Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: 9. Viola. (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The red-haired sorceress studied late into the night. After all, refining her magic was the one thing she had to do while staying in the city.
Slacking off just because the work was done would make her no different from everyone else. Look at Leader Allen—he'd been diligently working nonstop since day one without a moment's rest.
So she had to work hard too, even harder...
—Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! Ahh!
...But the real problem was the raucous moans echoing from every direction every single night. The beds shook violently, creaking and thumping in total chaos.
Amid this nightly uproar, the red-haired sorceress plugged her ears and stared holes into her book just to focus, but her eyes refused to move past the current sentence.
The moans that had dragged on for so long finally died down, but her mind remained a tangled mess of lewd thoughts.
If she hadn't known what sex was, she could've dismissed it as disgusting humans and returned to her grimoire... but now her body knew the taste of a man's cock.
Of course, after that day, the two of them acted as if nothing had happened—like some unspoken agreement. Every time she saw him, her lower belly warmed and her nipples tingled, but she showed no sign of it. ...Somehow, it felt like the right thing to do.
But her body was honest. It was that ecstatic pleasure she still couldn't forget. She finally understood why the mercenaries sang about sex every damn day... That overwhelming sensation had left an indelible scar on her body, like a wound that wouldn't heal.
......Honestly, she wasn't entirely free of disappointment. He was the man who'd taken her precious first time, after all. ...And yet, she understood his attitude. He had to stay cool-headed as the leader of a mercenary corps.
After that day, her admiration for him only grew stronger. Some nights, thoughts of him kept her tossing and turning until dawn. ...And his enormous cock came to mind too. She wanted to deny it, but as a mage who revered logic, it was an undeniable fact.
In truth, she'd even harbored a naughty hope that maybe, just maybe, there'd be one more chance this time around. ...It never happened, though.
"What a fool. Ugh... Why am I like this, seriously...?"
The wise sorceress who worshipped logic and followed rules to the letter turned emotional only when it came to the leader. ...And the funny part? She knew it, but couldn't change.
She squeezed her eyes shut and lightly thumped her forehead against the grimoire.
I'm not this kind of woman. I'm not...
The red-haired sorceress snapped her grimoire shut, rose, and flopped onto the bed, intending to just sleep it off.
But her body was already deep in heat. Her mind was sharp as ever, while her crotch itched unbearably.
...The red-haired sorceress recalled what the muscle-bound woman had said long ago.
—Ugh, you damn virgin. Think the world changes if spiderwebs grow in your pussy?
—Holding it in just makes you sick. You know that?
—Instead of groaning in agony, just rub one out and forget it clean. Way better a hundred times over.
The clever red-haired sorceress pondered.
—No one sees you masturbate alone, so no damage to your dignity. Better to do it quick and sleep soundly than suffer every night. Masturbation is a natural phenomenon.
She rattled off rational justifications for it. ......Truth be told, more than anything, she'd held back too long.
......In just two days, they'd be leaving...
The red-haired sorceress repeated to herself over and over that she wasn't this kind of woman, then stripped off her lower garments entirely.
She'd already seen and learned how to comfort herself alone plenty of times. It wasn't like she'd only witnessed the muscle woman's noisy solo shows once or twice.
...I'm really not this kind of woman...
She'd always thought masturbation was for sluts, never imagining she'd do it herself. ...And picturing the same man, no less.
Her pretty, slender fingers grazed her already slick, sticky folds.
"Hngh...!"
In her mind, a scene from memory replayed unbidden.
Leader Allen, naked, his fearsome cock standing rigidly erect as he approached her—
"...Allen... Allen...!"
The red-haired sorceress softly called the name of her admired leader. All while probing her hole with her fingers.
It didn't take long to reach climax. A little squirt came out. But that was it. A shallow peak. More like the steam fizzling out.
Shame crashed over her at the same instant. How vulgar, shoving her fingers in while moaning Leader Allen's name... A twisted sense of defilement, like she'd raped him, enveloped her entire body.
Still, she'd put out the immediate fire. The boiling lust from below had settled somewhat. This should hold her over for a while longer.
The red-haired sorceress wiped her dripping crotch with a cloth, haphazardly pulled her discarded bottoms back on, and lay down in bed.
......As she rolled toward the wall and curled up, for some reason, Leader Allen weighed on her mind even more desperately.
The Viola Mercenary Corps drew massive attention upon arriving at the station at dawn. Especially the gazes directed at the 10th-ranked leader, Viola—they brimmed with awe.
Naturally, the other leaders fawned over Viola, one of the top figures in the mercenary world, hoping for even a glance.
"Isn't that Leader Viola—!"
"You must've had a tough journey getting here."
"I barely slept from the honor of joining you, Leader."
Viola responded with light smiles and curt replies, striking the perfect balance of mystique and approachability. She knew too much aloofness could lead to isolation—she'd seen it happen to others.
After exchanging greetings with the leaders, she casually scanned the surroundings. ...She hadn't yet met the most important person.
Then she spotted a man nearby, hesitating as if debating whether to approach. ...Not by his face, but by the astonishing number reflected in her eyes.
522.
...So she hadn't been mistaken back then. It wasn't a dream.
The pretty young man strode toward Viola as if he'd made up his mind. She pretended not to notice, chatting idly with those around her.
"...Leader Viola. I hope you've been well."
"Ah, Leader Allen. Long time no see."
Their exchange felt somehow different from her previous greetings. Everyone fell silent, watching intently—especially scrutinizing this man called Allen.
"Are you prepared? The dungeon isn't a walk in the park."
"We've made our preparations."
"Good to hear. I trust you have. It'll be a valuable experience."
"Thank you for saying so."
"We still have time before departure, so wait here."
"Yes. Then..."
As Allen left, people around bombarded her with questions about who he was. Viola offered only a faint smile before excusing herself instead of answering.
Alex, the temporary captain shadowing her like a ghost, whispered quietly.
"That's the guy. From Allen's Mercenary Corps."
"Yeah."
"Didn't expect him to be such a looker."
"...Is he? Well, he's got some charm, I guess."
Not used to compliments on looks, she phrased it indirectly.
"Whether a mercenary leader's handsome or not doesn't matter. ...It's ability that counts."
"Still, if abilities are equal, handsome wins, right?"
"...Just attracts flies. Kinda meh."
"Doesn't it have its perks?"
Viola shot Alex a glance, and he raised both hands slightly in surrender, grinning slyly.
"I'll stop."
The two approached the proxy sent by the lord to check the list of arrived corps. With the latest arrivals, all twelve mercenary corps were assembled—a grand total of well over a hundred members.
"Everyone, board!"
At the proxy's signal, each corps boarded their assigned carriages. The proxy offered Viola a spot in his own, but she declined. With so many new members syncing up for the first time, she needed time with them... He didn't press after that.
When Leader Viola boarded the carriage with her members, the chatter cut off abruptly. She swept her gaze over their tense faces and chuckled lightly.
"Why so nervous? First time as mercenaries? You're not rookies—don't chicken out."
Most were from the 2nd and 3rd squads, so it was their first expedition with Viola. Of course they'd be intimidated. She was one of the mighty top ten, after all.
The only one with the leisure to laugh "ahaha" was Perry, the veteran who'd naturally dropped from 1st to 2nd squad with age. Even so, he'd synced with her for quite a while.
"It's been ages, Leader."
"Yeah. Your bat swings haven't gone rusty, have they?"
"Well, not quite like the old days, but I can still smash any punk's skull in one hit."
"Good. Glad to hear it."
He chuckled sentimentally before tossing out a casual remark.
"Went to check out this Allen guy since he got recommended. Man, what a hunk."
Temporary Captain Alex elbowed him subtly in warning.
"Ah— no, forget it."
Viola found his awkward hehe laugh even more grating.
She itched to say she'd recommended him not for his face, but because his stat total was 522.
...But she held back. Holding back was how she'd protect him...
Why'd he have to be so damn good-looking, that guy...!
Always stirring up misunderstandings like this.
Viola's head throbbed just imagining what nonsense the damn mercenaries would spread next.