Chapter 470: An Unexpected Encounter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 470: An Unexpected Encounter
The next morning.
I lay sprawled out on the bed like a starfish, staring blankly at the ceiling.
My whole body ached as if someone had beaten me up.
In fact, Lucifer had beaten me up.
‘...Did I go too far?’
To understand what happened, I had to recall the events of last night.
After filling Lucifer’s pussy with cum, I continued to ravish her even after the hour-long channel viewing restriction was lifted.
And Lucifer was the same, throwing herself into sex like an untethered filly.
In the end, we didn't come to our senses until the sun had completely set.
Up to that point, it might have seemed like a typical physical exchange between lovers, but the problem came afterward.
—...How about we use our words?
I was so worked up that I did everything from spanking and inserting anal beads to cunnilingus and rimming. Basically, everything short of actual penetration.
Naturally, when Lucifer came to her senses, she was furious, and I had to spend the whole night running for my life.
But I knew that just running away would only make her angrier, so I had no choice but to take a few hits.
The problem was that those "few hits" were life-threateningly brutal.
As a result, I had bruises all over my body, not to mention a broken rib and collarbone.
I’d been beaten nonstop for hours, but I was still shocked by the sheer force Lucifer possessed to break my bones.
Thanks to the effects of the Formless Vajra Art, a low-rank hunter could beat me with a steel pipe for ages and not even leave a scratch.
“...I’ll have to be more careful from now on.”
But I couldn't bring myself to swear I'd never touch Lucifer's ass again.
When a man draws his sword, he has to cut something, even if it's just a radish.
I tossed a potion into my mouth, got out of bed, and changed my clothes.
I had somewhere to be this morning.
I remembered that the Twilight Holy Society had come looking for me right after I accepted the request from the Astrein family.
I was in the middle of finding a clan house at the time, so I couldn't meet them and promised to visit their church later.
But with so much going on, I'd completely forgotten about it.
‘Well... I’m a little late, but it shouldn’t matter, right?’
After all, the Bible teaches that patience is one of the most important virtues.
Rationalizing it that way, I opened my door.
““Ah.””
But whether by a trick of fate or simple coincidence, my eyes met with Lucifer’s as she happened to be passing by in the hallway.
In that instant, memories of the previous night washed over me like a wave.
An uncharacteristically awkward silence hung between us. It was Lucifer who moved first.
She took a step toward me and pulled something out from her clothes.
It was a potion, filled with a familiar green liquid.
“...I'm sorry about yesterday. I went too far, didn't I?”
“Huh?”
I was speechless for a moment at this completely unexpected side of Lucifer. Her face was flushed as she handed me the potion.
Her shy yet guilty gaze gave me a strange feeling.
“In... in return... I'll do whatever you want next time...”
“...Really?”
“...”
Lucifer slowly nodded.
“Even public exhibitionist sex with a collar on?”
“...Huh?”
Suddenly, her pupils started to tremble violently, as if an earthquake had struck.
It seemed she'd come prepared to offer anal sex, but my request for something more had clearly flustered her.
Of course, some people might consider anal sex the bigger hurdle, but judging by her strong reaction, it seemed Lucifer's scale tipped toward public exhibitionism being the bigger deal.
To be honest, I had just thrown it out there.
It'd be great if she agreed, and even if she refused, at least I wouldn't get beaten up for it.
“...Exhibitionism? You mean I’d have to be naked?”
“Right?”
“And wearing that weird headband and tail...?”
“Of course. They're a set with the collar.”
“...”
Lucifer fell silent, as if at a loss for words.
“What if someone sees us?”
“That's why we have to be careful.”
Her reaction was one of complete disbelief.
But contrary to my expectation of an outright refusal, she surprisingly studied my expression and asked various questions.
It was as if she was seriously considering my proposal, even reviewing it in a positive light.
“...Have you done it with other women?”
“No.”
Honestly, I'd considered asking Noel or Jeon Seoha a few times, but if I was caught putting a collar on two beast-kin, I'd be branded a speciesist and socially ostracized. I didn't dare risk it.
Besides, there was no one else I could ask.
And if I put a collar on Iris, I'd probably drown in my own guilt.
“...Is that so?”
As if pleased by my unhesitating answer, Lucifer turned away with a faint smile.
“I guess I have no choice. Besides, if I don't do it, you'll obviously just go and ask the other clan members.”
“Does that mean...?”
“...I’m busy with a lot of things for a while, so it’s difficult, but after the dungeon raid is over... it might be okay.”
With that one coy remark, Lucifer turned and walked away down the hall as if fleeing.
I stared blankly at her retreating back, then covered my mouth with one hand.
I didn't want any passersby to see my pathetic, grinning face.
Could there be any better motivation in the world?
I suddenly wanted to clear that dungeon tomorrow.
*
The Twilight Holy Society.
It’s easiest to think of it as a place similar to a church on Earth. The Bible and doctrines are almost identical.
The only slight difference is that angels, who are considered mythical beings on Earth, actually exist here.
The Twilight Holy Society is sponsored by the Constellation Cluster, Eden, which boasted power so immense it was counted among the strongest in the entire Tower.
Revenge against a place like that?
Even if we spent decades trying, it was a pipe dream so absurd that not even a sliver of a possibility was visible.
Knowing this all too well, we weren't in a rush for revenge.
If we charged in recklessly, we'd just be moths flying into a flame.
T-ring—
「The Constellation, ‘Saintess of Uruk’, is glaring at you.」
「The Constellation, ‘Saintess of Uruk’, is expressing her dissatisfaction with you.」
A screen popped up in front of me as I walked down the street.
It seemed the goddess was angry about the frequent viewing restrictions.
I bowed my head respectfully toward the empty air.
“I'm sorry. I judged that showing a noble goddess the sordid mating of humans would be a great discourtesy...”
「The Constellation, ‘Saintess of Uruk’, crosses her arms and scoffs.」
「“Is that what the guy who praised his lover as being prettier than me has to say?”」
“...”
Only then did I remember something I had overlooked.
That goddesses were, without exception, petty and held long grudges.
「The Constellation, ‘Dancing Destroyer’, sighs, calling her a troublesome woman.」
「The Constellation, ‘Saintess of Uruk’, glares at the ‘Dancing Destroyer’ before briefly leaving the channel.」
‘What was that?’
I was a little surprised.
That ill-tempered Ishtar tucked her tail and ran?
‘Well, no matter how tough she acts, her opponent is...’
T-ring—
「The Constellation, ‘Saintess of Uruk’, has entered the channel with the ‘Constellation Who Hides Their Modifier’.」
「The ‘Constellation Who Hides Their Modifier’ reveals their modifier.」
「The Constellation, ‘Goddess with Three Faces’, is glaring at the ‘Dancing Destroyer’.」
「“Surely, you weren't talking about me, were you?”」
「The Constellation, ‘Dancing Destroyer’, breaks out in a cold sweat and shakes his head.」
「The Constellation, ‘Dancing Destroyer’, flees the scene.」
「The Constellation, ‘Goddess with Three Faces’, pursues him.」
「The Constellation, ‘Saintess of Uruk’, scoffs at the ‘Dancing Destroyer’.」
「“Huhu, what a sight.”」
“...”
I pressed my lips together and swiped the screen away.
To think she'd pull a 'borrowing a knife to kill' on the Dancing Destroyer... it was a method that couldn't be more like her.
‘...I need to watch what I say from now on.’
If that goddess got seriously pissed off, something truly troublesome was bound to happen.
Afterward, I arrived in the Central District and walked toward the dazzlingly brilliant church building, visible even from a distance.
I had no idea what they'd done with the temperance, frugality, and thrift emphasized in the scriptures; the church was enormous, rivaling the scale of the Astrein family's castle.
The entrance to the church was bustling with a huge crowd.
‘Will I even be able to get in?’
For a moment, I felt like I had come for nothing.
But I couldn't just turn back now. Considering the upcoming dungeon raid, I needed to at least make an appearance.
It's what you'd call networking.
Besides, the priest from the Twilight Holy Society had sought me out before the rumors of me annihilating Black Lore had spread through Arca.
I was also curious why one of the dominant powers in the Tower had come looking for me when I was nothing more than a common low-floor player.
I made my way through the crowd and entered the church.
Just like the outside, the interior was incredibly ornate. I clicked my tongue at the sight, which looked as if the walls had been coated in gold, and headed deeper inside.
I spotted a priest standing in a relatively quiet area.
“Excuse me.”
“How may I help you?”
“I have an appointment with a priest from the Twilight Holy Society, but I don't know where to go.”
“Ah, I see. May I have your name, please?”
“Kang Hyun-woo.”
“Kang Hyun-woo...”
The priest seemed to ponder for a moment before his face lit up as if he remembered something. He tapped his palm with his fist and smiled brightly.
“Ah! You must be the one Bishop Donatian mentioned!”
“...A Bishop?”
“This way, please. Follow me.”
I followed the strangely cheerful-looking priest deeper into the church.
He led me toward a less crowded area, and soon we passed through a hallway that seemed to be off-limits to the public and arrived in front of a door.
“You may go in.”
With those words, the priest gave a short bow and then disappeared somewhere.
Left all alone, I glanced around for a moment before cautiously knocking on the door.
Knock, knock—
—Yes, you may come in.
The voice that came from beyond the door was the gentle tone of a middle-aged man.
I slowly pushed the door open.
Creeak—
Entering the room without letting down my guard, my eyes met with a clergyman smiling at me under the light of a magnificent chandelier.
T-ring—
「Activating ‘Incomplete Moon's Eye’.」
「Name: Donatian
Age: 60
Contracted Constellation: Guardian of Twin Wings
Affiliation: Twilight Holy Society (黃昏聖潔會)
Authority: Heavenly Protection (E)
Exclusive Traits: Valiant Prayer (B), Radiant Faith (C+)
Exclusive Skills: -
Traits: Divine Power (C+), Pugilism (C), Combat Sense (D+)...
Skills: Divine Strike (B-), Incantation (C), Consecration (D), Heretic Detection (D-)...」
“A pleasure to meet you. I am Donatian, and I am responsible for the Arca diocese of the Twilight Holy Society.”
“I’m Kang Hyun-woo.”
“Haha, you cut a fine figure. Please, have a seat. We just received some excellent tea leaves yesterday.”
I sat on the sofa as Donatian suggested.
He began to brew the tea himself with a kind smile. It was clearly not his first time, as a pleasant aroma soon filled the room.
“Please drink it before it gets cold. I would have liked to offer you some refreshments as well, but I'm preparing for a prayer fast...”
“That's quite all right. I tend to avoid sweets myself. Sugar is a wonderful seasoning, but it can sometimes interfere with one's training.”
“Oh? Are you a practitioner?”
“Well, you could say I’m halfway there.”
“Haha, what a surprise. It's certainly not easy for someone so young to possess such self-control... It seems I am meeting a distinguished person today.”
“You're too kind.”
Slurp.
We exchanged some polite flattery and sipped our tea.
A bitter taste filled my mouth, but the aftertaste was refreshing.
Clink—
I set down my teacup and spoke.
“It may be a bit early to ask, but may I inquire as to why you sought me out? I have some urgent business to attend to.”
That was a lie.
I just wanted to get back to the clan house as soon as possible.
“Hmm, before that, I believe there is something I must correct. In truth, I was not the one who wished to see you, Brother.”
“Pardon?”
Donatian smiled faintly and pointed a finger toward the ceiling.
“To be precise, my Constellation wished to see you.”
Fwaaa—!
In that instant, the light from the chandelier intensified, and a faint presence that had been lingering above poured down on me.
T-ring—
「The Constellation, ‘Guardian of Twin Wings’, is gazing at you.」