Help, I'm in Another World and All the Men Are So Hot! [BL]-Chapter 108: An Unwanted Audience

How long did he plan on sticking around, anyway?

The study’s gleaming set of gold-trimmed sofas came into view, and sprawled across one of them was Leonide, looking utterly exhausted.

"Leonide!" Damien called out, rushing over in alarm. But Leonide wasn’t dead—or even unconscious. He was simply too drained to sit up, not even reacting when Damien reached him.

Whatever conversation he’d had with Sebas had clearly taken everything out of him.

Damien couldn’t help but stare, concerned as he looked over Leonide, who was clearly exhausted, contrary to his earlier assurance that he wouldn’t overdo it.

Was he not expecting the challenge that came with confronting Sebas?

As much as Damien wanted to praise Leonide for his effort, he wasn’t sure if he had that right. But then, Leonide’s weak voice called out to him.

"...Master..."

"Huh? W-What? Should I get you some water or something?"

"I... did my best... so... can you... pat my head...?"

If that was what Leonide wanted, it was a small price to pay. Sitting down on the sofa, Damien gently placed Leonide’s head on his lap, running his hand through Leonide’s unruly hair. Though he didn’t know what Leonide had gone through, he could tell it was for Theo’s sake—or perhaps even for his own. He felt a pang of guilt.

So when Leonide, with a teasing grin, puckered his lips, Damien leaned down, giving him a soft kiss as a gesture of genuine gratitude.

Leonide’s eyes widened in surprise. "Didn’t think you’d actually do it..."

"Well, I care about you, Leonide. So if you’re okay with it, I’ll kiss you as much as you want."

He couldn’t believe he’d said it, but the words were out.

"Then... let’s run away together?" Leonide suggested, an almost hopeful glint in his eyes.

"Sorry, but I can’t do that."

"Thought so." Leonide let out a faint chuckle and puckered his lips again, so Damien leaned in, their kiss deepening as Leonide pressed closer, his tongue slipping in, catching Damien by surprise.

With one arm wrapped firmly around his head, Leonide held Damien close, their tongues intertwining in a way that conveyed not only gratitude and apology, but also affection.

Wait... Was this really the first time?

Damien’s fleeting doubts melted in the intensity of the kiss, the sense of familiarity as though they’d done this before.

... 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Meanwhile, Theo was just a room away, fighting for his life, and here Damien was, caught up in this impulsive, intimate moment. He snapped back to reality and pulled away from Leonide, who seemed rejuvenated.

Before Damien could recover from his embarrassment, Leonide, newly energized, clung to him, peppering him with affectionate kisses, one after another. Though he wanted to fully indulge in feeling miserable about his own lack of self-control, Leonide’s soft lips made it impossible to stay downcast.

Leonide was pressing close, clearly feeling the effects of their closeness.

Alright, seriously—this was not the time!

Yet Leonide looked so adorable, so fervent in his affection, that Damien’s emotions were all over the place, his head threatening to explode.

Then—Bang!

The door to the study burst open, causing them both to jump.

"This the study here?" came a voice as an unfamiliar figure stepped in.

Standing in the doorway was a small person—perhaps male, judging by the voice—dressed in flowing, ankle-length robes of a soft, plant-like green. He looked shorter than Damien, with an ethereal, almost otherworldly appearance.

The elf who entered was strikingly beautiful, with long, gleaming hair like spun gold and pointed ears that lent him an otherworldly elegance—was he an elf?

The suddenness of the encounter left Damien and Leonide frozen, still wrapped in each other’s arms, staring at the newcomer. For his part, the elf also gazed at them steadily, observing them with a hint of curiosity.

"Ah, I was told to come to the study, but it seems I’ve walked in on something... intimate. My apologies for disturbing your romantic interlude. By all means, please carry on."

Carry on? Damien could barely process what he was saying. The elf didn’t look like he planned to leave; instead, he casually reclined on the sofa opposite them, making himself comfortable.

"Well? Go on, don’t hold back on my account."

It was such an absurd scenario that Damien couldn’t even think to disentangle himself from Leonide. And Leonide, wide-eyed, was similarly dumbstruck, only staring back at the elf.

"Hmm? Not carrying on? Ah, I see—you must feel self-conscious under my gaze. But fear not; my interest is purely academic. I assure you, my only interest in watching your... union... is for scholarly purposes, with only the faintest hint of prurience."

So, there was some prurience involved.

Not that Damien would continue even if it were purely academic. Who was this person? And more importantly, what exactly was he doing here?

Judging from the fact that Svetozar, stationed by the door, had allowed him in, Damien figured this elf wasn’t an intruder.

It finally clicked.

"Oh, don’t mind me, really. Continue as you wish," the elf insisted, unfazed. "It’s rare to see a pairing between a human male and a centaur male. Fascinating. So fascinating, in fact, I’d prefer you start promptly."

This elf had to be the specialist Sebas had mentioned.

"And, to be clear, my interest is strictly academic, so let’s not have any misunderstandings. I’m not attempting to ’open new doors’ in response to the fact that I’ve been celibate for 600 years. That would be a misconception on your part. I mean, if you’re open to having me join, I wouldn’t necessarily object, but—no, give me some time to think. Perhaps ten years should be sufficient."

This man was insufferable.

Sebas’s "specialist" had finally arrived—but what, exactly, was he a specialist in? The elf’s steady flow of rambling nonsense was almost unbearable, and Damien resolved not to listen any further. After carefully extricating himself from Leonide, he asked Svetozar to go fetch Sebas.

...

"I apologise," Sebas said, entering the study and bowing his head immediately.

Wait... for what exactly?