Chapter 171 – Enchantment
“……Iris?”
I tentatively called her name again.
With a dazed expression, Iris looked at me, and as if she had just regained her senses, her eyes widened. It seemed she realized what she had just done.
“I-I’m fine… Really.”
“You don’t look fine at all.”
Though she said she was okay, her body told a different story. Her breathing was heavy, her eyes were glazed, and her cheeks were flushed.
It was almost identical to the symptoms Helga displayed when she was under enchantment. So, it was clear what Iris’s condition was like right now.
While I was racking my brain for a solution, Iris, who had been hugging herself and trembling, staggered to her feet. She looked so unstable that it seemed she would collapse or fall at any moment.
I almost went to support her, but then I remembered the moans that had just escaped her earlier, causing me to hesitate for a moment. If that sound came out again, it would be awkward for both of us.
It seemed Iris caught onto my thoughts, and she forced a faint smile.
“I’m really… fine. I was just surprised for a moment.”
“Are you sure?”
Nodding, Iris lightly bobbed her head in response.
In that short time, she had sweated quite a bit, causing her sleeveless top to cling tightly to her body, revealing the skin underneath. The area around her chest had a strange pink hue. I quickly averted my gaze.
“……I’ve confirmed the demon’s appearance. Thank you for your kindness, Delta. We can leave now.”
Despite her wobbling, Iris managed to slightly bow her head toward me. Then, as if her strength drained all at once, she slumped forward.
Her chest, pulled down by its own weight, wobbled momentarily, and the sweat beaded down her collarbone, flowing down between her breasts.
“Let me ask again before we go. Are you really okay?”
I asked, staring intently at Iris. Perhaps feeling guilty, she slightly averted her gaze. She must know better than anyone that her body was not normal.
Besides, just looking at her state was concerning. Her silver eyes were half-lidded, not wanting to look away from me, and the hand gripping her other arm was trembling violently.
Due to the sweat seeping from her body, the already snug sleeveless top clung even tighter, accentuating her skin’s outline. Her dolphin shorts were slightly damp from sweat too.
There was no way she could walk on her own like this; she’d surely collapse after just a few steps.
“……”
After a brief silence, Iris seemed to make a decision and quietly extended one hand.
“Thinking again… I don’t seem to be okay.”
“You should have said so earlier.”
I took her hand. The moment our hands met, her body shuddered slightly. Iris instinctively covered her mouth. Ignoring her reaction, I pulled her in. Her overheating body was obediently drawn to me.
The heat transmitted through our joined palms felt quite warm.
“What do you want to do? Do you want me to support you while you try to walk on your own? Or should I just carry you?”
“……I’m not sure.”
“The fact that you’re saying ‘I’m not sure’ means you can’t walk by yourself. Let’s hurry up. The Battle Nuns can probably perform purification or something.”
I knelt down, turning my back to Iris.
“Get on my back.”
“……Okay. Excuse me.”
Iris staggered and rested her weight on my back. She felt so warm, one might think she had a fever.
Once her weight was fully on me, I could feel the soft touch of flesh around my shoulder blades. I tried hard to ignore that sensation. This was not the time to focus on strange feelings.
I supported Iris’s thighs with my hands. The slightly damp skin clung to my palm. It was a remarkably soft sensation, but I ignored it again.
I straightened up.
“Ugh…!”
Right next to my ear came a sweet little moan. That was because Iris’s head was resting on my shoulder.
Iris wrapped one arm around my neck and held onto my arm with the other. It was more like she was lightly holding it rather than gripping it tightly; it felt as if she wasn’t using much strength at all.
“Delta, your body… it’s so cold. That feels nice. Very much so.”
Iris whispered into my ear, pressing closer against me.
“It’s not that I’m cold; it seems like your body is hot.”
“I’m perfectly fine, Delta.”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s just go with that. You’re totally fine, Iris.”
Just a moment ago, you said you weren’t fine yourself.
Saying anything to a sick person would yield no benefits, so I just went along with her while moving my feet. Perhaps that reaction of mine annoyed her; her lips came closer to my ear again.
“Really, Delta.”
“I know. You’re perfectly fine right now.”
If it had stopped there, it would’ve been lucky, but regrettably, Iris did not stop.
Suddenly, Iris started rubbing between her legs against my back. There was no need to explain what that meant.
“……”
Can you please not rub your… against my back? I couldn’t voice my request, so I tightened my grip on her thigh instead.
However, I had no idea how she interpreted that. It only caused her movements to grow more vigorous. I desperately tried to ignore the soft sensations insinuating through my clothes as I pushed open the door.
“What’s going on?!”
As the door swung open, the Battle Nuns, who had been anxiously waiting in front of the holy barrier, rushed in with surprised faces. I pointed at Iris, who was diligently moving up and down.
“I don’t know either. She seems to have been attacked by a demon. Can you take a look?”
“Of course, that’s what we should do. Please lay her down here.”
At my words about her seemingly being attacked by a demon, the Battle Nuns near the temple swarmed around us. One of them knelt on the ground and patted her thighs.
That was a signal to lay her there. As I cautiously laid Iris down, the Battle Nuns took hold of one of her arms each.
The nun who had knelt down supported Iris’s head with her bosom. Iris’s head, nestled in the warm flesh, pushed aside the soft cushions. A side of her breast peeked out from between her armpits.
Iris’s eyes remained fixed on me. In that brief moment, perhaps the effects of the enchantment grew stronger, as her gaze toward me became even more desperate.
The Battle Nuns exchanged glances. Soon, the one farthest away dashed off somewhere, likely to call Stella.
“Forgive me, distinguished guest.”
The Battle Nun who approached me first stood firm in front of Iris.
“…What are you trying to do?”
“I apologize for saying this, but if what you said is true, we must verify her purity.”
To verify purity meant they intended to judge for heresy.
I took a step back. No matter who I was, I couldn’t block a heresy judgement from the Holy Kingdom, and I had faith that Iris would be okay.
If it was simply a minor enchantment, her soul would still be untainted. Helga served as a precedent. No, the entire city could be considered a precedent.
So, Iris should be fine too.
“Please look me in the eye.”
At those words, Iris’s gaze slowly moved to the Battle Nun standing in front of her. The nun confirmed Iris’s silver pupils were on her and reached for her top.
With no hesitation, her right hand seized the triangular cloth.
‘Ah, wait a minute.’
I had forgotten in my moment of shock, so before I could even turn away from what I saw.
ㅡslip.
The breast covering was pushed up.
The sight hidden by clothing abruptly assaulted my vision.
Perhaps resembling Stella, it was a pair of voluminous breasts that one hand couldn’t even grasp half of, and every bit of it including the pink peak atop that massive hill.
Even though Iris was watching, the Battle Nun, upon realizing her clothes were uncovered, casually adjusted her garment. I finally regained my senses, but the situation had already spiraled out of control.
While I stood there frozen, the nun, finishing her adjustments, spoke flatly.
“It’s done, distinguished guest. Her soul remains pure.”
“Oh… that’s a relief.”
I stammered in response. I never expected to witness such a sight again.
“So… can we proceed?”
“It seems likely. Before you deal with that filthy demon, was her condition similar to those seen in the people here?”
“I think so. It began right after confirming the Behemoth’s corpse.”
“In that case, I will cast a purification spell.”
The nun pulled out a sacred catalyst from her waist. Kneeling quietly, she clasped her hands in prayer before her chest, beginning her incantation. A soft sunlight radiated from around the nun.
As Iris was enveloped in the sunlight, her breathing became somewhat easier. It seemed effective.
“Distinguished guest!”
Stella soon arrived at this place at an astonishing speed.
“I heard someone was in contact with a demon—”
“We just performed a heresy judgement, and it’s been confirmed that her soul is not corrupted. She didn’t come into direct contact with the demon; she merely looked at it.”
As I calmly summarized the situation, Stella’s expression brightened a little.
“That’s a relief. What exactly happened? I got the gist of it, but only briefly.”
I explained what had just occurred.
At the Empress’s request, Iris and I had gone in to check on the Behemoth’s corpse, and it all happened when we lifted the veil to see its face.
Stella listened intently from start to finish, now with a significantly relieved expression as she looked at Iris, who was resting her head against the nun’s bosom.
“Step aside.”
“Yes, Inquisitor.”
Stella pushed aside the Battle Nun praying in front of Iris and clasped her hands. A much stronger beam of sunlight burst forth.
As the glowing sunlight wrapped around Iris, her breathing stabilized almost instantly. The haze clouding her eyes disappeared, and her reddened cheeks returned to their original color.
With her normal state restored in an instant, Iris sat up and looked at her body with a bewildered expression. Then her gaze met mine, her silver pupils spinning.
“Um…?”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to make excuses. Just rest easy.”
I interrupted Iris, who looked as if she was about to stammer out a justification. Truth is, there was no reason for any excuse at all. It had all been caused by the demon.
Instead, I exchanged glances with Stella to invite her into the building for a moment. Stella understood my gesture and followed me inside.
Gazing down at the Behemoth’s corpse, I spoke up.
“I assumed a corpse couldn’t spread curses.”
“I thought so too. This has never happened before, so I’m unsure of what to make of it.”
“Also, the effect was distinctly stronger than when it was alive.”
“Stronger than when the demon was alive?”
“Yes. Without a doubt.”
I realized the enchantment effect on Iris was evidently stronger than it had been with Helga, as she had exhibited the same behavior with me. This was a fact I had discerned.
Of course, I still had no idea why the effects of the enchantment had transformed into something so lustful.
“Hmm… I’m not entirely sure, but I have a guess.”
After a moment of contemplation, Stella provided a rather optimistic answer.
“What is it?”
Stella opened her mouth cautiously.
