38. Moving Preparations! The Saint Who Can't Hold Back (2)
Dungeon City Henencia.
A city close to the Demonic Beings' land, the Desolate Ruins, and a city with many dungeons created by the Demon Kings.
It's also called an innovative city that generates profit by commercially utilizing dungeons.
I once had a time when I was active here as a member of a party.
*Master Aina. Knight Irina. When I first met them, I mistook them for family because their names were similar. In reality, only their names were similar.*
So much time has already passed.
Aside from the fact that only Aina's time has stopped, this city was no different from before.
As I was lost in such thoughts of the past, the grandmother sitting next to me bid farewell.
"Well then, take care, young man... It was pleasant talking with you..."
"Yes, take care, grandmother."
The grandmother left, leaning on her cane.
The grandmother in the seat next to me was on the kind side.
Though her life advice about "a stable job being the best" was a bit annoying.
She was someone who leaned toward being kind.
Still.
*If Saten had sat with that grandmother...*
A fight would have definitely broken out.
Since Saten doesn't tolerate annoying situations themselves and doesn't consider the other person's age, I might have witnessed her assaulting the grandmother if things went wrong.
The sight of Saten wildly slapping an elderly person's cheeks.
Indeed, it was a good choice for me to sit separately.
After saying goodbye to the grandmother, I got off the train and looked around.
*The kids... haven't gotten off yet?*
If it takes a bit of time, I should just go to Car A first and wait.
I slowly walked toward Car A.
Just then, the door of Car A opened and people began to come out.
Since the kids each chose colorful colors, I didn't need to put much effort into finding them.
*There they are.*
Yellow, pink, black, white.
A suspicious group of hoods in various colors.
I was approaching them as they got off the train.
Perhaps because Hare is a Thief, she spotted me first this time too and started running toward me, shouting.
"Ah, mister...! I missed you...!"
Patter patter—
Hare running hard on her small legs.
Not even an hour had passed, yet why was she running toward me like someone who hadn't seen me for a hundred days?
Hare came up to me and hugged my waist tightly.
"While you were gone, mister, I was so lonely... But I endured and waited... I'm a good girl, right...?"
"...Yes, well done. Did you get along well with the other friends too?"
"Yes! I really got along well...! Hehe, Hare is a good girl...! Right...?"
"..."
I silently patted Hare's head.
If she got along well with her friends, it was related to the party's bond.
From my perspective, it was a very good situation.
More than that...
"Luna, why are you just standing there from afar?"
"...Hmph, it's nothing."
Staring blankly—
Luna far away, just watching me quietly.
She seemed to have a somewhat sulky expression.
Was it because I didn't praise her for enduring the hallucinations well?
Her expression looked full of dissatisfaction.
"...If you have complaints, say them out loud, Luna."
"...Never mind! I don't need your praise, mister!"
She's thoroughly sulking.
Anyway, she'll get over it on her own once she eats a delicious dinner.
I decided not to particularly respond.
The most important thing in the current situation wasn't Luna.
"H-Holy Water... give me Holy Water..."
Staggering toward me from far away like a zombie.
Estia was the most important thing in the current situation.
*Her condition is too poor.*
Estia, a Holy Water addict, had endured for too long.
Probably, this was the state right before falling off a cliff, and if time was delayed even a little, she might lose consciousness.
I approached her as she was about to collapse.
"Estia."
"You kidnapper... give me Holy Water... give me Holy Water..."
"...I'll give you Holy Water once we arrive at the lodging. So endure just a little longer."
"I, I can't endure... you bad old man..."
"...I'll carry you to the lodging."
I lifted the delirious Estia in a princess carry.
Estia's body was hot like a fireball, and cold sweat ran down her face.
If I didn't administer Holy Water right now, it seemed she would immediately have a seizure.
I had to move to the lodging before it was too late.
While holding Estia in my arms, I immediately approached the waiting Hero Party.
"Kids, follow me. Estia's condition isn't good."
The lodging.
Toward the lodging where we'd stay briefly before finding a house.
I began moving, leading the Hero Party.
Befitting the name Dungeon City, Henencia's lodgings were basically in good condition.
There were various options, and lodgings existed that matched the number of members in adventurer parties.
So I rented a lodging that could accommodate a total of five people including me in the Hero Party, with five rooms.
We planned to stay here for the time being until we found a house.
And after arriving at the lodging, I immediately...
"Wait, I'll calm Estia down and come back. Go into whichever room you want and rest as you please."
"Y-yes..."
Carrying Estia, I entered a room with just the two of us.
Right now, she desperately needed Holy Water.
I laid Estia on the bed and tapped her cheeks lightly.
"Estia, are you conscious?"
"..."
"Did she faint..."
No movement at all.
She must have fainted because her mind could no longer endure.
I quickly took out a bottle containing Holy Water from subspace.
Taking it out wasn't a problem at all.
After taking it out.
That was the problem.
"...How do I make her take the Holy Water?"
Basically, Holy Water is in liquid form.
It must be taken orally, and I couldn't tell her to drink it while unconscious.
But if I forcibly poured Holy Water into her mouth, the risk of suffocation was quite high.
Indeed, which choice would be the right one...
[How should you feed Holy Water to the Saint? You pervert Lee Jun-woo. You're not thinking impure thoughts, are you? Choose!]
[1. Hold Holy Water in your mouth and transfer it to Estia.]
[2. Dip your finger in Holy Water, then put it in Estia's mouth to make her take it.]
Good timing, Minerva.
The unfortunate thing is there's no opportunity to see the answer key.
*...If only I had the answer key, I would have checked option 1.*
If holding Holy Water in my mouth is okay, the safest choice is option 1.
It's the standard method.
*But option 2...*
Option 2 has the risk of my finger being bitten off by Estia's teeth, so it's a choice that's hard to select readily.
However, what if I choose option 1 and hold it in my mouth, then become addicted to Holy Water?
*Oppa, I'll give you Holy Water as a reward~ Open your mouth!*
A future of being controlled by Estia would unfold.
Can't be helped.
I deeply dipped my index finger into the bottle containing Holy Water.
Then I put my index finger, sufficiently soaked in Holy Water, into Estia's mouth.
The feeling was somehow subtle.
"...Don't bite, and eat slowly, Estia."
As if applying Holy Water inside Estia's mouth, I stirred her mouth with my index finger.
Like drawing a picture on a canvas with a brush, I moved as carefully as possible so Estia wouldn't get hurt.
Did my efforts pay off?
"Uh, uuueh...?"
Estia's eyelids trembled as she made a stupid sound.
Good, I should continue like this.
I kept dipping my index finger in Holy Water, covering the inside of Estia's mouth with Holy Water.
Each time, as if the Holy Water was taking effect, Estia flinched.
"...Is this the most effective spot?"
I feel like I'm learning the knack of it.
Her tongue, where Estia's reaction was best.
It would be good to concentrate on applying Holy Water there.
"I hope you come to your senses now, Estia."
"U-uum... uueeh...?"
I'm afraid she'll bite my finger.
While I was supplying Holy Water to Estia with my finger like that.
Something.
A strange sensation began to be felt on my finger.
"...Estia?"
"U-hehe... Holy Waterrr... morrre..."
Slurp—
Estia, who finally came to her senses, was licking my finger inside her mouth with her tongue.
She had regained consciousness, but was in a state of not having regained consciousness.
Damn it.
"Oppaa... giving... Holy Waterrr...? Licking feels goood..."
Lick—
Estia licked with her tongue, carefully licking the Holy Water on my finger.
Fortunately, the heat in Estia's body dropped and the cold sweat stopped flowing.
However, the fact that her mental state had broken down emerged as a new problem.
Fix one thing and another becomes a problem.
"...Originally I planned to give her Holy Water and leave."
For things to get tangled up like this.
What a predicament.
Estia paid no attention to my words and kept licking my finger.
The Holy Water that had been on my index finger had already disappeared, and it was covered in Estia's saliva.
"Estia, stop licking my finger now. The Holy Water is here."
"Ehehe... Holy Water... slurp, goood... give me morrre..."
"...Now let go of my arm and drink the Holy Water in the bottle."
"Ah, ahhh... goood...! Hehe..."
Lick— lick—
My words don't matter to her at all.
Grabbing my arm with both hands, as if she would never let go, Estia licked my finger.
I couldn't just leave this behavior alone.
Whoosh—
"Stop."
"Uh... huh? There's no Holy Waterrr...? Where did it gooo...?"
So Estia could no longer lick my finger, I shook off her arms with force.
She made a dumbfounded expression and just stared at me.
I don't know if communication will work, but...
I placed a small hope in such an Estia and attempted conversation.
"Estia. The Holy Water is here, so drink it yourself. There's absolutely no reason to lick my finger."
"Ah, ahhh...! Holy Waterrr... I want Holy Waterrr... give me Holy Waterrr...!"
"Not my finger. Drink the Holy Water. Here, I'll leave the Holy Water, so enjoy it by yourself. I'll excuse myself now."
"..."
Now that she's come to her senses, she should be able to drink it alone.
Watching a person become pickled in drugs is painful.
Therefore, right now, which isn't the control stage, I didn't particularly want to see Estia administering Holy Water.
I got up from my seat and placed my hand on the doorknob to leave the room.
At that moment.
Estia's gloomy voice reached my ears.
"...I, I don't want thaat... I don't want to be alonee... can't you stay with mee... Estia doesn't want to be alonee... be, being alone... is too scary and I don't want itt..."
Drip drip—
Shedding tears, Estia desperately cried out to me.
She looked as if she had caught a disease where she'd die if left alone.
"St, stay with meee...! E-Estia... do, doesn't want to be alonee... ha, happiness... let's be happy togetherr... o-oppaa... don't gooo... st, stay with meee..."
"Estia...?"
"Be, being alone... surviving alone... I don't want thaat... st, stay with meee..."
Pleading, shedding tears, throwing a tantrum.
She looks just like a small child.
Does drinking Holy Water turn her into a small child?
Anyway, she won't remember tomorrow.
"Al, always... alone... I, I don't like itt..."
Estia hugging her legs as if lonely, tears dripping down.
I approached Estia, tidied her disheveled white hair, and asked for confirmation.
"Sincerely. Do you want me not to leave?"
"U-uh-huh... o-oppa, I don't like you because you don't give Holy Waterrr... bu, but today you gave Holy Water so I like youu... so, so todayy... stay with meee... E-Estia was always alonee..."
At least when taking Holy Water, stay with me.
That's what she was saying.
Probably, it's related to the deficiency she has.
I felt like I could understand why she was saying such things only if I properly saw Estia's past.
*Does she become honest when drinking Holy Water? Or is she just lonely...*
Probably, looking at the current situation, it seems closer to the former...
Estia grabbing my sleeve tightly and sending a pitiful gaze.
If I refused here, she looked so desperate that I thought Estia might die.
It was a moment when my heart softened.
"Estia."
"U-uh-huh... oppaa..."
"...I'll stay with you, so drink the Holy Water. I'll stay by your side until you come to your senses."
"U-uh-huh! Th, thank youu...! He, hehe... I'm happy... Estia is happyy...!"
Gulp— gulp—
Estia drank the Holy Water without hesitation.
After emptying the entire bottle, Estia came to my side and sat down.
Then, as if a reaction was coming, she began to tremble more and more.
"Ah, ahhh... hnngh... so goood... o-oppaa... hug meee... I'm, I'm happy... bu, but scaryy... hug meee..."
Squeeze—
As Estia said, I warmly hugged her.
Her body trembled as if it would break at the slightest touch, and she seemed to feel intense pleasure.
Estia, held in my arms like that, buried her face in my chest.
"I, I'm... happyy... hehe... I, I wish it could be like this foreverr... fr, friends too... everyone... I wish they could be this happyy..."
"..."
Estia, intoxicated by Holy Water, saying she's happy.
I couldn't give any answer to such an Estia.
*Is Estia really happy?*
Contrary to what she was saying, she looked like she would break at any moment.
She seemed to feel anxiety amid happiness.
I knew she couldn't be normal since she'd been taking Holy Water long-term.
Her mind.
Estia's mind was far too unstable.
For such an Estia, what I could do now was.
"Go, goood... Holy Water goood..."
"..."
So she could wake from her dream.
Only to hug her warmly.
And.
So the Hero Party could function properly.
I had to return Estia to normal.