Watatsumi Island, Sangonomiya.
After retrieving the Coral Branch and holding the Watatsumi Sacred Rite—successfully halting the land's "Hallowed Soil" phenomenon—everyone was in high spirits.
On the same day, new trade agreements with Inazuma City had been secured, so they naturally followed up with a banquet in celebration.
Once the banquet ended, Kokomi brought Nolan to her office.
"Thank you so much today. Without you, obtaining the Coral Branch wouldn't have gone so smoothly."
She wore a relaxed expression.
Leaving aside the Abyss Lector who had come to Enkanomiya searching for a book—even the two Bathysmal Vishaps guarding the area would have been difficult for her to handle.
"Between us, do you really need to say thanks?" Nolan lifted Kokomi's hands into his own, smiling as he gazed into her ocean-blue eyes.
"T-that may be so, but no matter how close we are, I can't just let you help me for free…"
Her face flushed, her gaze dipped slightly. She instinctively tried to pull her hands back, avoiding his eyes, and whispered:
"I'll still give you the commission fee."
"Who could refuse Mora?" Nolan chuckled, then leaned close to her delicate ear beneath strands of coral-pink hair.
"But just Mora isn't enough. If Lady Sangonomiya would grant me a kiss, then this trip would truly be worth it."
"You… you shameless…"
Her fair cheeks burned redder still. Yet remembering that he had already kissed her in Enkanomiya, that she had already felt that sensation once—she wasn't as flustered as before.
Glancing around to ensure no one else was nearby, she quickly brushed her lips against his.
So fast he could barely savor it before she pulled away. Pressing her lips together, Kokomi looked aside with a pink blush and murmured:
"T-there. That should satisfy you, right…?"
"With just a little peck like that? Rather than satisfied, I feel like you're tempting me instead…" Nolan stepped forward.
"Y-you—what are you trying to do?!"
Seeing him approach, Kokomi's expression turned panicked. She retreated instinctively.
But every step she took back, he pressed forward. Until finally, she was backed against her desk. Her skirt brushed the edge of the wood, and she had no choice but to stop.
Yet Nolan didn't stop. Soon their legs brushed together.
He slipped an arm around her waist, bringing his lips slowly toward hers.
Kokomi darted her eyes left and right, but with no escape, she could only shut her eyes. A heartbeat later, soft lips pressed against hers.
"Mmph—!"
His arm tightened, crushing her against his chest.
As he kissed her, his hands roamed down her back. When one hand squeezed the soft curve of her hips, Kokomi's eyes flew open in embarrassed outrage. She grabbed at his arm to push him away—
But her strength was far less than his. With her lips sealed, she couldn't speak, only endure as his palm boldly kneaded her.
Moments later, she felt his hand slip lower, brushing along the pale skin between her shorts and thigh-high stockings. He kneaded gently—then slid his fingers beneath the thin fabric of her lavender shorts.
Kokomi's whole face burned. Summoning all her strength, she shoved against him and broke free, panting:
"I-it's late… I need to rest!"
"Oh?" Nolan smiled. "After a long day, you must be exhausted. Before bed, a hot bath would help you relax much more…"
"I-I'll handle that myself. You should rest too. I'll have a guest room prepared for you."
She patted his hand, signaling him to release her.
"Preparing it now would be troublesome. I know a perfect bathing spot that will relax you completely.
"Come, I'll take you there."
Smiling, he opened a spatial rift beneath their feet. Kokomi gasped as the ground vanished, her body plummeting.
"Ah—!"
Before she could cry out, his lips sealed hers again, silencing her so the shrine maidens wouldn't hear.
Splash!
Steam curled into the air as they plunged into a hot spring, water erupting around them.
The warmth engulfed their bodies, soaking their clothes through instantly.
As soon as the hot spring water embraced him, Nolan activated the Favorability skill he had gained from Kokomi—Priestess of Watatsumi.
At once, he felt the energy within his body begin to condense.
Icy water meant colder currents. Cool water was unheated. Warm water was drinkable temperature.
Hot water—the kind perfect for bathing—wrapped the body in heat without burning.
That was exactly the range of this spring. And hot water's buff was: Condense internal energy.
If his internal energy had once been like "gas," then the effect of hot water was to compress it into "liquid."
The result was denser, higher-quality energy. One unit of condensed energy could equal two, three, or more of what he had before.
This was almost like raising his energy cap—but because condensed energy was stronger, his attacks would also become more stable.
If an opponent's energy was less refined, they would need to expend several times more power just to block one of his strikes.
The only drawback was the speed. At his current rate, even bathing constantly, it would take about a month to double the quality of his energy. Realistically, even longer.
Still—the idea that he could improve his strength just by soaking in a hot spring was incredible.
And for someone of his level, condensing his energy to twice its quality in a month was terrifying. Others might spend years and not even succeed.
As Nolan marveled at the change, the Kokomi in his arms felt it too.
Her Hydro power condensed as well. Though her total elemental energy diminished slightly, what remained grew denser, heavier.
And as she naturally absorbed ambient Hydro energy through her Vision, her reserves replenished, slowly filling with water power of far higher quality.
Besides that—
The various spatial properties also enveloped Kokomi, making her feel unusually relaxed. It wasn't until Nolan leaned in, about to press his lips against hers again, that she snapped back to awareness.
"Where… is this?"
Sangonomiya Kokomi looked around at the unfamiliar surroundings in puzzlement.
"This is my personal space—Fairy Tale Wonderland." Nolan gave her a rundown of the many benefits of the Wonderland space, then grinned. "Hehe, how about moving in here with me from now on?"
"N-no way, I…"
Her porcelain cheeks flushed crimson. Though her heart wavered, her girlish reserve made her instinctively refuse—only for Nolan to cover her lips mid-sentence.
He shook his head with a smile.
"Rejection denied. I don't want to trek all the way to Watatsumi whenever I need to see you. So it's decided.
"If you don't speak, I'll take that as consent."
"…" Kokomi was helpless. She wanted to retort, but with her lips sealed she could only bite down on his finger in protest.
"Oh, so you dare bite me? Then I'll just have to bite back!"
Nolan released her lips—only to seal them again with his own. His hands worked busily, peeling away her waterlogged garments.
"Mmph—what are you trying to…" Kokomi's muffled words were lost as her Vision's butterfly bow floated loose on the water, and her thin white inner layer, soaked through, turned semi-transparent.
Her long sleeves and mermaid-like skirt trailed away, baring her pale arms completely.
His hands slid into her white shorts, kneading her soft curves, tugging until the fabric slipped down her thighs.
"N-no, don't…" Kokomi's face burned hotter still, her voice faint and unclear.
Nolan pressed her down gently, submerging both of them beneath the hot spring's surface.
Through the rippling water, two figures could be seen rolling together.
Half an hour passed.
They resurfaced, Kokomi now clad only in her damp thigh-high stockings, the heavy fabric clinging to her legs.
She sat on her knees in the water, breathing lightly.
During their closeness, she had also used Nolan's harmonized energy to boost her strength. Though immersed the whole time, she never once felt suffocated.
But the exertion had drained her—now she could only catch her breath.
"You… despicable man…" Kokomi shot him a glare before hiding her face against his chest, too embarrassed to meet anyone's gaze.
"Hehe, come on. I'll dry your clothes for you. After that, we'll move your things here, and tonight we'll keep strengthening you."
He kissed her ear softly as he spoke.
"…Don't want to…" Kokomi murmured in a mosquito-like voice. Whether she meant it or not was unclear.
Nolan swirled the Wind element, lifting their drenched garments from the water and drying them. After changing, they greeted the others in the lounge before heading back to Sangonomiya to pack Kokomi's belongings.
Once her room's important things were moved into a new chamber in the Wonderland space and quickly arranged, Nolan had her pinned to the bed once more.
By the next morning, after a night of training, Kokomi's strength had broken through to Level 80. Nolan's progress had also advanced greatly.
Kokomi had to return to the shrine to handle affairs. Thoughtful, Nolan escorted her back and kept her company for a while.
But perhaps bored watching her manage official duties, he wrapped his arms around her again, hands wandering.
In the end, Kokomi could only push him out the door and slam it shut.
Hmph! As nice as it was to grow stronger together, Watatsumi's government couldn't be neglected.
Tonight… he could take his liberties again.
Left to his own devices, Nolan strolled about near the Sangonomiya Shrine. He considered heading back to Enkanomiya to farm Bathysmal Vishaps for more EXP.
Just then, a lively voice rang in his mind:
"Nolan, come quick! I need your help with something!"
Oh—Yoimiya. That energetic tone was unmistakable. She had long since obtained a Waymark, and often used it to call him for help.
Usually, she asked him to gather fireworks materials, or play with children.
This time was probably the same. Since he was free, Nolan agreed and teleported straight to her side in Inazuma City.
"No problem," he replied.
"Thanks a bunch!" Yoimiya answered cheerfully.
[Yoimiya Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 300 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.9 (100/900).]
"Huh? This place is…"
When Nolan appeared beside her, he realized he wasn't at Naganohara Fireworks. Instead, he was in another familiar place—the Kamisato Estate!
"Long time no see, Adventurer."
Before him stood a girl with long white hair tied into a high ponytail, hands folded gracefully before her, her smile both sweet and elegant.
"It hasn't been that long," Nolan chuckled. "So, Ayaka, you're the one who wanted me?"
He glanced between Yoimiya and Kamisato Ayaka.
"Not exactly," Yoimiya shook her head, her loosely-worn yukata slipping enough to reveal white bandages wrapping her chest. "The Yashiro Commission is helping grant people's wishes. Ayaka came to me, and I thought of you, so I pulled you along too."
"Er…" Nolan scratched his head.
"Hehe, please sit down first. I'll explain everything properly."
Ayaka, seeing Yoimiya's vague explanation left him confused, led them to kneel at the low table.
Parting her soft lips, she spoke gently:
"The Yashiro Commission oversees matters of shrine offerings. Thus, we often hear the people's wishes.
"Recently, Inazuma's many construction projects have been progressing vigorously. The other two Commissions are overwhelmed, and the Yashiro cannot fall behind…"
(End of Chapter)
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