Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Labyrinth (1)
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Wednesday.
Today marked the third day since I'd become Karga's direct slave.
In that time, everything had proceeded smoothly.
Every afternoon, I headed to the forge for weapon crafting and repair training.
Upon returning, I attended to Karga, bathed, and went to bed.
First thing upon waking, I did my bodyweight workout, then washed up.
It had all seeped into my body like habit now.
And right after washing up...
"Any discomfort, Lady Karga?"
"Yeah..."
"If anything hurts, please let me know."
"G-Got it..."
I woke Karga and began brushing her hair.
"Haa... haa..."
"......"
It had been a little noticeable on the first day, but from the second day onward, it was crystal clear.
Karga was getting aroused from the brushing.
'No matter how I think about it, it has to be the Male Pheromone trait.'
Yesterday, I'd chalked it up to her tolerance expanding and gotten lucky, but after mulling it over during the day's routine...
Sure enough, the culprit was the Male Pheromone.
"Lady Karga, your ears... may I?"
"Yeah... but be gentle..."
With her permission, I softly stroked both her ears.
"Haaung..."
Her shoulders trembled lightly, her back arching subtly.
Her eyes were glazed over, just visible.
'She got so mad the first time...'
Now, she even glanced back regretfully if I pulled away.
Honestly speaking...
It was pretty damn hot.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' smiles warmly. This was unfolding exactly as that horny ancestor bastard intended.
"Haa, haa, hng..."
"......"
Just from touching her ears, and it was this erotic.
'No, snap out of it.'
I shook my head.
Sure, it was tempting, but what the hell could I even do?
Pounce on her?
No matter the Male Pheromone trait, that was insane.
I wasn't pureblood Arkan; I was just a mongrel combat slave.
And in this world, everyone guarded against their blood being tainted with extreme caution.
The purer the blood, the more intense it was.
If I pounced on half-werewolf Karga here?
'I'd be dead...'
No matter how much the pheromones clouded her reason, it wasn't hypnosis.
Her defenses loosened from pheromones, sure.
But not completely gone.
The key was me keeping my wits and holding the line.
"There, all done, Lady Karga."
"Ngh, hng... Y-Yeah... Good work."
I finished her tail neatly too, completing the daily quest, then left the room.
Up to here, it was identical to every other day so far.
Except for lunch this day.
That's when the anomaly hit.
"Number 17, you've been summoned."
"Summoned... you say?"
"Yeah. They specifically named you."
"......Who?"
I asked in bewilderment at the sudden summons, and Karga paused before cautiously replying.
"...The VIPs."
VIPs.
In other words, pureblood members had named me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Milady, it's Karga. Coming in."
[Yeah, enter.]
A short while later.
After lunch, instead of the forge, I headed to the room of this city's lord, Taira.
Screeech.
The door opened, revealing that same Eastern-style room from days ago.
"Kyahaha, what's up? You look pleased. Karga, your slave life treating you well?"
"...I'm here to hear why you called."
"Don't be so stiff. We're sisters. Chat casually, like always."
Taira treated Karga with the same friendly warmth as before.
'...The VIP who wanted me... isn't here?'
Meanwhile, I scanned Taira's room.
No other guests besides her.
Or maybe not arrived yet.
And then.
"Hm? What's this?"
Sniff sniff.
Taira closed her eyes, twitching her nose like she was scenting the air.
And flash!
"Whoa!!"
"What the hell? What are you, to smell like this? Perfume...? No, not perfume..."
The moment her eyes flashed, she was already in front of me, nose buried in my neck.
Her petite frame hanging off my chest exuded a strange femininity.
"S-Sis!! What the hell are you doing?!"
"Hold on a sec... This musk... it's insanely arousing..."
Sniff sniff.
Taira deeply inhaled the pheromones from my Male Pheromone trait.
And moments later.
"Hoo..."
Her face faintly flushed, she exhaled seductively and looked up at me with sultry eyes.
Her arms wrapped softly around my waist, pressing her feminine little body against mine.
"M-Milady...?"
"Whew... this guy's the real deal. Even pureblood me's this riled up... Karga must be worse... You two knocked up already?"
"Sis—!!"
"Kyahaha! Joke, joke! Your face lit up, so I teased!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' laughs uproariously, cheeks flushing! Though smaller than me, in that instant, it felt like facing a massive beast.
Pureblood indeed...
As the one with the thickest Arkan blood, her lustful gaze carried immense pressure.
"Well... half-joking..."
Taira, waving it off laughing at Karga,
turned back with sultry eyes, gently lifting my chin.
"...But this intoxicating scent ain't a joke. Congrats, Number 17 slave. First to get me this wet, heat or no. Ever."
"Pardon? Uh, th-thank you...?"
"Hehe, Karga. Mind if I borrow him later?"
"Borrow...?"
"Perfect for full moon first-time practice. Okay?"
"S-Sis! What the...!! You're Pendrack direct lineage!!"
"Kyahaha! Just use birth control. Kid pops out? Grab another pureblood seed, family carries on. What's the issue?"
"Sis—!!"
Face beet red, Karga rushed over and yanked my arm.
Taira giggled amusedly, hopping back to her seat.
Propping her chin, she eyed us.
"Anyway, sisterly banter over."
"...Not sisterly at all, Sis."
"Joking, Karga~ Don't be mad~. Anyway, reason I called Number 17 today."
Taira started, pointing her pipe at me.
"Request came to take him on labyrinth exploration."
"Labyrinth exploration...?"
"Yeah, heard those elf brats poking around the labyrinth lately?"
"Yes..."
"One's acting weird, wants proper scouting. Risky though, so borrowing a mongrel guide."
"Number 17... as the guide...?"
"Yep."
Labyrinth exploration. Guide.
Hearing that, tension hardened my face.
'Labyrinth... and first dive too...'
Of course, I'd explored countless labyrinths playing the game.
Sometimes with parties.
Sometimes army-sized groups.
Sometimes solo.
Based on that experience... honestly, at my level, labyrinths were dangerous.
"Sis... Milady. Does it have to be Number 17?"
Surprisingly, Karga stepped up, negative on the labyrinth join.
"...Number 17's shown strong skills for a mongrel. But... not enough for labyrinth guide."
That was unexpected.
'She's way kinder than her strict look suggests.'
Maybe the Male Pheromone influence.
Perfect, since I didn't want to go either. My direct owner opposing was a godsend.
"Ahh... but already took the money."
"Wh-What?!"
"Kyahaha! Too big to refuse, so accepted. Mongrel slave anyway, fine right?"
"......"
Karga eyed Taira in panic,
then glanced at me.
'Ah... no dodging this.'
Gut feeling hit.
This labyrinth gig... I had to go.
"Understood... If that's the case..."
As expected, Karga's tail drooped, acquiescing to Taira.
'Labyrinth...'
And the most dangerous spot: guide.
Sure, mongrel combat slaves fit risky roles. I knew that.
...Didn't expect it to be me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' looks at you worriedly! Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' cheers you on! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' watches you intently. All I could hope was the abilities from these guys got me through.
And then.
Knock knock knock.
[Lady Taira, the exploration team has arrived.]
"Ah, finally. Come in, Kera."
The ones requesting me as guide entered Taira's room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'A mongrel combat slave?'
'Yes. Make it look like an accident and kill him. Give the weapon to the dwarf.'
'Why bother disguising a mongrel's death as an accident...'
'......Are you questioning my orders?'
Zing.
At Elena's sharp glare, half-elf Kairel hurriedly bowed.
'Handle it flawlessly. Huge chance for your life too. ...At least your kid lives as normal elf.'
'Yes! I'll do my best!'
.........
......
..
Recalling his time with Elena, Kairel eyed his trailing teammates.
Odd mix of five: dwarf and elf quarters.
Two quarter-elves, two quarter-dwarves.
One half-dwarf like himself.
They were the selected scouting team for this labyrinth dive.
"Everyone remember: our goal's quietly offing that mongrel slave."
Half-dwarf Ragon snorted at Kairel's words.
"Our goal's his weapon. Don't get it twisted."
"Kill him to get the weapon, idiot? ...Stuck working with your dumb kind."
"What?! What'd you say, pointy-ears?!"
"...Misheard."
True to bad blood between elves and dwarves, they bickered already.
But didn't cross lines.
Each had vital motives.
"She promised a normal dwarf wife after. Kahaha, easy gig."
"Yeah... mongrel slave for this shot. Must be Elisis aiding us."
Elves and dwarves shared one goal.
Mongrel combat slave Number 17.
Kill him, seize his weapon.
'Let's see what trash mongrel.'
They figured it a cakewalk.
Sure, they were mixed blood.
But leagues above mongrel slaves.
World's natural order.
Quarter and half, but carried great Elisis and Morduin blood.
Mixed kin stronger than hero-bloodless mongrels: common sense.
Six of them, no fear of one mongrel.
"Lady Taira, exploration team here."
[Ah, finally. Come in, Kera.]
——Screeech.
Thus.
"Oho! Here! Come in! That's the mongrel slave you requested!"
"Lady Taira, for granting our request this time..."
The moment they first saw Number 17—they could only gape.
"Gr-Gra...nting our... re-quest..."
Behind politely greeting Kairel,
half-dwarf Ragon whispered.
"Hey, hey... this ain't right... What the hell is that, pointy-ears?"
"......No idea."
Shiver shiver shiver...
All six scouts trembled unwittingly facing Number 17.
A potent scent and aura numbing their noses.
Emitting from that black-haired mongrel slave.
'What the... this mongrel...'
It was an overwhelming male scent.
Beyond comparison.
An innately dominant male presence.
That aura poured from Number 17.
'This... why Elena said handle quietly!'
They shrank back instinctively.
Their male confidence waning.