Chapter 42
Chapter 42
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: The Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Carpe Diem
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How cute... At the thought she'd had about herself, Judah let out an exasperated laugh. Whether it was the alcohol or not, a faint blush colored her cheeks, and her eyes had lost their usual sharpness, now glazed over. Even her tongue was getting tangled in her speech.
That drink Chapelin Feichen had brought out must have been as incredible as it sounded—not just talk. It made Judah's stomach twist with envy for no reason. She wasn't much of a drinker to begin with, but she enjoyed sweet cocktails or the occasional beer. Especially when chatting, she'd down drinks or brews she wouldn't normally touch. Thinking about alcohol again stirred up a thirst that water couldn't quench. With a small sigh, she looked at her.
"If it was that good, you should've given me some too."
"Ehhh. Our Juuudah is! Still! Too youngggg? Right?"
Right now, she seemed younger. As Judah stifled a chuckle at the way she dragged out her words like she was acting cute, Tia's eyebrows shot up sharply. But even that wasn't intimidating as her head wobbled.
"Huh? What's thattt. Why are you laughing! Your teeeeacher is speakinggg! You didn't hear! Come here. You need a scoldiiing!"
Tia spread her arms wide, nodding as if beckoning her into an embrace. Worried she might yell inside the carriage if ignored, Judah quickly slipped into her arms. More than the warm, soft sensation, a sweet alcoholic scent hit her strongly.
'She really drank a lot.'
Tia hugged Judah tight and rubbed against her. The soft feel of her breasts pressed right through. Even if there was any ulterior motive, she didn't seem to notice. If anything, she hugged even harder. Judah gave a wry smile tinged with slight guilt.
"Aww, our pretty Juuudah! How can you be so prettyyy and cuuute! Your teeeeacher loooves our Judah so muuuch! Doesn't she, Juuudahhh?"
Her heart pounded at those words of affection. She wanted to ask, Do you love me? But she couldn't bring herself to.
"I like you too."
Timidly, she whispered it so softly only Tia's ear might catch it. It didn't feel bad that she could confess her feelings like this, even if just once more. The moment she heard Judah's reply, Tia's adoring face showered her with kisses.
Smack, smooch—the wet sounds echoed loudly in the carriage. Judah giggled at her crumbling demeanor. Would she remember this when she sobered up later? Maybe her face would be covered in lipstick marks—that worry crossed her mind just as Tia stopped. Then she grinned mischievously. Coming from her mature self, the smile felt seductive.
"Our Juuudahhh. Earlier, you said you waaanted booze! Right?"
"Huh?"
In that instant, a smack rang out, followed by pain on her cheek. Tia's palm pressed against it. Inevitably, her lips puckered out in a silly pout.
Huh?
"Teaaaacher will! Give our young Juuudah a taste~ Hehehe!"
At Tia's next move, Judah's eyes widened in shock. Tia, still holding her, leaned in for a kiss. The surprise was fleeting; Judah felt her heart racing wildly at the soft touch of those lips. It wasn't just pounding—it was going mad.
The first woman she'd thought beautiful since coming to this world. The one she'd given her heart to, but who hadn't reciprocated due to their age difference. The love she'd shelved as impossible was rising again.
Unconsciously, Judah closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Tia's nape. Skillfully, Tia nipped Judah's lower lip with her teeth, sucked gently, then thrust her tongue in.
Her tongue was soft. The kiss, which she'd imagined sweet, tasted predictably of alcohol. But it was fine. Tia ravaged Judah's mouth greedily, taking the lead.
"Hmm? Mmm—"
Tia slurped noisily, sucking up all the saliva in Judah's mouth and licking every crevice of her teeth, leaving traces with her tongue.
"Haaah. Hup. Sluuuurp."
Both Judah and Tia felt their breaths growing ragged in the deep kiss. Sensing Judah's muffled gasps, Tia pulled away. A silver thread connected their lips.
"How's thaaat? Booze tastes good, right?"
"...Y-yeah. Yes. Really... delicious."
Still lost in the afterglow of the kiss, Judah answered with lingering regret. See, I told you it was delicious! Tia beamed happily. Her ears atop her hair perked up twitchingly. Cradled in her arms, Judah reached out and touched one.
"Hauuuh?"
Perhaps sensitive, a sweet breath escaped her the moment Judah touched it. Her body shivered as she gently pushed Judah away. Her expression looked pitiful, like she was holding something back.
"Ju, Juuudahhh. Beastkin ears are... sensitive, you knowww. No touching without permissionnn."
"I couldn't help it. You're too cute."
Tia tilted her head, silent as if pondering. Then her face flushed, and she smiled brightly.
"Too cuuute? Well then. Can't be helpeddd. Your big sis! Teacher specially allows ittt!"
Seeing Tia offer her head freely, Judah reached out. Fondling both ears with her hands, she noticed Tia's tail, crumpled against the seatback, swishing.
"Hyaah. G-gentlyyy."
"Ah. Okay."
Watching her tremble now and then, Judah realized her own breathing had grown rough unconsciously. Just then, the carriage stopped. They'd arrived home already. Had the coachman heard? Probably. She could only hope the carriage was well-insulated.
Releasing Tia's ears, she met her wistful gaze, but there was no choice. Time to get out.
"Juuudaaaaahhh."
"Tia?"
Leaning against the much smaller Judah's back, Tia snored softly and fell asleep. Prodding her—nothing. She only let out tiny groans and waved her hand lazily like it was a nuisance. Watching quietly, Judah smiled hollowly.
"What the heck."
She poked her sleeping cheek. It felt like if she turned away in resignation, Tia would grab her wrist and pull, yelling "Look at me!" Just when she thought she'd seen all her charms, new sides appeared. Until the carriage fully halted, Judah toyed with her sleeping face, lost in thought.
The stopped carriage door opened. The coachman, acting as if he'd heard nothing, opened it politely and greeted them kindly. Judah asked him to set the trunk she'd left beside her at the house door. Then, hoisting the limp Tia on her back, she carefully descended.
The coachman drove back to the castle.
Tia's breaths tickled Judah's ear from her back. Breathing in the cool night air, she pulled out her key and unlocked the door.
Rather than closing the front door first, she decided to carry Tia to the bedroom. Kicking off her shoes haphazardly, she dragged her inside. Rude as it was, her unconscious, drunken body was heavy. Due to their size difference, the dress dragged on the floor as Judah laid her on the bed.
She slept soundly, oblivious. Watching her mumble and swish her tail brought only dry laughs. The events in the carriage felt like a dream. Removing her heeled shoes, Judah sighed.
'Should I change her clothes...?'
She'd said it was a favorite dress, but sleeping like that would wrinkle it. It had already picked up some dust from dragging, but oh well.
She considered changing her, but undressing her might shatter her self-control. Already sleeping so defenselessly after heavy drinking, she'd likely not wake no matter what. Tempted like by a devil, Judah hesitated, then shook her head.
She didn't want to twist their relationship for a moment's pleasure. To ward off stray thoughts, she pulled up the blanket and closed the door. Tomorrow, Tia might complain about the wrinkles—self-inflicted. Judah had told her to drink moderately from the start, but she'd kept going because it was tasty.
Closing the open front door, she brought in the trunk from Lord Chapelin Feichen.
No sweat, but she showered quickly in the bathroom anyway. Shaking water from her hair, she sat on the living room sofa and opened the wooden trunk on the small table.
A bastard sword, ornate enough not to carry around, gleamed beautifully.
As an item offered to the lord, soft fabric lined the box plushly, making it pleasant to draw the sword. It felt like acquiring a great treasure.
──────────────────────
[Name: Bastard Sword]
[Grade: Rare _ Famous Sword]
[Equipment: Longsword]
[Durability: 30/30]
[Attack Power: 40]
[Effects]
Strength +1
[Description]
A longsword commissioned by one of the merchant guilds, 'Mami,' to the blacksmith guild. Made as a tribute to curry favor with the lord, but luck didn't hold, barely scraping into famous sword status. Far too lacking for a spirit sword owner—mere practice blade. Still, its balance and quality are excellent, sufficient for lesser skilled users.
-Preservation (Passive): Resists foreign substances (blood, fat) for sustained sharpness and low durability loss.
-Prestige Boost (Passive): Crafted for a spirit sword owner. They won't use it, of course, but it elevates your own dignity.
──────────────────────
...Not bad.
Swinging it lightly in the air, the weight balance was excellent as described. Far better than her old ordinary sword. Regular weapons from the smithy felt worse with use; this was different.
'Attack power of 40 means...'
Grades subdivide by quality and stats, then attack power tiers them. 40 is exactly famous sword level—lowest tier. The description's "barely scraping by" fit perfectly.
Double her current ordinary sword's power, but still felt lacking. Low for a spirit sword owner's gift. Thinking briefly, Judah recalled a way to boost it. She pulled two "codes" from her <Bag>—from defeating leader wolf 'Korkan' and applied to a longsword that broke, recovering them—and bestowed them on the bastard sword.
[Bestow 「Code 前: Viciously Targeting Only the Opponent's Wounds」 effect on [Bastard Sword]?]
[Bestow 「Code 後: ~'s Sharpness」 effect on [Bastard Sword]?]
[Prefix and suffix codes successfully applied. [Bastard Sword] renamed to [Viciously Targeting Only the Opponent's Wounds "Bastard Sword"'s Sharpness].]
A ridiculous name was born.
──────────────────────
[Name: Viciously Targeting Only the Opponent's Wounds "Bastard Sword"'s Sharpness]
[Grade: Rare _ Famous Sword]
[Equipment: Longsword]
[Durability: 30/30]
[Attack Power: 40]
[Effects]
Strength +1
[Description]
One of the merchant guilds......
-Preservation (Passive): Resists foreign substances (blood, fat) for sustained sharpness and low durability loss.
-Prestige Boost (Passive): Crafted for a spirit sword owner. They won't use it, of course, but it elevates your own dignity.
-Code 前: Viciously Targeting Only the Opponent's Wounds
└Bleed amount +5%, attack power +10+3%, durability loss speed +2%
-Code 後: 's Sharpness
└Wound Aggravation - Bleed amount +3%, regeneration -1%
──────────────────────
"Good."
Now attack power exceeded 50, escaping the bottom tier. Judah inspected the sword contentedly before storing it in her <Bag>. Stretching, fatigue hit despite doing little. Too lazy to climb to the second floor.
About to sleep on the sofa, a scent wafted—Tia's from rolling on it often. Thinking of her brought the carriage scene flooding back, flushing her face.
'Maybe she wasn't actually drunk?'
Like rice cake rolling in, begging to be eaten—yet untouched. But she dismissed it quickly. Shaking off intrusive thoughts, she felt her racing heart and barely slept.
* * *
──────────────────────
Tip18. Item grades subdivide by skill count and attack power.
Common (White): Up to 1 skill on weapon.
Rare (Green): Up to 3 skills on weapon.
Unique (Purple): Up to 5 skills on weapon.
Ancient (Orange): Up to 7 skills on weapon.
Legend (Yellow): Up to 10 skills on weapon.
Skill count varies by grade. Even legend could have just 1 (unlikely).
Attack/defense power tiers: Ordinary Item → Luxury → Treasure → Mythic.
For swords with attack power:
10+: [Ordinary Sword]
40+: [Famous Sword]
100+: [Treasure Sword]
150+: [True Sword]
200+: [Divine Sword]
──────────────────────
========== Afterword ==========
Don't worry, everyone.
I won't betray you.
Within 10 chapters... you'll see it.