Chapter 78: Graduation and Homecoming
"So... so deep... ♥ Ungh, haaah...!! ...Haaang... ♥"
The white, sticky geyser erupted like molten lava, slamming fiercely into her womb.
Hildear, climaxing repeatedly as she absorbed the pleasure bursting from my cock deep inside her, went limp and surrendered her body to me like she was fainting. She was already in my arms, but now she fully leaned into me, pressing her cheek against my chest.
"Hoo..."
After unleashing that torrent, I let out a satisfied breath, my urethra dribbling out the last remnants with a pleasant quiver as I grinned.
Her sweat-slicked, soft, plump breasts rubbed against me, adding to the bliss.
That was Hildear for you.
"Hng... ♥ Ungh, haa... ♥ Ahhng... ♥ So goood... ♥"
The knight, her face melted into pure female ecstasy, was lost in innocent bliss.
Then she lifted her head, gazing at me with a rapturous smile.
Hildear mumbled with her lips, then slowly parted them.
"M-master..."
"Hilde?"
"M-master... you did it... ♥"
"You're hopeless, you know that, knight? ...Mmch."
"Hnn, mm...Mmch. Mmch. ...Churp ♥"
A kiss brimming with affection and tenderness.
We savored the afterglow for a good while, our tongues exploring each other.
"...Judging by the mood, you up for seconds?"
"...Yesh pleash ♥"
We finally stepped off the stage a full thirty minutes past our allotted time, half-ruining the next hero's party formation ceremony in the process amid the thoroughly deflated atmosphere. No need to spell it out.
"Sir Siu, you're a pro at deserving punishment, aren't you?"
Elaine, watching the graduation from the audience seats rather than the stage, remarked.
"Me? No way!"
I put on my most innocent face, protesting my innocence. But no one—not Elaine, not anyone who'd witnessed my sex show, not even Hildear, my partner in crime—could buy it.
"Sir Siu... Just give up. It'll be easier."
"Hey, the emcee and crowd didn't stop us, so I kept going. Was that wrong?"
"Of course it was. And it's not like they didn't try to stop you."
"Tch."
I wasn't quite shameless enough yet to shrug it off completely, so I smacked my lips and dropped the bravado.
It had been half-impulsive, sure, but even I felt a twinge of regret. Of course, it had boosted my value sky-high, but in my eyes, it came with side effects I'd have to deal with.
"Be grateful for the dispel field in the auditorium and the no-recording-devices policy for graduations."
"Eh, I did it because I knew that. And the ban's for other reasons anyway."
"Well... true."
The former prevented not just secret recording magic but terrorism and all sorts of threats. The recording ban was to prevent info leaks.
The Hero Academy was close to the southern front lines. We'd pushed them back in the Fourth Human-Demon War, but the distance hadn't grown much.
Naturally, demons sent spies and saboteurs to scout human intel and pull strings. Hero info was top-secret gold for both sides.
"Anyway, it all worked out. That's what matters."
"Can't argue there."
"And... you wanted it too, right?"
"......♡"
Elaine blushed without a word, but that said it all.
"Ah, you got your hero certification badge, right? Lemme see!"
The pink-haired saintess's eyes sparkled as she clung to me.
She'd been in the audience when I, the top graduate, received mine as the representative, so she hadn't seen it. She'd seen hundreds back in the Holy Empire, but her lover's felt different.
"Here."
I proudly held out the rectangular metal badge emblazoned with my name and the A-rank hero emblem.
"A-rank... Impressive. Proof you're ahead of everyone. One more step and..."
"Highest rank among male heroes."
Pride swelled in my voice, impossible to hide, and it lit up not just Elaine but my party members around us and the Palania Kingdom retainers too.
Only four S-rank male heroes on the continent right now.
Even at S-rank, their status and power rivaled SS-rank female heroes. No male had hit SS yet, and it was brutally tough.
But me? A-rank right out of graduation.
Just shy of S, deployable to the front lines as prime combat power. Party ranking factored in too, but it meant our growth ceiling was way higher.
"My chest is all tingly."
Elaine handed back the badge, her face flushed.
I stepped closer as she placed a hand on her perky breasts.
"Can I take that as a come-on?"
"Huh? Hng, Sir Siu, you perv... ♡"
As we started radiating that sultry vibe, an academy staffer approached from a bit away.
"The warp gate is ready."
"Got it? One sec."
I excused myself to the staff and my members, then headed to the Cheonan Empire group.
Hwang Sa-yeon, with her affable personality and smooth talk, had already warmed up to them.
Quitting the academy wasn't rare, so no one made a fuss. Sometimes bailing early to find your path was smart.
Chatting with them, Sa-yeon spotted me and beamed.
"Gaga!"
"Gonna miss you for a bit."
"Miss... yeah. Felt like we'd be together forever at the academy."
She bowed her head slightly, looking glum.
Part genuine sadness, part playing up the bond I'd helped forge. The tighter we seemed, the more leverage she'd have back home.
I pulled her into a tight hug.
"Hngh?! G-Gaga...?"
Her bun hair, wrapped in white cloth, shook from the force. I brought my lips to her ear and whispered low enough for only her.
"This oughta sell it, huh?"
"...Y-You were just aiming for that... right?"
"What do you think?"
"Either way works, but personally... I'd rather it wasn't... "
I grinned slyly at her answer.
Sa-yeon was getting cuter by the day, and sending her solo to Cheonan Empire stung. But for her sake—and mine—she was better off wheeling and dealing there.
"Lady Hwang."
"Lady Sa."
"......?"
"Call me... that way. Either suffix works, but I like... it after my given name."
"Got it. Sa-yeon."
Our faces inches apart, she bloomed into a smile.
A tiny name tweak, but it felt like a huge relationship upgrade.
"Oh, right. Meant to tell you—Yungtan, the port city in southeast Cheonan Empire? Base around there. Lots of upsides."
"......? Sure, sounds good."
No clue why, but she nodded.
She knew Yungtan was their third-biggest port. While others grinded mana and muscles for graduation, she'd planned her post-academy merchant life.
Solo research pegged it as meh for its size, but following my leads never backfired. And it wasn't small, so solid starting point.
"Thanks for listening."
With that, I let go. We exchanged farewells and parted.
Heading back to the warp gate, my mind flashed to the Cheonan folks I'd glimpsed.
'Their looks say Operation Sa-yeon Push: Success.'
Cheonan Empire was a riot.
Big on righteousness(?) and alliances(?), but ruthlessly pragmatic and self-interested. Scoffed at their own while aggressively countering foreigners. Tough for outside merchants.
'They'll buddy up thinking we're alike for gain, but Sa-yeon'll clock it.'
She wasn't so naive anymore; her first-run success proved it.
"You're here."
My party and the full Palania return group waited at the gate—honored guests from graduation onward, over a hundred strong. Quite the sight.
"Sorry I'm late."
"...It's fine."
The princess, about to chide me, paused at my polite apology and said it was okay.
Maybe her mom's words lingered; she didn't harbor ill will, and this time, she was thrilled too.
'Heh. Everyone's waiting on us.'
Sixteen nations' groups heading home continent-wide via warp gate.
All eyes on Palania Kingdom.
Grad rankings dictated warp order—a graduation tradition.
Palania first with overall 1st Siu and 2nd Hye-yeon; Shamadi Duchy second with 3rd. Then by hero count, ties by highest rank.
In hero-obsessed Hero Academy, Palania always scraped bottom—but now, top dog.
"Heh heh heh."
"...Princess? You okay?"
"Y-Yes? Ah...! Ugh, f-fine!"
Her inner glee leaked out loud.
"E-Everyone's waiting, let's go!"
Mortified, she spun toward the gate—and tripped on flat ground.
"......"
"Ah..."
'...Kill me now...'
International embarrassment frozen, she stared at the floor. Even her maids and attendants fumbled the recovery.
'Her Majesty said help pair the princess and the hero!'
'Perfect moment!'
Queen's request helped, but mostly instinct.
"You alright? Take my hand."
"...Th-Thank you..."
"No trouble. Can't have a pretty face scarred. Careful now."
"......"
The maids inwardly cheered at the odd vibe between them.
Minor mishap aside, the group warped safely to Palania Kingdom. A week for some, half-year for others.