Chapter 31: 31 Subtle Gaslighting I ended up eating alone for the first time in a while. Normally, Circe or Medea would always be there. Eating like this made me feel oddly out of place. ’Medea must be really busy.’ She’s probably swamped with work and all sorts of tasks. Even amidst all that, making sure I have food is so like a pro maid. The menu was a sandwich stuffed with ham and eggs. The taste is guaranteed, but the problem is the portion. Maybe it was rushed, or maybe she thought I eat a lot. She made enough to fill an entire basket. ’Even in her busy schedule, she’s worried I might go hungry. She’s got a cute side, doesn’t she?’ Appreciating Medea’s thoughtfulness aside, I figured this could be put to good use. I grabbed the basket and headed to a certain room. It was the room where the elf, Diana, was staying. Knock, knock. "Yeah~ Come in." I knocked and opened the door. There stood an elf in nothing but her underwear. She was stretching with her arms raised when she finally noticed me. Wow, look at those breasts and underarms. Her figure is so stunning, I can’t help but be amazed every time I see it. "Oh, what? It’s the human? I thought it was that maid again." Diana didn’t even flinch when she saw it was me. Instead, she flaunted her confidence, showing off her figure. "Sorry about that. I should’ve said something first." "Eh, it’s fine~ You got an eyeful, so you must be happy, right?" Diana laughed breezily, slowly putting on her clothes. She really acts like a married woman over two centuries old, doesn’t she? ’Her reactions are so different from the witches.’ If it were Circe, she’d be blushing and embarrassed. This one feels far more experienced by comparison. Shy women have their own charm to devour. Bold women have a different kind of thrill when you pound them. ’I want to break that confidence and make her moan with pleasure.’ Regardless, what matters most is their face and how they feel in bed. I don’t care too much about a woman’s personality. Just look at that maternal, milk-dispensing chest and those childbearing hips. The moment you lay eyes on them, even a bitch would seem lovable. "So, why did our human come all the way to my room? Got some naughty request?" I was about to answer reflexively, but something she said caught my attention. "Human?" "Yeah, you’re a human, aren’t you?" "I told you my name, so why call me that?" "Humans die so quickly, is there even a point in remembering their names?" ...This elf’s personality is something else. "Hahaha! Kidding, kidding! It’s Karl Mars, right? I remember it perfectly. Don’t make that face." "...That’s not exactly a fun joke for a human to hear from a long-lived species." "Hehe! So cute. You’re fun to tease, aren’t you? Why don’t you ditch the witch husband gig and come to our village? I could use you as a servant or something." "I’ll politely pass on that." "Tch! So uptight, how boring." As a wizard, I have more to learn from witches. Why would I abandon my position as the great witch’s husband? "By the way, have you eaten yet? I brought some sandwiches. Want to share?" "Hmm~ Trying to get chummy with food? Naughty boy." "Just helping out a fellow guest." "Pfft! Don’t act all high and mighty. Fine, I can’t say no to a cute human’s gesture." Diana flopped onto the bed. She patted the sheet next to her, signaling me to sit. Her every move felt like an older sister teasing her younger brother. ’Calling a guy to her bed so casually.’ Does she feel that comfortable around me or something else is going in her mind? No reason to refuse, so I sat next to her. "Ooh~ Looks tasty. Did that witch make this?" "Probably. There’s a head chef, but Medea’s pretty good at cooking too." "Hmph~ That witch is something else. Bet you could stab her and not get a drop of blood." "Medea does have a bit of a golem vibe." "Pfft! A golem, huh? You’re kinda funny." We ate our sandwiches side by side. Every time she chewed, her large breasts jiggled. Being so close, I caught a faint fruity scent. Is that an elf’s natural body fragrance? "You’ve got it rough, huh? Getting dragged into a witch’s mess and suffering for it." "Well, I used to think that way at first." Back when I didn’t know Circe had such a killer body and face. If wizards knew the great witch was such a beauty, they’d be lining up to be taken by her. Some would probably swear to be her slave for life just for one night with her. Circe’s breasts and pussy are worth that much. I get to enjoy her day or night, no problem. So what can I say more? "But I’m pretty satisfied with this life now. The great witch treats me kindly too." "Hmm~ Really? She might be fine as a host, but as a woman, isn’t she kinda lacking?" Diana propped her cheek on her hand, giving me a suggestive look. She leaned forward, naturally accentuating her chest. With a smile as fresh as a morning forest, it’s clear this elf is deliberately showing off her figure and trying to lure me. ’...Maybe showing herself in her underwear was intentional too.’ "You probably don’t even get to have proper married life. Well, it’s common among long-lived species." "We have sex every day, though?" "What? Uh, really? I mean, seriously?" My answer must’ve been quite a shock. Diana got so flustered she even used polite speech. "Still, doing it with a stone-cold witch can’t be that fun, right?" "She’s pretty responsive. Cries a lot, gets really wet." "Those stiff witches?!" The elf’s eyes widened dramatically. If she heard about Circe sucking my dick or having outdoor sex, she’d probably faint from shock alone. "That’s... surprising." "Do elves not have much of a married life?" "Huh? Oh, well, you know. It’s just how it is." From her reaction, it seems like they don’t do it much. Well, elves do have a pretty small population overall compared to the human population whose sole existence is to reproduce and increase population. ’Guess her married life isn’t exactly thrilling.’ It’s surprisingly common among couples. The wife wants more, but the husband avoids sex. It’s especially common with older couples. ’Wonder if that applies to long-lived species too.’ It’s clear Diana’s dissatisfied with her marriage. She even subtly calls witches boring, as if they don’t know much about sex. In other words, Diana’s an elf with a strong interest in that area. Though, with little experience, she’s probably what you’d call a wannabe slut. ’This could be useful.’ I spoke to Diana, who had a slightly sulky expression. "Circe really wants to have a kid, so we’ve been having sex every night." "E-Every night? Isn’t that exhausting? I mean, doesn’t it drain a guy’s stamina?" "I can handle that much no problem. In fact, it’s not enough, so we do it during the day too." "... O-Ohh~" Diana’s eyes flicked down toward my pants. Pretty honest look and reaction. At the same time, magic activated, revealing information. [Elf Diana’s psyche: Strong sexual desire, dissatisfaction with married life, longing to have a child, inferiority complex about magic] ’As expected, all that confidence and sass, but she’s still a long-lived species.’ Elves live long lives too. Compared to humans, usually they’re not great at scheming or understanding psychology, though there are exceptions. "Elves don’t seem to do it much, huh? Not much action in the bedroom?" "Well... elves generally have low sex drives. Though there are exceptions." I was sure Diana was that exception. "Come to think of it, you mentioned you already have a husband." "Oh... yeah, I do, but..." "I’d like some advice for my own married life. Do you have kids?" "...No kids. I want them, but my husband’s not into it." "Oh, I see. That’s surprising. If I had a wife like you, Diana, I’d be making love every day and make a kid every year." Diana’s eyes widened in surprise, her white ears turning slightly red. "Oh... ahem! Ahem! You really think so?" "Of course. I’d never seen a beauty like you until I came here." "...You saw some here, so does that include the witches?" "Well, Circe is really pretty." "Hmph~" Diana gave me a peculiar look. I haven’t touched her yet, so I can’t read her innermost thoughts. But I don’t need to, to know what she’s thinking. This elf has an inferiority complex about magic and Circe is arguably the greatest witch in the world. "...You really love your wife, don’t you?" "Hmm... probably?" "Probably?" "To be honest, I was kinda sold off to this place." I gave a wry smile and scratched my head. "Circe’s my first wife and lover, so I think I love her. But I don’t have anything to compare it to, so I’m not sure if it’s real love." That’s a pure 120% lie. Before I came here, I’d fucked so many maids and village girls I’d need more than both hands and feet to count them. But if my guess is right, this elf will definitely... "...Maybe that’s not real love." Just as I thought. I held back a laugh and put on a serious face. "I-Is that so?" "You said she’s your first wife. How can you be sure it’s love?" "Well... but Circe’s been good to me." "That’s exactly why. You’re in this unfamiliar place, feeling anxious. Then a woman treats you kindly, and you mistake it for affection. That shady witch probably planned it that way." Diana spoke as if she was genuinely worried about me. But I could see it clearly. The filthy desire lurking within this elf. She already feels inferior to the great witch, and she’s jealous that, unlike her, Circe gets to have all the sex and a happy married life. "I’m saying this because you’re a nice guy who brought sandwiches to the first elf you met." Jealousy, inferiority, envy. Surprisingly, these emotions make living beings the most proactive. "...Think about it. If you’re really an innocent victim, as an elf, I could help you." While being honest about her desires. "...Or at least be someone you can talk to." "Thank you. You’re really kind, Diana." "Pfft! You’re probably the only one who’d say that to an elf." Diana flashed a vibrant smile, clearly amused. ’Alright, the seed’s been planted.’ Now, all that’s left is to make this elf want to get closer to me, bit by bit. Judging by her reactions, it probably won’t take long. *** Diana Pov "Ugh, why did I even say all that?" In the room Karl left behind, Diana, now alone, scratched her head. She’d just meant to mess with a human out of boredom. But she ended up saying way too much. Personal stuff about her married life and family matters. Even offering to help him, unprompted. "It’s weird how I just keep talking when he’s around. What’s up with that?" It’s like he has this unique, relaxing vibe. Coming to the witch’s mansion always made her uneasy. But when that human’s around, she somehow feels better. She even thought about wanting to cuddle him while sleeping. ’...That annoying great witch gets to spend every night with him.’ It’s only natural for a married couple to sleep together every night. But for Diana, who’s dissatisfied with her own marriage, even that feels unfair. Combined with her usual inferiority complex toward witches, she couldn’t help but envy the great witch. "...It’s kinda pissing me off." Whether she realized her emotions were being manipulated or not, Diana found herself irritated by Circe. Enough to briefly entertain the idea of helping (or stealing) the poor human who’d been sold to the great witch as her husband.