Chapter 153
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Expansionist Moves (1)
"Hoo, hoo..."
"You did wonderfully, Master. That was perfect training."
After finishing the deed, I responded to Aira's praise not with words, but with a wry smile.
'Somehow, I really went and violated her like this.'
The little witch's body lay spread-eagled.
On her youthful face, chest, and stomach, the white semen I'd poured out was drying stickily, glistening in the light.
The insides of her thighs were slick with the remnants of my creampie, and the room reeked of a fishy, sticky musk. Her body twitched faintly in unconsciousness. Saliva dribbled from the corner of her mouth. It was all the result of what I'd done.
'This is why they say post-nut clarity is a problem...'
Even so, had I gone too far?
One thing I'd learned since coming to this world was that someone like me—a total everyman—couldn't become too virtuous or too wicked.
If I tried to give everything away, I'd feel a pang of rejection somewhere. If I tried to crush others, that last shred of reason would grab my ankle.
This was exactly that.
I'd known this would happen, of course. But seeing her wrecked like this, regret started creeping in bit by bit.
Becoming a bad person isn't that easy, after all—
I'd come this far because both my talents and desires had craved it.
But could I really become even more wicked from here?
Today's events with Aira only reinforced that doubt.
She clearly supported me based on my actions so far, but my heart felt a little detached from what I'd done.
Still, if I backed out now saying, "Whoa, this is a bit much," after coming this far, there'd be no point in building an organization.
I could just follow my dick's compass and be done with it.
What I probably needed now was a clear goal.
If there was a path where even an evil alignment became a necessary evil...
"Master?"
While I was lost in those tangled thoughts, Aira quietly approached me.
And then, she began unbuttoning her shirt, one by one.
"It's not good for your mental health to dwell on complicated thoughts right after sex."
"Uh, wha...?"
Her shirt slipped off, revealing the voluptuous breasts hidden beneath a pristine white bra.
She climbed straight onto my lap.
And then, she began gently rubbing her soft tits against my face.
"Right now, you should just surrender to the pleasure in front of you."
"Uh, wait, I—"
"You should enjoy it."
Squish.
Soft, fragrant sensation.
Sweet scent.
My previously cluttered mind went blank in an instant.
My cock started heating up again.
"You're trying to get me hard again."
"...Unlike in the past, my body now knows pleasure. Watching the two of you made me burn up."
I let out a sigh and steeled myself once more.
Fine. When have I ever not lived by my dick?
The path I'd taken in this world might have more consistency than my senses allowed.
Trying to fix it now might just make me more confused. It'd probably be better if I adapted here...
"Spread it."
Whatever. For now, I'd enjoy this delicious treat in front of me.
How much time had passed like that?
"Master."
"Mmm..."
Sweet sleep.
Pillowed on the soft skin of two women, I enjoyed a deep, honeyed slumber for the first time in ages.
But that bliss didn't last long.
"Master, wake up."
A cold voice pierced my ear.
It was Aira.
At her call, I forced my heavy eyelids open.
My left arm cradled Laupey, sleeping soundly without a stitch on. Aira, who'd been on my right, had long since changed clothes.
As always, she reported in her curt tone.
"A small problem has arisen."
"Yawn... What now...?"
I rubbed my eyes and grumbled irritably.
Aira's reports were always like signal flares announcing tedious troubles.
"It's about the virus I proposed."
"Something wrong with Laupey?"
No side effects from the virus, I hoped?
Worried, I glanced at the sleeping Laupey beside me.
Thankfully, she slumbered peacefully, breathing softly.
Aira shook her head, as if reading my mind.
"No. Lady Laupey is in a very stable condition. What I have to tell you is something else."
"Then what?"
A faint, troubled look flickered across Aira's face.
"It seems we'll have to indefinitely postpone the plan regarding Masha Leoshika, my mentor, for the time being."
I frowned for a moment.
But I quickly decided it didn't matter.
Masha Leoshika was under my hypnosis anyway.
Delaying the plan wouldn't cause any real issues.
"More importantly, why?"
Aira replied calmly.
"The Maker Sect's 1st Seat, 'Master Craftsman' Cledemire, has returned to the sect."
Cledemire?
The familiar name startled me.
One of the top-tier heroes even in the game story.
Master Craftsman Cledemire.
The red-haired blacksmith.
The woman who could single-handedly do the work of an entire factory with her skills alone.
When I'd first stepped into the Maker Sect, part of my goal had definitely been building connections with named figures like her.
"Wh-why her, all of a sudden?"
"I don't know the details... but she brought a young boy with her."
Ah.
Then it clicked.
Cledemire. And Dominic Hardwin, the genius prospect she'd marked as her successor.
The kid who enrolls in the academy early in the story and becomes a reliable ally to the protagonist.
He was one of the three connections I'd targeted in the sect.
The remaining one, Rocoa Spindel... well, with her eccentric con-artist vibes, she was probably off selling mimics or treasure chests somewhere even now.
'I wondered when the named ones would return to the Maker Sect... Guess it was today. Makes sense—enrollment season is just a few months away.'
Tsk.
With the true master of the sect, the 1st Seat Cledemire, back, touching Masha Leoshika recklessly would be incredibly risky and suspicious.
If I moved rashly and caught her eye, the whole plan could go up in smoke.
And that'd be the best-case scenario.
My head could roll just as easily.
"Actually, it's for the best. Better to leave no traces at all. Aira, be extra careful when using the lab from now on."
"Yes, understood, Master."
'That said, I need to move fast myself.'
I was part of the Maker Sect too.
And not just any part—I was leading one of its major projects, the 'Doll Project.'
Hiding wouldn't cut it.
With Aira's help, I hurriedly prepared to go out.
I cleaned away last night's traces and changed into a crisp uniform.
Cledemire's inspection—not quite an inspection, but close enough—was about to begin.
Stepping out of the lab, the sect's atmosphere was completely different from usual, just as I'd expected.
All the sect members buzzed around, preparing something.
Tension and anticipation hung thick in the air.
"Hey, Kang Ihyeon!"
Masha Leoshika's voice called from afar.
I approached and greeted her politely.
"Yes, Sister Masha."
"Yeah, you heard the news, right? Mentor Cledemire is finally back! Oh, this is your first time, isn't it?"
"Yes. I've heard of Master Cledemire's fame for a while now. That's why I hurried here today."
"Yep, yep. She'll stop by here soon, so get ready and don't mess up. But don't stress too much."
"Got it."
As we talked,
the inner entrance grew noisy.
Finally, she appeared.
Flaming red hair like a blaze, mature features and figure.
And around her, golden rock clusters orbiting slowly like planetary rings.
Tartaros's greatest maker, Cledemire.
She'd already visited other departments and returned, it seemed—several professors trailed behind her, sweating bullets.
"Resubmit the 1st Division's budget. Next year's allocation is excessively high compared to this quarter's performance. Revise and place it on my desk within two days."
"Yes, yes! Understood!"
"And 2nd Division. There's a flaw in the blueprint for the new mana forge you brought in. If you run it like this, it could explode. Halt operations immediately and remake it per my revised blueprint."
"Yes, yes! Thank you!"
Beside her walked a slender man, face taut with nerves.
Brown hair, round glasses.
The kind of generic guy who'd pop up in any mobile game.
He seemed cowed by Cledemire's presence, but his eyes sparkled with curiosity and sharpness.
Like a kid entering a toy store for the first time.
Finally, her gaze turned our way.
My turn.
Masha dashed forward first, beaming brightly at Cledemire.
"Mentor! Long time no see!"
"Yes, Masha. Have you been well?"
"Yes! Thanks to you!"
Cledemire gave Masha the faintest smile. The other professors sighed in relief at that tiny shift.
Masha quickly pointed me out, introducing me proudly.
"Mentor, this is Kang Ihyeon, the new addition to our division. He's about to advance to second year at the academy, and I personally scouted this very capable talent."
I stepped forward and bowed deeply, politely.
"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Kang Ihyeon."
Cledemire scanned me from head to toe.
Her gaze felt like a sharp blade piercing everything.
"Yes. I've heard a lot about you from Masha. You're leading the 'Doll Project,' I hear."
The moment the project name left her lips, her brow furrowed slightly.
"Though I recall ordering that project scrapped."
A subtle killing intent crushed the air.
I gritted my teeth.
'Damn it, Masha, you said you told her about me—why this reaction?'
She must've skipped the important parts.
I swallowed my curses and endured the pressure silently.
Just then, Masha stepped in front of me.
"It's a misunderstanding, Mentor! Same name only—the project Ihyeon here is running is completely different from the old one."
She shot me an urgent glance.
A silent signal: Show your skill now.
I got the hint and spoke up.
"My skill is 'Doll Creation.' I can craft intricate dolls modeled after real people."
"A skill?"
"Yes. The dolls I make can weakly mimic the original's skills and even hold simple conversations."
Seeing Cledemire's interest, I hurriedly tossed a few wooden dolls from my pocket onto the floor.
I demonstrated how the small wooden figures instantly transformed into human shapes.
Of course, to avoid Cledemire noticing anything, I excluded all the onahole clones I'd made before.
Instead, I showed off the crude mechanical consciousness clones from the expedition a few days ago.
Dolls devoid of emotion or personality, moving and responding like pure machines.
Cledemire examined them intently for a moment, then murmured softly.
"A ability that... steals others' skills."
A chill ran down my spine at her words.
But Masha jumped in quickly.
"It's mimicry, Mentor. I permitted it myself. I think Ihyeon’s skill will be a huge help to our sect."
"Yes. Either way, you possess a very sensitive skill."
Cledemire spoke to Masha in a warning tone.
"Manage it properly this time. No more accidents like before."
With that, she turned away as if losing interest. She took Dominic Hardwin with her and left.
Dominic looked reluctant. Even as he left, his eyes stayed glued to my dolls. But subdued by Cledemire's authority, he meekly followed.
"Hoo..."
Only after they were completely gone could I finally exhale the breath I'd been holding.
At least I'd dodged the worst.