"Haaah..."
Lately, I've been terribly conscious of the gazes around me. As a Guild receptionist, drawing attention isn't new, but recently, the looks feel different—like people are handling a fragile object.
Worse, among the male adventurers looking at me, some are even shedding tears of frustration. It's getting incredibly creepy.
"So, that's the situation, Misha. What on earth is going on?"
"Ah~, well, maybe it's better not to worry about it! You know, even the gods say there are things in this world you're better off not knowing!"
"Hey, Misha. That phrasing... do you have an idea of what's causing this?"
I furrowed my brows at Misha's suggestive tone. She looked awkward, then leaned in close and whispered.
"Well, apparently, there's a book being sold in the Pleasure Quarter recently where your 'little brother' is doing... l-lewd things with various women. And they say you're one of the women drawn in it, Eina."
"...Huh? HAAAAAH!!?"
For a second, my brain refused to process the words. But the moment I understood what Misha meant, I inadvertently screamed. Immediately realizing the surrounding stares, I turned bright red and hung my head.
...Eh? I'm being used as a model for that kind of obscene book? And I'm drawn doing that with a cute boy like Bell... Ah! Come to think of it, is that why everyone in the Guild has been looking at me strangely lately!?
I held my head in my hands as the realization hit. Misha patted my shoulder to comfort me.
"Cheer up. Oh, by the way, from what I heard, the setting is that private room where you always take your little brother for study sessions—"
"Misha!!!"
I could vaguely imagine where the conversation was going, so I screamed her name to stop her. Misha just grinned foolishly and continued.
"But hey, isn't it better than being paired with some ugly guy you don't know? Look, if you really look at him, your little brother has a cute, handsome face, he looks clean, and he seems innocent. If you think about it, he's not a bad partner, right?"
"What are you saying!? Books of me doing... l-lewd things with an adventurer I'm responsible for are being spread around! And because of that, I'm getting all these weird looks..."
As I was venting to Misha, the Guild entrance suddenly became noisy. I looked over to see what was happening and saw Dormul and Luvis—the two who once caused a stalking incident due to the gods' pranks.
"Ah~! Eina-chan!!"
"E-Eina-san!!"
The moment they spotted me, they rushed over with the momentum of a charging bull. Then, stopping abruptly right in front of me, Dormul pulled a book from his pocket and thrust it forward.
"I-Is what's in this book true!?"
"You idiot!? How dare you show Eina-san such a vulgar book!!"
The cover depicted a half-naked me with a bewitching smile, entangled with a blushing Bell.
The moment I saw it, I nearly screamed. I clamped a hand over my mouth and, with speed that even a veteran Level 3 couldn't track, snatched the book away.
"Th-This is..."
Ignoring their cries to stop looking, I fearfully turned the pages of the strangely thin book. The first page or two were harmless. But the moment we entered the private room for our usual "study session," the me inside the book skillfully used words to guide the innocent Bell. With practiced hands, I stripped off his clothes, whispering, "This is also adult study..." and then...!!?
"Ahyu—"
" "E-Eina-sa~n-cha~n!?" "
The content was too extreme. It exceeded my tolerance as an Elf, and before I knew it, I lost consciousness.
When I woke up, the sun, which should have been high, was already setting. According to Misha, other Guild staff had thrown Dormul and Luvis out after the incident.
And in Misha's hand was that strangely thin book—the cause of my fainting. Moreover, having apparently read the contents, she was looking at me with a grinning, flushed face.
"Did you read it?"
"Well~, I thought Eina wasn't interested in men, but seeing this, I realized you like younger boys. Period."
"Kuh, kah..."
I wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out. I could only groan, my face burning.
"Here you go, then!"
"Here!? I'm troubled if you hand me something like this!!"
Misha forced the book onto me with a brilliant smile. I accepted it by reflex, but I had no idea what to do with it.
...No, Bell is certainly cute, and he's easier to talk to than other adventurers, but I've never looked at him that way. I haven't!
"Jeez, if it bothers you, just throw it away. Besides, even if you say that, deep down you're curious, aren't you, Eina?"
"No, that's not..."
"Ah, Rose-senpai left a message saying that since you woke up, you won't be able to work today anyway, so just go home. See ya!"
"Wait, Misha!!"
Watching Misha return to work, I hid the book in my clothes and hurried home, ensuring no one saw me. I entered my room, sat on the bed, took out the book, and opened it again to check the contents.
"Hey, Bell... do you like women with big breasts?"
"I would never say something like that to Bell!!!"
I shouted my denial at my own dialogue on the open page. I slammed the book shut and threw it somewhat roughly against my pillow.
"..."
I glanced at the discarded book repeatedly. Like I was touching hazardous material, I poked it and pulled away, poked and pulled away. After several attempts, I finally dragged it back toward me.
Driven by curiosity—or perhaps the urge to see scary things—I eventually picked it up and read it.
"No way!? Bell's thing is—"
"Fueeeh... I wouldn't do this—"
"Study doesn't mean that!—"
"Abababa—"
Opening and closing, closing and opening. Because it took me tens of minutes just to get through one panel, I spent a considerable amount of time reading a book of only about 30 pages.
Between the shame and the exhaustion from over-reacting, my body went limp despite the arousal. I lay down on the bed, and my eyelids began to droop.
Chirp chirp.
"Nnngh!!?"
At the sound of birds chirping, I gently opened my heavy eyelids. Outside the window, the darkness of night was gone, replaced by a bright blue sky. I panicked, jumped out of bed, and checked the clock. I might avoid being late, but I had to get ready immediately.
"No way!? I came home in the evening, right? Why is it morning already!!?"
No, I knew the cause. That book was to blame. That book had made me weird.
Telling myself that, I hurriedly got ready and rushed to the Guild.
"E-Eina~. Are you okay?"
"Do I look okay?"
With dark circles under my eyes and emitting an exhausted aura unlike my usual clean image, I looked like what the gods call a "zombie." Yet, despite my state, I processed the paperwork on my desk with my usual efficiency.
"Ah, Eina-san."
"Be-Bell-kun! Wh-why a-are you h-here!?"
"Sudden human beatbox!!"
I was so shaken by Bell's sudden visit that my speech completely fell apart. Frankly, I was so confused I didn't even know what I was saying. Still, work is work. I pushed the book out of my mind for a moment and asked his purpose for coming.
"Ahem! So, Bell-kun, why are you at the Guild today?"
"Eh? Why... well, today is for the study session to enter the Dungeon, just like always, Eina-san—!!?"
The moment Bell said "study," the contents of that book vividly resurrected in my brain. With the subject standing right in front of me, I panicked so hard I fell out of my chair.
When Bell rushed over to help me up, I panicked even more and shoved him away.
"Heh? E... Eina-san?"
"Ah!? I... I'm sorry, Bell-kun!!"
Because Bell is an adventurer, he only staggered, but seeing him look shocked at being rejected by someone he thought he was close to helped me finally regain my composure.
"I'm fine now! I'm sorry for pushing you!!"
"No, I don't mind. But... is something wrong?"
"Umm, that is, well..."
I could absolutely never tell him I had read a book depicting us in that kind of relationship. I choked on my words. Trying to survive the moment, I continued with a desperate excuse.
"I see. Um, if you're not feeling well, please don't force yourself. Rest today. We can do the study session another day."
"Uuu... I'm sorry, Bell-kun."
Bell worried about my health and was considerate enough not to let me push myself on his account. My chest filled with guilt at his kindness.
As I watched Bell leave, canceling today's study session, I heard some vulgar adventurers who had been watching us whisper—thinking they were quiet—"What, not taking him to the usual room for some adult study?"
In that instant, I heard something snap inside me.
Because of that book, I'm sleep-deprived, I can't focus on work, and I caused trouble for Bell...
"Hey, Misha..."
"Y-Yes!!"
"Do you know where that book was being sold?"
"Ha! I heard it was being sold in a corner of the Pleasure Quarter, ma'am!"
Overwhelmed by the pitch-black aura I was emitting, Misha answered in a military tone. Hearing that, I smiled brightly and grabbed Misha's shoulder.
"Are you free after work today?"
"Heh?"
"Are. You. Free?"
"Yes! I am free!!"
"Good. Then you'll help me find the person selling that book, right?"
"YES!!!"
There was no way she could refuse me right now. And so, Misha ended up helping me search for the seller in the Pleasure Quarter after work.
"Selling such a book without permission! I will absolutely find you and drag you in!!"
Burning with rage, I pushed through my poor condition, finished my work, grabbed Misha by the hand, and stormed into the Pleasure Quarter.