Chapter 44

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: Eyes of Lust

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Lulu's body trembled with every knead of her breasts.

"Heh..."

Lulu let out hot breaths one after another.

But I had no spare moment to focus on her breasts—which I was touching so thoroughly for the first time—or the breath whispering from her lips into my ear.

'Fuck...'

Not enough.

Time was woefully short.

No time to build the mood or heat things up.

If there had been 20 minutes left, I could've focused entirely on Lulu.

Breasts... yeah, breasts are great.

Soft like pudding, yet with a texture that holds firm, yielding perfectly to my hands—irresistible for any man.

The flesh ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spilling out from my grip sparked all sorts of naughty thoughts.

Her twitching ears, her tail stroking my torso... If I weren't the Gatekeeper, it would've been enough to make me cross the line. Her quivering lips and fidgeting little hands were plenty to stir protective instincts and possessiveness.

But even in all this, I couldn't focus on her.

Only about 120 seconds remaining.

Survival trumped lust.

Yet cranking up the intensity here would draw too many eyes.

No clock in sight, but it was probably just before 7 a.m.

For some reason, the Saintess still not stirring gnawed at me.

Normally, she'd wake midway through; she rises sharp at 6 a.m.

Why hasn't she gotten up yet?

Plus, outside the gate: Hosphil and his Fleta Merchant Guild crew.

And the Hero might barge in anytime.

Too many factors to juggle.

Failing this quest meant losing far too much.

My heart pounded; cold sweat dripped.

My hands moved mechanically—I barely registered what I was even holding.

Praying desperately for this to end soon.

My gaze kept drifting behind Lulu.

I just couldn't focus on her.

And Lulu sensed it.

"Ga... Gatekeeper, you... what're you looking at over there?"

Lulu's tail swayed, blocking my view.

Hurt that I wasn't watching her, her brows furrowed.

Lips pouting.

Unlike earlier when my focus slipped, her whole body was drenched in sweat now, her underwear turning semi-transparent.

And whether from her heat or not, her sweat carried a strangely sweet scent.

But my hands kept moving mechanically.

"Hah..."

Lulu seemed satisfied just by my gaze shifting back, her eyes curving into happy crescents.

Then she rubbed her face against my left hand, the one propping her up.

"Ga... Gatekeeper, you."

Her lips quivered.

A trembling hand reached toward my face.

But right then.

- Knock knock.

- Gatekeeper sir, sorry. Deputy Manager Hosphil wishes to have a brief word.

The knock echoed, followed by the soldier guarding the entrance.

"......"

"......"

Lulu and I locked eyes in silence.

Her pupils trembled.

I creakily turned my head toward the entrance.

'If we're caught, we're fucked.'

No time left, and now this—driving me insane.

I clamped my left hand hard over Lulu's mouth.

To stop any sound from leaking.

Her moist lips and hot breath pressed against my palm.

"...The manager's in an important meeting—tell him to wait 10 minutes!"

I cleared my throat and forced out a steady voice.

Trying to sound as serious as possible.

- ......

Faint voices murmuring outside the gate.

- Yes! Understood!

We lived.

No way to pass for normal right now.

Lulu's body was slick with sweat, her face beet red like a ripe tomato.

Impossible to cool her down on the spot.

"Hah......"

My heart nearly exploded.

Time was already short, and a sudden visitor?

I slowly turned back to Lulu.

There she lay, mouth and breasts firmly pressed down, staring ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at my face with wide eyes.

"Ah, I'll let go."

I'd pressed unconsciously too hard.

Hard to breathe—her face was paling fast.

"Cough cough... Phew... Hah... Hoo..."

I pulled my hand away, and Lulu coughed, expelling her held breath.

Then she covered her eyes with her arms.

"Hah..."

Her heaving breasts trembled violently.

And at the same time.

The hidden quest clear alert filled my vision.

15 seconds...? That was a close fucking call.

But I'd just held still—why had both favorability and pleasure maxed out so suddenly?

It filled faster than when I'd been working my hands.

The pleasant chime tugged my lips into a grin, but first things first—put out the urgent fire.

I swiped the status window aside and checked on Lulu.

She lay sprawled across the desk, breathing shallowly.

Hosphil would barge in any minute now; had to tidy up fast.

"Lulu?"

"Hah... He...?"

"You heard earlier, right? It's urgent."

"Huu..."

Her tongue was limp—no proper talk or movement possible.

What now...

First, wipe down her soaked body.

The dress would dry quick if shaken out, no issue there...

But her skin was drenched in sweat—no idea how to handle it.

No towel either...

Ah... right.

"Lulu, stay put. I'll wipe you down."

"...Huh?"

The Hero's new uniform I'd bought.

Not what it was meant for, but...

No choice now.

"Hic..."

Lulu clasped her hands, watching me shed my top with expectant eyes.

Whatever she was hoping for...

"Arms up."

"......Huh?"

Lulu blinked rapidly.

"Hurry, we gotta tidy up."

"Ah... Yeah."

She looked disappointed, but my mind was solely on cleanup.

Still had to wrap up the original quest properly too.

Needed to sync our story with Lulu after.

"Spread your legs a bit."

"......"

Armpits and under the breasts.

"No, spreading like that looks weird."

"......"

Groin and thighs.

"Flip over."

"......"

"Hurry up."

"Uh..."

Butt and entire backside.

Wiped her down quick with the uniform.

"Lulu, got it? We're saying we kissed."

"Ki... Kiss? Ah, no... but then..."

Still slurring—words not coming right.

So Lulu sat still while I handled all the explaining.

She seemed mostly calmed, but her heat hadn't fully subsided.

Breathing shallowly, rubbing her cheek against her shoulder like it itched.

"No. It's the same play. Don't you want payback on Hosphil?"

"Ha, but..."

"I'll handle it. You're the manager, Lulu. No need to bend to Hosphil. Every decision's yours. You gonna let him push you around even after becoming guild leader?"

"That..."

Still not fully convinced, she fidgeted with her hands.

"Just do as I say. You said you trusted my choice, right?"

"...Yeah."

I combed her hair straight with my fingers like a brush.

Thanks to favorability, Lulu and I were basically best friends now.

She'd grumbled a bit earlier, but she was following obediently.

"Just one line. Got it?"

"Hah... Yeah."

Shallow breaths, squeezing out her voice.

Doing her best to calm down.

How long we'd known each other didn't matter.

Favorability accounted for all that.

Might even be higher than Hosphil's now.

- Knock.

Right on cue.

"Yes, come in."

I stopped fussing with her hair and took a seat.

Lulu stood before the desk; I sat facing her.

Looked like a standard inspection at a glance.

- Clack clack...

Footsteps echoed as a bushy white-bearded old man entered the gate room.

'As expected...'

Seeing Hosphil made my lips curl up.

"Sorry. Your talk dragged on longer than expected, so I wondered if I might mediate—rude of me to enter uninvited."

Hosphil bowed his head politely.

True to form for a highborn family's butler.

Every gesture brimmed with refinement.

"Ah... No issue. We're done already. Lulu'll head out shortly after tidying up."

"Hm...? I see."

"Well... it's late anyway. Troubling the Gatekeeper further burdens us too."

"Haha, not at all. I got good terms thanks to you."

"Then we'll be off. Late start, but with prep now, business as usual by morning."

"Ah, about that... You'll have to camp tonight."

"Pardon? What do you—"

"Already cleared with Lulu."

Hosphil's eyelids twitched in confusion.

"Manager? What's going on here?"

"......"

Hosphil demanded of Lulu like she owed him answers.

Obviously, nothing consulted with him.

Of course not—I'd ordered it.

"Manager..."

"It's done. Out."

Lulu replied calmly, her tone sharp and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠biting.

"Manager!"

"Hosphil, calm..."

"Gatekeeper? Be quiet a moment. This is to the manager."

I tried defending her, but Hosphil strode to the desk and glared down.

That's why Lulu always wilted.

Hosphil stood around 190 cm tall.

To Lulu, who only reached his waist, he was a giant.

Now I got why she fired him first upon becoming guild leader in the game.

Lulu's lips parted with a deep sigh.

"Hah... Hosphil."

"Yes, miss."

"Out."

"......"

Lulu commanded firmly once more.

Hosphil had no choice this time.

"......"

He knew better than anyone—clashing with Lulu here was poison.

- Grind.

Hosphil's teeth ground audibly.

Then he slowly headed for the door.

"......This better have a damn good reason."

- Bang.

The door slammed irritably shut.

"......"

"......"

Lulu and I met eyes wordlessly.

"My words were right, yeah?"

"Phew... Y-you were serious."

Lulu exhaled hot breaths, grinning ear to ear, flustered.

"Well then, now..."

I stood from the chair, and her eyes sparkled.

Like she expected something.

But with the hidden quest done, no reason to stick around with Lulu.

"Out."

"......Huh?"

"Leave."

Now for me too.

Time to raise a glass to victory.