I Wish You'd Kiss Me, Demon Hunter Guild Master Lupera Quilpen
Demon Hunter Guild Master, Lupera Quilpen. I'd heard that name plenty of times before. Even people with no interest in demons would have heard her heroic tales—there wasn't a soul on the continent who hadn't.
She took down a legion commander all by herself back in the day, right?
If you scoured the entire continent, you'd find a few who claimed to have slain a demon king's legion commander. But ask if any of them did it solo, and Lupera Quilpen was the only one. She was a living legend, a true heroic figure…
And yet, the perverted wolf girl standing in front of me right now was that Lupera Quilpen. It felt like the image I'd idolized since childhood was shattering to pieces.
I'd imagined someone with a weighty, imposing aura. But…
"Sorry about that, Irene… I was in the middle of training back then, so I only remember bits and pieces…."
"Agh! You were all 'I'll remember every detail' while half-assing it! Your head's only got room for finding bitches to fuck and working out, huh?"
"Urgh…."
No matter how I looked at her, she seemed worlds away from that image.
"I'll be more careful next time…."
Lupera hung her ears and tail low, looking like a puppy scolded by its owner. A legendary demon hunter guild master, my ass. She just looked like a muscle-bound dog beastkin.
"Then apologize. You did insult the young lady, didn't you?"
Rita, who had been watching quietly, finally spoke up.
At that, Lupera's eyes flashed with feral intensity, a stark change from moments ago.
"Saying she has a hot body is a compliment, isn't it? I was just putting it bluntly that her body's sexy."
"There's no need to be so crude with someone you've just met."
"It's just my usual way of talking. Got a problem with that?"
"Quite a few, actually. You horny mutt of a guild master."
"This cock-sucking little maid…."
The air between Rita and Lupera crackled, like they were about to clash again any second. It felt like the moment one showed an opening, the other would draw a weapon.
Seeing that, Irene pulled a cord from her pocket and tossed it at Lupera.
Whoosh!
The cord shot toward Lupera, wrapping around her body in an instant and forming a collar. Then Irene yanked it hard.
"Guh!"
"How many times do I gotta say she's an important guest, huh? You wanna see me pissed?"
"S-sorry, Irene… I really won't do it again…!"
It was like watching her train a dog. No matter how you sliced it, Lupera couldn't possibly lose to Irene in raw strength, yet here she was acting like this… There had to be something between them I didn't know about.
"This won't do. Come on, time for a little punishment, Lupera."
"Urgh… Got it…."
"Wait here a sec, Kyle. We'll be back soon."
With that, Irene dragged Lupera into the guild master's office. Any normal noble lady handling a demon hunter guild master like that would raise eyebrows, but everyone around seemed used to the sight—no one batted an eye.
Just what the hell does Irene get up to when I'm not around…?
Curiosity bubbled up, but right now, there was something more important than prying into Irene's antics.
"Rita, you okay?"
I needed to check if Rita was hurt anywhere. Even if they'd been evenly matched, her opponent was Lupera Quilpen. Their swords and axes had clashed countless times, and she'd been thrown into walls… No way she was unscathed.
"Yes. I'm fine."
Rita nodded with a small smile. But I noticed her right hand—the one that had gripped her sword—trembling faintly.
"It's obvious you're pushing yourself. What do you mean 'fine'?"
"I really am okay. I've been through worse in the old days."
"Jeez."
I sighed like I was giving up, but Rita just kept smiling.
"Besides, it was for you, young lady."
"I told you not to jump in if it seems dangerous."
At my words, Rita's smile deepened as she asked,
"You're worrying about me right now, aren't you, young lady?"
"O-of course! I told you before, I couldn't live like this without you…."
"In other words, you can't live without me."
Rita took a slow step toward me.
"Right?"
"Well, yeah…."
"I'm so happy to hear you say you can't live without me."
As she lifted her head, the distance between us shrank. At point-blank range where our breaths mingled, Rita spoke.
"Young lady. The truth is, I'm in a lot of pain right now. So… I was hoping you'd…."
"Yeah…?"
"Kiss me. To make it a little better."
Rita raised her right hand slightly. The tremor was plain as day.
"…I don't think a kiss has any painkilling effects."
"When you're hurt and feel loved, it heals naturally."
"Isn't that for emotional wounds…?"
"Does it matter?"
She flashed a playful grin. Was she always this pretty…?
I'd always known she was beautiful, but up close like this, it hit harder. Her eyes curved like a crescent moon in delicate lines. Her snow-white skin, like fresh-fallen powder. Her cute, pursed lips. The more I looked, the faster my heart raced.
"I want a kiss, young lady."
Rita slowly raised her eyelids and tilted her head up a bit more. Our breaths touched, our gazes locked. My heart pounded wildly.
"…Just once?"
"Yes. But make it a deep one."
"……Urgh."
She really seemed to mean it. Knowing Rita, if I didn't do it now, she'd keep this up until Irene got back. Fine, just once and done.
"Got it… But only once, and that's it."
"Of course."
I leaned down slightly. Smack. I felt the soft press of her lips. Her body heat seeped through our skin. Rita rubbed her lips gently against mine, then suddenly pinned me against the wall and devoured my mouth.
"Smmph, slrp, chuuu…."
Her hand clasped mine, fingers interlocking. Her tongue slipped through the gap in our lips, tangling with mine inside. As the kiss dragged on, our saliva mixed. The pooling spit eventually overflowed, dripping down our chins.
"Haa…."
Only then did Rita pull back, a satisfied smile on her face.
"I didn't think you'd actually do it. It feels even better when you initiate, young lady."
"…If you like it so much, listen to me from now on. No more pushing yourself."
"I'll try."
"Ahem, feeling better now?"
"Yes. Thanks to you, young lady, a lot better."
We'd just finished that kiss and were exchanging those words when Irene and Lupera returned from the guild master's office.
"All done talking. Now let's chat."
Irene approached with a scowl. Behind her trailed Lupera, collar removed, looking half-dazed. Her eyes were glazed over… Definitely mentally tamed in there.
"Everyone, into the guild master's office."
Once inside the guild master's office, Rita recounted her encounter with Asmodeus. From the demon's appearance and features, to what had happened and her abilities.
For parts Lupera doubted, Irene—who had been there—vouched for it.
"Hmmm…."
After hearing it all, Lupera drummed her fingers on the desk before speaking.
"It does seem Asmodeus really showed up."
Her expression was tense. It made sense. The foe wasn't some run-of-the-mill demon or even a legion commander—it was a Demon King. Even for a legendary demon hunter, that was cause for alarm.
"This isn't something we can just brush off. One of the Seven Deadly Sins among the 72 Demon Kings has made a move."
Not just any Demon King, but one of the most dangerous seven in the demon realms. Everyone in the room had no choice but to tense up.
"Something must be brewing inside the demon realms?"
"Likely. Even if Asmodeus acts on whims, she's not one to move so independently."
"No wonder demons have been rampaging more lately."
Lupera exhaled a sigh of cigarette smoke.
"I'll issue an alert to all demon hunters soon. This doesn't look like a simple matter."
Honestly, a Demon King stirring wasn't welcome news for me either. Sure, more demons might mean more bounties and cash… but if the world ended before I could cash in, all my efforts would be for nothing.
"Anyway, I'll call you two if we need you separately. Given the situation, expect frequent summons."
"Got it. We were getting tired anyway, so we'll head out. See you later, Irene."
"Alright. Just don't get all fucked out and lazy with replies."
"…That won't happen!!"
After Kyle and Rita left and the door clicked shut, only the two of them remained. In the quiet guild master's office, cigarette smoke slowly wafted through the air.
Lupera perched on the windowsill and lowered the cigarette from her mouth.
"That thing from earlier—what do you think now that you've felt it again?"
Irene spoke first. Her tone was casual, but her red eyes gleamed sharply. The authority hidden beneath her refined noble facade seeped into those few words.
"Hm…."
Lupera fell silent for a moment before replying.
"Not sure. It's ambiguous."
"You felt it for sure during the fight, didn't you?"
"In the heat of battle, yeah. But now? Hard to say."
Lupera stared at her hand. It still trembled faintly from the lingering shock. As she gazed at it, recalling the fight, she muttered,
"…Anyway, it pisses me off. Never thought I'd get pushed back by some tiny woman like that."
"Heh."
Irene, who had been watching Lupera gaze out the window, curved her lips in a sly smile and spoke.
"Puppy."
"…Yeah?"
"If you're in a bad mood, wanna do something to feel good with me?"
At those words, Lupera turned—and there was Irene, top already off, right in her line of sight.
"The titjob our puppy loves♡"