Episode 42 - I Knew You'd Come!

I knew it! Afterward, Lizbet retreated to her room with her face beet red. I'd been ready to go buy bedding together depending on her reaction, but it looked like I'd have to handle this one solo. Still, her response to my proposal was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠extremely satisfying. Thinking back to how she'd spat curses and trembled in rage when I first suggested handling her sexual needs back when I was just a horse body—it felt like a massive change. I was 99% sure she'd accept. But there's always that one percent exception, so I brainstormed contingency plans for any potential refusal as I headed out to buy some bedding.

I stopped by a shop near the everyday clothing store I'd visited before, picked up a pillow, some decent fabric for sheets, and a few blankets, then returned to the inn. People's stares still stung on the way back, but they didn't bother me much anymore. My heart was pounding with anticipation for tonight. Back in my room, I roughly spread a sheet over the bed and lay down—it seemed big enough for my size. Lying there basking in satisfaction, I suddenly thought to finally inspect my body properly, something I hadn't done in detail yet. I stood in front of the huge mirror on the wall.

"Hmm... this..."

After turning half-human half-beast, I hadn't really gotten a chance to examine myself. I'd only caught glimpses in glass windows without a proper mirror, and even at Lianna's clothing shop, she'd measured me directly so I didn't check. Plus, with what happened with her, it hadn't crossed my mind. So this was my first real look...

Staring at the reflection of this bipedal monster with skin close to black—deep brown—it stirred up mixed feelings. The body itself was surprisingly impressive and satisfying. My thick arms were like some steroid-pumped bodybuilder's, veins bulging without even flexing. On Earth, arms like these would intimidate anyone. Normally, arms like that come with an overly bulky torso, but mine wasn't. Instead of rounded, bloated pecs like those roided-out guys, I had broad, protruding rectangular chest muscles that screamed solidity. Below them, abs like iron plates, nicely defined lats without excess, a tapered waist... Just the upper body felt like the ideal template for a muscular physique—powerful but not overdone.

After checking the upper half, I dropped my pants and underwear to reveal the lower. The first thing that caught my eye was, of course, my lower-half buddy. I'd already confirmed it stayed the same massive horse cock even in half-beast form, so moving on. The legs? Yeah. Thighs and calves were just terrifying. Horse legs through and through? More than that, the reverse joints, hooves, and tail stood out—but compared to my shoulders, they weren't a big deal. Why the hell was my face still a full horse head, though? If it were even somewhat human-like, it'd give off that Draenei vibe from some game. But this horse mug made me look exactly like one of those half-beast horse monsters from that salamander quest game. Hell, it was practically identical—just more vicious-looking. And this horse head on a thick neck made my already huge frame even bigger. Shoulders suggested around 190cm, but with the long neck and massive head, I looked over 2 meters tall. No wonder people stared...

I spent a while checking myself out, even shifting to horse form to compare. Turning into a horse felt weird—the body dissolved into smoke and reformed. Come to think of it, I hadn't checked my status window in a while, still curious if it was the default type. Time to open it.

Kuh. Level up confirmed—looks like I got the exp from killing Erebos. My exp requirements were higher than average adventurers, but I jumped five levels at once. Perfect. The title... yeah, fair enough. Horse skills, huh? Hidden ones after all. Makes sense—talking, making it comfy for riders on my back, all skill perks. Form Change has a level, so maybe maxing it gets me full human form? No clue how status items unlock, but great news either way. The half-beast form was already a huge upgrade from plain horse days, but this vicious head was still off-putting. As I pondered naming my forms, the sun was setting outside. Oops—I called for Lizbet next door. She emerged, face still flushed, head bowed in silence.

Waiting out front with the quiet Lizbet, Als appeared from afar. He looked fully recovered outwardly... but damn, he'd lost to Erebos three times. Three-peat L? Anyway, we headed to a restaurant—Als grinning, Lizbet mute. She'd bragged about ordering expensive stuff earlier but now just said "anything" and clammed up. Good, Lizbet—stew on it hard, even if it's futile.

"So, all the heroes are up, and most serious injuries are mostly healed. Down to minor wounds now, so a day or two more treatment and everyone should be back in action."

Als explained that church folks had gone all-in on healing, turning dozens of injured into near-full recoveries. Church... right, Klea, that priestess and Baul's girl. Gotta turn her into my bitch soon—when to start? "With the dangerous Hero Eater gone, we should regroup a few days, then level up. Hit some normal dungeons? Quests based on difficulty could work for us."

"Oh yeah, normal dungeons are guild quests, right? Anything we can handle solo?"

"Dungeons vary wildly in scale and danger. Big ones get split among guilds, but safe ones are first-come-first-served on quests."

By my logic, find a dungeon, go in—done. But no, illegal. Entering without a quest means no complaints if you die inside. Kingdom meddling hard, huh. We chatted future plans over dinner with Als and Lizbet, then returned to the inn. Als gave me a weird look, so I mentioned I'd booked here too. He lit up, saying it'd be great for teaming up. Not the point, Als. Before heading up, we grabbed daily essentials, bottled drinks, and snacks from the inn shop—filled two bags to the brim. Prices were steep; better hit street vendors or general stores from now on.

Als went to the second floor; Lizbet and I climbed to the third. Before entering my room, I whispered to her, "I'll be waiting, so think it over."

She flinched at my words. Smiling, I entered my room. This wasn't 99% anymore—100% locked in. Pleased with her reaction, I stashed the drinks in the fridge and headed to the shower. She'd deliberate a while, so prep time. As she instructed, I turned on the water—warm cascade from the ceiling. Ahh, shower after so long! Used the shop's shampoo and body wash, scrubbing my horse dick extra. Soap after just water? Almost teared up from civilization. Brushed my horse teeth too, then toweled off—dick meticulously. Grabbed a weird bottled beer from the fridge...

My god. Already ice-cold...! Thank you...! Twisted off the cap with my thick fingers, chugged it straight. 'Guh... tears ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠welling up...! Criminal! Ice-cold beer soaking into my hot, steamy body! I'd rob a bank for this!'

"Graaaaaah!"

First proper wash and cold beer in months—actual tears. Got that manga scene now, the guy dragged to underground labor finally drinking beer. Civilization and freedom are precious! After savoring it, my half-beast gripes faded. Bipedal with hands—who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cares about the horse head? Drained the bottle, dried fully, skipped panties, draped fabric over my lower half, and crashed on the bed. Imagining fretting Lizbet stirred excitement inside. Humming expectantly...

She didn't come. Checked the shop clock—past midnight. Bedtime normally. What? Did I hit that 1%? Pacing anxiously. Her face screamed yes—why? Fell asleep pondering? Didn't I say tonight only? Misheard as every night? Paced 30 minutes in jitters...

Then, faint knock—knock. Bolted to the door, opened slowly.

"...Ah..."

There stood Lizbet in a nightgown-like dress with a hooded mage cloak flipped over, face ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠flushed.

"Come on in, Liz. I knew you'd come."

I felt a wicked grin spread across my horse face, draped an arm over her shoulder, and pulled her inside. On this day, one more female entered the new nest of Radia's lone stallion.