Chapter 15: The Subdued Goddess I

A high-end bed really is different.

Lately, I’ve only slept on creaky, stiff wooden beds, so the comparison makes it even more noticeable.

The 〈Eight-Colored Clam Castle〉 has no one maintaining it, yet the sheets are clean and dust-free.

It feels like someone collected ready-made pieces of human culture to suit their personal taste.

If Beleira is the owner of this castle, it’s easy to see she wanted to be the elegant mistress of a grand estate.

Well, I should thank her for now.

Isti’s sleeping face doesn’t suit a rundown inn. This elf girl blends perfectly with this castle.

Only I remember how that peacefully sleeping face got all messed up.

Nice. I really like that.  

I like hypnosis. Not many people would dislike it, I guess.

After carefully letting Isti sleep more, I get up and look out the window.

Are there living creatures here too?

A castle plopped right on the coast. A vast space with a forest and towering mountains in the distance.

A complete otherworld.

I suddenly get curious. What kind of place is this castle, anyway?

“Darling…?”

Isti’s awake.

How about a bath with Isti?

I open my personal storage and interact with the Eight-Colored Giant Clam. Among the few menu options that pop up, there’s a simple map.

“Great Bathhouse. Should we head there?”

“Hm? Yeah.”

I take a half-asleep Isti to the great bathhouse on the third floor.

Opening the ornate door reveals a massive changing room. There doesn’t seem to be a men’s or women’s section. The bath itself is ridiculously huge. Amazingly, it’s already filled with clean, perfectly warm water.

What’s this? This convenient castle—did a god make it?

“…”

Gods sure have a different scale for vacation homes.

“The water looks fine to use. Let’s get in together.”

“With you, Decal?”

“Why, don’t want to?”

“Um, it’s embarrassing.”

We’ve already seen everything there is to see.

I don’t say that out loud—it’d sound too much like an old man.

A w0man’s shy sensitivity is pretty important.

In times like this…

“I just wanted to bathe together like other couples…”

“…”

“Sigh, such a shame. Too bad.”

“…Okay!”  

Isti follows me, undressing and stepping into the bath.

Ah, nice.

“How’d you know about a place like this?”

Isti seems curious too.

“A goddess I know gave it to me.”

“A goddess?”

“Yeah, a red-haired goddess with a wild streak.”

“Does the goddess like you, Decal?”

I glance at Isti.

“What if she does?”

“I’d hate it.”

Isti climbs onto me.

Her mounds, radiating softness even to the eyes, and her delicate shoulders instantly grab my attention.

“I want to keep you all to myself, Decal. But… that might make you hate me.”

“Hm.”

I naturally pull Isti into a hug, running my hand over her sensitive spots.  

“Ahh…”

My hand slides over Isti’s smooth skin like a sponge.

“So soft.”

“Are you… dodging the question…?”

“Yeah. Don’t like it?”

“This… I don’t mind…”

What’s the point of seriously saying I’ll take on a bunch of lovers?

If I draw that line, Isti’d probably say “okay” with a sad face, and that’s not the vibe I want. Right now, I just want to enjoy this flirty, pseudo-romance with Isti.

“There’s still fluid coming out.”

I slip a finger into Isti’s honey cave.

“Because you released so much inside me, Decal…”

“Because you felt that good.”

“…”

Isti hugs me tight.

“If it’s your kid, Decal, I could have as many as you want.”

She’s already thinking that far?  

Amazing. The power of love.

We mess around in the bath, spending time together, and finally wash up clean before getting out.

“Want to explore the castle?”

“If you want to, Decal, I’m fine anywhere.”

“Dress room? It’s right next door.”

I check the map data, holding Isti’s hand as we walk down the hall.

The dress room is a huge space, an entire room dedicated to being a wardrobe. Dazzling women’s cl0thes overwhelm the eyes. There’s a ton of provocative underwear too, in all colors and styles.

Is this Beleira’s taste?

“Want to try one on?”

“Me? Pretty cl0thes like these don’t suit me.”

I scoff inwardly.

Out of all these cl0thes, finding something that doesn’t suit Isti would be way harder than finding what does.

But they’re all Beleira’s taste, I guess—lots of risqué dresses.

Wearing these outside would be tough. 

As I’m thinking that, a familiar, sharp voice suddenly rings out.

“Good thing the elf knows her place.”

A red-haired goddess appears across from us.

Isti steps in front of me, summoning a transparent bow into her hand.

“Decal. Attack?”

“No. She’s the goddess who gave me this castle.”

Isti lowers her bow at my words.

“Gave it? You took it by force!”

As always, she’s burning with energy every time I see her.

“So what? With all these cl0thes, who cares if I take some? What’s with this underwear? What’s it even covering? You wear this out?”

“Mind your own business! I collected them ‘cause they’re pretty… I wear them sometimes. It feels good seeing my figure in the mirror.”

“Hahaha.”

“Grr, ugh!!”

Caught by the keyword forcing her to answer truthfully, Beleira has no choice but to spill it, against her will.

The perfect keyword for a dishonest goddess.

“Isti, can you look at the cl0thes for a bit?”  

“Me…?”

Isti looks at me with sad, reluctant eyes.

“I’ll be quick. Just need to talk to the goddess.”

“Okay…”

We exchange cheek k!sses.

Beleira, watching with her arms crossed and a sour look, finally snaps.

“Hmph. Already got yourself a s1ave. Brainwashed her with that power, huh?”

“What if I did?”

“Just thought your tastes were needlessly high. That girl’s on par with me in my human days. Now, of course, I’m more beautiful and elegant.”

“…Human? You were human too?”

“Yeah. A long, long time ago.”

I see. No wonder she’s so steeped in human culture. That slit dress she’s wearing is probably some fashion designer’s work too.

“Anyway.”

Beleira blatantly changes the subject. Looking at Isti’s back as she browses the cl0thes from a distance.

“You’re getting attached to that elf, huh? I can’t attack you, but killing one elf would be nothing.”

Oh-ho. She’s got guts. Trying to threaten me?

“Want to earn my grudge? You that confident?”

“Confident? Heh. What do you take me for? …Of course not.”

“Hahaha.”

“Ugh!! This is why I hate it!”

Unable to bluff thanks to my suggestion, Beleira’s voice rises with a mix of anger and shame.

“Undo this stupid brainwashing! Or I’ll kill that elf girl you care so much about.”

“Don’t say that so lightly. I guarantee you can’t even imagine what’s in my head.”

“…”

“I can make you suffer more than anything you’ve ever thought of.”

“Stung by a weak spot?”

Didn’t know a goddess could be this arrogant.  

I won’t tolerate even the slightest threat to Isti.

Snap.

I snap my fingers.