Chapter: 297
I really tried not to call Karia “Auntie” or “Old Maid,” you know?
But since I had no choice but to mention the Mesugaki Skill translation, I thought I’d try to keep it to a minimum.
But then, when I saw her smiling while holding out a bunny girl outfit, I just couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Wrinkled and grumpy on top of being a disgusting pervert♡ Have you decided to live alone for the rest of your life?♡ That’s wise!♡ After all, no matter how much you struggle, you’ll still be alone, so accepting reality is better!♡ Very clever!♡”
“When did I give up?! I’m still in my prime! I’m young!”
“Don’t frown like that♡ Won’t it just make even more wrinkles?♡ You’re already aging, and if you get older here, you won’t just be an aunt, but a lonely old lady!♡”
“Uwaaaah! It’s true-ahh!”
Having a showdown with Karia, who suddenly stomped the desk and stood up, I couldn’t reject the bunny girl outfit she presented.
I didn’t want to wear it. Honestly, I wanted to rip it to shreds the moment I saw it. But I couldn’t just disregard a promise I made in the past.
In the end, with a sigh, I stuffed the bunny girl outfit into my inventory and asked Karia if that jewel was really that precious.
I had never heard that a jewel made by the Arts Church was that valuable before.
“I’m not joking. That Apostle guy is a pervert worse than a bug, but the abilities he possesses are real. The jewels made by the Perverted Apostle are so valuable that they are offered for a king’s birthday.”
To verify this, I asked Joy if she knew about jewels made by the Apostle of the Arts Church, and she tilted her head as if to say, “Why are you asking something obvious?”
“They’re things that are impossible to find. If someone shows up wearing a decoration made by the Apostle of the Arts Church at a social gathering, it instantly becomes a topic of conversation. I even think about wearing one myself.”
“Do you think the students will like it? I believe no one would dislike it. Of course, the noble young ladies and gentlemen don’t need to be mentioned. Even commoner students would be thrilled to receive one. Even if they’re not interested in jewels, selling it would fetch a huge sum, so wouldn’t they be eager to get it?”
I asked Joy what approximate price they held, and it seemed the value was truly through the roof.
The Apostle of the Arts Church, that guy. I thought of him as a disgusting pervert, but it turns out he was quite capable.
Well, he may have only evolved into a capable pervert.
Anyway, I figured if I could obtain the jewel, it would be best to place it as a reward in the dungeon, so I decided to ask the Apostle of the Arts Church for it.
And then, the next morning.
As soon as I arrived in front of the forest where the Sloppy Fox lives, a humanoid Sloppy Fox appeared.
“Welcome! I’ve been waiting.”
Her subtle smile maintained a sense of elegance that immediately came to mind, and she was beautiful, but that thought didn’t last long.
As her smile melted away, the graceful woman vanished, replaced by a disgusting, grotesque pervert.
Sigh. “I see you often, but seeing you in your true form reveals a different kind of beauty. I’d love to hold you in my arms and never let go.”
When the Sloppy Fox asked if I wouldn’t want her to stay in the forest if she could grant all my wishes, the only answer I could give was one.
“Really?♡ You’ll do anything I wish?♡”
“Of course! If I can be with you, I’ll do anything!”
“Then please die♡ If you, the disgusting pervert, disappear, this forest might become nicer!♡”
“Hah… Hoooh… can I ask you to say that one more time? Look at me with those eyes that seem to see me as trash!”
“Go die♡ Bite your tongue and commit suicide♡ Apologize for being a disgusting pervert that became the lord of this forest and die miserably!♡”
“…Heh. Is this what it feels like to be happy enough to die? If there wasn’t something waiting for me, I might have truly ascended.”
Seeing them restrained by excitement, bleeding from their nose, made me wish they would just die already.
If they weren’t as strong as the forest’s owner, I would have smashed their head with my mace myself.
As I fiddled with the mace, lamenting my weakness, the Sloppy Fox wiped her nosebleed with her sleeve and spread her energy around.
“I can’t leave a precious guest like you outside, let’s head to the mansion.”
The moment she finished speaking, the scenery changed entirely.
From the lush entrance of the forest to the interior of the Sloppy Fox’s mansion I had visited last time.
The transition was so smooth I felt absolutely no discomfort.
Was this one of the powers the owner of the forest could use?
“If you wait a moment, that perverted guy will arrive here, so let’s have some tea in the meantime.”
‘Is the Apostle nearby?’
“Is that perverted Apostle near this forest?”
“No, he’s currently traversing the center of the forest to reach here.”
‘You mean, he’s inside the forest? Then…’
“Inside the forest? Then why don’t you, Sloppy Fox, go fetch him?”
Upon hearing my question, the Sloppy Fox had an expression that was serious to the point of emitting a sort of disgust.
“Why should I use my powers for a disgusting man like him?”
So, she finds it biologically repulsive?
I know that feeling well. Every time I see her, that’s what I think.
I thought you’d be too clueless to understand that, but apparently, you’re not?
Wow. Fascinating.
But why can’t you empathize with my feelings? You perverted scumbag!
Momentarily angered by the mutual disgust, I sighed instead.
From experience, I knew that no matter how much I raged, it would only make the Sloppy Fox happy.
“Forget about that scoundrel; what kind of tea would you like? I’m willing to give you whatever rare delicacies you wish.”
‘No thanks. I’ll pass.’
“I don’t want that. You wouldn’t put anything strange in it, would you? Go ahead, drink yourself to death and burst while drinking alone.”
Rejecting the Sloppy Fox’s offer, I ignored her desperate scream and entered a room that seemed suitable.
I locked the door.
Blocked the sound.
Even set a divine barrier to prevent unwanted chatter while pulling out the bunny girl outfit from my inventory.
Seeing that outfit again—a piece I thought I’d never wear—made a sigh escape my lips.
I remember thinking before, but this isn’t clothing.
This thing doesn’t fulfill any clothing functionality, covering the skin, how can this even be classified as clothes?!
Yelling “Wow! This is what outfits and costumes are!” across the monitor fills me with regret.
…Actually, I think if it weren’t for me having to wear it, I might still say such things.
[What can you do? You’ve brought upon yourself this catastrophe.]
‘Ah, right. Grandpa is still around, huh.’
[Uhm? Young lady? Young lady?!]
I nearly forgot about Grandpa because of the Sloppy Fox.
Ignoring Grandpa’s shout to wait for a moment, I stuffed the mace back into my inventory, sighed again, and took off the top I was wearing.
Maybe if I slammed my head with the mace later, I could erase the memory of today.
*
Having been warned that my support would be cut if I didn’t work as an Apostle, I reluctantly participated in the festival where Prete met the miracle known as Lucy Allen.
She was truly a living work of art.
Eyes more beautiful and vivid than any jewel.
Skin whiter and smoother than marble.
Hair flowing like red silk every time she walked.
Her voice, penetrating my ears like a heavenly melody.
The moment her existence engraved itself in Prete’s mind, countless artistic inspirations bloomed, and the Goddess’s revelation whispered in his ear.
“My Apostle, praise the beauty of this child that could make this world shine brighter.”
The instant he heard that voice, Prete willingly responded to the Goddess that he would carry out that duty without a moment’s hesitation and acted upon it.
As soon as the Partlan Festival ended, leaving the territory, he began spreading songs about the beauty of Lucy Allen, starting from where the head of the Arts Church was located.
Had the Goddess not revealed the revelation to stop Tariki’s Apostle, Prete might still be wandering around singing.
And when he once again faced the miracle named Lucy Allen in the Barlow territory, Prete realized her beauty was not just skin deep.
A pure and kind heart that willingly sacrifices herself to save others!
The moment he saw her smiling brightly despite carrying many pains, Prete realized that his songs could not capture it all, and he resolved to spread her beauty once more.
It didn’t matter that Lucy served the Lord Jushin.
Lucy Allen, who was worthy of being called a miracle created by God, was an entirely different being from the garbage of the Jushin Church who pretended to worship the deity for their own gain.
And soon after.
The moment he saw Lucy, who enhanced her charm even further due to her rising rank, Prete became certain that conveying Lucy’s beauty had become one of his life’s objectives.
Her very figure bore an air of irreverence so profound that even meeting her gaze felt like a blasphemy, and days later, that image never faded from Prete’s mind.
Even at this moment, while crossing through the forest to reunite with Lucy, her image continues to flicker in front of his eyes.
“O Goddess. Can I truly capture her beauty properly on canvas?”
However, the smile etched on his lips was firm. Meeting the lovely Lady Allen, who resembled the word “Mira” itself, was naturally a joyful occasion.
By all means, he yearned to stay by her side for a whole year, basking in the beauty of Lucy.
Even so, the reason Prete couldn’t feel unadulterated joy was due to the immense burden weighing on his shoulders.
It was good that he could now capture the beauty of Lady Allen on canvas, but could he, a mere human, truly encapsulate the beauty of Lady Allen, who rivaled even the divine?
Prepared with the best equipment he could gather for this moment, Prete still lacked certainty.
This mental turmoil continued until he arrived in front of the mansion of the forest’s owner.
“Have you come?”
The owner of the forest showed no attempt to hide her disdain for Prete.
Prete understood her feelings.
His existence was merely an interruption at the moment she wanted to connect with the re-creation of beauty.
If the positions were reversed, Prete likely would have worn a similar expression to the forest’s owner.
“My lady of the forest, Lady Allen…”
“She is changing in her room. Wait a moment.”
Creeeak.
“Oh. Has she finished changing…?”
The moment he turned his head as he heard the door open, Prete felt all the doubts in his mind vanish.
Lips pressed tightly in embarrassment.
Eyes moving here and there, filled with hesitation.
Cheeks flushed a lovely pink.
Flowing red hair cascading over her snow-white shoulders.
Distinct collarbones.
Delicate shoulders unimaginable from her usual strength.
Arms pressing against the fabric covering her chest gently.
Smooth thighs with toes wiggling at the end.
Having absorbed all these sights, Prete closed his eyes with a satisfied smile, and his body, devoid of soul, fell backward like a domino.
“Ugh. Lord Armadi! To monopolize that child is too much! I, too, wish to laugh and chatter happily with that cute, pretty, and beautiful child! Will you not allow an exchange?! My child will also… possess beauties as masculine as…”
In the haze of fading consciousness, he thought he heard a voice, but Prete couldn’t lend an ear to it.
His mind was already filled with the scenery from just a moment ago.
Ah. I might have no regrets if I died like this.
