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“Oh my! Y-you can’t do this!”

I immediately pushed Helga into the next room. It was an unavoidable choice.

“I’m a woman who already has an owner!”

“Of course, you would be.”

“Ding! Wrong. The Count’s line is supposed to be, ‘Kekeke. You’re just playing hard to get when you’re actually expecting it, you lustful married woman.'”

“……”

She’s making that “kekeke” sound.

Helga was enjoying this situation, putting on a childish act, but I had no intention of indulging her.

“Ah, maybe I should’ve been more aloof? Ahem! You shameless woman! How bold of you to do something like this in broad daylight…!”

Who are you to talk?

The one doing bold things in broad daylight was more like Helga.

“What do you plan to do keeping me locked up here? Let me out!”

“You’re the one who shouldn’t be wandering around like that.”

Helga was wearing a bunny girl outfit, though I have no idea where she got it. Her cleavage was fully exposed, and the high-cut leotard left very little to the imagination. Plus, soaked in sweat, Helga was dressed more provocatively than ever.

I sighed and looked around the room. I didn’t remember the purpose of every room in the mansion, but this one seemed to be a guest room. There were faint traces of someone having used it.

I wiped her sweat with a towel from the room.

“Were you wearing this under the mascot suit?”

“Ahaha… I was just trying to match the Count’s taste…”

“My taste?”

“Yes. I got some top-secret information that the Count likes rabbits.”

It was a bizarre answer, but I had an idea where it came from. Earlier, when I was with Bella, we had a conversation about bunny girls and rabbits. Helga, who’s always lurking around me, could’ve easily eavesdropped.

“That’s… quite interesting top-secret information.”

“Hehe… Right? How is it?”

“How is what?”

“Is this rabbit the one the Count was looking for?”

Helga puffed out her chest proudly. It’s true I mentioned bunny girls, so she’s not entirely wrong. But if I admit that, it would mean I have a taste for bunny girls. I should deny it outright.

“No.”

“What?! For the honest Count, I should give both this mascot rabbit and the bunny girl outfit.”

“……I don’t need either.”

“Aw, come on. Be honest. How do I look? Exciting?”

“Yeah. My blood pressure is rising.”

“Hehe… Don’t you want a second one?”

“I don’t even have a first one yet.”

“That’s so obvious I skipped it.”

How many people could win an argument against Helga? Actually, does arguing even have any meaning…?

I handed the towel I was using to wipe her sweat back to her.

“Enough. Wipe your sweat and rest. I have to handle the rest of today’s schedule.”

“Count. Why are you so anxious?”

I stopped in my tracks.

I was asked the same question again.

Anxiety.

For the past year, I’ve been preparing to save this world. But no matter how thorough the preparation, it’s never enough. Especially since I’ve failed multiple times already. With the service launch just around the corner, it’s hard not to feel anxious.

“Did it seem that way to you too?”

“How could it not? I know every move the Count makes.”

“…That’s a bit creepy.”

Well, it’s Helga, after all.

If even Bella and Wendy noticed my anxiety, it would be strange if Helga didn’t. She’s my bodyguard and also my marriage partner. Having supported me for so long, she’s one of the people who knows me best. She probably prepared this little event… to comfort me.

“Count. I don’t know why you’re anxious, but…”

Helga is the kind of woman who would go above and beyond for me.

“Even if the world ends tomorrow, I’ll stay by your side. So, don’t worry and just relax as usual, okay?”

She flashed a dazzling smile, showing her pearly white teeth.

Yeah. You’re that kind of person. No matter how many times I fail, you’ve always stayed by my side, right until the end. Even in the midst of a storm of arrows. Even in the midst of raging flames, you protected me.

But this is a burden I must bear alone.

“It’s just… I’ve been busy lately. You don’t need to worry.”

“Hmm… Are you planning to shoulder it all alone?”

The timing was so perfect, it felt like she read my mind.

“Hehe… You thought I read your mind just now, didn’t you?”

“……”

Getting it right twice in a row is creepy. No matter how well she knows me, reading my thoughts is something else.

“Huhu. Don’t be scared, Count. It’s cute, isn’t it?”

“No. I thought it was creepy.”

“Such high praise. There’s no woman who knows the Count as well as I do, right?”

“That’s not a compliment.”

“If it sounds good to the listener, it’s a compliment.”

Helga smiled brightly and handed me the towel she was holding.

“Here, the Count needs some relaxation.”

“…What?”

“The relaxation of being able to wipe a beauty’s sweat to your heart’s content.”

“…I don’t need that kind of relaxation.”

“Aw, you’re playing hard to get again. You’re happy at the thought of touching my body~.”

“Do I look like I’m happy right now?”

“Um… Yes.”

“Say that while looking at my face.”

“Ahem. I’m looking at the Count with the eyes of my heart, so I don’t need to see with my real eyes.”

“Then give me back my eyes.”

“Sorry, but we don’t offer refunds due to the consumer’s change of heart.”

I wanted to argue that she’s the consumer, but I kept my mouth shut. If I kept talking, I’d probably get dragged into her conversation.

Her shamelessness is truly something to admire.

“Ahem! Anyway, with the eyes of my heart, I can see that the Count needs some rest. As the Count’s right-hand woman, it’s my duty to help the Count relax.”

“How is wiping your body considered relaxation?”

“Hehe… Count. Look at me.”

Helga struck a pose and started dancing with strange hand and foot movements. I blankly watched as she got drenched in sweat again, despite having just wiped it off.

“Hoo… Do you understand now?”

“……A squid?”

“Eek… How does that look like a squid?”

“Um…… Then is it an octopus?”

“No. The correct answer is the ultimate beauty, Helga Wolfbert.”

“I see. Since I said octopus, I guess I got about 80% right.”

“Count… Even I would be hurt if you said that… Anyway… It’s a chance to touch the ultimate beauty Helga Wolfbert’s body as you please. And in a limited-edition bunny girl outfit.”

Helga subtly appealed to me by showing off her body. So, that strange dance earlier was to appeal to her sexiness.

Indeed, Helga’s body was captivating. Her slender limbs were particularly emphasized, and she maintained a slim figure through strict management. Being a member of the Wolfbert family, who are naturally strong, she could maintain this slim figure without being muscular.

No. Let’s put the admiration aside for now…

I thought about it for a moment.

If I shake Helga off and leave now… She’ll probably follow me around in this provocative outfit. That would be troublesome for me.

In the end, I realized it was better to play along with Helga’s antics.

“…I’ll go after I wipe all your sweat.”

“Yay!”

Helga, excited, stuck her butt out at me. The bunny tail wagging was undeniably cute, though I didn’t want to admit it.

“Here, touch me… I mean, wipe me as much as you want.”

“Don’t order me around and stay still.”

“Yep.”

I consciously avoided Helga’s butt and wiped her neck and shoulders with the towel. I thought she moved well in the mascot suit, but she must’ve been sweating a lot. The steam rising from her mascot suit earlier was proof… Plus, the room was a bit warmer due to the heat she was emitting.

“Helga. Do you need water?”

“Ah, then I won’t refuse…”

“?!”

Helga suddenly licked the back of my neck.

“What are you doing now?”

“Huh? I was just drinking water.”

“…Did you just drink my sweat?”

“Hehe… It’s a bit salty.”

“…Drink water. Don’t replenish your fluids with that.”

“Aw. Isn’t that what loving couples do? Drinking each other’s sweat and all?”

“They don’t. Absolutely not.”

“I can drink all of the Count’s sweat, though.”

“That’s because you have a weird fetish.”

As I said that, I silently wiped her body. From her sweat-drenched hair to her damp thighs and the glossy pantyhose. Every part of her was stimulating.

“Hehe… That’s good. Wipe me thoroughly like that. Ah! Even there…!”

“……What do you want me to do? Lift your arms.”

“Ah, that’s a bit embarrassing.”

“Stop talking and lift them.”

Helga, uncharacteristically shy, raised both arms. Her snow-white armpits were revealed.

“Q-quickly wipe me there? It’s a bit…”

“…?”

“Because of the smell…”

I wondered what she was talking about… She must’ve been embarrassed to show her armpits. She usually doesn’t hesitate to show her legs, but she’s shy about this. It’s hard to understand her standards.

“Were you worried about the smell?”

“Huh? Of course not! It doesn’t smell. Absolutely not.”

“I didn’t say it smelled.”

To be precise, it did smell. Being drenched in sweat and staying in a small room, it would be strange if there was no smell. But contrary to Helga’s concern, her body smelled like soap.

I tried not to notice, but unlike a man’s sweat, Helga’s body odor mixed with sweat had a strangely pleasant scent. Is this what pheromones are like?

“Does it… smell?”

“……Not really?”

“Then I’ll wipe that part myself!”

Helga, her face flushed, snatched the towel and started wiping her armpits. Watching her, I muttered.

“…You do know shame?”

“Count! What have you been seeing me as all this time…?”

“……”

“Why aren’t you answering…? Ah, where are you going?”

“I’m going to get a new towel and water. You stay here quietly…”

*Creak*

Suddenly, the door opened.

“Count…?”

“Blanshe?”

Blanshe, who found us, froze on the spot. Did she come after hearing our voices?

“What are you two doing in my room…?”

Was this Blanshe’s room? It was so clean I thought it was empty…

No, more importantly, how am I supposed to explain this situation?

“Blanshe. This is…”

“Helga! Step away from the Count.”

Huh?

Blanshe glared at Helga and shouted.

“What are you trying to do to the Count in such a shameless outfit!”

Truly Blanshe. She figured out Helga was behind this without any explanation.

But the problem was Helga.

“Hehe… You’re too late, Blanshe.”

The shy expression from earlier was gone, replaced by an evil smile.

“The Count is mine now. He’s fallen for my charm and now only listens to me.”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

“Kuk!? Helga! How could you do such a thing…!”

“…?”

Wait, why are you believing that…?

“Because I’m going to have the Count all to myself.”

Without giving me a chance to stop her, Helga hugged me from behind. Then, with the face of a villain who owns the world, she provoked Blanshe.

“Hehe… Try to take him if you can.”

“Whether you take him or not, let go.”

“Do you think I can’t take him?”

“…Are you two even listening to me?”

Blanshe kicked the ground and leaped. With the agility of an assassin, she closed the distance in a single step… and hugged me, embracing my chest.

“Forgive my rudeness, Count.”

“…What?”

Blanshe grabbed my waist and started pulling. Trying to separate me from Helga… But Helga wasn’t going to stand still.

“Who said you could take him!”

Helga slipped her arm under my armpit and pulled. Now, I was stuck between the two women, unable to move.

“Blanshe. Stop and let go…”

“Forgive me!”

*Crunch*

Blanshe shouted with terrifying intensity. Whether she fell for Helga’s provocation or just didn’t want to lose, she didn’t let go. It was unlike her usual calm demeanor.

On one side was Helga with her monstrous strength. On the other was Blanshe, a killing machine with a demon’s heart. If this continued, my body would be torn in two.

I gritted my teeth and spoke through the pain.

“Both of you, calm down and let go. If you don’t…”

That’s when it happened.

*Snap*

A ominous sound came from my waist.

 

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