Chapter 76
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Joining Test (2)
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"Companion? What companion? The guy who went to take on a request suddenly a companion?"
"Y...Yeah..."
After stopping by the guild to complete the herb request—and putting off my dinner plans with Mion for later, sorry about that—I rushed back to the inn. Over dinner with Claude and Sia, the three of us brought up Lauren.
"Hey, Claude, you believe me if I say elf?"
"El... That crazy Red Hand Juri you're talking about? That lunatic!"
"What's that about Red Hand?"
"Haa..."
Claude's explanation followed. Apparently, there had been the city's one and only elf until recently, and she was known as a total nutcase.
"Level 6 or something... Anyway, after about twenty years of exploring, she got fed up and settled down in the back alleys. Then she vanished from the city a while back, so why the hell is that woman showing up now?!"
"Back alleys? You know someone over there?"
"Ahem... Yeah!! The place I used to frequent..."
"Ah."
Sounded like he'd been some kind of manager or enforcer at a brothel or something.
"Not her. Someone else. She's only been in the city for a month, and because of that Juri elf, she hasn't been able to get a single party match."
"Really?"
"Ran into her while gathering, chatted a bit, tested her out—looks like she's got talent as a tank."
"Uh..."
"And she's got a hundred and fifty years of physical training under her belt."
"Gasp...!"
Claude's jaw dropped at the overwhelming span of time, while Sia bombarded me with curious questions, her face full of wonder.
"Cain."
"Yeah, Sia?"
"The elf... a girl?"
"Yep, since you don't like guys."
"Hng... How old?"
"She said she's turning two hundred this year."
"Two hundred?! G...Grandma?"
"For us, it'd be like twenty. Elves live a long time, right?"
"....."
Folks who rarely see elves imagine them as fairy-tale sprites, and Sia's face showed more curiosity than distaste.
"Anyway, she just registered her explorer card, so her stats haven't gone up yet, but her strength is insane. And her training is brutal, so she could really help with ours based on that experience."
"Hmm..."
"Grandma..."
"More than anything, pushing past the third floor with just three of us is gonna be tough. Recruiting later might cost a fortune, or we could have drama splitting shares."
"Train her up early and bring her along?"
"Exactly."
Claude caught on and looked thoughtful, while Sia pondered briefly before nodding right away.
"Sia approves!"
"Oh."
Her asking if it was a girl probably had a bit of jealousy mixed in, but mostly it was because a guy new party member would creep her out.
With Sia on board so quick, Claude—who'd been mulling it over—turned to me.
"Me too... I'll decide after seeing her tomorrow, but leaning toward yes for now."
"Told her to come around breakfast time, so we can interview her then."
"Sure."
Claude knew Juri's shady rep from the underworld, so he started negative. But hearing it was someone else, the mood shifted to acceptance.
Plus, when Sia asked if she was a girl, his eyes lit up—bet the "female elf" factor swayed him big time.
But I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something... What is it?
"Cain!!"
Hop!
Squish!
"Sia, you're heavy."
"Really?"
"Nah."
"Kyahaha."
Heading up to the second floor after dinner, Sia leaped onto my back piggyback-style.
"Cain's gonna give Sia a massage, right?"
"Yeah, you go ahead and sleep."
"Okay."
Claude shot a slightly envious glance at Sia's breasts mashing intensely against my back, then headed to his room first.
"Oh yeah, Sia—shave time tonight."
"Ah! Al... Already?"
"Already? It's been like three weeks."
"Hng... Yaaawn!"
She mostly gets off from me touching and sucking rather than solo, so she hadn't checked and blushed, then nibbled my earlobe.
"I trained hard today, so if you shave me all up, I'll do it with my mouth."
"Yay!"
Frank was impressed by Sia's stamina gains from watching her train sometimes, so he gave us extra towels.
Told him a few times she sweats a ton during workouts and massages, so we use plenty daily without running short, even with all the licking and sucking.
"Let's go."
"Le's go~"
Sia, hanging off my back, swung her legs excitedly and shouted along. In her room, I did hair removal care and made her cum three times with mouth and fingers, then drained two loads with her blowjob before heading back.
Claude was waiting up in my room, eyes wide awake.
"You're early today?"
"Early? Same as usual."
"Is it...? Hey, Cain."
"What?"
"She's pretty?"
"Eh... Not bad."
"Oh."
"'Oh' my ass. You see her training volume, you'll feel inferior."
"That much?"
"Yeah, once her stats rise, we won't stand a chance. So no funny ideas—if we take her on, party dinner tomorrow night. Hit a backroom after."
"Thanks!"
Handed him a generous silver, and he bowed deeply after hopping down, then grinned and hit the hay.
"Jeez, simpleton."
The next morning.
"Dude, you gave her the inn name—why're you going out to meet her?"
"Her personality's... particular."
"Why? Total bitch?"
"Nah, not that bad. Anyway, be right back."
"Sure."
After scarfing breakfast, I let Claude and Sia—who were at the table—know, then stepped out front.
Lauren, wrapped in a shabby cloth bundle like a hobo, was milling around and lit up when she saw me, waving happily.
"Ah! Lord Cain!"
"Shh... Lauren, forgot? Stick to the concept."
Recalling my suggestion to roleplay like in her beloved bound novels, she cleared her throat and composed herself.
"A...ahh...!!! Ahem! Greetings."
"Yeah, got it? Gotta play it right."
"Worry not. I've roleplayed solo plenty—expert at this."
"Exposing your no-friends life."
"F...Friends! I... I got Juri!"
"That Juri's infamous in this city, dummy."
"Hiiing..."
"Anyway, nail the interview, and you'll be lodging here with us, milady."
"A...ahh... Hngh!"
Calling her "milady" politely made her clamp her thighs and shiver.
"...."
"H...hem! L...lead the way, human."
"Yes. This way, please."
Twitch! Twitch!!
She tried her haughtiest face but trembled now and then as she followed me to the group.
"Here we are, Lady Lauren—my comrades."
"Ahem! G...greetings, humans."
Claude and Sia's eyes went wide at her looks, both speechless for a beat.
"Wow... So prettyyy..."
"Approved!!!!"
"Huh?"
"Greetings first."
Smack!
"Kuh...! I... I'm Claude, leader of this party. Level 4."
"H...hello.... I'm Sia.. Level 3...."
"We met yesterday, but greetings again. I'm Cain, Level 3."
"Th...this lady is Lauren of the Sarusil clan, root of the World Tree."
Usually for party matching or recruitment, you start with just your level.
Once exploring's set or you're in, you share blessings and rough physical specs. Lauren, ever rejected, just proudly stated her name and stood tall.
"......"
I gave her a look, and flustered Lauren continued.
"Le...level 1! Haven't been in the city long, so no party yet... Th...then this human made me an offer...."
To me, she looked embarrassed, but to others, her flushed ears and face seemed a touch humiliated. Claude stared, entranced.
"Approved!!!!"
"Claude, didn't you say judge after watching and all?"
"W...well, she's fine, right? You tested her thoroughly yesterday."
"True, but..."
"Hmph!!!"
Squish!
Sia, hating Claude's dopey grin, snorted and clung to me.
Seeing that, Claude coughed awkwardly a few times, then turned back to Lauren.
"Um... Lady Lauren...? That okay?"
"Call me freely, human."
"There's an open lot behind the inn—mind if I run a quick test?"
"Proceed."
In the lot's center, Claude was warming up with his sword. Innkeeper Frank and Sia stood in the shade.
Opposite Claude stood Lauren, wearing the buckler I'd borrowed from Frank on her right hand, looking dumbstruck. I hurried over.
"Lauren."
"Y-Yes...! Lord Cain..."
"Fun, right?"
"Hnnng, it's a dream! Comrades!! Hyaa..."
Flap flap!
Blocking Claude's view, I chatted with her. She beamed like an excited kid, ears twitching wildly.
"Keep that up for now. The test is nothing much—just block Claude's downward swing with the shield?"
"Ah... Y-yes.. I... I'm a tank..."
"Pass and you're in... Maybe sneak to your room at night for some gag-training?"
"H-Huh?! I'll do my best!"
"I explained, but he's still treating you like Level 1, so go easy. Just deflect his sword full force with the shield, got it?"
"Yes!"
"My best wishes, milady."
"Hnnnggg!!!"
Her hips quivered at the porter-like line.
Once she composed herself, I went to Claude.
"What'd you tell her?"
"She looked tense hearing your level, so I said relax."
"Wow..... But her looks are insane..."
Enthralled by Lauren, Claude stared blankly.
What's the worst that could happen in a test?
"Hurry up."
"Got it."
I joined Sia, leaving Claude and Lauren facing off in the center.
"Lady Lauren!! Here I go."
Nod—
Claude shouted, and Lauren nodded tensely.
Whoosh—!
BAM!!
You maniac, what if she goes full power?
Whether overconfident from my words or just nerves, Claude charged at her like in our spars.
He swung down an easy-block path.
"Haaah!!!!!"
Swoosh!!
"H-Huh?!"
Lauren panicked at his speed and strike, reflexively raising her right arm to block.
KABOOM-!
"Gyaah!!!!"
"G-Gasp!! A...are you... okay?"
"R...real approval...! Kugh."
Thud!!
"Claude!!!"
"Kyaa!!"
Lauren lazily swatted like shooing a fly, smacking Claude's sword with the buckler. He flew to the lot's edge.
If he'd swung light, maybe, but gripping hard full-force? And now he's coughing blood?
"Sia!!"
"C...Claude!! H...Healing!!"
Hummm—
Seeing Claude sail like a broken kite, Sia and I rushed over. She used her blessing to heal him.
Flustered Lauren approached too. Claude staggered up and spoke to her.
"D...did you use a blessing by chance, Lady Lauren?"
"Eh...? Ahem! No, no blessing or such. It's just a test, no?"
"A...amazing!! Pleased to work with you!!"
Claude grinned and offered a handshake. Lauren, touched, shook it.
Party join successful—I congratulated her too.
"Congratulations, milady."
"Hic...! Th...thank you... Cain..."
She blushed and bowed, while Sia peeked from behind me, stepped out, and gave Lauren a deep 90-degree bow.
"Pleased to meet you, Elf Grandma!"
"G...Gra...?!"
"......"
Thinking Sia was jealous, I checked her face—no malice, just innocent eyes.
Unaware of our stiff shock, Sia approached Lauren closer.
"You're two hundred, right? But so pretty!!"
"Uh... Sia."
"Yeah?"
"Isn't 'grandma' kinda rude?"
"Why? She's older than Hawk, and our parents, Cain and Claude's folks, even the village elder—so grandma, right?"
"Uh..."
As Sia's words ended, an air colder than death crushed the lot.