The moment the ice spear was launched, Hermes didn't think; he reacted. He jumped off the jagged cliff to save the Priestess. Before she could hit the churning water below, he embraced her tightly, twisting his mid-air trajectory to sacrifice his own body as a shield for her head.
They hit the water with a bone-jarring impact. For several seconds, the Slime Body Armor pulsed with a dull green light, activating its emergency regeneration ability to knit Hermes's bruised ribs back together. Hermes gasped, opening his eyes underwater. The girl was no longer in his arms.
He scanned the murky depths until he spotted her body wedged between two jagged rocks. Breaking the surface for one lung-bursting breath, he submerged again, swimming with a desperate speed fueled by adrenaline. He hauled the unconscious young maiden to the surface and dragged her onto a flat, mossy bank.
"Hey! Hey, wake up!" he shouted, lightly slapping her cheeks. No response.
He checked her pulse, and his face turned deathly pale. She wasn't breathing. Panic, cold and sharp, pierced his chest. He was a Don, a fighter, a survivor—but he wasn't a doctor. In his former world, his education had focused on everything except basic survival medicine. His school had never taught him how to handle a life slipping away in his hands.
He recalled the game mechanic where the original Hermes had called the name of his servant to save him. He tried to use the program in this critical situation.
Time is right. He might be nearby now. Hopefully, it works,' he prayed.
"Justin!" Hermes yelled, his voice echoing off the canyon walls. "Justin, I need you! Where are you?!"
Silence. Only the roar of the waterfall answered him.
"Damn it, Justin! This isn't a joke! Get here right now!" he screamed again, his voice cracking with a raw, uncharacteristic fear. He looked down at Venus; her skin was turning a translucent, ghostly blue.
"JUSTIN! MY DON IS COMMANDING YOU! APPEAR!"
He roared a fourth time, his throat burning, his hands trembling as he gripped her cold fingers. Finally, the wind shifted, blowing violently from the east. As the breeze danced through Hermes's damp hair, a blonde-haired butler materialized from the mist as if stepping out of a shadow. He knelt on one knee, hand over his heart, bowing in total respect.
"My Don, I am here," said Justin, the Head Butler of the Archnemesis clan.
Seconds later, Mambo scrambled down the bank, his face contorting in horror at the sight of his Master. "Master! Oh, no!"
"What should I do? I don't know what to do! Help me, guys!" Hermes begged, his voice panicky and high-pitched.
Justin's eyes glowed faintly as he scanned Venus's status. He could see her mana fading like a guttering candle. However, he wasn't worried. To the manipulative head butler, this was a golden opportunity—a perfect "schematic" to bring the two together.
"My Don, there is only one way to save her," Justin said, his lips upturning into a subtle, dark grin.
"How? Tell me!" Hermes demanded, his eyes wide behind his mask.
Mambo noticed the shift in Justin's expression and realized the butler was up to something devious. 'This guy is really trying to ship them,' Mambo thought. 'Sir Justin is a terrifying schemer. But wait... isn't this actually a great chance for her?'
"Do not worry, My Don. She is still alive. But you must perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation," Justin declared.
"Huh? What the hell is that?" Hermes tilted his head, confused.
"To make it simple, sir: you must put your lips to her mouth and perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation," Justin answered smoothly.
"W-What? For real?" Hermes was stunned.
"Yes, Master. It is the only way," Justin lied with a straight face, hiding a smile. "Watch me closely; I will show you how to handle a simple kis—I mean, CPR."
Justin moved toward the Priestess and placed his hands on her chest. "Press your hands here, at the center where the heart is located. Push up and down with rhythm. Then, you must perform the final part."
Justin stepped back, clearing the way for his master.
"Why aren't you doing it?" Hermes barked. "If you know how, save her, Justin!"
"Negative," Justin replied gravely. "There are 'requirements.' I have limited authority over the Priestess's person. Furthermore, she is a minor. For me to do it would ruin my career and her reputation. It is a matter of ethics, My Don."
Mambo, now fully in on the plan, wiped cold sweat from his brow and hid his own smile behind his hand. 'I see the vision. I'll help you, Sir Justin.'
"Sir Aljen, there is a strict tradition in the Priestess's family," Mambo explained, adding his own flavor to the lie. "Only a leader of a high-ranking organization can perform this act. It must be someone in the same league as her, the same age, and someone for whom she holds deep affection."
"In short," Justin seconded, "Master Aljen is the only person who can perform the Sacred CPR. It is part of the tradition. I am but a common servant; she is far out of my league."
"HUH?!" Hermes hollered, his face turning a shade of red that rivaled Venus's earlier blushes.
"Master, calm down," Justin said, though his mind was racing. 'This is perfect. I need to take a picture of this moment. He's actually going to do it!'
'We need to hurry,' Mambo thought, biting his lip. 'Master will actually meet the God of Creation if he doesn't perform the CPR right now. He needs to do it now!'
"Master, you need to hurry. It's now or never!" Justin stressed, his voice laced with a false sense of panic that only a seasoned butler could fake.
"Sir Aljen, we're running out of time! Save her now! Kisu—I mean, CPR! Do it now!" Mambo begged, clasping his hands together as if in prayer.
Hermes stood frozen, his mind racing. If she died, he wouldn't just lose a companion; he would fail the objective the newspaper had set, potentially triggering a 'Heavy Price' that could end his life. Furthermore, his standing in the village was fragile. Without the Church's protection, the village militia and the angry locals would tear his disguise apart the moment they realized who he truly was.
He looked down at her blue-tinged lips. 'My first kiss... is this it? How pathetic,' he cried inwardly.
"F-Fine! I'll do it!" Hermes snapped, his face heating up beneath the mask. "Mambo, turn around. I'm removing the mask. If you want to see your master alive, do not look back!"
"Roger, sir!" Mambo agreed, spinning around instantly with military precision.
Justin bowed slightly, covering his mouth to hide a triumphant smirk. He watched the young Don lean in, holding his breath as the "heartwarming" scene unfolded. To ensure this moment was immortalized, Justin subtly reached into his breast pocket and produced a high-end, palm-sized concealed camera.
"Shit... wake up. Please!" Hermes implored. He began the rhythmic compressions on her chest just as Justin had demonstrated. Then, taking a breath, he sealed his lips over hers. He repeated the cycle—compressions, breath, compressions—over and over with desperate intensity.
"Sir Justin, you're really good at this part," Mambo whispered over his shoulder, still facing away.
"Oh, ho! It is for the greater good," Justin giggled quietly, the shutter of his camera clicking every time Hermes's lips met the girl's. "I will do whatever it takes to ensure the next generation of our clan."
"Wait, crap," Justin grumbled suddenly. "I forgot to teach my master the French kiss. Man, this is bad—she's starting to wake up."
"Sir Justin, I'm starting to question your sanity," Mambo muttered.
"I just hope this is her first kiss," Justin prayed.
"She's a teenager; I guarantee it," Mambo chuckled.
"Yes!" Justin whispered, striking a 'guts pose.'
"What about your boss?" Mambo asked.
"Unfortunately, my master is no longer a virgin in this regard. This will be his second," Justin answered knowingly.
"A player, huh? I'll keep that secret. I don't want to ruin their 'relationship' before it starts," Mambo sighed.
"WAKE UP! Shit, please wake up!" Hermes begged, delivering two more quick breaths before returning to the chest compressions.
Finally, Venus's fingers twitched. She gasped, coughing up a lungful of river water, her eyes fluttering open. The first thing she saw was a handsome, wet, and panting young man leaning over her—his mask nowhere to be seen. She blinked several times, her brain trying to process the image of the silver-haired youth.
"W-Who are you, sir?" she asked anxiously, her voice raspy.
"It's me, you naive girl! Holy shit, it worked!" Hermes exulted, overwhelmed with relief as he pulled her into a tight embrace.
Venus's face turned a nuclear shade of red. For a moment, she was paralyzed by the warmth, but then the realization hit. She didn't recognize this face. To her, this was a stranger—a gorgeous, terrifyingly handsome stranger—hugging her while she was half-drenched.
SLAP!
She delivered a sharp sting to his cheek and pushed him away with surprising strength.
"I-I-I don't know who you are! But I'm not a bitch! I won't betray my love! P-Please, stay away from me!" Venus trembled, scrambling backward and shielding her chest with her hands.
"Why the hell did you do that?!" Hermes complained, rubbing his stinging cheek. "What was that for?"
"Hieee! Please don't hurt me! I know I'm cute and beautiful, and you're a... a very healthy, handsome man, so I know you couldn't resist me, but please!" Venus shivered, her eyes darting around for an exit.
"Huh? Hey... calm down. I'm not going to hurt you," Hermes said, utterly perplexed.
"Any other woman would fall for you, but not me! I've devoted my life and body to one person already, so don't try anything!" she cried, dropping to her knees in a defensive posture.
'This girl... she doesn't recognize me without the mask? How stupid is she?' Hermes felt a wave of disappointment. "Ah, shut it. Just calm down for a minute."
Venus looked down and realized her summer dress was clinging to her, revealing far too much. "KYAA! Turn around! Turn around! Only my lover is allowed to see this! Not you! Not you!" Her eyes welled with tears of embarrassment.
'Since when did I become your lover, Venus?' Hermes thought, his eyes crinkling in annoyance.
"Is that how you treat your savior?" he argued.
"Please don't misunderstand! Thank you for the rescue, sir! But please... look away! Stop lusting after my body with your perverted, good-looking face!" she begged.
'Is that a compliment or an insult?' Hermes simpered. Behind him, Justin and Mambo were practically vibrating with suppressed laughter. The Priestess finally noticed them, her eyes bulging when she saw Mambo chuckling alongside the blonde butler.
"Mambo! Why aren't you doing anything?! A handsome guy molested me and you're just standing there!" Venus pouted, her lips downturned in a classic tantrum.
"Didn't I order you not to turn around?" Hermes snapped at Mambo.
"Oh, please, sir," Mambo laughed. "Let me enjoy the show."
"This is not a joke! I'm having a feminine crisis!" Venus complained.
"Ah, shit. This is getting out of hand," Hermes sighed, defeated. "Justin, do me a favor and clarify the situation before she has a heart attack."
"Oh, boy. Let me enjoy this a little longer. It's fun to watch," Justin chuckled.
"This guy... grrrgh," Hermes grimaced.
"What is going on?" Venus asked, her voice rising in a frantic pitch. "Where is Sir Aljen? Is he safe? The kids? I want to see Sir Aljen!"
Justin leaned over and tapped Hermes on the shoulder. "I told you, sir. She's a fine lady. She reminds me of your mother."
"What the hell? My mother is a terrifying woman, you idiot. Sure, she's devoted, but she'd kill any rival on the spot," Hermes argued. According to the game's lore, Hermes's mother was a psychotically protective parent—toxic to commoners but an absolute saint to her own children.
"Master, remember this: not all women are from the same root," Justin whispered into his ear. "She's a fine woman, and she will be a great asset to your ambitions. Take this chance, sir."
Ah, I see,' Hermes mused, the corners of his mouth twitching behind his hand.
He was genuinely floored by her personality. In his cynical worldview, he had assumed most people—especially those who clung to him—saw him only as a collectible or a means to an end. He'd suspected Venus was faking her devotion from the start, but her raw, frantic rejection of his "handsome stranger" persona proved him wrong. She didn't know who he was, yet she remained fiercely loyal to the image of 'Aljen' she held in her heart.
A woman with that kind of integrity was a rare find in any world. Yet, the pragmatic side of his mind whispered a warning.
"Justin," Hermes murmured, leaning toward his butler. "I know you're trying to set us up, but don't forget: she loves 'Aljen,' the pious merchant, not the real me. The moment she discovers the truth behind this mask, her love will vanish like a falling star. It'll be gone as quickly as a stone sinking into that river."
"Oh, well. Who knows?" Justin replied with a playful wink. "Love is a powerful catalyst, My Don. It often defies even the most calculated logic."
"Ah, shut it," Hermes grumbled, pushing him away.
"My, you really are the shy type, aren't you?" Justin teased.
"Are you my consigliere or some kind of demented Cupid?" Hermes raised an eyebrow, his tone dry.
"I am merely an ordinary butler looking forward to a bright, crowded future for the clan," Justin declared, his smile widening.
"Just shut your mouth," Hermes sighed, turning back as the Priestess approached them, her face pale but determined.
"Sir, may I have your attention please?" Venus asked softly.
"Yes, you may," Hermes permitted.
"I don't know why Mambo is refusing to look at you, but... thank you. Thank you so much for saving me. I truly appreciate your bravery," she said, bowing her head.
"Ah, it's nothing. Anyone would have done it," Hermes said, scratching the back of his neck. "It's part of the... 'tradition,' after all."
Justin and Mambo both coughed violently to cover their laughter, while Venus tilted her head in confusion. "Tradition?"
"Lady," Hermes sighed, pointing a thumb at his chest. "Do you really have no idea who I am?"
"Unfortunately, no. And while I'd like to know your name, I don't want to cause any misunderstandings," she explained, her voice gaining a sudden, firm clarity. "You see, I already have a lover. His name is Aljen. He's a merchant—I'm not entirely sure what his company is called—but he's brave, religious, and incredibly kind. Even though you saved my life, this was just an accident. I hope what happened here stays a secret. I don't want to make him 'jelly,' you see? He's stubborn and gets worried far too easily. But I love how he treats me like a normal girl." She smiled to herself, clasping her hands together.
"O-Oh? He sounds like a lucky man," Hermes replied, feeling a bead of cold sweat roll down his neck. 'Slime, I thought I was friend-zoned, but she's insisting we're lovers? My heart can't take this flip-flopping!'
"Yes! And I hope we can be friends. Only friends. Got it?" she requested.
"Aah... yes. Friends only," Hermes responded, his voice flat. 'I knew it. This is a disaster,' he coughed blood metaphorically inside his mind.
"Anyway, I should introduce myself properly. I am Venus Aphrodite, the High Priestess of Neue Fiona. And you are?"
Without a word, Hermes reached down, picked up his mask, and slid it back over his face. Venus flinched, her eyes widening as the familiar, ordinary-looking mask clicked into place.
"I'm Aljen, the merchant," he said confidently.
Venus's expression went completely blank. A heavy silence filled the canyon, save for the roar of the water.
...."Eh?"
"Eh?" Hermes tilted his head.
"Are you serious?" Venus's voice trembled.
"Yep. I'm Aljen," he confirmed.
"KYAAAAA!" Venus shrieked, her face turning a color that shouldn't be humanly possible. "No way! I want a do-over! I'm so sorry! I didn't recognize you! And I—I called you my lover out loud! Please, forget everything! Forgive me!"
"Pff... I'm sorry too," Hermes teased, barely holding back his laughter. "But hey, you said it yourself. You want to be 'only friends,' right? We'll stay like that."
"No! Give me a chance!" Venus wailed, lunging forward and burying her face in his chest.
The sudden contact of her soft curves against his chest made Hermes shiver. Realizing how cold and damp she was, his protective instincts overrode his teasing.
"Y-You're going to catch a cold. Cover yourself," he said, gently pushing her back to arm's length and draping his jacket over her shoulders.
"Thank you... I had no clue it was you, Sir Aljen. I feel so stupid," she moaned into the fabric.
"Ah, please... hold the jacket closed over your chest, lady," Hermes commanded. "Justin, lend me your coat. Her... clothes are becoming transparent, and she needs something dry."
"Wait," Venus paused, touching her mouth. "Something feels strange. My lips feel... soaked."
"Yep. You were nearly dead. But since I saved you, you're safe now," Hermes confirmed.
Venus blinked, her legs starting to wobble. "D-D-Don't tell me... you... you kissed me? How despicable!" She raised a hand to the sky, her eyes glowing with magical intent. "I'll wipe my own memory! This is too much!"
Justin and Mambo realized she was about to cast a high-level memory-erasure spell on herself. They had to act.
"Master, this is bad!" Justin directed. "The Priestess is entering shock! She needs an immediate 'Medical Forehead Treatment' to stabilize her mana!"
"Eh?" the Priestess paused, dumbfounded.
"What?" Hermes asked, confused.
"Sir Aljen, do it before it's too late! You have to say something romantic to trigger the 'healing'!" Mambo insisted.
"A-Ah, right!" Hermes, caught up in the urgency of the lie, grabbed her hands and pulled her into an embrace. He pressed his lips firmly to her forehead and whispered into her ear, "Just cover yourself properly, Venus. Or else... I don't know what I'll do to you next."
Venus's eyes went wide, her pupils trembling in total shock. Her brain seemingly short-circuited, and she collapsed limp into his arms.
"Fuck, I think I overdid it," Hermes murmured, rubbing his own forehead in exhaustion.
"Good grief, Master," Mambo heaved a disappointed sigh, though he was secretly impressed.
"By the way, Mambo... where are the kids?" Hermes asked, regaining his composure.
"They are in the safe zone, sir," Mambo answered politely. "A group of village militia led by Sir Richarde arrived just in time. The Chief had ordered them to check on us at the Seerside garden. I excused myself from their party to find you. The kids are in good hands; we just need to rendezvous with them now."