Chapter 131 - Picking Up Yet Another Woman
A man was snoring away peacefully on the bed. The sun had long since risen, and lunchtime was fast approaching.
“Hngh...”
“Hey, get up!”
Charlotte grabbed Jed's ear and yanked.
“Ack!”
“How much booze did you chug with Daron to still be out cold at this hour?”
“Ch-Charlotte?!”
Jed bolted upright, scanning the room. Memories of fucking Lilith last night made him think there'd be traces of her beside him. But when he actually sat up...
“You're still out of it, huh.”
All that was in front of him was Charlotte, pissed off because he hadn't checked in late last night.
“Ch-Charlotte?”
“Ugh, you reek of booze. Hurry up and get out. We already got hit with extra checkout fees.”
“Uh... yeah.”
Only then did Jed realize he was still dressed. He glanced my way, and when I smirked at him, he caught on that I'd pulled some strings. I'd doused him just enough in booze to make it convincing and even planted a kiss on his lips myself. Charlotte hadn't suspected a thing, too focused on waking his ass up.
“Hurry the fuck up!”
Once Charlotte stormed downstairs first, Jed finally crawled out of bed and smoothed his wrinkled clothes.
“Phew.”
“How was it?”
“Ahem.”
Jed had already forgotten nearly getting busted with that one-night stand and flashed a sleazy grin. Silence was his yes.
“Heh.”
What a fucking clown.
......
“Oh.”
We regrouped to head out monster hunting, and right there, Jed froze in shock.
“You.”
“Jed, you know her?”
“N-no?”
There were two new women. Seira and Lilith, the ones I'd seen yesterday. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead at Lilith—the one he'd banged—showing up. She played it off awkwardly with a sheepish smile, just as I'd ordered. The choker around her neck hid her demon traits, but joining the group she'd been fighting until yesterday must feel ridiculous even to her. Plus, I hadn't fully broken her mind yet.
She had no choice but to play along if she wanted to keep breathing.
“So you're the new bitches Daron scouted, huh?”
Kelly strode up and planted herself in front of Seira and Lilith.
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
“Hmm... a timid one and a shady one... Daron, you didn't just grab 'em 'cause they're hot, did you?”
“Seira. Show 'em.”
“Y-yes! Sorry about this!”
Seira threw a punch laced with mana out of nowhere. She didn't reveal she was a dragon, but she had to show enough skill to earn her spot. Kelly blocked the surprise attack. The key was that even Kelly got pushed back.
“Whoa, what the hell's with that mana? It's a crude haymaker, but the density's insane.”
Mom must've taught her well—Seira knew how to fight. She wasn't drilled to perfection like Ariana or Kelly, but overpowering Kelly proved her worth.
“Alright, you're in! What about you?”
“I, um...”
She could use mana pretending to be human since she was a dragon, but faking demon? No way. The choker hid it, but forcing it out would blow her cover.
“She knows the local terrain well. Brought her along 'cause she's friends with Seira.”
“Hmph. Looks like she'd be good for some nighttime fun, though.”
She fucking sucked.
“Fine, whatever. You come too. Hero! Saintess! You cool with this?”
“Not really.”
“I'd love to say no, but... sigh.”
Ray let her true feelings slip. No one had brought it up, but both Kelly and Ray had guessed my connection to these two. They probably never imagined I'd snag a pair overnight. Hell, neither did I. But how could I just leave a dragon and a demon hanging?
Seira would make a solid card down the line, and the demon bitch? Use her up and toss if needed, but she'd still pull some weight.
In the end, with Kelly, Charlotte, and even Ray signing off, the two new women officially joined.
“And someone else was coming. Oh, there they are.”
Kelly pointed, and we spotted people heading our way in outfits that screamed importance. That crest... Hab Kingdom?
“Heard Hab Kingdom sent an investigation team. Grand Duke sent a cooperation letter bright and early this morning.”
“You guys?”
It was an immature-looking orange-haired woman.
“Yes, ma'am.”
Kelly using polite speech? Meant she was high up.
“You. Don't mercenaries like you know to watch your mouth? The hell? Not even on your knees?”
Kelly had shown proper respect, but this bitch was arrogant as fuck.
“Fiz. Teach this rude mercenary a lesson.”
She ordered the sharp-featured woman waiting behind her.
“Lady Natasha, couldn't we show some leniency?”
“What? You mouthing off to me too, Fiz?”
What the hell now. Natasha—the orange-haired one—grabbed her bodyguard's hair. The guard looked competent, but serving an idiot lord? Tough break.
“Hey. Cut the pathetic shit.”
“Who the fuck are you?!”
Natasha whipped around toward the voice, face screaming how dare you.
“Fiz. Hear what that bitch said to me? Make her pay for insulting royal blood.”
Royal blood? So some noble with royal lineage, not a full princess—hence no “highness.” No way a direct heir shows up for this anyway.
“Lady Natasha, that person is...”
The one chewing her out was none other than Saintess Ray. Natasha could sense her strength and let out a subtle pulse of holy power, basically saying know your place.
“The Saintess.”
“Wh-what?”
“And the Hero's next to her.”
Charlotte clearly hated this shit too. Even she'd hate dealing with a spoiled brat like that.
“F-fine, fine. Guess I'll let it slide with my generous heart.”
Natasha's face flushed red, then she nodded like she'd won some mental victory.
Why the fuck did they send this idiot as the rep? Fiz subtly bowed to us when Natasha wasn't looking—an apology for her shitty lord. Poor girl.
“So. You know why we're here?”
“Yeah. 'Cause merchants and envoys keep getting hit?”
Kelly hung back—she hated types like that—and Charlotte stepped up. She was the official leader anyway, and as Hero alongside the Saintess, rank didn't faze her.
“Right. Thought it was bandits, so we were gonna pin it on the duchy. But this morning, we heard it was monsters?”
“Daron claimed that. And it's true, so we were about to investigate.”
“Daron? Who's that?”
“Talk to this guy for details.”
Passing the bomb already?
“Who's Daron?”
“Pleased to meet you. Baron Dran.”
“Daron Dran, full name? Next time, bow deeper when you greet me. Effort's cute, though.”
Alone, maybe I'd treat her like a bitch in heat, but in public with all these eyes? I'd get fucked.
“Spill everything you know.”
“Yes, ma'am.”
I politely repeated what I'd told the Grand Duke—my hypotheses confirmed by prelim scouting. When I mentioned demon involvement, Natasha looked blank, but her guard Fiz stiffened.
“Hmm. So catch the ringleader first? Smash the demons too?”
“Yes. That'll scatter the monsters and bring peace.”
“Rewards?”
“Pardon?”
She wasn't seriously asking for candy after doing well, was she?
“The damages Hab Kingdom took crossing into the duchy. That's why we're here too.”
“But the monsters...”
“Monsters are monsters. Happened on Lancelot soil. Proper management from the start, and none of this shit happens.”
Stretchy logic, but pushy enough to stick. Looked like they came gunning for compensation.
Too annoying to argue.
“I'm not authorized to speak for Lancelot. Once this wraps, I'll ask the Grand Duke.”
“Yeah, as if a baron's got any pull.”
Natasha cackled, dismissing me. And with that, the chat wrapped sloppily.
Honestly, no one here truly feared her. Her entourage might, but our Lancelot side had the Hero, Saintess, Grand Duke—solid backup. Still, good relations with Hab mattered, and without the Grand Duke's stance, we played nice.
Royal bitch was pretty, but goddamn I wanted to slap her. Probably everyone else too.
After the brief commotion, final prep. I checked supplies, then eyed the women I'd fucked one by one. Kelly was busy with her mercs, Ray stuck close, wary of the newbies Seira and Lilith. Elinne hung with Charlotte but kept sneaking glances my way. Jed noticed and looked uncomfortable—probably 'cause I'd spilled about banging Elinne yesterday.
“Move out!”
Once everyone was geared, Charlotte's shout kicked off our real trek into the great plains.