* * *

I was so aroused that even my lower half seemed to whine.

The hero, drunk on the pleasure I was giving him, was urging me to move to the next step.

It felt like a dream.

The heat in my body grew unbearable.

My tongue felt heavy, as if my excitement had robbed me of my ability to speak.

All I could do was pathetically blush.

“I-I’m sorry…”

How many times did I stammer?

“Your chest is…”

Wait, this wasn’t the time to talk about that!

“Just so…”

But the rational part of my mind, long gone, couldn’t stop the truth from spilling out.

The words I should have kept hidden escaped before I could shut my mouth.

Zerbin smiled faintly.

Huh?

Did I see that right?

Maybe I was out of it and just imagined it?

His lips seemed to curve ever so slightly, but when I blinked, his usual stoic expression was back, as if it had never changed.

Though his cheeks were flushed, giving him a more sultry appearance than usual, his sharp gaze softened considerably under the haze of arousal.

“Is that so.”

What was he responding to?

I’d spouted so much nonsense that I couldn’t tell.

Thankfully, Zerbin, a man of few words, seemed content to let it slide.

“Huh?”

No.

Wait a minute.

“Mm.”

Before I could think further, a large hand pressed the back of my head, pushing my face into his soft chest.

I snapped my head up in surprise.

“I-I’m fine!”

Zerbin stared at me silently.

It was always hard to read his thoughts, but this time, I had a pretty good idea what his gaze was saying: ‘Didn’t you enjoy it?’

Of course, Zerbin’s chest was exactly my type, from its broad size to its firm texture—absolutely perfect.

But this isn’t the time to indulge my desires!

It’s not about doing what I want right now; it’s about following Zerbin’s lead and making sure he feels good.

Yet here I am, caught zoning out over his chest and even being given extra consideration.

Total fail on my part.

That said, the way he seemed so encouraging—like I could just keep going—was oddly reassuring.

He must have enjoyed me touching him enough to give permission.

Thank goodness Zerbin’s chest is sensitive.

As much as I’d like to keep touching him for my own satisfaction, I knew that’d make me forget my role entirely, so I reluctantly held back.

I needed to focus and follow through.

“Why… nngh… why aren’t you putting it in?”

“…”

What?

I’m supposed to… with Zerbin?

With the Hero?

Put it in?

His… back there?

The thought alone left me dizzy.

Zerbin, who’s always so commanding and unyielding, was asking me to take the lead?

Even though we’ve been heading toward this moment for a while, just imagining it left my mind reeling.

To be honest, I’d already been aroused for some time, thanks to Zerbin’s heated responses.

But even so, the idea of satisfying this desire by using… that part of him?

I couldn’t.

I couldn’t just use Zerbin’s body to sate my lust.

That thought completely consumed me.

And yet, Zerbin was looking at me, asking why I hadn’t done it yet.

“Ugh.”

Suddenly, my hands started shaking.

They’d moved so confidently while touching his chest, but now that my rationality was back, I couldn’t help but feel ridiculous.

Still, I couldn’t just stop midway.

I needed to gather myself.

I slowly lowered my trembling hand. His enticing bronze skin, slick with sweat, was warm and slippery to the touch.

Before his regression, Zerbin’s body was smooth and unscarred, a testament to how invincible he’d been.

The scars he bore now told a different story, and they pained me to remember.

If I’d been stronger, maybe I could’ve helped him avoid such injuries this time.

But I’m still not strong enough to stand beside him in battle.

All I can do is try my best to help Zerbin understand love.

Every part of Zerbin’s body felt sculpted, making me feel unworthy of touching him.

As my hand trailed over his sharply defined abs, he exhaled a breath filled with heat.

The pronounced shape of his muscles was mesmerizing, but his slightly indented navel was especially enticing.

I knew I was looking at him far too indecently, but I couldn’t help myself.

My fingers grazed his skin, and when I hooked my finger slightly inside his navel, his body gave a sharp shudder.

“…Uh.”

Every small action I made drew a clear response from him.

This wasn’t the Zerbin I knew—the stoic, unyielding Hero.

If I’d known the body hidden beneath his leather armor was this sensitive, I might’ve tried this sooner.

Once someone experiences pleasure like this, it’s hard to forget.

Although Zerbin isn’t just anyone.

“Aah… nnngh…”

Honestly, he’s far more sensitive than a normal person.

Seriously.

My touches may have been bold, but this was his first time, and I’d never seen anyone react so eagerly.

Zerbin’s eyes creased as if he realized what my gaze meant.

He flinched slightly.

“If you’re going to mock me, go ahead.”

What? No way.

“I already know it’s strange…”

His voice, tinged with a sigh, sounded almost like a lament.

It seemed like Zerbin was well aware of how sensitive he was.

Maybe that’s why he’d stayed a virgin until now.

The greater the adventurer, the more they fear losing control of their own body.

“…Is that why you dislike being touched by others?”

It wasn’t a sexually charged question, just curiosity about his sensitivity.

If he was this responsive, maybe ordinary contact with others felt overwhelming and unpleasant.

That thought sparked something inside me.

If that’s the case, the fact that Zerbin didn’t find my touch unpleasant is… pretty amazing.

Could it be because of the memories we shared before his regression?

Zerbin nodded slowly.

“…”

That’s…

Too hot.

I mean, it doesn’t mean he’s constantly turned on in daily life, but still! If he’s this sensitive, it must make other people’s touch feel even more intense—and unpleasant.

But seriously, a Hero who avoids others’ touch because he’s too sensitive?

Isn’t that in itself ridiculously erotic?

I wanted to apologize for having such thoughts, but voicing them felt like a worse crime, so I held my tongue.

No, this isn’t the time for thoughts like that.

“I didn’t think it was weird at all!”

Right now, I needed to reassure Zerbin, who looked self-conscious.

“If anything, I thought it was sexy and incredibly appealing…”

“…”

Uh… maybe I was too honest.

But what else could I say?

Denying it wouldn’t mean anything when he already knows his body is sensitive.

Honestly, I find it endearing that the always-tough Zerbin becomes so soft and pliant in moments like these.

It makes him feel approachable, less untouchable.

If Zerbin gets more interested in intimacy and starts opening up to people, maybe he’ll make friends faster than I thought!

I was lost in hopeful dreams, but Zerbin’s silence made me nervous.

“Did it bother you that I called you sexy? I just— I was so nervous about whether I could satisfy you, you know?”

Worried, I started rambling my usual apologies.

“But when I saw how much you were enjoying it, I actually felt relieved, and, well… kind of excited too…”

I trailed off, realizing I’d gone too far.

It was a miracle Zerbin hadn’t told me to shut up yet.

His face was still red as he glanced at me before looking away, clearly embarrassed.

Even though I thought it was a compliment, Zerbin seemed ashamed of his body’s sensitivity.

Even if my words didn’t matter to him…

“I understand.”

Whew.

At least he seemed to feel a little better.

Then Zerbin wrapped his legs around my waist.

“Go ahead.”

What?

* * *