MISS PAINTER, YOUR ART HAS COME ALIVE!-Chapter 27 : Chapter 27 - Looking for someone

“Mm~”
Seren froze as the faint, trembling moan slipped from Kaelis’s lips.
The sound coiled deep into her ears, tickling her nerves until her whole body felt like it was burning from the inside out. Her hand trembled, her face flushed scarlet, and she bit her tongue hard to stop herself from giving in to the dangerous heat swelling in her chest.
Right now, their posture was unspeakably indecent.
Because the protective range of the charm wasn’t large enough, Kaelis had chosen to have her heart shielded. That meant Seren had to press directly against her captain’s chest, brush in hand, paper clinging to bare skin.
Kaelis leaned back slightly, one arm covering herself with her clothes, the other braced against the table, her posture exposing the smooth curve of her pale breasts.
Seren swallowed. Her trembling hands pressed the sheet of paper over Kaelis’s chest, the resistance of soft flesh yielding beneath her palms.
The elasticity was shocking, every push of the paper left shallow imprints, her fingers sinking into the supple mounds as if they were made to be held.
She dipped the brush in water again, the bristles slick and trembling, before lowering it. The cold touch against Kaelis’s heated skin made her shiver violently, her lips parting with another muffled gasp.
Seren tried to focus. Tried to draw the protective lines with precision. But each stroke dragged across Kaelis’s breast, circling over the swollen softness, the brush tip grazing sensitive skin that quivered at every pass.
Kaelis bit her lip until it turned white. She couldn’t believe how it felt, the faint, teasing strokes making her chest tingle, her breath come faster. Her bare feet curled against the floor, her thighs tensing as the strange heat spread downward.
Her chin tilted up, the elegant line of her neck trembling. She wanted to endure it silently, but when Seren’s fingers pressed harder into the pliant flesh, squashing it slightly as she steadied the paper, Kaelis couldn’t help but nudge her knee forward, brushing against Seren’s thigh.
“Too… too hard,” she whispered, her voice ragged, trembling.
“Be gentler…”
Seren’s breath hitched.
“Y-yes…”
She loosened her grip slightly, but her hand still lingered, her fingertips sinking just enough to feel the fullness and heat of Kaelis’s breast.
Minutes stretched endlessly. The brush moved again and again, leaving Kaelis’s body tingling, every nerve on fire. Her lips parted, her chest rising and falling faster, her pale skin dusted with a rosy flush.
Finally, Seren straightened, her voice hoarse.
“It’s finished, Captain…”
Kaelis’s hand trembled as she peeled the paper away. Her heart pounded violently against her ribs, her whole body weak, as though she had just endured some forbidden act.
On her chest bloomed a curling crimson symbol, a floral sigil painted in a color deeper than blood. And yet, Kaelis couldn’t shake the thought that the true mark left on her was not the charm, but the heat of Seren’s lingering touch still imprinted into her breasts.
Kaelis focused briefly, and the mark quickly faded. Then, a spherical barrier formed around her body, roughly five to six centimeters in diameter…
“There's one on the back too… If I'd known, I would've put it on the back…”
Kaelis had assumed it was a shield-type protection, but it was actually omnidirectional?
Then why had she just gone through that embarrassing act?
And you! Seren!
You can read, right? Why didn't you warn me? Could it be… you did this on purpose to take advantage of me?
Kaelis's cheeks puffed slightly in indignation, but Seren simply lowered her head.
“Your dinner has gotten cold… Should I reheat it for you?”
“…Go ahead.”
“Yes.”
Seren didn't say anything more. As if nothing had happened, she quietly took the food and left, leaving Kaelis alone to adjust her slightly disheveled clothes…
Once outside the tent, Seren’s body finally gave out, her legs trembling as she leaned heavily against the wall for support.
Her breath hitched, face burning crimson. Slowly, almost against her will, one hand slipped down into her pants, pressing between her tightly squeezed thighs.
Muttering softly…
“Captain…”
…
It took Seren some time to reheat the meal. When Kaelis saw her again, it seemed she had changed clothes.
Although neatly dressed and identical in style to her usual uniform, Kaelis's sharp eyes could tell, there was a slight dampness on the girl's body, as if she had hastily taken a shower?
Why?
Kaelis didn't understand. When their eyes met again, both quickly looked away.
Neither brought up the strange incident, both were smart enough to stay silent.
After spending a bit of time getting used to this new life-saving ability, Kaelis shifted her attention to the final reward.
Seren read each word aloud, precisely and clearly.
There wasn't much to it, just a standard promotion order. However, it only upgraded her military rank, not her actual position.
“So… my status is elevated, but I'm still just a Centurion in position?”
Kaelis blinked, puzzled.
Seren nodded.
“According to this appointment letter… yes.”
This was actually somewhat inappropriate. Normally, an elevated status implies a higher position. Kaelis was now a Battalion Commander, by regulation, she qualified to command an entire squadron of a thousand soldiers.
Promoting only her rank without her position was essentially no different from a simple pay raise.
It didn't quite match the significance of Kaelis's vanguard achievements.
But considering the ongoing war, especially after defeating the ordinary forces outside Dias' outer city, the next challenge would be squads of spirit users. A sudden promotion, even with non-commissioned officers to assist, would inevitably reduce combat effectiveness for a period.
And at such a time, any action that reduced combat readiness was unacceptable.
Still, Kaelis only complained a little before quickly losing interest.
The contents of the box were now mostly accounted for. Aside from the three items, there was also a hidden silver badge inlaid with golden threads, depicting the frontal view of a tiger's head.
The Tier- 2 Military Medal of the Kerkor Kingdom, considered the highest wartime commendation that could be awarded immediately. Kaelis's vanguard medal was certainly worth more than this, but higher honors would only be granted after the war concluded.
But Kaelis didn't really care about this one.
Compared to that… there was actually another matter on her mind.
“With my current status… it should be sufficient.”
Kaelis blinked, then tilted her head up.
This time, aside from wanting to push through to the fifth day in the simulation, there was one other thing she intended to do…
“Seren, could you help me find someone?”
“Hmm?”