Chapter 356: 356 Do you want to touch my breasts?

’Oh? You seem to be awake.’

Ian tried to pretend he hadn’t woken up, but it seemed that simply closing his eyes wasn’t enough to evade a spirit’s senses.

The spirit, who had been talking with Tanya, immediately noticed Ian was awake and spoke to him.

Ian had no choice but to sit up.

Once up, Ian approached the spot where Tanya and the spirit were.

With his eyes fully open, Ian could finally get a detailed look at the spirit.

A burning silhouette. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

White flames continuously flickered from the body of the spirit, which took the form of a woman, and a vivid light shimmered around her.

However, perhaps because she wasn’t actually ’on fire,’ it didn’t hurt his eyes to look directly at her, and no heat was felt even when standing close.

Soon, the spirit’s name appeared before Ian’s eyes.

High Spirit, Epir Noah.

That was the identity of the spirit who had suddenly abducted Ian and Tanya.

Epir Noah moved closer to Ian and introduced herself with a bright smile.

’I am Epir Noah. Oh, this appearance is modeled after a spiritist I once contracted with. I thought a human form would make it easier to talk.’

’I’m Ian.’

The spirit, now close to Ian, observed his appearance from head to toe with a look of wonder.

Then, she spoke to Ian.

’Right, Ian. Do you want to touch my breasts?’

’Pardon?’

Epir Noah puffed out her chest while looking at Ian. Following that movement, her large breasts swayed slightly.

As Ian stared blankly at them, Tanya, who was standing beside them, panicked and interjected.

’W-wait a minute! Why all of a sudden...?’

’Didn’t you say earlier that human males are happy when allowed to touch breasts?’

’T-that depends quite a bit on the situation...!’

’Hmm, how picky.’

Epir Noah frowned after hearing Tanya’s frantic explanation.

He had wondered what the two were talking about while he was asleep, and it seemed a variety of complicated topics had been exchanged.

Tanya quickly shook her head while gauging Ian’s reaction, her face pleading with him not to misunderstand.

From Tanya’s perspective, it was quite unfair.

Tanya had also been unconscious, and in that time, the fairies had already blabbered everything they had experienced to Epir Noah.

And of all those stories, the part Epir Noah took an interest in happened to be the sexual relations between human men and women...

Epir Noah had been continuously questioning Tanya, who woke up first, about those matters.

Furthermore, while she lacked detailed knowledge of human society, she wasn’t slow-witted. Whenever Tanya tried to gloss over things, the spirit would catch it immediately and dig deeper.

Tanya eventually had no choice but to explain the meaning behind the various ’lewd’ actions the fairies had described.

’Hmm...?’

While Ian and Tanya briefly exchanged glances, Epir Noah’s peculiar gaze swept over Ian.

Ian’s gaze also briefly turned toward her, and their eyes happened to meet. Epir Noah spoke to Ian with a faint smile.

’By the way, your gaze has been drifting this way for a while now.’

Saying so, Epir Noah tilted her upper body slightly. Following that motion, her breasts slowly shifted and swayed.

’...That’s not it.’

Ian denied it, but since she mentioned it, his eyes couldn’t help but reflexively go there.

Her large breasts were swaying to and fro, emitting a faint light.

’Your eyes definitely went there. To deny it despite that... you’re feeling shy, aren’t you?’

Epir Noah laughed gracefully as if she understood, all while flaunting her large, naked breasts.

’According to Tanya’s story, this is where human males feel sexual desire. If you’re interested, wouldn’t it be better to just touch them instead of refusing?’

’...I’m fine.’

’Seeing as your answer was slower than before, you must be contemplating it.’

Seeing Epir Noah getting closer and closer to Ian, Tanya finally stepped between them.

’P-please stop!’

’Hmm.’

Epir Noah tilted her head, looking at Tanya’s blocking maneuver with a puzzled face, then nodded as if she had realized something.

’I see. This is what’s called ’jealousy’.’

’...What?’

’I heard it from a previous contractor. Humans feel jealousy toward those who possess more than themselves. Since my breasts are larger than yours, you must be feeling jealous that the male’s attention was stolen.’

’N-no, that’s...!’

Epir Noah cradled her own breasts with both hands.

The large breasts were pressed together, softly changing shape, and that movement made them stand out even more.

Tanya looked at Ian without a word and muttered quietly.

’...It’s been like this the whole time.’

’...You’ve had a hard time.’

’Is it a secret? Hoho, you don’t have to worry that much, I have no intention of stealing your male, Tanya. I cannot produce offspring with humans. So, Ian, don’t let your heart be stolen too much by me either.’

’....’

Epir Noah spoke with a kind smile.

Regrettably, she seemed to mean everything she said quite sincerely. It was just that communication didn’t align well because she very rarely met and spoke with people.

Epir Noah was a spirit who had stayed in this place for a very long time.

Inviting passing spirits, or very rarely inviting humans who seemed friendly with spirits to talk, was her little hobby.

Ian stole a glance at Epir Noah. Her breasts swayed softly while emitting light.

’This is... a spiritist-exclusive event.’

Tanya hadn’t formally learned spirit magic but had accidentally obtained spirit-related traits, so he didn’t think she’d be treated as a spiritist. Apparently, she had been recognized as one.

In natural environments rumored to be rich in mana like these hot springs, events where one encounters a high-ranking spirit occasionally occurred.

Was it about a 5% chance?

He hadn’t come here looking for it on purpose, but Tanya seemed to have caught the spirit’s interest by chance.

...He had experienced high-spirit events before, but when playing the game, it was just a single line in the event log. Even Ian hadn’t expected a spirit to have this kind of personality.

Epir Noah raised her head. She sensed people gradually gathering in the garden outside this cave.

’Quite a lot of people have gathered outside.’

’...By any chance, how much time has passed since we came here?’

’About one night has passed.’

’Oh no...’

Because he had been unconscious for a while, he hadn’t noticed. Realizing that significant time had passed, Ian spoke urgently to Epir Noah.

’It seems they’ve come looking for us, so we should be heading back now.’

’Personally, I would like you to stay for about a year. It’s been a long time since I’ve heard so many interesting stories.’

Epir Noah spoke while reaching out to play with the fairies flying around her. Every time she extended her arm and moved her body, her large breasts swayed back and forth.

In any case, this spirit was not a dangerous entity that forcibly kidnapped and imprisoned people, so when he expressed his intent to return, she nodded without much fuss.

’Well then, since I’ve heard interesting stories for the first time in a while, shall I give you a reward?’

’A reward?’

Tanya’s eyes sparkled as if she hadn’t expected it.

It was the reward for the High Spirit Encounter event.

Epir Noah’s touch reached Tanya.

As a sparkling light rose from her fingertips, a warm energy flowed toward Tanya.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Mercenary [Tanya] has acquired a new trait.

- [Increased Spirit Resonance E]

: Increases the range within which commands can be given to spirits.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tanya, having received the spirit’s energy, gained a new trait.

And then Epir Noah turned her gaze toward Ian, who had been watching the scene quietly from the side.

’And Ian as well.’

’Pardon? Me too?’

’Of course. I said it was a reward for telling me interesting stories.’

Since most of the interesting stories she heard from Tanya were about Ian, Ian was effectively entitled to a gift as well.

If there had been more time, she would have liked to hear more detailed stories and even watch in person. But since they had to go back, it couldn’t be helped.

Epir Noah reached out toward Ian with a slightly regretful face.

Ian accepted the touch silently, with a face that hadn’t expected this at all.

An event that adds a new trait. It was a trait of at least Rare grade or higher.

Since it was a spiritist event, he thought only Tanya, the spiritist, would receive a reward, and Ian hadn’t even imagined she would give him one as well.

In the short time Epir Noah’s energy flowed into him, Ian thought about what kind of trait he might receive.

As it was a spiritist-exclusive event, spirit-related traits appeared in most cases.

If a good trait appeared, specializing his class into a spiritist might not be a bad choice at this opportunity—

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

You have acquired a new trait.

- [Aura of Allure]

: Obtains a bonus value when making favorability checks against the opposite sex.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

’...?’

Ian’s face stiffened as he read the newly added trait.

’Excuse me, could this be...?’

’Oh, you can tell what it is? You have quite good intuition.’

Epir Noah nodded with a satisfied face.

’I heard that for human males, mating with as many females as possible is the most important goal. This should be a big help.’

Ian, frozen, stared blankly at Epir Noah.

Whatever she took that look to mean, Epir Noah shook her head with a bashful expression.

’Ah, just so you know, it doesn’t work on me. It’s no use looking at me like that.’

’....’

Sigh...

A small sigh escaped Ian’s mouth.

He tried his best not to let it show, but Epir Noah didn’t miss that short silence and sigh.

’Oh. That reaction just now seemed like disappointment. Were you that sad you couldn’t use it on me? If you insist, you may touch my breasts before you go.’

’...No. Thank you.’

* * *

Ian and Tanya were instantly returned to the herb farm where they had originally been.

Perhaps because it was their second teleportation, they felt strong dizziness, but they didn’t lose consciousness like before.

Immediately, the sound of Rin making a ruckus could be heard from there.

’I told you, I’m going to go subjugate it, so tell me where it is!’

’Subjugate?! Don’t say such dangerous things!’

’I heard that spirit thing kidnapped the Captain!’

’Listen, the one residing here isn’t some monster like that...!’

In the herb farm, staff and mercenary members were gathered and arguing.

’...Ah, Captain!’

’What?’

Mika, who felt a surge of mana, turned her head and shouted as she discovered Ian and Tanya suddenly appearing.

Everyone rushed over to Ian and Tanya’s side.

’Are you okay?’

’I heard some strange monster kidnapped you... what happened?’

’...Nothing happened.’

Ian answered with an exhausted face.