Instilling Inferiority <Side: Alex Leiz>
『Fisherman's Moon - 15th (Evening)』
"Ah... this is my room?"
I'd lost consciousness at some point, only to wake up in the inn. The sunset had faded, and gazing at the deepening indigo sky, I realized it was already evening.
"Naked, huh..."
My blood-soaked clothes had been washed and neatly folded in a basket. I rose from the bed without even underwear. My gear had been meticulously maintained and placed against the wall.
"Wounds are gone too... Clarice must've healed me."
--Creak...
[Do you even know how long you've been out?]
The door opened, and Clarice and Mel entered.
"Urgh...♡"
The moment they stepped in, the room filled with an overwhelmingly sweet scent that choked the air. My exposed cock twitched and swelled slightly.
"D-did I sleep that long? I feel bad for you two..."
[That's an erection? Pfft♥ It's tiny. Yours is♥]
"Th-this is...!"
Their lips curled into slight smirks. As I tried to retort against their sexual harassment, the events in the forest flashed back.
Clarice and Mel's single strikes annihilating the high orcs and orc horde... I couldn't be sure that overwhelming gap in skill was only aimed at monsters.
Back then, barely clinging to consciousness, I was in no position to say anything to them...
[You must be tired, so rest up. I handled the laundry and maintenance with my magic.]
They encouraged my sullen mood, but their pitying words stabbed like daggers.
"Sorry, Clarice, Mel... I put the party in danger again because of me..."
As the leader and frontliner, I was supposed to protect the rear... Yet I'd collapsed after one orc, forcing the two I should protect to save me.
And failing my duty as leader, I felt not just gratitude, but fear and inferiority... I despised myself.
[Yeah, Alex. Just do better next time~]
Still, they worried for me. I lacked the courage to face them...
This would haunt me forever, but I couldn't bury it. For their sake, who supported me...
"I'm really, truly sorry! I'll train harder so this never happens again. I won't let my weakness endanger you ever again. I promise!"
I bowed my head in sincere apology. We were comrades... Comrades help each other. My weakness alone made me a burden.
[She's right. Neither Clarice nor I have ever had headaches because of you. Don't worry~]
They smiled brightly, sitting on either side of my bed, whispering sweetly. Their hot breath, voluptuous bodies, massive cocks... pressed against me.
Wait... when did Clarice and Mel get such powerful bodies...? From the Goddess's Blessing, they said...?
"I have one question for you two..."
I voiced the doubt I'd harbored.
"You got stronger because of... the Goddess's Blessing, right?"
[Already thinking that far, huh♥ Yeah. We got the blessing and became stronger than anyone♥ You can too♥ With the Goddess's Blessing, you'll be as strong as us... maybe even stronger♥]
Clarice's eyes sparkled as she thrust out her massive breasts. Mel pressed her huge ass against mine, her hot breath on my neck.
Their fingers pointed to a potion bottle on the desk, labeled 'Blessing'. My reflection shimmered in the rippling liquid.
"If I accept that, I'll get stronger too?"
[She'll fix your weakness, your powerlessness♥]
Moonlight wove through the deep blue night sky. Their reflections glowed wickedly—lips curled to their ears, lustful eyes watching my every move.
"I... I..."
Slowly, I reached for the 'Blessing'. If relying on it made me strong...
Did it matter if it wasn't through my own effort? Was I that desperate for strength?
Answering my own question, my hand halted in midair.
[Still hesitating? No need to. It's the Goddess...! Our great Mother Goddess!]
Their voices rose, urging, impatient. But I lowered my hand...
"Sorry... let me think a bit more. Getting strong from the Goddess's Blessing isn't my own power... I want to protect everyone with just my strength...!"
It was a hard-won decision. I'd overcome this inferiority and grow strong on my own.
But their response...
A chilling voice froze the room. Their prior expressions vanished, replaced by contemptuous glares.
"Y-you two... calm down..."
The air grew heavy. My flustered plea fell on deaf ears.
Fury poured from Clarice. Veins bulged on her forehead, bloodshot eyes glaring...
"Y-yeah! Let's head back and rest first... You two must be tired too...! Rest till tomorrow, train the day after..."
[If that's how you want it, fine♥ You have to keep your words. If you want to get strong alone, skip rest and train harder, right?]
Anger, contempt, disappointment. Each word pierced like a sharp dagger.
"W-wait...!"
[Haa... annoying bastard...]
They left without looking back. Alone, I watched their retreating figures with trembling eyes.
No mercy, no rest... No excuse, no courage to stop them. Once more...
"Damn..."
What should I have chosen then...?
Don't overstep, my little lamb, Alex♥ Remember I am always by your side.
"Ah..."
That warm, gentle voice echoed in my mind, irresistible sleep overtaking me. A harsh day, but somehow it soothed me...
『Fisherman's Moon - 16th』
『Fisherman's Moon - 17th』
『Fisherman's Moon - 20th』
.............
『Cross Moon - 18th』
『Cross Moon - 20th (Morning)』
About a month had passed since then...
"Haa... haaak..."
No exaggeration—without a single day off, relentless training. But was it even training?
My labored breaths always carried the tang of blood. Clarice picked all quests, high-difficulty ones.
Too unskilled, I'd barely kill one and collapse, or get beaten bloody without a kill, rescued amid Clarice's scorn.
"I hate this..."
Days of defeat crushed my pride into the depths. Sometimes doubting "Can I really do this?", Mel saved me from death's door.
While I wallowed in dirt and blood, Clarice and Mel whistled, effortlessly dispatching monsters like toys—smashed by cross or staff, vanishing without trace.
"Today too... gotta go again..."
After monsters, they'd leave without a word, sometimes returning beaming. Dragging my exhausted body, I'd collapse and wake in bed—routine.
Today started the same. Yesterday, chasing a giant mantis, arms severed, blacked out, woke in bed.
Trembling eyes turned to the door. My sword, once maintained, untouched lately. Over half my quests ended in fainting before drawing it.
"Can't go on like this..."
But how...? They were freakishly strong, I freakishly weak. Past me dreaming of strength through effort seemed idiotic.
Pathetically weak, dragging them down...
"If they'd just kicked me out... I wouldn't think stupid thoughts like this..."
Yeah... No reason for the strong to drag the weak. Treating me casually despite injuries made me more wretched, fueling inferiority.
Biting my lip, tears flowed unheard.
"What am I doing... Useless me..."
--Creak...
My blanket-covered face turned to the open door. Clarice and Mel—precious comrades, source of my despair...
[Important talk. Open your ears and listen.]
"Wh-what... is it..."
Not their mocking grins, but serious faces. No visits between rooms lately. Them entering meant...
I braced for the worst, swallowing hard.
"Party... disbanding?"
[We have a proposal. We've been questing hard for a month, got tons of the Goddess's Blessing... but you haven't progressed, and because of that]
[We've been questing diligently for a month, right? Lucky for us, we get blessings after monsters, but you... couldn't♥]
Like whiplash to the back of my head. They denied disbanding fiercely.
"Then... what is it?"
[Kekeke♥ But there's a condition♥ Alex♥]
"C-condition...?"
[Don't be scared, Alex! I'll... hehe♥ Go easy. Win and cheer up♥]
Clarice's consideration touched me. Quests matching my level...
"Yeah... I'll win... definitely!"
We took positions at the desk ends. Unlike her violent allure, Mel's hand was soft, flawless—almost making me think I could win.
But that hope...
--Thud...
"Ugh..."
Shattered instantly. Arm wrestle over in under a second—my defeat.
I'd pushed hard, yet Mel casually slammed my arm down.
Lame excuses like "unprepared" would worsen my misery.
"Y-yeah...! Of course."
Mel's sardonic smirk. Her bronze arm barely tensed.
--Bang...!
"Kuh...!!"
Second defeat, hollow. Full effort, her arm unmoved.
--Kwaaaang...!!
"Gaaah...!!!"
Third, of course... defeat. She slammed hard, blood from the desk impact.
--Crack...!!
Fourth, lost. Bone snap, unbearable agony.
"Ah, aaa...!! Krk..."
--Kwaaaang...!!
Kwajijijik...!!!
"Haaaggguh...! A-arm...!"
Final defeat. Desk shattered, I sprawled on the floor. Wrist twisted impossibly.
"Haa... haa..."
Mel laughed, then left disinterested, ignoring me. Only Clarice remained.
She sat, healed my mangled arm, then spoke.
"Another... purpose?"
Mel arm wrestle—if real combat, my delusion would've killed me multiple times, blind to her strength.
"Th-that's..."
Clarice opened the door... ultimatum delivered.
"W-wait, Clarice..."
"Damn... damn...!!"
Alone again, I pounded the floor in rage. Splinters pierced my hand—didn't hurt... after greater pain...
"Now... it's too much... really..."
Hand bloodied again... I staggered out.
Not questing now...? Worse suffering, abandonment...
"Need to calm down..."
Morning streets bathed in sunlight. Dragging feet avoided the guild. Last desperate whim—fresh air to soothe.
"Alex...? Long time."
"Raysi, bro...?"
Wandering aimlessly, familiar voice—turned to see Raysi, sky-blue hair flowing, ice spear in hand.
With him, the gauntlet guy from before and a woman with a gun her size.
"Oho. That the promising kid you mentioned? Ah... late intro. I'm Myrit Ledias."
Brown-haired Myrit smiled freshly, offering handshake.
"Ah, that's him? Raysi mentioned sometimes... I'm Elizabeth Pendragon. Myrit's wife."
Purple hair tossed casually, Elizabeth waved lightly instead.
"Pretty early morning rush."
"Ugh... that obvious?"
"Anyone'd see it on your face. More importantly... where are the other two? Alone?"
"They're resting at the inn. Tough stuff yesterday... B-but bro, where've you been?"
Desperate topic shift. Couldn't handle talking about them... emotions would overflow.
"Hmm... That expedition I mentioned. War between empire and kingdom. Mercenary gig. Personal business delayed—arrived today."
Empire-kingdom war... Unimaginable for adventurer me, casual from Raysi.
Board rumors: kingdom victory... These were braver than victors.
"Raysi bro... snif..."
Mocked, belittled self-esteem burst at kind treatment. Another question for these strong ones, unlike Mel and Clarice.
"H-hey...? Alex? Why cry suddenly?"
"I... wanna ask you three... how to get strong..."
"Getting strong, huh... Whew, you're cornered bad."
Raysi's sharp eyes pierced my feelings. As expected of the strong...
"I wanna get strong. Reach higher... but my power alone can't anymore... Hic... huaaaang...!!"
Choking sobs, pent-up emotions exploded. Ugly crying at my age...
"Heh... You're a grown-up now. Having real worries."
Raysi grinned maturely, ruffling my hair roughly.
"Talent, bloodline, luck... Many factors. But one unchanging: never give up, survive. Not survivors strong—persisters bear fruit."
"Practical worry. As deficient me: value experience. Human lives short, but diversity changes perspective."
"You too... Kid won't get that? Hate advising, but: don't obsess one goal. Change anytime. Obsession sickens."
Three veterans' bone-deep advice: persist, experience, no blind faith... Timeless from survivors.
"Hic... Th-thank you...! Raysi bro, Myrit, Elizabeth...! Realized so much...!"
Yeah... Can't collapse... Surmount Clarice, Mel someday... Persist, experience...!
"See ya next time!"
Wiping tears snot on sleeve, waved, dashed to inn. They smiled warmly, waving back.
"Spar... Same level needs experience...! Not just monsters for strength! Never crumble...!!"
『Cross Moon - 20th (Lunch)』
"Kuhahat... kuhk..."
Senior adventurers' boost? I demanded spar with Clarice blindly. Result...
"Haaaa... hukkraaak..."
Head split bleeding, gut caved breath short. Limbs fully broken, immobile. Lips torn, bloody saliva endless...
Clarice stomped my head wound with heel, contemptuous gaze.
Healing flowed from her mocking heel... Untouched her, utterly humiliated defeat. Endless ground kisses...
Breath steadied, wounds closed like new.
"Kuhk...!"
Healing done, she spat on me, left.
"Ah... uh..."
Alone in clearing, sobbing in my blood pool. Seniors' ideals crushed by Clarice's harsh reality.
Before absurd strength, all equal...
"Blessing..."
Then... shimmering potion bottle surfaced. Labeled 'Blessing'—long refused.
For my own effort's sake...
"Effort, training... all pointless..."
Something snapped inside... No options left...
--Creak...
Stumbled to room, eyes on desk's eternal 'Blessing'.
"Goddess's... Blessing..."
Just this, drink it...
"I'll be like them..."
Gripped bottle tight.
"Ahaha..."
Laughter escaped. Ideals lose to reality. I'm weak... absurdly so.
But drink, and I'll...
"Get strong...!"
No more hesitation...
"Forgive me, Goddess... Lend your power to me who refused so long..."
--Gulp... gulp...
Yanked cork, chugged. Over month stale, yet warm down throat.
Soothing my pain, embracing whole body.
"Haa... ha, ah...♡♥ Feels so good...♡♥"
Chest hot, cock throbs...♡♥
"Ahahaha... ahahahaha♡♥"
Then... collapsed into sleep.
Waking from this dream... I'll be strong too♡♥
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