Vol 3 Chapter 32 – Good Morning! Master!♪【Vol 3: Torte the Dog-Eared Girl Ar】

The next morning.

I arrived at the clinic attached to the church.

My body felt heavy, like I was carrying lead. My lower back ached, and my legs were shaky. If I looked in a mirror, I’d probably have dark circles under my eyes.

(This is totally exhaustion from sex…)

I didn’t remember how many times we did it yesterday. Actually, I had no memory past a certain point…

Did I pass out after Eclair squeezed me dry, or did I just collapse from exhaustion? Either way, when I came to, it was morning.

Sex with Eclair felt amazing, of course, and being desperately desired by such an incredibly beautiful girl had to be a blessing—but even so, this much in a row was too much for my body to handle.

“E-Excuse me…”

When I opened the clinic door, a monk healer in white robes looked at me sleepily. With practiced movements, he took my hand and examined my mana flow.

“Hmm, your mana’s pretty depleted, isn’t it?”

“Ah, I thought so…”

“What’d you do to get this exhausted? Fight monsters all night?”

“Ah… Well, something like that…”

I answered with a dry laugh. Sorry, Eclair…

The monk healer looked at me with a question mark on his face as he retrieved a pale blue vial from the shelf.

“Here, this. Holy Elixir of Vitality. Drink it and make sure you rest properly. I don’t know what you did, but don’t overdo it just because you’re young.”

“Thanks…”

That warning really hit home…

I accepted the vial, bowed my head lightly, and left the clinic. I walked down the slightly cold stone corridor toward the exit.

That’s when a familiar figure caught my eye.

(…Huh? Milfy-san and Eclair?)

The two of them were walking side by side, not noticing me. What were they doing here?

I hesitated about calling out to them, but I sensed some kind of tense atmosphere from their backs and stopped in my tracks.

They entered a patient room.

(Visiting someone… maybe?)

Curious, I quietly followed them. The room had no door, so I could see inside clearly.

Milfy-san and Eclair stood beside a bed. Someone was lying quietly on that bed.

(Could it be… the other beastkin companion they mentioned yesterday?)

Hidden behind them, I couldn’t see the face of the person sleeping. But I could see the sheets rising and falling gently around the chest area.

I could hear their conversation faintly.

“Her complexion looks good. I’m relieved.”

“But, Mil-sis… the spell’s effect will wear off soon.”

“I know. We need to do something about it.”

“Hey, maybe I should go last and let her go first…”

“We agreed not to do that. Focus on yourself first. For Theo-kun’s sake too.”

“But…”

(…Did they just say my name?)

I wanted to hear more clearly—just as I leaned forward, the two of them turned around simultaneously.

(Whoa!)

I hurriedly hid around the corner of the corridor. Holding my breath, I heard them leave the room shortly after.

After confirming their footsteps had faded, I peeked out carefully.

“…Phew.”

That scared me… Apparently, they didn’t notice me.

Inside the patient room, Milfy-san’s companion lay quietly on the bed.

I hesitated a bit—but ended up stepping inside anyway. I felt like I was doing something wrong, but I was too curious.

If this person was also under the arousal curse, Milfy-san probably intended to ask me to break it.

(Then… it should be okay to at least get a look at who they are, right?)

Making that excuse to myself, I approached the bed.

There—a girl sleeping peacefully.

I could tell at a glance she was younger than me.

A round, youthful face. A small, cute nose and lips. Short milk-tea-colored hair spread softly across the pillow. Her body was small and delicate, even visible through the sheets covering her.

“Ah…”

A sound escaped my lips. Because I spotted brown beast-ears peeking out from her head. Their droopy shape against the pillow was just like the puppy the neighbor’s family kept back in my village.

“A dog beastkin…”

Just as I muttered that—

Sniff, sniff.

The supposedly sleeping girl twitched her little nose.

“Eh…?”

Right before my astonished eyes, her dog ears perked up.

“Mm… nya…”

Her lovely petal-like lips moved. And then—her eyelids slowly opened.

What appeared were emerald green eyes. They sparkled like jewels reflecting light.

“…Nn…? Huh?”

The girl sat up, staring at me with hazy eyes.

“Ah… um…”

This was bad. From her perspective, she woke up to find a strange man standing by her pillow. She’d be justified in screaming.

After several seconds of silence—

Her face suddenly lit up brightly.

“Good morning! Master!♪”

“Eh?”

The girl leaped energetically from the bed and threw herself at my chest.

“Wh-whoa?”

The softness of her body pressed against my chest, and my mind went blank.

“Wh-what are you doing?”

“Because Master is Torte’s master!♪ I’m so happy, I had to give you a hug. Hug!♪”

The dog-eared girl said this with an innocent smile, then buried her face in my chest and nuzzled against me. Her fluffy dog tail extending from her rear wagged vigorously. She was just like a puppy who’d been waiting for a reunion.

(Wh-what’s going on? Master?)

While my head was spinning in confusion—

“Theo-kun?”

“Theo! What are you doing here?!”

Panicked voices came from the room entrance. Without me noticing, Milfy-san and Eclair had returned.

“U-um, well, you see…”

I stammered incoherently. Beside me, the dog-eared girl looked at them and her eyes sparkled.

“Mil-sis! El-sis!”

“Torte! You’re awake?”

“Yep! And look, when I woke up, Master was here! Ehehe!♪”

She hugged me tightly again.

“This is troublesome…”