Chapter 53
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Hang Tough, Robert
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"Just leave the firewood by our party's spot. I have some personal business with the instructor now, so I'd appreciate it if you didn't follow."
Rike's voice was ice-cold.
"Uh... w-what?"
Standing behind her with a blank look on his face, Robert clutched the firewood.
I was being dragged away by Rike, who had grabbed my sleeve, and my mind raced.
'...She finally made up her mind.'
Rike had always agonized over the pros and cons of going public with our relationship, weighing every possibility.
For someone as patient as her to resort to such an impulsive move... Robert was impressive in his own way.
'If this is my woman's choice, I'll play along as best I can.'
Rike, now a complete master at undressing me, unbuckled my belt with fluid ease. My cock sprang free into the cool air.
She licked her lips at the sight, then parted them without hesitation.
"Haam—"
I always thought the same: the moment the head touched her warm, wet tongue was pure bliss.
"Chup... slurp... pfah... chuup..."
She took my cock in her mouth, deliberately making louder, sluttier sounds than usual, spewing vulgar words as if for someone to hear.
Even using blood magic she'd been holding back on in practice—claiming it was still experimental—Rike's ferocious intensity was enough to intimidate Robert. Even I, who prided myself on having seen it all, had to admit it was no joke.
'Better not piss her off...'
Robert was frozen behind a tree, unable to flee or intervene, just taking it helplessly.
The woman who'd been ignoring him had finally snapped, deciding to crush him utterly.
Like a frog that spots a snake, Robert's body had petrified. While Rike drowned me in pleasure, he didn't twitch once.
He's not gonna stay like that for the next fifteen days, is he?
The situation was crystal clear.
One side: paradise of devotion and service.
The other: undeniable hellfire.
'...Did he die on the spot?'
If I were Robert, I might've sprayed blood from all seven orifices and keeled over.
Floating in that hot, soft space, I let the rising excitement and urge to cum overwhelm me. Without holding back, I unleashed straight into Rike's mouth.
Spurt—!! Splurt, splat!
"Mmgh!! Glrk..."
Grabbing my thighs tightly out of habit, she took me deep into her throat.
Gulp!
Rike swallowed every drop cleanly, then flashed a smile toward the side.
Pababak—!
Robert bolted faster than he ever had in practical combat class, not even glancing back.
'That bastard... he's quick.'
..
"You okay?"
"Hoo... probably...?"
I stroked Rike's head as she rose and nestled into my arms.
"If anything comes up, don't hide it—tell me right away. I'll keep an eye out too."
"Sorry, bro... doing it so suddenly like this... I should've held out longer."
Rike seemed lost in thought, regretting her impulsive outburst.
I slid my hand down, groping her ass as lewdly as possible.
A dumbfounded laugh burst from Rike's stiffened face.
"Sorry? I loved how fresh it felt."
Pfft... "Still, I hate the idea of any other guy seeing you but me."
A given. I nodded, stroking her hair.
"...If any issues pop up from now on, I'll handle them all. You just focus on academy classes and training."
"But...!"
"Compared to Platinum rank, who gives a damn about some marquis's son... Don't sweat the small stuff."
I pulled her tight, speaking more authoritatively than usual.
Then I whispered softly into her pale ear.
"If you wanna get pregnant, keep your eyes on the prize, right? I can't wait to see our kid."
As I gently caressed her lower belly with one hand, she crossed her legs, her whole body shivering.
Rike shook off her gloom, her face flushed as she beamed.
"Eek... Got it! I'll focus on what I need to do... I wanna see it soon too!"
After a light kiss to reassure her, I headed back to camp first, spacing out our return.
..
'Where's Robert?'
Back at camp, I scanned for him right away.
As the instructor responsible for the cadets, it wouldn't do for student Robert to just wander off.
'There he is...'
Everyone else hustled about, but he was in his tent, head down, sprawled out.
Sobbing his eyes out?
A circle of girls sat around, watching him with worried eyes.
Being consoled by noble young ladies? Robert's living the dream.
"Ah! Instructor! Help us out!"
I'd only stepped away briefly, but camp was chaos.
I figured maybe five or six parties couldn't even light a fire.
Way more than that were fumbling hopelessly.
Armored Eclair stared blankly at Chloe from a corner, no role for her.
Church priests had been making rounds helping cadets in my absence, so I apologized to them and got moving fast.
"Sorry, priests!"
"Haha, no worries. Managing this whole area alone must keep you busy. It's nostalgic for us—quite enjoyable."
I'd just blown a hot load, actually.
Couldn't say that, so I chuckled along with them, hands and feet busy.
Rike returned with a relieved expression, her mind settled, hauling firewood again.
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It took a while, but every party finally got their fires going.
First session over, and already some cadets—unused to outdoors—looked drained.
"Focus!!"
My booming voice drew every eye.
"Rest until lunch. Parties who couldn't get a proper fire without instructor or priest help—discuss with your members what went wrong."
Swish—
I ducked into the tent. Armored Eclair followed.
She didn't sit, diving straight in.
"More unexpected than I thought... but seeing it, I get it. Your lover's identity is crystal clear now."
A distorted voice came through the helmet.
Not pleasant to hear—my eyes twitched instinctively.
"What... from what you saw earlier?"
With Eclair's senses, she'd naturally spotted Rike dragging me off.
If focused, more—but her reaction said not quite.
She'd been fixated on Chloe stacking kindling with Seria.
"That too, but... the way she looks at you stands out. You know that, right?"
"Looks? Haha! Rike does give me the hot gaze."
I couldn't help chuckling.
Eclair wouldn't know about Rike's nominal fiancé.
Easy to uncover, but the Five Knights role was too grand for such trivia.
Wonder what she'd say if she knew.
Freak out over impropriety? Or ignore the headache?
"Not just hot—seems like you're the only one she even sees as human... But is this relationship problem-free to begin with?"
Unclear if she meant adventurer-noble or cadet-instructor, but I leaned into the latter.
"I'm human too—admit I pay a bit more attention in class... But I'm not grading or testing. No unfair favors or collusion, I swear."
"Sigh... I'll assume you handle yourself."
Surprised at her quick retreat, I asked,
"So... watching, what do you think?"
No subject needed—she got it.
Fiddling with her metal helmet, she gave honest thoughts.
"...You're thriving at the academy—what matters most. And unlike me, your friendships look solid. Relieved."
As she said, Seria and Rike latching onto Chloe was perfect timing.
If Chloe wandered Knight Department alone, stacking wood with sad eyes... Eclair's mental state?
I'd have forced a team if not.
"But Skadi in that group..."
A heavy aura slipped out unconsciously, red eyes glaring at me.
"Wild coincidence. Our back-alley meeting was chance, and me helping? Just how it shook out."
I had nothing to hide.
"But... Platinum adventurer and a marquis's daughter... Chloe's friend..."
No clue what face hid in that helmet.
Eclair looked pained, shaking her head.
She gave up, acquiescing.
"Drop it. After lunch, spar one-on-one 'til dinner, correct techniques."
"Your usual class style, huh..."
Not laziness—part of the plan.
"Gonna cover Knight Department for me?"