Filling the Hero's Void
A day had passed since the hero's whereabouts became a complete mystery. Naturally, cracks began to show in the party. They were critically short on cash to keep themselves afloat.
When your wallet lightens, your heart grows heavy. Staying at the inn required a not-insignificant sum. The mage, sorting through the party's ledger, steeled herself with a heavy heart.
"We can't just sit here like this. We're already in the red. We need to make some money."
They'd poured all their energy into searching for the hero, leaving their finances in shambles. Despite their efforts, there wasn't even a glimpse of him. They'd scoured the streets on foot, but as Johann had said, finding someone in this vast Wanderer's Village was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"Where the hell is the hero...?"
Anxiety pricked at her chest like needles. Such hunches were never wrong.
"There's no way someone of the hero's caliber got jumped by bandits... Maybe he slipped back to Start Village without telling us?"
It was the priestess who spoke. A flimsy theory at best.
"Why would the hero sneak off without us?"
"Maybe his wounds aren't healing right..."
The priestess's words stung the mage like a thorn. Several possibilities reared their heads.
Perhaps the church's treatment hadn't fully worked, and the hero—overwhelmed by a sense of loss—had fled from them.
Considering the hero's unstable state they'd witnessed before, it was a scenario all too plausible.
"Or maybe... he made an extreme choice..."
The mage snapped irritably at the priestess's words.
"Don't talk nonsense! The hero isn't that fragile!"
Even as she said it, doubt gnawed at her. To deflect responsibility, she turned to Johann, who was quietly eating nearby.
"Still no word from the information guild?"
"Nope. I've poked around every which way, but no leads. We've only been in town a short while, so the guild's intel is probably thin too."
"Damn..."
The mage fiddled with her worn conical hat, her face clouded with despair. Johann gauged her mood and smoothly changed the subject.
"About what you mentioned earlier, Mage. That we need to start working. I agree."
"It's heartbreaking about the hero, but we can't just sit idle."
The priestess nodded in agreement with Johann. She was calmer than the mage.
"Haa... I feel so unsettled. My head's killing me."
The mage, meanwhile, rubbed her throbbing temples.
"Don't overthink it. Let's tackle one thing at a time, starting with what's right in front of us. The tough stuff will sort itself out later."
"If only it were that easy... Fine. You're right—we can't just mope here forever. For the hero's sake, when he comes back, we need to have some coin saved up."
The mage clenched her fist, rallying her resolve.
"Guess we should head to the adventurer's guild today and scout a decent dungeon."
"I already checked it out. There's one called Ice Lake to the north of town."
"Ice Lake? Rings a bell... Isn't that a pretty tough one?"
Without their top fighter—the hero—the party was understrength. Charging into a dangerous dungeon like that would be a fool's errand, barely breaking even at best.
"With you here, Porter, even a risky dungeon's fine. You'll fill the hero's spot perfectly, right?"
The priestess beamed infinite trust at Johann. To her, he was more reliable than the hero.
The mage inwardly soured at the priestess's attitude. It felt like the hero's absence was fading away.
"We can't get greedy for big payouts and rush into danger. We need to start with stuff matching our level and work up..."
"Don't worry, Mage. We've got the firepower. You, me, Priestess—we've all grown a ton."
"You're so cavalier. Just like the hero..."
"Is that a compliment?"
"It's not. Haa... Fine. We'll go there. But if it gets dicey, we pull out immediately?"
"Of course."
The plan was set in stone.
Previously, picking a dungeon with the hero had devolved into arguments that drained everyone's energy. The hero lacked tact, turning even simple statements exhausting. Johann, though just as firm, never ruffled feathers as much. Was it his smooth tone? His handsome face? Hard to say.
With the dungeon decided, preparations flew by. The mage donned her disguise and filed the exploration permit at the guild.
Johann and the priestess checked each other's condition—and shared some love.
"Slurp! Churp! Slurp! Lick!"
While the mage was at the guild filing paperwork, the priestess sucked Johann's cock. To clear his mind for the dungeon, draining him thoroughly. She saw it as one of her vital duties.
"Priestess, you're a pro now."
"Slurrrp! Lick!"
His praise fueled her vacuum blowjob to ferocious heights. Like a puppy wagging its tail at compliments, she lit up. If she had dog ears, they'd perk right up.
"Gonna cum."
He patted her head—signal for irrumatio prep. As climax neared, he thrust deep into her throat.
Sinful position, but she took all his pent-up stress.
"Slurrrp!"
Even with her throat constricting fiercely, no coughs. Her ascetic training shone through. A high priestess would chant sutras at the sight.
She gulped the semen straight to her stomach, then stood with a beaming smile. A stray pubic hair on her lips doubled the lewdness. Johann poured her a drink—cherry-scented, sweet stuff.
"Swallowing cum then chugging this is super bitter."
"And yet you down it every day."
"If it helps you, Porter, I'll do anything. Hehe~! Feeling clearer-headed?"
"Perfect."
He waggled his cock vulgarly, flaunting his energy. Just then, the door creaked open. The mage was back—earlier than expected.
The priestess jolted, hastily zipping Johann up. He moved leisurely, unfazed. Experience made him unflappable in such pinch.
"You're back?"
"Yeah. Place was empty, so it went quick. Fixed my disguise... Hm? What's that smell?"
"Guess the neighbors are cooking seafood."
"Ugh! Fishy stench. Rude bastards. It's wafting all the way here. Need to air it out."
"I'll get the window."
Johann betrayed zero panic.
"Priestess? You okay? Sweating bullets... You look off. Sure you're good?"
"I-I'm fine! Just did some exercise!"
"Exercise? You? Out of nowhere?"
"W-Well... Thought a little training might help... Hehe~! Y'know!"
"Don't push too hard. Exploration's tomorrow—gotta manage your condition... Huh? That smell's coming from you..."
"Aaaah!"
"It's your breath. Priestess, did you mooch food from the neighbors or something?"
"Y-Yes! They offered so nicely, couldn't say no!"
"Don't just scarf down whatever strangers give you. You're cute, so shady guys target you."
"Y-Yes! I'll remember! G-Gonna wash up!"
The priestess bolted.
"Jeez. Did the smell comment shock her that bad?"
The mage scratched her head watching her go. Johann chuckled softly.
A piercing beep! rattled his mind. The tinnitus lingered in his ears, refusing to fade.
The hero's breathing grew ragged on instinct.
"........."
Thirst clawed at him. Not the kind water could quench. He knew exactly what his body craved.
"I need drugs..."
The stability drugs provided flooded back. His bloodshot eyes yearned for blissful ease. The branded stigma throbbed oddly.
—If you need more, find Pimp Kruger at the information guild.
The one-eyed old man's words echoed. He held the key to more drugs. But one hitch.
"No money."
Drugs cost cash. Money blocked every path.
He needed money.
But how?
Finding answers wasn't easy. His options were brutally limited.
He rummaged trash for breakfast. Stuck to spots out of guards' sight. Main streets? Unthinkable.
"Heh! Boss, great haul today!"
"Nothing beats shaking down marks for boogers. Soon, this alley's all mine!"
Huddled in an alley corner, pondering cash schemes, sour thug voices drifted over.
Two grubby-bearded punks strolled by, grinning ear-to-ear. One tossed a heavy coin pouch—brimming with copper, by the look.
The devil whispered again.
The devil said:
You've come this far—what's one more sin?
The stigma's power flared after so long.
Drugs felt within reach again.
Lucky day.