Chapter 127: Erza's Massage
"As long as you have a plan, that's fine."
"By the way, Gramps, the guild's library needs to be expanded. The books I got from Blue Pegasus and Quatro Cerberus are a huge addition. I did a quick calculation, and our current library won't be able to hold them all. Also, we need to send some more of our books to them. Their help this time was too great; the books we sent before weren't enough."
"Alright. I'll go with you later to pick out some more books, and you can deliver them. As for the library expansion, let's just build onto the back. You can help me determine how much space we'll need."
"Mhm, I will. I'm going to head home for now."
"Go on, then."
Noah nodded and went home to rest. Although he loved to read and always had a book in his hands, after several consecutive months of high-volume reading, combined with using Archive to input data, his body wasn't tired, but he was mentally exhausted. He decided to just rest at home for a bit before dealing with other problems.
When he got home, he found Erza sitting on the sofa, resting.
Seeing Noah return, a huge smile spread across her face. He had been gone for a long time. Aside from coming back to celebrate the New Year, he had been away for nearly half a year. She was just about to greet him when, thanks to their long time together and her own keen observation, she noticed the imperceptible fatigue on his face.
She quickly stood up and walked over to him. "What's wrong? You look very tired."
"It's nothing. I just spent the last few months reading nonstop, so I just feel a little drained, that's all."
Erza's eyes immediately sharpened. "Didn't we agree that you would rest properly and not overwork yourself? Were you pulling all-nighters again?"
Noah shook his head, walked over to the sofa, and sat down, letting out a deep sigh. "It really is most comfortable at home! I didn't pull any all-nighters. I rested on time every day. It was just a long period of high-intensity reading, so I'm mentally tired. I'll be fine after a short rest."
Erza thought about it, then suddenly said to him, "If you're mentally tired, then a massage should help. Let me give you one!"
Noah was startled. "You're going to give me a massage?"
"What, I can't?" Erza looked displeased.
Noah quickly shook his head. "Of course not. That... that would be great."
"Good." A smile returned to Erza's face, and she sat down next to him. Noah was still looking at her, confused, wondering what she was planning to do, when she patted her own lap.
"Come on. Lie down."
"???"
When I make a question mark, it doesn't mean I have a problem, it means YOU have a problem, Noah thought, looking at her, bewildered. But seeing the completely serious look on her face, he knew she wasn't joking.
"What's wrong? Hurry up and lie down!"
Noah glanced at what Erza was wearing. She had on a light-colored dress that went down to her knees, and she was wearing black stockings. Seeing her insistent expression, he had no choice but to slowly lower himself. He was only halfway down when she grabbed him and pulled him the rest of the way.
There was no soft or comfortable sensation, only the sharp pain of Erza pulling him down with a sudden burst of strength.
Once Noah was lying with his head on her lap, Erza began to massage his head.
"Ow, ow, ow! Erza, be gentle! My head is not one of your weapons; you don't need to use so much force!" The moment she started, Noah almost leaped up from the pain. The force she was using didn't seem appropriate for a person's head; it was more like how she would polish her sword. Even though she had already lightened her touch, it wasn't by much.
"Sorry. I'm not used to this. I used too much strength. Is this okay?"
Erza slowly lessened the pressure. Noah kept waving his hands until she finally found a suitable level, at which point he stopped. Erza then continued to gently massage his head, starting from his forehead, moving to the crown of his head, and then massaging his temples and face.
Thanks to the "education" from Ultear and Sorano, although Erza was still a bit of a tomboy, she had started to pay attention to certain feminine details. Furthermore, at their strong request, Noah had developed a skin-care potion, which all the girls in the guild now used. As a result, Erza's hands were soft and beautiful, free of the calluses one would expect from a sword master. Her fingers were slender yet strong, and they felt very comfortable on his face.
By now, the pain from her initial attack had faded, and Noah began to enjoy her massage.
His head rested on her lap. He closed his eyes, feeling her firm and strong thighs—the result of constant training. Because she trained properly, her legs were powerful but still soft. He smelled a faint, pleasant fragrance from her hair, the scent of her usual shampoo, clean and not overpowering.
At this moment, Noah didn't feel any romantic tension, only a deep sense of peace. This was the feeling of being at home, of being near someone he trusted. The accumulated mental exhaustion hit him all at once, and under Erza's gentle massage, he drifted off to sleep.
Erza continued for a while, and when she noticed he had fallen asleep, she lightened her touch even more. Slowly, she stopped and just sat there, leaning back against the sofa, watching him, lost in her own thoughts.
She had just finished her bath and was planning to go to bed; she had only been sitting in the living room for a moment. But then Noah had returned, and she had offered to give him a massage. Now that he was asleep, her own drowsiness returned. And just like that, without realizing it, she also fell asleep, leaning against the sofa.
When Sorano and Yukino returned home, they found the two of them. Sorano sighed, gently lifted Noah's head, moved him slightly, and placed it on a sofa cushion, getting him off Erza's lap. Then she and Yukino went to their rooms, got their blankets, and covered both of them.
When the other residents returned later, Sorano shushed them, and they all moved about quietly, not wanting to disturb Noah and Erza.
When Noah finally opened his eyes, he saw that Erza was no longer beside him, and everyone else was home. He looked at the time and realized it was already evening. He had come home around noon, which meant he had slept for the entire afternoon.
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