I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

Episode 13 – The Empty Dragon, Chameleon Dragon (1)

How much time had passed since I hastened my pace to avoid falling for Victoria’s provocation?

“You’re over there, what took you so long?”

We were able to rejoin our companions once more, and Anima, brows slightly furrowed, was giving us the look for being late again.

It was because I kept getting held up by the b*stard dragon whelps pretending to be Victorians while we cleared a path, and by her scathing remarks whenever she saw such enemies.

Maybe I should be thankful a naked-apron Victoria didn’t appear. If that had happened, she’d tease me about it for the rest of my life.

“It’s the beginning of their relationship. We should be understanding,”

Among our companions, especially the Hero, Kyle, had been coming closer with that sickening smile of his ever since we told them we were fake dating.

“So, did our genius mage properly identify his fake pretending-to-be-girlfriend? I was actually kind of worried.”

“Why would you worry about that?”

“You guys were always fighting so much. I’ve seen you two growling at each other too many times!”

The moment I heard the Hero’s words, I immediately unlinked my arm from Victoria’s, and she let out a short “Ah…” sound, as if disappointed.

“…Nothing happened.”

I tried my best to harden my expression, arguing with the Hero in a stiff tone. There were things like Victoria’s chest measurements and her vulgar provocations, but I wanted to erase them from my memory.

“Aww, but you two were holding arms so affectionately just now?”

“We almost got separated because of the dragon’s attack, so that’s why.”

I ran a hand through my hair, breaking out in a cold sweat. Victoria was watching me with a venomous glare from the side.

“Is that really so? Lord Astal, I only remember someone’s lecherous gaze thoroughly scanning my bosom.”

– If it were anyone else, I’d hate it, but I wouldn’t mind you looking at me as much as you want….

“I told you I didn’t look at you like that.”

“Your denial is cute too. I guess it’s because you’re a first-time dater.”

Victoria slightly turned up the corner of her mouth on her expressionless face, revealing that she had won.

Watching that, my eyebrow twitched a little. She’s also dating for the first time, so why is she trying to act like such a big shot?

“You’re also a first-timer.”

“I’ve received more favor from the opposite s*x than Lord Astal, though. You wouldn’t believe how many b*stards have tried to hit on me during various anniversaries.”

Victoria spoke with expletives, as if bringing up an unpleasant memory.

Even in the demon realm where she walks around under perception-hindering magic, there are times when demons try to court her, so it must have been worse usually.

“I was popular too, you know? Do you even know how many female colleagues in the Blue Magic Tower followed me around because they liked me?”

“Oh my, so you’re still a virgin at that age? I believe you’re a year older than me, though.”

– Why is he talking about other women in front of me? I’m getting jealous to the point that it’s unfair….

“…You just came of age this year!”

I gritted my teeth at Victoria’s venom. Even if she secretly liked me, if she kept talking like that, even the smallest bit of affection I had would vanish.

“Oh, so you’re harboring desires to crush a Holy Maiden who’s just come of age? I could tell even before the naked-apron comment, you have a rather refined taste.”

Victoria, looking at me, gave a sly grin, her hand slightly covering her mouth as she smiled.

Looks like what I said to make Victoria give up on me had backfired.

Like someone who’d found a weakness, she started to torment me more relentlessly.

“You guys are dating and still fighting like this?”

Kyle, watching Victoria and me, said, his voice a bit scratchy. Our earlier conversation must have seemed awkward for a couple just starting out.

“That’s it. You guys need to hug for, like, a minute and say sorry to each other.”

He, clearly bothered by his teammates fighting, finally took drastic measures. Normally, he’d make us look each other in the eye and apologize.

“H-Hugging?! How can you suggest such a shameless thing with so many eyes watching!”

“Yeah, we’re not kids…”

Faced with this suddenly heightened order, Victoria’s face turned red as she looked back and forth between me and Kyle.

Like a spring popping out of place, she jumped up and down, saying she didn’t want to.

– No, no hugging…! Especially not facing each other… My heart might burst!

Victoria’s inner voice screamed, remembering my playful antics on the bed last time, that this was absolutely not happening.

But,

“You two are dating, right? You’ve already seen each other naked, done all that stuff, haven’t you? A hug is nothing.”

Kyle, our hero, stood firm. He acted as if nothing were out of place, and I was left speechless, clamping my mouth shut.

“…Victoria, come here.”

Looking at Victoria, I had no choice but to spread my arms wide. I looked slightly to the side. I was too embarrassed to meet her gaze head-on.

“Y-Yes…?!”

“It’ll just be for a minute. Come closer. I also was out of line with what I said.”

I did my best to suppress my embarrassment as I spoke calmly. Trying to sound slow and composed so Victoria wouldn’t freak out.

After all, to defeat the succubus queen, we had to keep up this charade.

It’s more efficient to deal with the Four Heavenly Kings before fighting the Demon King. They could also launch a diversionary attack on the continent while we’re distracted.

“…Understood. If you insist, I shall borrow your embrace briefly.”

Victoria nodded slightly, wearing a determined expression. As if she was trying her hardest to hide her agitation.

– Astar is going to hug me… To be able to embrace that manly back, those firm chest muscles…!

– M-Maybe I can rub against him a little? I want to get my scent on him… I want to mark him as mine…!

– Having such perverted thoughts, the truth is you just want to touch Astar’s body, right? You truly are a genius at getting men riled up.

– I, I’m not a pervert…! It’s, it’s just because they said you were popular with the girls earlier! Yeah, this is just marking!

Victoria’s inner thoughts were a chaotic mess.

Like a group of people all arguing at once, each with a different viewpoint, a noisy scene unfolded.

A street market would be quieter than this.

– Alright, quiet! Let’s begin the regular discussion on how to lead a hug, on how to seduce the esteemed Astal for the 323rd time.

Among them, there was a single thought from Victoria, speaking in a somber tone. It was enough to give the illusion of seeing someone with multiple personalities.

“……”

Watching Victoria take step after step, deeply focused on preparing something, I couldn’t help but swallow hard.

– First thing to target, the chest, hardened by all sorts of training. In this case, it’d be best to go classic and press our chests together.

Unlike typical mages who use staves, I participate in direct combat with my bare hands, so I never slack off on physical training.

Last time, I saw Victoria looking at my pecs with a greedy look. She must have liked it.

– B-but, wouldn’t they hear my heart pounding…

– You won’t know if it’s my heartbeat or Astal’s, so just deny it completely. Any objections? If not, we’re going with Plan A.

– What about leaving a kiss mark, sucking on their neck when the chance arises? I’m too shy to do that…!

Victoria stopped her thoughts like a judge hitting a gavel in her mind, and then, as if reaching a decision, gave a small nod.

“…Excuse me.”

Squish.

Victoria, who’s slightly shorter than me, even went up on her tiptoes, snuggling in to rub her chest against mine.

“……”

The soft and warm sensation made my blood rush south. Even if she has no feelings, my body was being honest.

So close our breath mingled, the warmth of each other enveloped us, it felt like we were one, the sensation was scorching.

This was the warmth of another person.

We were pressed together as much as possible, like lovers sharing affection.

“I’m sorry for being harsh just now…. If you are still upset, please accept this as my apology.”

Victoria whispered in a low voice, deliberately bringing her lips close to my ear. I could hear her lips moving and the sound of her swallowing.

– Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god…. It’s so good I think I might go crazy…. My mind is going blank….

Of course, despite Victoria’s outward appearance of trying to seduce me calmly, her mind hadn’t been able to execute any of the plans they had made earlier.

“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have gotten mad at you, no matter what.”

To tease Victoria a bit, I pulled her in a little closer. There was a soft sensation of her sinking into my embrace.

“A, ah…?”

– H-hey, my side is ticklish…

Clutched in my arms, Victoria could only let out a small moan, like a wind-up doll that had broken down.

The string of reason snapped, like a frayed thread, and even the noisy turmoil within me went silent.

“…It’s nice to see. How much easier would things have been if you had gotten along like this sooner.”

“Yeah, and you’re doing this so willingly? I thought you’d be too embarrassed to even try.”

Anima and Tarion, watching Victoria and me embrace, gave their own short reviews.

“The time you were supposed to hug has already passed, are you still going at it? You two used to bicker all the time, but you must really like each other, huh?”

Among them, the hero Kyle was beaming, a fatherly smile stretching across his face. The tone, so grating, made me slightly annoyed.

“…Th-that’s enough.”

– Regretful, but there is such a thing as a right amount. In the end, I have to make Astal desire me…!

Seeing that, Victoria pushed me away abruptly, ending the embrace.

Her ears and cheeks were slightly flushed, her breath rough, and she was fanning herself with her hand, trying to cool down.

I watched Victoria, and, unable to think of anything to say, scratched my cheek, trying to defuse the awkward air.

“So, Astal…”

It was Victoria who broke the silence first.

“…?”

“Was…was my hug…pleasant?”

Her voice, almost a whisper, as if seeking my attention.

Victoria, unable to meet my gaze, subtly lifted her chest with her hand in a showy gesture.

– Pay attention to me. See me as a woman. Forgive me for saying it like this, because I fear I won’t even be able to stay friends if I confess….

Victoria was trying hard to appear composed, but for her, it was the most courage she could muster.

“…It wasn’t bad.”

I decided to forgive Victoria’s past actions, at least a little bit.

* * *

And at that moment,

“…Krrrrrrrrr.”

A metal-scraping cry echoed, and the chameleon dragon known as the Void Dragon appeared before us.