Chapter 179: Just Because I'm Poor Doesn't Mean My Tits, Pussy, and Ass Are Poor (3)[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179: Just Because I'm Poor Doesn't Mean My Tits, Pussy, and Ass Are Poor (3)[R-18]
Water droplets fell from the stalactites hanging from the ceiling.
Following that sound into the damp depths of the stone cave, a woman in a nun’s habit sat upon a chair.
She was a Special-Class Subjugation Target and the Fallen Saintess, Laura Lavandula.
Whoosh—
Dozens of purple flames of varying sizes flickered around Laura, encircling her.
“...I see. So that’s what happened.”
Every time the flames flickered, Laura responded with the same gentle smile she used to show at the Church before she was branded a Fallen Saintess.
As if delighted by her response, the flames dancing around her flickered even more rapidly.
「...But.」
「...Right!」
「That... thing...」
The flames surrounding Laura were no ordinary fire.
They were the souls of children, and every flicker of the flames was one of their whispers.
Normally, no living human could understand those whispers, but Laura could—having gained the power of Necromancy at the cost of discarding her Foresight.
“....”
Gently stroking the giggling young souls, Laura reminisced.
These souls were all children she had brought from the public cemetery where she had encountered that Old Hag elf.
Though she had been forced to retreat at the time, fearing the cemetery would be completely destroyed if she fought the Old Hag any further, Laura desperately needed these souls.
That was why, when Laura returned to the public cemetery to claim them...
She couldn't help but be shocked.
The graves, which had been severely damaged during the battle with the Old Hag, had returned to their original state as if nothing had happened.
‘...What on earth is this?’
Even if the Empire had poured all its resources into the reconstruction, they couldn't have finished it this quickly.
No, rather than being reconstructed, it looked as if time itself had been wound back to maintain its original form.
‘Could the Old Hag have done this?’
Laura found it difficult to imagine any other possibility.
Even if she hadn't literally reversed time, performing such a miracle-like feat would undoubtedly require an immense amount of power.
And that Old Hag elf possessed more power than any Spirit Mage Laura had ever seen.
“...Ha.”
Laura let out a hollow laugh.
She had felt that the Old Hag was holding back while fighting her.
But she never imagined the reason for holding back was to preserve and restore the children's graves.
‘...Even that crazed Old Hag tries to protect the graves of children.’
Laura bit her lower lip hard, suppressing the emotions surging from deep within her heart.
I do not regret it.
She must not regret it.
She had come too far to feel regret now.
There was no going back... and even if she could, Laura would make the same choice.
Even if the whole world cursed and hated her, Laura had resolved to walk this path.
「...」
「...」
「...」
As time passed, the flames that had been chattering incessantly began to grow quiet.
It was because they had finally vented all the resentment their young souls held.
‘...Poor children.’
These children, who hadn't even lived a quarter as long as she had, didn't ask for much.
They simply wanted someone—anyone—to listen to their stories.
So, Laura listened.
With her power, she could have easily forced these souls into submission, but she didn't want to do that.
Slide—
The souls, now completely purged of their resentment, no longer held the form of flames. Instead, they transformed into round, bead-like spheres.
Normally, a soul cleansed of resentment should ascend, but Laura’s Necromancy prevented that.
Hum—
As Laura opened her palm, the bead-like souls gathered together in one place above it.
“...I’m sorry.”
Laura’s shoulders trembled slightly.
Even though she knew the souls in this form could no longer feel anything, she still apologized to them.
After gazing at the souls for a moment, the gentle smile vanished from Laura’s face.
Instead, with her usual expressionless mask, she began to insert the souls one by one into the skeletons she had fashioned herself.
Clack! Rattle!
Following Laura’s guidance, the skeletons that had received the children's souls creaked their bones and stood up.
When all the souls beside her had vanished, Laura looked at the skeletons and gave a cold command.
“...Go.”
Clack! Clack!
Receiving Laura’s command, the skeletons marched deeper into the cave.
*
It was the fifth day of my cohabitation with Poporing, and the final day I could move my things out of the shop.
I had worked hard to move everything, but clearing out the entire place in just two days was impossible.
In the end, the deadline passed and people came to kick us out, but after I pleaded desperately, they extended the deadline until the end of this week.
“...Hic.”
Perhaps because it was the last day, Poporing was sniffling as she moved boxes.
I wanted to pat her on the back and comfort her, but approaching her right now was dangerous.
What was dangerous, you ask?
Poporing herself was the danger.
For starters, Poporing had been far too defenseless over the past five days.
She had kept her distance on the first day, perhaps out of nervousness, but from the next day onward, she had completely lost all sense of personal space.
‘...Hehe... zzz...’
Specifically, the way she would kick off her blankets and sleep with her pajamas half-off, exposing her belly...
If I hadn't just finished a three-round jerk-off session with her underwear in the bathroom, I don't know what I might have done.
‘It’s a good thing I’m a man who knows how to maintain boundaries.’
Thinking back on it, Poporing was just too defenseless.
If I weren't the owner of such iron-clad reason, I would have just pounced on her.
Of course, Lady Yuris was just as defenseless as Poporing, but they were different.
If Lady Yuris felt like a big golden retriever that loved people, Poporing was...
‘...Not a hamster.’
They were similar in being small and timid, but I felt there was a more fitting comparison.
‘A bit different from a rabbit, too...’
I felt bad saying this about her, but Poporing wasn't just a cute animal like a rabbit.
She was cute, but she also felt a bit messier, the kind of creature you just want to give a little squeeze.
‘Ah! What was that... I know this... Ah! A guinea pig!’
Yes, Poporing was a guinea pig.
She was timid, but once she got used to you, she’d climb all over you. She was mischievous and plump to boot.
“...Oppa?”
“....”
“Ian Oppa?”
Poke—
While I was lost in thought, Poporing called out to me, pressing her breasts—as firm as boiled eggs—against me.
“O-Oppa... are you o-okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. What is it, Poporing?”
I replied, reflexively suppressing my right hand, which was itching to dig into her inverted nipples.
“Ah, well, that thing over there is heavy, so please help me lift it.”
Poporing pointed at the checkout counter.
By now, Poporing’s habit of ordering me around felt completely natural.
I didn't mind.
I was the one who told her to do it in the first place, and it really felt like I had gained a younger sister.
“You’re taking that too?”
“Yes... I’ll have to buy a new one anyway if I want to reopen the shop later, and Grandmother left this counter to me...”
“Alright. Give me a second.”
I reached under the counter Poporing mentioned and applied some force.
Thud! Crack!
“Hieeek?! O-Oppa! You’re being too rough! You’re going to b-break it!! G-Gently! A bit more gently!”
“Like this?”
“N-No... hic!... A... a bit more... g-gently... Yes! Right there!... From there... ngh!... A little... deeper!”
Just then, something golden that had been stuck to the bottom of the counter fell to the floor.
With a metallic ring, it bounced a few times before coming to a stop at Poporing’s feet.
“...Poporing, what’s that?”
“Huh?... I... I don’t... know... A golden... petal?... C-Could it be... real gold?”
Reach—
The moment Poporing, her eyes sparkling at the sudden stroke of luck, grabbed the ‘Golden Petal,’ a bright light erupted from it.
“Kyaaaaa!!”
Startled, Poporing threw the petal aside and clung tightly to my waist, peeking her head out from behind me.
“I-Ian... O-Oppa...! ...T-That...!!”
Soon, the light faded, revealing the translucent face of an elderly woman.
[Hult-hult-hult... Poporing, if you are seeing this, it means you have finally decided to leave the shop.]
*
Thanks to the unique laughter I’d heard so much about and the familiar way she addressed Poporing, I could immediately guess the old woman’s identity.
“G-Grandmother?”
Poporing confirmed my suspicion.
She slowly reached out toward her grandmother, but her hand simply passed through the image.
“Grandmother... hic...!”
Just as Poporing was about to burst into tears at hearing her grandmother’s voice after so long...
[Or... it means you’ve gambled away the shop this old woman left you. Hult-hult-hult.... Of course, since Poporing is a good girl, there’s no way that happened. Hult-hult... This grandmother doesn't ask for much, Poporing. Don't badmouth others, be careful of men, don't gamble, and live diligently. Grandmother believes in you. Hult-hult-hult...]
“...G-Grandmother.”
At her grandmother’s following words, cold sweat began to pour down Poporing’s face instead of tears.
She was truly happy to see her grandmother like this.
She was happy, but...
To think she had done everything her grandmother told her not to do.
Trolling in the gallery, cohabitating with Ian Oppa, and losing everything on stocks...
‘S-Still... I... I lived diligently, right?’
She wasn't even sure about that anymore.
For the past few days at Ian Oppa’s house, all she had done was eat, sleep, and lurk in the gallery.
[Hult-hult-hult... Thinking that this is the last video I’m leaving you, I’ve rambled on too long. Yes, you must be curious about what the ‘Golden Petal’ is. It is this grandmother’s final gift. It’s also insurance I left behind just in case.]
*
While Poporing took a moment of self-reflection to repent for her lifestyle, the grandmother continued.
[When you need someone’s help, take that petal and find the youngest lady of the Red Rose family. She’s a young lady who thinks she can just wipe her hands of someone if there isn't a formal contract... but that girl isn't as cold-hearted as she thinks she is. At least not toward those she owes a debt of gratitude. She will surely grant your request.]