I stared out the window all night, and before I knew it, dawn had broken.
I wanted to take a nap, but I couldn't fall asleep because I didn't know when Ars or Lisbeth would show up.
I lay awake all night, quietly thinking, and my fear gradually subsided, but my anger toward Lisbeth grew.
"Damn it... if I think about it, it was her fault from the moment she forced me to eat the mushrooms, right? If she hadn't, would I have lost control like this? And if she didn't want to, she should have just refused! She didn't refuse and simply... masturbated me!"
Although the realization that I had half-threatened her flashed through my mind, the desire to avoid responsibility pushed the thought into the background.
In my mind, yesterday's incident meant that Lisbeth asked me to masturbate her, and I did so without protest, after which she passed out.
"Yes, what crime have I committed?! She did it of her own free will! What's wrong with being open and honest?!" Ignoring the internal scream, "You're really guilty," I stood up and headed for the warehouse exit.
After hesitating for a long time, I finally decided to head to the guild office first.
Because I was genuinely curious to hear what Lisbeth would say.
Ignoring my conscience, I confidently headed toward the guild building, when suddenly my conscience woke up and, like a mad dog, brought its fist down on me.
I immediately curled up, not going inside right away, but crouching by the window to eavesdrop on the conversation inside.
The idle chatter of adventurers began, nothing particularly interesting, just trivial gossip.
A conversation about me ensued, and while the situation was a bit awkward, they mentioned they were considering inviting me to the guild if I could become human, so it seems Lisbeth didn't say much in the guild office.
"Phew... that's great..." After confirming I couldn't even hear Ars and Lisbeth's voices, I entered the guild office. "Ah, Mister Semo! Hello!"
"Good morning, Sera!"
Seeing Sera greet me with a smile completely dispelled my worries, and I was able to greet her cheerfully.
Thank you, Lisbeth.
I won't forget this kindness... but I will continue to avoid you.
"You arrived at the perfect time! Mister Ars said he wanted to thank you personally and was looking forward to your arrival!"
Knock.
I think I heard that sound.
Ah, didn't I just hear Ars's voice?
Even if the guild office has plenty of space, and animals have excellent hearing, how could they possibly be incapable of hearing something?
"Looks like you were out for a bit after eating... Ah, so you're here!" Following Sera's instructions, Ars smiled and waved.
And behind him... Lisbeth looked at me with a cold expression.
"I'm doomed..." Unsure whether Ars's smile was a greeting or an attempt to kill me, I could only tensely walk toward him.
"Good morning, Shimo. Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Oh, breakfast? Oh, I ate, I ate. Nothing special, nothing special."
"Yes. Lisbeth is there too, I need to say something..."
"Say, say something!? Okay, okay, saying something is fine." He had no idea what the phrases "nothing serious" or "everything's fine" meant, and he couldn't even understand his own incoherent speech. Following Lisbeth, Ars approached her with a sharp pain in his stomach.
"Ah, good morning, Lisbeth?"
"...Good morning." I greeted her with a trembling voice, and Lisbeth responded with a cold expression.
What is this, amnesia?!
Or will she kill me?!
"First of all... thank you very much, Shimo."
"Uh, hmm?" Ars, sitting in his seat, suddenly began thanking me.
Thank you?
"I heard you took all the credit for capturing the griffin to Lisbeth. According to Lisbeth, she and you, Shimo, caught it together, but for some reason it was exaggerated, as if she did it alone."
"Ah, ah~ that~"
It seems Lisbeth really does have amnesia. If she remembered, she wouldn't be thanking me; she would have teamed up with Ars to kill me long ago.
"Sorry I couldn't keep up with the group, and thank you for your help. For people like us, who need to accumulate merits, such modesty is truly appreciated. And I heard you even brought the unconscious Lisbeth to the guild office? Usually, they only give one Cooper for completing a contract; it seems we got too much."
"Haha, it's okay! Don't worry! It was a great experience for me!"
Lisbeth's gaze instantly sharpened; I must have imagined it. Hmm, if she hadn't lost her memories, she wouldn't have behaved so well after something like this.
"So... have you considered officially joining our guild?"
"Hm~ Guild..." Receiving the official invitation to join the guild, I momentarily forgot about my problems and sank into thought.
Official guild member.
It's the equivalent of a job offer on Earth.
However, such an offer came from the first person I'd met since arriving in this other world, as well as from the two people closest to me.
Accepting seemed acceptable, but deep down, I was more hesitant.
I craved freedom rather than being bound by the confines of a guild.
"Hm... I'd like to think about joining a guild a little longer... because I want to be freer to try different things."
"Hm, I understand. After all, Shimo is a divine being who's only been in a human city for about a month. So..."
Ars then suggested that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, I continue to work with them on a temporary contract.
He added that if I wanted to join Madela's Light later, that would be fine, or I could choose another guild. Although he would regret it, he wouldn't stop me.
They added that they very much hoped to travel with me, a man whose kindness had helped.
"In that case, I must thank you!"
"Haha, thank you, Shimo. Now I need to head to the South Gate first. The team that went into the dungeon just moved their things there yesterday, I need to check. I should be back around this evening, then we can meet again to choose quests starting tomorrow, how about that?"
"Hm. I don't mind. There are still quite a few places in the village I haven't been to, but what about summoning heroes?"
"It's hard to talk about it with others right now. I'll let you know as soon as it's confirmed. We might even be able to accept the quest directly from the guild. The details are hard to say yet…"
It seems something important has happened. Heroes are being summoned again and again, and the reason has to be kept secret.
"Well, since I said so, I'll head to the South Gate… Lisbeth, what are you planning on doing? We can go together today."
Ars stood up and looked at Lisbeth questioningly. Shouldn't they go together? Aren't you two dating? Why are you asking?
He was sure Lisbeth would definitely choose Ars, but she gave an unexpected answer.
"...I'll stroll around the village with Shimo. I'll stop by a few shops along the way."
"Okay. Then please show Shimo out. I probably won't eat there until dinner, but if it's too late, you can eat first."
"Okay, see you later," Lisbeth replied, not even glancing at Ars, her gaze fixed on me.
Ars smiled and said, "See you later," then walked out of the guild office.
Wait, did you just dump your girlfriend like that?
Didn't we agree to go together?
Shouldn't we go together?
"..."
"..." For some reason, Lisbeth's gaze was especially piercing.
Why was she looking at me with such a sullen expression?
That overly painful gaze made me doubt she really had amnesia.
"Say something..." I avoided Lisbeth's gaze, trying not to meet her eyes...
"...Come with me."
"Uh, mm? Ah, I see."
.....Watching Lisbeth's silent figure leave, I followed her, my heart pounding with anxiety.
Even though the gazes of those around me still felt like needles in my back, this time I didn't care.
Because the aura emanating from Lisbeth's back was impossible to determine—whether it was anger or some other emotion.
However, this had nothing to do with the fact that Lisbeth was dressed differently today.
She wore a slightly tight white shirt, over which she wore a red cardigan that hugged her chest. Her skirt was about the same length as usual—a flowing, pleated checkered skirt—paired with white stockings of a slightly different pattern than yesterday's.
She wore black leather pumps with a small wedge heel.
Her outfit, though simple as before, perfectly complemented Lisbeth's pink hair.
It was as if she'd pulled out the clothes she'd worn before.
The problem was the lack of a cloak; Lisbeth's figure was completely naked, and even a simple view from behind was too provocative for me.
Luckily, I'd managed to masturbate yesterday, otherwise I probably wouldn't have been able to suppress my erection from that arousing rear view.
"..." I followed the silent Lisbeth for a while, and it seemed as if we were gradually approaching a secluded spot.
I heard there was a store where you could get information; was it a remote store?
And so, the surrounding conversations gradually faded until they became completely inaudible...
"...?" Lisbeth stopped in a dead-end street blocked by a wall. What's going on? It seems there are no stores here? Just as I was thinking this, Lisbeth suddenly turned around and spoke.
"You have nothing to say to me?" What's going on?
That piercing gaze? "You have something to say?"
"Pfft, pfft!? What, what can you say!?" I involuntarily made a strange sound and asked.
"Pfft, it can't be... right?"
You really do have amnesia, right?
Say it right now!"
"..." Lisbeth stared at me for a moment, then suddenly turned and walked deeper into the alley, sitting down on a dilapidated wooden crate.
She crossed her legs and arms and looked at me with a withering gaze.
"...Let me... masturbate you."
"Forgive me so much!!!" I immediately hit my head on the floor.