Chapter 404
Chapter 404
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 404
Chapter Title: Harpy Lady
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A clamor echoed as something crashed into the front yard. From the darkness of the cave, I scrutinized the newcomer.
—Kee-eeek!
—Ki-hi-hi-hit!
—Ki-ki-kit!!
Soon after, the harpies' eerie laughter rang out. Something like inexplicable ecstasy seeped from between their fangs. Their glowing eyes fixed on it with envy.
—Thud, thud.
As those massive wings folded away, a humanoid figure came into view. And that was the object of their envious gazes. Envy? Anyone would look at a ridiculously tall beauty like that with envy.
"Mommy."
The Harpy Queen appeared to stand nearly two meters tall.
She had led the group here—the quartet that got utterly wrecked by me earlier... well, two were injured, so now it was a trio. She had flowing golden hair, massive tits, and aggressive eyes that sized up humans like prey. A striking beauty.
Her hair was golden, so her wings were too. Her talons and claws looked tough and sturdy. She exuded the dignity befitting a queen.
Was she as strong as the Alraune?
I had no idea.
She could be weaker, on par, or in the worst case, stronger. Gripping my sword, I braced for combat. My task hadn't changed anyway.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! That's the one!"
"A strong male! Shira, Mur, and Fellaka got beaten!"
"Give him a thrashing!"
Emboldened by their powerful backup, the three harpies sneered at me while rubbing their cheeks against the queen's thighs. Naked beauties with huge breasts acting like that did stir some lust.
Were all their kind stunners, like dryads?
—Tap.
The Harpy Queen stopped after a few steps and stared right at me.
"..."
I couldn't read her gaze. Hostile? Predatory? Indecipherable. Unlike the expressive Alraune, she was stone-faced.
In my head, I'd ranked the harpies' combat prowess into three tiers.
The weakest were the standard underling harpies—small tits, short stature, and seemingly dim-witted.
Then the milf harpies—big tits, tall frames. Strong in their own right, but weaker than me. Smarter than the grunts, maybe human-level intelligence?
Finally, this Harpy Queen.
Tits and height on another level. Two meters was absolute dominance. Her claws seemed a bit longer, but not a game-changer. Reach-wise, my sword gave me the edge.
That was all I could glean.
No clue on her actual power.
"Yes... you're just the right kind of stud."
"What?"
The Harpy Queen, who'd been staring me down, finally spoke. Her aggressive eyes lit up with amusement, cracking her emotionless facade. Was this bitch the type to smile one second and stab you the next?
Those classic psycho types always fought well.
"No wonder you lot couldn't handle him."
As she peeled the milf harpies off her thighs, they melted into blissful expressions and retreated.
Fuck.
She looked ridiculously strong at a glance... but I couldn't get a read.
Her voice carried a maternal warmth. That flowing golden hair even shimmered—if not for the wings, you could mistake her for an angel.
"Subduing a stud like you would cost us dearly, wouldn't it?"
The queen, having shooed the harpies back, met my eyes as she spoke. Fact was, I was a strong male, just as she said. Those harpies couldn't take me, no matter how many rushed in.
But monsters often had weak mobs and overpowered bosses.
"..."
It was odd for this Harpy Queen to acknowledge my strength outright.
"Indeed. Those harpies couldn't subdue me. I'm honored Your Majesty recognizes it."
"Yes, they'd never manage it."
Unlike other monsters, the queen wasn't aggressive or battle-hungry. No sadistic killer vibe either—she seemed calm, open to talk.
Did she reason?
Or was she bluffing weakness?
If my power unnerved her enough for words over weapons, that was ideal.
Time to play along.
"But I can. Even if you call him a strong stud, he doesn't seem stronger than me."
"Heh heh, who knows? Your Majesty’s minions couldn't take down Kim Katt here. Of course, you're mighty. But you won't touch me unscathed."
I'd land at least one blow before going down.
I trusted that much.
"Such fierce words. No matter. That's not what I came to discuss."
Not combat?
"You want to talk instead of fight?"
"And if I do?"
"I don't mind listeners. Speak freely, Your Majesty."
Her lack of aggression meant she wanted dialogue.
Talk opened negotiation. I'd bite.
Words rarely solved things—except negotiation.
"So, where to begin?"
I lowered my sword slightly, awaiting her words.
"When our breeding season hits, we harpies kidnap males from other races, mate with them, and lay eggs from their seed."
She opened with that casual bombshell.
I nodded along naturally.
"I see. But why humans specifically?"
"Human seed is just right. And they're easy to snag."
True enough.
Humans were everywhere.
Individuals varied wildly—some insanely strong elites, most frail weaklings.
Easy pickings.
Were harpies humanoid women for that reason?
"But viable males are limited... naturally. Kidnapping ones stronger than us harpies is no small feat."
The queen traced her lips with a claw, sighing wistfully.
"Fair enough. Not easy. So why obsess over strong males?"
"Strong studs produce strong offspring—they inherit that strength."
That kind of species, huh.
Seed from the mighty birthed the mighty.
"We crave strong males always... but as I said, acquiring them is tough. You reaching our nest is a miracle, really."
"Tell me about it."
Rescuing that Zenith fucker created an opening, then unknown harpies swarmed me. Hard to counter.
I stomped one's foot to escape initially, but others grabbed my shoulders in sequence, botching my timing. Inexperience and bad luck.
"Studs like you are probably our limit. This feels like a golden opportunity."
She eyed my body head to toe, blatantly.
...Fucking figures.
She wanted to fuck me, bottom line.
Her flexible attitude was bait. Avoid injury by sweet-talking me into bed.
"Don't you want to leave alive?"
Her eyes gleamed as she stared. Fuck her, make fertile eggs, live.
"...Of course I want out alive."
"Then I've got a way."
"What's that?"
"My daughter."
"Pardon?"
Daughter?
"Mate with my daughter and impregnate her. A stud like you is perfect for her first."
"Huh?"
So... the Harpy Queen demanded I sleep with her daughter—the Harpy Princess. I'd figured she'd want me herself. Not her kid.
"For a human male born with endless lust, it's not bad. Our harpy beauty stirs human desires plenty. Well?"
"Hm..."
If it's just pretty, I could fuck a mannequin. Basically, insane.
As I mulled that, she took it for hesitation and elaborated.
"No choice anyway. Just offering mutual gain. Mate with my daughter, sow your seed. She gets strong heirs, you go free."
Fuck her kid, get released.
"More reasonable than expected? Proposing this?"
"Age brings wisdom. No need to bleed when words suffice."
Her logic held water.
Negotiating over charging in. Wise. But if she negotiated, she wasn't overwhelmingly strong.
Smart, but power lacking.
True power crushes without talk.
—Beneath Alraune's league.
Hence the strong-male fixation, trading with me for my seed. Deal sounded fine.
No guarantee of release post-act, but refusal meant all harpies, queen included, swarming.
Those four were weaker than Shira, so I won. But queen direct? I'd kill some, but die fighting.
Worse, left in the cave, I'd starve.
She knew, hence the offer.
She could kill me, but at cost. Irresistible deal minimizes damage.
—Take what she wants, release.
She thinks sharp.
"So, stud? Accept? Ignore if you must, but pity..."
No options.
Never dreamed she'd corner me like this...!
"I accept."
Had to.
Queen's proposal direct. Rejecting was suicide... survive first.
Couldn't use Final Gambit now anyway.
Grunts? Winnable.
Queen? Nah.
Compromise... time?
"Kuk... ku ku ku. Good choice. A reasonable human? Astonishing."
Didn't expect reason with a monster. Peaceful deal? Mind-blowing.
Queens had high intellect, surpassing average idiots.
"Surprised me too... but your daughter?"
"Issue?"
Why not herself?
I'd assumed she'd demand herself.
"Ah, unexpected. Thought you'd want to mate yourself."
"Oh? Heh heh heh?"
She laughed like it'd amused her. Crinkled eyes were charming. Not wife-level pretty, though.
"Hee hee, wanted to mate with me? I'm too old for seed, but if you do my daughter, I could reward you—be your bitch for a day. Then freedom."
"Uh..."
Menopause.
Made sense.
"Pass."
"Shame."
I declined; she called back harpies.
"Fetch Sesirite then."
Hm, menopause though.
Monster thing? Body and face screamed late twenties.
No bush either.