Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Visiting the Sick and Hassan's Club
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Swish. Swish. Crunch.
Hippolyte tied her belt around my eyes. She checked the knot over and over to make sure it was secure.
"There. That puts my mind at ease."
I truly couldn't see a thing. But because of that, my other senses—nose, ears, and all—seemed heightened.
The belt covering my eyes carried the faint, feminine scent unique to her, making my head spin.
Taking advantage of my distraction, there came a swish, swish, as something's knots were undone and slipped off.
Rustle.
Soon, the distinct sound of a person's weight settling softly onto the deer hide reached me clearly.
"All right. Now give it a try."
From Hippolyte's words, I could gauge her approximate position.
A massage with my eyes blindfolded. This was a strangely thrilling experience in its own way.
Pat, pat, pat.
My hand groped through the air. It soon sank deep into soft, warm flesh.
"Hyaah!?"
At the same moment, Hippolyte let out a startled yelp.
"W-what are you touching, you pervert!"
"Where did I touch you!?"
"Ugh, you idiot. My foot's over here."
Swish, stroke.
Something broad and warm touched near my chest. It had to be Hippolyte's sole.
I grabbed her foot with my hand where it pressed against my chest.
"...Then I'll touch it now."
"Uwaa..."
Even without sight, her sole felt unmistakably feminine—slim, soft, and moist.
Stroke, stroke.
Her ankle was slender, her toes long. The right foot.
I'd thought a female warrior's feet would be rougher, but they were surprisingly soft. Did she, like other women in this world, take meticulous care of them?
"I'll touch a bit more to get a feel..."
"..."
Her nails were neatly trimmed—not too long or sharp. The only oddity was that her big toe was slightly longer than the second toe.
And perhaps due to her high metabolism, her body heat was intense, her skin faintly sweaty in a tantalizing way. Well, she'd just had shoes on, so that was natural.
Sniff, sniff.
"...Sniff me and I'll choke you. Breathe through your mouth."
"Y-yes..."
Under her strict order, I was forced to breathe through my mouth. A twinge of regret hit me, but I steeled myself to savor the texture of her sole with my hands.
Gently, gently.
First, I traced her foot with my fingers to memorize its shape in my mind.
Slipping fingers between toes. Stroking with my thumb.
Or scraping my nail along the arch of her sole.
"..."
Curious about her reaction, I listened closely, but surprisingly, no sound came.
Unlike Luna, whose soles were sensitive, was Hippolyte different? If I'd massaged Luna's like this, she'd be mewling like a cat in heat by now.
On a hunch, I groped up to the top of her foot. My thumb found the Taichong acupoint.
More precisely, the point on the instep where the second toe and big toe diverge.
Why did I press it firmly?
"...Ngh."
It's a spot that elicits a strong reaction even with simple pressure. And easy to locate blindfolded.
Press, press.
"...Urgh."
As I pressed her Taichong, a weak moan escaped her lips. My confidence surged.
Riding the momentum, I pressed Yongquan and other acupoints, testing my skills. When else would I get to massage a female warrior's feet?
"Urgh, hngh..."
Her growing sound effects were reward enough to thrill me.
Pushing up from heel to toes with both thumbs, her leg quivered.
"Hngh...!"
Sweat from my hands and her sole made my fingers glide effortlessly over her skin and points.
Sloooow push, sloooow push.
"Haa, uhaaah...!"
"Does it hurt?"
"N-no, not that. Ahem. Enough hand play. Now try that stick massage thing."
"Oh."
I'd been so absorbed in her sole that I'd forgotten the original purpose.
I groped for the club and rolled its rounded end over her sole.
"Hngh, haaah..."
Hippolyte, who'd stifled moans under my hands, now melted with unfiltered sounds.
"How's that?"
"I-it feels pretty good. The fatigue... it's melting away... hnghaa..."
Frankly, relieving foot fatigue eases half the body's weariness. Feet bear the brunt of daily—and lifelong—abuse.
Hippolyte, ever energetic and taking on Silver-tier quests, must have accumulated unseen strain.
In a world without massage or proper rest concepts, that fatigue had piled up deep in her body—right here in her soles.
"Haa, ngh, nggh... urgh! S-still, that thing..."
"The other foot's left."
I grabbed her left foot as she tried to pull away, repeating the acupoint massage and club rolling just like the right.
Stroke, strooooke. Pressss.
"Ghuk, kuh, haangh..."
Each time, her sole grew hotter, her breaths ragged as if she couldn't endure.
Was her mind too scattered to resist now?
"How's my massage skill, Lady Hippolyte?"
"Hngh, nggh..."
Slowly sliding my hands up from her foot, I kneaded the soft calf muscles.
"Hnght, aaah...!"
Her leg twitched in spasms, every muscle tensing excessively.
Ding-.
Some artificial sound effect rang out. With my eyes covered, I couldn't see the text.
Should I peek under the blindfold?
As I pondered.
Woof, woof, woof woof!
Sudden barking erupted from downstairs.
No dogs in this cabin. It had to be Luna's wolf spider, kyungkyung.
"W-what is it!?"
Hippolyte rustled in panic.
Swish, swish.
She tied something, then untied my blindfold.
My vision cleared to reveal Hippolyte's face flushed crimson, nearly bursting. Tears streaking her eyes?
Woof, woof woof!
"Something's downstairs."
"The wolf spider, probably."
"I see. Why's it barking suddenly?"
"I don't really kn—"
I don't even get why a spider barks like a dog. How could I answer why it was?
Maybe it just felt like it.
"Ahem, w-well, anyway, you're more capable than I thought, Samaritan. You've got at least one useful talent."
As the barking continued, Hippolyte straightened her clothes and hair. She exhaled deeply, regaining composure before adding calmly.
"But it's sloppy. Poor mana control, probably. Makes it half-baked. Guess I'll have to... specially guide you from now on."
"Guide me in massages?"
"Yes. Once a week from—"
As Hippolyte began.
Woof, woof woof!
kyungkyung's barks grew frantic, followed by a clank as if a lock released.
Hippolyte and I fell silent in unison. The air turned icy still.
Clank, click.
Woof woof!
"Why's kyungkyung barking so much? I'm home, Hassan!"
The door opened downstairs, a bright voice following. Luna was back.
Swish, swish.
Shoes shed in the entryway. I hurriedly scanned around.
Pushing the flustered Hippolyte aside, I lay on the deer hide and pulled the blanket over me.
Step, step.
"Hassan, you were waiting!"
Luna's bare feet hit the stairs. Her pink hair's crown appeared, then her beaming face.
"Hm?"
Her smile faded, brows furrowing.
"Oh? Hippolyte's here? When'd you arrive?"
"N-Noxdoty. I was waiting too. Just got here myself."
Hippolyte sat cross-legged beside me, arms folded, acting as if nothing happened. I lay still, feigning innocence.
I didn't know why, but it felt necessary. Hippolyte must have sensed the same, scrambling earlier.
"Why's Hippolyte all sweaty?"
Sniff sniff.
Luna twitched her nose.
"Got bored waiting, so I exercised a bit. Ahem."
"Hmm."
Roll roll.
Luna's emerald eyes darted around the room.
When they passed over my face, my legs nearly buckled. Why was my heart pounding? I hadn't done anything wrong.
"Hey! The pot's broken!"
Luna at the entrance spotted something, rushed in, and pouted at the floor.
"I worked so hard on it!"
Clink, clatter.
She picked up the earthen shards, yelling. Probably what Hippolyte smashed swinging my club.
"Hippolyte, you broke it! How could you smash someone else's stuff?"
"I... I'll compensate. How much?"
"3 silver!"
Hippolyte's brows creased.
"No, that's unreasonable. A crude pot for 3 silver?"
"3 silver!"
* * *
Hippolyte left after saying she'd fetch the money.
"Got 3 silver! Yay!"
Seeing Luna's joy eased my sigh of relief.
Having her and Hippolyte together in this cramped space had stirred unease in me.
Did Hippolyte feel awkward too, using money as an excuse to leave?
"3 silver! Earned cash without working today!"
"Wasn't that your precious jar?"
"Nah, just trash from the dump. Don't tell Hippolyte."
She pressed a finger to her lips, shushing me. Selling dump trash for 3 silver—okay?
Anyway, Luna fidgeted excitedly over her windfall, giggling alone until curiosity furrowed her brow.
"But why'd Hippolyte come here?"
"S-something about promoting a potion. Said she had words."
"Oh, that. So you two were alone till now?"
Luna gazed down with narrowed eyes. Emotionless, blank—eerie contrast to her usual smiles.
I flinched like prey spotted by a hunter.
"Alone? kyungkyung was here."
"Right!" Luna brightened. My chest tingled with relief, but she asked calmly again.
"So, what'd you talk about while I was gone?"
"Nothing much. Cultists dragged to Prison City or something. That's it."
"...Lie and I'll bite you."
"B-bite what? Bite?"
"Hassan's club."
She ended it there. My club? What did that mean? Why bite a club!
Step, step.
Luna headed downstairs.
Crisis over? No.
She returned with the colorful wolf spider kyungkyung on her palm. A giant spider on a hand!
"W-why'd you bring that!? You know I'm scared of spiders!"
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, kyungkyung, did Hassan do anything weird with Hippolyte?"
Woof, woof!
Luna's brows furrowed at the bark. I felt bewildered and wronged.
"Why ask it?"
"Wolf spiders are smart. Raise with love, they understand a few human words."
"Even so..."
"Let's test. kyungkyung, if Hassan did bad stuff behind my back, woof. If nothing with Hippolyte, whine."
She was convinced something happened. Using a beast to punish me?
"Hey, it only woofs. It's a wolf spider..."
"Shh. Quiet, Hassan."
Swish-.
The spider's eight red eyes fixed on me from her palm. Eight reflections of me!!
Twitch, twitch.
Its huge fangs clicked, tension building for a bark.
"Hioong..."
"Hassan, I said quiet."
Tch, no dice.
A spider holding my fate? Spiders and I never mix.
Hioong.
[Author's Note]
Huuuup...!!
Gldobi Mitchuri holding breath...!!!