Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Disciple (Meaning a Growth-Type Dildo)
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There had been a minor commotion from night until morning, but the day rolled on as usual.
After filling my stomach to the brim with Diana's special breakfast course for the first time in ages, I headed straight for the Explorer's Union.
– If you want to receive teachings, go to the Explorer's Union and find Edelbert.
The reason was obvious: to receive combat instruction from Edelbert himself.
No matter how I thought about it, there was no downside. How often does one get a chance to learn from an explorer of that caliber?
In a world ruled by the primal principles of savage power, martial prowess was an essential accomplishment.
I was certain I couldn't let this opportunity slip away.
The Explorer's Union was bustling as always, swarmed by explorers and all sorts of people.
Fresh newbies here to register, explorers milling about to form parties, those seeking jobs, clients posting requests.
"Next. Come on in."
All of them had to go through the Union staff. It wasn't for nothing they got paid so well. Their workload was beyond what any ordinary person could endure.
A man took a seat at the call of a staffer with hollow eyes. The female employee looked him over.
A man in a helmet. What stood out was the sturdy, toned body hidden beneath his black sleeveless t-shirt—a physique that screamed fertility.
"I'm looking for someone. They said you'd know right away if I mentioned it."
"Ah, sure. What business is it? Party matching? Or a request?"
Buoyed by the sudden eye candy, the staffer asked enthusiastically.
"No. Looking for someone who wants to form a master-disciple relationship with me...?"
"Ah, so you're here to apply for training!"
The Explorer's Union had a training system in place.
High-level explorers mentoring lower ones like apprentices.
It came in two flavors: light training where you'd take a porter along and teach them basics, or deep training involving a full master-disciple bond.
On the surface, it sounded great for building the fundamental combat skills every explorer needed and gaining knowledge on labyrinth monsters and traps...
'But in reality, it's not all sunshine.'
Just as mentors came in all varieties, some explorers had common sense ingrained, while others... didn't.
Especially in master-disciple setups, it wasn't uncommon for one to lop off an arm during mock battles and say:
– I had no idea you were this weak. Just go to the temple and get it reattached. On your dime.
Or:
– The kid's too thick-headed; won't learn a damn thing. I'm done teaching. Of course, the money you've paid so far? That's mine.
In short, the odds of drawing a landmine mentor were high.
The chances of finding a proper teacher were lower than a second-floor explorer surviving a fifth-floor transfer trap.
Sure, you'd hear newbie explorers lamenting how they wasted time and money on shitty mentors, but what could they do?
Even the most despicable ones were at least mid-level explorers—or close to it.
The Union preferred explorers who'd been vetted for strength and could reliably hunt labyrinth beasts over the dime-a-dozen juniors.
"Ah, it's not me applying. He told me to come here if I wanted to be his disciple."
But every now and then, cases like this popped up.
Not the disciple chasing after a master for days on end, but the master spotting talent and reaching out first to take them on.
Bottom-feeder mentors just sucking money dry wouldn't bother with the hassle.
Paradoxically, that was thanks to the Explorer's Union.
They ignored the weak with no growth potential but promised befitting treatment and rewards to the strong.
If some leech tried to ruin a promising sprout for cash, the Union slapped restraints on the mentor first.
The staffer mentally noted the helmeted man before her.
Whoever the master was, getting an invite first meant he had the talent to reach at least mid-level someday.
No harm in playing nice.
"Ah, got it! Tell me the master's name, and we'll connect you right away."
The helmeted man nodded casually and spoke without fanfare.
"Edelbert."
Shwaaa–
"?"
Nam Sujin blinked at the sudden chill in the air around him.
'What the hell? Did I say something wrong?'
He'd only uttered the name Edelbert. What reaction was this?
"...D-Did I hear that wrong...?"
The staffer's face, perpetually smiling despite her tired eyes, clouded with deep confusion.
"Edelbert. Last name's probably Adeline or something."
"Gasp..."
Her expression shifted from flustered to pale. Tremendous shock and tension.
...No doubt about it; Edelbert was no ordinary figure.
"Male. Are you insane? Calling her name so casually?"
"This guy's lost it. Hey, having a dick doesn't mean you can spout any bullshit and get away with it. You're gonna regret that."
Not just the staffer—Union-affiliated explorers who'd been hanging around started closing in on Nam Sujin.
Not all explorers were loyal to the Union.
'They're more like mercenaries anyway.'
They just carried the explorer badge. Plenty were tied to nobles, academies, temples, clans, and so on.
These ones were Union lifers, evident from the badges on their chests.
Nam Sujin eyed the group looming threateningly over him.
He didn't know why they were flipping out, but he clocked their common thread: Union affiliation.
Her. Name. Forgiveness.
Flustered, angry reactions...
'Edelbert must be a big shot.'
He'd half-expected as much.
She was Diana's party member with that level of power; it'd be weirder if she wasn't high up.
He sized them up. A few tough customers mixed with cannon fodder. If it came to blows, he could probably scrape by.
But no need.
He wasn't some battle-crazed barbarian, and there was no reason or justification for bloodshed...
"Took you long enough, Diana's dildo."
A woman entered his perception range with supreme nonchalance.
"U-Union Leader!"
"W-We greet Union Leader Edelbert!"
The folks who'd surrounded me bowed tensely to Edelbert.
The dozens of staffers at the counters did the same.
"Whoa, seeing the Explorer's Union Leader in person..."
"She never shows unless it's a major incident. Why's she here all of a sudden?"
"Dunno. Just watch... Hiss, chills... That's the ideal alpha female..."
"Dude, your eyes are weird... You sure you're a girl...?"
Even the explorers going about their business stared at Edelbert in awe.
"Why's everyone gathered?"
At Edelbert's question to my encirclement, answers flew immediately.
"This guy had the gall to casually drop your name and babble about master-disciple stuff, so we were gonna teach him a lesson–"
"Yeah. I invited him first."
"Haha, figures. Then we'll handle this punk– Huh?"
The guy's face froze mid-mechanical chuckle.
"I called him, so scat and get back to work."
"Y-Yes, ma'am!"
Edelbert waved dismissively, and the Union explorers parted like the Red Sea, returning to their duties.
I looked at Edelbert, now standing before me, and spoke up.
"What's this 'dildo' crap? I've got a proper name: Balkan."
"You'll be Diana's dildo soon enough anyway. Hm. Fine, Balkan. Coming here means you accept my offer, right?"
"Yes."
"Wise choice. You're my disciple from now on. Follow me, disciple."
Edelbert's tail flicked ever so slightly behind her stoic face.
I eyed her black tail wriggling like jelly outside her cloak as we boarded the Union Leader's exclusive mana elevator.
The interior was absurdly spacious. Even the air felt oddly fresh.
Regular explorers and staff slogged up this towering Union building via cramped old mana elevators or stairs, but this was clearly Leader-only privilege.
Edelbert indifferently pressed the top-floor button.
Through the closing doors, I caught flustered Union staff faces.
"No way..."
"I-Is this for real...? Even high-rankers rarely train disciples personally... The Union Leader herself...?"
"The Leader's never taken a disciple before."
"The Union Leader! Is taking a disciple! The Union Leader has a disciple!"
I glanced at them in their panic, then at Edelbert beside me.
She was nearly 180 cm tall. No need to crane my neck much.
"Am I the first?"
"You? First at what?"
"...?"
From what I'd overheard, I meant her first disciple ever.
Smack– smack–
Her black tail whipped like a lash. She'd clearly taken it in some double entendre way.
'...She secretly loves sex jokes, huh.'
"For the record, I'm a virgin. Same curse as Diana, you see."
Her virginity wasn't a big deal, but that last bit piqued my interest.
"Same curse as Diana? You too, Edelbert?"
Diana had six blessings and curses total.
'One was the Lewd Frail Corruption Pattern curse...'
I'd wondered about the rest, but now I'd learn one more.
"Yep. And call me Master from now on, disciple."
"Ah. Yes... So, what curse? Can you tell me?"
"No reason not to. But keep it secret forever. Can you swear?"
"I won't blab, at least."
"Swear if you want to hear."
"Fine. I swear."
Ding!
The mana elevator halted at the Explorer's Union's dizzying top floor.
'Holy shit.'
Space expansion magic? Way bigger than imagined, massive.
It was a training facility: running track, sparring room, gym equipment galore, weapons, armor, you name it.
Everything optimized for training, endless gear.
Gawking at it all, I followed Edelbert into the sparring arena. Spacious inside too.
About 20 pyeong? High ceiling; even swinging a greatsword overhead wouldn't touch it.
"First, a simple test to gauge your level. We'll spar a few rounds to tailor the training. Direction comes after."
She said, flinging off her cloak.
Smooth bronze skin, sculpted body.
Her leotard barely covered her ample chest peaks, exposing over half her ass, clinging precariously over crotch and cleft. My eyes were stolen for a moment.
Prime predator build, perfect birthing hips...
Zzt! Zzt!
I felt it. The overwhelming aura bursting from her body.
'Slack off even a bit, and I'm done for!'
I drew my axe from my belt and faced her.
"No weapon, Master?"
"I'm a bare-fisted fighter."
Edelbert extended a scarred fist. Warrior's aura pulsed from it.
"I'll yield the first ten strikes."
"That's too generous, isn't it?"
"Balance adjustment. Normally."
Yeah. I'd still lose. That chilling killing intent from before lingered in my mind.
Was I spooked? Seemed like someone whispering beside me, 'You're gonna lose.'
But fear helped nothing. Hesitation always bred defeat.
Go big or go home.
"Win."
Edelbert's face twitched faintly at my mutter. A smile?
"You were curious about my curse earlier?"
"Yes."
I nodded, and she answered promptly.
"Curse of Rejecting Inferior Dick Intrusion."
"..................Pardon?"
I'd planned to strike during her explanation, but that absurd truth froze me solid.
"Exactly as it says. Rejects intrusion from inferior males. No matter what, can't insert from anyone weaker than me. Even inanimate dildos."
Edelbert stared at me with her signature blank face.
For a split second, I thought:
Maybe that wasn't blankness, but the enlightened serenity only decades of unwanted virginity could forge.
"I've got high hopes for you."
Expectations for what, exactly? Dread crept in. This felt less like disciple training and more like dildo boot camp. What lay ahead?
"Come on. Attack."
Edelbert spread her arms wide, blank-faced. Brimming with confidence. Black tail lashed like a whip.
Perfect ambush window missed. First lesson right as sparring began.
In combat, shatter your foe's focus utterly.
In every sense, this was gonna be one hell of a woman to learn from...
Kraaack!
I gripped my axe fiercely.
Fail to grow, and there was no future.
Hell, even my night with Diana might vanish.
'Not happening.'
Grinding my teeth, I charged Edelbert.
One more reason to get stronger.