Facing Desire (2)
“Urgh!! Uuugh!!”
She thrashed violently, but there was no way she'd untie the ropes through sheer strength alone. With her mouth gagged, she couldn't even pray to the sun god. Maybe she'd grown complacent, banking on her status and blessings even after realizing her situation.
Yeah, that's what makes her such a naive little girl.
The struggling didn't last long. If anything, it just stimulated me more. She was probably starting to feel it in her lower half. Sorry, but right now I wasn't just any man—I was a starving one.
“Didn't pay much attention before, but looking at you up close like this... you're pretty cute.”
Her water-blue hair was always braided up tight, so it didn't stand out much, but loose? It'd be alluring as hell.
Under those long church robes, you wouldn't notice, but in adventurer gear? No hiding those killer legs.
Thin, toned calves flowing into those thick thighs... makes you wonder what kind of hips are hiding under that skirt. The garter biting into her thigh flesh really draws the eye.
So I slipped my hand in there and stroked gently...
“Hngh!”
She clenched her thighs on instinct, but the reaction was weaker than I'd expected.
So I ramped up the stimulation.
Leaned in and planted a light kiss near her navel, where her top had ridden up just a bit from all the writhing.
“Huuuugh!!”
This time she arched her back hard. Nice reaction. One to remember.
Right on cue, her perky breasts jiggled temptingly in front of me. I wanted to grab them, feel that softness, that bounce.
Our eyes met through the valley of her shaking chest.
“U! Urgh!”
Ashushikara shook her head furiously once she caught my gaze.
That soft smile she always wore had this noble grace beyond even aristocracy. Her bold moves sometimes made her seem downright regal.
But seeing that face twisted in misery? Knowing I did that? Thrilling.
I reached out...
“Hngh... hu...?”
And wiped away her tears.
The bed was soaked through by now, drenched in them.
Showed her the tears on my fingers, and only then did she seem to realize she was crying.
“Only now hitting home what you did wrong?”
“Huugh!? Pwah... haa.”
I pulled the gag from her mouth. Then said it with force.
“Listen up good.
I'm only holding back this much because you saved Su and healed me before. Otherwise? You'd be stripped naked by now.
Vocation? Mission? Give me a break.
Oath? You think I'm some fairy-tale knight?
Figured showing up personally with that precious body of yours would secretly move me? Spark some bullshit mission in my heart?
Idealizing me, flattering me to use me—and you thought I wouldn't notice?”
As I spoke, I untied the ropes binding her hands. 'Tie 'em tighter? Make it more miserable?' The thought bubbled up, but I gritted my teeth and shoved it down.
Instead, I poured that feeling into my words.
“You have no idea how much I'm holding back right now.
You came all this way thinking you could use me somehow. Know how many times since you followed me here I've thought about fucking you senseless?
Humans are animals driven by desire. That's what makes us tick. No matter how noble or saintly you play it, I'm crass enough to feel lust. Right now? I wanna rip your clothes off and go to town.
Stop jamming your convenient sun-god fantasy down men's throats. Think about how you look in their dark urges, you idiot.
Today's your warning.”
She stared at me through tear-filled eyes.
Finally, not a saintess anymore—just a normal woman wary of a man.
So I said it.
“Pack your shit and get out before I really pounce.”
“...Hic!”
But instead of bolting, she yanked the blanket over her head.
What the hell? Suddenly acting like a kid? This ain't hide-and-seek—out of sight means the threat's gone?
So ridiculous I just stood there, frozen.
“Sniff... kuh... hic... hu-hic...”
“......Haa. Seriously.”
She was probably face-down in the pillow under there, sobbing her guts out.
Chuck her out the window?
Nah. Let her be.
I admit, I went too far just now.
Not my usual style. Rescuing Orio must've drilled this habit of roughing up cocky women into me without realizing.
Can't let that become a thing.
No. Wait. Reshi? I'd stop at a smack. But Ashu? She needs a proper scolding.
Reshi charged me with real resolve. Ashu? Banked on her fancy background to manipulate me.
But damn. For real.
She's still stiff as hell down there, unspoken.
Holding back tons because of Reshi, but it's not like the thought of pouncing never crossed my mind.
I want a night that ends with us both smiling, kissing happily—not some quick release followed by a smoke.
Plus, messing with a saintess or noble lady? Bad fallout. Barely escaped Prosek; can't run again.
Planned to jerk off once she left.
But like this? Can't do shit.
Haa. Sleep it is.
Early to bed, figure it solo tomorrow.
And that night.
Maybe the good deed paid off. Had a nice dream.
Agnes welcomed me warmly for once. Ferio hugged me rough...
No—wait! Hold up! Reshi, not you.
I'd just had a wet dream.
Fuck... seriously...
That hollow feeling waking to sticky discomfort in my lower half before the rooster even crowed. Embarrassment...
Middle school? High school? Felt like those midnight bathroom underwear handwashes.
Out at the inn well handwashing when a night patrol guard startled, rushed over spear at me. Thought I was murdering and rinsing blood?
“Smell it. You'll know.”
The male guard doubled over laughing.
Female guard nearby; I phrased it indirect, but she got it. Coughed loud on purpose.
Brothels still lit up everywhere—don't mess in weird spots, half tease half advice.
Lots of outsiders here; money buys any taste, man or woman.
Damn, this world's pretty PC.
Never hit a spot like that worldwide. Didn't even think of it.
Unemployed, part-time life: better chase JAV codes online than blow a woman's shoe price on minutes of fun.
Wet dream at my age is humiliating enough, but roasted by guards? The rising sun felt like 'Punishment for tormenting my daughter!'
Sun god, don't spoil her. That clueless boldness? Straight to the fall route in our world's subculture.
Bought fresh bread and soup near the inn for breakfast—got some for Ashu too, just in case.
Cried all night; gotta be starving.
Maybe she bailed while I was out.
“Sniff... kuh... hic...”
Tough cookie, didn't bolt. Still sniffling under the blanket. Set the bread and soup on the table.
“Breakfast's here. Not eating? Then quit crying and get out.”
She's no saintess in my eyes anymore. No urge for colleague-level chit-chat or respect.
Casual speech to drive the wedge.
Few-day stay, but I packed up and left the room.
Won't steal, but wounded pride? Who knows the sabotage.
Adventurers' guild stores gear, even maintenance—use that.
Thanks to her dragging me around, missed local info and quests. Time to scout.
Bonus: shops and eats.
Guild's loaded on local info. Bulletin board's a riot.
Big forest: man-eating spiders, bear- and pig-sized beasts.
Dungeon too! Freaky monsters galore.
Lunchtime already. Dig deeper later.
Stepped out to a shocking sight.
Never saw in Prosek: people leashed by neck chains, dragged along.
Slaves, obvious. Humans, orcs, goblins.
Prosek frontline-adjacent; slaves are security risks, lord's policy bans 'em—Ferio said.
Born in a human-rights nation? Not a pretty view.
Lunch: longest line spot. No ads here; crowds vouch quality. Hunt hidden gems later—way more eateries than Prosek, city-sized.
Post-lunch, nagging worry: grabbed baked-dough pockets stuffed meat/fruit/veggies like world-tacos, headed back.
Hope she's gone, but guilty—can't show empty-handed.
...Still there?
“.......Hic. ....Sniff.”
Still buried under the blanket.
Good girl, ate breakfast. Not 'cause I said so, right?
“Feel better after eating? Go bug someone else.
No spot? Hit the Kalderan cathedral in town.”
“......Sniff.”
“That guy who recognized you yesterday...”
“!?”
Felt her jolt under the blanket.
No plans to rip the wound wider.
“...Forget it. Eat this, water too. De-puff that face and bounce.”
Out again.
Afternoon: prowled markets and workshops for gear matching my skills.
30-ish gold coins from Liard.
Hmm...
Good stuff's pricey. Some don't take cash at all—gems or valuables, not fluctuating gold.
Price doubles as qualification.
Need a shop to recharge my magic sword's mana.
Dusk closing in; shops later. Grabbed parchment and quill from a general store. Tougher than paper—who knows when mail drops.
Dinner in hand, back intending to write letters.
Still here.
Cried it out; now peeking warily from under the blanket.
Plans to tough another day.
Maybe gotta go all-in to snap her out of it?
Distracting bed next door—no way words flow.
Rare urge: greetings to Rada, Su, Lirisa; unload feelings on Ferio, Reshi, Agnes. Pen's dead.
Screw it. Early night.
Snuffed the lamp, lay down. Light seeped through the window.
Big city: magic-lit shops open late. Sleep disruptor.
Curtains.
Room dark and quiet. Pretended sleep—her side bugged me.
Hour or two later: cautious rustling from her bed.
Finally heading out.
...Dropped my guard.
In a flash, Ashushikara was straddling me atop my feigned sleep.