Why Do I Have to Get Horny Here of All Places?
"Whoa..."
"I'm glad you like it. Performance is important, but so is how an owner feels about their weapon."
He paid a lot more attention to the aesthetics than I expected.
He did nothing but talk about specs the entire time he was making it, so I was secretly worried about how it would look. But seeing it now, my heart's actually fluttering a bit.
It had taken about two weeks to forge the sword.
After the pathetic blunder of losing my previous sword, I didn't have much to do. I'd thought about hiking to build up my stamina, but since I didn't have any good memories associated with that, I decided against it.
It felt like I got hornier whenever I recovered from something. I couldn't say for sure since I didn't know the exact mechanics, but at least on the day I died, I'd spent way more time than usual cooped up in my room, completely lost in a masturbation frenzy.
Though it wasn't too extreme.
"Thank you so much."
Oh, right.
"This just occurred to me..."
"What is it?"
It was such an obvious question that I wondered why I hadn't asked it on day one.
"How do I check its ability? You said it adapts to the user."
"That's for you to find out. Aside from its latent ability, it's just a normal sword. It doesn't have enchantments or self-repair functions like other custom-made blades. Ah, though with your slime constitution, maybe it will self-repair."
I wasn't the one who actually saved the town, but to think the reward for saving one was a sword with an unknown ability.
I was satisfied with just how pretty it looked, but at this rate, I wouldn't have the face to show Adorian.
"This might sound rude, but... that means it might not have an ability at all, or even if it does, it might suck."
"It definitely has an ability. But you're right that it might not be a great one. After all, it tailors itself entirely to its master."
"...Is there any way to check?"
"Nothing but fighting. People who know their own tendencies and traits well sometimes figure it out by running various experiments on themselves."
Well, aren't you just a fountain of constructive advice.
"Don't look so disappointed. Everyone makes that exact same face when they receive their sword. A face that says, 'I went through all this trouble to get a sword, and I don't even know how to use its power?'"
"No, it's not really like that..."
I didn't know whether to feel slightly relieved or not.
"Thank you again. The sword itself is wonderful, and I love how it looks. If the ability doesn't trigger, it's not a problem with you or the sword—it's just my own shortcoming."
Despite looking thin, it wasn't too light. The weight was just right.
All that suffering to adapt to the sword had paid off.
"It's thinner than I expected. It won't snap easily, will it?"
Berentel snatched the sword from my hand and slammed it straight into a square iron plate nearby.
Is he fucking insane?!
"That's a Relbion plate I set up to test durability every time I forge a sword. It's harder than steel."
"What if it broke?"
"Then I'd have to make it again. It would mean it was a failure."
I couldn't tell if he was overflowing with confidence or just violent.
"Come find me if it ever needs repairs. It's a complex piece of work. If you let anyone else touch it, it'll lose its ability or its durability will plummet."
The sword I'd used when I first set out as an adventurer had some sentimental value, but it was just an ordinary blade. Getting this felt like the excitement of receiving a brand-new toy.
"Do you like it that much?"
Ah, did it show on my face?
"Ah, well, yes. It's fascinating."
"I'm glad you like it so much. Nothing fascinating about it."
"Before even considering its special ability, it's a dwarven sword, isn't it? It's custom-made by a famous blacksmith, and its appearance is something I could brag about anywhere. I don't mean this in a bad way, but it looks so good people would believe me if I said it was a decorative piece. It's definitely not the kind of sword a rookie adventurer who just graduated from the Academy should have."
I rambled on, getting uncharacteristically excited.
"I'm glad you like it. You're the first one to get this excited over it."
To check its ability, I'd eventually have to go fight somewhere, but the monsters around here were terrifying.
It was hilarious for a girl who claimed she wanted to be an adventurer to shrink away from fighting monsters, but after two consecutive traumatic experiences, I couldn't help it.
Seriously, how many clothes had I ruined and thrown away recently?
Sigh... Still, if I want to rebuild my strength and improve my skills, I'll have to push my body to the limit.
"Thank you so much. If any problems come up, I'll be back."
"I almost forgot something important. I added this because I figured you'd need it."
"?"
Berentel drew the sword, strapped the scabbard to my waist, and walked outside carrying only the blade.
What the...?
He hadn't said anything to me before leaving, so I just stood there dazed. A moment later, Berentel returned—without the sword.
What?
"What's with that look? You haven't noticed?"
As I stared blankly, Berentel pointed at the scabbard. The sword was already resting inside it.
What? When did it get back in there?
"I added that feature since you said you lost your last sword. I crammed all sorts of tricks into it, using things I got from people who owed me favors or asked for my help. It pays off to have squeezed so much knowledge and materials out of mages in the past."
"Thank... you..."
To bring up that embarrassing story about losing my sword...
"Here, wear this ring. The sword is bound to the scabbard, and the scabbard is made to be drawn toward this ring. It would be pretty pathetic if you lost the scabbard too, so I had to make a recovery function for it."
"......"
Should I be happy or sad about this?
And so, having received a sword I liked much sooner than expected, I left the village.
I'd thought about stopping by to thank Adorian once I got the sword, but she'd mentioned she might be away for a while and didn't know when she'd return. Besides, Meria was currently under house arrest, so going there felt a bit inappropriate.
Since things turned out this way...
Drip... drip...
The sound of dripping water—not the slimy, humid condensation of some gloomy, unpleasant place, but clean water in a spot with crisp, fresh air.
A dungeon. Specifically, a cavernous underground type.
There were all kinds of theories and conspiracies about them—that they were created by gods, that they were artificial, that they were remnants of ancient civilizations, or even that dungeons were actually alive. But they usually fell into two categories: naturally occurring, or ancient ruins possessed by lingering thoughts.
Massive underground facilities built in ancient times—whether for shelter or residence—were abandoned, and monsters gathered in those damp, dark depths.
There were cavern types and structural types. Caverns felt more wild, while structural dungeons felt like mazes filled with traps.
Sometimes they were a mix of both.
In the case of structural dungeons, people sometimes actually lived inside them, but those were insanely massive.
Just like gold and diamonds are found underground, or trees in a forest.
Though in this case, they were intentionally formed by nature or lingering thoughts... I slept through the rest of that history class, so I didn't know much else.
"Ugh, it's hot."
Well, none of that mattered. I'd already cleared four groups of monsters since entering.
Normally, dungeons were meant to be tackled by a party with various classes, and that was what I had planned to do if I ever went to one.
Squelch...!
The sword cut surprisingly well, and above all, even if I got hurt, I would just regenerate, so it wasn't an issue.
I'd come to a low-risk area to see if I could trigger the sword's ability, satisfy my curiosity about dungeons, and rebuild my weakened strength. Since the danger was low, my regeneration could easily handle any mishaps.
Giant rats, 'normal' slimes, Dunberidenos, Salantins, and so on.
I couldn't let my guard down just because some of them looked cute. They were monsters that actively attacked, threatened, and killed humans.
"Phew..."
Everything was fine, but... the more I fought, the more I felt... something.
How long had I been in here?
Entering a safe zone that looked like a small room, I hung up my blood-soaked outer coat and leather armor, then carefully slid my hand down into my pants.
"Mnh..."
It wasn't like I was incredibly horny, but more like a nagging distraction that had been bothering me the entire time I was fighting.
Like an itch on your back—not unbearable, but there was no reason not to scratch it when it was bothering you.
Was this why I felt so hot earlier?
"Ah... Mnh, ah..."
I wondered what the hell I was doing masturbating in a dungeon, but it wasn't like anyone else was around anyway, so who cared?
Just like how you might not feel very hungry until you take a bite and your appetite suddenly explodes, my lust hadn't been that strong a moment ago. But the second I rubbed my clit with the tip of my finger, my desire erupted.
If it were cold, my lust might have cooled down, but the dungeon was uselessly warm.
"Ah, mnh..."
At first, I was content just leaning against the wall, gently rubbing my outer folds, but gradually, my posture collapsed.
Since I was inside a safe room where monsters wouldn't enter, I didn't bother holding back my moans as I continued to pleasure myself.
Though, to begin with, I usually only made quiet whimpers when I masturbated.
"Haa... Ah... Mnh, ah...♥"
My fingers moved not to bring a quick climax, but to slowly coax out and savor every drop of pleasure.
I wanted to strip off these useless clothes entirely, but I hadn't lost the last of my sanity just yet.
Thud.
"Ngh, ah...♥"
Unable to finish like that, I ended up lying flat on the floor as if I were in my own bedroom, shoving my fingers deep inside my wet slit.
If I were completely overwhelmed with lust, I would have just pumped myself hard and come quickly, but this frustratingly lukewarm horniness was driving me crazy.
I just couldn't bring myself to stop fingering my wet pussy.
Squish, squelch...
I could clearly feel that my breasts had gotten a bit larger than before; as I lay down, they spilled slightly to the sides, too big to be cupped in a single hand.
If I were wearing my usual clothes, I would have reached in to squeeze and caress my nipples too, but my current outfit made it too awkward. The restriction only made me more desperate and frustrated.
My body had never been like this before. It was becoming more... more... how should I put it?
At this rate, I'm going to end up addicted to fingering myself instead of cigarettes, goddammit.
Stopping just as I neared the edge, thrusting again when the sensation faded, slowing down when I got too close, and rubbing when things calmed.
My fingers were already slick and sticky with my own juices, and my panties had been soaked through long ago.
"Mnngh...!♥"
A mild climax.
It's not like I have anywhere else to be today anyway.
If I had some urgent schedule, I would have forced myself to finish and leave, but because I had nothing but time, my fingers absolutely refused to stop.