Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Pursuit and Search (3)
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Shieeeek-!
Clang-! Slash-!
Man, this is a total rollercoaster ride.
Piona's movements were undeniably sharp as she swiftly darted around, using her dagger to sever the prey's neck in one clean stroke.
I watched her hunt while idly fondling her breasts whenever I got bored, and in just fifteen minutes, she had taken down two large wild beasts.
It hadn't taken fifteen minutes to fight them; she'd spent almost all that time tracking them down.
This'll be more than enough for the four of us to eat our fill.
- Good work, Piona.
"Can't Lord Tentacle help out too?"
- I boosted your morale by groping your tits.
"......"
Piona was left speechless by my shameless remark.
- As a reward, I'll give you a kiss. Stick out your tongue.
"Eek, a kiss? That's not really a re... Um! Mm, uum......"
Churp, smack-
"Chup, smack, slurp, smooch, muah......"
She'd started to protest that a kiss wasn't a proper reward, but as soon as I used my digestion tentacle to suck on her lips and tongue, Piona's expression melted away.
From watching her these past few days, I'd realized she had a strong tsundere streak.
Unlike Elrine or Amy, who made no secret of their love for cock, Piona pretended otherwise on the surface but fell oh-so-easily the moment I pounced.
Even now, I wasn't holding her that tightly.
My strength stat was leagues beyond hers, but I was only using enough force that she could shake me off if she really wanted to, while sucking on her lips.
Yet Piona offered no resistance. Instead, she tangled her tongue with mine on her own, hugging my tentacle tight and gulping down saliva greedily.
"Churp, smack, muah, slurp, mmmuah......"
How are her lips and tongue such erogenous zones? What a slutty bitch.
Just from the kiss, she shuddered and squirted pussy juices. When I gently rubbed her slit with a basic tentacle, she unleashed a flood of lewd nectar.
"Mmm, smack, haa, eek...... A-are you going to do it now......?"
Piona gazed up at me, reeking of female heat. Her eyes brimmed with desperate desire for me to ravage her right then. But I shook my head.
- No, we should head back and eat first.
"Ah......"
A disappointed sigh escaped Piona's lips.
- Don't worry. After we eat and rest, I'll fuck you senseless. Stop making that sad face. You look like you'll burst if I don't pound you right now.
"W-when did I ever look sad......!"
Piona's words said one thing, but her face was a mix of eager anticipation and bashful embarrassment as she stared at me.
I kneaded her breasts while admiring her cute expression and kept the kiss going.
"Haa, churp, smack, slurp...... Keep this up and my legs'll give out... I won't make it back......"
Piona murmured sweetly as she breathed against me.
Hm, fair point.
I enjoyed the kiss for a few more minutes before climbing back onto her shoulder and extending a small tentacle to fondle her breasts again.
Piona glanced at me, then pouted her lips and muttered.
"You always just touch my breasts."
Her body was burning up, but with no cock in sight, of course she'd complain.
I urged her to hurry back, and with obvious reluctance, she picked up the two wild beasts and returned to base.
Shieeeek-!
'Whoa.'
I savored the rollercoaster thrill again. I could move way faster under my own power, but riding on someone else and just enjoying the view felt totally different.
Super comfy.
I'll have to make use of this more often.
Rustle, swish-
"Mm."
"Captain, you sure?"
"Yeah, these are definitely monster tracks. A big one, too... Looks like a giant slime. What do you think, Rosa?"
"Yes, I agree."
The middle-aged man with a thick beard was Jameson, leader of the Blue Axe Adventurers.
He spoke with utter conviction.
At first, he hadn't believed the client's claim that a monster had vanished up the valley. What monster climbs a valley wall?
After two days of climbing with no traces, his doubts had only grown.
But Jameson kept them to himself.
He was just the executor of requests.
An adventurer simply followed the request at hand.
The client said the monster went up the valley, and scouting the valley was part of the job, so Jameson set aside his ego and thoughts to carry it out meticulously.
If the client ordered him to check trees for diamond fruits, he'd do it without question.
Whether the reason made sense or the client's motives were unclear didn't matter. Once accepted, just execute.
Performing requests to the client's satisfaction was a true adventurer's duty. That mindset had guided Jameson all along.
But now, seeing these traces, he was starting to believe the client's words about the monster climbing the valley.
'I thought it was nonsense.'
The tracks stuck out only beside the valley. Proof that a monster had climbed up, rested briefly on land, then gone back down.
Jameson said,
"Looks like the monster stopped here for a short rest during its journey. It stayed on land a few hours, then continued via the valley."
"Captain! Not just monster tracks—looks like people were here too? Footprints."
"Yeah? Perfect. Probably Rosa's comrades."
"Mm, but didn't you say two comrades? These are three pairs......"
Rosa spoke up at the Blue Axe member's words.
"Ah, three pairs makes sense. My comrades went out looking for the missing ones too... The extra pair must be from the missing person we already found."
"Haha! Even better, then. We'll recover your comrades and find the missing one. Better pick up the pace!"
"Yes!"
Rosa nodded happily. The Blue Axe Adventurers and freelance adventurer Yuri resumed racing along the valley wall.
Jameson stroked his prized axe.
'Hm, a chance.'
It had finally come.
Jameson had lingered at C-class for years.
He wanted B-class promotion, but lacked the talent. No matter how much he trained or pushed, his physical and magical growth stalled at his limit.
The rare 'enlightenment' blessing eluded him.
C-class was his ceiling. But not entirely hopeless. As a C-class adventurer, he could cover a rank gap with fame and career.
'No giant slimes ever found in Luis Forest before. And from the tracks, 99% chance it's a new species.'
Jameson's heart raced.
Discovering and bringing back a corpse of a new species would skyrocket his reputation at the guild.
Undiscovered monster intel and bodies held immense value.
Plus, his career was already solid from countless successful requests.
He always executed like a machine, brain off. But now, he wanted this one with all his heart.
Eight years at C-class. His passion reignited after so long.
He'd started adventuring with friends from childhood.
Time passed; most retired from E or D-class, some scraping C before quitting. Not all, though.
A few 'real adventurers' kept going, including him.
The talented ones with grit and effort.
Among them, Jameson was the only C-class left.
The rest had all promoted to B.
Honestly, C-class was impressive. Jameson took pride in his life.
Until that talk with his son.
Son, what's wrong? You look down.
Well... Friends teased me.
What? Teased? About what?
- They said I'm the son of a C-class. Other kids brag their dads promoted to B... Asked if mine didn't......
Who? How could they—
- ...Mack started it. Said only my dad's C-class! Son of a C-grader. Dad... you can't promote to B? Stuck at C forever?
No, no! I can~. Just wait a bit, okay? Dad'll promote awesome and flatten those brats' noses for you.
Really? Promise?
Of course!
'Kkh...'
Recalling it brought tears to Jameson's eyes. Their kids were friends too, since the parents adventured together.
He never imagined his son bullied over him.
His career let him walk tall, but paled next to B-classers.
Kids want to boast their parents are the best.
Jameson wanted his son free of teasing—towering over them, proud of his dad.
'Wait, monster. I'll cleave your body and use it as my stepping stone to B-class......!'
Jameson chuckled low, lost in fantasy.
Promoted to B, surprising his beloved son and wife with gifts, sharing the joy.
Once this request ended, he'd subtly ask what they liked lately.
A warm smile curved his lips.