Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Answer.
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"W-Wait a sec..."
Lulu spun around in confusion and grabbed at my uniform.
Even as she did, her legs were knocking together—her strength must have been draining away from the trip here.
"Y-You're gonna let me in, right?"
"No."
"B-But I! Y-You said you'd grant my wish! We had a deal!"
Tears began welling up in Lulu's eyes, like she was about to burst into sobs any second.
"Yes, that's right. The condition was a successful inspection."
"W-Wait..."
I scooped Lulu up just like that.
If you're gonna cry, do it outside.
I've let it slide three times. Four is where I draw the line.
"Wha—"
"I'll hear your wish next time. Goodbye."
I set Lulu down right outside the entrance.
And then...
- Slam.
I shut the door.
She'll figure it out somehow.
Even if she looks like a whiny kid throwing a tantrum, she's survived this long because she has what it takes to lead the Fleta Merchant Guild.
"......"
Once the door was closed, the checkpoint fell quiet—no more of that chattering squirrel's voice, and the sticky, cloying scent in the air faded away.
Only a faint sweet aftertaste lingered, tickling my nose.
I could hear knocking on the entrance door, but I decided to ignore it.
"...Heh heh."
The laughter I'd been holding back burst out.
Of course it did—what a reward, after all this time.
It'd be weirder if I didn't laugh.
To savor the thrill, I opened my ability window.
[Hand of Abstinence] [Cannot be Deactivated]
[Body Search increases favorability and pleasure levels.]
[Unlocks with Eye of Lust: Change condition to Body Search > Activated within checkpoint. (Deactivatable)]
I'd kinda guessed it from the similar names, but yeah—Hand of Abstinence and Eye of Lust were a set.
An ability that relaxes the conditions for Hand of Abstinence.
And this time, it was one that could be deactivated.
Otherwise, it'd basically mean I couldn't lay a hand on any woman.
[Eye of Lust] [Cannot be Deactivated]
[Visualizes the inspectee's pleasure conditions.]
[Unlocks at Pleasure Level 100 via Hand of Abstinence: ???]
'Was Hand of Abstinence just ridiculously overpowered...?'
Visualization of pleasure conditions.
I'd expected something with impact like Hand of Abstinence, but...
Compared to toying with people's emotions, this felt a bit underwhelming.
The upside? The second condition was about halfway revealed.
A set item, and conditional to boot... So the second ability is probably the main event.
'Pleasure Level 100... Probably referring to that state.'
For some reason... I felt like I could pull it off right now.
Maybe Lulu had awakened some desires I'd been suppressing.
Like something deep inside had been unlocked.
I could test it out sometime.
And the root cause of this whole mess.
I opened the quest window.
[1/2]
Final Goal: Fleta Merchant Guild Leader 'Lulu'.
Current Goal: Deny Lucy's entry to the Imperial West.
Final Reward: Unlock Slave Liberation Condition '2'.
This quest had been one hell of a long, treacherous journey just to start.
I had no idea what ending it'd lead to, but most liberation conditions were straightforward.
The kind you could knock out in a year.
It takes about three months for Lulu to become guild leader.
That's why I'd planned to stick around the Imperial West for three months.
Once I figure out the liberation conditions quick, I just execute Condition 2.
No need to drag it out to unlock 3—that'd take too long.
Finally fitting the first key felt like a weight off my shoulders.
"...That said..."
Why hasn't the Saintess woken up yet?
Her door was still firmly shut.
It was well past time for her to be up.
The clock had ticked past 7 a.m.
Even if she'd woken up ages ago, I wouldn't have stopped the inspections.
Can't ditch a hidden quest.
I'd kept my ears open during inspections, just in case the Saintess stirred.
But not even a rustle from her cradle.
I walked quietly up to it.
"Saintess. Time to get up."
"......"
No response.
I'd half-expected that, but she really was still asleep.
If she's sleeping soundly, no need to wake her.
Last time I did, she told me to crash at the checkpoint.
I'm beat from the overtime anyway.
I'll just head home.
"......"
I glanced at the cradle while getting ready to leave, but no sign of her stirring.
With that, I turned off the checkpoint lights and headed home.
The Imperial West was gonna be noisy today.
Maybe because I got off so late, the streets were pitch black.
I'd clocked out late before, but tonight felt extra dark.
Mostly food stalls or junk shops anyway.
Then, not far off, a bright flame flickered.
- Make the Empire great!
- Down with the corrupt government!
- Useless dictator and his dogs...
Fires blazed in wooden buildings.
Indiscriminate terror.
'Guess it's starting.'
I'd half-considered hunkering down at the checkpoint out of fear, but their targets weren't people.
If you ignored the property damage.
Pure, raw dissent against the Empire.
The victims were just random citizens, but that amplified the outrage.
Especially here in the low-satisfaction Imperial West.
Bodies rotting in the gutters, loved ones dropping dead in an instant.
People clutching angry torches started emerging onto the streets.
The flickering flames cast shadows on their faces, making them look even more savage.
The mood thickened, flames erupting all over the west side.
They'd all get rounded up soon anyway.
I tore my eyes from the fires and kept walking to the inn.
Then, head-on, a small flame bobbed toward me.
Probably a torch... As long as I showed no intent to engage, it'd be fine.
No reason for me to play cop.
Zero patriotism for the Empire here.
The flame drew closer.
'Kinda tense.'
The street lit only by a few scattered, dim lanterns.
Barely enough to avoid bumping into walls.
The eerie vibe plus the approaching flame sent a chill through the air.
'Ghosts in medieval times too...?'
But as the flame neared, I realized something.
There were scarier things here than ghosts.
Blue hair glinting in the firelight.
Sharp fox-like eyes, symbol of viciousness.
Skin-tight uniform, rapier in hand.
It was the Hero.
The Hero approached slowly, torch in one hand, rapier in the other.
Running into her in this dingy outskirts alley at night? Way too suspicious.
Unless she'd come looking for me—impossible odds otherwise.
How the hell...?
I considered bolting, but outrunning the Saintess was hard enough. The Hero? Forget it.
"What're you thinking?"
- Flinch.
Her sudden voice made my shoulders jump.
I'd only zoned out for a second, and she was right in front of me.
"Ah... H-Hero, long time no see."
"Yeah."
Her eyes were still ice-cold.
Standing next to her felt like the air itself was freezing.
"What brings you to the outskirts this late...?"
"Some flies snuck into the west side. Been swatting them."
Now I saw—a man's hand was still stuck to her torch.
Holy shit.
"Ah... Didn't notice. Not my hobby."
The Hero flicked the filth off like swatting a bug.
Then wiped her hand roughly on her skirt hem.
"So why? Am I not allowed here?"
"No, but..."
She wiped the blood off her blade on her skirt too.
Then held it to the torch, checking for any spots left.
"Gatekeeper."
"Yes."
Once her sword was clean, her gaze snapped back to me.
Those fox eyes sharpened.
Why so scary?
"Can you promise you won't betray us?"
"Pardon...?"
"You became Gatekeeper to serve the Empire as a loyal soldier, right?"
"...Yes, that's right."
Goals aside, close enough.
But why ask this out of nowhere?
The Hero's lips curved into a smile.
Shadows from the torch made it downright creepy.
"Seems like the Saintess has a man now."
"Pardon?"
Torch in one hand, rapier in the other, blood splattered all over—a psycho Hero spouting something straight out of a girl's gossip sesh.
But knowing who she meant, I couldn't laugh.
"......"
"I gave her my blood once."
She tossed the torch to the ground and tapped her arm with a finger.
"My arm got cut off, and she wanted to try it. But after a few sips, she said it tasted bad and ditched it. For a vampire, the Saintess is super picky."
Her eyes crinkled in a smile.
"But these past few days, she reeks of blood."
What? I'd only given her blood once.
More importantly—past few days...?
"Every night, she comes back bloated from wherever she's been sucking blood. And that consistent scent—I'd smelled it a few times, so I remembered."
Cold sweat trickled down.
"...How are you still alive? The blood stench alone suggested she'd drained an orc barrel dry. Guess you're her familiar now."
"......"
Didn't expect the Hero to know about familiars.
"Don't tell the Saintess. She was drunk when she spilled it—probably doesn't remember. But anyway..."
- Thud.
Her hand landed on my shoulder.
"Groping and spanking my ass whenever... but behind my back, you've been seducing the Saintess."
Unlike a typical woman's, her hand was rough and calloused.
The grip tightened.
"If I cut off your wrist right now, would the Saintess pop out of somewhere?"
My mouth wouldn't open.
I wanted to make excuses—only gave blood once.
I got tricked too. But words wouldn't come.
Because she's the Saintess.
And standing before me was the Hero.
In short, I was the Saintess's mate and familiar.
"Gatekeeper... Answer me."
Ah... fuck.
"Was it fun?"
Save me.