The Goddess Is Obsessed With Me

In the quiet temple, an atmosphere of stillness prevailed; a silent space where, even if there were any signs of life, there was no sound.

Certainly, a pair of man and woman were present, but there wasn’t a single word exchanged between them. The silence persisted, making it familiar until neither of them opened their mouths for a long time. Although the sunset wasn't near, as the afternoon progressed, the chirping of birds had vanished beneath the waning sun. As a result, the place had become utterly silent.

The incident that just occurred was a major debacle, so both Eleona and I had been silent, just looking in opposite directions since then. It felt like a vacuum, with no sound at all; only her warm presence was felt as our backs faced each other.

Suddenly, I felt heat rising to my face even though I wasn’t looking directly at Eleona. Cautiously peeking over my shoulder, although I couldn’t see her expression, her cheeks seemed unusually flushed. Probably, I looked the same as Eleona right now...

The reason for the current awkwardness wasn’t complex. It was due to what happened just a moment ago, when Eleona asked me to hold her...

"Please hold me, pay for the wickedness that made the gods weep, and grant rest to my anxiety-filled heart..."

At that time, Eleona, who knew I had almost died, pleaded with tears in her eyes. Her moist eyes and the face that showed genuine concern and longing made me feel unfamiliar and strange emotions. The sensation was irresistible, and seeing her call my name with a soft voice made me feel love.

Without a second thought, I gently stroked her cheek and kissed her.

"What...?"

As our lips lightly parted, Eleona, with a surprised voice, widened her eyes and exclaimed, "What the...?!" She then screamed softly. She seemed to want to say something but was repeatedly opening and closing her mouth without speaking. Seeing her cute reaction made the unfamiliar emotion rise even more.

"Harold...?" She asked, her voice showing a mixture of surprise and joy.

"Would it be okay if I dared to satisfy your wishes, my goddess?" I said, attempting to set a sweet tone.

Hearing my words, Eleona, still with wide eyes, soon realized the situation and responded with a joyful smile, "You're being rash, my knight."

"I've always wanted only you," she continued, wiping away her tears.

"I love you... My knight, I'm so happy to reaffirm our hearts again!"

She caressed my hair with a brighter voice and a smile filled with joy. "I, too, long for you."

Our lips met again, this time deeper and sweeter, an ecstasy I had never experienced before.

"Phew..."

When our lips finally separated, a thin thread of saliva connected them. The sensation of her rough breath touching my neck tickled me, and I tightly embraced Eleona's delicate body.

"I'm happy..."

Before I completely lost my reason, I heard Eleona's voice filled with emotion.

"Me too..."

Whispering in her ear in response to her words, my inner sense of reason ceased to exist.

"You are my eternal and only knight."

With Eleona's confident voice as the last thing I heard, our shadows merged into one for a long time. Returning to the present moment, the situation I just described was the reason for the awkward atmosphere between Eleona and me.

At the same time, memories from the past naturally came to mind. This wasn't the first time Eleona and I had been intimate; in the past, we had both shared our first time with each other. However, back then, unlike this time, Eleona was more assertive, using every word to imprint the fact that I was hers. But now, unlike the first time, she said nothing and seemed to avoid my presence by looking away.

The only reason for this change in behavior could be the atmosphere. Even though the result was the same, the mood felt different from the first time, leading me to speculate that it might be the reason for her current behavior. The first time we became intimate, it wasn't out of my genuine desire but rather due to uncontrollable emotions. It was more of a forced situation than a genuine connection, and Eleona was well aware of this, which might be why she tried to distort reality with her words.

But now?

On my own, I whispered love to Eleona. Without any external influence, I embraced her with my pure and genuine feelings. It wasn't a false sentiment created by some drug but a raw, honest emotion that pursued thrilling pleasure. Perhaps it was only natural for Eleona to react the way she did.

She might have always wanted a sincere relationship like this with me, but I kept refusing, so she might have given up on that hope. However, when such a dreamlike event happened unexpectedly, even if it was the truth she desired, she might not have imagined it would become a reality. She seemed unable to accept the reality and was lost in her thoughts. But the prolonged silence wasn't just because she couldn't accept reality. The sudden and genuine connection with the person she had longed for might have made her feel embarrassed and overwhelmed.

No matter how you look at it, this silence had lasted for too long...

Even though I genuinely whispered my love to Eleona, the overwhelming regret and embarrassment made me hesitant. But since I started this, I had to finish it. "Excuse me-" Gathering my courage, I turned to look at her, and...

"My goddess!"

"Harold!"

In perfect timing, she also seemed to have something to say and looked back at me.

"Ah..."

"Um..."

Our eyes met again after avoiding each other for a while, and the heat rose to our faces once more.

"Why did you call me?!"

"Why did you call me?!"

We both spoke at the same time, showing consideration for each other. Really, what should I do? Should I just wait for Eleona to speak first? But she seemed to be thinking the same thing, as the silence continued. Okay, I'll start.

Taking a deep breath and preparing to turn around again, I suddenly felt a warm embrace from behind. This sensation... Eleona was hugging me from behind.

Was she going to speak first after all?

Listening carefully, she whispered, "To be honest, Harold, right now, I'm a bit taken aback. I can't believe that we truly connected with sincere hearts." She laughed softly in her usual gentle tone.

"But that's why I'm so happy. Knowing that we can truly love each other makes me so happy that I forget all the past pain."

Her embrace tightened, but it was gentle. "Thank you, my one and only knight. Thanks to you, I'm happier than ever."

With those words, I stayed in her embrace for a while, feeling her warmth. But why? Normally, I would have felt suffocated and annoyed. But today, I longed for her embrace. After genuinely connecting with Eleona, the next day, as usual, I left the inn dressed in my regular attire, ready to walk my predetermined path. After having a simple breakfast provided by the inn, I step out of the building and stride purposefully down the bustling street.

"Having finally completed the sub-quest, I wonder if it's time to get back to the main quest?"

After a prolonged embrace with Eleona yesterday, I mustered the courage to speak up, restoring the atmosphere we once had. Just like before, Eleona dotes on me, showering me with endless favors, and I feel burdened by her attitude. But the difference now is the newfound familiarity and closeness; her presence now feels more comfortable.

"If I head to the guild hall, will Erina be waiting for me, ready to embark on another journey?"

After overcoming all the trials of yesterday's sub-quest, I was once again able to progress the story with Erina.

"I feel unusually refreshed today."

Thinking that my disrupted routine is finally back on track, I can't help but smile with pride. However, there was one thing in this seemingly perfect situation that made me uneasy...

"Ugh!!"

A sharp pain echoed in my heart. During the final trial yesterday, I stepped forward to shield Miru from a blade thrown by a fanatic, and a dagger pierced my heart. Thankfully, I managed to survive, but I suffer from a recurring, intense pain, possibly a side effect. While the pain was more bearable compared to the first and second times, the frequency increased, keeping me awake last night. Another unsettling sensation was the unpleasant feeling of darkness writhing within, making me nauseous.

"Why is this happening to me? How long will this torment last?"

A troubling thought crossed my mind: what if this lasts for the rest of my life? I sincerely hope that's not the case. Since I had no clues about this pain, I would need to investigate what's happening to me and how to address it. The most straightforward yet potentially effective method might be to visit a library or a place filled with knowledge and gather information indiscriminately. However, it's hard to estimate how long it would take, and there's no guarantee I'll find the answers I seek, making me sigh in exasperation.

"I really have to figure this out..."

Lost in thought while walking, I suddenly heard...

"Isn't that Harold?"

Recognizing the familiar voice, I turned around to see...

"What a coincidence."

Mir, the Dragon that Consumes Darkness.

It was our first reunion since she gave me advice at the temple of Morione.

"Mir? It's unexpected to see you here."

Every time I met her, it was always out of the blue. We would unexpectedly run into each other, and something ominous always seemed to happen. Looking back, our meetings always felt strangely orchestrated.

Anyway, back to the main point.

"Why are you wandering these streets? After our time at Morione's temple, you disappeared. What happened?"

I smiled, asking about her recent events as if catching up with an old friend.

"Well... I had some preparations to make."

Mir responded with a cheerful face, but then...

"Huh?"

She raised an eyebrow and looked at me with a probing expression.

"Why... Why are you looking at me like that?"

Her intense gaze made me feel a bit uncomfortable.

Mir continued to stare at me silently, then, as if realizing something, her eyes widened.

"Harold, by any chance... have you been cursed?"

Hearing the word "curse," I vaguely felt she might be referring to the unsettling pain that's been tormenting me since being struck by that ominous dagger.

"Recently, I was on a quest to apprehend some heretics, and during that, a knife got lodged in my heart."

I tried to summarize the situation as best as I could for her to understand.

"Fortunately, I didn't lose my life... but since then, I've been feeling this stabbing pain in my heart..."

Upon hearing this, Mir clenched her jaw, lost in thought for a moment, then looked at me with a grave expression. "It's likely a curse, a product of forbidden magic typical of heretics."

It's no wonder she's called Mir, the Dragon that Consumes Darkness; she demonstrates sharp knowledge in such matters. Meeting an expert by chance provides me with unexpected relief.

"Then, is it possible to lift this curse? This has been troubling me since yesterday..."

In response to my question, she nods lightly, her eyes sparkling with promise.

"Of course, it's possible. I am a dragon that consumes darkness, so adding one more layer of darkness to the many I've dealt with is no big deal."

Her reassuring words made me smile with relief, thinking I could finally escape this torment.

However, that joy was short-lived...

"There's one condition, though."

She conjured the ominous dagger from thin air, smirking mischievously as she caressed it.

"You have to sever the oath you've made with the goddess you serve and entrust everything to me."

The atmosphere, which had been flowing in a positive direction, suddenly turned cold with Mir's pronouncement, akin to a death sentence.