Chapter 182
Chapter 182
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: S4. Succubus's Dream / Eradication Squad of 440 Years -2
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I'd known for a while that she had a fierce competitive streak.
The first time we met, we locked eyes in a stare-down, only to end up smashing our lips together in the carriage. She's just wired that way—brimming with a hunger to win.
She's not without compassion, either. When Selvia turned that thrilling maid café experience into a Cthulhu nightmare, didn't she freak out and try to stop it?
Going further back, even when we first met in her hometown village, she'd quietly show concern. She's got a good heart deep down.
But her hatred was strong enough to burn all that away at the roots.
Competitive spirit and compassion.
Push the right buttons with those traits in mind, and you can get close fast. That's why I pounded on Yuri's door with full dramatic flair.
"Yuri! Shampoo got in my eyes—I can't open them!"
Acting's all about the details. So I really washed my hair. And yeah, the shampoo really did sting my eyes shut.
Sure enough, Yuri flung the door open with a face like her blood pressure was spiking, then yelled right in my face. Little Yuri wore her emotions right on her sleeve.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Just get out and drop dead already...!!"
"You said yesterday after I crushed you at chess that I'd get one free pass! I'm using it now, so hurry up and fetch a bucket of water...!!"
"I never said anything like that?!"
"It was in the fine print of the contract!"
"That's a fraudulent contract!"
She should've read the contract more carefully.
It wasn't a serious contract, of course. I'd teased her with stuff like "You suck at chess," slipping in clauses about the loser turning into a dog and barking three times, just to mess with her.
Adult Pingbalrez would've spun around shamelessly and barked for real, but Yuri trembled with embarrassment and muttered, "...Woof."
Adorable.
I'd discovered there was real fun in teasing Pingbalrez. That odd feeling stuck with me. And it still does.
She huffed and puffed, but instead of slamming the door in my face, she said this:
"...Ugh, fine. You're impossible...! I'll fetch a bucket of water, so wait there!"
"If my eyes go blind like this... I'll never get to gaze at you again...?"
"I'm getting the water right now!"
Clatter-clatter. I heard her rushing inside, muttering to herself, "Bucket, where's the bucket...?"
After spending a few days as her neighbor, I'd approached her warmly while proving I had ironclad control over my lust.
Not like I dropped my pants or anything.
Succubi can tell at a glance if someone's aroused. Makes sense—it's essential for picking prey, right?
Yuri has that ability too, of course. Made things easier for me.
Thanks to the lust-suppression spell, she saw my calm, serene state every time we met and gradually started opening up.
I wedged myself into those cracks and pushed with everything I had. This is the result.
Whoosh—!!
Cold water cascaded over my head like a waterfall. I rinsed off the shampoo suds. Once the bucket was empty, Yuri asked,
"Want another one?"
"Nah, I'm mostly clean. Though another half-bucket wouldn't hurt."
"If you're mostly clean, do it yourself!"
Yuri chucked the wooden bucket at me. I staggered but caught it, then toddled after her, chattering away.
"Aw, why so heartless? Got a towel at home?"
"Planning to steal it too?"
"Not stealing—I'm borrowing it to wash and dry properly before returning. And look, my upper body's soaked. What if I catch a cold without drying off?"
"That's your problem!"
Her words said one thing, but she wasn't chasing me off. Tsundere translator: "Fine, use the towel."
I grinned and stepped inside. Thanks to these little invasions, I'd mapped out the place pretty well.
Dry towels should be around here. Stacked near the bathroom, right?
There. I grabbed one and vigorously toweled my hair. Then, from the kitchen way over there, Yuri's voice rang out.
"Put your wet stuff in the laundry basket and behave! No stealing this time!"
I wasn't planning to steal. The towel was my excuse to come back and return it—no need for two.
As I went to drop the used towel in the basket, I spotted a prior occupant.
Plain, cheap underwear made from low-quality fabric. No design, no style. Tragic.
I couldn't contain the profound pity surging from my soul. Clutching the underwear, I bolted to the kitchen.
Yuri looked like she was prepping to stew something, apron and all. I waved the underwear at her accusingly.
"What the hell is this? You walk around in crap like this?"
"...Ah, aah...!! What are you holding? What do you think you're doing?!"
Yuri went blank like she'd been bonked on the head with a hammer, then flushed beet red and glared daggers. Trying to mask mortified embarrassment with fury.
But I was furious too. How could she be so careless with her underthings?
"Fashion's complete only when you care about the hidden parts too. You make decent money—why buy garbage like this?!"
"P-Put that down right now! I'll kill you?! I'm seriously gonna kill you—!"
"I'll die of heartbreak before you kill me. Kid, you're wasting that pretty face on every level. Forget men—this is just a crime against beauty... Ow! That really hurts!"
"Put it down! Drop it! Take it back right now!!"
Yuri unleashed a barrage of punches, silencing my critique by force. This fragile avatar can't pull off Heavenly Demon moves. No countering that.
I yielded to the pressure and returned the underwear.
"...Even for functionality, that scrap fabric is trash. I get not wanting frills, but at least prioritize quality? The comfort's night and day."
"Argh, seriously—!!"
Grumble, grumble—then another hit.
Mealtime. Yuri plunked a pot of roughly made stew in the center, ladling it into wooden bowls to eat. I scooped a big spoonful and tasted it, then gave my cool assessment.
"Could've used about 2.5 more pinches of salt."
"...Then you make it, smart guy!"
"Deal. I'll cook stew for breakfast tomorrow. Leave it to me."
"If it sucks, you're paying for ingredients!"
Perfect. Excuse for tomorrow secured. The wheel of inevitable bonding rolls on. I'd appealed to my character plenty, and though Yuri grumbled, she seemed quietly pleased with my presence. Humans are social creatures, after all. In a life swarming with thugs demanding scraps, having a friend to joke and chat with casually must feel pretty good. Stack up the time like this, and restoring our original bond isn't a pipe dream. I can close the lingering awkward gap and become friends again. But... That's not enough. I haven't forgotten my goal. I'm here to save Pingbalrez, repeating it endlessly in my mind. I need the clue to head to the basement level 2. This world—the first basement—is a reconstructed mental barrier of Pingbalrez's. Like a tightly shut castle gate, blocking entry to the deeper psyche: basement level 2. So I suspected "permission" is key. The gatekeeper, child Yuri, has to trust and acknowledge me to open the path down. That's why I'm building intimacy like this. I even found supporting evidence. The 『key』 she always wears around her neck. Dangling from a string. Suspiciously info-heavy object. Feels artificially placed. Probably the Queen's touch. Once, I casually asked, "What's with that key?"
"None of your business."
Child Yuri went ultra-defensive—twice as guarded as our first meeting. After gently probing for info, I learned she has an obsessive compulsion to protect the 『key』. Planted memories of everyone trying to steal it. Even her closest friend from the squad tried to take it, leading to a falling out. That's when I knew: Push further on the key, and all my progress crumbles. So I've been playing it cool. I'd never heard Pingbalrez mention such an important key necklace. She hid her past, sure... but subtle clues existed for other things. This? Nothing. Memory check: No sign of her wearing a necklace in actions, habits, fashion—anywhere. So, Queen's fabrication. Instead of scattering hints everywhere, she crammed the clear condition into one blatant symbol: the 『key』. To descend to basement 2, I need that 『key』. Solid thesis. As I sorted my thoughts and smiled at Yuri, she noticed my gaze, looked up sullenly, and snapped, "...What're you staring at?"
"Your eating face is cute."
Her cheeks flushed. Child Yuri's defenses are paper-thin compared to a Magic Tower Master. She gripped her spoon like a knife, pointing it at me while feigning anger to hide her blush.
"You... you're really impotent, aren't you...?!"
"Want me to prove it?"
I pretended to drop trou, and she whipped her head away. A surge of triumphant joy welled from my chest. Victory. I'm dominating Pingbalrez...!! After endless beatings, flipping the script feels great. Well... Best case: Earn trust gradually, get her to hand over the 『key』 willingly. Worst case? Steal it by force. Once her guard's down enough, strike at the perfect moment. She'll be hurt, sure. Child Yuri definitely. But still—gotta do it. To save her. Call it a necessary evil. I hid my ulterior motives behind a smile and kept up the everyday chatter.
"How's it going lately? Squad stuff got messy, right? Tracking that black mage group?"
"...It's tricky. We raided the outpost the Defense Bureau tipped us off about with the seniors, but just small fry. Only one scrap of intel. Do your job right, Defense Bureau."
"Our guys must've tried hard. Still, glad we got something. What is it?"
"Info on the black mage group 『Crimson Rebirth』's hidden outposts and collaborators."
The 『Crimson Rebirth』 group the 440-year Eradication Squad was hunting sacrifices people for fresh, healthy bodies. They cozy up to nobles, promising to fix ugly faces, bulk up weak bodies, whatever—alluring bait for funding.
"Encrypted docs, so the seniors are burning the midnight oil... But once decoded, it'll be a win."
"Bloodbath incoming."
"A good bloodbath."
Yuri spat it bluntly, oozing hatred for the black mages. Like she'd rip them in half on sight. I rested my chin, and suddenly—a spark zipped through my brain.
"......"
"...What's up?"
"Nah, just remembered something I forgot. Gotta send a report to the palace."
"You're insane? Go, go send it now!"
I fed her that excuse and slipped out.
I'd always felt uneasy about the suspiciously quiet Queen. Screen flips, sudden gut punches—harassment still came, but no big hits? The occasional pain breaching defenses? Take it and tank. She'd know that. She picked this 440-year point for a reason. Some scheme involving events here. In that vein, the black mage group 『Crimson Rebirth』 is probably the main scenario. I'd guessed she wanted it to break Yuri. But...
"...This bitch pulled a sneaky one?"
Back from checking on Yuri, I tore through this body-spawned hovel. Lifted carpets, pried attic boards. Then, shoving aside a corner cabinet revealed a secret nook: crimson handprint contract scroll and black magic ritual tools. I spread my palm. Matched the print perfectly. This body—the avatar the Queen prepped to screw me—is a member of 『Crimson Rebirth』. The ones Yuri's hunting. Oh, playing dirty? Fine. Pit me against Yuri, huh? Then I'll go with the redeemed villain arc. This dropped me hasn't harmed anyone. Set the mood: I got tempted by a frail body fix. But seeing you made me repent. Sorry. No crimes yet, so give me a chance. I'll cooperate. Roll with that... Wait. Hold up. I... fixed the ugly face. Before entering. Remodeled the avatar model, not the world settings. So I'm a "pig orc who suddenly turned handsome."
Looks like I slaved for 『Crimson Rebirth』, sacrificed people, and finally prettied myself up. Hoisted by my own petard!
"Swap the info now...!!"
No dice. Queen gripped the evidence tight, hunkered in defense. Plans to paint me the villain. You bastard. Just like that, I became the villain obsessed with (in some sense, city's peacekeeper) hero...
Watching it all from the 『Nest』, the Queen finally relaxed and laughed. By her lights, he had no escape. His superhuman cunning had her sweating bullets, but... Need the 『key』 for basement 2, the heart's depths. But he's tagged as 『Crimson Rebirth』 scum, and Yuri guards her key fiercely. Click-click-click. Fate would expose him. Because she'd make it so. Corner yourself, mage. Squirm in panic. Then, at the dead end, scream it's for Yuri Lanster's sake as you snatch her key. That instant—extreme betrayal hitting Yuri's consciousness, branding the mage 'enemy' in her mental barrier. The moment this little world turns hostile. The Queen bares her claws, hunts him down, shreds, and devours.