Chapter 165 - Philia, Fulfilled
Hurry, hurry, she urged me as we headed to the medical supplies corner, and I grabbed the adhesive bandages. I chose the safe size L.
...If I buy something like this while dragging around a braless woman, what will the store clerk think of me?
Will they think these two are definitely going to use this to play with her nipples or something?
Trying not to think too much about that, I proceeded to the register.
"Welcome! Do you have a points card?"
The young female clerk was looking back and forth between Philia's face and mine with a look of pure curiosity.
Could she have realized that I'm the very same Keisuke Nakamoto who performs those fake magic tricks on TV?
"No, I don't have one."
"I'm so sorry!"
The usual exchange was made, and the items' barcodes were scanned with beep, beep sounds.
It's fine, no problem.
If I were spotted flirting with the underage Angelica and the others, it would be a scandal, but with an adult woman like Philia, my image won't be damaged. In fact, walking around with a beautiful white woman would probably earn me some applause, like, "Nice going!"
That must be it, please let that be it... I prayed as I took out my wallet.
"That'll be one thousand two hundred forty-six yen."
I can pay this without needing change, I thought, just as I opened my coin purse. That was when it happened.
"You're Nakamoto-san, right?"
Being suddenly called by name, I reflexively looked up.
"I knew it. You're on TV, right? Wow, amazing! I've never seen a celebrity in person before! Is this for a shoot?"
"Ah... I'm here privately right now."
"Oh, really? So is that person over there your girlfriend?"
"Um, please keep this to yourself..."
"I know, I know. It's a world where anything can blow up into a scandal these days, after all. I won't tell anyone."
I appreciate your understanding, I said as I finished paying.
The female clerk chirped, "That's exact change!" and pulled a plastic bag out from under the counter.
"A little while ago, a really cute girl came in, but her clothes were so strange that the store manager and I were talking about whether she might be a celebrity. And then you came in too, Nakamoto-san. Ah, I thought for sure they must be filming on location nearby. But I guess not."
"Could it be that girl was wearing a robe like a mage's?"
"So she is a co-star? Yes, that's right. A foreigner, about middle school age. ...It was the store manager who helped her, but she was shopping while blushing bright red."
——Erin.
If I had entered the store just a little earlier, I might have run into her.
This really is what you call a narrow escape, I thought with a wry smile as I received the merchandise.
"Thank you very much!"
Even so, what a friendly clerk. ——No. The cause might not be her, but me. I've become quite famous, and there will probably be more occasions where girls call out to me in town from now on.
Girls are basically creatures who love celebrities. What a pain, honestly, I said in a voice that wasn't bothered at all, when Philia muttered quietly.
"...Do you like young girls that much?"
I turned sharply toward the voice and met eyes with a textbook-perfect pout.
"Could it be you're jealous?"
"I felt the ratio of private conversation was rather high."
"In customer service, it's normal to act friendly... Besides, I'm well-known around here too, so being suddenly spoken to is a common occurrence."
"You're constantly being approached by young women?"
"Oh, for crying out loud!"
What a pain, I cursed as I pulled Philia by the hand and pushed her into the restroom.
I ended up going in too, but since it has a unisex sign, there's no blame to be had.
And moreover, it's a closed room.
It's a lawless zone.
I locked the door behind me with one hand, then took the adhesive bandages out of the plastic bag. I intended to open the package neatly... but with my monstrous strength, it ended up being a rough, tearing sort of opening.
This constitution of mine really is troublesome, I thought with disgust as I cast Strength Enhancement on the adhesive bandage. At this very moment, this flimsy piece of gauze and adhesive tape has gained the durability of steel.
For merely protecting a nipple, it's somewhat excessive defensive power. It's an act akin to deploying the latest Aegis-class destroyer to a deserted island.
——But, come to think of it, that's a very important thing.
There's no such thing as a worthless island. Someday, people might live there, or resources might be found there.
The same goes for Philia's nipples. I don't know when I might take them into my mouth, so there's no harm in protecting them.
Therefore, this is correct!
Having convinced myself with some bizarre logic, I hooked the plastic bag onto the baggage hook. Rather than bizarre logic, the possibility that it's what the world calls "sexual desire" is remarkably high, but anything was fine at this point.
The reason my thoughts had become so incoherent was because Philia had taken off her cardigan, lowered her shoulder straps, and was now in a so-called hand-bra state.
...For a mentally unstable High Priest, she's got some nerve...
Her looks alone are flawless, I cursed inwardly as I gave the order.
"Sit down."
"...On the toilet seat?"
"What else is there?"
"I would have preferred a cleaner place."
This lacks any sense of refinement, Philia grumbled as she sat down on the toilet. Her cheeks were already dyed crimson, and the corners of her mouth were turned up.
No matter how you looked at it, she was pleased.
...Pretending I didn't see that distorted smile, I peeled the paper tape off the adhesive bandage.
"You're going to stick that on, yes?"
"Yeah."
I closed my eyes tightly and told Philia to move her hands away.
"...So, where are your breasts? Give me directions."
"Why don't you just open your eyes? Why are you avoiding looking directly at this timing!?"
"I want to look too! But I can't... that's the one thing I can't do. I won't be able to come back."
"I don't understand what you mean. While I was mentally regressed, Hero-dono washed my body, didn't you? You must have seen me naked many times."
"Stripping you down and washing you when you were just babbling nonsense was just nursing care, but... with you fully conscious, well, it's awkward, or rather... I end up being conscious of you as the opposite sex."
"I want you to be conscious of me."
"...I have Elsa..."
"How long do you intend to remain faithful to a dead woman!?"
"Forever!"
I groped with my fingers, located the top of Philia's bust, and stuck the adhesive bandage on.
"...How utterly devoid of sentiment..."
Confirming the task was done, I gently opened my eyes.
My eyes met Philia's, who was looking down at me proudly with an adhesive bandage attached to the tip of her chest.
The top of her bust was properly hidden, Philia hadn't derived any pleasure from it, and it could be said that it was an entirely wholesome act.
"...Is Lady Elsa's presence really that significant?"
"Of course it is."
Philia clasped her hands between her thighs and said with a sullen face.
"...You would surely be happier if you switched your affections to a living woman. By the way, Hero-dono. I feel the urge to urinate."
"Ah, got it. Then I'll leave."
"Wait."
Just as I did an about-face, my sleeve was tugged firmly.
"...What? I have no business with a woman who's about to urinate."
"Have you forgotten the performance of my skill?"
"...Your skill..."
[Father Complex (Diaper)]
'When there is a younger male with the Fatherhood skill in the party, all stats increase.
Additionally, urinating in front of a fatherly figure, having one's diaper changed, etc., temporarily raises all stats.
A decadent skill born from a mixture of a father complex, infantile regression desires, and a bed-wetting fetish.'
"Don't tell me you intend to let me watch you pee...!?"
"...In preparation for the battle with Erin, I think there's no harm in raising my stats, do you...?"
"Don't be ridiculous! It's just a fetish, isn't it!? You're a pervert who gets off on regressing to infancy and having me take care of your personal needs!"
"...Th-that's right! I'm a dangerous woman whose heart is fulfilled by having a younger man watch her go pee-pee! I admit it! Being taken care of by Hero-dono fills the loneliness of not being doted on by my real father! What's wrong with that!?"
"So you've turned defiant on me!?"
"I too... I didn't want to grow into a forty-five-year-old who feels a Papa-vibe from a man younger than herself either! But it can't be helped, can it!?"
"A Papa-vibe from a man younger than yourself!? What an outrageous perver——I get it. ...Well, that can't be helped, yeah. I mean, even I turn into an infant in front of Angelica."
"I hate it...! I hate it too...! ...Huh? You're suddenly agreeing with me? What?"
"These things can't be helped, yeah. So, what should I do?"
"Um... I'd like you to lift me from behind and spread my legs wide open."
"Like this?"
"Y-yes."
"I see. It's the pose a parent uses when holding a small child to help them pee. Should I also wipe down your lower half when you're done?"
"Fuaahhh! Keisuke Papa-shaaaaaamaaaaaa!"
"You trip way too fast!"
[Party Member, High Priest Philia's Affection Level has increased by 1000]
[High Priest Philia has begun excretion in front of a fatherly figure]
[Unique Skill "Father Complex (Diaper)" has activated]
[Stats will be revised upward for 4400 seconds]
[HP +440%]
[MP +440%]
[Attack +440%]
[Defense +440%]
[Agility +440%]
[Magic Attack +440%]
[Magic Defense +440%]
I was supposed to post this last night, but I fell asleep...