Chapter 164
Chapter 164
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Lingering Pleasure and Succubus Descent
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That day, after experiencing countless orgasms at Max's Fantasy Shop, Niki was still lost in the sensations from it.
A fluffy, dreamy feeling.
Her lower abdomen felt warm, and her chest refused to settle down.
Whenever she tried to forget, the thoughts resurfaced, and just as they seemed to fade, her heart would race again, reminding her.
That the experience wasn't just a dream.
Her body felt limp and drained, occasionally slipping into a languid haze that made her want to drift off to sleep—a profound sense of fulfillment.
It was like the illusion of someone constantly embracing her, evoking emotions she'd never felt as a hero.
It just felt good.
She found herself smiling for no reason, and the smiles turned into pure happiness.
It wasn't like the exhaustion of falling asleep at an inn after battling monsters, nor the thrill of discovering a new world.
"Hmm~."
A tune escaped her lips unbidden.
Then, suddenly, she missed Max.
She wanted to experience all those illusions he'd shown her once more.
She wondered what kind of pleasure the next floor would bring.
Despite her burning desire, she hadn't gone back.
-Because until it calms down, absolutely do not come.
It was because of Max's firm warning.
She decided to heed his advice that her current condition wouldn't allow her to endure it.
Just his gentle caress on her lower abdomen had triggered warning signals, after all.
Of course, the side effect was that she kept thinking about Max and his Fantasy Shop.
"...Did you hear what I said?"
Saintess Eirin whispered in a small voice.
Snapping back to reality, Niki shook her head.
"What, what did you say?"
"...Is something wrong? You seem distracted..."
Eirin's eyes narrowed as she spoke.
"S-Sorry... I was lost in thought for a moment."
"Hmm, is that so? Did you visit some strange place?"
"W-What do you mean by strange place?"
"Your face is flushed, and your breathing is heavy. It looks just like a woman aroused by lust, so I asked."
"S-Saintess, what kind of weird thing is that to say? Ho ho, n-no, it's not like that at all..."
Eirin didn't respond.
"I see. Must have been my mistake."
At Eirin's words, Niki felt her heart drop.
Even indirect words brought back memories of that day, filling her with embarrassment.
She hadn't imagined the shop would infiltrate her daily life so deeply.
Now she understood why Yuris had recommended it so enthusiastically.
'If Yuris knows... does that mean she went through something like this too?'
Her face burned.
'What did Yuris see?'
Something like conquering a dungeon and getting overwhelmed?
No. She's a strong female warrior, so she probably dominated men beneath her like a queen.
It seemed reasonable, given how perfectly Yuris controlled the knights on the training grounds and battlefield.
'That might be a little hot.'
Just imagining someone else's desires made her embarrassed.
Deep in her own fantasies, Niki didn't notice Eirin watching her with narrowed eyes.
"Ahem, anyway, a new demon has descended."
"...A demon?"
Only then did Niki properly register Eirin's words and ask back.
"Yes. Normally, before the summoning completes, holy knights and inquisitors arrive to exorcise the weakened demon or execute the heretics drawing the circle. But this demon was different."
"Did it get away?"
"Yes, it did. I tried binding it with Divine Word, but it didn't work. It ignored my Divine Word and left."
At those words, Niki felt her mind sharpen.
"If it ignored Divine Word, could it be the Demon King...?"
"No. If the Demon King had descended again, you would have sensed it, Hero."
"Then what was summoned?"
"A succubus."
Niki frowned at the word.
"That annoying lust demon descended?"
"Yes."
"The heretics' doing?"
Eirin shook her head.
"Probably not. There were no signs of a summoning ritual nearby. If there had been, traces would remain."
"So we don't know why it was summoned?"
"The priests and inquisitors are investigating."
Niki noticed Eirin's voice was louder than usual.
As the saintess whose Divine Word activated even in speech, Eirin could only converse freely with Niki.
But today, her voice carried even more force.
Almost like she was angry.
'Because of the lust demon?'
Maybe she was annoyed that Divine Word hadn't worked.
"A lust demon immune to Divine Word..."
"That's why I called you, Hero. I need your help now."
Niki bit her lip.
In the past, she would have been thrilled at the excuse to leave the capital.
But not today.
'I don't want to leave the capital.'
Still, she had no reason to refuse.
Who else would slay demons if not the hero?
She'd been treated well because she had the power to defeat them.
"You won't ignore slaying this lust demon, right?"
The saintess said.
Why did it feel like there was a strange hostility in Eirin's words?
"Of course not. The hero can't sit out demon extermination."
"Go to the site first. The priests should be tracking its location by now."
"Got it. Aren't you coming, Saintess?"
"I'll stay in the capital. Just in case—it might target His Majesty and come here."
"Even though Divine Word didn't work."
"With the elite holy knights and the power of the holy site, we can handle it."
It was a convincing reason.
"Alright. Guess I'll move alone this time."
It was regrettable not visiting Max's shop for a while, but she couldn't neglect her duties.
She was a hero before she was a woman.
"I'll be back."
"Please take care."
Eirin watched the departing Niki with a bright smile.
Having seen Niki's embarrassed expression, Eirin instinctively knew.
'She went.'
To Max's Fantasy Shop.
Anyone who visited always ended up with that female look, no matter their occupation.
Distracted, dazed, as if entranced.
She knew because she'd been the same.
'While I was dealing with the lust demon, she was enjoying herself alone?'
Niki always bragged about wandering everywhere.
But it irked her that she hadn't shown up for this important demon subjugation.
It was from their old agreement.
After the Demon King was defeated, summoned demons were much weaker, so the church could handle them primarily.
The hero would only step in for those the church couldn't manage.
It was a contract made after slaying the Demon King, but Eirin resented Niki enjoying it alone.
That's why she'd said she'd stay in the capital.
So she could enjoy it alone too, matching what Niki had done.
'Who wouldn't want to go?'
She'd wanted to go countless times.
To visit Max's shop.
She hadn't even summoned him to the church for his services.
But she'd held back, fearing one more visit would cross an irreversible line.
Niki going alone made her blurt it out in petty jealousy.
'We can't even go together, so why say that.'
Sorry, Sister Niki.
I must have lost my mind to desire for a moment.
'I'll apologize when you return.'
But what was done was done.
'Just a little... maybe I can go and come back?'
She needed full preparation.
She'd sworn a vow of chastity to the Goddess, pledging to protect her purity.
To become a saintess, she had to remain a virgin.
She had to guard her virginity no matter what.
Visiting that place was burdensome for her in many ways.
But.
'There is a way...'
She'd heard of a method used by nuns long ago to overcome loneliness.
Using a talisman imbued with special power.
That power turned a non-genital area into a genital-like one.
Attaching the talisman with that special power to a specific spot would let the divine power within work a miracle.
It was information from a book she'd found by chance in the library.
A method from the early days of the Goddess Church.
Of course, records noted that centuries ago, it was deemed demon-summoning sorcery and all related texts became forbidden.
She'd been shocked when she first read it.
Before slaying the Demon King, seeing such sorcery, she'd purified her eyes, ears, and mouth that had witnessed it.
But now, it was the sorcery that could help her most.
'If it succeeds...'
Eirin had already summoned Max to the church and had him etch a lewd gate on her lower abdomen.
Intoxicated by pleasure and a touch of jealousy, Eirin sped forward like a car with broken brakes.
"Let's do it."
Her self-directed words moved her like Divine Word.
Eirin's face flushed bright red.
"Hmm..."
That morning, I read the newly released newspaper.
-Goldmoon launches new 'delivery' service via temperature-preservation boxes.
-We deliver freshly made dishes from the shop hot to your home.
-Enjoy the taste of just-cooked meals from the shop at home.
Goldmoon had developed a new magic.
Not delivery itself, but the essential insulated box for it.
A box that preserved the temperature of hot or cold food for hours just by placing it inside.
They promoted it as efficient enough for nobles and commoners alike.
It was set to revolutionize delivery.
It was a new product announced at the same conference where Tia and I unveiled our mana battery recently.
Also revolutionary, but overshadowed by our mana battery.
'But the insulated box can be commercialized right away.'
Goldmoon sure knew how to make money.
Delivery, huh.
"Might be handy for days when even going out feels like a chore."
As I thought that and folded the newspaper,
"M-Max Brother..."
A timid voice crept in.
Anyone could tell it was the saintess's voice.