Chapter 130

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 130

Chapter Title: Additional Effect of [Lust Absorption Lv. 5]

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I kept [Heavenly Touch] activated while kneading Lena's body, pulling up the system messages to check. For good measure, I also took out the 'Clean' magic tool.

'......Is that it?'

I read through the system messages popping up as I massaged Lena's body. For starters, the [Stealth] skill growing was good news. With [Stealth Block] leveling up just now too, the synergy should be even better. [Scout] was already a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠solid skill, and [Hallucination Magic] hitting level 6 was a win.

'....I was hoping for mana-related skills to grow.'

And I let out a satisfied belch. Since Lena was a mage, I'd hoped for related skills to level up... Well, my mana skills were already at level 6, so leveling them further probably wasn't easy.

'Compared to when I used it on Gloria a few days ago...'

Back then, I'd had high expectations against a former advanced adventurer like Gloria, but my main skills didn't budge—only miscellaneous ones leveled up, leaving me disappointed.

The [Mining] skill hitting level 4 back then did let me gather minerals like this and rescue Lena, but regrets were regrets. At least some solid skills grew this time, so that was a relief.

'.........'

As I tallied up the gains, another message appeared. This was the new effect from [Lust Absorption] reaching level 5...

'So what exactly is this positive effect?'

It sounded like some kind of buff, but not knowing what the 'positive effect' actually was frustrating. It showed up last time with Gloria too, but she didn't seem any different...

Just in case, I'd stopped by the brothel before entering the labyrinth and tried it, but I couldn't notice any effect. It didn't seem to boost physical abilities or mana...

'No idea.'

I'd figure it out with more use. The system called it 'positive,' so it couldn't be bad.

'......Ah.'

Lena woke to sunlight streaming in from outside the tent.

'When did I fall asleep? I was talking with Corona late at night...'

For some reason, her memory right before sleep was fuzzy. Worried something might be wrong with her body, she quickly closed her eyes and scanned her internals, checking her mana circuits.

'It's all better?'

Somehow, the mana flow that had been badly tangled just yesterday was now normalized. Not only that—her skin felt smoother, all minor muscle aches were gone, and vitality surged through her...

A bit flustered, Lena first stepped out of the tent. Ian was already up, sitting by the campfire outside.

"....Ah, Lena. You're awake?"

".....Yeah."

Lena averted her eyes from Ian's and sat by the fire as well.

-Thump♥ Thump♥

".....Yeah."

'Not this again.'

Seeing Ian and hearing his voice made her heart—and lower belly—thump wildly. This had started after Ian saved her life for the second time, and she'd been avoiding his gaze since yesterday.

'....It's gotten worse.'

And somehow, a deep craving for Ian from within her body felt stronger than yesterday, pounding harder. Like she instinctively desired this man...

-Swish.

"Um.....Lena?"

"...Why'd you ca—Kyaa!"

Turning primly at Ian calling her, Lena shrieked shrilly upon seeing her tail wrapped around him, then hurriedly pulled away.

'Why...why is this happening!'

A beastkin's tail moved on its own according to mood if not consciously controlled... But she hadn't even focused, yet her tail kept coiling around Ian.

"By any chance... Do you feel strange, or notice any changes in your body...?"

"N-No, nothing like that! Thanks for worrying!"

To Ian's probing question, Lena answered hastily and retreated back into the tent.

And those symptoms persisted until the party packed up the tents and returned to the surface.

Already awkward and guilty since yesterday, Lena avoided Ian even more, barely managing any proper conversation.

No, beyond that—she had no idea how to face him. Men had always been aggressive toward her, and Ian had been the same, so how should she act now?

Upon reaching the surface, she watched Ian's back as he hurried off, saying he had to deliver materials quickly. Remembering her own urgent errand, she dashed to the mage tower.

'About Ian... I'll think later!'

Once her mind settled, she'd figure out how to treat him. Right now, urgent business: refine the mana in the salamander heart before it leaked.

"Master!"

Lena rushed to the mage tower, heading to one of the labs specializing in fire magic.

"Lena. You're here?"

Inside, a kindly old woman with graying hair, dressed in a red robe, smiled warmly at her.

"I got it! The salamander heart!"

"....You really brought it. Wait a moment."

As Lena eagerly pulled out the salamander heart she'd rushed to secure, her master adopted a serious expression, took it, and began refining it with prepared herbs in the lab.

Salamanders, rarely found on the 21st floor, lived in fire-attuned areas, feeding on lava filled with fire mana. They stored that fire mana in their hearts, excreting purified impurities as mineral-like scales.

And those fire-mana hearts were the ultimate elixir for fire mages.

"Done. It's refined. Drink it now. I'll guide you..."

"Yes, Master."

At her master's words, Lena stripped off all her clothes, swallowed the red pill handed to her, and sat cross-legged to perform [Mana Breathing].

-...Whoosh...

The refined salamander heart melted within her, spreading fire mana through her body. Agonizing pain like burning from inside assailed her, but Lena gritted her teeth, following her master's guiding hand on her back to circulate the mana.

Hot energy flooded her body, her temperature rising as steam rose from her skin. With her master's help and her own [Mana Breathing], she absorbed the spreading mana to make it hers.

-.........

The mana absorbed rapidly. Her total mana increased, and the fire mana she wielded felt purer.

But even so, the growth wasn't enough to level up her skills.

'Ahh....'

Instinctively, she knew this elixir alone couldn't break through the wall. Lena sighed softly in despair at failing despite using a salamander heart.

And then.

Something anomalous happened.

'So what is this positive effect?'

After handing Miranda a heap of gathered minerals and monster byproducts, I stopped by the brothel lightly to avoid [Lust Absorption]'s penalty, then glared at the system message on my way out.

It claimed a 'positive effect' happened on that brothel girl too, but no change?

'Whatever. Can't tell right now, so focus on something else.'

Miranda freaked out when I gave her the materials. The sheer volume of minerals was one thing, but she especially marveled at the salamander byproducts.

"This is salamander? How the hell did you get it? Salamanders are snatched up by mage tower wizards whenever they appear—I’ve never even handled one..."

"Can’t you make gear from it? I was thinking a sword..."

"....Hold on. I’ll make it. I’ll figure it out."

Apparently, salamanders were rare encounters, and even sightings got monopolized by the mage tower, so handling them was tough.

I’d asked her to add some to my new armor and make a sword from it, then left her workshop.

"Wait. Want to watch me craft? It’s your gear, and you might learn something..."

"Curious, but I’ve got stuff to do. Just make the gear well. I’ll drop by on festival day. You said multiple entries per person, right?"

"Yeah. I’ll pull an all-nighter to finish your armor and sword before the festival ends."

Seeing Miranda fired up as she gathered the materials put my mind at ease. With that enthusiasm, the gear should be top-notch. And the materials looked extraordinary even to me.

Anyway, materials delivered, brothel drained—next on the agenda...

"Ah, Ian! Over here!"

I headed toward Hiss, who was waving wildly from afar. Up close, she grinned brightly and led me elsewhere.

"First time touring a guild?"

"Well, I’ve been to the swordsmanship guild before... but that wasn’t much of a tour."

Hiss had promised to show me around the Rogue Guild. My only prior guild visit was to meet the Sword Saint, so I was honestly looking forward to it a bit.

Who knows. I might even join if I liked it.

"Where’s the Rogue Guild building anyway? I’ve wandered the guild district, but didn’t see it..."

The Rogue Guild was famous enough to count as a major guild, though flashier than swordsmanship or martial arts guilds.

Those had massive, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠visible buildings from afar, but nothing like that for rogues.

"This the right way? Not seeing any buildings here..."

"Right here!"

"........"

Hiss slipped into an alley and entered a bar labeled 'Jazz'.

'......Coxxity?'

"The Rogue Guild’s underground. This is the entrance!"

"........"

And so, I entered what looked like a bar where an upside-down-hanging man might say, 'Those who wanna be thieves, come to me...'

......No way, but... is the Rogue Guild founder Korean?