CH 187

Chapter 187 : Taking So Long In The Bathroom

『Say, Nicola. Don’t you think Celine acted kinda suspicious just now? I’ve never seen her embarrassed like that. Is it because my mana went through her body every time we were working on the Portal Stone?』(Mark)

I asked Nicola while staring at the dim ceiling of the room.

『Celine likes you from the beginning, but I do feel like the fact that your mana went through her body makes her feelings toward you even stronger.』(Nicola)

『So, do you mean my mana supplying method has a brainwashing effect?』(Mark)

『It’s not brainwashing. It’s more like… Umm… For example, if you keep smelling the body odor of someone you like every day, your feelings toward them will get stronger, right?』(Nicola)

『Uhh, I don’t know why you used body odor as an example but, yeah, I get what you mean.』(Mark)

『So, in other words, it won’t have any effects on people who don’t have feelings toward you in the first place.』(Nicola)

『I see.』(Mark)

『Don’t feel bad that you don’t have the power like eroge protagonists where they can make any woman fall in love with them in an instant. Mufufu~』(Nicola)

Nicola turned her face to me and grinned.

『I don’t… Contrarily, I’m relieved knowing that my mana supplying method didn’t mess Celine’s feelings up.』(Mark)

『Well, her feelings might get stronger but it doesn’t mean that it has changed. So, I don’t think there’s a problem with your mana supplying method.』(Nicola)

She said there was no problem, but an adult like Celine tried to ‘assault’ me, an eight-year-old boy, while I was sleeping. I think that fact alone was a problem…

『Now it’s up to you whether to accept her feelings or not. You better think about it carefully and thoroughly. Ah, if you’re going to let her assault you next time, I’ll pretend to sleep, so you don’t need to mind me.』(Nicola)

『Hahh… What are you talking about? Look. Indeed I’m actually an adult, and as an adult, I do think Celine is a good woman. However, my body is not ready for that. I’m happy that Celine likes me, but I can’t accept her feelings… Well, it’s weird to turn her down before she even confesses her feelings…』(Mark)

『So, what are you gonna do?』(Nicola)

『…Nothing? I think I better maintain the status quo.』(Mark)

After I said that, Nicola raised her upper body and let out a big sigh.

『Haaahhh… I had a feeling you would say that, wimp Onii-chan…』(Nicola)

『Oi… Anyway, I think I better stop sleeping in the same room with Celine from now on.』(Mark)

『You may be right. I think Celine will be able to sleep soundly if there’s no defenseless ‘prey’ sleeping next to her.』(Nicola)

Defenseless prey? Does she mean me…?

『Tomorrow, I’m gonna call Mom and Dad when Delica arrives in Fatia. If Mom and Dad give us permission to stay in this village for a while, I will build a house on a vacant lot nearby.』(Mark)

『Alright. You waste the opportunity to sleep with a beautiful lady in the same room every night for the next three months, but if that’s what you want, I won’t stop you.』(Nicola)

After saying that, Nicola laid down and went back to sleep as if she was no longer interested in this conversation.

Celine is a half-elf, so years of waiting for me to become an adult is nothing for her. However, she acts as our guardian now, so she must endure her feelings toward me. If she assaulted me while I was sleeping, it would be difficult for her to meet our parents when we return to Fatia.

Anyway, I’ve decided that I won’t be bothered with love problems or stuff like that until I become an adult.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, trying to sleep.

While I was doing that, I wondered what Celine was doing in the bathroom. She’s taking so long.

――――――

The next morning, I woke up early as usual.

My clothes were not so messy. Seems like Celine didn’t hug me or do anything weird to me while I was sleeping last night.

When I turned my face to the side, I saw Celine, who had gotten up, yawning while sitting on the mattress.

「Good morning, Celine.」(Mark)

「Fwaa~hh… Good morning, Mark. I’m sorry I woke you up last night.」(Celine)

「It’s okay.」(Mark)

She looked very sleepy somehow. She probably couldn’t sleep well because of me.

Come to think of it, she looked sleepy too yesterday morning.

Looks like my mana supplying method has taken effect since yesterday.

「Celine, you can go back to sleep if you’re still sleepy. We can use the food in my Item Box for breakfast, so we don’t have to go to the village square to barter.」(Mark)

「Hmm… You’re right. By the way, you still have the food your Dad made, right?」(Celine)

「Yeah, of course.」(Mark)

「Great. We’re going back to Fatia tomorrow, so I think it would be nice to have my mom eat food from outside this village.」(Celine)

「I see.」(Mark)

「Well then. I’ll sleep a while longer.」(Celine)

「Alright. I’m gonna walk around the village for a bit. I will return before breakfast.」(Mark)

「Okay~ Have fun~」(Celine)

After waving her hand at me, Celine laid down and closed her eyes.

I quickly changed my clothes and got out of the room, leaving behind Celine and Nicola who were sleeping.