Chapter 207: An Explosion of Emotions
In the dead of night, a weary voice drifted from within the tent.
“…I can’t sleep.”
Having swiftly finished bathing after the women, Rest returned to the task of supplying Magical Power to the Barrier. He poured his energy into the Magic Circle etched into the ground, and as the night deepened, he sought rest beneath the tent stretched over it. Today had been a whirlwind of events, leaving him utterly exhausted—mentally drained, to be precise. He had intended to fall asleep quickly, but sleep eluded him.
It was no surprise, really. Just moments ago, he had indulged in a revitalizing meal that could rival even the most robust of dishes. To make matters worse, during his bath, he had been subjected to mysterious temptations from the women, leaving him in a state of restless longing.
“I can’t sleep… not at all…”
In fact, he felt increasingly alert, as if his senses were heightened. Perhaps a little indulgence would ease his mind, but Yuri, Ula, and Curly were sleeping in a nearby tent. Yuri, with her keen senses, was particularly sensitive to scents. While Ula might not share that trait, Rest couldn’t shake the feeling that when she looked at him, she was peering into the depths of his soul.
They were both unpredictable, and given their tendency for unexpected actions, it would be wise to avoid any reckless behavior to prevent any potential mishaps.
(Yuri is… asleep, huh? How carefree…)
Thanks to the constant activation of his Life Search spell, he could sense that Yuri, Ula, and Curly were all nestled in their slumber a short distance away. He swore he wasn’t deliberately probing into their rest. It was just that, perhaps due to the Worm’s blood and flesh he had consumed, his nerves were sharper than usual, allowing him to detect their breathing and even the slightest movements in their sleep.
(She kicked off her blanket. I hope she doesn’t catch a cold… ugh, this is so creepy!)
How unsettling it was to be so acutely aware of the sleeping girls’ every move. Even though they were the ones who had put him in this predicament, he felt an inexplicable guilt weighing down on him.
“Ah, enough already! This is ridiculous; how can I possibly sleep!”
With a burst of determination, Rest sprang up and exited the tent. At this point, he could hardly entertain the thought of sneaking into the girls’ tent for a midnight rendezvous… not that he would ever do such a thing. For a fleeting moment, he had considered it, but he quickly dismissed the idea as unbecoming of a gentleman.
“I might as well go hunting for Monsters…!”
Staying still would only lead to more restless thoughts, so he decided to move his body and release his pent-up energy. Fortunately, there were plenty of Monsters lurking around. He would unleash his magic until he felt completely drained, channeling his frustrations into the hunt.
(Using sports to relieve sexual tension, huh… Alright, let’s do this!)
Rest poured a generous amount of Magical Power into the Magic Circle. With this, even if he were gone for an hour or two, the Monster-Repelling Barrier would remain intact.
“[Invisibility] [Floating] [Wind Manipulation]!”
He activated the spells in a Trio, cloaking himself from sight as he ascended into the sky. He soared towards the vast expanse of stars above, manipulating the wind to carry him westward.
“Well… it all started because of the Worm, didn’t it? Everything, all of it, is the Worm’s fault.”
Had it not been for the Worm, he would never have come to this place. If he hadn’t consumed the Worm’s flesh or drunk its blood, he wouldn’t be feeling this way. He wouldn’t have been tossed around by Yuri and Ula, nor would he be struggling with the surge of blood rushing to his head—or rather, his lower half.
“Alright… let’s exterminate them. Thoroughly. One by one!”
Normally, Rest wouldn’t entertain such extreme thoughts. He had fought Monsters since childhood as part of his training, but he had never harbored resentment or hatred towards them. The unusual intensity coursing through him was undoubtedly a result of the Worm’s meat. Despite the late hour, he flew towards the Wetlands, where the Worms thrived, ready to embark on a relentless hunt.
The Worms would ultimately meet their demise at the hands of the very flesh that had empowered Rest. It was a tragically ironic outcome of the food chain.