Araya v8c17

Volume 8 Chapter 17 Trump Card


Edited by: Kanaa-senpai


 Nights with Juliet were sweet, high-tension affairs. Since it was only our second time together, I didn’t push her too hard. Instead, I focused on helping her work through her hang-ups, praising her breasts as I tasted every inch of her. I’m fairly certain she enjoyed the attention.


 ”Haa… Daisuke, I finally get it. You really do love these, don’t you?” Juliet said.


 ”I am a very lucky man,” I replied.


 ”If you’re just going to tease me, I won’t let you do it anymore, okay?”


 ”My deepest apologies,” I said, though he didn’t stop.


* * *


 The following week passed without any major catastrophes. The only “incident” worth noting was being sexually ambushed by Vanessa. Apparently, she’d applied for that Designated Request¹ and was bitter about the outcome.


 ”I was practically a lock for the unit,” Vanessa complained, “but some other party muscled their way in at the last second and bumped me.”


 It must have been a more popular request than I’d realized. Vanessa was fuming, but even if she’d made the cut, I wouldn’t have been able to give her the attention she wanted out in the field.


 I had a feeling the ones who squeezed her out were Vait and the rest of Golden Dragon’s Breath. I’d promised to coach Vait, so I’d need to make time for that soon.


 Anyway, when I ran into a frustrated Vanessa at the Guild, she essentially abducted me and worked me over until she was satisfied. It was clear she’d been lying in wait.


 Usually, a passionate advance from a wild, sexy older sister would be a dream come true, but this felt more like a client waiting for a popular soapland girl to clock in.


 (Still, I can’t complain too much.)


 The s*x with Vanessa was fantastic. Since she’s proactive and has a decent amount of experience, her technique is top-tier, second only to Regina-san and the other professionals.


 Her breasts are the most elastic I’ve ever felt, and those thick, muscular thighs are a masterpiece. The way she clinches, the way she gets wet—it’s all perfect.


 By contrast, Gerta—who has the higher level and probably more experience—just relies on raw power. She doesn’t have much in the way of finesse.


 Gerta is the type I can go wild with without holding back—in fact, she thrives on it—so the experience is just fundamentally different from what I have with Vanessa.


 I ended up giving Vanessa a taste of her own medicine, though. By the time I was done, her legs had turned to jelly. I’m pretty sure she fainted from exhaustion, twitching as she drifted off, but maybe I just imagined it.


* * *


 The day after my session with Vanessa, the Guild was buzzing. It wasn’t a brawl or a typical dispute, but a discovery from the dungeon: a Rejuvenation Potion².


 Gerta and her Beast Fang party were the ones who found it. While Rejuvenation Potions have been documented before, they are incredibly rare.


 As the name implies, they physically roll back the clock on the body. If taken regularly, one could theoretically achieve something close to immortality.


 They’re usually only found as rare drops in the deepest floors of the dungeon.


 When they brought the unidentified vial to the Guild’s Appraisal Department, the results came back as “Rejuvenation Potion (-5 Years).” The staff and the Beast Fang party were caught between shock and suspicion, wondering if it was a fake or some kind of magical trap. That’s just how rare these items are.


 Gerta, losing her patience with the endless, circular debate, eventually just snatched the vial. “If I drink it, we’ll know, won’t we?!” she barked, and downed it in one gulp.


 (She’s way too impulsive. What if it had been a disguised poison? I’ll have to discipline her for that later.)


 Regardless, Gerta de-aged back into her mid-twenties right then and there. The proof was undeniable.


 It sent a shockwave through the adventurer community that made the recent cosmetics craze look like a minor hobby. Technically, these potions can be made through alchemy, but the required skill level is a staggering 9.


 That’s essentially impossible for a human. Maybe if the transferee Aya-chan lives an exceptionally long life, she might manage it in her twilight years. Even among Gnomes, who are naturally suited for alchemy, such masters are almost non-existent.


 In truth, that potion was my handiwork. I’d placed a few of them on the 16th floor and beyond after returning from the Designated Request. I’d gone through the trouble of infiltrating a Dragon’s Nest just to secure Dragon-Spring Flower³ and Dragon-Lying Grass for this very purpose.


 It seems the Dungeon Master confiscated a few, but one finally made it into the wild. Since my materials are limited, I plan to throttle the supply from here on out.


 The real reason I made them? They’re my trump card for winning over Regina-san. She’s been sensitive about her age lately. To me, she’s in her absolute prime, but by the standards of this world, she’s considered an old maid.


 The potions vary in potency from one to ten years, depending on the materials and mana used. I mostly made one-year versions; the five-year ones are a lot rarer.


 In that sense, Gerta’s team really hit the jackpot. A bottle like that would easily fetch several hundred gold coins from the nobility. The demand among the elite must be insane. I just hope the rest of the Beast Fang members aren’t too pissed at Gerta for drinking a literal fortune on a whim.


 While the nobles want them, they can’t use them indefinitely. Beyond the cost, there are issues with terms of office and tradition. In Maultasche, a lord appointed by the King generally serves a fifty-year term.


 Unless they have the blood of a long-lived race, they rarely stay in power longer than that. More importantly, there’s a social stigma: “Extreme youthful vanity is unsightly.” Since aging is seen as divine providence, de-aging five or ten years is seen as “having money to burn,” but fifty or a hundred years is considered perverse.


 You could stay young forever if you don’t mind the gossip, but then you face the problem of death. With healing magic and potions, most nobles die of old age.


 Aside from the occasional bandit attack or carriage flying off a cliff, it’s the standard end. If you keep your body young while you age, it might take decades to actually die even when you want to.


 Because of that, I also whipped up some “Growth Potions” as a counterpart. Almost nobody wants those, though—maybe just kids who want to grow up faster.


 So, at least publicly, there are no humans or beastmen over a hundred years old, and the demand for rejuvenation will probably hit a ceiling eventually. It’s not like a commoner could ever afford it, anyway.


* * *


 Unaware of the stir the potion had caused, I spent that day catching up with Mia. A tryst with the cheeky, loli-cute Mia is always a thrill.


 My Sense Malice still pings when I’m with her, but I’ve stopped caring as much. I’ve grown used to it, and the malice itself feels like it’s softening.


 Her bratty attitude is the perfect spice, especially since she shows me that “melting” expression surprisingly easily. I wanted Mia to enjoy herself without stress, so I paid for several days of her time in advance.


 ”Big brother seems to be making bank, so you can afford this much, right~♪” she chirped.


 (She definitely has some info on me. I guess that’s expected for a VIP customer.)


 I’ve thought about making her a lover eventually, but we aren’t there yet. As long as Sense Malice is reacting, I can’t risk putting my other lovers in danger. There has to be a reason for her ill-will; I’ll have to dig into it eventually.


* * *


 As for Vait’s training, we finally settled on Orange Day—which feels like a Saturday to me—for the first session.


 I usually treat Saturdays as a half-day, but last week we hit the dungeon like usual because Liese and the others were so insistent.


 I admire the dedication, but they’re almost too serious. Thanks to that, Liese hit Level 20, Camilla is 19, and Ilse is 18. They’re growing fast.


 Since I’ve been making sure they eat well, their physiques have filled out nicely, moving from “scrawny” to a healthy “average.” Speaking of food, we had a crab feast recently.


 It was meat from the Karkinos, a monster from the 18th floor. You can get river fish in the Capital, but they don’t compare to the sweetfish from my previous life.


 Eating seafood again really reminded me that I’m still a Japanese guy at heart. Karkinos are massive; a single leg was enough to feed eight people. We just kept it simple and boiled it.


 Since there’s no ponzu here, we used the juice of a lemon-like fruit. The moment I bit into it, a violent burst of umami flooded my mouth—I had to admit, 18th-floor monsters are on another level.


 Even Sylvie, who isn’t a big meat eater, loved it. Juliet, Camilla, and Ilse were especially fans.


 (There’s no culture of eating raw food here, and even though my Appraisal told me it was safe, I didn’t want to push my luck with a ‘challenge’ yet. Next time, I’ll try it as shabu-shabu or sashimi. But first, I need to either find or make some soy sauce and ponzu.)


 Actually, because I’ve been getting dragged along by Liese and the girls, my own level-ups are coming way faster than theirs. I hit Level 79 yesterday. I was at 76 when the Designated Request started, so I’m gaining more than a level a week. It’s getting ridiculous. I’m almost at the point where my stats will let me go toe-to-toe with a Wyvern. I can’t one-shot them yet, but that’s just a matter of time.


 I picked the Guild’s training grounds for Vait’s lesson. I have zero desire to run into anyone from the Kojima family, so the mansion was a no-go. I figured Moritz would be tagging along, so I went solo.


 Camilla desperately wanted to come, but I didn’t want her anywhere near Moritz. It took some convincing to get her to stay behind, but a hug and a kiss did the trick instantly.


 ”Daisuke, I’m in your hands,” Vait said.


 ”Yeah, let’s do this,” I replied.


 Vait has become remarkably straightforward, as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. He actually bowed properly.


 Being born in the Showa era, I feel like the student should always show proper respect to the teacher. But, having been raised in the Heisei era, I don’t feel the need to be a d**k about it in our private lives.


 I once went to a high school with some really archaic traditions, and the rule for one of the sports clubs was “Scream a greeting the second you see a senior.” You’d be walking and talking, and suddenly someone would just start howling a greeting at you.


 It was terrifying.


 The guidance today was just some light sparring. Vait has only been using a mace seriously for about ten days, so his Skill Level is only 4.


 However, even without any transferee cheats, he’s a Bludgeoneer with a high natural aptitude for staff weapons. He’ll probably hit Level 5 by next week. From there, it should take about a year to hit Level 6.


 ”You’re making good progress. I’m glad to see you’re actually putting in the work,” I said.


 ”Haa… haa… is that so? I appreciate the help,” Vait said.


 There’s a massive level gap between us, so even though I was taking it easy, he was clearly going all out just to keep up. Only Moritz came along as his attendant today.


 I have no idea what happened to the other hired adventurers who were hit with the Divine Punishment. I’m not particularly interested, so I didn’t bother asking.


 —


 Summary:


 Daisuke manages his growing harem and professional obligations while planting high-tier items in the dungeon to influence the local social hierarchy.


 The discovery of his Rejuvenation Potion by Gerta’s party causes a stir at the Guild, serving as a catalyst for his plans to win over Regina-san.


 Meanwhile, Daisuke begins fulfilling his promise to coach Vait, balancing his power-leveling with personal relationships and guild politics.


 —


 Trivia:


 - Daisuke is now Level 79, gaining roughly a level a week.

 - Rejuvenation Potions require Skill Level 9 to craft, making them impossible for most humans.

 - The term limit for lords in Maultasche is fifty years.

 - Daisuke senses malice from Mia, which acts as a barrier to making her a formal lover.

 - Vait is a ‘Bludgeoneer’, giving him high aptitude for maces/staves


 —


 Character Insight:


 Daisuke shows a mix of nostalgia (Japanese food cravings) and cold calculation (using potions as leverage). Vait’s humility suggests a significant shift in character after his previous defeat.


 —


 Lore And Worldbuilding Context:


 The author uses ‘Orange Day’ to create a distinct fantasy calendar while grounding the protagonist’s internal monologue in Earth’s seven-day week.


 —


 Glossary:


1 Specific high-priority guild missions assigned to particular adventurers.

2 A legendary item that restores physical youth; highly coveted by the nobility.

3 Rare flora found in dragon territories, used for top-tier alchemy.

4 A passive skill that allows the user to detect negative intent or hostility from others.

5 A day in the world’s weekly calendar, contextually equivalent to Saturday.

6 A giant, crab-like monster inhabiting the deeper floors of the dungeon.

7 A specialized combat class focused on blunt force weapons.

8 A debuff or curse usually resulting from a system-governed loss or moral failing.


Notes:


• Juliet – 150 cm cat‑kin beastwoman, blue bob hair, expressive ears, puff‑tail, large chest, wearing hot‑pants, crop‑top and short jacket. Tsundere Gale Party instructor, dual‑wields a two‑handed sword and bears the Idaten skill. She teases Daisuke relentlessly, yet only he can soothe her loneliness; when drunk she becomes stubbornly persistent, her stern façade hiding tender devotion.

• Daisuke – Mid‑40s Japanese reincarnate with a youthful, Green‑God‑blessed face, modest armor, one‑handed sword and buckler. Gale Party leader who hides dragon‑slaying feats while mentoring his polyamorous harem—Ines, Regina, Dietlinde, Cassandra, Rin, Meta, Camilla—with strategic, gamified empathy. Endless stamina, alchemy skill, high sexual technique, “Sense Malice” ability, balancing dungeon quests and tender post‑mission care.

• Vanessa – Red‑haired, ponytail‑tied older sister adventurer with a toned, muscular build, large breasts and thick, sexy thighs, in revealing gear that exudes a wild, sexy vibe. Human member of the all‑female Wyvern Slayers, saved by Daisuke and now guides Nicola’s first dungeon run. She thrives in Orc‑infested zones, has Sleep Resistance, blends a charming personality with skilled exploration and rough play, and is proactive and experienced in intimacy.

• Vait – Tall, wiry 20‑year‑old with a scar across his left cheek and brown hair, former pseudo‑noble of the Kojima family, now C‑rank leader of Golden Dragon’s Breath and a Bludgeoneer. He clings to noble pretensions, seeks Daisuke’s mentorship to restore his family’s prestige, and after sparring with Daisuke has become more level‑headed, still aiming to climb from commoner roots into true nobility.

• Regina – Late‑twenties Onee‑san with blue‑purple hair, green eyes, marine‑blue thigh‑split dress, thigh‑high socks, and a large‑breasted, top‑tier figure. She runs Daydream (BSS), mentors Nora and Rita, and is a respected senior Beastman and elite courtesan famed for her Masterpiece body. Insecure about her age, she’s targeted by the protagonist’s revenge and hopes to retire with Daisuke, offering him a gentle, maternal smile.

• Gerta – 190 cm lion‑type Beastman, muscular and towering, with golden‑brown flipping hair, jagged teeth, a lion‑like tail and a wild predatory aura. Former Beast Fang leader and Daisuke’s ex‑opponent, she wields a greatsword, commands Maten, Magic Blade and Roar, loves strength and masochism, and shares a rough, intense bond with Daisuke that forged his martial‑arts legacy.

• Aya – Standing 165 cm tall, slender with long hair and a flat chest, she wears simple, armor‑free attire — clean, prudent, serious. An apprentice alchemist and former pharmacist, she serves the Working Women Party and the Leemans Party, handling store‑location data. A Yamato Nadeshiko transferee, she appears in the protagonist’s delusions as his lover.

• Mia – A petite 145 cm serval‑type beastwoman with golden short bob hair and cat‑like ears, appearing youthful and loli‑cute despite being an adult. She works as a town prostitute, playful yet guarded, her mysterious past and the job driving her growth.

• Liese – Standing 170 cm, she is a Grey Dragonewt spearman with grey-blue hair, thick horns, and grey scales along her neck and limbs—daughter of a Red Dragonewt father and Blue Dragonewt mother. As Daisuke’s disciplined vanguard and first slave, she is earnest, hardworking, and Level 19, relentlessly training to gain experience. Polite and composed, she guides the other girls with quiet authority, her tail thumping subtly to betray emotion, yet always maintaining decorum—even during meals. She is happiest when Daisuke returns, loyal, dutiful, and unwavering in her service.

• Camilla – Fourteen‑year‑old fox‑beastkin, ~140 cm, thin, fluffy tail that thumps when excited, ears twitch when nervous, slave‑marked ear, simple accessories. Shy with strangers but deeply affectionate toward Daisuke, seeing him as father and lover; she craves his scent, headpats and approval, fears abandonment. She’s clingy, often attaches to his arm, sniffs him, joins outings, obeys his words, melts at his touch, helps with chores, stands up to Yumiko, is favored by Rin, and was rescued from Gerta’s duel.

• Ilse – Tiger‑kin slave, petite boyish frame, pointed ears, thick tail, level‑17, Faint Resistance, Mind skill. Energetic, cheeky, loves sweets, hates fighting Sheep, stubborn yet loyal. Teases Daisuke like a guy‑friend, flirts for rewards, mixes sharp common sense with perverted humor, unwavering devotion.

• Sylvie – Petite 140 cm elf with pointed ears, blue bob‑cut hair, silky texture, blue eyes and a fairy‑like smile. Usually in a white blouse and embroidered yellow forest‑scented skirt; for dates a gothic‑lolita dress with lace‑up boots. Top‑ranked Gale adventurer, Daisuke’s spirit‑magic teacher, scout/trap‑expert, MP‑potion drinker. Motherly, observant, mediator, older sister to Camilla, playful, ears twitch with mood, crush on Daisuke, recently left her village. Affectionate, occasionally lonely, seeks intense‑sweet, meltingly slow intimacy.

• Moritz – Mid‑30s deer‑type beastman, B‑Rank magic swordsman and ex‑leader of Golden Dragon’s Breath (formerly Shining Horn). Serves Vait as instructor, guard and sycophantic attendant—proud yet resentful. Broke his own horns in a duel with Daisuke, took a hostage, was brutally beaten, and now bears a grudge, especially toward Daisuke.


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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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