Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 58: The Rewards of Caution

"I’m really sorry," Damien murmured, running his fingers gently through Theo’s hair. "I just got a little crazy thinking about how your first time was with someone else... I couldn’t help it."

He knew how embarrassing it sounded, but Theo had already been through enough humiliation today, so fair was fair.

Theo mumbled something, still pressing his face against Damien’s lap.

"Hm? What was that?"

Damien tilted his head closer, straining to hear what Theo was saying.

"...I’ve never done it back there, so... that first time, I’ll give to you."

Damien’s heart swelled, so full that he couldn’t find the right words. Instead, he pressed a tender kiss to the top of Theo’s head.

...

After that, Theo seemed to recover his spirits. The two spent a good while cuddling and teasing each other until midday approached.

Damien thought to himself, What are we even doing, messing around since morning? But at the same time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the two of them had grown even closer.

Not that there was any telling how close they intended to get.

Well, Damien figured, If we’re going to get closer, we might as well go all the way.

"So, what’s the plan for the rest of the day?" Damien asked with a grin.

"If you... If you want to keep cuddling, as an apology... I-I’ll try my best for today, okay?" Theo murmured, his cheeks still a little pink.

Spending the entire day doing that probably wasn’t a good idea for a number of reasons. But given how much he had embarrassed Theo earlier—and, well, how Damien himself was feeling increasingly worked up—he figured... maybe, just for today... it wouldn’t be so bad.

"..."

When Damien made the offer, Theo fell silent, clearly struggling with the decision.

"..."

He twisted his body as if physically wrestling with the thought.

"..."

And now, tears were welling up from the sheer intensity of his inner conflict.

"I really want to... I do... I really do..." Theo finally murmured, unwinding himself slightly.

But before he could finish his sentence, his body twisted again as if the battle wasn’t quite over.

Damien let out an awkward chuckle. He’s really overthinking this... If Theo was struggling this much, there had to be something important he needed to do.

"Hey, Theo, if it’s bothering you this much, we should probably just—"

"You’re right! Let’s stop worrying and just cuddle!" Theo suddenly exclaimed, as if some kind of emotional dam had burst.

Damien blinked. Wait... No, that’s not what I meant! We need to focus on what you have to do, not—

Knock, knock, knock.

Just as Damien opened his mouth to say something, there was a knock at the door.

"Huh? Oh, yes, come in."

"Excuse me. Master Theo, the lunch is ready. Would you like it brought here?" Sebas’s calm voice drifted into the room.

Damien let out a sigh of relief. Perfect timing. Hopefully, this would shift Theo’s mood.

"Additionally, after lunch, the doctor will be conducting a check-up on Sir Damien. If everything looks fine, you are scheduled to begin writing your report about Earth."

"...What?"

Damien blinked. There’s a schedule already?

"Sebas, are you saying that today’s schedule is...?"

"The Cardinal has expressed that he’s looking forward to your report, sir," Sebas replied without missing a beat.

"Ugh... Fine. But about that report..."

"The report is due exactly one week from today. There isn’t much time left," Sebas reminded him smoothly.

"Urgh... Well, by my calculations, I should have at least today to spare!" Theo protested.

"We’ll start the experiments and report writing tomorrow!"

Theo had finally declared it outright.

Sebas had clearly intended for them to begin today, but since Theo was the master, there was no choice but to comply with his decision.

"As you wish."

As expected, Sebas gave a polite nod in response.

"Are you satisfied with that, Sir Damien?"

Sebas’s gaze shifted to Damien, catching him off guard.

Wait—why is he asking me now?

Damien looked between Sebas and Theo. He wanted to keep Theo happy... but at the same time, he didn’t want Theo becoming some spoiled noble drowning in indulgence. There had to be a way to make things right.

"Um... well..."

Both Theo and Sebas stared at him in complete silence, waiting for his response.

He had to say something.

"If... If there’s a schedule, shouldn’t we stick to it?" Damien offered tentatively.

At those words, Theo’s expression immediately fell, looking visibly disheartened.

"But if you give it your all," Damien added quickly, "I’ll... I’ll give you a reward! And if you finish early... well... we can, uh... do things. You know... whatever you want..."

Theo’s face lit up instantly. "I’ll do my best!" he exclaimed, grabbing Damien’s hand enthusiastically, practically vibrating with excitement.

Wow... that was... easy.

While Damien felt a bit guilty—like he was just enabling Theo with promises of indulgence—at least Sebas seemed satisfied, nodding approvingly.

Still... Sebas’s perfect timing was a little too suspicious. Was it really just a coincidence?

Even though this place was soundproofed with magic... Could it be that—

"Sir Damien," Sebas interrupted.

"Y-Yes?"

"I only came because I thought the young master might start causing trouble around now. Rest assured, the soundproofing magic is functioning perfectly."

Yup. I’ll never be able to win against this guy.

...

Later, they ate lunch together, with Damien giving Theo all sorts of little "rewards" along the way.

He even did the classic "say ahh" while feeding him—a first for Damien.

After lunch, the doctor arrived for Damien’s check-up.

Just like before, the doctor checked his temperature, pulse, mouth, and heartbeat.

Once the examination was complete, the doctor gave his diagnosis.

"Your throat seems irritated," the doctor noted, prescribing a syrup that would help soothe it.

Damien froze for a moment, realizing what might have caused the irritation—then his face turned bright red.

The doctor had finally given the all-clear, and now Damien’s human experimentation was about to begin in earnest.

Theo had promised that the painful parts would be kept to a minimum—well, mostly—and by now, Damien didn’t believe Theo would do anything too cruel. Still, Theo had a tendency to get carried away, and that made Damien a little nervous.