The Weight of Responsibility

The single room in the security chief's quarters felt heavier than usual that morning. Early sunlight squeezed through a gap in the curtains, casting a warm glow over the chaotic bed. The air inside was thick and stifling, heavy with the lingering heat, sweat, and the sharp, musky scent of night flowers that had been released all night long.

"Mmm..." Yuria woke first. She stretched languidly, a strange mix of pleasant soreness and refreshing vitality spreading through her entire body. Maybe it was the explosive improvement in her blood circulation after reaching climax so many times. In the mirror, her face glowed like freshly steamed rice cake, with a healthy peach blush blooming on both cheeks.

"Just look at this skin... It really worked. The Succubus's Beauty Method was actual science."

She tapped her cheeks in wonder. Beside her, however, the man looked utterly wrecked. Hans lay there like a dried-out mummy. The side effects of the powerful aphrodisiac known as Mana-Responsive Love Gel had pushed him to his absolute limits. Dark circles hollowed out his eyes, and his lips were cracked like parched earth. He curled up like a shrimp beneath the tangled blankets, letting out weak groans.

"Ugh... I'm going to die..."

Hans forced his eyes open. The first thing he saw was Yuria's smooth, bare waist. She sat on the edge of the bed, gently stroking her lower belly.

"Awake already, Beast?" Yuria glanced back with a sly grin. It was playful, but there was a sharp edge beneath it.

"Ah... my body feels so heavy. It's like something's packed tight inside my stomach." She poked his chest with her index finger. "It's supposed to be a safe day for me... but the way you flooded me, Hans, I feel like I might actually get pregnant."

A ringing bell went off in Hans's skull. His mind snapped into focus. Masa. Eila. And now Yuria. Contraception? There had never been any. Every time, he'd followed his instincts and finished inside. Those memories flashed through his head like a horrifying montage.

Statistically... at least one of them is inevitable.

A chill raced down his spine. Cold sweat broke out all over him. But he couldn't let it show. Forcing a smile, he pulled himself together.

"Haha... No way. That couldn't possibly..."

"If I do get pregnant, you will take responsibility, Hans." Yuria crossed her legs seductively and whispered, "I'd take maternity leave and finally rest. I could escape that hellish Magic Tower. Living off the money my baby's father earns, just relaxing and enjoying life... It doesn't sound half bad, does it?"

He had thought she was joking, but her eyes were dead serious. Hans swallowed hard.

Responsibility... I have to take responsibility.

A solemn determination settled deep in his chest. Yuria mistook his stiff expression for simple exhaustion. She pulled a small bottle from her robes.

"Here. Consider it a service fee for making me feel so good last night."

When she uncorked it, a sharp, invigorating aroma filled the room. It was an expensive high-concentration mana potion.

"Ah... thank you."

Hans accepted the bottle and drank it down in large gulps. The hot energy slid down his throat, restoring his body. Yet the weight on his heart only grew heavier.

Knock knock.

"Yuria? Hans? Is the research finished? It's time for morning roll call, so I need to open the door."

Karen's booming voice came from outside. Both of them jumped out of bed in panic and scrambled to gather their scattered clothes. Unfortunately, Yuria's underwear was already torn and soaked beyond saving.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Tch. Can't be helped."

She gave up on underwear and simply threw on her outer robes. The moment Hans opened the door, Karen strode in with her usual military gait.

"You're late. Must have been exhausting, researching all night..." Karen paused, sniffing the air. The room was thick with the fishy scent of night flowers, sweat, and lingering heat.

Hans's heart sank. We've been caught. Anyone would recognize the aftermath of sex. But Karen nodded with a grave expression.

"Mm! This sharp, burning smell! You must have pushed your mana to its absolute limit!"

"......Pardon?"

"To produce a scent this intense, you must have burned through an incredible amount of mana. As expected, your research passion is truly remarkable!"

Karen was genuinely impressed. When Yuria's legs wobbled, Karen quickly supported her.

"Severe mana depletion! You've worked hard, my friend. I salute your dedication to research."

Still held in Karen's arms, Yuria looked over at Hans, stuck her tongue out playfully, and winked. Hans could only marvel at her sheer audacity.

Hans left the barracks and immediately sprinted toward the village general store. His goal was clear.

I need to reduce the pregnancy risk.

He had to find out if this world had any proper contraceptive herbs or morning-after solutions. The bell above the door jingled as he entered. The old woman at the counter was dozing off.

Hans glanced around nervously and asked in a tiny voice, "Um... ma'am. Do you have any herbs that... prevent babies from being made?"

But the hard-of-hearing grandmother's eyes flew wide open and she bellowed at the top of her lungs.

"What?! Herbs to make babies come easier?! Looking for a virility tonic, are you?!"

"N-no! That's not it, I want to prevent—"

"Right here! You young folks these days are full of energy! Already looking for medicine at your age!"

Her voice rang through the entire store. In an instant, every customer turned to stare at Hans.

"That young man looks decent, but he's already after medicine?"

"I wonder what he's been doing at night..."

Snickers and curious glances stabbed into him. Hans's face burned crimson. He had no chance to explain. The grandmother shoved a crude brown bottle into his hands.

"Here you go! With this, you can pound away until dawn and still be fine!"

In a daze, Hans grabbed the bottle, practically threw money at her, and bolted.

"Th-thank you! Goodbye!"

He fled the store like his life depended on it.

"Huff... huff..."

Out on the street in front of the store, Hans clutched the virility potion to his chest, panting. And of course, at that exact moment—

"Oh? Hans!"

Eila, on her way to work, locked eyes with him from across the street.

"......!"

Hans turned deathly pale. The bottle in his hand was blatantly suspicious. The words BULL'S STRENGTH were printed in massive letters. There was no way he could greet her while holding it. He hid the bottle behind his back and began retreating.

"Ah, um... hello! I-I have an urgent matter! Excuse me!"

He barely acknowledged her greeting before sprinting off in the opposite direction, desperately guarding the incriminating bottle.

"Hans? Wait a moment!"

Eila was left standing there, blinking at his rapidly retreating figure. Then she burst into laughter.

"What the... he got shy the moment our eyes met and ran away?"

She remembered their passionate night together. The beastly way he had panted while thrusting into her. Yet during the day, he was this adorably bashful.

"He was such an animal a few days ago... but he's surprisingly cute."

Eila completely misinterpreted his panic as pure, innocent shyness directed at her.

"Just wait, Mr. Puppy. Next time I'll pamper you even more."

Humming cheerfully, she continued on her way to work.

The Moonlight Shelter was quiet before the lunch rush. Hans entered with a solemn expression, steeling himself.

"Welcome back, boarder," Masa greeted him from behind the counter, arms crossed. Her gaze was icy. "Oh my, only coming back now? Where exactly were you rolling around all night before finally crawling home? Do you think this inn is just a storage locker for your luggage?"

Despite Masa's sharp sarcasm, Hans didn't shrink back. Instead, armed with a sense of responsibility, he walked straight up to her with determined eyes. He grabbed both her hands.

"Masa."

"......?"

"I'll... work much harder from now on. No matter what happens, I will never leave you to face it alone."

His voice was filled with sincerity. Even if she got pregnant, he would work himself to the bone to provide for her. It was the resolve of a man ready to become a true provider. Masa's hardened expression began to soften.

What is this... why is he suddenly so serious?

That was when her eyes landed on the object in his hand. In his nervousness, Hans had grabbed her hands while still clutching the bottle of Bull's Strength.

"This is..."

Masa read the label and her eyes widened. A brief silence fell. Then her face flushed bright red like a ripe tomato.

"Oh my... oh my goodness!"

She covered her mouth with both hands, flustered. "Are you saying you're sorry for not coming home last night... and that you'll make it up to me with a very hot evening?"

Hans realized his mistake too late.

"Ah, no, that's not—"

But it was already too late. Masa's eyes had turned into hearts.

"I understand. I'll prepare a special nourishing dinner. Look forward to it, my darling." She leaned in, planted a deep kiss on his cheek, and whispered, "Tonight... I'll drain you completely ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dry."

Hans resigned himself to his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fate.

"Ah... yes... that's right, Masa..."

As he headed upstairs, mentally preparing to be sucked dry to the marrow that night, Chef Ben watched from the corner. The kitchen knife in his hand trembled violently as flames of jealousy burned in his eyes.

That afternoon at the village carriage station, Yuria waited for her ride back to the capital. Karen had come to see her off.

"So, how was Hans's skill? Just as I said, his turbid energy emission technique is first-rate, isn't it?" Karen asked with sparkling eyes.

Yuria recalled the memory of being pounded like an animal the night before. That merciless hip movement. The pleasure that had nearly melted her brain. Her face reddened as she played it cool.

"Uh... yeah. His technique... was really excellent. The depth was on another level."

"As expected! My eyes never lie!" Karen seized Yuria's hand. "Then next time you visit, you must let me join!"

"......What?"

"If ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the three of us train together, we can correct each other's form and double the efficiency of turbid energy emission! You, me, and Hans. A perfect triangular formation!"

Yuria grew dizzy at the thought of that intense, savage sex happening as a threesome. A threesome? With that muscle-brained knight? Just imagining it made her head throb, yet a strange thrill also stirred within her.

"Uh, yeah... sure... I'll think about it."

Yuria mumbled vaguely and practically fled into the carriage. As it began to move, she stared blankly out the window at the passing village scenery. Crossing her legs, she murmured softly.

"Just wait, Beast. I'll be back soon."

That same night, in the office of the Heretic Inquisitor at the western frontier temple, Lucia twirled her quill over a mountain of paperwork.

"Haa..."

She couldn't concentrate. Her mind was completely occupied by the 'purification ritual' Hans had performed for her in the abandoned temple. Those hot lips. That powerful suction. Her body itched and her lower belly felt heavy.

"No. I must focus on my duties."

Part of her wanted to jump on a horse and gallop straight to Ludel village. But as a high-ranking Heretic Inquisitor, frequently leaving for personal reasons was impossible.

Lucia tossed her quill aside and fell into thought. Then, as if struck by a brilliant idea, her eyes flashed.

"Yes... that will work."

She took out a fresh sheet of parchment and began writing without hesitation.

Her eyes glittered with possessive desire and fanatical madness.

"Wouldn't it be better... to receive purification every single day?"