Chapter 3
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Pretty but Suspicious Girl (2)
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『Sera's Perspective』
Clink clink. The sound of glass bottles bumping together echoed through the room.
Sera was searching for a potion bottle on the shelf.
The shelf was about five meters high, so she had climbed up the ladder and was rummaging through it.
‘Where is it? No labels, so I have no idea.’
While Sera was struggling through the jumbled potion bottles,
“Sera.”
Someone called her from behind.
It was a dry, emotionless woman's voice.
When Sera turned around, a woman was looking up at her.
She had long blue hair and half-lidded blue eyes.
A tall woman who looked to be at least 180 cm.
“Lucy? Since when have you been—!?”
The moment Sera turned and spoke, her weight shifted backward, making the ladder wobble.
She hurriedly tried to regain her balance, but the teetering ladder began to tip over backward.
“Kyaa!!”
Sera screamed and squeezed her eyes shut.
She thought she would crash into the floor any second.
But even after three seconds, then five, she still hadn't fallen.
“...?”
Sera cautiously opened her eyes.
What she saw in front of her was the ladder frozen in midair.
As if time itself had stopped, both she and the ladder hung motionless in the air.
“Shall I set you down?”
The dry voice rang out again.
Looking toward the source, blue energy was flowing out from Lucy.
“Phew... You scared me.”
Sera recalled that Lucy's specialty magic was spatial manipulation.
“Can you put me down on the floor?”
The ladder snapped back to its original position, and Sera floated lightly down to land softly on the ground.
“Thanks. If it weren't for you, I really would've been in big trouble.”
“No big deal.”
Her expression and voice showed absolutely no change, as if it truly was nothing.
“Since when were you here?”
“Just got here. What are you doing?”
“Looking for some medicine.”
“What kind?”
“Any good stuff for wounds from beast bites?”
Sera planned to take the medicine to the goblin.
“Got some.”
“Could you grab it for me?”
“Sure.”
A potion bottle floated up from the shelf.
The bottle sailed through the air before stopping right in front of Sera's nose.
The moment Sera reached out to take it, the bottle whisked backward out of her grasp.
“Huh?”
Sera let out a dazed sound.
“Where are you using the medicine?”
“Well...”
Sera started to mention the goblin but hesitated.
‘If I say it's for Gob, she'll definitely try to stop me...’
“Just... somewhere I need it.”
In the end, Sera dodged Lucy's gaze and mumbled vaguely.
“Won't give it if you don't tell me.”
“...”
Once Lucy took that stance, she really wouldn't hand it over until Sera spilled.
She could endure anything except her curiosity.
“...Ran into someone on the way who'd been bitten by a beast. Thought I'd share a bit.”
After agonizing over it, she came up with an excuse.
“Couldn't heal them with your power?”
“I did what I could, but it didn't fully close up. Worried it might get infected.”
“Must've been pretty deep.”
Prayers weren't a cure-all; sometimes potions were necessary.
The bottle floating in the air drifted into Sera's arms.
“Thanks.”
As Sera let out an inward sigh of relief, Lucy spoke up again.
“Where's your necklace?”
This time, Lucy pointed out the missing necklace.
“Necklace? ...Huh, where is it?”
Sera patted around her neck, pretending to look for it.
She absolutely couldn't admit she'd given it to the goblin.
“Must've lost it in the forest. Sorry.”
She trotted out her prepared excuse.
“No need to apologize. It's just a simple one with location tracking.”
Just when Sera thought she'd dodged it,
“But why'd you break your promise?”
The cold voice tightened around Sera's throat.
“...What do you mean? Break a promise?”
Sera barely kept her tone even.
“The necklace you lost is in a monster habitat. I told you not to go in there.”
“Got too focused on gathering herbs and lost my way.... Hehe.”
Sera trailed off and forced an awkward laugh.
“Lame excuse.”
There wasn't a trace of amusement on Lucy's face.
“Aw, no need to worry. The monsters in the forest are all weak anyway.”
“Even weak monsters are dangerous in groups.”
“...”
Lucy was right.
Today alone, she'd run into a wolf pack and nearly gotten in real trouble.
If that goblin hadn't helped, she could've been badly hurt.
That's why she was bringing the medicine.
“If you want to go deep in the forest, tell me. I'll go with you.”
“Hate to bother you that much...”
“No need to feel bad.”
“...Got it. I'll be more careful next time. Thanks for worrying.”
“As long as you're by my side, you've got nothing to worry about. I'm the strongest, after all.”
『Gob's Perspective』
Knock knock knock.
Someone was knocking on the door.
...Knocking? Who? Does anyone in this world even know to come find me?
In my groggy haze, I sized up the most likely visitor.
Hunter—
I snapped awake and bolted upright.
Knock knock knock.
Another knock.
If they're knocking like that, it's gotta be a smart species.
Human for sure? Damn. I picked this spot specifically so no one would show up.
The moment I reached for my knife,
“Gob~~!! Big sis is here~!”
A bright, cheerful voice called from outside.
This voice... Sera?
Creak... I cautiously opened the cabin door.
“Hi, Gob! Found your hideout!”
The door swung open to reveal Sera's mischievous smile.
Just to be safe, I peeked behind her.
No hunters in sight. Where could they be hiding?
“Don't worry. I came alone. Haven't told a soul about you.”
Sera said it like she'd read my mind.
Suspicious as hell, but I had no choice but to trust her for now.
“Kek kek!”
I jabbed a finger at the ground, then shrugged my shoulders.
“How'd you find this place?”
-Nod nod.
“Hehe, it's a secret~.”
“Kek!”
She was trying to brush it off with that cute smile, and damn if it didn't almost work.
“You won't get mad if I tell you, right?”
-Nod.
“That necklace.”
Sera pointed at my neck.
Looking down, the blue cross pendant came into view.
“It's got location-tracking magic on it.”
...A thank-you gift, my ass. Tricked me from the start?
“You promised not to get mad, so you won't, right?”
Sera put on her best pitiful puppy-dog face.
“Kek!”
I let out a deep growl. You little vixen. Think that'll make me go easy?
“Sorry. Parting ways made me sad. I wanted to see you again, but if we split for good, how would I find you?”
“...”
She had a point. Hard to argue with that.
“You'll forgive me?”
Another puppy face.
Cute girl pulling cute expressions.
She knows she's pretty and weaponizes it, huh?
Infuriating... but no red-blooded male could hold out.
-Nod.
Promised not to get mad, so what choice did I have...
“Thanks! So, can I come inside?”
-Shake shake.
I'll forgive you to your face, but no way you're coming in.
Not cleaned up, probably stinks, too embarrassing to show.
-Wave wave.
I flailed my arms to shoo her away.
If she got too close, yesterday's quest nonsense might trigger again.
And there was nothing good about a human like Sera getting tangled up with me.
“Won't give me a house tour? If Gob doesn't play with me~, my mouth might start running~.”
“...?”
“Word gets out about a shady cabin with a weird goblin inside, and who knows what creepy old guys might come knocking.”
She said it with a playful grin.
-Wave wave.
I waved even harder. Go on. I won't.
I hadn't known Sera long, but she didn't strike me as the type to blab.
“Let me in~. Brought medicine for you, too.”
Sera held the potion bottle out toward me.
I reached for it, but she yanked it back at the last second.
“I'll apply it for you. Can't be easy doing it solo.”
“Keuruk...”
I sighed. She was relentless.
“Just the medicine, then I'll go. Let me repay your kindness. Pleeease?”
“...”
Going out of her way to repay a goblin's favor—she really seemed like a sweet girl.
Was this her plan with the necklace all along?
Her thoughtfulness won me over, and I finally let her in.
“Your head's almost brushing the ceiling?”
Sera looked up at the ceiling after stepping inside. She wasn't wrong—her hair was inches from it.
If I'd known company was coming, I'd have built higher. Sorry about that.
“Whoa, what's all that?”
Sera's eyes locked onto one spot as she glanced around the cabin.
At the end of her gaze sat my cooking tools.
Most were stolen or scavenged, though I'd cobbled a few together myself.
“You cook too?”
“...”
I flopped down on the dry grass covering the floor and patted my injured left arm.
Meaning: cut the chatter, apply it and beat it.
“In such a rush.”
Sera plopped down beside me.
A fresh peach scent tickled my nose.
Blood rushed downstairs. Was it the stacked lust buffs? Her scent alone was getting me going.
“Wow, up close like this, you've got scars everywhere. Miracle you're still breathing.”
Sera said as she scanned my body.
Yeah, no wonder. Even I found the dense web of scars grotesque.
Drop an average South Korean guy smack in a jungle, and this is what happens.
I'd died over a hundred times. Death Regression was the only thing bringing me back.
Ways I'd gone: starvation, disease, freezing, dehydration, devoured alive, bled out, you name it.
“Can I touch?”
-Nod.
No harm in it.
Sera's soft hand trailed over my arm.
“Not a single smooth spot. Whoa... your whole body's rough and bumpy with scars.”
Her hand slid across my back. Goosebumps shot up my spine.
“Surprisingly solid build.”
Sera whispered.
Absentminded mutter, or meant for me? Hard to tell.
Our bodies drew closer, and her sweet natural scent wafted over subtly.
I couldn't help recalling the feel of Sera's breasts and thighs.
Quest: Knead 'Sera's Breasts
⏰ Time Limit: 1 minute
🎁 Success Reward: 50 SP
⚠️ Failure Penalty:
1. Temporarily greatly enhance lust
2. Permanently slightly enhance lust