The Merchant's Proposal
"Welcome, black-hair."
In the hastily prepared little house, Isabella was waiting.
"It's a relief to see you looking well."
"Honestly, I'm not well at all. I lost a great many important documents and ledgers in the fire at the mansion."
Well, if the mansion had been destroyed and she came out completely unscathed, that would have been the strange part. Still, Isabella's expression looked considerably brighter than expected.
"Anyway, I'm alive. That's what matters."
Which meant she could easily have died inside the mansion.
"So you were a magician."
"That's right. A rather skilled one, too. If I hadn't prepared an escape device in advance, I would have died on the spot."
She must have come face to face with the magician. As expected, Isabella had a strong tendency to meet people in person. She had let me—a black-haired man—into her home, and apparently done the same with the magician.
"It was thanks to Black Blade Syucali passing along the information that I was able to prepare."
"It seems the information was delivered accurately."
"It was."
Isabella smiled and opened the desk drawer. With a hand wrapped in bandages, she scooped out a large pile of gold and set it on the table.
"This is the price for my life. I'd appreciate it if you accepted it."
"There's no need. I provided the information because I had already received plenty of gold from you before."
"Then I hope you'll continue saving me in the future as well."
"..."
Isabella seemed to trust me. This was the same woman who had once rejected me outright as a cursed black-hair.
"Is your hand injured?"
"I suffered burns while escaping."
"In that case, I'll accept the gold and provide treatment as well."
"Treatment?"
"Yes. If you sleep with me, the injury will heal."
"That sounds absurd."
"If it displeases you, feel free to refuse."
"Hehehe. As if I would."
Isabella laughed for a long time, clearly amused, then beckoned me over.
"I was just in need of a man. This works perfectly for me."
She had no intention of turning me away. In fact, inviting me here had clearly been her plan from the start—to spend time together.
We fell onto the bed together quite naturally.
"I'm exhausted, so make me happy, black-hair."
She stretched both arms toward me, guiding me into her embrace. Our lips met, and we found each other. The heat rose quickly.
I continued our lovemaking as I peeled away her signature luxurious dress.
Squelch...
The insertion was perfectly natural. Having already embraced me once before, she was wet and ready. There was no discomfort at all as I began to move inside her.
The act began while keeping her burned arm carefully aside.
Squelch, squelch.
"Mmm... Ahh... I can't think of anything. It just feels too good."
Isabella, impaled on me, let out the words between moans.
"I want to keep you by my side."
"It will create problems among the nobles."
"It probably will, but... ahh..."
"I'll stay by your side until you've had your fill today."
"That's not a bad idea at all. Hehe."
Isabella pulled me tightly against her. Displaying her characteristic greed, she craved me again and again. That very greed made my own climax rise quickly.
"I'm about to finish."
"Deepest inside. As deep as possible."
At her demand, I gripped her waist with both hands and pulled her flush against me.
Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!
"Haaaaah..."
Isabella sobbed in pleasure. Her face showed she was climaxing repeatedly as she took my seed.
"It shouldn't hurt anymore."
"Ha... Haa... You're right. Sensation has returned to my hand."
Isabella unwrapped the bandage and examined her hand. The skin that had been burned away was now smooth and supple once more.
"I thought you were a succubus, but you're actually a healer. I'm surprised."
Beyond satisfied—positively glowing with happiness—Isabella kissed me. After that, her desire showed no signs of stopping as she moved for my sake.
Thump, thump, thump...
I lost track of how many times we went at it that night. We burned through the hours until we finally stopped on the bed.
"How is Paula?"
"You mean the guard captain?"
"Yes. She occasionally spends pleasant times with me."
"She'll probably hate me."
"I don't think so. You saved me and healed burns that even stamina potions couldn't fix. You're a benefactor."
Isabella traced her fingers over my body, clearly trying to draw even the guard captain into the bedroom.
"Isn't that right, Paula?"
"Yes."
Her voice came from just outside the door.
"If Lady Isabella desires it, I have no objection."
"Hehe... I like that."
Isabella looked at me with favor for accepting her proposal.
"Come in, Paula."
Thud... Creak... Clack.
The moment she entered, Paula bowed her head.
"Excuse me."
She removed her armor with practiced efficiency. Her signature muscular physique was revealed, dark-red short hair framing a body covered in countless large and small scars. She neatly folded her discarded clothes and set them beside the door before walking toward the bed.
"Paula's nipples are sensitive. If you suck her clit, she'll lose her mind."
"I see."
"Lady Isabella..."
"Hehe... I figured this much would let us have an enjoyable time."
Isabella knew my relationship with Paula wasn't particularly good. In fact, I had been the one unilaterally ignored. She was sharing Paula's weaknesses to ease that tension, even if only a little.
As expected, Isabella was an intelligent woman. Her insight into human relationships surpassed anyone else's. Now I understood why Paula—no, why the villagers called her the Merchant.
"This is too much, Lady Isabella..."
Paula looked downcast, but Isabella gave a firm order.
"Lie down. Kang Seo-ja will satisfy you."
"Understood..."
At Isabella's command, Paula lay back on the bed. Her battle-scarred, muscular form dominated my field of vision.
Without hesitation, I latched onto her weakness—her breasts.
"Hngh!"
She was already burning with arousal. She had clearly been listening to me and Isabella through the door.
At the same time, I reached down to tease her sex. Paula's normally stoic expression crumbled instantly. Her legs spread of their own accord as her folds twitched and clenched.
"How is it? Just as I described?"
"Yes, Lady Isabella."
Isabella pressed herself tightly against my back and continued her commentary.
"Do as you like with Paula."
"Understood."
I had no reason to deviate from her control. Our intentions aligned perfectly.
Squelch...
"Hngh...!"
I thrust into Paula. She covered her face with both hands and trembled violently.
"How cute you are, Paula."
Isabella, delighted by the sight, kissed me and clung even tighter. Having her stuck to my back made movement slightly awkward, but the weight resistance I'd gained from Vivian kept it from being difficult.
"Look at that strength."
Isabella marveled at how I could thrust rapidly despite her weight on my back.
"Hngh... Hngh... Haaaa..."
Paula's own moans never ceased, filled with wonder.
The bedroom grew increasingly lewd. Our tangled relationships and complicated emotions fueled the sex. It was uncomfortable yet satisfying, difficult yet filled with kisses. The two of them pressed their faces to my cock, licking up every drop of semen. One received me with a hard, muscular body; the other pressed softly and warmly. In that subtle, complex relationship, we shared pleasure.
"I'll say it once more. Thank you for saving me, Kang Seo-ja."
"It was nothing."
Paula and Isabella lay naked in my arms, like vassals offering their bodies to their king.
"This time our caravan will head for the royal capital."
"Is this an offer of employment?"
"Hehe, you're quick to catch on."
Isabella pushed her breasts forward, pressing them against me, then retrieved a document from the other side of the bed and showed it to me.
"Two nobles are engaged in a territorial war. It's been in a stalemate for two years, but the situation could explode at any moment."
"Are you planning to make them fight?"
"Hehe... No, a single merchant caravan can't do anything so dangerous. Besides, I have no desire to take such risks."
Isabella turned to the next page and showed it to me.
"Philip Territory. We'll stop there on our way."
"...Resupply, then."
"Correct. They're at war so they have no money, but they've promised good collateral."
"What sort of good collateral?"
"Something I need very much."
Something Isabella needed badly enough to desire it... I was curious what a merchant who could obtain almost anything would want.
"Now I understand why the magician targeted you, Lady Isabella."
"They must dislike our caravan trading with Philip Territory."
So they had tried to cripple Isabella and prevent her from moving.
"It seems the opposing territory made a similar offer."
"Hehe..."
An important item possessed only by those two territories. It was probably a noble title.
As a merchant, she could acquire almost anything she wanted, but she lacked only status. Yes—Isabella wanted to become a noble.
"Is there a particular reason you must become a noble?"
"You figured it out immediately? Impressive, Kang Seo-ja."
Isabella sounded slightly surprised.
"Our family was originally noble. We've fallen from grace and have been stuck in this village for ten years."
"Ah... fallen..."
"Did that shock you? You suddenly got harder. Mmph..."
"Ugh..."
Paula didn't miss the opening and took my cock into her mouth.
"So, will you come with us?"
"Mmm..."
The proposal from the Merchant, combined with Guard Captain Paula attacking my weakness with her mouth. It seemed Isabella had been aiming for this from the beginning.
"It won't be boring on the journey. Chu."
"Understood... Ngh!"
Spurt! Spurt! Spurt!
In the end, overwhelmed by their coordinated assault, I accepted the proposal.
I ended up employed by the caravan thanks to the Merchant's scheme. The conditions weren't bad, at least. Forty gold in advance, sixty gold upon completion—a clean total of one hundred gold paid to me. Since Syucali was coming along as well, it would likely be fifty gold each.
Departure was set for next week—the day after meeting the slave trader.
Still, I don't understand why they hired me.
Everything else made sense, but paying a hundred gold to hire an F-rank adventurer like me didn't add up. Syucali wasn't high-ranked enough to justify that sum on her own.
"Maybe they just want me as a sex partner... Or perhaps it's exactly as she said—she wants me to protect her... But if the entire caravan is moving, I shouldn't be necessary..."
When I thought about it simply, those were the only possibilities. Isabella's true intentions were difficult to read.
"...I don't know."
It might simply be a show of gratitude. I decided not to overthink it. With the gold I'd received, I'd focus on buying the slave I wanted.