"So, Yuuya-kun, I'm going to give you a massage."
"What's the reason for that?"
After we finished eating, Iris-san suddenly said that with a lovely smile. And then she tilted her head in wonder.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Um… how did you come up with that idea?"
"Ara, it's quite simple. I'm your master, and taking care of my apprentice's body is one of the most important things a master can do. That's why I'm going to help you relax your tired body."
"Huh? B-but, Master Usagi has never done that for me before."
"Well, it can't be helped. It's Usagi, after all. But, I'm not Usagi! Therefore, please leave it to me!"
I was pushed over the edge and ended up accepting a massage from Iris-san.
However…
"Hmm? What are you doing? Take off your clothes first."
"Take off my clothes? Why?"
"Of course, because I'm going to use this."
What Iris-san showed me was a thick orange liquid in a clear bottle.
"W-what's that?"
"It's an oil that I have formulated myself. It can be used to heal your muscles effectively. By infusing my Holy power into it, your body will be healed even more effectively. So come on, take it off!"
"U-ugh… Y-yes…"
Fortunately, I had a swimsuit thanks to my trip to the beach with Kaori and the others some time ago, so I changed into that swimsuit. And Iris-san, who had finished her preparations, looked back at me.
"Now, we are… rea… dy…"
"Huh? I-Iris-san?"
For some reason, Iris-san froze at the sight of me. Then, gradually, her face turned red, and she turned away from me with great force.
"W-wait! After thinking about it, it's the first time that I will touch… a naked man! W-w-w-what should I do?"
"I-Iris-san?"
"Huh? I-I'm sorry. W-well then… can you lie down there?"
I was asked to lie face down on the bed. Then, oil dripped on my back. Ugh… it's a little cold…
I was surprised at the oil's coldness for a moment, but then Iris-san's hand joined in.
"Ugh!"
At first, it was very ticklish and embarrassing because of the feeling of the thick oil and the fact that someone was touching my body, but… Iris-san's massage was very pleasant. What can I say…? Iris-san was right; I could feel that she was rubbing and healing my muscles that I had overworked during my training.
Of course, there were no wounds on my body. Still, as Iris-san massaged me with the power of the Holy, I felt the fatigue that had built up in my body disappear, and I was healed from the core of my body.
This was… going to be addictive… But rather than that, I was starting to feel sleepy…
A message suddenly appeared in front of my eyes as I began to doze off over the pleasant feeling.
You have acquired the skill [Holy Soul].
Eeehh…? Ho-Holy Soul?
Why did I suddenly acquire this skill, and what are its effects?
Although I would usually check right away, I was too sleepy to do so right now. At first, I tried to fight the drowsiness, but in the end, I succumbed and fell asleep without checking the new skill I had acquired.
＊＊＊
"….."
When the massage caused Yuuya to fall asleep, Iris's mind was in serious trouble.
(Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait! I-I'm now… touching the skin of a man!)
While desperately trying to calm her inner turmoil, Iris continued her massage. The only person who had ever given this massage to Iris was her master, the previous generation of Sword Saint.
This was the first time she had given a massage to a man, and she was confused. She had never been in any relationship with the opposite sex before. The only man she was close to was her father, so she had never had the opportunity to get this close to a man, much less touch their skin.
But Iris wasn't the only one getting flustered.
"Aaaarrggh! S-Stop it…! H-hey, Yuuya! Wake up! Wake up and stop this woman!"
While Iris continued her massage, Kuro, who was inside Yuuya, was screaming. This was because the massage that Iris was giving used the Holy's power, and by pouring it into Yuuya's body, combined with the effects of the oil, it was healing Yuuya's body.
That's why this massage was nothing but torture for the Evil Kuro, who was originally an enemy of the Holy.
"Hey, Sword Saint! Stop that hand right now! If it continues… I will be gone!"
(W-whoa… A-as expected… M-men are very strong…)
"N-no, my eyes are completely turned off…!"
Kuro's cry did not reach Iris. Instead, Kuro's voice can only reach Yuuya, so it could be said that it was a futile resistance.
(More than that, Yuuya-kun, he's sleeping… right? It's really a beautiful face when I look at him like this…).
Iris, who was able to look at Yuuya's face more closely than usual, was naturally drawn to his face.
(When I think about it, this boy saved me from Quarro's attack… I never thought of having a man save me before…)
Iris blushed again as she remembered how Yuuya had held her and saved her when Quarro attacked.
Even though Iris didn't seem to be concentrating on the massage, her hands were precisely taking care of Yuuya's body without the slightest hesitation.
"Damn it! This woman doesn't look like she's concentrating at all, but she's pouring the power of the Holy into Yuuya's body…! She shouldn't use her skill as Sword Saint here!"
Kuro's cry was plausible. If Usagi had seen this scene or had witnessed Iris's cooking, he would have been just as appalled as Kuro.
Iris used her power as the Sword Saint for her daily life.
However, as a result, Iris was able to effectively use her power as the Sword Saint in any situation, which was probably why she was called the strongest among the Holy.
In the meantime, Yuuya's lips suddenly entered Iris's field of vision.
"…Hey! Sword Saint? What the hell are you thinking? Your eyes are getting scarier…!"
(…Huh? Y-you can't do that, Iris! Yuuya-kun is much younger than you! To do that to such a boy… moreover, he is unconscious…!)
Iris contemplated this, but her gaze remained fixed on Yuuya's lips. And she naturally swallowed her saliva.
"T-this woman, could it be…! She wants to kiss Yuuya?"
(…J-just a little… I think it's okay if only a little…)
Kuro finally came to understand what Iris was trying to do to Yuuya. Aside from the panicked Kuro, Iris gradually brought her face closer to Yuuya while her face turned red.
"H-hey! Yuuya! Wake up quickly! If not… you will be kissed by this woman!"
Kuro repeatedly called out to Yuuya, but Yuuya still would not wake up.
And then──.
"Hmm…?"
"〜〜〜〜?"
Just before Iris's lips touched Yuuya's lips, Yuuya finally woke up.
Iris, who instantly sensed his presence, fully displayed her physical abilities as the Sword Saint and distanced herself from Yuuya's face with unstoppable speed.
Yuuya, who had no idea what was happening, rubbed his eyes sleepily.
"Ah… I-I'm sorry… I must have fallen asleep because it felt so good…"
Iris then shook her head with all her might to Yuuya, who said that with an apologetic expression.
"I-it's okay! I-it's not a problem! You must be tired from the training! It can't be helped!"
"T-thank you very much. …Um, what's wrong?"
"Huh?"
Iris made a strange voice in response to Yuuya's question. But Iris did her best to maintain her composure as she answered Yuuya.
"I-it's nothing! Yes, nothing!"
"I-is that so? That's fine then…"
For Yuuya, who twisted his head with a somewhat strange expression, Kuro was relieved that the power of the Holy was no longer pouring into Yuuya's body, but he also cursed.
"Nothing, my ass! She afflicted me with a lot of pain, and then she tried to give Yuuya a strange kind of trouble."
"Eh? Strange kind of trouble?"
"Giku!"
While confused as to why Kuro seemed to be in a bad mood, Yuuya recited Kuro's words. Then, Iris froze when she heard it.
"W-w-w-what are you talking about? I just wanted to make sure that Yuuya-kun's body was in good shape. There's nothing else… yes, nothing…!"
Yuuya felt a little uncomfortable with Iris's behavior but realized that the treatment was over and stretched out.
"Hmm…! Aaahh! That was amazing! My body feels so much lighter now!"
"R-really? That's good to hear."
"Yes! Thank you so much!"
"Ugh…!"
In front of Yuuya's innocent smile and his ignorance of this whole event, Iris turned her face away. However, Iris did not intend to end here.
"T-then, for the future training…"
"Yes."
"Whenever you finish your training, I will give you a massage, so keep that in mind, okay?"
"Geehh?"
"Eh? T-this is not the only time?"
Yuuya raised his voice in surprise at Iris's words, and Kuro raised his voice of disgust from the bottom of his heart. However, Kuro's voice could not reach Iris, of course, so Iris continued without any sign of concern.
"It's natural, isn't it? If you don't take care of your body every time you finish your training, it's meaningless. It's not that you dislike it, is it?"
"That's, well…"
"Hey, Yuuya! I don't like it! I almost died while you were sleeping."
"Eeh? Why?"
"Of course it's because she poured the power of the Holy into me! I'm the Evil! The Holy's power is a deadly poison to me!"
"Oh, that's right…"
"What do you mean by that?"
Kuro was speechless when Yuuya's answer was too simple.
"But it's also true that my body felt great…"
"Guh… it's certainly true that the massage itself is painful, but… my body is also more comfortable now than before."
"Is that so?"
Yuuya did not understand, but it was no exaggeration to say that Kuro lived in Yuuya. The condition of Yuuya's body was directly related to Kuro's comfort. Therefore, the healthier Yuuya was, the more comfortable the environment would be for Kuro.
Knowing this, Kuro couldn't argue strongly with Yuuya's words. Thinking that by enduring the pain for a short time, he would be able to be more comfortable in Yuuya's body, Kuro did not say anything more.
Iris tilted her head at Yuuya, who was lost in conversation with Kuro.
"What's wrong?"
"I-it's nothing!"
"Really? Well, anyway! I'm going to keep massaging you, so please keep that in mind, okay?"
"Y-yes. Well then… please take care of me."
Iris made an agreement with Yuuya for massages and inwardly posed a gut pose.
She had the opportunity to touch Yuuya's body legally… This was the result of Iris's persistence, as she had been unlucky with the opposite sex until this age and had missed out on marriage.
──Thus, the strict and lenient training life of Yuuya continues.