Chapter 158
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Mmmm! ♡”
Trembling. Shaking. Quivering.
On top of me, Taia’s hips trembled, her large breasts swaying in rhythm with the motion.
She had greeted me in the morning saying she wanted to take care of me, which really meant she wanted this kind of closeness. No sooner had she entered my room than her hips began to move with fervor.
I had reasoned that Iris and Arisa, who had stayed up late last night enjoying themselves, would not be waking anytime soon. So I had given in to Taia’s urging several times already.
I let out a breath. Her body shivered.
”Whoa.”
That soft sensation.
When she finally stopped moving and collapsed against me, I caught her, my hands closing around her breasts.
”Nn…♡”
The touch still carried the aftershocks, and Taia let out a sweet sigh as I lowered her against my chest. My hands slid to her back and down over her hips, stroking gently.
Her body rubbed against mine.
”Mmm…haaah…♡”
My palm moved slowly, damp with her warmth. She pressed her face into my chest, and inside me she gave a tender squeeze, savoring it.
We lingered like that, until she finished me with her mouth—her way of “cleaning up”.
”Mm—”
”Gulp…slurp…pop. Phew. Thank you for the meal♡”
A kiss.
Without hesitation she swallowed what I gave, drew out the last drops gently, then kissed the tip as if in thanks, smiling up at me.
”…♡”
Her eyes promised she could keep going as long as I wished. With that look, my own passion threatened to flare again… but if I went any further, Iris and the others might wake and wander into the room.
So I called it here, cleaned up, and the two of us stayed nude for a little while, talking.
Though it felt strange to bring up other women right after our intimacy, I reminded Taia to keep an eye on Iris and the others under “Silver Orchid.”
”Ah, yes. Ferris mentioned that. I’m already keeping watch, so if anything happens, I’ll have them contact the office.”
She accepted without a trace of jealousy, but then looked at me with a slightly pitying expression.
”Hm? What is it?”
”Well… maybe it’s not my place, since you saved me, but don’t you think you should avoid poking your head into every bit of trouble? Even if you’ve got the strength for it, all that worry must wear you down.”
So she was worried about my mental strain.
She wasn’t wrong. My stamina was fine, but the number of things demanding my attention kept piling up.
”Yeah, I know. But leaving people behind weighs on me even more.”
”Even so, the moment you think it’s a hassle, it’s already a burden. Sometimes protecting yourself means letting go. You don’t have to feel guilty about that.”
”I’m lucky enough to have the power to do something. For me, helping is easier than searching for reasons not to.”
It was with this very strength that I had survived and carved out my safety. To others it might seem unfair—talent born, not earned. But perhaps that was why lending a hand lightened the sense of being “cheating fate” alone.
In the end, it was just my nature. So I added with a grin:
”And besides… there are rewards for it.” (T/N: mikairi pun—means both “return favor” and “physical return.”)
My hand cupped her softness again.
”Aah…♡”
Taia’s breasts yielded in my palm. She placed her hand over mine—not stopping me, only giving me a look that said, you really can’t help yourself, can you?
”Honestly… fine. Just promise me this—if it ever gets too much, tell me. Don’t think about what I want. Use me however you need, just for your own release.”
”As a way to clear my head?”
”Exactly. It sounds like a courtesan’s role, but since I don’t take money, I suppose that makes me your mistress. Still, you can treat me like the former if you’d like. So don’t hesitate, alright? ♪”
For someone who once despised men, Taia had come far to say she didn’t mind being treated like a whore.
That incident with “Gem Snake,” when she nearly lost her life, must have been a turning point. By the last time, she had already asked to be mine.
I’d always taken joy in pleasing my partner, but if she herself was happy to be used, that made things easier—and in its own way, enticing.
So I teased her once more, fingers pinching her already firm peaks.
”Nnn…♡”
She accepted it as proof I’d taken her proposal to heart, her expression glowing with delight.
We would have drifted back into passion had we not stopped ourselves, dressed, and shared a light breakfast instead. Iris and Arisa hadn’t come by, but whether awake or not, they didn’t always drop in. So we ate without waiting.
During the meal, conversation turned to Tina.
”Ah, that reminds me. The girl who wanted to meet the lord you brought along? It seems she’ll get her audience this afternoon.”
”Really? That soon?”
”Yes. Exceptionally fast, but apparently when she offered to stand bare before him as proof she carried nothing, they agreed. Perhaps that tipped the scales?”
”Or maybe the matter was deemed too urgent to delay.”
We talked about how I had first met Tina and the others, and with that, breakfast came to an end.
”Then remember—anytime at all, you can use me. ♡” She kissed me, lips sweet and playful, before leaving the room.
I watched her go, then turned my mind toward today’s plans.
I roused Iris and the others, told them I would be heading out, and after getting ready, made for the Adventurer’s Guild.
My real destination lay behind it: the dismantling area. I had business with someone working there.
The place buzzed with voices, though at this late hour of morning, fewer people milled about than usual. I stepped forward and greeted the one I’d come for.
”Good morning.”
”Morning. I heard you were back, but you took your time coming to say hello.”
The woman who answered was Frederica, the lord’s daughter. She worked the dismantling area’s reception as part of her support for Ms. Monoka’s orphanage.
”This is the dismantling area. Dropping by empty-handed would get people talking, don’t you think?” she said.
”Hah. I get men hitting on me without even knowing my family name. They’d only assume you were the same sort… Though in your case, seduction was the last thing on your mind♪” she added in a lowered voice, lifting her breasts with one arm and rubbing her stomach with the other, as if to flaunt our relationship.
For the record, she had been the one to approach me, so her phrasing made it sound like I had taken the initiative. That wasn’t true.
Anyway.
The counter had partitions on both sides, so her colleagues probably couldn’t see, but anyone passing behind me might—so I made her stop.
”Let’s leave it at that. I came here on business,” I said.
”This isn’t one of those invitations?” she teased, swaying her chest. Jiggle, jiggle…
Tempting as the display was, the timing wasn’t right. I shook my head and got to the point.
”No. On the road back to town, I took in someone who wanted an audience with the lord. I think the request came through Silver Orchid…”
”Oh, right, I heard about that. Supposedly, they said they’d accept being tied up naked if that’s what it took, so it was scheduled for this afternoon.” She smirked.
I didn’t recall them saying that exactly—but it did sound like something they might have implied. Best to let that slide and instead see if I could slip into the audience chamber with Tina and the others.
”So… where does the lord usually hold audiences?” I asked.
”Where? Well, there’s a raised dais, a carpet laid out toward it—that sort of place. The whole thing was originally built like a fortress, meant to oversee the dungeon.”
”I see…”
She went on, describing tall windows for light and the easy-to-find path leading up front, since it was meant to welcome visitors. That suggested I could sneak in invisibly. But then Frederica added something unexpected.
”Still, since it was supposed to be discreet, it won’t be in the official chamber,” she said.
”Eh? Then where?” I asked.
”For unofficial audiences, there’s another room. Basically, just a reception parlor.”
A reception parlor, huh. That made entry a lot trickier.
The grand chamber had wide doors, perfect for slipping in unseen. A parlor meant narrow doorframes, fewer windows, and opening one would draw too much attention. Unless someone like in the Gavrett estate chose to bring me in, I had no way to accompany Tina and the others—especially since they clearly didn’t want me hearing what would be said.
…Should I give up?
It wasn’t as though I needed to know their business. And there was always the chance someone might detect me, even invisible. Safer to wait and ask Tina afterward.
I was thinking that when Frederica spoke again.
”Are you really that curious about the audience?” she asked.
”What? No, not exactly…” I replied.
”…”
Her eyes narrowed. After all my questions, denying it outright made her stare at me as though to say, Really, after all that? It stung, but I couldn’t risk exposing my intent. I looked away.
That was when Frederica grinned and murmured, “Want to come over to my place…?”
Notes:
• Arisa – Alicia’s (Iris’ sister) fake name.
• Iris – The first collaborator to request a curse-breaking item.
• Ferris – The representative of Silver Orchid
• Tina – Female. A magician. She has a slender build, and her chest is described as soft. She is initially rescued by the protagonist and expresses a desire to accompany him. Her relationship with the protagonist develops quickly, and she seems to be attracted to him.
• Frederica – The receptionist. The daughter of powerful figure in the town.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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