Chapter 18
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Prelude to a Catfight
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It didn't take long to sweep away every last goblin inside the cave.
The goblins in this erotic game, unable to shatter pure love or pull off any NTR, were utterly and pathetically wiped out.
And so, we methodically collected proofs of our goblin defeats and made our way out of the cave.
However, before heading back to the village, there was one little issue.
"Konakan, my clothes are all torn up..."
"What do we do? If we go back like this, everyone will see our embarrassing bits..."
Lucia and Rebecca stood there, clothes shredded, their bras and panties on full display as they twisted their bodies in embarrassment.
Setting aside the question of why bras and panties even exist in a medieval setting, the real problem was that these two would have to walk back to the village in nothing but their underwear.
Fuck, forced exposure play? That's hot as hell. Heroines with wet crotches from being put on display for everyone—stack 'em up, ahh...
...Delusions like that held no meaning for me anymore, now that my dick was gone.
"You only looked after Kiriche."
"Yeah, you covered Kiriche with a cloak."
"Our clothes got torn too."
"That's not fair!"
Shit, now I'm the one stuck with the exposure play. My thighs better not get wet—got any spare panties?
Lucia and Rebecca took turns yapping away, their chatter grating on my nerves. Big tits aside, they acted like immature kids.
Well, thinking about it, their complaints weren't entirely unreasonable. From their perspective, some girl had barged into the party overnight, Konakan fell head over heels for her, and now they were sidelined. They hadn't packed spare panties, which had me on edge.
But Konakan had no intention of indulging their whining either.
"Just pull some casual clothes from your inventory and wear those."
He shut down their complaints just like that.
"Konakan..."
"How can you say that? You know that's not what we want..."
Lucia and Rebecca sniffled as they spoke.
Rebecca in particular looked deeply hurt, her eyes already brimming with tears.
"Konakan, seriously, that's too much... What the hell is that girl to you anyway? What did she do to turn your head like this?!"
Rebecca huffed and yelled. In the end, her sniffles turned into full-blown sobs.
Lucia wrapped an arm around Rebecca's shoulders and glared at me like I was the enemy.
Just the other day, they were at each other's throats, ready to kill. But now that they were in the same boat, they'd apparently decided to team up against a common foe.
But pandering to everyone didn't seem to be Konakan's style.
Ignoring Rebecca as she wailed and clung to him, Konakan draped his arm around my shoulders and strode forward like it was nothing.
"Let's go. It's cold."
"Uh, yeah..."
I didn't even need to look back to feel the sting on the back of my head.
This was... appreciated, but...
Shouldn't we talk about this?
*
That evening.
As expected, Lucia and Rebecca made a pact to drown their sorrows in booze and vanished. The village wasn't that big—if I really wanted to find them, I could. But Konakan didn't seem interested.
"Why bother? They're annoying."
Back at the black ale pub from the other day, Konakan sipped his drink and grumbled.
I sliced off a chunk of thick sausage, popped it in my mouth, chewed slowly, and let out a soft sigh.
"Konakan. But that's not exactly the best attitude."
"Why not?"
"If those two turn into enemies, wouldn't that be a headache too?"
In truth, after fighting those goblins, their combat prowess hadn't inspired much confidence.
Bound by the Purity Contract anyway, dragging them along was a penalty in itself. At first glance, Konakan's stance seemed reasonable.
"But to be blunt, you're a one-trick pony with tags too."
Truth be told, even Konakan had struggled against "mere goblins."
He wasn't some elite adventurer who could afford to ditch anyone.
Of course, I had no idea what the old Konakan was like. By the story's lore, Lucia had fallen for his impressive combat skills and solid adventurer rank before joining up.
But that was the previous protagonist's stats.
He hadn't even inherited Konakan's sex skills—combat must be even worse.
"Ugh... Fair point."
Konakan bit his lip in frustration but had no grounds to argue, so he nodded.
"What if they hold a grudge and decide to kill me? You know you're done if I die, right?"
"Y-Yeah, true."
"We're not invincible. Better not treat them too coldly."
As I chided him, I offered my beer mug. The mana-chilled glass felt refreshingly cold against my hand.
Clink—the crisp sound of mugs touching on the table drowned instantly in the pub's raucous din.
Konakan downed his in gulps, then let out a satisfied "Ahh."
"But Kiriche."
"Yeah?"
"What do you think about slapping a #Munchkin tag on you?"
"...Oh ho."
Not a bad idea.
"Do it, try it."
"Hold on. ...Oh, it works!"
"For real?"
That changes everything.
If I become a munchkin heroine, I won't need companions anymore, and no one else could threaten us either.
Just as I started feeling upbeat about how smoothly things might go...
"Ah, but..."
"What? Why?"
"It automatically adds another tag?"
"Which one?"
Did #Munchkin come bundled with something?
I had no clue, so I asked Konakan.
"The description says, '#Munchkin tag can only be added together with the #Humiliation tag.'"
What the actual fuck.
"Hey, don't add the Munchkin tag."
"So it's basically sealed?"
"It's not the Munchkin we know—it's more like 'greater sense of achievement and pleasure from breaking and subjugating strong females.'"
"So even worse in the end."
"In a way, it's more pathetic. Dragging the mighty down from the top."
Konakan smacked his lips in regret and removed the tag.
"Tch, it's tempting though..."
"Are you insane? You into that?"
"Not other people—just me knocking 'em down."
"Your brain's still stuck in your dick?"
"Can't I even say it's hot? Admit it, it is."
"I don't have a dick anymore, so I wouldn't know."
"Sheesh... Guess I'm the only perv here."
"Good, you get it."
I giggled, took another swig of beer, bit into the sausage, and chewed.
"If you're that butt-hurt, chop yours off too. But I won't take responsibility if you end up getting railed by dudes like me!"
"Whoa, Kiriche, you're tipsy already?"
"Hee hee, am I?"
One mug down, second one now—getting buzzed off this little? Women's bodies were fragile and inconvenient in every way.
"But Kiriche. Y'know."
Konakan gulped down his beer, set the mug down, and gazed at me tenderly.
The booze making me woozy? He looked a bit blurry.
"The biggest reason I want to ditch those two? It's you."
"...What?"
"I told you. Once I take a girl in, I stick with her to the end."
Damn, acting all cool 'cause he's a guy.
Wait, why'd he say that again?
Curiosity bubbled up as I recalled it.
"Hey, didn't you say there's a reason you hate messing with multiple girls?"
"Yeah."
"What is it?"
Come to think of it, he said even if he got a chance to go back, he wouldn't.
I wasn't thrilled about prying into his past, but he kept bringing it up—how could I not be curious?
Konakan hesitated, as if choosing his words, then shook his head.
"Later. I'll tell you next time."
"Aw, lame!"
"Sorry. Can't figure out how to explain it properly."
"Guys don't need proper explanations. Just spill it."
"Not this story. Don't wanna blurt it out."
His smile as he said that looked somehow bittersweet.
So I decided not to push.
We downed one more round each and left the pub.
The booze had us hot all over, steps light as if walking on clouds.
Staying at the same inn anyway, we hooked arms and staggered back slowly.
At the inn, Konakan let me have the shower first.
"Kiriche, you go ahead."
"Oh, for real?"
"I'm still good."
Perfect timing—I felt grimy.
I savored the irony of a "medieval-style shower" in this era and closed my eyes.
"Haa, seriously... Magic and erotic games make a killer combo."
Channeling mana for pleasant sex.
What a ridiculous excuse, but damn good infrastructure for the user.
I washed under the warm water, lathered up soap, and rubbed it over my body.
"Uh..."
My body felt...
Lower belly tingling.
...Something's off?