Chapter 76: The Porter Caught in the Web
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 76: The Porter Caught in the Web
After telling Olivia and Marin to fend for themselves for dinner, I headed toward Moira’s mansion, hand-in-hand with Yuria.
It had been a while since my last visit. The walk there was as awkward as ever.
Being the wealthiest district in the Labyrinth City, the atmosphere was worlds apart from the shabby, run-down neighborhoods I usually frequented. There wasn't a speck of trash on the streets, nor were there any homeless people sprawled out in the alleys—whether sleeping or dead, it was often hard to tell elsewhere.
Moreover, the streets were bathed in the soft glow of magical lighting, giving the area a vibe that felt more like the modern era than the Middle Ages.
"We’re here."
"Welcome. It has been a long time."
When I knocked on the front door, Lin was the one who opened it.
Following her inside, I took a look at the path leading through the estate.
"The flowers are in full bloom."
"They are. For the record, those are my mom's favorites," Yuria noted.
"Aha. So she likes red flowers."
"Yeah. She goes crazy for anything red, probably because it matches her hair color."
"She certainly has a taste for intense colors."
"Tell me about it. I bet most of her underwear is red, too. Or black."
"Oh? Really?"
"If you're that curious, should I wear some of my mom's lingerie and show you later?"
"Hey, why would you wear it? Are you planning on raiding your mother’s wardrobe?"
"Why not? If Sion is curious, I should give him a look."
"You’ve lost your mind."
"Hehe. Look at you blushing. You know you want to see. Let’s have some real fun before we head into the Labyrinth."
"Hey...! Keep your voice down! Lin will hear you...!"
"So what if she does? Everyone knows we're living together anyway."
"Well, that’s true, but..."
"Sion, what are you so embarrassed about? Do you think a young man and woman living under the same roof just hold hands and sleep? Pfft. Is this that 'stuffy Easterner' sexual modesty I've heard about? Your mindset is actually kind of cute."
"It’s just that everyone in this city is incredibly promiscuous."
"Hahaha. I only get promiscuous when I'm looking at you."
"Ugh, you're crazy."
Yuria laughed heartily, tossing out sexual harassment as if it were nothing. How does one even come up with the idea of raiding their mother’s dresser to show her panties to her future husband?
‘To be honest, I am a little curious.’
Moira’s underwear, huh?
It would be nice to see, but I felt like Yuria would get upset if I actually showed interest. Of course, I could probably see them whenever I wanted.
Moira and I were essentially friends with benefits. But Yuria could never know that.
‘How could I ever tell her I’m sleeping with her mother?’
Somehow, swept up in the moment, I had ended up receiving a blowjob from Moira, but that hadn't been my intention. I was sleeping off a drunk, and she had just barged in and jumped me. Since she was the strongest person in the city, I couldn't exactly fight her off; it was practically borderline assault.
Of course, the moment I accepted it, I became just as guilty.
Still, I knew I had to come clean to Yuria eventually, but Moira seemed to have no desire to let the secret out. Thinking about how I was deceiving Yuria made my head spin.
Why did this mother-daughter duo have to fall for the same man and plunge me into such agony? I was supposed to be a pure slave fetishist with no intention of dating anyone who wasn't a slave. These two had corrupted me, leading me astray from the path of the slave collector.
‘Ugh, my head...’
My head was starting to throb. I decided to stop thinking and just look at the garden. If I didn't calm my mind, I felt like I’d fall into Qi Deviation.
Unlike my chaotic thoughts, the small garden was peaceful. It was filled with Moira’s favorite flowers, and a few fish swam aimlessly in a small pond.
Did Lin manage all of this by herself?
I hadn't seen any other servants besides her. To sweep, mop, and maintain this massive mansion, the garden, and the pond all alone... one body wouldn't be enough.
Wasn't this slave exploitation? For someone with so much money, Moira lived surprisingly frugally if she only employed one slave. I mean, even I already had two.
Granted, Olivia was going to earn her keep as the city’s top bard, and Marin was an all-purpose slime who handled her own food and living expenses, so their maintenance costs were almost zero.
Regardless, I found Lin’s ability to manage this entire estate alone truly impressive. How exhausting must it be to serve as the Guild Master’s secretary on top of all this? And she did all the cooking, too. She was far too versatile.
"Sion, don't you smell something good?"
"Yeah. It smells delicious."
The familiar scent of Chinese cuisine.
The distinct aroma of toasted oil from a well-seasoned wok and the spicy, smoky fragrance of Szechuan cooking using chili peppers grew stronger as we approached the house. I knew from experience that Lin’s cooking was top-tier.
"You're here. Come on in."
"Thank you for inviting us."
"Think nothing of it. You're my daughter and my son-in-law. By the way, Sion, isn't your clothing a bit thin?"
"Huh? Is it?"
Was a short-sleeved shirt and shorts too much? It had been so hot during the day that I’d dressed light.
"Hmph. Don't go around exposing yourself so much. You might attract some wicked older women."
"Mom, what are you talking about? Is Sion a little girl? Why are you treating him like some fragile maiden?"
"No, it's not that. I just mean that if an Easterner brat walks around dressed like that, there might be some middle-aged women who’d want to strike up a conversation."
"Only you would think that. Are you crazy?"
Moira licked her lips as she looked at me. Her gaze was strange. Even the eye hidden behind her eyepatch seemed to gleam intensely. She looked like a predator staring at its prey.
"Phew... I must have some inner demons. Sometimes my Demon Eye drives me toward my impulses. I lost my reason for a moment."
Moira toyed with her eyepatch. So it was a side effect of the Demon Eye.
"I suppose I tried to control your boyfriend too much. My apologies."
"Whatever. Mom’s right, though—Sion’s clothes are a bit short."
Wait, was this my fault? Was it a crime to wear a T-shirt and shorts because it was hot?
"Wait, why are you both picking on my outfit all of a sudden...?"
"You stay out of this, Sion."
"Who told you to go around seducing women like that? Showing off all that bare skin."
"???"
I hadn't seduced anyone. They were the ones who were seduced, so why was this happening to me...?
This wasn't a world with reversed gender roles, was it? So why did it feel like I’d been dropped into one? Why were all the women around me world-class powerhouses overflowing with masculine energy? Why were they always the ones taking the lead?
And now they were even controlling what I wore.
Something was wrong. I was supposed to be the slave collector, but it felt like the power dynamic between me and the women around me had been flipped. Well, they took good care of me, so I guess it was fine. Let’s not overthink it. It was already too late to escape this mother and daughter anyway.
"Anyway, Yuria, are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine, Mom. You saw me earlier."
"People usually feel worse after the sun goes down, so I was just checking. We have to eat and drink tonight, after all."
"Don't worry. Besides, Sion and I drank a ton yesterday, too."
"Is that so? Then that’s a relief. Come in."
For some reason, Moira, dressed in a rather suggestive negligee, welcomed us with a smile. Her massive chest seemed particularly emphasized. The neckline was low, leaving her cleavage in full view.
Was she not wearing a bra right now? I could see two small points protruding slightly through the fabric...
"Ouch...!"
"Hey, you! Where do you think you're looking? I'm getting jealous, you know. Do you want to die?"
"Sorry..."
I had been staring at Moira’s heavy mounds of flesh as if possessed, and Yuria had pinched the back of my hand. I managed to tear my eyes away, but I felt a lingering sense of regret.
‘The mother and the daughter are both incredibly hot. This should be a crime.’
The daughter spent all day rolling around the house in dolphin pants. The mother-in-law was openly seducing her son-in-law in a negligee designed to be provocative. It was driving me crazy. Were these people descendants of succubi? They were like monsters specifically evolved to make a man's dick angry.
Above all, I wanted to point out that they were the ones wearing the thinnest clothes, but I held my tongue. I was weak and might get kidnapped by a "wicked older woman," but these two had the power to butcher anyone who tried.
"Here is the Mapo Tofu."
While I was lost in these inappropriate thoughts, Lin brought out the food. She served a dish similar to Mapo Tofu, glistening with chili oil, followed by Lazogi and a stir-fry of pork and vegetables.
"That’s not all."
"Oohhh!"
A feast of dishes I’d never seen before filled the table. There was fish, and... what was that? I thought I’d eaten plenty of Chinese food in my life, but I was wrong. The variety of authentic cuisine prepared by a native was on a completely different level from what you’d get at a standard takeout joint.
"It’s spicy. Lin, water."
"Here you go."
"Ugh."
Yuria flapped her hands around her mouth and gulped down water, while Moira savored the food with a stoic expression.
"So, Sion, are your preparations going well?"
"Huh? Oh, yes. Almost finished."
"I see. This expedition will be quite dangerous, so be careful. Did you receive the armor?"
"Yes. The size was perfect, and it’s light and sturdy. Thank you."
"I'm glad you're satisfied."
Come to think of it, the armor Moira had ordered had arrived. It was a set of leather reinforced with iron plates—it felt like a brigandine with added plate sections.
"I made sure the helmet was especially sturdy. It’s made from rare metal found in the Crystal Cave, so make sure you wear it. Heretics have a tendency to aim specifically for the head."
"Yes, ma'am. I'll keep that in mind. Whoa, this is spicy."
A helmet was crucial. If your head was exposed, they’d target it nine times out of ten. A cracked skull meant a one-way trip to the afterlife, and a slingshot pellet to the forehead would scramble your brains instantly.
"Now that we’ve lined our stomachs, let’s have a drink. Lin, bring that."
"Understood."
A high-end liquor was brought out. It was a potent Dwarf liquor that paired perfectly with the spicy food.
"Now, Yuria. Drink up. You can drink to your heart's content. I’ve prepared several crates of it."
"Mom...! Can I really drink as much as I want? This stuff is expensive."
"Of course. Drink your fill and stay over tonight. I’ll even put Sion in the bed next to you."
"Kaaah. Now this is happiness."
"...."
Yuria was sold on the alcohol, and Moira was wearing a sly grin. Putting me in the bed next to a sleeping Yuria? Seeing Moira lie through her teeth without even blinking made a chill run down my spine.
‘That woman is planning to get her daughter blackout drunk so she can play with me.’
Moira’s intentions were transparent. Yuria began drinking, oblivious to the scheme, while Moira subtly avoided emptying her own glass. As I watched them, Lin leaned in and whispered in my ear.
"Sion."
"Ah, yes?"
"Today is the Master’s safe day."
"Pardon?"
"I’m just... letting you know."
Even the maid was informing me of her master’s menstrual cycle. I was already firmly caught in the spider's web.