Chapter 161

The chilling gaze flying toward me makes cold sweat trickle down my spine. How should I react?

No matter how I act, it’ll probably end up the same… but I spoke as much like ‘myself’ as possible.

“Heh heh, even daytime Maria is falling for my charm? She doesn’t seem to realize it yet though.”

“…Truly confident of yourself, aren’t you. And so skilled at masking your advances.”

“It’s my strength and pride! The attitude that doesn’t tremble even before the Demon King! Isn’t it amazing?”

“Your confidence before the Demon King is admirable, but perhaps you should be a bit more humble in front of your lover…”

“Discriminating against people isn’t a good habit, you know?”

Of course, I always discriminate against people, but…

Does my answer and reaction not sit well with her? Maria pushes me away and stands up. It was such a cozy spot too, what a shame.

“You need to regain your senses by confiscating the lap pillow, I see.”

“Eh? Maria! That’s not right!”

“No lap pillow for someone who doesn’t understand their lover’s feelings.”

“Tch… Is it really something to get so sensitive about? Come on, it’s all the same Maria in the end.”

“The years we’ve spent together are different. Daytime me is clearly a separate personality. So how do you think I feel when Mr. Joker flirts with me while building intimacy?”

“That’s true, but I can’t be cruel to daytime Maria either, can I?”

At times like this, the best approach is to voice my opinion using facts. Fortunately, I have some skill in the art of eloquence.

“Rather, isn’t it Maria’s fault for making me fall for her? Not daytime Maria, but nighttime Maria standing before my eyes right now.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t do anything extraordinary. I just treated you kindly. Still, if Maria likes me, it’s due to nighttime Maria’s influence.”

“I don’t understand…”

Of course she doesn’t. I didn’t just treat Maria kindly – I treated her extremely well. Like a palace maid serving an emperor. And still, she won’t fall for me?

“It’s a matter of habit. Nighttime Maria gets heart palpitations and blushes every time we communicate. It’s only the time period that’s different. Ultimately, it’s the same body and soul.”

“Excuse me, but what exactly are you trying to say?”

“In terms of responsibility, it’s roughly 9 to 1. Haha. The slightly kind me is 1, and the night Maria who loved me so passionately is 9. That’s why daytime Maria came to like me. Understand?”

“…Huh…”

Did my sophistry work? Or does she just find my nonsense amusing? A faint laugh escaped from Maria’s rosy pink lips.

Anyway, she seems to have softened somewhat. Maria pulled me back onto her thighs.

The Saintess whispered into my ear.

“Let’s agree with that for now.”

“Sounds like you’re saying it reluctantly.”

“I learned that in matters of love, the one who loves more must endure. What can I do?”

“Tsk, when you put it that way, it sounds like I don’t love Maria enough.”

“It’s already too late. Please continue reading your notebook.”

With that, Maria opened her notebook again. I had many things to say, but captivated by the sensation of rubbing my head against her thigh, I silently followed her lead.

Just as I slowly took in the neat handwriting of young Maria…

[I went to the library with Mr. Evans. The section chief senior said he’d prepare our admission documents and disappeared. Anyway, that’s how Mr. Evans and I ended up alone in the quiet library…]

[Even now, recalling it makes my hands tremble. The incident began when I picked up a book from the shelf. It was called ‘The History and Paradox of the Holy Order.’ The title intrigued me, and most importantly, it was the closest one, so I grabbed it.]

[I started reading it at the second row seat. Mr. Evans approached me midway and soon we began reading together, bodies pressed close. My heart was pounding. It must have been due to the faint scent of his skin.]

[But that moment didn’t last long. Feeling bored with the content, perhaps, Mr. Evans rested his head on my shoulder and fell asleep.]

[Was I bewitched or something? As soon as I saw Mr. Evans sleeping, knowing I shouldn’t, I shamelessly moved my hand and lifted the clothing covering his abdomen. Yes, his abdomen. The one I’ve hit several times.]

[By God, I had no evil intention to harm anyone. But when swinging punches, I felt a faint pleasure – looking back, it must have been the devil’s temptation… – and while craving that feeling, Mr. Evans made a suggestion. Since it didn’t affect him at all, if I wanted violence, he told me to hit his stomach.]

[At that moment, I should have firmly refused… I’m sorry…]

[As the school uniform shirt and shorts were rolled up, the bare skin of the abdomen was fully exposed under the sunlight. I couldn’t hide my shock. Mr. Evans’ bare skin was completely bruised!]

[Those were bruises. They covered Mr. Evans’ entire stomach, clearly indicating a serious condition. According to my judgment based on previous experiences healing others’ wounds at the order.]

[The one responsible for these bruises on Mr. Evans… Yes, it must be me. The only one who hit his stomach is me. And it wasn’t just a few times… Every time I hit, I should have noticed how soft his stomach felt. Ahh… Even as I write this now, I’m filled with regret.]

Hey, wait a minute.

[Mr. Evans keeping silent while carrying such injuries is also problematic! How could you do that? Of course, the noble spirit of considering others is something to emulate, but there are limits! To satisfy my desires while damaging your body to this extent… Though I shouldn’t have such thoughts upon seeing someone else’s wounds, I experienced unprecedented emotion for the first time then. Even now as I write this diary, that wave of emotion hasn’t faded. Mr. Evans Grant, you are truly a wonderful person…]

Hold on, hold on. Maria, this isn’t something I orchestrated…

“Aha ha, Mr. Joker, are you still denying it’s flirtation?”

“This is a misunderstanding…”

“Moreover, I clearly asked you to stop associating violence with daytime me, yet you happily obliged, didn’t you?”

“To be honest, I can’t stand Maria’s cute little punches…!”

“I can also deliver a holy fist full of divine power if you’d like to try it?”

“I’ll pass. Though it’s quite an attractive offer, I feel like I’d die if I took it.”

Right? If I died from Maria’s punch, it would be a reward instead?

“Don’t pretend to seriously consider it. It’s all in jest. Even if you pleaded for me to hit you, I wouldn’t resort to violence.”

“Damn.”

I clicked my tongue in disappointment. Maria asks a question.

“Rather, please explain your injuries. It’s unlikely daytime me caused those bruises just from quarreling, did someone else hurt you? Was it Heavenly Hero?”

“You guessed right?”

“Since I just read that Heavenly Hero fought with a masked stranger outside, I suspected it might be you.”

At the same time, Maria reached out to remove my clothes.

I didn’t resist, asking instead.

“What are you doing?”

“I need to heal you. According to daytime me’s records, Heavenly Hero was severely injured, so surely you must have taken quite a beating too.”

“Daytime Maria already healed the bruises on my stomach. So I’m fine.”

“I don’t know Heavenly Hero. If you opposed him, there’s no way it would end with just stomach injuries.”

“Guh… Can’t hide it anymore.”

In the end, I had to take off all my upper clothing. My stomach was clean, but my arms and shoulders were black and blue.

“Haa… You’ve been hiding such injuries from me.”

Wooong…

Maria immediately grabbed my arm and infused it with divine power. The wounds healed instantly. Color returned to the formerly sallow skin.

I didn’t want to burden her…

“Maria will get tired, so I don’t want you to. You’re still young.”

“Even if I am young, a saint is a saint. There’s no way this would tire me out.”

The cold hand clinging persistently to my back gave me a refreshing sensation like the sea as I asked.

“Why are you jealous anyway? Even if you’re young, you’re still Maria. Shouldn’t you be happy instead?”

Maria sighed and moved her lips.

“Mr. Joker doesn’t understand women’s hearts at all. Wanting your man to look only at you, how is that jealousy?”

“Even young Maria is Maria…”

“It’s because the two of you have gotten so close so quickly.”

Woooom…

Energy continues to spread. Shoulders, ribs, sides… The areas battered by Stella regain vitality.

“You mean getting closer?”

“I’m worried that daytime me might surpass current me.”

“Ah, you mean progress. Expressing it as ‘relationship’ makes it sound too vague.”

“…”

I grabbed the nun’s habit of Maria sitting behind me and pulled hard.

My face came very close to hers, surprising her.

“You should have said from the start that you didn’t want daytime Maria to take your firsts in various experiences.”

“How embarrassing.”

“Enough, I’ll just make sure it doesn’t happen, right? With daytime Maria.”

“?!”

Maria’s expression momentarily blanked out.

Without hesitation, I leaned in and kissed her. Her soft lips touched mine like heavenly silk.

Chuup…

“Eep…!”

Apparently startled by my sudden kiss, Maria’s eyes widened. However, she quickly became actively engaged in kissing me.

“Hee, is it good?”

“Eep…! D-Don’t open your mouth…”

As I explored Maria’s upper lip, she naturally licked my lower lip in return. Our lips meshed together like fine down.

Maria stayed there, breathing heavily. She probably doesn’t know what comes next, so it’s time for my leadership after ravishing countless females’ lips.

I slightly opened my mouth and extended my tongue. Maria seemed surprised at first, then accepted my intrusion.

The moist flesh parted Maria’s lips. I could feel her neat teeth at the tip of my tongue. I pushed my tongue further inside.

Chuuruup… Chuup…

“Eeeek…! Jo-Joker-sama…!”

“I told you not to open your mouth.”

And so, we kept biting and sucking each other’s lips for about five minutes before finally parting. A transparent strand of saliva connected our lips as it dripped down.

Spreading my arms wide, I said:

“Ta-da~ Well, how was it? Your first kiss was delicious, right? Now you don’t have to worry about daytime Maria taking your firsts…”

Shwoosh!

The next moment, Maria pushed me down and mounted me, facing me directly, cutting off my words.

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