Chapter 87
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Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Fallen Hero
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"Her condition isn't good. Huh? Yes. Mutski seems to be improving somewhat, but in Mai's case, she'll need long-term treatment. Yes, what? Raids with the other team members are impossible. We have no idea when the fits might strike."
"Yes. We'll send the other team members back home right away. As for Shiranui Mai..."
"You're sending a new handler? Understood. I'll pass that along."
Even as her body hung limp like a sponge soaked through with water, awash in a languid pleasure coursing over her skin, the manager's voice rang clear as day while handling raid team affairs.
'I'm done for...'
Shiranui Mai grimaced inwardly. There was no way her clan would keep her now that she'd been tainted by mana. No matter that she'd once been Japan's most promising prospect—they couldn't risk someone who might go into heat at any moment. She was a walking bomb for raids.
Her future was painfully predictable. They'd shove a renewal contract at her with slashed terms, no doubt. Hell, if they even offered renewal, she'd count herself lucky. More likely, they'd just terminate the deal outright.
"Hngh... ugh."
Lost in those grim thoughts, Mai jolted and yanked her hand away from her crotch. Somehow, without realizing it, she'd started masturbating.
"Damn it... damn it all."
Of all places, Korea. Of all enemies, caught alone by the Succubus Queen. She knew she shouldn't, but an unbearable lust overtook her. Her fingers crept back, teasing her folds before slipping inside.
Mai's self-pleasure didn't stop even when her manager walked into the hospital room. She knew someone was there, but she couldn't stop. All she could manage was clapping a hand over her mouth to muffle her moans.
"A new handler's on the way. Just get better by then, okay?"
Shiranui Mai's prickly personality hadn't earned her many fans. Maybe that's why the manager bid her farewell in such a flat tone. The other team members just muttered encouragements, nothing more.
As her teammates and manager left her alone in the room, Shiranui realized it was over. Even Hitomi Clan had abandoned her. A contract termination notice would probably arrive any day now.
Still, she had a name worth something. Mid-tier clans might pass, but smaller ones might take her. Or she could team up with other heroes in the same boat.
"If I'd known it'd come to this, I should've at least learned to lead..."
The regret hit her out of nowhere. Even tainted, a raid leader was rare enough that clans might still want her.
"Hiiik?!"
Mid-thought on her future, a fresh wave of intense lust crashed over her, making her tremble. To stifle the scream building in her throat, Mai buried her face in the pillow and went at her pussy like a woman possessed.
'Anyone... please!'
She'd spread her legs right now for anyone who'd fuck her. Her mind drowned in the thought as she masturbated until her juices sloshed audibly. Desperate for anything to soothe her body, she glanced around.
A large dildo caught her eye—the kind plenty of women used to get through lonely nights. The hospital or clan must have left it for her.
"Uh... uaaah..."
For a fleeting moment, pity for her situation welled up. But it passed. Clutching the dildo, Mai bucked her hips wildly, plunging it deep into herself.
"Ahh! Aaa!! Hngh! Aaaa!!! Deeper! More! Deeper!"
She screamed loud enough to shake the room, going at it for over an hour, but the lust filling her body showed no sign of fading.
Legs splayed wide, on her stomach, sideways—she jammed the dildo in every position, but her pussy craved a man's hard cock, not some toy. And there was no thick shaft here to satisfy her.
"Aah... aaahhh... I need... I need that."
As her body heated up, memories of Rudia's tentacles flooded her mind—the ones that had melted her brain with ecstasy. She'd drop to her knees and beg to be Rudia's slave if she could just feel them again.
"Rudia... Lady Rudia, quick..."
With the vibrating dildo buried deep inside, Mai staggered to her feet. She had to get to the Night Citadel now—her mistress was calling.
Luck was on her side; no one was around to stop her. She geared up in record time, eyes glazed, and stumbled out of the room. Her owner awaited in the Night Citadel. She had to quench this burning heat.
"Haa..."
Minguk shuddered violently, shaking off the shock of death. Thanks to his mana awakening, no PTSD-like effects hit him, but he still felt like crap. That made five full wipes already.
'Tougher than I thought.'
Gazing at Rudia on her jade throne, Minguk's face twisted in frustration. Her attack patterns weren't that complex.
But those Temptation Arrows fluttering like butterflies from her waving arms? Total nightmare. No set timing meant constant vigilance on her every twitch.
And the damage was insane. A direct hit shaved off 50-60% of a dealer's HP in one go. Stack it with Dark Temptation, and squishy dealers dropped like flies.
At least his experience with the VR mobile game GGW let him read her moves. Without it, his team would've eaten arrows before reacting.
"Just dodge the arrows!"
"Focus more on Rudia's movements. Midway through the fight, she suddenly swings her arm wide—that's your cue for the arrows."
"Ugh. I know, but..."
Chatting with Hyun-ah, So-jeong glanced at Minguk before speaking up.
"It's harder to dodge up close. And matching your positioning messes up my damage windows too."
So-jeong sighed heavily. Juggling thoughts and movement left her all over the place.
But top-tier dealers had to push through. 'Succubus Queen - Rudia' was just a 【B-2】 boss. Ye-rin and Yuna shared the sentiment.
"Raid Leader, ready to go again?"
Minguk eyed Yuna at her question.
"Sure you're good? Need a break?"
"Yeah... more like I just wanna smash this bitch already. I'll focus on her tells this time."
"Mm..."
Minguk nodded but knew dodging alone wouldn't cut it. After a moment's thought, he alternated glances between Hyun-ah and So-jeong.
"I'll shield Kim So-jeong right when the arrow's incoming. Cooldown's short, so Hyun-ah, you'll need to tank harder during those."
"Got it, Raid Leader. But three? Four fights max before gear repairs."
"Repair team's on call. Hand it off after three more wipes. Better if we down her first, obviously. Oh, and you two ranged dealers."
Ye-rin and Yuna looked up from their feedback huddle at Minguk's callout.
"Just no direct hits. I'll keep you alive."
As long as healers didn't eat a killshot, Minguk could save anyone.
The raid kicked off again. Dark energy pooled at their feet, Rudia's seductive laugh echoing as she hammered the heroes.
"Haaap!"
Hyun-ah, the team's shield, roared and blocked Rudia's onslaught.
Trusting her to hold aggro, the dealers unleashed their mana. Minguk poured heals into the team. Then Rudia's special phase hit.
"Arrow!!!"
Minguk's sharp call rang out as his fingers flew into seals. No time to check the target—his barrier enveloped So-jeong.
Bam!
In that instant, a thud echoed, Ye-rin's body flying backward. Rudia had aimed for her, not So-jeong. No time to lament the wasted shield—Minguk healed her up.
Ye-rin snapped back, shaking off the stun from the hammer-like impact that rattled her bones. Her HP refilled as instinct from Hero Academy kicked in.
She shook her head, muttering.
"Ah... augh... hurts down to my marrow."
A normal person would've blacked out or died from that. But mana-awakened heroes endured. Only then could they face the horrors of darkness.
And survival instinct was heating her up too.
It was a solid call anyway—shielding the melee dealer most at risk during arrow timings. Rudia had targeted So-jeong twice already, and he'd even blocked a reflect tick when their movements synced poorly.
Clang!!
Thanks to that, what used to be instant wipes off So-jeong's death were progressing on the sixth try. Sensing victory, the team grew bolder.
"Focus harder! Keep this up!!!"
But Minguk's stern voice snapped them back. Stay calm now, or one slip meant death—and a wipe.
"So-jeong, stick to edge-of-range poke damage! Hyun-ah, hug her tighter and mark Rudia!!! Treat reflects like they're yours alone!"
"Tail incoming! Cycle all cooldowns!"
Minguk's commands grew louder.
That one shield call had skyrocketed So-jeong's survivability. Even Rudia's tricky mana bind phase was manageable now. They could smell the kill.
Even if not this try, next or the one after—they'd get her for sure.
"Focus! We take her this try!"
As Rudia's HP dipped below 15%, Minguk bellowed again. His seals blurred with speed, Soul Healing pouring everything into team recovery.
"Ah... augh..."
Just as Team GGW closed in for the kill, a woman draped haphazardly in red cloth staggered into the fray, twitching like she'd been electrocuted every few steps.
She was Shiranui Mai, once Japan's brightest hero prospect. Her eyes locked on 'Succubus Queen - Rudia' crumbling under hero assaults.
"No? Nooo!!!"
Seeing her lust-quenching mistress fall, Mai screamed and charged the heroes. All she saw was Rudia's tail to fill her.
"Wh-what?!"
Minguk's face twisted in shock at the intruder. Even with his experience, a raid-end rusher was a first. Then—
Whoosh!!
Melee dealer Kim So-jeong had swung her greatsword horizontally at the intruder, full intent to kill. The flat of the blade slammed into Shiranui Mai's gut.