Chapter 568: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (55)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 568: The Hero Climaxes in Defeat Again Today[R-18] (55)
In the pitch-black darkness, within a space where nothing could be seen, a pair of golden eyes slowly opened.
“…Hmm, the jewel has shattered.”
A low, resonant voice vibrated through the darkness. Soon, as the colossal being rose, light spread in all directions, revealing an overwhelming silhouette.
Jet-black scales, wings like mountain ranges, and an endlessly long tail displayed the majesty of an absolute being. A single breath from it shook the very air.
But soon, its massive body began to change. It slowly shrank as if melting into the light, and its harsh breathing shifted to a human rhythm.
When the golden eyes finally shone once more, a black-haired human man stood in its place.
“How long has it been since I last awoke?”
Another voice echoed in the darkness.
“Master, you have awakened after a hundred years.”
At that moment, women with the appearance of dark elves emerged like shadows. They knelt before Nerzaka and carefully draped the clothes they had prepared over his body.
“Tsk, I only managed to sleep for a mere hundred years.”
Nerzaka narrowed his golden eyes and issued a command.
“Meira. The jewel I gave to your clan has shattered. Go and see for yourself what happened.”
“Yes, Master.”
The dark elf with indigo hair, Meira, bowed her head and vanished into the darkness without a trace.
A leisurely smile spread across Nerzaka’s lips.
“Well then… since I’m awake, I might as well check on the progress of my dolls.”
The moment he took a step, space distorted, and his body disappeared.
The place he arrived in was a cold, bizarre scene.
Dozens of massive test tubes stood in rows. Inside them, dark elf women were trapped, their eyes closed as if in a deep slumber. Floating in a faint liquid, their bodies were slowly being corrupted by ominously glowing patterns.
Nerzaka clasped his hands behind his back and murmured softly as he walked.
“Hmm… Only a hundred years have passed, so my blood and bone have yet to be properly absorbed.”
He stopped before one of the test tubes and observed the dark elf woman inside.
“But… I can see some changes. At this rate, they should be complete within ten years.”
The moment Nerzaka finished his thought, space distorted again, and Meira appeared. She immediately knelt and bowed her head.
“Master, I have returned with my report.”
“What is the situation?”
“A man named Eldarion discovered that the girl chosen as the next offering had lost her virginity to a human. He left the village to capture this human… but there has been no word from him since. Shall I investigate further?”
Nerzaka’s expression turned cold.
“…The next offering was damaged?”
“Yes.”
“Tsk. I raised this offering specially… To think a mere human would dare defile it.”
Nerzaka’s voice was chilling.
“What is this human’s name?”
“He is called Jin Alcladion. He is a marquis of the Sievern Kingdom and is currently at war with Kaisern.”
“…Jin Alcladion.”
Nerzaka repeated the name several times, his golden eyes narrowing.
“Meira. Investigate this human.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Ah, and one more thing…”
His eyes flickered like golden flames.
“Humans tend to swear loyalty to their king, do they not? In that case, drop a Hellfire on the city where that king resides. Engrave upon them in blood and ash the price for daring to touch my treasure.”
Meira bowed her head without hesitation.
“Yes, Master.”
*
Ever since Princess Ariella joined us, it's become impossible to use the dark elf women or the women from the plundered villages as I please. Her constantly watching eyes were a nuisance, and because of her, I naturally had to hide the slime daughters born from the Valen mother and daughter.
‘Ha… what a pain. I still need to go to the dark elf village and bring back the rest of them.’
This frustration of not being able to enjoy myself as I wished. But the situation wasn't right for me to seduce the princess just yet. Ariella didn't give men a second glance. Her interests were solely focused on the battlefield, chivalry, and swordsmanship.
And she was always surrounded by dozens of escort knights and attendants.
‘There's no opening at all.’
I glanced indifferently at her and her escort knights, muttering to myself.
‘On top of that, this bitch pesters me almost every single day… Did she come here just to piss me off?’
Just then, Ariella turned toward me and smiled. Having apparently finished training with her knights, she wiped the sweat from her brow and walked over with a confident stride.
“Marquis. When do we march to the next battlefield? I wish to test my skills on the front lines as soon as possible.”
I looked at her with a weary expression.
“Princess, war is not a game. What's important right now is defense. A reckless advance with insufficient troops will only lead to self-destruction.”
Ariella narrowed her eyes and retorted, “Hm? Are you saying the reinforcements I brought are not enough?”
The force she led numbered about twenty thousand. It seemed like a lot on the surface.
‘The only reason I was able to tear through this much enemy territory with just ten thousand men was because we moved quickly with a cavalry-focused force, and because I personally dominated the battlefield.’
I kept my eyes fixed on Ariella and added, “An increase in numbers doesn't necessarily make a war easier. In fact, a slower pace could lead us to our graves.”
Ariella nodded, looking disappointed.
“Hmm… is that so? I suppose I must listen to the commander…”
Though she seemed to understand on the outside, I muttered coldly to myself.
‘I can't let my guard down. I never know what kind of trouble this bitch might stir up… I have to keep an eye on her.’
“By the way, Marquis. I heard today's schedule includes a patrol of the surrounding area. May I join you?”
I paused, choosing my words, before clicking my tongue internally.
‘It's called a patrol, but it's really an outing to train the women… This is a pain in the ass. I want to just say no, but I can't think of a good excuse.’
In the end, I forced a smile and nodded.
“That should be fine.”
“Excellent. I'll get ready, then.”
I turned my gaze away and sighed internally.
*
The patrol consisted of about a hundred men in total: Ariella, her twenty escort knights, and my own elite Alcladion cavalry.
“Marquis.”
Ariella, who had been riding her horse, pulled up beside me and spoke.
“I'm bored.”
It was understandable, as we had been riding around for hours with nothing happening. The day's schedule had originally been planned so I could train the women without the princess knowing, but with Ariella joining in, there was nothing else I could do. So all we were doing was riding around aimlessly, glancing at our surroundings.
I replied dryly, “Patrols are usually like this. Nothing happening is the best possible outcome.”
Ariella pouted in dissatisfaction.
“Hmph, I came here to swing my sword, not to take a stroll.”
At that moment, the cavalrymen who had gone ahead to scout for danger came galloping back, kicking up a cloud of dust.
“Marquis! A horde of monsters has appeared!”
“What kind and how many?”
“We estimate their numbers at around a thousand! They're mostly regular goblins and orcs… but we've also confirmed ogres and trolls mixed in among them!”
As soon as she heard the report, Ariella placed a hand on the scabbard at her waist. Her eyes flashed with excitement, burning with anticipation.
“Marquis, I will take the vanguard in this battle!”
Her escort knights, horrified, shouted in unison.
“Princess, you mustn't!”
“It's too dangerous!”
I also opened my mouth to calm her down, but it was too late.
Ariella yanked hard on her reins, spurred her horse, and shot forward.
I gritted my teeth and muttered to myself.
‘Ha… should I just rape her for real?’
Watching her back grow smaller in the distance, I genuinely wanted to choke and rape her.
“All units, follow the princess! Protect her at all costs!”
“Yes, sir!”
The cavalrymen pulled on their reins in unison and charged forward. After a high-speed pursuit, we soon caught sight of Ariella.
She was already engaged in a head-on clash with an ogre. Dirt and dust flew every time its massive club struck the ground, and Ariella's silver armor gleamed through the haze. Her sword moved swiftly, slicing off the ogre's arm.
‘She's got some skill, I'll give her that.’
Ariella's swordsmanship, having been taught by the Sword Master Duke Baran, was certainly decent. The problem, however, was the situation surrounding her. Hordes of goblins and orcs, with trolls mixed in here and there. She was already surrounded by hundreds of monsters.
‘Seriously, if I weren't here, that wench would either be dead… or reduced to a monster's broodmare.’
I gritted my teeth. Getting dragged into this reckless tomboy's mess was driving me insane.
“All units, protect the princess!”
“Yes, sir!”
The hundred or so knights spurred their horses and charged forward in unison. I drew my sword and joined them, limbs and heads of monsters flying with every swing.
‘Bi-yeon, you feel it too, right?’
‘Yes. The monsters are all frightened of something… And this horde is strangely exhausted. It's as if they were forced to run a long way.’
I sliced off an orc's neck and scanned the area. Just as Bi-yeon said, the monsters' movements were definitely not normal.
‘It's rare for monsters to behave like this…’
Something must have happened in the territory where they lived.
Then, a possibility crossed my mind.
‘The lizard he mentioned… has it awakened? Judging by the direction and the situation, it's almost certain.’
If so, the strange behavior of this monster horde made sense.
‘Hehe, I hope it shows up soon.’
Nerzaka. He was a dragon who also appeared in the original work.
As befitting an erotic game, if the player lost to him, there was a route where the hero would be raped and forcibly impregnated under the pretext of 'research.' Their body would be modified, and they'd be crossbred with other monsters. It wasn't much different even if you chose a male protagonist.
And Nerzaka was a young dragon who had only recently reached full maturity—a typical lizard, arrogant and drunk on its own power.
‘Hurry up and appear before me. Only then can I make equipment for my daughters.’
And I wanted to relieve this stress as soon as possible.