CH 87

[Fall of the Goddess]

Arcadia and the others were worriedly watching the sun-like sphere that was still burning high up in the sky.

Arcadia had recovered thanks to Magmell’s treatment by then, and as all of them were looking up at the scorching cage, they wondered.

Just what sort of fierce battle is happening in there?

They didn’t know, but they did know that Exa had the upper hand.

Because they could hear Fluga gasping in pain from time to time.

That being the case, Exa must be in control of the battle.

So Arcadia and the rest of the girls believed, but then Zana suddenly opened her mouth, “Hey, is it just me, or Fluga-sama’s voice is really getting higher?”

Arcadia tilted her head, “Hm? Now that you mention it, sounds like it…”

Ophir shrugged her shoulders, “Well, ain’t it just because she’s in that hell-like place? Even a god can’t hold out for long in it, don’t cha think?”

“Yes, I thought so too at first, but…” Zana took a glance at Arcadia and Ophir.

“W-what is it? If you have something to say, say it.”

“Yeah! There ain’t nothing needs hidin’ among us, aight?”

Zana replied in a slightly hesitant manner to the two who had expressed discomfort, “…Uh, I just found it rather similar. —Your voices change like that when you’re embraced by him.”

““……””

Hearing that, Arcadia and Ophir blinked their eyes, looked at each other, and turned back to Zana, shouting, ““Say what!?””

“So you’re saying the two of them are currently doing it in there?” Tirna asked.

Magmell shouted, “T-that’s impossible!? I-I mean, Fluga-sama is a lesbian, isn’t she!? She even said that she couldn’t embrace us because we had the smell of man on us earlier!?”

“I know, but just to make sure, why don’t we all try to focus on listening to it?”

““““(Nod).””””

Everyone nodded silently to Zana’s words, and began to listen carefully.

“““““……”””””

The verdict was—guilty.

◇ ◇

After the battle was over, I returned to everyone with the flushed red Fluga-sama lying limply in my arms.

I then laid her on the altar, wiped the sweat off my forehead, saying “…Phew. That was a tough fight…” while turning around in the girls’ direction but, “Gah!?”

“““““……”””””

All of them were staring at me with half-closed eyes.

“U-uhh, is something wrong…?”

“Fufu, good work, Exa-sama.”

“Ah, yeah… thanks…”

I wondered why.

Magmell’s smile didn’t seem like a smile.

Rather, her eyes clearly looked unamused.

“Well done, Exa. Your feat of defeating Fluga-sama is commendable, indeed.”

“Y-yeah…”

Whereas from Arca I could feel a blatant ‘pressure’.

Err, could it be that they had caught on to it…

But they shouldn’t have been able to see it…

As I was having a cold sweat, Zana drew close to me with a soft smile on her face and said, “Hey, do you know? A woman can intuitively know the fact that her man has embraced another woman, you know?”

“For real!?”

Then, they’d really—!?

“Well, that’s not the case this time because there was circumstantial evidence, though… so let me ask you just to make it clear, Exa. You—embraced Fluga-sama, didn’t you?”

“U-uhh, but there was extenuating circumstances as to why—”

“—You embraced her, right? (Intimidating)”

“…Yes, I embraced her.”

In face of the pressure from Zana, and the rest of the girls behind her, I could only nod my head honestly.

◇ ◇

After that, I desperately explained the situation to the girls interrogating me me.

Actually, I intended to end it with a kiss, but when I noticed it, the other party was practically demanding it, so I ended up embracing her.

Had I refused her then, our relationship would take turn for the worst.

I mean, you shouldn’t disgrace a woman, right?

That’s why the situation turned that way—so I politely explained to them.

“Well, I get the situation now, but ya sure got big-balls for doing it right in front us,” said Ophir.

“Ha-haha…” I averted my eyes.

Tirna nodded, “Mm. If that’s the case, it’s not weird that Fluga-sama is dead tired.”

“Indeed. You’re so superior in that field that you can deal with all of us together in a single night, to the point we pass out at that. Even a god no match for you, it seems,” Zana said.

“Y-you’re exaggerating…

“Ahaha…” I laughed awkwardly.

“Fufu, that’s not a compliment you know, Exa-sama?”

“……I’m sorry.” Magmell’s words, whose eyes weren’t smiling, caused me to get smaller and smaller.

Right then.

“Well, there are many points to complain about, but we won thanks to Exa. Now, let’s wait for Fluga-sama to wake up, and then we can have a talk with her.”

“Arca…” As I was sitting on the bed of needles, only Arca showed her care for me. My eyes teared up without me knowing.

“Of course, before that, there’s someone else I need to have a talk with. (Intimidating)”

“……”

Yup, I figured… I felt my soul leaving me as I was smiling by my lonesome.