CH. 242: Guilty pleasure

I met Astraea in her room. Her droopy eyes were barely an inch away from falling asleep. Her day must've been exhausting. This woman needs a serious break from her work!

Employing my stealth, I backed out and tried to close the door.

"Asahi?"

"God, sleep. We can talk tomorrow all you want."

"Come in. I'm not tired. This bed is too comfortable." She got up and stretched her arms. "Hear me out a little."

I sat on the chair beside the bed and listened to her story.

She met the Guild executive today and told them about my Level Up. As expected, they were shocked out of their minds to hear someone leveling up in a few days. Astraea chalked it up to me hunting in the dungeon for several days straight like a madman.

The Guild still marked me as the fastest guy to reach level 2 in history. I ended up scoring a record that I couldn't care less about.

"I apologize for calling you madman like that."

"Nah. It's good."

"I know it's unnecessary, but be cautious if any god or goddess approaches you. Some might try to manipulate you after knowing your potential."

"As I said before, I can handle myself. Still, thanks for worrying."

"It is my duty as the goddess of this Familia."

"Okay. Now sleep… or do you want a massage?"

"Massage?" she tilted her head in confusion. "B-Body massage?"

"Yes. I don't want to brag, but Nao says my massage can relieve stress and tension from her body."

She hesitated. It was normal behavior for a virgin goddess to refuse body contact with a man.

"I shouldn't have suggested that."

"N-No. It's not that." She simply turned her back on me and bunched her hair, skillfully wrapping them in a messy bun. She had skilled fingers even for a goddess.

The creamy skin of her exposed nape invited me to touch, nibble, and mark with hickeys.

"...Be quick," Astraea said, fidgeting with her hair.

Permission achieved!

The best massage would be through direct skin contact, which I couldn't ask her. I touched her shoulder and kneaded as softly as possible. Her skin shivered and flushed deep red under my fingertips.

Astraea's shuddering breaths and delicate moans painted the atmosphere vibrant pink.

"Astraea, did any man... ever touch you like this?"

She gently shook her head.

"So I'm first?"

With a shaky exhalation, Astraea nodded and slumped her shoulders. "I don't… I don't mind you touching me."

I fought hard to keep my hands from going down her curves and grabbing her stiff bottom pressing down on the bed. She didn't permit me to go lewd!

Gagging my raw desire within me, I began the massage. Her sensual moans gradually slowed down as her heart slowed down.

"It… feels nice."

"Good to hear. Now, please lie down on the bed."

She followed my request without missing a heartbeat and laid on her stomach with a pillow under her face. I stood from the chair and pressed my right knee on the bed. With steady and firm motions of my hands, I eased her tense muscles. I noticed all too late that Astraea had fallen asleep midway, leaving me sitting with an awkward smile.

"This goddess works too hard for everyone."

[—Astraea: Affection +8]

That's a big increase, bringing her affection points to a number shy from 80.

I untied her hair lest she made a giant mess of her hair in sleep. Her tight dress wasn't ideal for sleeping, but I couldn't just remove her clothes without her permission.

Wait.

I draped a light blanket over her and sent her dress into the ring. I placed her dress on the bed and stroked her cheeks. A simple but innocent smile appeared on her face.

"Goodnight."

I opened the door, only to face Alise. She looked past me and widened her eyes.

"What did you do to Astraea-sama?!"

Oh, this naughty girl thought I assaulted Astraea? Anyone might have thought the same if a playboy like me walked out of a room with a girl sleeping almost naked on the bed with a satisfied smile.

I grinned and caressed her cheeks playfully. "What do you think I did?"

Crimson enveloped her cheeks. She slapped my hand and grabbed my collar. "Y-You lecher, why Astraea-sama when you have so many wives?"

"I touched her softer than cotton skin, while she moaned, muttering my name in a sweet voice…"

Alise's face turned brighter and brighter as her hot breath flowed out of her mouth.

"After all, I couldn't." I traced a finger up her cheeks, and flicked her forehead. "Massage her without touching her."

Tears burst forth from her eyes. Despite holding back as much as I could, her forehead had a burning red mark. She rubbed it with teary eyes.

"That's my justice. You trust me so little, huh? Am I so low in your eyes?"

"Unn? What?"

Seeing her panic and fluster might become a guilty pleasure.

"This idiot." Kaguya came out of the corner of the hall, chuckling as she did. "Astraea-sama was the one to call Asahi-kun. I saw him entering the room ten minutes ago… think with this little head of yours, Captain—can a healthy man with a harem finish his business in ten minutes?"

Kaguya made a rational judgment on the matter. Even my foreplay lasted longer than ten minutes!

"And we don't have any right to deny him if Astraea-sama wants to have a relationship with him. So Captain can only suck it up and watch Astraea and Asahi-kun sweating in a room, screaming each other's names passionately."

"Ah. No. I didn't—sorry, Asahi. I-I," Alise panicked, a little too much.

I reached out to pat her head, but she shook her head and bolted away. I went overboard with teasing her.

Kaguya stared at me and my hand with a mischievous smile. "Gee, you scared her away. She isn't used to others using her own tactics to pressure her."

I sighed. "I'll apologize to her later."

"Don't. She also made the wrong judgment based on her feelings… do you like Astraea-sama?"

Her question prompted a nod from me. I had no reason to hide it from Kaguya anyway. She seemed like one of those schoolgirls who used a girl's secret to ship them with their desired boy.

"Yes."

"Wow. So bold. Well, you would need such confidence if you want to create a harem in the first place."

"I can be bolder if," I trailed and reached for her lovely cheeks.

She giggled elegantly as she pushed my hand. "You'd need more than just manliness to conquer my heart."

She winked her eyes and walked past me, chuckling louder.

It was just a playful attempt to tease her. I ended up being teased by her.

(M-My Love got rejected.)

'Sad…'

"Onii-san."

Rini's voice stopped me from teleporting. She rushed to my side with her boobs bouncing, wrestling to break free from her maid dress.

"Take me to the dungeon."

Her senses might be useful in digging out the rats hidden on the twenty-seventh floor.

"No problem."