Chapter 161
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: Tail
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After escorting Priest Jeffrey to the temple, explaining the situation to the temple priests, and leaving him in their protection, it was already the dead of night.
Of course, it made sense—we'd ambushed the guys planning a nighttime attack on him, subdued them, and rushed straight to the temple.
'Ugh. Whatever, let's hit the brothel.'
Still buzzing from the fight, and not in the mood to just crash, I grumbled as I headed toward the street lined with brothels. The auction house trip was the day after tomorrow—no, tomorrow now—so I couldn't splurge, but dropping one or two gold coins should be fine.
'Plus, I've got some questions.'
With the auction and clinic visits, I'd forgotten, but now seemed like a good time to swing by the brothel and check on [Lust Absorption].
'Figure out what that "positive effect" is from when it hit level 5.'
No matter how I thought about it, Miranda suddenly gaining the [Dexterity] skill she'd mentioned to me just nagged at me. Logically, it seemed like coincidence after coincidence, but the more I dwelled on it, the more it felt like something special from [Lust Absorption] had triggered her skill gain.
'Can't straight-up ask if she got a new skill or if her skill window changed...'
Conveniently, [Appraisal] had reached level 5, letting me use it on living beings—people now. So if anything changed after using [Lust Absorption], I should be able to spot it.
'Still, it'd be best if it was someone who could just open up to me about any changes...'
Should I just ask Miranda—overflowing with goodwill thanks to that [Dexterity] skill—for straight-up sex and probe her? She might even say yes if I asked now...
'...For now, test [Lust Absorption] on as many women at the brothel as possible and observe changes with [Appraisal]. It's called a "positive effect," so keep using it and I'll notice eventually.'
As I reached the brothel district, shops glowed with lights despite the dark hour. True to the area's vibe, more and more figures shrouded in robes dotted the alleys.
'Any junkies among them?'
Maybe because I'd just handed some dealers to the guards, everyone around looked extra suspicious. Not that I was any different, hooding my face simply.
Honestly, I'd only seen drug deals in movies, always in back alleys near places like this.
'Take that guy—wrapped head to toe... Huh?'
Uneasy, I'd activated [Reconnaissance] and [Enemy Detection] while walking the alleys slowly. Then something pinged my senses.
A technique for pursuing a targeted subject. Acquired [Tracking Lv. 1] skill.
It felt like [Stealth] was active—the presence was faint, a robed figure moving silently, breath held. On its own, it screamed suspicious, like stumbling on a crime scene... but...
'...Feels familiar.'
That [Stealth] finesse, the curves peeking through the robe, the light footfalls...
'Hiss?'
Was that Hiss Gray? Why was she here? Wrapped up tight with [Stealth] active?
'...No way, right?'
Maybe because I'd just been thinking about drugs, curiosity and worry mixed as I hesitated, then activated my own [Stealth] and followed quietly.
'...Just see where she's headed.'
Was this stalking?
This street housed not just my usual brothels but adult shops, bold clothing stores, and alchemists peddling special "potions"—a den of vice, basically.
'Honestly never pegged Hiss for coming here.'
She knew about sex in theory but thought "erections" meant I was hurt and jerked me off to "nurse" me. Hard to imagine her setting foot here, let alone stealthed up.
Luckily, with my [Stealth], [Reconnaissance], and [Intuition], tracking her silent movements was doable.
Long time since I earned a skill naturally. Kinda weird I hadn't before—usually I killed before they could flee.
Anyway, buoyed by the new [Tracking], I realized what Hiss was up to.
'Someone ahead of Hiss. She's tailing them?'
Just like I was shadowing her, she was pursuing someone stealthily. Curious, I summoned a familiar, lofted it high, and used [Sensory Transfer] to borrow its eyes, peering down the alley at the target.
The figure hid in a robe too, but I clocked them instantly.
'Lena?!'
Robed up, but golden hair flashed on movement, her tail-tip peeked out, and that voluptuous build... Definitely Lena.
'What's going on? Why's Hiss tailing Lena? And why's Lena even here?'
Hadn't seen them together since spotting them on 21F, so I quietly observed via familiar vision as they moved.
No way it was drugs, right? Hopefully.
Then Lena slipped into an alley shop. I amplified my sight with [Sensory Amplification] and read the sign.
[Adult Goods Specialist: Hillia's]
'...??? What?'
Just an adult store? Peering in from afar, no illegal vibes—masturbators, condoms, standard stuff... Oh, she's out.
Lena emerged with purchases in a black bag, glanced around, and hurried off. Hiss tailed her silently.
The weird chain continued until Lena reached a building and ducked inside.
'This is...?'
...Just a motel?
With all the shops drawing visitors, motels for overnighters dotted the area. Nothing shady—she just went straight in.
'Meeting a guy?'
Didn't Lena dislike men? But scoping around after buying stuff, heading to a motel... Looked exactly like grabbing condoms for a hookup. Guess I overthought.
Wait, then why was Hiss tailing her so hard... Hm?
'...Gone.'
Hiss's presence—vanished?
-Twitch.
"!!!!"
The instant I lost her, shadows rippled. [Intuition] screamed; I whipped my sword from inventory.
A small figure burst from the shadows, slashing with a short dagger.
-Clang!
I parried fast; the attacker retreated, then yelled sharply.
"Who are you? Why've you been following me... Nyah?"
She'd aimed her dagger, but our clash lifted her hood enough to recognize me. Deflating with a whine, Hiss lowered her blade.
"Ian? Why are you here..."
"Well, uh..."
I started explaining: Saw her sneaking off hooded amid the drug buzz, worried she was tangled in something shady, so I followed.
But before I finished, Hiss grabbed my hand and yanked me along.
"No time! Come with me, Ian!"
"...Where?"
Confirming it was me, she dropped her guard instantly and dragged me to the motel Lena had entered, no time for chit-chat.
Inside, she scanned the registry, spotted Lena's room, slapped down coins for the one next door, and pulled me in.
...What the hell was this?
In the room, I quickly spilled my side briefly and demanded hers.
Hiss pressed her ear to the wall toward Lena's room while explaining.
"You followed 'cause you were worried about Lena?"
"Yeah. Heard she's been sneaking out nights lately..."
Like when I first met her, Lena and Hiss shared an inn. Lately forming a fixed party, they co-rented a double room. But recently, Lena'd slip out while Hiss slept.
'Right when drugs hit the streets, sneaking out at night to here...'
Knowing their tight bond somewhat, I pondered Hiss's words.
With the labyrinth city in chaos over drugs, slipping out midnight to this district?
"Think she got a boyfriend?"
"No way."
Hiss was firm. Honestly, I couldn't picture it either.
Still, I got tailing your friend out of worry. Same reason I followed Hiss.
She'd grabbed me to avoid drawing eyes—our sword clash might summon guards.
"But... Hiss. What're you doing now?"
I eyed her ear-to-wall, now drawing her dagger.
"No sounds..."
"These places have solid soundproofing magic."
Otherwise, moans would leak everywhere. Most came for that.
"But what if something happened to Lena... What if she's on those drugs you mentioned, Ian..."
"Hmm..."
I worried too. Timelines matched eerily.
Ignoring my frown, Hiss raised her dagger like she'd drill through the wall.
Whoa, hold up.
"You can't just punch through the wall!"
"B-But if Lena's in trouble..."
Hiss... didn't look it, but she was reckless. Or always had been? She'd stripped me without hesitation to "nurse" back then.
Lena involved? I'd ask later how they met—seemed deeper than I thought.
Despite my protests, she geared up to hack the wall, so I sighed and pulled an item from inventory.
"Here. We can check next door without busting through."
"That's... a magic tool?"
"Yeah."
Peeking felt iffy, but she'd wreck the wall otherwise. Better I make a 'portal hole'.
Just confirm no drugs or crime.
"Step back a sec."
I drew the portal ring—long time no see—approached the cleared wall, resized it, pressed it firm, and infused mana...
-Pop.
"Whoa, a hole..."
A portal hole bloomed instantly, revealing Lena beyond.
"Haaang♥!"
"........"
A sultry moan drifted through the hole.
"........"
"L-Le-Lena! She's hurt! Screaming!"
"?"
Doesn't sound like pain.