't understand you at all."
A look of surprise flashed over Ms. Tirihi's face, and then she gave a light chuckle. Wow, that's cute. I can't remember the last time a woman smiled at me like that. When we get married, would I really get to see this face every day?
"Sorry. I do not speak Brahim well."
Oh, now we're getting somewhere. So she can understand me, if not just barely?
"There's no need to apologize. We're in your home if I'm not mistaken?"
As I gave my reply, Ms. Tirihi slid her hand over top of mine. Whoa, although I talk big game about romance, I've never even held hands with the opposite sex in my previous life. Yeah, yeah, it was kind of pathetic, but my heart's seriously racing right now!
"Yes. I am saved because of you. Thank you."
Gulp. Alright, Rudeus. The time is now; you must apply everything you've learned from romance simulators and harem graphic novels to the test now. If you play your cards right, you can finally get rid of that pesky v-card tonight.
Her speech may be a bit choppy, but you can still communicate with her. Take it slowly, and you can do this.
After my bandages were clean, Ms. Tirihi stood up and tossed another log into the fireplace. Then, she stood up and looked longingly at a framed picture of a man.
"Uhm… Ms. Tirihi…"
"I am sorry. I got you into danger. Times were tough since my husband passed."
A few moments later, she pulled away from the picture and fetched a box from underneath the floorboards. In the box, there were two blades wrapped in cloth—a sword with an orange blade, and an obsidian dagger. Both of these weapons looked powerful, and expensive.
"The bandits were stealing this. Please look."
Ms. Tirihi took the blades from their case, and presented them to me from the bedside. I picked up the orange blade first, which apparently was named the Flame Rapier from the looks of my Identification skill. As I gave it a weak swing, an incantation appeared in my mind.
"Ms. Tirihi, these blades are indeed powerful. With this one—the Flame Rapier—the blade will burst into flame with an incantation. 'Answer the burning will of my heart and manifest thyself, Flame Sword!' I believe."
The woman gave me a look of surprise, and meekly handed me the dagger after taking back the Flame Rapier. The smaller blade felt smooth and well made, but there was nothing inherently special about it.
"Ah, this one is well made, but it is just a blade, I'm afraid. Unlike the Flame Rapier, there are no magical elements about it."
Helping this lady identify her weapons is nice and all, but this was a rather strange way to profess your love for someone. The atmosphere was rather intimate, and I thought that this was the time when we would be getting to know each other better, that's all. I would hate to squander this moment without making any progress.
Regardless, some conversation is better than none, after all. I'm not socially skilled enough to veer the topic my way, yet.
"Nonetheless, both of these works would fetch a good price."
"…Please take one."
Eh? I thought you treasured these? If you sold one of them, then you would probably be set for life. Even someone as green as me can tell that much. Also, not to trash your home, lady, but it definitely needs some repairs.
"Ah… Erm…"
"Let me give reward. Please."
Oh. So this is what this is about, huh? Thanks for the gesture, lady, but I'm a mage. Even if I were to sell it, I wouldn't feel comfortable taking something so expensive from you, who clearly needs it more.
However, whereas usually I would flat-out refuse in any normal situation, the mood has me hard pressed to say no. Ms. Tirihi's eyes are boring into mine with determination, as if she's dead set on giving me something in return for her life.
Well, in that case…
"I'm flattered by the gesture, but as a mage, I have no use for swords. I believe you'll put them to better use. However, if you're so insistent on rewarding me…"
I clasped her hands tightly as I gave a light grin.
My eyes wander from the weapons she's holding to the weapons on her body. Now that we're indoors, it seems that Ms. Tirihi had changed from her outdoor wear from earlier to her bed-time clothing. The negligee really is leaving little to the imagination.
"Oh, I see… Alright, then."
The woman standing before me blushes as she squirms a little in place. Excellent, this is going to be much easier than I thought—I don't even have to explicitly say it to her. Ms. Tirihi sure is clever; she seemed to have got my idea immediately.
One by one, Ms. Tirihi began to put out the fires serving as light sources. Moments later, she gingerly approached the bed and lifted up the sheets.
"I just ask you to be gentle."
Ah, finally! This is the day I've been waiting for! It hasn't even been three days since I've been transported here, and I'm already going to lose my wretched v-card! On a side note, things just keep turning out like a predictable video game plot—hero saves village girl, village girl then throws herself at the protagonist as thanks.
You've got to cut me some slack this time, because I'm quite literally living out the plot of an isekai anime!
Once Ms. Tirihi had finally climbed into bed beside me, I hesitantly wrap one arm around her. Damn! I never knew women were this soft! I'm really doing it! Mom, get the camera!
Although Ms. Tirihi isn't doing much in return, she isn't exactly resisting me. Before long, my entire body was wrapped around hers, and we had become one. Eheheh… I can definitely feel my lower Aqua Heartia readying a spell…
Gulp.
My hands inched closer and closer toward the holy land. The absolute region of soft fat that every man dreams of touching one day—her breasts. Slowly and tenderly, my hands slid under her robe. Softly, I kneaded them while lightly pinching the peaks. So far so good, she hasn't said anything yet.
About a few minutes of foreplay later, I had finally worked up the courage to take the final step. I just can't wait any longer.
Making sure not to startle Ms. Tirihi, I delicately climb on top of her. Bit by bit, I peel off the remaining pieces of cloth from her nether regions. Slowly, I descend upon her soft body. Since I'll be going in raw, I'll need to be careful not to hurt her.
This is it. The day you've never thought would come.
Just as Ms. Tirihi was about to ascend me to manhood, I hear a quiet sob.
"…I'm sorry, my love. Please, forgive me… I had no choice…"
…
Huh?
I had been so focused on Ms. Tirihi's body that I never paid attention to her face.
Not only was she crying, but her eyes were blank, like that of someone who had resigned themselves to fate. She wasn't looking at me, or even at anything at all—she was staring straight through everything. Ms. Tirihi's entire face was expressionless, as if she was trying her hardest to ignore what was happening right now.
… What am I doing?
I froze. Suddenly, my libido dropped to zero.
I denied this woman's reward for saving me earlier, so now I'm demanding her body? How could she say no to me, after saving her village twice and preserving her dead husband's memoirs? What's more, she saw me kill half a dozen men effortlessly in the standoff earlier—what would I be capable of if she refused me now?
That's right. This is coercion.
I'm not in a video game. There are no questlines.
The people here are barely surviving from day to day. Their lives are brutish, and yet they're doing their best in a world where human life is valued like dirt.
And because I have a little power in this new world, I'm taking advantage of them? How could I let the villagers' gratitude go to my head so quickly? They're helping you out of the kindness of their own hearts—they don't owe you anything.
For fuck's sake. I'm just like my bullies in my previous life.
I'm disgusting.
I roll over to the other side of the bed, keeping as far away as possible from Ms. Tirihi as I can. Moments later, I hear a sigh of relief and the shuffling of clothes. In less than a minute, she ran out of her own home.
As my lingering self-hatred and regret bubbled to the surface once more, I had earnestly accepted my new reality.
That night, I felt more alone than I ever have.
Village Arc, End.
