Journey to Godhood Begins in Frieren

Early the next morning, the first thing Shichen saw when he woke up was soft, glossy, aqua‑blue hair.

A few strands had fallen across his face, but instead of a prickly sensation he felt only silk‑like smoothness.

As expected of the Water Goddess— even her hair feels different from ordinary people.

One of Shichen's hands was pinned beneath Aqua, yet he had no intention of getting up quickly. He tightened his arm around her, savoring the softness in his right palm and unconsciously flexing his fingers.

With Aqua in his arms from behind like this, it was inevitable that his hand would be "holding" something.

"Mm … " Disturbed, Aqua murmured and woke up.

"Awake?" Shichen asked softly, without releasing his grip.

"M‑m‐hm… Shichen? What's your hand doing?" Aqua's gaze dropped to her chest, but she asked quite calmly.

"I have no idea. I woke up like this; it won't listen to me and just moves on its own."

"Do you think I'm stupid?" Aqua pouted.

"All right, all right, you're very smart."

"Hmph — I am smart… m‑m‑mm, and you're still at it?"

"Then get up first."

"What does me getting up have to do with you letting go?"

"It's not about me—I already told you my hand won't obey."

"Tch — who knew you were such a pervert." Aqua sat up and turned to face him.

"Don't frame me like that," Shichen protested, sitting up too. "Ha‑aah."

He was about to cover a yawn, then remembered that his right hand—right by his mouth—had been on its own adventure, and he forced himself to stop. It wasn't that he disliked Aqua; he simply didn't want her to misunderstand. He wasn't a degenerate, after all.

(For the record, his hand did not smell of milk.)

"How did I frame you? Wasn't what you just did a fact?" Aqua asked.

"Who told you to come sleep here—in my bed? You know what can happen when a man and a woman share one."

"Hmm, true." Aqua blinked blankly.

"You crawled into my arms yourself; in that position, what did you expect? And I didn't even do anything serious. That's already pretty good, right?"

"All right, all right, I blamed you wrongly." At once Aqua snuggled close and hugged his arm.

"Use this arm instead." Shichen pulled out his right arm, turned, and gave her the left.

"Eh? Why?" Aqua hugged it anyway, puzzled.

"Just to be fair. Don't worry about it."

"Fair? Whatever. Shichen, you always say weird things."

"Better than doing weird things like you."

"I do not!" Aqua huffed.

"Leaving other stuff aside, insisting on sleeping in my room isn't weird enough? We are a man and a woman, you know."

"What can I do? I can't help being drawn to the watery aura on you."

"You're the Water Goddess—shouldn't you be the one giving off the aura, not being lured by it?"

"I'm not in the heavens now; my power's been weakened… ah! That's why—so you can't blame me completely!"

"Can't blame you for what?" Shichen couldn't follow her logic.

"For the 'problems' you just mentioned that come from us sleeping together. Since it's due to your aura, it's not entirely my fault." Aqua spoke in earnest.

"…Fine, fine, it's partly my fault too, all right?"

"Hehe ~ That's more like it." Aqua beamed like a child.

"It's about time we got up. Thanks to you we were up so late, we've overslept."

"No way ~ Shichen, you clearly had fun groping last night." Aqua's cheeks flushed as she timidly countered.

"…," Shichen coughed, a little embarrassed.

Truth be told, he hadn't been able to resist this air‑headed goddess last night.

A beauty delivered to his doorstep—if he didn't act, what kind of man would he be? Anyone hearing he did nothing would call him a eunuch.

He could stand being laughed at for making a move on a ditzy girl—but not for being called a eunuch.

Since he'd already laid hands on this silly goddess, he could only treat her well from here on out.

On second thought, having a goofy companion wasn't so bad.

And anyway, he hadn't gone too far last night—just practiced a bit of "Dragon‑Claw Butt‑Grab" through their sleepwear.

Large as it was, it still didn't feel as good as getting a full handful right after waking up.

"Shichen… do you want to grab again?" Aqua asked, face crimson.

"Not anymore."

"Eh? Why? Already bored? Or would you rather grab here?" Aqua glanced down at her chest.

"Neither… It's just that everyone else will be getting up."

"I see. Then tonight…?" Aqua's eyes sparkled, voice dripping with allure.

Gulp. Shichen swallowed. "…What's with you? I haven't even brought it up and you're volunteering?"

"Because… well… it actually felt good, and you seemed to enjoy it."

"I did not enjoy it!" Shichen denied righteously.

"You were totally into it last night and wouldn't even listen to me—"

"Okay, okay, stop!"

"'Kay."

"I'll buy you some sparkling wine later. Let's forget about last night."

"Really? Shichen, you're the best! I can hold out a bit longer tonight."

"I said stop talking about it!"

"Okay ~"

"Hurry and get up, breakfast's waiting. We've got a quest later."

"Another one? I finished a quest solo last night; can't I skip today?"

"Of course… NOT!"

"Meanie!"

"Move it. I'll wait outside."

"Fine…"

Shichen dressed efficiently and headed for the door. As he grasped the handle, he suddenly turned back to the still‑idle Aqua.

"Oh, and what we did last night—you're not allowed to do that with anyone else. Not even girls."

"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Aqua shot back, disgruntled.

"I didn't mean—"

"I'll get mad. Careful or I won't let you touch tonight."

Sigh. Shichen opened the door and stepped out.

"Shichen?! Good morning!"

The moment he exited, he heard Yunyun's greeting and jumped, looking toward the voice.

Thankfully she had just stepped out of her own room.

Keeping a calm face, Shichen replied, "Morning, Yunyun."

"What a coincidence~" Yunyun hurried over.

"Indeed." Shichen smiled and took her hand.

"Uh…" Yunyun glanced around nervously.

"What are you afraid of?" Shichen asked with amusement.

"N‑not afraid… just a little embarrassed…" she whispered.

"Really? How about this, then?"

"What—mm!"

As soon as Yunyun looked up, Shichen lowered his head and kissed her—deeply, at that.

Her eyes flew wide; she froze, staring at his handsome face inches away.

Shichen didn't prolong it, parting after only a moment.

"Why so stunned?" Seeing her blank, he waved his hand before her face.

"Mm—!"

Yunyun finally came to, her snow‑white cheeks burning scarlet. She glanced around again, terrified someone might have seen that shameful scene.

Spotting no one, she dove into Shichen's chest, pouting as she feebly pummeled him with tiny fists.

"So sudden…! What if someone had seen?"

"Relax, I was watching," he chuckled, pulling her close.

"Still… I wasn't prepared…" She stopped hitting, pressing her hot face to his chest.

"Can't help it—who told you to be so cute first thing in the morning?" Shichen said shamelessly.

"Cute… mm…"

"Besides, my mouth was dry."

"What's a dry mouth got to do with—ah!" Realization dawned; she bit her lip, cheeks flaring hotter.

"Pretty smart, huh?"

"Meanie!"

"Okay, okay, teasing aside, let's go downstairs. If Megumin sees us, do you really want that?"

"Mm… it'd be too embarrassing."

"What's embarrassing about it?"

"She'd tease me."

"So tease her back."

"I'm not like her… Let's go already." Yunyun released him, grabbed his hand, and hurried toward the stairs.

"Sigh, when can I kiss you in front of Megumin?" Shichen followed, teasing.

"N‑never!"

"But Megumin clings to me every day, you know."

"She is her, I am me!"

"All right, all right."

~~~

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