Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 298: Augusto’s Reward and Elyon’s Arrival

"A-Ah, um, excuse me, brother, I’ve brought you more bread. I’m sorry it took so long!"

Augusto, looking nervous, placed a basket of bread on the table.

"Thank you, Augusto," Damien said with a warm smile.

For a moment, Damien thought about how Augusto was technically a guest and shouldn’t need to help with chores. But Yor already saw Augusto as a fellow "helper," and during their discussion the previous day, everyone had decided to let things continue as they were for now. Augusto had been assisting Zima with various tasks, and he didn’t seem to mind.

Honestly, Damien wasn’t sure if Augusto would feel comfortable integrating fully with his circle of lovers just yet. Besides, Augusto seemed to enjoy being busy helping out, even if he was a little shy about it. For now, this arrangement seemed fine. Hopefully, Augusto would slowly find his place here.

Lost in thought, Damien watched as Augusto moved over to Yor, who appeared to be giving him some sort of instructions. Since Yor tended to take charge of the chores, it wasn’t surprising. Perhaps he was assigning Augusto a new task.

Considering Augusto’s background as a former noble and Yor’s origins as a slave, Damien wondered if there might be tension between them. But the two didn’t seem to care about such things, so Damien let it go.

"A-Ah, um... big brother..."

"Yes? What is it?"

Had Yor sent Augusto to ask if he wanted more soup?

But Augusto knelt beside Damien’s chair, lowering himself in a formal, almost reverent posture. His face, looking up at Damien, seemed tinged with embarrassment.

What could this be about?

"U-Um... Yor told me to ask for a reward kiss after completing my task..."

Augusto’s voice was so soft only Damien could hear it, but the moment the words left his lips, the atmosphere in the room shifted.

Augusto glanced around uncertainly, seemingly unaware of the tension he had just created. If he had realized how the others were stealing glances at him and Damien, pretending to carry on as usual, his reaction likely wouldn’t have been this mild.

Damien’s eyes caught Yor in the corner of the room, puffing his cheeks out in a playful pout. This was a losing battle—there was no way to avoid it.

Accepting his fate, Damien leaned forward and gently kissed Augusto on the forehead, doing his best to stay inconspicuous despite everyone’s obvious attention.

"S-Sorry... and, um, thank you..." Augusto stammered before retreating quickly to Yor’s side, his steps a bit hurried and his face flushed.

The room fell silent, leaving Damien to endure the sharp stares of everyone present.

...Well, Damien thought, if this is how things are going to be, I guess I’ll have to give everyone a reward kiss whenever they help out.

As his gaze landed on Augusto, who was now offering a faint smile in response to Yor’s teasing grin, Damien realized it was the first time he had seen such an expression from him. It was worth the embarrassment, he decided.

After breakfast, instead of cleaning up as usual, the entire group—including Zima—gathered at the section of Theo’s estate designated for the construction of Damien’s new mansion.

Apparently, construction was about to begin, but...

"Hey, there’s still grass growing here, and not a single building material in sight. Is it really going to be built in a day?"

Damien hadn’t meant to voice his doubts, but the barren construction site compelled him to ask Theo anyway. The area wasn’t wild or overgrown—it was part of Theo’s well-kept grounds, after all—but there wasn’t a single sign of preparation for construction.

"I can only say that my master assured me it would be done," Theo replied with a wry smile.

"Yeah, fair enough. Sorry," Damien muttered, realizing the question had been unfair.

"No need to apologize," Theo said, her smile softening. "I understand how you feel."

Damien wasn’t the only one. Most of the group had the same puzzled expressions, as if collectively wondering, What now?

As everyone stood half-bewildered, a sudden gust of wind swept through the group.

A gust of wind swept over them, and when Damien turned to see its source, there was Elyon, standing there as suddenly as ever.

"Eek!"

The startled sound came from Augusto, who had been standing right next to Damien. Noticing Augusto’s tension, Damien gently took his hand to reassure him.

Although Damien had explained Elyon’s presence beforehand, it seemed elves were far more intimidating to Augusto than Damien had anticipated. Damien was glad he had stayed by his side just in case.

Isaac and Miria, who were meeting Elyon for the first time as well, showed no outward reaction, but Damien noticed the faintest tension in their postures.

"Elyon, thanks for coming today!" Damien called out casually, deliberately keeping his tone light.

Augusto’s grip on Damien’s hand tightened slightly, but Damien squeezed back gently to comfort him.

"No need to thank me," Elyon replied, equally casual as he walked over to Damien. "With the situation changing as it has, I thought it best to finish the construction sooner rather than later."

Damien could feel Augusto’s hand growing clammy and trembling slightly. While he felt bad for Augusto, he knew it was important for Augusto to meet Elyon sooner or later, given their household dynamics.

"Elyon, this is Augusto, who is currently under my care," Damien said, gesturing toward him.

"I-I am Augusto Van Castellani, y-your Grace," Augusto stammered, quickly releasing Damien’s hand and kneeling before Elyon.

"Yes, Damien has told me about you," Elyon said, using a familiar nickname for Damien. "As someone connected to Damien, you are connected to me as well. Take your time and make yourself at home."

Elyon’s words were surprisingly gentle, which a clear effort to put Augusto at ease. Damien made a mental note to thank Elyon later.

"Th-thank you for such kind words to someone like me..." Augusto’s voice wavered and the emotions overwhelming him as tears began to well up.