By Zephyria 
For a very brief moment. I hesitated for a very brief moment.
Right now, just sitting up and lying back down caused my hands to tremble and my knees to buckle from a pain that felt like being sliced dozens of times by a sharp blade. Even a brush of the wind would hurt, so a massage…?
But then again, it was strange. Would Mikael really ask for permission with such a serious face just to touch my shoulders or neck? It didn’t seem like it. Just how far and in what way did he intend to massage me? I looked up at Mikael’s determined expression and his slightly flushed cheeks.
This is…
Even if I were to die today, I have to accept this. I put on a calm, smiling face.
“…Yes. Please do.”
…
Contrary to my apprehension, Mikael’s massage was not painful.
I already knew Mikael’s hands were hot, but those large, rough hands swept over and pressed down on me with a tenderness that was almost dizzying. Seeing refreshing energy occasionally seeping into my body, it seemed he was putting in a great effort, infusing internal energy much like he did when performing Jin Gi Do In.
The position—with my thighs tucked between his legs while I lay face down, held tight by his knees—was a bit… well, it was a bit much. The way one hand completely enveloped and pressed my neck, and the way he rubbed my shoulder blades in circles as if he were touching a chest.
I buried my forehead in the bedsheets and took a long time to catch my breath. My entire body was still throbbing and aching, but when Mikael’s hands covered my waist and flanks simultaneously, my body jolted from the ticklish sensation.
“Hng…”
“If it… hurts too much… please tell me.”
“Yes, ngh…”
While his thumb pressed near my tailbone, his other fingers pressed as if grazing the upper part of my buttocks. I gripped the sheets tightly at a thrilling sensation that was different from pain.
I’m going to go crazy. I felt like I was developing a bad taste.
Mikael did not hesitate when massaging my neck, shoulders, arms, and back. He paused momentarily when gripping my waist. He didn’t touch my buttocks, but he gripped my thighs, albeit with hesitation. He massaged my calves with firm pressure, yet he didn’t touch my ankles or feet.
After receiving the massage while lying face down for a while, I obediently rolled over to face forward. My entire body felt warm and languid, as if I had never been in pain. It was almost ecstatic. If my body had been healthier, I would have gotten an erection right then and there, but perhaps because my physical condition was such a mess, I didn’t. It was a true relief.
And the front… No chest? He’s really cute.
“…Here too.”
“Here?”
“Yes, there too… Ah. It feels good…”
Mikael meticulously rubbed my shoulders, forearms, waist, lower thighs, and the back of my knees exactly where I pointed. Perhaps because his hands were warm, it really felt like the pain was gradually subsiding. Or perhaps my brain was deceiving my body because I enjoyed seeing Mikael’s bright red face so much.
I felt like I was going crazy because I loved how Mikael touched my body without hesitation when I said “here too,” how he hugged me tight when I said “hug me,” and how he listened to my words so well.
Tucked deeply into Mikael’s embrace, I lifted my head. Our eyes met.
Looking at his thirsty expression, my heart fluttered again. Knowing it probably wouldn’t work, I played a little prank. Thinking that if he said no, I’d just smile and bite his hand one more time, I broached the subject.
“Kiss… me, Mika. Just once…”
I really thought it wouldn’t work this time either.
I was easily led by the hand that pulled me deep against the small of my back. I couldn’t even close my eyes, unable to believe our lips were interlocking.
Blinking several times, I watched Mikael grab my startled wrist and wrap it around his neck. Mikael wasn’t closing his eyes either. He stared intently at me and slowly licked over my lips, which had parted in surprise.
My stomach tightened sharply.
What is this? Seriously, what is this? The tip of the tongue pushing into my open mouth was shockingly sweet. My heart beat frantically. My vision flashed white, blue, and rainbow-colored.
Without realizing it, I sucked once, then slipped away in surprise. The moment our tongues entwined, I instinctively pulled on the hair at the back of Mikael’s head.
But Mikael did not pull away.
The hand that had been on the small of my back slowly began to stroke, stroke me. I couldn’t tell if the loud thumping of the heart against our touching chests was mine or Mika’s.
We leaned into each other, bodies pressed together. More, just a little more. I clung desperately and leaned my body into him. Then, Mikael lifted himself up.
I thought it was over already, but it wasn’t. Mikael sat me directly on his thighs. Holy shit, under my buttocks… I felt Mikael’s member. It was swollen hard, unbelievably so, given his period of abstinence.
What, what do I do. My shoulders, my waist, my whole body trembled. Mikael was still looking at me, and I slightly tilted my head. Our lips collided and entwined once again.
I shivered every time a wet friction sound echoed.
We pulled apart for a moment, only to stick together again soon after. I don’t know how many times we did it. It felt like a bit more than five, but less than ten.
My body, constantly rubbing against Mikael’s hard lower abdomen, could not hide its excitement. I truly, absolutely thought it would be impossible given my current physical state, but it wasn’t…
Mikael’s gaze flickered downward.
Crazy, crazy, I must be crazy. I instinctively pushed against Mikael’s chest.
I had imagined my first kiss with Mikael many times, but not like this. I thought he would be more reluctant. I thought I would have to be the one to cling to him first, acting coquettishly, wrapping my arms around his neck and smiling with my eyes to swallow him up as he tried to pull away.
But now, Mikael was holding onto me and wouldn’t let go. Tense and half-out of my mind, I felt ashamed that my aroused state was being exposed.
And Mikael…
Every time I tried to escape, he followed to catch me.
Mikael climbed on top of me. Turning my head, I could see Mikael’s wrist and hand right there. Hot breath touched my ear. The sound of soft breathing, a pleasant scent, and tender kisses landed. It was electrifying. It was so, so good. It was so, so, so good that… I felt like I might die because my heart was beating too fast.
A soft voice tickled my ear.
“…Is once enough?”
“…That.”
Did we just kiss once? Was everything up until now considered “once”?
Are you going to do more? How far? Now? Really?
Even though it was something I had longed for, for some reason, an answer didn’t come easily. My throat tightened. I was scared. The sound of my own panting felt foreign. The outside of my chest felt itchy.
One kiss…? Yes, I couldn’t believe my entire body had become so sensitively on edge from just one.
Mikael, who had been quietly scanning my cheek, slowly lifted his body. As the heat that had pooled between our bodies dissipated slightly, I regained some composure.
My vacant gaze followed Mikael. There he was, perched atop me on his knees, looking at me with heat and longing that burned hot.
My heart throbbed all the way down to my stomach.
I reached out my arms. Mikael allowed himself to be caught. I lifted my waist and leaned in slightly. Mikael held my waist as if supporting me. Our eyes met. I couldn’t smile at all, but Mika was smiling. I kept losing my breath.
“…Ju-just one more time…”
“Just once?”
“…Yes…”
Mikael’s eyes and mouth curved together, sparkling.
Mikael had always been beautiful, but this was the first time he looked so erotic. The red tongue peeking slightly between his white teeth enchanted me. Mikael approached to a distance where our breaths would intertwine and whispered.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
My heart beat too fast. This time, I was the one to pounce first.
Mikael did not reject me. He embraced me, holding me close, and readily offered his tongue. As I bit, licked, rubbed, and sucked, I found myself smiling. Every action was overwhelming and joyful. It was a sensation that eclipsed everything I had imagined.
Yes, I was happy.
* * *
The day Mikael left to break the Seal of the Lake.
From early morning, Ranunculus flowers poured down.
“His Majesty has passed away! You must come to the capital immediately. We cannot reach Princess Lucilla. I am currently at the 45th Outpost…”
“The Emperor is dead! The Emperor!”
“Your Highness, this is Felice Withrow. In preparation for any eventuality, the Withrow Duchy has entered a Wartime System. If you wish to enter, please use the underground passage…”
“Rubel. Get to the capital and settle in as quickly as possible. I’m currently running away with a Divine Object, okay? I won’t tell you where I’m going. But the Capital Protection Magic Circle is…”
The multicolored Ranunculus repeated the same messages several times.
They landed urgently and then rose hurriedly again. Even though I hadn’t infused Mana, every arriving Ranunculus babbled away, saying only what they wanted to say. It was a strange phenomenon that vividly expressed how urgent and frantic the senders’ hearts were.
Beneto? So suddenly?
I had hoped he would drop dead quickly, but the timing was poor. That bastard was never helpful. I hadn’t even seen Biban’s Divine Object yet. I should return to the capital only after I have a way to put the Ninth God to sleep, so that this generation and the next can pass without disaster.
While I was feeling deeply troubled, Mikael returned. With Gano Paquin by his side.
I could tell at a glance. Gano Paquin had the same appearance and the same attire as the statue I had seen in the Temple not long ago. The lean body of a man about half a palm shorter than Mikael and the Divinity flashing around him revealed his identity.
Opinions varied on why Divine Revelations were given so vaguely.
The 14th Pope, Elipehr, said that while God speaks in clear language, it is because human perception is lacking that we cannot fully fathom God’s will. Saint Astion said that just as humans release sheep into a fenced pasture, God gives broad revelations so as not to limit the scope of human action.
And now, I believe in Saintess Lucian. That God is a farmer who sows seeds, and exists to share the joy of harvest with us humans. Be grateful that a joy unknown is foretold. Those words, which I had always considered hollow, touched me deeply.
So this is why the second god, the Sun, specifically told me to find two Divine Objects.
The First Goddess and the God of Records cherished humans more than any other creatures. According to legend, it was those two who distributed the Divine Objects to humans.
When the God of Records shaped the form of the Divine Objects and the Supreme God breathed life into them, the humans who awakened to knowledge bowed their heads in gratitude.
I could easily realize this without having to deliberately recall the passages I had read.
Yulan’s Divine Artifact, which I brought, and Biban’s Divine Object, which I will obtain, will be reborn in the hands of Gano Paquin. Thus, they will be reshaped in a way that I can use.
Without delay, I jumped from the terrace.
The best way to approach the God of Records is the most human way. Maintaining the etiquette of one who audiences a god, I recited the first line of the first page of the Book of Records exactly.
“Thank you for engraving in me a thirst for knowledge. I greet the God of Records and Lakes.”
“You have good manners.”
“Because I have been granted the honor of standing on my own two feet before such a precious person.”
I boldly asked for help. The God of Records is the god for all humans on the continent. Even if he were to be hostile toward me like the other gods, he would never refuse a request made by a single human.
Sure enough, a benevolent smile appeared on the irritable face of the God of Records, Gano Paquin, as he stood before me.
“Yes, what shall I help you with first?”
“Please help me so that I may clear Biban’s Darkness with my own strength.”
I was certain. This was the answer the God of Records wanted.