The Great Sword is not the Main Body!

I lived immersed in the game.

I threw myself into the game to forget reality.

In the game, I was happy.

I met many people, grew, laughed, cried. In the end, I saved the world.

No matter how I made my character. No matter what weapons I used. No matter what route I took. No matter what life I lived. No matter what trials I faced.

Even with a disability, just like my body.

I never faltered and saved the world. I reached an ending where every NPC survived.

But, there was just one.

The Priestess was not in that world.

The Priestess, who could only save the world by dying. She sacrificed herself, saying she was happy. She threw herself away, feeling fulfilled that her life could save the world.

Then...

If she dies like that...

Who’s left in the world?

Who remembers all the moments we spent together?

Who was there during those happy moments?

Who was the one I promised the future with?

The one who can’t forget it all. Who can’t let go. Who spends hellish days because of it.

How is one supposed to live with that?

I wanted to know the answer. I chased the answer that could never be known for my entire life.

But I couldn’t know.

Because the Priestess was a character in the game. A character who lived as predetermined. The one who could give me that answer didn’t exist in this world.

Since then. I haven’t watched the story.

I couldn’t.

Because I didn’t want to see any more scenes of sacrifice. I didn’t want to recall past memories.

I didn’t want to remember my parents who saved me and died.

So.

I’ll save Rubia.

No matter what it takes.

No matter the process.

As long as she’s alive.

I don’t care.

Before "my" self is consumed.

Before "I" disappear.

Before becoming a character in the game.

I have to raise the affection.

"...Noah."

I heard Rubia’s trembling voice.

I closed my eyes and relaxed. I opened my mouth.

"Yes?"

"So... what did you say about me?"

"What about...?"

"You just said... something about my face..."

"Oh, did I say Rubia is pretty?"

Rubia swallowed, tapping the bed.

"Heh... No, I mean... can you tell just by touching how I look?"

"Hmm... I can kind of guess...?"

"Then... can I ask how I look?"

Suddenly, Rubia’s voice was filled with embarrassment.

Well... if someone says they’re pretty about their own face... it would make sense to be embarrassed.

I probably turned red in the face...

"Alright. Hmm..."

I reached out towards Rubia, recalling the face I saw on the monitor in the past.

The first place I touched was her collarbone.

"Ugh... that tickles, Noah..."

I moved slowly. I made sure not to poke Rubia’s eyes.

I traced her shoulder, up her neck, and to her face.

"First off, Rubia... um, your skin is really nice. Soft... your forehead is round. A cute forehead..."

I gently traced down to her eyes.

"Your eyes... wow, your eyelashes are really long. Your gaze is... a bit fierce, but still kind. And they’re big."

My fingers traveled down her nose.

"Your nose is thin... and high. And your ears..."

They slid down to her earlobes.

"Your ears are oddly cute... um, I don’t really know how to describe it. Your earlobes are so soft. Hehe... it’s fun how soft they are. Your ears... um? Rubia, are your ears getting hot...?"

"Noah..."

The hand that was slowly moving toward her lips was stopped by Rubia’s hand.

"Yes...?"

"I, uh, I’ll be right back... I need to use the restroom."

In a hurried voice, Rubia rushed to the bathroom.

Was she in such a hurry...?

Well, after I changed bodies... holding it in became tough for me too...

I nodded understandingly and waited leisurely.

I hadn’t realized how much I missed Rubia’s presence until the greatsword was gone...

It felt really empty.

No greatsword, no Rubia, no... no pants either.

In many ways, it felt so empty...

"Ru, Rubia... when are you coming back?"

I called out in a slightly louder voice, having lost all my patience.

"Ah... ahem, I’m coming out now."

With the sound of the door opening, Rubia came out of the bathroom.

Then she walked briskly towards me.

"Noah."

"Yes?"

I turned my head to the sound of Rubia’s voice.

"Yap."

"Ahh! Wh-what’s that?!"

Water droplets splashed on my face.

"Hehehe- it’s water. It’s cold, right?"

"Ugh... why are you doing this all of a sudden...! Hurry and wipe it off."

I grumbled while wiping my face.

"Well, you suddenly annoyed me, Noah. Hehe..."

Rubia, laughing strangely, suddenly jumped toward me.

"Ugh-! I-I...!"

Then she began to rub my face with her wet hands.

"I’m not letting go until your face is all wiped."

After rubbing my face for a while, Rubia leaned in closer.

"Ru, Rubia! Did you wash your face?! It’s so cold!"

My face was wet too...

Ugh, ugh...!!

I... I’m not going to hold back anymore!!

I’ll wipe all the water off my face on Rubia’s clothes!

"Come here!"

I stretched out my arms to grab Rubia.

The soft, soft sensation was in my hands...

"Why is it so soft...? Ru, Rubia... are you not wearing...?"

"Oh my, oh my?"

"Uh...? Ah, no... I-I’m sorry...!"

I quickly pulled my hand back and lowered my head.

No... this is unfair...

Rubia provoked me first!

It... it grew unnecessarily large!

It’s unfair!

"Noah, you shouldn’t just grab my chest like that. Unless I give you permission."

"Did I grab it...? That’s not... and what permission...! Ah, I-I’m sorry."

Rubia’s breath became closer.

"So... how was it?"

"Yes, yes...?"

The voice I heard in front of my face moved to my ear.

"Like you described my face, could you describe how it felt when you touched me?"

"W-what kind of... description..."

I jerked my body back.

Rubia followed closely.

"That thing you just touched. How did it feel?"

"W-what?! Why...?"

I pulled back my body again.

Rubia chased me again.

"Crazy? I’m just curious. I’ve never heard what it feels like when someone touches you. No one’s ever touched me."

She’s definitely crazy.

She’s definitely crazy...

Is this who you are?!

"Are you teasing me? Stop teasing me...!"

"I’m not teasing... Oh, stop it, Noah."

"I don’t want to!"

"No, if you keep going, you’ll fall-"

I hurriedly pushed against the bed and backed away. A little further...

"Ah...?"

The feeling in my hand disappeared, and my body suddenly tilted.

It felt like everything was in slow motion.

I... must be at the edge of the bed.

It’s going to hurt... It’s definitely going to hurt... ugh...

I wonder if the floor is okay?

I’d rather my head crack...

Even if Rubia heals my head, I’d be saving the repair costs for the floor...

Thoughts like these flashed through my mind, and when my hair touched the floor...

"Ugh... I told you to stop. Why aren’t you listening?"

Rubia’s hand supported my back.

"Ah, oh... nice, Rubia...!"

But... Rubia’s arm started shaking.

"Quick, get up... my arm hurts."

"Ugh... yes, yes!"

I responded quickly and, using my abs, climbed up quickly.

"Phew... you scared me... Be careful, Noah. No matter how much I can heal you, it still hurts."

"Yes, yes..."

"Mm... this won’t do."

The bed started to rock.

It feels like Rubia is coming towards me again...!

"Stay still. I won’t make you do anything weird."

Knowing I was trying to run away, Rubia pinned me down, not letting me move.

Then, one step, two steps... Rubia slowly crawled toward me and embraced me from behind.

"Ru, Rubia...?"

"If I stay like this, you won’t run away. There’s no risk of falling."

Now that we’re this close, the sensation from earlier came back, and I twisted my body in discomfort.

"That’s true... but... Rubia...! I want jelly! Can you bring me some jelly?"

"No."

A firm rejection...

"Well... then... I want to go to the bathroom...!"

"Let’s go together."

"Eh..."

M-Mad... Madwoman!

Rubia’s gone crazy!

Why is she doing this?!

"Since you don’t have your greatsword, it’s inconvenient to go alone, right?"

"Ah, no..."

"No, it’s definitely inconvenient. What if you fall while walking?"

Rubia gently started to lift me up.

"Ah, no... wait a second."

"Why? Was it a lie?"

Rubia’s voice, cold and sharp, pricked my conscience.

What should I do...?

Maybe I should just admit it was a lie and get scolded?

Going to the bathroom... definitely not!

That’s not it!

"Ah, um... y-yes... I-I lied..."

"Noah, are you playing hard to get with me?"@@novelbin@@

"Y-yes...? No! I-I didn’t mean to..."

"You hugged me first last time, but why are you rejecting me now? Is being in my arms that bad?"

"It’s not that I dislike it... it’s just... embarrassing..."

"Why are you embarrassed? We’re both girls. And usually, ‘friends’ do this kind of thing. Plus, aren’t we ‘really close friends’ who share secrets?"

Friends...

Really close friends who share secrets...!

But... guys don’t do this!

"Uh... d-do girls usually do this? I’ve never had a friend before..."

After a brief silence, Rubia calmly spoke.

"Of course."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. It’s not weird, so you can stay in my arms comfortably. Close friends always do this."

"Outside... people don’t do this..."

"You haven’t seen people at home, have you?"

"Right..."

"Yeah. That’s how it is. At home, in a comfortable space, everyone does this."

Is that really true...?

Do girls do that?

Or is this the culture of this world...?

The way she said it so confidently makes it seem like it’s true...?

Am I... the weird one?

"Uh... yeah. I’ll stay like this..."

Rubia’s hand gently patted my head.

"Yeah. Good thinking. I’ll teach you how to stay close with a friend. Slowly."

Rubia’s voice...

It was like comforting an animal about to be devoured.

That kind of voice.

"I’ll even feed you jelly."

"Eh...? Do you have jelly? Wasn’t it on the table over there?"

"I put it in my pocket earlier."

"Wow... but why didn’t you...?"

"I forgot."

"Is that so...?"

It wasn’t planned from the beginning... right...?

"Here, open."

"Ahhh-"

As I opened my mouth like a baby bird receiving food, Rubia’s finger slid in.

A little... too deep.

"Oops, I put it in too deep."

The finger that touched my tongue felt just like the jelly.

"Churp- Ah, it’s peach flavor."

It... it was peach flavor...