The Merchant's Inspection
I would've taken other quests if I had even one sword from this other world. Right now, all I had was my body. But delivery work or herb gathering paid far too little. Spending that time bedding someone instead seemed far more profitable. I didn't think selling my body for money was necessarily a bad thing. This was another world, after all, and I had no intention of starving to death.
I accepted the quest to satisfy a woman and set out immediately.
"Isabella, the merchant, was it…?"
Anyone willing to offer ten gold for an F-rank quest had to be among the wealthiest of the wealthy. Since she was called a merchant, I figured she was probably a successful businesswoman running some thriving company or shop.
"But where is this merchant right now?"
The biggest problem was finding her location. I wandered around asking villagers on the street.
"Excuse me… Do you know a merchant named Isabella?"
"Black-haired bastard! Get lost!"
Discrimination against black hair was severe. Even just asking for directions earned me curses. I wanted to snap back, but I already knew causing a scene would only hurt me more. In this world, there were far more people who would side with the one hurling insults than with me.
"If you're looking for Lady Isabella, she'll be at the central market… in the large shopping district."
"Ah… Thank you."
Not everyone despised me. An older woman who had been watching me with pity quietly gave me the information before walking away.
"Hmm… I feel like I've seen that woman somewhere before…"
I tried to recall but couldn't place her, so I moved on.
Once I reached the shopping district, finding Isabella was easy.
"It's this big…"
There was no way to miss it. In this small village stood a massive three-story building with a prominent signboard. She certainly lived up to the title of merchant.
Knock knock knock.
I knocked on the door and waited. A small gap opened at eye level, revealing a pair of cruel-looking eyes.
"Who is it?"
"I've come for the quest. Lady Isabella said she needed a man."
"Wait there."
The gap closed. After five, then ten minutes of waiting, the door finally opened.
"Come in. Tch…"
The woman who opened the door clicked her tongue the moment she saw me. Her cruel gaze was clearly due to my black hair.
"You'd best not try anything unnecessary while meeting Lady Isabella."
"I only intend to carry out what's written in the quest."
"Plenty of bastards like you have ended up with their heads rolling."
She was trying to assert dominance, but even with her glaring and sharp tone, she didn't feel nearly as intimidating as Helga yawning.
Maybe I should thank Helga. I've gained some backbone I didn't have before.
"Let's go meet Lady Isabella."
"Annoying bastard."
The woman with the cruel eyes glared at me until the very end before walking ahead. We arrived at a room where the merchant Isabella waited.
She sat reclining on a red leather sofa, a pipe in her mouth, watching me with interest.
"You've come for the quest?"
"Yes, that's right. I've brought the quest form as well."
"Let me see it."
Isabella smiled as she looked over the stamped document I handed her.
Rip!
She tore the quest form to pieces on the spot.
"To think they'd send a black-haired wretch for this much money. The guild master of this village is disappointing indeed."
A hollow madness lingered behind Isabella's smile. Despite possessing both wealth and prestige in this village, she seemed far from satisfied. She held her smoking pipe and tugged at the collar of my shirt, even giving my groin a few taps.
"The adventurer's body is slender, and what's below looks small too. Did you really think I'd throw away ten gold of my own blood for a man like this?"
Isabella voiced her dissatisfaction with my first impression. I wasn't the type of adventurer she wanted. But turning back wasn't an option. I'd already endured plenty of insults—I was going to earn that money.
I bowed my head calmly.
"If you give me a chance, Lady Isabella, I'll satisfy you."
"Pfft… You're talking nonsense."
Isabella didn't believe me. She had already labeled me as cheap goods.
"I'll do my best."
"Haah… How annoying."
After staring at me with disappointment for a long while, Isabella finally spoke.
"Just once. If you can't make me feel good, I'll cut it off and hang it in the center of the village. Keep that in mind."
"Thank you for giving me the chance."
I had already known she would give me one. If she truly hated the idea, she wouldn't have opened the door in the first place.
"Strip."
I'd had plenty of practice flattering powerful people during my military service and part-time jobs. Dealing with this type was familiar.
"Yes."
Following her instructions would at least improve my first impression. I just needed one chance to show myself. I removed my clothes without hesitation and stood confidently before her.
"Tch…"
Her eyes showed clear dissatisfaction, but she extended her bare foot toward me. I crouched down, gently took her foot in my hands, and made contact with Isabella.
"Mmm… ngh…"
Kiss…
Just like in the adult videos I'd watched, I held her foot softly, kissed it, and slowly caressed my way upward.
"Ah… ah…"
As I stroked and kissed my way up Isabella's body, her previously steady voice began to waver. Moments ago, she had been full of wariness and irritation, but now she didn't pull away from my touch or my kisses. Instead, she let out soft, pleased whimpers and placed a hand on my shoulder.
"You are beautiful, my lady."
"One must maintain oneself when dealing with nobles and royalty."
"Then I suppose I must maintain myself so as not to disappoint you, Lady Isabella."
"Th-that's right. It's fortunate you know your place so well…"
Before long, my hands had reached her cleavage. She wore a dress with deep side slits and a plunging V-neck, leaving little to the imagination. I could easily slip my hand inside and touch her bare skin. Avoiding the dangling ornaments like a snake, I placed my hand on her side.
"Do you have any idea how expensive these clothes and jewels are?"
"I don't see your clothes or jewels, Lady Isabella."
"What…?"
"What I see is your beautiful figure and appearance."
I stood up fully and met her eyes.
"Clothes and ornaments look no different from pebbles and animal hides to me."
"Hah… hah-hah…"
She laughed. I had simply spoken my honest thoughts, yet Isabella chuckled and lowered her head.
"Goodness… How absurd. A man who compliments a woman's appearance. Black-haired men really are different, aren't they?"
Isabella seemed amused by the atmosphere I gave off, different from ordinary men.
"So, you think I'm beautiful?"
"Yes, Lady Isabella."
"Then show me. Show me how much you desire me."
"As you wish."
I received her permission and kissed her at the same time. She didn't refuse, accepting the kiss.
"Ah… ah… mmh…"
Her moans grew louder. We had only kissed, yet I could feel her body heating up. This was different from the women in my original world. They became aroused quickly, didn't avoid a man's touch, and instead welcomed it, clearly wanting to feel more. In my old world, such advances would have been met with discomfort or deflection.
"Hah… it feels… good… hah… kiss… kiss…!"
The women of this world were already primed to be tamed by a man's touch. Isabella began to exert strength as we kissed, our tongues intertwining, exchanging saliva, gently biting lips before kissing again, feeling each other's breath.
Even just kissing felt good. That was what women were to men in this world. Contact excited them. Being close made them want to mate like beasts.
Slide…
The leather and ornaments Isabella had been wearing fell to the floor.
"Mmmph… kiss… kiss… mmh…"
Her smooth body pressed against me eagerly. Her hands roamed over my chest as she sought to release her desire.
"Hah… ah… there… ah…"
Isabella moaned more easily than Helga had. Helga had needed deep stimulation and nipple play to make a sound, but Isabella was far more delicate. Even light rubbing and caressing made her fluids flow visibly.
"Hah… hah-ah…"
With just a few touches, Isabella spilled her arousal onto the floor.
"Hah… hah… ah… ah…!"
She gripped my wrist tightly and crouched down.
"In-incredible…"
Isabella looked up at me. The height difference had reversed from before. From the floor, her eyes were unfocused, drool trailing from her lips as she breathed hotly.
"I-I'll suck it for you."
Looking up at me, Isabella opened her mouth wide at the sight of my arousal.
"Mmph… slurp…! Slurp…!"
I was the man she had hired for ten gold. Yet now Isabella was taking on that role herself, just like the departed Helga.
***
Thrust! Thrust! Thrust!
"Hah! I-it feels too good! Amazing! So amazing…!"
"I'm glad you're satisfied, Lady Isabella."
"Ah…! I-I can't… again! I'm coming again!!"
The once-cold Isabella had become disheveled after meeting the black-haired man.
"Lady Isabella… ngh…"
To think Lady Isabella would change like that because of that unpleasant black-haired man!
The female guard who had been watching their encounter swallowed unconsciously and turned away.
"I'll put it in harder."
"Ahh…! I-I don't… I don't know anymore! I don't knooow!"
With her back turned, the guard grew even more aroused. She could feel herself growing wet without realizing it. The air in the room had become so lewd that she set her sword aside and slipped a hand between her thighs.
"That incubus bastard…!"