章 15: 15. The Ice has Burned.
The delightful aroma of fresh air roused me from my tranquil slumber. The melodic tunes of chirping birds filled the air, acting like a gentle alarm that coaxed me awake. In an instant, my meditative state dissipated, and my eyes widened.
Leaving the comfort of my bed, I made my way to the expansive windows of my apartment. Drawing aside the curtains, I paused for a moment. It had been a while since I'd opened these windows. The demands of my busy schedule at the archeology department seldom allowed me the luxury to properly tend to my living space. Although the view outside my apartment complex was unremarkable, I believed in welcoming fresh air inside from time to time, even if not on a daily basis.
With the intention of embracing the morning routine of a protagonist in a story, I decided to begin my day by opening the curtains and then the windows, leisurely indulging in a few moments of contemplation. However, my efforts to push open the windows were in vain.
A sense of bewilderment washed over me. "What's happening?" I muttered, my growing sense of panic accompanied by a second attempt, which confirmed my suspicions—there were no windows. In fact, I wasn't even in my home.
"Ah... I'm in a game..." The realization struck me, and I swiftly grasped that I was currently Mordret, a character within the virtual realm. With that understanding, the dream-like world I had inhabited shattered into fragments, and I awoke... within the game.
...
As my eyelids fluttered open, I became aware of a delicate weight pressing against my arm. The sensation of someone's gentle breathing resonated beside me—calm and comforting.
Turning my head to investigate, I halted abruptly. "Huh?" A perplexed frown formed on my face as I took in the scene before me.
"Am I still dreaming?" I pondered, half-expecting to find myself in the midst of a heavenly reverie. After all, how could I be lying next to Eliza, the very embodiment of beauty itself?
Sharing a bed with another person, especially a woman, was an unfamiliar experience. The expanse of white blanket cocooned her form, yet I could discern her alluring figure beneath it.
Her once-tidy hair now cascaded in disarray, framing her face. With a gentle touch, I swept the raven tendrils behind her ears, careful not to rouse her slumber.
The velvety touch of her skin stirred something within me. Yet, the paramount question remained—why were we lying here unclothed, our bodies intertwined beneath the covers?
...
In that instant, memories of the previous night surged forth. It took a moment for the realization to dawn—I, Zephyr Satoru, had lost my virginity... to a character within a game!
A sense of disbelief threatened to knock me off the bed. Accepting this new reality was a challenge.
"It's just a game... it's just a game..." I repeated the mantra, attempting to anchor myself in the familiar. Nonetheless, the immersive nature of the experience was uncanny. The graphics, the visuals, the sounds—all converged to create an astonishingly realistic encounter.
Even Eliza's reactions, perfectly synchronized with my actions, felt utterly authentic. How could a game be so flawlessly designed? It defied logic.
An abrupt stillness enveloped me.
Perhaps my tension had disturbed her slumber, for Eliza had awoken. Her piercing blue gaze locked onto me, sending an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Our prolonged staring contest endured for a full minute before she nestled into my arms.
"My Lord..." she called.
Perhaps it was time to give her a name, something more intimate. "Yes, Ellie?" I responded. Her smile grew, a delicate purr escaping her lips akin to a contented cat.
"I am relieved that you remember your promise..." Though the promise she referred to remained a mystery, I made a mental note that Ellie held significance to Mordret, likely stemming from the woman in his memory – her grandmother.
"Hmm..." My gentle hum seemed to soothe her. Her smile reached her eyes, and at that moment, my heart pounded with an intensity that seemed almost audible. I couldn't help but marvel at how utterly endearing she appeared.
Suddenly, Eliza adjusted her position and said "My Lord... I sense something hard down here." Damn! The realization that I had unexpectedly ended up sharing a bed with Eliza caught me off guard. The prospect of dealing with morning wood was the last thing on my mind.
Curiously, instead of feeling flustered, a peculiar thought surfaced. "Will you take care of it?" I inquired, my fingers gently lifting her chin.
Never in my wildest imagination had I envisioned uttering anything so corny. Yet, Eliza's flushed cheeks rescued me from self-inflicted embarrassment.
"With pleasure." Eliza gracefully discarded the blanket, revealing her alluring form beneath. Her eyes smoldered with desire, and before I knew it, she embarked on her first task of the day.
And so, the urgency of my morning arousal yielded to the enchanting touch of her transcendent lips.
...
The morning bath granted me another bout of post-climactic clarity.
"I... lost my virginity to someone other than Mira..." Even for men, preserving one's chastity held a particular significance, typically reserved for someone deeply cherished.
"I suppose... my only excuse is that it was within the confines of a game." I offered my subconscious justification, though there was no one to deceive.
Who could predict whether, someday, Mira might harbor feelings for me as well? Wishful thinking, perhaps.
The day progressed, and once more I became ensnared by my books. Eliza's absence from my room was conspicuous until lunchtime. Yet, when she did finally appear, the anticipated awkwardness was notably absent. However, a subtle shift in her gaze indicated a return of the warmth she had previously exhibited toward me.
In the grand scheme of things, it was yet another productive day. I delved deeper into the knowledge surrounding the Peta Estate, the world at large, and the looming threat of Beast Raids. Trapped within my quarters for another day, I had little choice.
Although I had requested permission to explore the mansion, Eliza politely declined, leaving a somewhat bitter aftertaste.
Consequently, I asked her to prepare something sweet for dinner, a small indulgence amidst the mental fatigue I had accrued.
"Ha..." I sighed, collapsing onto the bed. Though my activities had been confined to reading, the mental strain weighed heavily. As my consciousness waned, a nagging realization resurfaced.
"Ah! My status!" Just before Eliza would bring dinner to my room, the memory of my critical task returned.
...
[Quest #2: Calm the Storm!]
[Quest Description: Brace yourself for an impending two-part storm! As the new Lord of these lands, you must confront this challenge with unwavering resolve. The legacy of the former Lord awaits.]
...
Scrolling further, I encountered Part I of the quest –
[Quest Part I: Burning the Ice.] [Reward: Character Emergence (+0.2)] [Failure: Attribute [Dominance] will be lost.] Status: Complete.
[Quest Part I Summary: The Ice has melted... Eliza Silverstone, the left hand of the Lord and the Ice Queen's heart, has at last thawed. As a testament to her acceptance, she has bestowed her most treasured virtue upon her Lord.]
...
"Wait a moment... Eliza was also a virgin? Then why was there no blood?" I exclaimed in astonishment, hurriedly checking the sheets in vain. They had been replaced.
Although my fatigue prevented me from recalling every detail of our intimate encounter from the previous night, I was certain that no traces of blood were left on the sheets. So how could Eliza still be considered a virgin?
"Perhaps... her hymen was already broken... given her robust physique." Armed with my limited knowledge, this was the only logical explanation I could muster.
***
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