The First Game's Deadly Whisper
The first dose of the game poison spread very subtly and lethally. Lucian's pupils trembled for just an instant.
He frowned briefly, pressing his temples. "Ugh…."
"Captain? Are you alright?"
"No, it's nothing. Suddenly feeling the buzz. This wine must be stronger than I thought."
Lucian waved his hand dismissively, his face flushed red. He didn't notice the changes happening inside his own body.
He just chalked it up to fatigue from the long march and the sudden alcohol.
But I saw it.
His pupils were dilated just a bit more than usual. And his gaze unconsciously chased the 'stimuli' around him.
The dining hall was hot. The knights' rowdy cheers with faces red from booze.
The occasional laughter from the village girls mixed in.
And the heat from grilling meat.
He stared blankly at the scene. Or more precisely, he was tracking the bouncing breasts of the busy female staff weaving through the hall, and the sweat-soaked fabric clinging to their bodies.
That's right.
Suppressed instincts. A man who'd spent his life locked in the rigid mold of a holy knight, trained to see women like stones.
But he's no god. He's flesh and blood.
A young man in his prime, full of vigor.
A spring forcibly compressed by faith... Desires rebound harder the stronger the pressure holding them down.
I gave a subtle glance. It was time for 'her' to move—the one I'd paid off earlier.
"Oh my, knights! You all look so dashing~!"
With a flirtatious lilt, a woman approached Lucian's table. She was the prettiest staff member in this inn.
Her loose clothes revealed ample cleavage and thighs that blatantly drew the eye.
"Captain, the village's top beauty has arrived!"
"Ooh!!"
The knights cheered and made room. Naturally, the seat next to Lucian opened up.
She plopped down beside him without hesitation. No, she practically leaned into his shoulder, pressing close.
"Oh wow, you're the famous holy knight captain? Goodness, you're way handsomer than the rumors."
Her pale hand slithered down his firm forearm like a snake. The thick, cheap perfume wafted over even here.
"Th-this…."
Lucian's body stiffened. Normally? He'd have scowled and pulled away, shoving the woman off.
'Don't tarnish the honor of a holy knight!' he'd bark.
Lumina watching from the second-floor railing probably expected exactly that.
Push her away, Lucian. Hurry up and shove that vulgar slut off! I could almost hear her desperate cry.
But.
"……."
Lucian didn't push her away. No, he couldn't.
The purple mist paralyzed his reason, amplifying the whispers of instinct.
Warm.
Soft.
Feels good.
What rose in his mind wasn't revulsion, but primal pleasure. The sensation of Bella's ample breasts against his arm, the sweet whisper in his ear.
It was a 'warmth' he'd never once felt from the cold, imperious saintess Lumina.
"Captain? You look low on drinks... Mind if I pour you one?"
She cooed playfully, picking up the wine bottle. She deliberately leaned forward, staging her cleavage right in his face.
"Ah... Th-thank you."
Lucian's gaze locked onto her cleavage. He swallowed hard.
His throat bobbed visibly.
He held out his trembling glass.
She giggled and poured, the wine overflowing to wet his fingers.
"Oh no, what a waste. Let me clean that up."
She grabbed his fingers, bringing them to her lips. A wet smack as she sucked them in.
"……!"
Lucian's face turned beet red. But he didn't pull away.
He just stared, entranced by her tongue work.
The surrounding knights whooped mischievously at the sight.
"Woo! Captain's a real man!"
The mood ignited uncontrollably. The moment a crack formed in the massive dam called Lucian.
I slowly looked up to the second floor. Lumina gripped the railing like it might shatter. Her face was pale, almost translucent.
The knight she trusted, corrupted. That lust-filled gaze he'd never shown her once, now aimed at some cheap country dancer.
For a lofty goddess, it was the most wretched betrayal.
How's the view? Nice and close? I mouthed silently.
Our eyes met. Rage filled her golden eyes.
Not at Lucian, but at the woman tempting him.
But she couldn't move. The game wasn't over yet. Helplessness gripped her—the powerlessness of just watching.
That dominated the goddess's emotions.
"Alright, alright. Captain looks tired. How about letting him rest?"
I inserted myself between them.
"Rest? Oh, you mean come to my room with me?"
"Ahem. Well... I suppose an escort wouldn't hurt."
Lucian cleared his throat awkwardly and stood, wobbling. Bella deftly supported him.
Their bodies pressed together as one.
"Of course. I'll make sure you rest deeeply, hehe."
She led him toward the stairs to the second floor. Of course, I had no intention of actually letting Lucian spend the night with her.
Not yet. I'd intervene at the crucial moment to stop it.
Playing the loyal subordinate: 'Captain, you can't do this here.'
But for Lumina? This scene alone was hell enough.
Lucian wrapping his arm around her waist, stumbling up the stairs. That raw image burned into Lumina's vision.
I didn't follow them. Instead, I quietly slipped to the blind spot under the second-floor railing and climbed the stairs, positioning myself in the shadows at the end of the hall where Lumina stood.
Lucian and Bella reached the second-floor corridor. Lumina faced them head-on.
"……Lucian."
Lumina's voice quivered faintly. She struggled to maintain her saintess facade.
Lucian looked up. His hazy eyes, drunk on booze and desire, fixed on her.
"Ah... Saintess."
He grinned unsteadily. Not his usual restrained smile, but a sloppy one, like a screw had come loose.
"You should... go in first."
"What are you doing right now? That woman…."
"Ah, she's a friend. A friend. Haha. I'm just a bit tired... getting some support."
Lucian lied brazenly. Right in front of the saintess, with another woman's waist in his grasp.
This alone was my victory.
Lumina's pupils lost focus, shaking.
"Don't be so uptight. The saintess is... always so cold... Sometimes you need a little warmth like this, right?"
Kaboom! Something crumbled in Lumina's head, or so it seemed.
Cold. That single word from the knight she'd chosen stabbed her heart like a dagger.
"Well then, I'll head in first. See you tomorrow."
Lucian shuffled toward his room, supported by her. She shot Lumina a triumphant smirk, then playfully smacked his ass.
Thud!
The door closed, the sound echoing down the hall.
Lumina was left alone in the corridor. She stared blankly at the door, then staggered as her legs gave out. Without the wall, she'd have collapsed.
"How was it? Your front-row seat impressions?"
I stepped out from the shadows, asking softly.
"Ah, not yet!"
Lumina refused to admit defeat.
"Does a so-called goddess refuse to accept loss?"
I looked down at her with contempt.
Lumina flinched and turned away.
"I prepared a woman's temptation. Lucian fell for it. The moment he entered that room... the first game is my win."
Right on cue, a woman's voice came from Lucian's room.
"Wow... Does it really get this big?"
No subject, but Lumina and I both knew what it referred to.
"You bastard... What did you do to Lucian…."
"I did nothing. Just poured him a glass of wine. The choice was his. Hugging that woman's waist, whining that you're cold—all his will."
I approached her, pinning her against the wall with both arms. A wall slam.
The goddess I knew would've blasted me with divine power. But now, shock had drained her will to resist.
"You saw it. Your noble knight dying to bury his face in that cheap whore's tits."
"Shut... shut up…."
"Admit it. You lost. At least for 'tonight.'"
I brought my lips to her ear, breathing hotly. Her body shivered.
"Now, rules are rules, goddess."
"……."
"Time for your promised 'service.' While your Captain rolls around in there, you'll play with me."
Lumina bit her lip. Blood beaded up. She wanted to refuse, but couldn't.
Denying the bet after seeing Lucian's disgrace would shatter her pride as a goddess.
She bowed her head.
Then.
"N-no! St-stop right here!"
Lucian's refusal echoed out.
"Lu-Lucian!"
Lumina's despairing face lit up.
"I-I haven't lost!"
Hope sparked, and she spoke up. She thought she'd seen salvation.
But.
"No, you lost. The moment Lucian entered that room with a woman... and dropped his pants to show his manhood... he fell to temptation."
Lumina fell silent again.
"……."
"If you won't honor the bet, neither will I."
At that, Lumina steeled herself and stood, nodding. Affirmation.
"Fine…."
"Wise choice."
I gently took her wrist and led her. My room was right next to Lucian's.
Just one wall between a corrupting knight and a submitting goddess, on this night.
"Come on. You have to clean up your knight's mess."
I pulled her into my room. Her steps dragged like a lamb to slaughter, but she didn't stop.
The door closed. Moonlight alone lit the room. I sat on the bed, looking up at Lumina.
The continent's noblest woman stood before me in her pure white priestess robes, face flushed with shame and rage.
"Now."
I placed a hand on my belt buckle, nodding to the floor before me.
"Kneel."
The game ended. The reward began.