Probing the Depths for Success
When the girl in the red panties covered them back up with her skirt, Ted wore a look of profound disappointment.
"D-Don't look at me like that, I'm not showing you anymore. I-I knew you were a pervert, Senior, but I didn't think you'd stare so shamelessly at a girl's panties the very first time you met her."
"Hey, if you're showing them off so shamelessly, it's only polite for me to look shamelessly, right?"
"I've never heard of that kind of politeness before..."
The girl in the red panties slowly stood up.
Rustle.
As Ted quietly stared up at her from below, she sighed.
"Sigh... You really are persistent, Senior. Fine, here. Take another look."
Flutter.
Giving up first, the girl in the red panties lifted her skirt to show him her underwear once more.
Oho! What an excellent woman with a wonderful spirit of public service!
Ted shoved his face right up to her crotch again and resumed his close inspection.
"Noooo~!" she squealed. "I-I told you, don't look from so close! I-I'm worried about... you know, my smell!"
"If you're talking about the smell, it actually smells amazing."
"H-Heuh?!"
Flustered, the girl in the red panties found herself completely at a loss for words.
"...You're really something else."
Seemingly resigned to her fate, she let Ted admire her panties from mere inches away.
"...Seriously, it doesn't smell weird?"
"It's a magnificent pussy scent."
"D-Don't just say 'pussy scent' out loud like that, you perverted Senior!"
Finally unable to bear the embarrassment any longer, she pressed her skirt back down.
"Ugh... I bet you always seduce girls by saying such shamelessly dirty things. Just throwing it out there to see who bites!"
"I already have four women, so I don't really need to fish for random bites."
"Huh?! You're surprisingly capable, Senior... A total player..."
She let out a soft chuckle and leaned her back against a nearby tree trunk.
"You're an interesting pervert, Senior. I look forward to seeing your future."
"My future? Obviously, it'll be living as the Harem King. But... who came up with that nickname for me?"
"Ah, that's just what I call you. You've been walking around with two sex slaves, right? I actually stay at the same lodging as you. We've even eaten at the same table before, but you don't remember, do you?"
A cold sweat broke out on Ted's neck. He had no idea she was a fellow resident of his lodging, let alone someone he had shared a table with.
"Ahem... O-Of course I remember."
"Is that so? I lied about us eating together, though. And yet you remember?"
"Damn! You tricked me!"
At Ted's reaction, the girl in the red panties giggled. It seemed only the part about sharing the same lodging was true.
"It's only natural you wouldn't remember. There are so many people coming and going. The only reason I remember you is because of your sex slaves yesterday."
According to her, she had enjoyed watching Yana and Yasa perform a masturbation show under their master's orders in the lodging's underground adult space, using the spectacle as a side dish for her drinks.
"I laughed so hard! You completely broke Yana and Yasa, those nasty-tempered delinquents. I genuinely thought you were amazing, Senior."
"Ah, so you were a witness that day. But... why do you call me 'Senior'?" Since Ted had only just ranked up, he figured she was likely the senior adventurer.
"No real reason. You just seemed so impressive, so I thought 'Perverted Senior' fit perfectly~"
It seemed she used the title without any deep meaning.
"Anyway... I was hoping to see you get flustered, Senior, but you stared at my panties so confidently that I ended up being the embarrassed one." She closed her eyes and shrugged. "To be honest, flashing my panties is my own secret way of relieving stress."
What an excellent hobby. She had probably been picking out safe, greenhorn adventurers to indulge her exhibitionism. What a waste. If he had known sooner, he would have sought her out every single day.
"Since we've crossed paths like this... and since you ranked up, let me give you a little present." The panty-flashing girl rummaged through her inventory and pulled out a tube of ointment. It was quite expensive—worth about a full day's earnings for a low-grade adventurer in this area.
"Congratulations on ranking up, Senior."
Giving away something that required a whole day of labor to buy... ...She's actually a sweet girl. Aside from the exhibitionism, that is.
"My name is Susia Lagram. We might end up partying together someday, so keep it in mind, Senior Ted Isis."
She already knew his name. Perhaps his reputation as the F-rank adventurer who had enslaved two delinquents had spread far and wide.
"Yeah, sure. Thanks for everything, Susia Lagram."
"Hehe."
Susia flashed a mischievous grin, turned around, and subtly hitched up the hem of her skirt. Naturally, her panties came into view once more. She was certainly generous with her service, front and back. In just a short span of time, Ted had taken quite a liking to Susia.
"Shh~" Susia pressed an index finger to her lips. It was a silent plea to keep her exhibitionist tendencies a secret. No wonder there hadn't been any rumors. The rookie male adventurers around here certainly knew how to keep a secret.
"Well, goodbye, Senior." Susia waved energetically and dashed deeper into the forest. She was heading far away to ensure their Specter-hunting quests wouldn't overlap. Every little gesture showed that she was a fundamentally decent person. Well, except for the exhibitionism.
Ten minutes after parting ways with Susia, Ted continued his search through the woods. Found them! He spotted two black-haired women radiating a gloomy, ominous aura. They were Specters.
Huh... They're way gloomier than I expected. Having never seen a Specter in person, he tilted his head in confusion. According to his grandfather's journal, an F+ rank Specter was supposed to look like a slightly gloomy woman.
Grandpa, calling that 'slightly' gloomy is a massive understatement. Perhaps things had changed since his grandfather's era, or maybe the monsters had evolved. Just as that thought crossed his mind—
...Wait, no. Ted recalled the characteristics of higher-tier Specters detailed in the journal. Are these E+ rank Specters?!
Ted swallowed hard. What the hell? Why are they in a place like this? Fighting opponents above one's own rank was a dangerous gamble, generally discouraged. While avoiding them was the smartest move, Ted already had experience dealing with an artificial spirit. If there are only two of them...
If he could take one out with a surprise attack, he could force a one-on-one fight. Should I go for it?
Ted eyed the spear and sword held by the Specters. Whether they had looted them from dead adventurers or just stumbled upon them, the weapons looked to be worth at least 500,000 Jerrer. Damn it, how does a Specter have better gear than me—oh, wait.
He had momentarily forgotten. He currently possessed the masterwork sword gifted to him by Eileen. His gear was vastly superior. Ted's sword was worth at least ten million Jerrer. With its durability and razor-sharp edge, he could easily shatter the enemy's weapons using a weapon-breaking technique.
Honestly, he had been holding back his full strength out of concern for his previous weapon's durability. But with this masterwork sword... Ted gradually channeled his strength into his grip. When he did, a faint, metallic groan echoed, as if the steel itself were screaming.
Ah... Even a masterwork sword can't withstand my raw power... I guess nothing short of an Intelligence Weapon can handle it... If he wielded it recklessly with his full strength, it would quickly suffer damage, and the repair costs would be astronomical. It was best to limit his output as usual.
Sigh... They say a true master can cleave the heavens with a mere twig... It was a quote from his grandfather's journal. His grandfather had been deeply shaken after witnessing such a master in person. Following a period of secluded training, his grandfather had eventually reached a realm where he could cleave mountains and the sky.
However, that was only possible because he used an exceptionally sturdy sword. In the end, even his grandfather had failed to reach the realm of cleaving the heavens with a mere twig. Because of that, his grandfather had always self-deprecatingly referred to himself as a talentless, third-rate hack.
Yet, believing that Ted possessed talent that vastly eclipsed his own, he had trained him relentlessly, gifted him his journal, and trusted that Ted would one day reach that legendary realm. And he had always emphasized: Your physical body is already perfected. All that remains is for you to reach enlightenment.
Though, in the end, I still have no idea what that enlightenment is supposed to be.
"Screeech." At that moment, one of the Specters wandered off on her own. An opening!
Ted calmed his breathing. Like starting an engine, he rapidly circulated the blood through his body, priming himself for combat. It was a technique any adventurer could use to temporarily boost their speed and power beyond their normal limits. While highly potent, it consumed a massive amount of stamina, making it unsuitable for prolonged battles.
Of course, this limitation did not apply to Ted, who had confidently boasted to Laila that he could have sex for seventy-two hours straight without rest. To be perfectly honest, he could probably go for over ten days.
Alright, let's go! Take down the isolated one in a single strike—by thrusting straight into her pussy! It sounded like the plan of a complete madman, but to destroy the Core hidden behind a Specter's uterus, this was the most direct and orthodox method.
Thud! Ted lunged forward with explosive momentum. With enough force to gouge the earth beneath him, he leaped five meters with every single stride.
"Kieek?!" Startled by Ted's sudden ambush, the Specter scrambled to react. But she was already far too late.
Squilch! By the time she raised her weapon, Ted's sword had already been driven deep into her pussy with immense force.
"Nggghhh?!" The Specter's body convulsed violently as she began spraying urine from her urethra in a wild torrent. The blade, having penetrated straight through her pussy, cleanly shattered the Core hidden behind her uterus.
"Haaah...♥" With a face flushed with intense, ecstatic pleasure, the Specter's body dissolved into shimmering particles and vanished. It was his very first successful Specter hunt.
I did it! But his celebration was cut short. Whoosh! Having realized she was under attack, the remaining Specter hurled her spear directly at Ted.
"Hup!" Anticipating the attack, Ted twisted his body at the last second to dodge the projectile. Snatch! He reached out and grabbed the shaft of the spear mid-air, turning her own weapon against her.
"Kieek! Human! Found food!"
"It's the other way around, you bastard." Ted casually tossed the captured spear high into the air.
It wasn't thrown particularly fast or high, so the Specter's gaze naturally drifted upward to track it. Low intelligence, just as expected of a low-tier monster.
Thunk! "Kack!" The Specter looked down at the sudden, sharp pain in her lower abdomen. There, she saw Eileen's masterwork sword impaling her stomach. Ted had thrown his blade.
"Ah, ugh...?!" Thud. The Specter collapsed to her knees. Although that strike hadn't directly pierced the Core behind her uterus, it had grazed close enough to deliver a devastating shock to her system. As a result, the Specter was completely dazed, drool spilling from her lips.
Dash! Seizing the opportunity, Ted rushed forward and kicked the Specter square in her voluptuous chest, knocking her flat on her back. Schlick! He ripped his sword out of her abdomen and plunged it straight through her heart, pinning her to the forest floor.
Of course, a wound like this wouldn't kill a Specter. They were immortal unless their Core was destroyed. But this should keep her pinned down for a bit.
Ted sat down right in front of her and pried her legs wide apart. The wound in her lower abdomen where he had just pulled his sword out had already healed without leaving a trace. If he didn't destroy her Core soon, she would recover.
They say adventurers use Specters as masturbation toys when they're horny, and I can definitely see why.
Aside from their gloomy vibe, Specters possessed quite attractive, feminine bodies. Since their magic-born bodies materialized with clothing and underwear from the moment they spawned, the Specter lying before him with her legs spread wide was wearing black panties.
Rip! He violently tore her panties apart with both hands, exposing her tightly closed pussy. Tearing panties is surprisingly satisfying. I could get addicted to this.
"Kieeeek! Human! I am immortal! I cannot die!"
She wasn't entirely wrong. Even if he destroyed her Core, it would only dissolve her magical body. Given that they respawned infinitely, destroying the Core was less of a true death and more of a temporary banishment, preventing them from reconstructing their physical forms for a set period.
"You might not die, but you won't be showing your face around here for a while." Spread! As Ted pried her pussy lips wide apart, her hymen came into view.
Having already claimed Laila's virginity, Ted felt absolutely no hesitation when it came to penetrating a pussy. And so, Squish! Without a moment's delay, Ted shoved his hand straight into the Specter's pussy, tearing through her hymen and pushing all the way to her uterus.
"Nggghhhyaaaah~?!?!" With his hand buried up to his wrist inside her pussy, his fingers brushed against the entrance of her cervix. The Core had to be hidden somewhere between this spot and her rectum.
Squish, squish. Ted began vigorously moving his hand inside her, searching for the Core nestled somewhere beyond the vaginal wall.
"Ngggh! Haaah~!!" The Specter's body convulsed as her vaginal walls clamped down tight around his hand. At that exact moment—
"Aha, so this is it." Ted located a thick, slightly squishy mass nestled between her vaginal and rectal walls. He pinched it firmly between his fingers. And then—
Crush! He squeezed with all his might, crushing the Core right through her vaginal wall.
"Haaahhh~♥♥♥" Squirrrrt! Once again, the Specter convulsed violently as a massive torrent of urine and squirt sprayed from her urethra. It seemed these creatures experienced an overwhelming, mind-shattering climax the moment their Cores were destroyed.
At the same time, drenched in the fluids she had sprayed all over him, the Specter dissolved into particles and vanished. Nice. Now I have a solid grasp of where the Core is located. He was confident he could destroy them much faster next time.
"But..." Ted fell into thought. He had successfully defeated two Specters. However, since they were of a different rank than his quest target, he wasn't sure if the Guild would count them toward his quest completion.
"Hmm... I guess I'll just have to keep stuffing Specter pussies until I find some F+ rank ones." Ted turned his gaze deeper into the forest.