Chapter 210: Massage.
[For many different reasons, you all decide to continue on your way.]
[Partly because your funds are extremely limited, partly because you don't want to be overtaken by others, so it's better to set out early to reach the next town and find that Divine Servant without a Master.]
[So you buy a simple camping kit and depart.]
[...]
[As time passes, the night grows deeper, and a bright moon slowly rises from the horizon.]
[You have been walking for about five hours. When the condition of the road starts to worsen, and you begin worrying about your teammates' stamina, you decide to stop and set up camp to rest.]
[You make a fire, pitch the tents, and prepare yourselves for tomorrow's journey.]
...
"Everyone worked really hard today, tonight please rest well."
Remembering the knowledge from his outdoor classes, Eikou picked up a few pieces of firewood and tossed them onto the campfire, the warm light immediately enveloping the small campsite.
"It wasn't hard at all, Master,"
Anna simply replied calmly, "compared to the pranks my sisters pull, this is nothing."
Eikou silently thought: just what exactly do you usually go through, are your two Goddess sisters a bit too fond of bullying you…
"Haa—"
Even so, this quiet purple-haired girl still unconsciously let out a tired yawn.
"!!!"
Realizing that Eikou and Artoria were both looking at her, her youthful, beautiful face instantly turned red. She hurriedly lowered the brim of her hood and mumbled a small explanation.
"It's just… I suddenly felt a bit sleepy, but I'm really fine."
"Is that so, I see."
Eikou only nodded slightly as if pondering something.
He didn't even need to use instinct to feel it — rather than saying Anna was in such good condition that she could keep going, it was more accurate to say she was simply very good at enduring.
Beneath that small hood was a girl both serious and hardworking, never complaining, careful in everything she did — being this obedient and diligent made one feel a bit pained for her.
"Hm..."
He kept thinking like that for quite a while, as if hesitating about something, then finally opened his mouth to speak:
"Well, Anna, if you don't mind…"
"What is it, Master?"
Anna tilted her head adorably.
"Um…"
Eikou touched his face, abg gathering all his courage to take the initiative.
"I actually have the skill [Human Anatomy Research], I can give you a massage — not only can it melt away today's fatigue, it can also help you rest better. Do you want to try it?"
Normally, he would never proactively offer this kind of service to a woman he had just met on the first day.
Massage means creating very close physical contact with the other person.
With his thin skin and conservative values, even if he had one hundred percent pure intentions to help, he could still easily be misunderstood as having ulterior motives — truly an act that was effortful yet unappreciated.
But Anna seemed like a very serious and well-behaved girl, so Eikou wanted to help her as much as he could.
"There's no need, don't trouble yourself…"
Hearing this suggestion, Anna first froze slightly, then shook her head, immediately refusing.
As he expected — rejected after all!
And her body even angled toward the tent, as if she only wanted to get away from Eikou, not wanting to speak another word. Did she already dislike him?
Makes sense — with Anna's introverted personality, how could she possibly agree to let a man she met only today give her a massage? She probably thought he had other intentions.
"Well then, Anna,"
Eikou nodded.
"Since I'm shy, I'll only say this once… though as a goddess your true age may not be small, to me you're still like a cute little sister to take care of. Because you're a good girl, Anna, no matter what happens, you can feel free to cling to me or show your temper. Umu, something like that."
"Um…"
Under the cat-eared hood, he saw the purple-haired girl lightly press her pink lips together, her adorable face showing a hint of hesitation.
[While expressing your feelings, it seems you hit a few keywords.]
[Medusa Lily's affection for you has increased.]
After a while like that, she slowly turned around, facing Eikou.
"Alright, Master, since you've said it to this extent then..."
Her voice, which was always calm, suddenly revealed a hint of shyness.
"Then I'll trouble you to take care of me a little."
After saying that, Anna carefully lifted her hood, her long, smooth purple hair falling down like a waterfall.
What met his eyes was her small, adorable face, soft and lively like a cat; her gentle purple eyes carrying a nervous look toward him.
"Since this is the first time, please be gentle with me, Master."
"Um, okay… alright..."
Eikou originally intended to correct her slightly strange way of speaking, but on second thought, correcting it might make the atmosphere even weirder?
"Then follow me into the tent."
He said.
"Umu, I'll listen to you..."
Anna just shyly nodded lightly, her slender hands unconsciously tugging at the hem of her clothes, her appearance extremely obedient.
Why do we have to be embarrassed like this, why does it feel strangely like the two of them are about to… go into a room to do something improper?!
It was only a suggestion for a massage, but maybe this really was a bad idea! It could easily be misunderstood in all kinds of ways!
But things had come this far, Eikou no longer had any way to retreat!
"..."
In both their minds, strange thoughts seemed to appear simultaneously, their faces reddening at the same time, then they crawled into the tent one after another.
This tent wasn't big, but for a slender girl like Anna, it was more than enough.
"In short… take off your coat and lie down first..."
Eikou coughed lightly once and said.
"Umu, okay… okay..."
She pressed her lips together and nodded, hesitating for a few seconds, but still obediently taking off her black hooded cloak and folding it neatly to the side.
Under the warm orange firelight, Eikou could see her slender, beautiful figure. Her small body was wrapped in a tight black bodysuit, matched with white over-the-knee socks; her chest slightly protruding, her soft curves carrying the youthful tenderness characteristic of a young maiden.
Seeing her real face after she removed her hood, along with the beautiful contours hidden under her clothing, Eikou finally understood why she was a Greek goddess.
Anna took a deep breath, as if trying to push the tension in her chest outward.
She lay properly in the tent, gently brushing her long purple hair to one side, revealing the beautifully sculpted curve of her back.
"... You can start now, Master."
...