Chapter 448: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (38)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 448: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (38)
I walked the streets of Lienos alone. As for Bi-yeon and Marienne… perhaps because I’d fucked them a bit too hard the night before, they were both completely drained and couldn't move an inch from the bed.
‘Well, I should let them rest for a day.’
Amidst the crowds filling the streets, I saw a vibrant mix of different races and humans coming and going. Elves, dwarves, beastfolk, and humans mingled without any conflict.
This peaceful, yet eclectic, harmony held a unique dignity that could only belong to Lienos, a city known as a holy land.
‘…The atmosphere here is definitely different. Didn’t the Empire treat beastfolk like animals?’
I paused for a moment and looked up. In the city center, a colossal building that seemed to pierce the sky came into view.
‘…Was that it? The place where the previous Demon King’s relic is sealed.’
I compared it to the image in my memory, but seeing it in person felt different somehow.
With each step I took closer, the density of the divine power surrounding it grew thicker.
‘The sheer numbers are incredible.’
The security forces visible to the naked eye were overwhelming. And all of them were knights capable of freely wielding divine power.
‘…If the rumors are true, Sword Masters from each order take turns guarding it as well.’
Moreover, it wasn't just about the manpower. A facility of this scale was bound to be riddled with deadly traps.
I narrowed my eyes and scanned the entire building.
‘This isn’t a place I can just brute-force. …Is there a way?’
I needed to gather more information. Rushing in blindly seemed suicidal.
‘…I should head back for now. I’ve got a decent feel for the place.’
I turned and headed back to the mansion. It wasn't far, but my mind was completely preoccupied with how to infiltrate the place quietly.
Just as I reached the mansion gate, a familiar voice called out to me.
“Marquis!”
I turned my head toward the voice and saw the entire hero party—Aaren, Hilla, and Rien—standing in a line in front of the mansion.
“What brings you here?”
Aaren took a step forward and bowed at a ninety-degree angle.
“Please… accept me as your disciple!”
“……Disciple?”
I paused for a moment, then looked down at Aaren.
“And why should I do that?” I asked, feigning disinterest.
“……I realized it after watching Lady Marienne. Her power, her movements, the very nature of her combat. I want to become strong like her.”
My eyebrow twitched at his words. Beside him, Hilla and Rien sighed and turned their heads away, but Aaren was dead serious.
“Doesn’t your order have masters who can teach you?”
“That’s…”
Aaren’s voice trailed off as he averted his gaze. He didn’t have to say it; I could already picture the situation.
‘It’s painfully obvious.’
The Order of the Pale Star originally focused on purification and healing. They excelled at purification, defense, and holy magic, but their combat abilities were lacking.
The current Pope was an unusually strong member of the Order, but the martial prowess of the holy knights under him was weaker compared to other orders.
And then there was the skill I had displayed, which this kid had witnessed firsthand.
He couldn't help but compare.
‘He must have compared himself to Marienne, too.’
I had also learned something about him during our days together. The kid was caught up in a half-baked idealism about saving the world, lost in the fantasy that it was his grand mission.
‘…Which makes him all the more drawn to me.’
It’s a man’s instinct to follow the strong.
‘But if this bastard leaves the Order to become my disciple… the Pope won’t stand for it.’
Now that Aaren had been proclaimed the Hero, his standing was different. If he were to officially declare his allegiance to me, the Order would have no choice but to be displeased.
‘Hmm… what to do.’
Honestly, the idea of teaching some guy didn't appeal to me at all.
But then my gaze naturally shifted to Hilla and Rien standing behind him.
‘As for teaching… I can just toss him the Three Calamities Sword Art, and in return, I’ll—’
A smile crept onto my lips as I looked at Hilla and Rien behind Aaren.
“Fine. I’ll accept.”
Aaren’s eyes widened. Hilla and Rien were also visibly shocked.
“However, there are conditions.”
“……Conditions?”
“Get the Pope’s permission. And—”
I paused for a beat, then sealed the deal with a smile.
“If you get his permission, not only you, but Hilla and Rien must also undergo the training.”
Aaren stared at me with a bewildered expression, while Hilla and Rien’s eyes shot open in unison.
“W-Wait a minute! I’m a mage! There’s no reason for me to train…”
“Y-Yes, and I’m a priestess…?”
I raised a hand, cutting them off.
“Training isn’t something you do alone. The coordination and rapport between partners are also important.”
Then I added one more thing.
“Besides, your stamina is pathetic. In your current state, you’ll just fall behind the moment Aaren gets stronger.”
The two women clamped their mouths shut. They knew I wasn’t wrong.
“…I understand. I will go and get the Pope’s permission.”
Aaren said it with confidence, but honestly, there was no way the Pope would allow it.
After Aaren’s party left, I spent my time thoroughly fucking Marienne.
The more we had sex, the faster the energy within her body grew.
‘At this rate… she’ll reach Sword Master in no time.’
…Of course, she would eventually hit a wall. Advancing to the next stage without an epiphany is nearly impossible. Overcoming that wall was entirely up to her.
Lately, I had been feeling a persistent gaze on me. I had been pretending not to notice.
When I subtly glanced over, I could feel Ivril’s presence, hiding somewhere and watching me as always.
‘She’s just about ripe.’
The time to make a move on Ivril was approaching. I figured I would fuck her once I returned to my territory.
*
Today, I was summoned by the Pope and visited the central cathedral of the Order of the Pale Star.
When I arrived, the Pope let out a deep sigh, rubbing his smooth, bald head with his palm. Then, he shot me a brief glare.
“……It seems you are quite popular with the heroes, Marquis Alcladion.”
“Haha, it just so happened to turn out that way.”
“Hmph…”
The Pope frowned, a look of profound exhaustion on his face.
“Hero Aaren came to me with a request. I trust… you are well aware of its contents, Marquis.”
“Yes, I am. So, what is your decision, Your Holiness?”
“…Naturally, I refused.”
The Pope’s tone was firm.
“Lady Marienne… was an unavoidable, special case. Her bond with you was already deep, and forcing you apart would have only bred resentment.”
He sighed deeply once more, rubbing his temples.
“But Hero Aaren is different. He is still inexperienced, a country boy who knows nothing of the world. For such a person to become the disciple of a specific noble… is not good, in many ways.”
“I can see that.”
I nodded calmly.
“However… he is quite stubborn. So I would like to ask a favor of you, Marquis.”
“Please, speak.”
The Pope hesitated for a moment before carefully beginning.
“Soon, a sword master will arrive to guide Hero Aaren. Until that person gets here… would you be willing to look after the Hero as his guardian and temporary sword instructor?”
The Pope’s offer wasn’t bad. While traveling with Aaren, I’d be able to fuck Hilla and Rien. But what I was more curious about was who the Pope was bringing in from the outside.
“May I ask who is coming?”
“Yes. You may have heard of him.”
The Pope lowered his voice and mentioned a name.
“Laet Schwartz, the Blind Sword of the Ash Covenant. He was a companion of the previous Hero and is now living in seclusion.”
‘…Oh, Laet.’
He was one of the most powerful heroines in the original story. As a Dragonian, a powerful race, she had a long lifespan, and her personal combat ability was second only to the previous Hero.
‘Though… he’s in a weakened state now because of that curse.’
Of course, if he were to recover his original power, he would undoubtedly be among the top-tier Masters.
Besides… just the fact that she, my favorite character, was coming was enough to get me excited.
“Very well. I accept your proposal, Your Holiness.”
The Pope nodded at my answer. Then he continued cautiously.
“A busy man such as yourself deserves a fitting reward, Marquis. Erebica will soon be opened. I will grant you the right to select a single treasure from within.”
“Erebica… you don’t mean.”
The Pope pointed a finger past the window toward the city center.
“That building is Erebica. It is where each order has sealed away the treasures and taboos they have collected over the centuries. It is also… a Forbidden Zone where items corrupted by demonic energy are stored and quarantined.”
His gaze turned serious.
“It is not a place we open lightly. However, I will make a special exception this time. But you may only take one item from within.”
‘Jackpot.’
I almost shouted aloud.
I had been racking my brain for days trying to figure out how to get into Erebica, and now the Pope himself was offering to open the door for me.
Of course, it couldn't be a favor without a reason.
‘As long as Marienne is in my hands, he must have decided it’s better to keep me close than to make me an enemy.’
I saw it as a kind of bribe.
Furthermore, the fact that Aaren now wanted to follow me, combined with my own power as a Sword Master, must have factored into the Pope’s calculations.
Things were flowing in my favor in more ways than one.
Hiding the smile that threatened to form on my lips, I bowed my head.
“I don’t know if I can accept such a grand gift.”
The Pope smiled gently and nodded.
“Hoho, not at all. This is a gift I offer out of a personal desire to grow closer to you, Marquis. Please, do not feel burdened and accept it with joy.”
I gave a small smile and spoke respectfully.
“Since you put it that way, Your Holiness… I will humbly accept. So, when will Erebica be opened?”
The Pope tapped a clock-like magic tool on his desk.
“The preparations will be finished in two days at the earliest, three at the latest. We are currently stabilizing the interior, so please make your own preparations in the meantime.”
“Understood.”
*
After my conversation with the Pope, I headed to the Order’s training grounds with a light heart. Marienne and Bi-yeon should be there, training.
When I arrived, I saw Aaren sparring with Marienne.
Just then, Bi-yeon, who had been watching from the side with her arms crossed, noticed me and walked over.
“You’re back? How did it go with the Pope?”
“The talk went well. And… the problem that’s been giving me a headache for days is all sorted out.”
“Aha~”
Bi-yeon nodded and smirked. She didn’t need an explanation; it seemed she had already scanned my thoughts and figured out what I had discussed with the Pope.
“More importantly, why is he sparring with Marienne?”
I gestured with my chin toward Aaren, who was swinging his sword with a spirited yell.
“Hyaaap!”
Marienne fluidly twisted her sword to parry his attack before immediately taking a step back. At a glance, it looked like a serious duel, but on closer inspection, Marienne was holding back, moving in time with Aaren’s rhythm. She was completely going easy on him.
Bi-yeon shrugged and said, “He wanted to. He asked to see the skill gap between him and Mari, so I let them have a go. Well, it doesn’t seem like Mari minds either.”
I watched them spar for a moment.
Aaren’s movements were clearly those of a novice. He lacked not only the fundamentals but even held his sword awkwardly.
“Still, he seems to have some talent. A hero is a hero, I guess.”
At Bi-yeon’s assessment, I looked at Aaren again. I was in a good mood. My original plan was to just toss him something like the Three Calamities Sword Art, but since I was feeling good, I thought I’d teach him a more decent martial art.
‘The Single Branch Sword Art from Muyeongshintoo’s secret vault should be enough.’
As I watched, Aaren’s stamina finally gave out, and he dropped to one knee, panting. Marienne sheathed her sword and stepped back, naturally ending the duel.
I walked over quietly and stood before Aaren, who was still breathing heavily.
“Aaren.”
The kid looked up, still catching his breath.
“For the time being, I will be in charge of your sword training.”
“…Really?”
To Aaren, who asked back with a surprised face, I nodded and said curtly, “Yes. Training starts tomorrow at five in the morning. Bring your companions to the mansion as well.”
“Yes! I will be there without fail!”
Aaren shouted, bowing so low his forehead touched the dirt-covered ground. Rien and Hilla’s expressions soured.