The Woman Who Digs for Secrets
"I'm Tia, an adventurer of the same rank."
"You were affiliated with the church."
The regent flipped through the papers in the folder she held, her voice steady.
"From age ten for six years, correct?"
"Yes…!"
"And after that, you met two adventurers of the same rank and adventured together in the same party for three years."
"Just as you said."
"What happened there?"
It's okay, don't be nervous, I encouraged Tia from within.
There was no way Tia spilling a bit of my story would cause trouble. On the contrary, the info I'd gain stepping into the human world far outweighed it.
No need to beat around the bush clumsily. Stick to your concept.
Squeeze…. Squeeze…. A firm response rippled through her entire body.
Her concept was that of a pitiful female adventurer who'd barely escaped a monster den. Just recalling that day laced her voice with terror.
"…My companions and I encountered orcs and goblins in the forest."
"Orcs and goblins? That was all?"
The regent's hand, scribbling Tia's words, stopped dead.
We weren't mentioning the Flesh Incarnation. If our home was like a nation, that was military secret intel. Info on defensive constructs was top secret.
"After losing to the orcs and goblins, we were dragged somewhere. There, I met a monster with a massive body and grotesque tentacles sprouting from it."
"The orcs and goblins didn't kill you but took you to that monster?"
"Yes."
Ugh. The red-haired vice-captain watching us sharpened her gaze fiercely. Her piercing eyes even made me flinch.
Would Tia be okay…? That woman's intimidating aura was no joke.
"Has a monster with those features ever been reported?"
The regent turned to the guildmaster.
"Ah, no. Not that I know of."
"Was it a completely new type of monster? Could it have been a misidentification of a worm or slime?"
"The appearance, texture, size… all totally different. It was… imposing…."
Oh. Calling it imposing was almost a compliment. Luckily, everyone glossed over it.
The regent's pen hesitated. After a moment's thought, she spoke.
"Your Highness. Only the Demon King can command monsters."
"A forest monster is one of the Demon King's kin?"
Kin… like family?
Demon King family wouldn't be wrong. Bog brothers and Younghee really were allocated from big sis, after all. We hadn't seen or met since, but I figured we'd gotten help.
"How'd you escape?"
The sharp-eyed redhead cut in abruptly.
"You look too healthy for someone captured by a monster."
Sharp one.
Active-duty pros were different. But we'd anticipated questions like that. Answers were prepped.
"Ah, well… um…."
Dude. Why flinch? Vice-captain's glare was scary as hell, sure.
"Vice-captain. Staring like that scares the answers right out…."
"What? I was just looking."
"Ease up on the eyes. Ease up."
"…Wasn't trying to intimidate. Take your time answering."
Tia took a deep breath and spoke.
"The monster didn't try to kill me."
"What?"
"The monster… wants women to bear its young."
The knightswoman furrowed her brow, her pretty face turning fierce. Still pretty, though. A steadfast knightswoman and a tentacle monster? Perfect match.
In the audience chamber where the princess, who looked just past twenty, sat personally, uttering such irreverent words was taboo. Everyone glanced nervously.
I, on the other hand, was uncontainably amused. A monster attempting intercourse with humans to breed offspring—something surely happening somewhere in this world as reality. The mere idea entering the noble princess's delicate ears, manifesting in imagination, challenged the ornate authority they'd built. Savage threat to the human species itself.
"All the captured women… mated with the monster."
Not all, though. Picky about faces, me.
I get tweaking for convenience, but at least later, make it known as gourmet tentacle monster?
Squeeze!! Urgh. Pussy squeezing me to death!!
"That monster attempts to breed with humans like orcs or goblins do?"
The regent's tone was already repulsed. Those royal milk tanks… I'd impregnate 'em eyepatch and all….
"Yes…."
Sighs of "Premium's curse" leaked from all around. The knightswoman scowled and said,
"Then the others are still captured?"
"Yes, I slipped the monster's watch and barely escaped… but the others are still there."
"Damn. That thing's nesting in the kingdom's front yard and we never knew."
"Vice-captain Siroko. Her Highness is present. Mind your tongue."
We couldn't stop the kingdom mobilizing for subjugation anyway. Better if she came. Pin her down, flood the womb with seed—might work out.
I schemed darkly, observing Siroko's pretty profile. She was pissed. Angry at herself for doing nothing till now despite such a monster existing. I'd pegged her sharp eyes for thug vibes, but she seemed upright, trusted by her subordinates.
"We can't leave such a vile monster alive."
The princess finally spoke. After Tia's mating tale, no one dared oppose.
Ends up like this, huh.
"White Flame Knights. Mobilize as soon as preparations are complete."
"Yes!"
"Adventurer Tia."
"Yes!"
Tia snapped tense at the princess's call.
"You've suffered much. Guildmaster, raise her rank to silver."
"Th-thank you."
Solid reward. Back at the guild, Tia stared blankly at her silver-rank license.
What's up?
"This… was everyone's dream."
She seemed lost in thought. Like it felt like Jade's life-price or something.
Tia's party thought they'd have grown bigger if I hadn't nipped the buds. Silver rank after three years' work. One word from the princess skipped all the hassle—Tia was now proudly silver-rank adventurer.
"Can I stop somewhere briefly?"
Go for it.
Tia stood before a fountain statue on the village edge, praying quietly. For the dead.
Near the horned woman statue lay countless ownerless bouquets. Tia bought a flower, placed it there, and picked up a worn coin from the fountain basin.
Whatcha doing?
"To remember the dead, we take one each."
Heavy vibe…. I felt guilty for no reason, staying still and quiet.
"Jade was… a grateful man…."
She smiled faintly.
More stops?
"Mm, one more. Grab some church clothes Chokgoe likes while I'm at it."
Oh.
Couldn't resist that…! Navy and white harmony screaming prim, yet exposing tits, waist curves, thighs bare—perv nun cosplay. Had to add to the cosplay collection. Drooling already.
"No melting this time."
Yep.
"Walking together like this… feels kinda like a date, right?"
If holding pussy instead of hand counts as a date.
"Sex with Chokgoe while walking around♡"
Strutting with female pheromones wafting, guys stared hard. Tia's eyes slightly glazed, looking fatally defenseless and lewd—drawing male gazes just by existing.
"Hey, check her out."
"Hot…."
Move quick, move.
Churn churn churn. Stirred her insides for a wake-up.
Tia snapped to.
"Nng… panties soaked…."
We reached the church she'd indebted to as a kid. Grand building, but empty. Inside all marble, walls and ceiling covered in massive murals.
Those murals grabbed my eye.
One wall dedicated entirely: hellscape of monsters pouring from every corner of the world. From human view, ominous as hell—why paint that on a wall?
Premium….
At the hellscape's end stood Premium. Golden blonde twintail goddess who'd led me here. Leading filthy monster hordes like sludge, yet as she said, shining brighter amid the murk. Naturally, as a goddess should.
Opposite her, a silver-haired goddess with horns faced off.
Your church worships Premium?
"Not worship. Just… for research…."
Didn't you hate monsters?
"I don't know much about the church. Lived here young, but learning rites was overwhelming… couldn't mingle with sisters."
Like school for Tia. I couldn't shake why such murals were in a city of people.
"My, want the Star's teachings?"
Shit, startled me! When'd she sneak up? Tentacle Sense on alert, yet missed her!
This woman… whoa! Massive milk tanks too! Big-milk city paradise?
Another in perv nun cosplay! Loving this church more by the minute. Tia, Libia, now… only prime pussies verified? For real?
"I…."
Before Tia could speak, the woman flashed a seductive smile like she'd devour her, closing in shamelessly.
Splat. Milk tanks collided—big-milk Big Bang nearly blacked me out.
"Th-the mural caught my eye."
"This one? Hehe. Kinda unique, right? Why a demon god mural folks shun."
"……."
Nod. Tia seamlessly continued our chat with her.
"We don't forbid inquiry. That's the distant star's teaching."
Seemed kindly big-sis type outwardly. Long brown hair suited her perfectly. Sparkling blue eyes preached on.
"Curious about the church? All is subject to inquiry! Source of wisdom! Feel the joy of expanding horizons exploring this fascinating world?"
"Bit late, but… I'm already church-affiliated."
"Oh my oh my."
"But I'm… n-not great with st-studying…."
Heavy on studies here…. Got why Tia looked uneasy.
"I see…. Alone? Sister?"
"Ah, yes. Lost my church clothes… came for a few."
Vibe shifted. The chatty woman went silent; chill like temp dropped degrees.
Her sparkling blue eyes cooled to corpse-pupil chill, glaring at Tia.
"Then… who exactly was my sister talking to?"