Chapter 41 - Epilogue: The Life of Two Starting Now
The usual morning time. My consciousness awakened as the warm sunlight streamed through the window.
Opening my eyes slowly and staring blankly at the ceiling, I noticed a slight weight and softness on my right arm.
As I breathed slowly, a soft, sweet scent tickled my nostrils.
"...Suu... suu..."
Turning only my neck slowly to the right, there lay a lovely woman, like a fairy, breathing in a regular rhythm.
Surprised that a beautiful woman was sleeping in my bed—and right next to me at that—I stirred.
"...Nn, nnn—"
However, I was forced to stop as the beautiful woman let out a sultry voice and entwined her arms around mine.
The only clothing she wore was the sheet; she was almost in the state she was born in.
Her silk-like, smooth, straight blonde hair sparkled as it caught the sunlight.
A woman with refined features, yet retaining a somewhat innocent expression. I knew that behind those closed, long-lashed eyelids lay beautiful jade eyes like emeralds.
That's right, she was Flora, who had just become my lover yesterday. Thinking that, my greatly surprised heart calmed down a little.
Perhaps due to her sleeping posture, the sheet that should have covered her to her shoulders had slipped down to her chest, exposing her soft-looking breasts. Perhaps because they moved regularly with her breathing, I felt my son, who was energetic due to physiological phenomena, become even more energetic.
Even though my heart had calmed down, the lower part of me was restless.
Since it would be uncool to greet her with my meat rod standing tall from the morning, I tried my best not to look at Flora's chest and pulled the sheet up to her shoulders.
Even though the season was approaching summer, the early mornings were still chilly.
I cast my gaze out the window for a while, spacing out to calm my raging feelings.
Then, after feeling the lower part of me settle down, I turned my gaze to Flora, who was sleeping with a peaceful breath beside me.
She was nine years younger than me, but seeing her sleeping like this, I could almost believe she was even younger. I thought such things while watching Flora sleep soundly.
That was how cute and defenseless Flora's sleeping face was... Thinking that she was showing such an expression by my side made me feel proud.
Moving my free left arm, I stroked Flora's head.
As always, Flora's hair was beautiful.
Even when I combed it with my hand like this, there was no snagging. It flowed between my fingers like a smooth stream.
The silky hair felt extremely good to the touch, so much so that I felt like I wanted to keep touching it forever.
"...Suu... nnh... suu..."
While I was unintentionally absorbed in stroking Flora's hair, her regular breathing shifted for just a moment.
I thought the pace of her breathing had just happened to get disrupted, but I noticed Flora's eyebrows jump for a second as if in surprise.
Furthermore, I could feel a slight shift in weight on my right arm, where Flora's head was resting.
"............"
...Flora's awake, isn't she?
"...Suu... fuu..."
For a while, I tried stroking her hair in silence, but there was no sign of Flora getting up.
I wondered if my guess was a momentary misunderstanding, but when I stroked her hair and head, her expression loosened somewhat. Moreover, her cheeks, which had been white until a moment ago, were tinged with a faint pink.
She's definitely awake.
It might be fine to keep stroking her like this until I'm satisfied, but watching Flora pretend to be asleep made a mischievous spirit sprout within me.
I shifted my left arm, which had been stroking the top and sides of her head, toward Flora's soft cheek.
"...Suu... nnh! ...suu..."
Then, Flora's body trembled for a brief moment.
At the easy-to-understand reaction of Flora's sensitive skin, my face unintentionally broke into a grin.
And I felt her loveliness as she still tried to pretend to be asleep.
The skin of Flora's cheek was plump and smooth.
When I stroked it gently, it seemed to cling to my fingers and palm.
When I poked it with my fingertip, a bouncy elasticity returned.
Poking it was fun, but if I did it too much, she seemed likely to wake up angry, so I kept it moderate.
Then I let my fingers crawl from her cheek to her neckline.
Doing this, she must have felt ticklish after all, as she began to stir as if enduring it.
Then, finally, I moved my face close to Flora's...
"Hyaun!"
I gave Flora's earlobe a playful nip.
At this, Flora couldn't help but let out a sweet voice.
"Ahaha, you were awake after all."
"Geez! That's mean!"
When I unintentionally laughed out loud, Flora opened her closed eyes and turned a protesting gaze toward me.
That sulky, child-like expression seemed so funny to me that I raised my voice even louder.
Then, Flora's expression became increasingly displeased.
It was as if the words "I'm dissatisfied! I'm angry!" were written on her face.
"Aldo-san!"
"Yes, yes, I know."
Understanding the reason why Flora was angry, I replied honestly and pressed my lips against hers.
Then, her dissatisfied expression softened, and she let out a voice like "Nnh," as if to say that was it.
The sensation of Flora's moist and soft lips was transmitted directly.
Even though we had pressed our lips together that much yesterday and it was a kiss after only a few hours, my heart felt as if it had finally obtained something it had been yearning for.
Amidst the sound of peaceful morning birds, Flora and I continued to press our lips together.
Then we slowly pulled our faces apart and both opened our eyes at the same time.
I could clearly see Flora's cheeks turning red from embarrassment.
At the same time, I felt heat in my own face. I was probably turning red in the same way. I knew it even without looking in a mirror.
"Ehehe, good morning, Aldo-san."
Flora smiled bashfully and gave her morning greeting.
"Good morning, Flora."
I responded to that with a smile as well. I thought my voice was surprisingly soft, even to myself.
Waking up in the morning like this, the woman I love greets me.
Just that made me feel my heart becoming as clear as the morning sky.
From now on, even when I wake up at home, I won't be alone; Flora will greet me with a smile. Just that blows away my sleepiness and makes me feel happy from the morning.
I quit being an adventurer and came to this village, but I never dreamed that I would become lovers with such a lovely woman and live together.
"...It's happiness to have the person I love give me a morning greeting."
When I muttered that while gazing at Flora, she showed a surprised expression, then chuckled and said,
"From now on, it won't just be greetings, but cooking, cleaning, seeing you off, welcoming you home, saying goodnight... We'll always be together."
"That's right. From now on, we'll always be together."
Being able to share a life with the person I love. Just thinking about that made every casual daily action feel twice, three times—no, ten times, a hundred times more enjoyable.
In the morning, eating Flora's delicious cooking, doing housework together, eating sweets together, talking about casual things, and having Flora welcome me with a smile when I return from hunting...
Just imagining life with Flora made my cheeks loosen.
"Well then, let's prepare breakfast right away. Today is the Radish harvest day, so let's use Radishes."
"That's right! Let's harvest the Radishes that Aldo-san grew for the first time and cook them!"
When I said that while sitting up, Flora also sat up vigorously and said so energetically.
As a result, the sheet that was over me and the sheet that was over Flora's shoulders both fell down onto our thighs at the same time.
My upper body, and the swelling of Flora's beautiful breasts and the line of her waist were exposed.
"...Ah."
"Kyaa!"
Even though we had spent the night together in bed, it seemed being seen naked was embarrassing, as Flora vigorously wrapped the sheet around her body.
Flora, turning her back with her face and even her ears red from embarrassment, was very cute.
It seemed my lover being shy hadn't changed.
Slow Life of an A-Rank Adventurer Chapter One - End
With this, Chapter One of Slow Life of an A-Rank Adventurer is over. How was it? There were various shortcomings, but did you enjoy it? If you felt even a little bit warm watching Aldo and the others' story, it is a joy for me!
As it says Chapter One, this story still continues. From next time, it's the slow life living together with Flora. I don't know if I can start Chapter Two immediately, but I want to update as soon as possible.
To all the readers who gave various impressions, thank you! I will continue to do my best.