Chapter 26: Lola’s Special Massage Course

Chapter 26:
Lola’s Special Massage Course

 

CLASSES AT HERO ACADEMY started up again the very next day. After taking on the extra missions to make Grade C in our guild, Emma was exhausted and out with a stomachache. Thankfully, it didn’t sound particularly serious. The classroom was a sea of gloomy faces that morning. I couldn’t blame them. I mean, who wants to go back to class after a long weekend? Unfortunately, our school, and especially the S-Class homeroom teacher, never went easy on us.

When the door opened and Ms. Elena stepped in, her eyes were more severe than usual. You could have cut the tension with a knife.

Ms. Elena was in her early twenties and wore makeup that gave her a mysterious air. She was well-proportioned, and her body was toned from her many years as a mercenary. She had a pretty face, too, so I always thought she could have been a model if she had a—how shall I put it—a more forgiving personality.

“One holiday and you all look like a bunch of little slackers. All right, get up, we’re going outside. Skin doesn’t just snap back once it gets stretched out. I want twenty laps around the yard.”

Ms. Elena’s Spartan theory of education was going strong. While the rest of us felt like crying, we knew arguing would only add to our torments, so we all trudged out to the schoolyard. With my class, I ran the twenty laps as fast as I could and came in third.

“You three are elite soldiers.” Ms. Elena offered a reward to the top three: she came by and ruffled our hair. “There you go. Good job. Keep up the good work.”

Was that her idea of a reward now…? I would have rather she sat on me again.

“By the way, how are you doing with your exam?” she asked me.

“It’s going pretty well, I think.”

“Noir. You’re not doing something crazy like planning to hunt a dragon, are you?”

“What if I am? Wouldn’t it be safer to teach me a little bit about dragons?”

I thought she might give me something if I put it like that, but she shook her head. It was against the rules to tip students off. Made sense.

“If you want my advice, I think you’d be better off giving up on a dragon hunt. If you focused on the other two options, you could make a top score easily, Noir.”

“Hm. If it gets too dangerous, I will.”

“I just don’t want you making a bad call. Plenty of things are more important than exam scores. Like your life. Or the lives of your friends.”

“Really, I appreciate the concern. But I swear I’m not going to push myself past my limits.”

Despite my assurances, Ms. Elena’s expression didn’t brighten. She was genuinely worried. Did I really seem that hopeless?

Thanks to the adrenaline boost from the run, I had an easier time concentrating on class. Judging by my classmates’ attitudes, I wasn’t the only one. Ms. Elena knew how to handle us.

After class, Maria caught me while I was getting ready to go home. We talked about the exam, I checked up on her health (still good, whew), and then it was just some regular chitchat. After a bit, her expression softened.

“I still haven’t repaid you for all you’ve done for me, Mr. Noir. If there is anything that I might be able to assist you with, please, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Please, you’ve done more than enough. You even became my friend.”

“I suppose, but I still don’t feel right. Are you certain there isn’t a thing I could do? I do know I am rather limited in my abilities, but…”

She seemed so down, I just had to rack my brain for something.

“Oh, well, in that case…”

I finally came up with an idea—something small, but meaningful—and I whispered it to her.

“I would do so happily! I shall be ready whenever you like.”

“Let’s wait until everyone else goes home then.”

We hung around to wait for the rest of the students to leave and, when it was just the two of us, we began. Maria stood directly in front of me, once more wearing one of her elegant white dresses. My heart was pounding way more than I expected.

“Are you ready?” I asked.

“Wh-whenever you are.”

I gently wrapped my arms around Maria, and she hugged me back. Her supple flesh against my body made me want to sigh, but I was afraid of sounding like a creep, so I held it in. Still, I didn’t last long. I let go as soon as I got the LP.

“Could you explain the benefit of doing this?” Maria asked.

“It’s a little weird, but I have to do this sort of thing to get stronger. I promise I don’t have any ulterior motives.”

“Of course! If it’ll help, Mr. Noir, have another.”

“Ahhh…!” She squeezed me so suddenly I couldn’t hold back an awkward moan. “L-L-Lady Maria,” I stammered. “It won’t do anything again so soon.”

“Then we ought to do it at regular intervals. Hm. Would it be better to keep this secret from others?”

“Yes, please.”

“Tee hee, very well.”

If the other boys in the class found out I got to do this with Maria, they would lay into me with unholy wrath. At any rate, I was happy to have gained another source of LP, but I had to wonder what it meant for my relationship with Maria. If I had to give this little episode a title, it’d probably be something like “Secret Liaison with the Duke’s Daughter.”

Ugh, I’m such a nerd.

 

***

 

My party and I were taking a bit of a break from adventuring activities while we worked independently to gather information on the dragon. As such, after I said goodbye to Maria, I headed to the guild to meet up with Lola. She had also asked me to come by when I had some time.

“I see you’re hard at work again today,” I said. “Good job.”

“I could say the same of you, Mr. Noir. Keeping up with school while adventuring on the side is no easy task. Oh, are you here about what I mentioned last time? I just so happen to have that special something I wanted to give you.”

She rummaged around, looking around to make sure no one was watching before she slipped her hand into her shirt. I had no idea what she was doing. From within, she produced a rectangular slip of paper.

“This is just between us, but I kept it in my cleavage.”

“W-wow, it’s so warm!”

“Heh, that coupon is just for you.”

The following was written on the slip: “Touch Me Anywhere Coupon, redeemable only by Noir. (*Please note that this coupon is only for a massage on any part of Noir’s person. You’ll have to wait for a different coupon to touch Lola!)”

“Do you want me to explain in more detail?” Lola asked.

“No! I think I got the idea!”

“Good, that saves me some time, then. Wanna redeem it now?”

I didn’t think I could possibly do that in such a public place, especially as my perfectly-healthy-teenage-boy mind immediately leapt to the most indecent possible “anywhere.” Though it wasn’t like I couldn’t use it for a shoulder rub. If anything, that was probably the most gentlemanly option. Lola gave a killer shoulder rub.

One of the other receptionists came by to tell Lola she could take her break. This was clearly part of Lola’s plan, but she pretended it was a coincidence.

“Oh, it even looks like I have some free time on my hands now. Why don’t we slip into that room over there? It’s empty.”

And that’s how I ended up all alone in a room with Lola.

“I’m kinda nervous about this,” I admitted. “Someone could open the door at any moment…”

“Just relax. No one comes in here.” Lola was thoroughly prepared. I wasn’t really a fan of how calculating she could be. She definitely wasn’t someone to antagonize. “Now, you don’t have to hold back. Do it for the LP, Mr. Noir.”

“Could you…uh, loosen my tight shoulders for me?”

“If that’s what you’re after, I would personally recommend you try Lola’s Special Massage Course!”

“I guess I’ll go with that then.”

All things said and done, I didn’t feel like I had much of an option in the end. But I also quickly learned that it wasn’t the wrong choice. Lola gave it her all as she earnestly worked to loosen my tired muscles. She massaged my shoulders and back, and the foot massage was heavenly. As she kneaded, she told me that she practiced every day on her mother’s feet.

“A receptionist’s job isn’t just to tender requests for adventurers. We have to support our adventurers too, and do whatever we can to give them the energy to keep going. Of course, you’re the only one getting this particular service, Mr. Noir.”

Adventuring was pretty tough sometimes, but if you asked me, her job seemed even harder, and I readily told her so.

“Ha ha, it really is! I have to deal with rude and crass adventurers, rivals bullying me, and listening to the complaints of my boss’s family members.” It really did sound tough. But Lola’s attitude instantly did a one-eighty and she was soon back to her boundlessly cheerful self. “So, you know, it makes me happy that you come in so regularly for requests. Okay, all done.”

My body felt amazing. I was completely relaxed and totally melting. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have said my muscles themselves were overjoyed.

“Thank you. That felt indescribably good.”

“Well, if you keep up the good work, I’ll give you all sorts of other coupons.”

“That’s kind of exciting.”

“Isn’t it just? I hope you look forward to the surprises I have in store,” Lola said with a wink.

She made sure I left the guild feeling refreshed, relieved, and ready to take on the world.