A Brighter Future (Kuroinu)

Even though he had been saved, Rhodes’s complexion had paled considerably. He needed support to walk, but he didn’t let Celestine help him.

“Why don’t you want me to help you? Do you hate me now?”

Celestine found it difficult to accept this result and even wondered if Rhodes now disliked her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she wore a sad expression.

“No, no, no… I didn’t mean that at all. It’s just that I think this level of help isn’t necessary, and there’s no need to cry over it!”

Rhodes quickly shook his head to explain. He also felt that Celestine’s reaction was a bit exaggerated. After all, he merely refused her assistance; there was no reason for her to be so sad. Furthermore, if he allowed her to assist him, the situation might get even more critical.

“So why didn’t you want me to help you? Taking care of you is my responsibility.”

“Because… Because…”

“If there’s a problem, just tell me. Only when we know the problem can we find a better solution. So, don’t hesitate, and we don’t need to worry about the problems between us.”

Celestine held Rhodes’s hand to her chest, and her eyes revealed sincerity and trust. Rhodes couldn’t help but feel that this wasn’t impossible.

“It’s because my body can’t handle it! I’m a man, you know! Your attire right now is too stimulating for me! That’s why I got a nosebleed!”

“Oh, it’s because of me…”

Realizing the reason behind Rhodes’s nosebleed, Celestine’s face turned red. She now understood why it had happened.

“So, can you wear a bit more clothing? Even if it’s just a skirt.”

“I can’t do that.”

Celestine shook her head helplessly. Rhodes couldn’t help but wonder why it was so difficult to wear a skirt in this world.

“How about wearing pants then?”

However, Celestine’s expression turned to one of horror, leaving Rhodes utterly speechless. This world indeed had some major issues!

In the end, Rhodes allowed Celestine to help him leave the room. She appeared delighted and satisfied, but Rhodes was experiencing a mix of pleasure and pain. While her proximity made him happy, it also brought about some physical challenges. When her arm embraced him, there was inevitably some contact with areas he shouldn’t be touching, especially when Celestine pressed closely, and Rhodes’s elbow was completely pinned in place.

All of this was enjoyable for him, but it also tested his self-control. However, perhaps due to the previous nosebleed, he managed to hold himself together for the time being.

“By having more contact like this, you’ll get used to it. Eventually, you won’t have nosebleeds anymore.”

This was Celestine’s solution. Since it was her presence that caused the issue, she believed that by increasing their physical contact, Rhodes would become accustomed to her, and the problem would cease to exist. She also wouldn’t need to deal with uncomfortable requests for her to wear more clothing.

Rhodes didn’t respond to this, as he was currently struggling to keep himself composed. His focus was on not succumbing to another nosebleed, so he remained silent.

When Rhodes and Celestine arrived at the dining table, it was covered with a sumptuous spread of dishes that dazzled the eyes. Rhodes’s stomach, which hadn’t received any food since his arrival in this world, was growling uncontrollably.

“Eat quickly. These are all prepared for you.”

Seeing Rhodes’s condition, Celestine immediately understood. She began piling various dishes in front of Rhodes, and as they progressed through the meal, she even started feeding him directly. All he had to do was open his mouth, and the food was delivered to him.

“I can’t… I can’t eat anymore…”

Watching as Celestine was still trying to feed him, Rhodes shook his head repeatedly, indicating that he didn’t want any more. In the latter part of the meal, it wasn’t him eating anymore; he was being forced to eat.

“I’ve really eaten a lot.”

Celestine looked at the pile of empty plates in front of her and felt that Rhodes must be full.

“So, do you have any plans for today? If you want to rest, you can go back to your room as before. If you want to go out and have fun, I usually don’t use money, but I have some pocket money I can give you. Don’t be too frugal, buy whatever you want.”

Rhodes looked at Celestine’s care and behavior towards him, which was like being with family. It made him uncomfortable but also reminded him of something.

“It seems like the Goddess turned my casual remarks into abilities, so the current situation is because of this ability’s influence? I thought maybe the other party was interested in me…”

Thinking about this situation, Rhodes sighed regretfully. At this moment, he used a handkerchief to wipe his mouth clean of the food sauce.

Rhodes turned to look at Celestine’s actions, and despite being stared at by him, she still wore a gentle and caring smile.

“What’s wrong? Is your stomach upset from eating too much?”

Celestine reached out to Rhodes’s stomach, intending to massage it a bit to ease any discomfort.

“No… I’m not uncomfortable. It’s just that I feel this is quite nice the way it is now.”

“Is that so? Well, I was worried about how you’d adapt here if you weren’t comfortable.”

Celestine relaxed visibly, as if she had been harboring this concern since earlier. Hearing this answer seemed to put her completely at ease.