Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Promising a Reunion
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I pulled Cheshire into a tight embrace. The sofa wasn't all that big—just enough for one person to lie down—but it was plenty spacious enough for the two of us wrapped up in each other's arms.
It might have been uncomfortable, but Cheshire, who had longed for human warmth, seemed utterly content just burying herself in my chest.
"No one's ever held me like this before. Everyone who came after me just wanted to eat me."
"Eat... you mean literally tear you apart and devour you?"
"Yeah. Most of the folks around here are cannibals. I always had to hide myself away tight. Plenty of them would lick their chops just at the sight of my skin."
"This place really is a fucking shithole."
"Hehe... right?"
What kind of life had she lived in the black market? It seemed like she'd survived here since she was a kid... The thought of a child wandering through this place was unimaginable.
What if I hadn't met her...?
She might have died wandering the black market. Or more likely, she'd have ended up in some slave contract, locked in a cage screaming like that Korean woman. The evil gods might have helped somehow, but she'd have suffered immensely regardless.
And yet, she'd lived her whole life here without any real guidance... Incredible. She must have been clever and tough from a young age. Imagining her childhood made my heart ache a little.
Is there any way to get her out of here?
I wanted to get her out. For two reasons.
First, after being intimate with her today, I'd grown genuinely fond of her. I don't sleep around. Even with over twenty women captured as slaves, my harem only had eight members for a reason. I couldn't make Cheshire submit as a slave... but exploring her body today had ignited a fierce desire to claim her as mine. The repeated creampies had awakened my possessiveness.
The second reason was to eliminate the black market guide for everyone else. Anyone who achieved the feat and chose the black chip as a reward could enter the black market. Soon, it wouldn't just be me—other players would start coming in too. I planned to take Cheshire for myself, dooming all the latecomers to ruin. Classic ladder-kicking.
If it weren't for Cheshire, I'd have gotten screwed over. She's helped me in so many ways. Monopolizing her means other players entering the black market will suffer. Or die here.
From my perspective, other players were either slaves-to-be or enemies to kill. Those I couldn't enslave were always threats to watch and check.
If those idiots blundered in and died off, the risks would naturally vanish.
Some might end up as my slaves someday... but anyone strong enough to reach the black market wouldn't fall easily. Better to aim for opportunistic kills than frontal clashes.
As these thoughts swirled, I stroked her hair and ears. Cheshire showered my cheeks and lips with kisses, acting all cute. Her tail, swaying happily, wrapped around my wrist as I petted her head.
"Haa... Jun, you're so warm. It feels amazing."
"Yeah?"
She really seemed to love my warmth. Ever since consuming Naga Raja's sap and Botamilli's red orb, my body always felt toasty. Guess that hit the perfect temperature for her.
"Hey, Jun... why don't we just stay here together forever?"
"Uh... Cheshire..."
She murmured it while leaving a hickey on my neck. I stroked her back, pondering my response. It felt too cruel to refuse outright, but agreeing meant abandoning the women waiting for me outside, heartsick.
Living here with Cheshire might be fun and happy in its own way. But I can't just ditch all the women waiting for me. I have to go back.
Ha-rin had left the plains for me and returned to this rotten world. I couldn't betray her. And I loved the women outside just as much as Cheshire—no more, no less.
Even as slaves, they stayed by my side in tough times... How could I heartlessly abandon them? I'm not that shameless.
Besides, even if I stayed for Cheshire, Hwa-young or Eun-ji would hunt me down to the end. I had to go back no matter what.
Both had a yandere streak... and lately, Ha-rin seemed increasingly obsessed. If I didn't return, they'd come after me by any means necessary.
And the evil gods who want something from me... They won't let me hole up here. They'll interfere. The black market's dangerous enough without their retaliation. No way out.
Like when Botamilli provoked the underground guards to lure me last time—if I stayed with Cheshire, the evil gods would pull some stunt.
They'd never want me stagnating. They might smash the black market or turn me into their puppet.
Betraying them meant no mercy. Thinking it over, staying with Cheshire was never an option.
So, I had to decline her sweet offer. Better to find a way to get her out instead. Me leaving, not her staying.
"I have people waiting... and the evil gods are waiting too."
Cheshire fell silent at my answer. She buried her face in my chest and shook her head, like she was holding back tears. She must have known her wish couldn't come true.
"Yeah... I figured you'd say that. Wanting to monopolize you all by myself... that's just greed. It's okay."
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize. It makes me feel abandoned. Just come visit whenever you have time. I'll always be here waiting."
"I will."
My heart heavy, I asked her softly.
"Hey, Cheshire."
"Yeah...?"
"The way out of here... the black market. Won't you tell me?"
She shook her head with a deep sigh.
"Hoo... No. Too dangerous. And I already knew my wish wouldn't come true. I just... got lost in your warmth for a bit. Don't worry about it. No pressure. Forget I said anything."
As expected, she wouldn't tell me. But I wasn't backing down. What was so secret about it?
"Come on... tell me. Is it because I'm too weak? If you don't, I'll think you don't trust me."
"Haa... Yeah. You're weak. You need to get stronger. To leave here... you have to conquer the underground."
"The underground... the lower levels."
The black market underground. The place the warning forbade entry to. Swarming with those underground guard monsters that nearly overwhelmed me with sheer numbers.
"Yeah... monsters crawling everywhere. Psycho fanatics and demons teeming... It's a nightmare. You go in there and find a piece of my soul. Otherwise... no escape."
"A piece of your soul..."
Now I understood why she kept it secret. Conquering the underground? Impossible at my current level and gear. I'd need to be dragon-slayer Zeke strong. And demons... Was her soul pawned to one?
"Plus, the underground's vast—who knows how big. Finding my soul shard's like a needle in a haystack. So don't even think about it, Jun. Let's just meet once a week and be happy with that."
She was right—it was absurdly difficult. I nodded and hugged her tight. We spent a little more time like that. But time was short; soon, her alarm went off.
"Hoo. Alright! Back to it!"
Her eyes red—maybe from tears—she rubbed them casually and stood. Pretending to be cheerful as the alarm rang. She didn't want a tearful goodbye.
Understanding, I smiled back. If I escaped the Missing Persons' Forest quickly next week, I could return. Worst case, the week after for sure.
We hurriedly dressed. She took my hand and teleported us to the central square.
Apparently, she could warp anywhere to her home.
Back at the pet human hotel by the square's edge, Hellas screeched in greeting.
"Ugh!! You're here!! Finally!! Get me out of this insane place right now!!! Please!! I beg you!!"
He pounded the bars. The cyclops clerk shook his head, urging us to take him quick.
"Uwaaang... Damn... This place is crazy... full of lunatics..."
The old man sobbed into my arms—awkward, but he'd clearly been traumatized as spectacle among the bipedals.
"Whoa, calm down! Everyone's staring."
"Hweeeeng..."
"Uh... Let's get the old man outta here fast. More fuss and the bouncers come. Say we're disrupting business."
"Ah, yep."
We dragged the wailing Hellas through the twisting alleys. As soon as we arrived, I yelled at him firmly.
"You lunatic! Stop crying! That's an order!"
"Hic... Sniff..."
"Hoo... Crazy old coot. What the hell did you see?"
"Pet... pet humans, right? But... why eat them...? Pets aren't food! I can't understand... Can't understand it!! You see all those mine doing crazy shit and... you're fine?!"
"Uh... Kinda gross, yeah?"
"That's all you got? You must be nuts too... Fuck!! This place is wrong!!"
SAN check needed. Looked like he'd witnessed cannibalism firsthand... I hadn't seen it, so hard to empathize. Better knock him out and drag him.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[He seems troubled.]
Ah... Lady Botamilli...
The evil gods' gazes returned after leaving Cheshire's room. Botamilli's felt especially strong. Being near where she's sealed must amplify her presence.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Cultist. Offer that human's memory to me.]
Offer his memory? Is that possible?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙
[Possible if you're near me.] [Memories especially... I'm the goddess of oblivion, after all.]
Following Botamilli's instructions, I offered Hellas's last hour of memory. Placing my hand on his head and using Warped Scales, surprisingly, he forgot the entire hour.
After that brief commotion, we wandered the twisting alleys searching for the door.
"Here! Found it!"
"Oh...!"
Cheshire quickly located a door with a keyhole leading out of the black market.
"Next week, I have to go to the Missing Persons' Forest... might not make it."
"It's fine. I'll wait. Don't die. Come back safe, okay? I'll keep waiting."
"Yeah. I'll come back to see you for sure."
Wearing masks, we couldn't share a farewell kiss. We just rubbed our masked faces together.
I crossed the threshold, glancing back at Cheshire waving faintly alone in the alley. Someday, we'll cross together.
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"You're back!!"
"Oppa!!"
The women waiting erupted in cheers as I emerged from the door.
"Huh? Who's the old guy?"
"New slave, I see. Welcome back, Master."
"Yeah, made it safe. This is Hellas. Says he's an alchemist."
"Ahem... Pleased to meet you, lovely ladies. I'm Hellas, Grade 2 Alchemist of the Alchemy Workshop."
I smacked the back of the old man's head for deepening his voice around the girls. Senile geezer still chasing skirts.
"Oppa... the... birth control pills..."
"Got 'em. Creampies are safe now."
"Whoa...!"
Ha-rin jumped into my arms, tail wagging like a puppy's. Couldn't help but feel proud.
"Sniff sniff... Hmm...? Oppa, sniff sniff... What's that smell...?"
"Huh?"
"This... another beast's scent... Oppa... who'd you play with?"
"N-no, it's not—"
Ha-rin looked up, nose buried in me. Her pupils elongated vertically like a predator's—scary...
"Definitely... this smell..."
Soon, Hwa-young hugged me too, sniffing. She even shoved her nose against my dick.
"Hng... cum smell... Oppa? Did you fuck Unnie and come back?"
"Hwa-young, that's not—"
"Sniff sniff... Hold on, Hwa-young. It's cat smell."
"Stray cat... Who could it be... Oppa, tell us quick."
They pinned me down, demanding answers.
Ha-rin wasn't a slave, so commands didn't work. Hwa-young, having given her body and soul for the Soundless Gate tattoo, was my equal now. She followed orders but wasn't a typical slave.
Anyway, prodded by the two, I explained everything from the black market.
"Hmm... So you met a new girl while we weren't there."
"Hold on, don't gang up. Cheshire's trustworthy."
Merhere backed me up. She'd benefited from Cheshire too.
Mer winked subtly.
"Hmph... Next time, we go together. I wanna see that stray cat."
"Uh... Hwa-young. She's stronger than Mer..."
"What? Ahem... Send Eun-ji Unnie first then."
Hwa-young sold out Eun-ji upon hearing how ridiculously strong Cheshire was.
"Where're the others?"
"Eun-ji Unnie, Ye-won Unnie, and Hee-sun Unnie are all on the roof keeping watch."
"Aha... A-ram and A-reum?"
"Sleeping."
"Yeah... both heavy sleepers."
I led the four to the roof, then showed Hellas the small plot with vitality herbs planted.
"Whoa... vitality herbs. Quality's... not great, but good enough for healing potions."
"Good. Need other ingredients?"
"Hm... clean water, salt, etc. Flasks, furnace too. Big pot... and more..."
"Wait, can't remember it all. Note it down. Notes."
I had Hellas list what he needed for later. But no one could read his writing except Mer.
He used ancient English script, a dead language now. Conversation worked via slave link, but not writing. He didn't know Hangul.
Only Mer could read it, but couldn't waste her on the old man. Decided to get a dedicated scribe.
"Su-min."
"Yes? You called?"
"Yeah. This geezer's an alchemist... can you handle him?"
"Uh... sure."
I assigned Hellas to Su-min. With two more mage-class slaves lately, she had spare time. Can't let slaves idle.
Su-min dutifully pulled out her notebook and pen, jotting his words.
Thus, Hellas joined our group, and another day passed.
Sunday finally arrived—the day to enter the Missing Persons' Forest.
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