HH Chapter 41

“He became sickly overnight.”

“That’s why I said I was sick.”

I was embarrassed by the nasally sound of my stuffy nose. Lena looked like he wanted to eat me alive, but he didn’t hit me again.

“You’re being so dramatic over a little push. I didn’t even hit you… Wait, where are you going?”

Lena blocked me with his body as I tried to step off the bed and asked.

“Outside.”

“Why outside?”

“……A walk?”

I mumbled that I was going for a night walk.

‘Come on, I have a quest to do.’

I hadn’t gone out at night recently, so I needed to check if that ghost was still waiting in front of my room, ready to kill me.

“A walk? What walk? Are you trying to collapse again?”

Again? 

I recalled the incident a few days ago when I lost consciousness in the library. I vaguely assumed the system had moved me, but Lena was there in front of me at that time. He was the only one who saw me collapse.

“Did you move me that time, Lena?”

“You owe me one.”

Oh my, I felt a bit grateful towards him.

“Anyway, rest today and do it tomorrow.”

Lena pushed me back down onto the bed as I tried to get up.

Let go of me. I struggled and tried to get up a few more times, but Lena was surprisingly strong. When he held my shoulders down, pinning me firmly to the bed, it was hard to break free.

‘Ah, I give up.’

Whatever. I’ll do it tomorrow.

In less than a minute, I gave up on leaving the room. After struggling for a bit, I really did lose all my strength. I also felt that if I went outside in this current condition, I might actually collapse.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

“You’re just going to sneak out if I leave.”

So I won’t go. He leaned back in his chair and sat down again.

“How is it?”

He wiggled his feet, wearing the slippers I had given him. They were just slippers, so there wasn’t much to say about whether they suited him or not, but I politely clapped, saying I had chosen the color well.

“What’s this? You haven’t opened it yet?”

Lena picked up the box I had carefully placed on the desk.

The package from Odin. I involuntarily let out a gasp.

Odin’s letter barely mentioned my first report, instead rambling on about business matters.

「Mei’s Magic Shop sent some items. They seem to be experiencing difficulties with the technical aspects of production.
For your information, we are also having trouble deciphering your magic circle formula, so it’s difficult for us to offer advice. I’ve enclosed her letter, so please read it and send a reply, and I’ll pass it on.
P.S. I received your report.」

「Chahyun, how are you? It’s Mei. I’m so glad we can communicate like this! Please understand that I’m getting straight to the point because I’m in a hurry.
Regarding the magic circle formula you drew for me, I seem to have misplaced a few pages… The craftsman said he made it according to the blueprint, but the functions are all missing.
I wish I could have solved it on my own, but deciphering your magic circles is incredibly difficult! I asked around for advice, but no one could figure out what was wrong.
Anyway, it’s not working as we discussed before! I can’t release it like this with the Ogre series name on the line!
I’m sending you the prototype without finishing the metalwork, so could you take a look and tell me what’s wrong?」

The red box would contain the unfinished Ogre No. 3. With people around me all day, I couldn’t open the package in front of them.

“Open it.”

Lena tossed the box onto my lap.

‘Well, it should be… okay, right?’

I thought for a moment and nodded. The reason I was trying to secretly open the package away from prying eyes was because of its contents. What would they think of me if a monster’s genitals suddenly popped out of the box?

But the one in front of me now was Lena.

He wasn’t human, and he was a shameless ghost whose hobby was reading erotic novels.

‘It’s not like I’m going to use it myself; I just want to see what’s wrong with its function.’

I’m different from Lena. Meaning, I’m not a pervert… Rationalizing it like that, I pulled the ribbon off the box.

‘Holy crap.’

Lena and I became speechless at almost the same time. I simply marveled at the giant gray prosthetic penis that emerged from the box. This was even bigger than No. 2. Mei must have been really determined to make a fortune.

“……Is that yours?”

“Huh?”

“…….”

Lena, narrowing his eyes, subtly moved his chair back.

What… was this now? 

Sensing the distance growing between us, my eyes widened.

“It’s not mine!”

“But the package was addressed to you… Never mind…”

“Excuse me?”

“Let’s just drop it. …I apologize for seeing your personal belongings.”

“No, it’s not like that!”

Frustrated, I jumped to my feet. This crazy ghost, who was judging whom? I felt like I had dropped a dildo in front of someone reading porn on the subway.

It was understandable that he’d misunderstood, but it wasn’t like that. It really wasn’t like that. I felt a lump in my throat.

“I’m a technical advisor! It’s not what you think, it’s just for the magic tool business. I’m the one who breathes life into ordinary tools…”

Lena, taking the object out of the box, fiddled with the unfinished lower part. And of all times, while I was saying such things, the prosthetic penis suddenly started vibrating.

Bzzzzzzzzzz…

“…….”

“…….”

The distance between us increased by a light-year as it wriggled like a living thing.

“Breathing life into a monster’s cock… I get it.”

That’s not a face that understands at all!

I started rambling, explaining that this prosthetic penis was No.3 of the Ogre series, riding on the popularity of <My Boyfriend is an Ogre>, and that No.3 was functionally and aesthetically enhanced compared to the previous series… but I stopped, feeling like I was making myself look even weirder.

“I didn’t think you’d be interested in such things. …Beast. Men are all the same.”

“You’re a man too.”

“I’m different.”

“Anyway, that’s not something I should be hearing from you!”

I retorted indignantly, calling Lena as a shameless pervert who reads erotic novels in front of people, but Lena ignored me with an indifferent expression.

“How do you turn this off?”

“Give it to me.”

I turned off the wriggling dildo in Lena’s hand and put it back in the box. But I must have touched something wrong, because the dildo started buzzing again inside the box.

“…….”

“…….”

Unable to bear the awkward atmosphere, Lena got up from his chair.

“I’ll be going, so rest.”

The door closed.

“…….”

Ugh, why do I have to hear such things from him! Ugh, ugh! 

I buried my face in the pillow and screamed internally before falling asleep.

─── ⋆⋅☼⋅⋆ ───

I had a feeling I’d be treated like a patient for a while.

Not only Haylan, who came running to my side as soon as morning came, but everyone was treating me like fragile glass.

Moreover, I encountered an unfamiliar face in the morning. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a priest brought from outside the mansion. They had even brought in a stranger because of me.

‘Why?’

The priest carefully examined me, then said,

“There doesn’t seem to be any internal injuries. However, judging by the color of your fingertips, there are signs of mild poisoning. For your information, monster poison is incompatible with divine magic, so it needs to be treated with medicine…”

“I know.”

“Aha, since you already know, that makes things easier! Preparing the antidote will take some time, maybe a week…? But you probably won’t need the medicine by then. You’ll be better in three days.”

As proof, you’re in better condition today than yesterday, right? 

At the priest’s words, everyone nodded vigorously.

That’s why I said I was fine. They barely listened to me. So they didn’t believe me…

He also told me a few precautions I should take. First, avoid food that is too cold or greasy, and refrain from strenuous activity.

“You might experience bleeding or nausea, but there’s no need to worry too much about that. Rather, what you should be careful of is…”

He lowered his voice slightly and whispered to me,

“Are you aware that that monster is used as an ingredient for aphrodisiacs?”

“……Aphrodisiacs?”

“Yes. It’s rare, but there are cases where people experience excessive sexual arousal. It’s a natural phenomenon, so don’t be too alarmed. In such cases, it’s best to relieve the urge through masturbation. Preferably until you no longer feel the urge. It will help flush out the toxins and speed up your recovery.”

“…….”

I was rather impressed by the priest, who spoke of such things with a straight face and a holy expression.

“Did you say you used healing magic on yourself?”

“Ah, yes.”

“I see… I don’t see any traces of healing magic, but you’ve recovered remarkably well! You’re very skilled. Excuse me, but which temple are you from?”

His tone suddenly changed. The priest, who had been examining my body, suddenly asked with sparkling eyes.