Chapter 9
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: Newbie Adventurer Fabre, Veteran Adventurer Ariana
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I looked down at Amy, who had her eyepatch reapplied over her eyes.
Amy's lower abdomen bore the erotic tattoo, now gleaming with a black light and asserting its presence unlike before.
The divine power that had been protecting her was still gradually regaining its size, but it was far from the brink of awakening.
That made sense, since the divine power that had shielded her until moments ago had all been absorbed into my essence, turning into my experience points.
The divine power had taken its place, preventing her body from collapsing.
The peculiar part was that a portion of the divine power had turned black and seeped into the erotic tattoo.
The power now shining in the erotic tattoo was all from that.
‘Did the divine power get corrupted, activating the succubus's erotic tattoo?’
What caught my eye even more...
Was that the power engraved in the erotic tattoo hadn't been absorbed into my essence.
‘In fact, its light grew stronger.’
I speculated that demonic energy similar to mine worked differently.
As I watched Amy sink back into illusion, Yulia entered through the door.
“Why didn't you fully corrupt her? She could be a great asset.”
She asked, looking at Amy writhing on the floor.
“Because seeing a priestess, called a creation of god, squirm uncontrollably with desire is amusing.”
That was what I said, but my real intention was elsewhere.
‘Her experience points are quite substantial.’
I'd grown one level stronger.
No dramatic change from just one level, but the fact that she gave enough XP for a level up was important.
‘Every time she succumbed to instinct, the color of her divine power changed.’
Like ink spreading on rice paper, her divine power shifted hue the moment she fell.
Now far murkier, shining almost gray, but not fully black yet.
I could absorb it one more time.
Since the power seeped into the tattoo can't be absorbed by me, I should play with her moderately to extract the maximum.
Efficiency is key.
Maximizing output from limited resources is the basics of strategy simulations, after all.
Yulia bowed her head to my words.
“If that's the Demon King's will.”
Suppressing her emotions, obeying her superior.
It was a display of her loyalty.
“Head upstairs. Amy will fall completely in a few days.”
“Understood. Then I'll wash her briefly and return.”
“Sure.”
Amy was covered in sweat, love juices, and semen.
I was curious how she'd wash her, but my presence would just get in the way, so I headed upstairs.
With the Demon King gone upstairs.
Left alone, Yulia gazed at Amy, who was moaning in pleasure.
She no longer uttered prayers or anything of the sort—she had become far more honest with her heart.
“Hyuuut!!”
Envy.
Seeing Amy moan like that, Yulia was surprised at her own surge of jealousy.
Why was she thinking this?
Even after casting magic to avoid being ravished by the Demon King.
‘Snap out of it, Yulia. I'm not worthy.’
No matter the surprise, she had rejected the Demon King once.
Even to him, who never harbored personal feelings for his subordinates, she had dared to draw too close, fostering misunderstandings beyond necessity.
The moment she laid eyes on the Demon King's naked form, she had failed to resist her succubus instincts—she deserved punishment.
And moreover.
-If it's not sincere, don't bother appealing. I have no intention of viewing my subordinates lightly.
-I won't pry into what our relationship was before my sealing. However, if you approach me with lingering affection from your past feelings for 'me,' I cannot keep you as a subordinate.
The Demon King's eyes had looked so very sad as he said that.
No, Demon King.
I did not serve you while thinking of the previous Demon King.
Yet she couldn't voice it, fearing it would sound like an excuse.
To her, the previous Demon King and the current one were no different.
Her liege, whom she must serve with utmost loyalty.
You need not look upon me with such sorrowful eyes.
It was a sincere truth she could not yet convey.
Once the Demon King's anger subsided, then she would speak.
Until that time...
“Haa, haa. Demon King...”
Unable to hold back, Yulia licked Amy's body with her tongue.
As she lapped up the Demon King's semen splattered across Amy's skin, she filled Amy's body with succubus fluids.
“I want the Demon King's semen.”
Comforting herself, she whispered.
I brushed the dust from the gargoyle's shoulders at the boss room entrance and peeled off the moss.
“Need to create some 1-star monsters for chores soon.”
Fast-breeding ones with decent intelligence, like goblins or kobolds.
Can't have Yulia or me handling this forever.
For that to happen, adventurers need to visit frequently.
The first adventurer party arrived a week ago.
No word since.
About time.
From their guild, or wandering adventurers nearby.
Whatever it was, it was time for dungeon visitors.
If no new guests in two days...
‘I'll head out and drag some back by force if I have to.’
My growth mattered, but the dungeon's growth mattered even more.
Balanced development was essential.
-Grgrk.
Once the dust was cleared, the gargoyle bowed its head in thanks.
“Hope you perform worth the effort I put into you.”
-Grgru.
The gargoyle thumped its chest confidently.
Chunks of stone then rained down from its shoulders.
“I just cleaned that up—who's supposed to handle the mess now?”
The gargoyle scratched its head sheepishly.
Fine. It wasn't cleaning anyway, and I couldn't dump it on Yulia while she was washing Amy.
Guess it's on me.
-Grgrk.
The gargoyle's shoulders slumped, thinking it had added to my workload.
Despite its grotesque appearance, it was honest with its emotions.
Felt like raising a pet.
A gigantic one for an animal, though.
‘People raise all sorts of creatures in this world.’
Not bad at all.
Aside from the dust, the best part was no need to worry about feeding or waste.
‘Soon, these kinds of monsters will be overflowing.’
Even a quiet dungeon would gain some liveliness.
I really wanted to churn out some fodder mobs soon.
Hand off the chores to 1-star trash mobs and take it easy.
As I swept up the stone chips...
[Adventurers approaching.]
New prey on the way.
Finally.
My experience points.
“Master, is this the right path?”
Rookie adventurer Fabre asked, following behind his master who led the way.
“This is it. I've confirmed it over and over. I felt the signal of a new dungeon!”
The woman he called master pressed forward, her long hair flowing, goggles perched on her head.
“The adventurer's blood calls! Climb this mountain, and surely a new experience awaits!”
The one Fabre served as master was none other than a B-rank adventurer.
Famous for discovering new adventure sites and devising methods for them. She had even caused a sensation in the adventurer world by proposing novel routes for existing dungeons.
B-rank adventurer Ariana.
Even as a B-rank, her skill in conquering dungeons that A-ranks couldn't touch was renowned among adventurers and mercenaries alike.
No one could match her knowledge of dungeons and adventures.
If she said it was so, it was; if not, it wasn't.
Whatever dungeon lay ahead, if she said it was there, then it was.
As her disciple, he simply needed to follow in her footsteps and assist her.
‘So cool.’
Petite in stature, but her back was broad.
Broader and sturdier than any adventurer's.
Over the year following her, they had faced dangers aplenty, but he had survived because of her.
A total newbie like him managing to last a full year without a guild was all thanks to her.
“Master, I respect you.”
“What's that out of the blue? You're embarrassing me.”
Ariana averted her eyes from Fabre's and pulled her goggles down over them.
It was her go-to move whenever she felt shy.
“Just... wanted to say it once.”
“Haha, you rascal. Tense because the dungeon's close? I get it. Even I'm a little on edge. New adventures always come with tension. Hohohot!”
She brushed it off good-naturedly, then placed a hand on her hip and let out a hearty laugh that echoed through the forest.
Unfazed even near a dungeon where monsters might lurk.
‘She's certain there are no monsters nearby.’
Ariana's instincts were on another level from ordinary folk.
That booming laugh meant her senses hadn't picked up any monsters.
Could relax a bit.
“Fabre! Take my hand! Just over this hill, and the dungeon awaits! A new adventure calls!”
“Yes, Master.”
Holding her soft hand, Fabre felt his face flush.
Master probably had no idea.
That his heart raced every time he held her hand.
That he'd fallen for her confident demeanor and vowed to become her disciple, following in her wake.
She, whose knowledge extended little beyond adventures, wouldn't know.
‘Someday, when I've become an adventurer worthy of her, unashamed...’
He'd confess.
Recite the names of the dungeons he'd conquered and tell her he loved her.
Invite her to tackle countless more together.
As he spun those rosy fantasies...
“It's a dungeon!”
They arrived before the new dungeon.
A cave entrance carved with a massive, ominous statue.