Chapter 105: The Guard and the Inn (24)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 105: The Guard and the Inn (24)
Tiarushi was happy. She was so happy that she was certain that, years from now when she was old, she would look back on this moment and think, “Those were the good old days.”
For several years before she reached adulthood, life had been a relentless struggle because of her father, who had fallen ill with Tminhyumo. Since they had to pour all their money into his medicine, they couldn't afford to hire staff, leaving only her and her mother to run the inn.
The cook, who had once been like a kind uncle to her, had revealed his true, greedy nature a few years back and was hauled off to prison. While Tiarushi was relieved to have preserved her Pure White Body, the inn had suffered for it.
Once word got out that the innkeeper had sent her own cook to jail, no new chefs would apply. At the time, Izumi hadn't yet developed the culinary skills she possessed now, so the quality of their food plummeted.
Though her skills improved rapidly, there was never enough time. They survived by slashing the prices of their rooms and meals. After paying the medical bills, there was barely enough left for the two of them to eat. However, once both Izumi and Tiarushi reached a certain level of proficiency, they finally began to see a modest profit.
Through various efforts—developing the inn’s signature liquor, investing in soundproofing, and showing extra kindness to female hunters—the Lily of the Valley Inn as it stood today was finally perfected.
“Hum-de-dum~”
Tiarushi hummed a little tune. She had struggled just to buy mid-grade mint before, but now she had obtained high-grade mint for free, along with premium Mint Choco Pineapple Herb.
Guard Sma is truly benevolent and kind. If he were a priest instead of a guard, people would probably call him a saint.
“My daughter, did something exciting happen? It’s been a while since I’ve heard you humming.”
“Huh? Oh, no. I’m just in a good mood.”
Her mother, who had worked so hard to raise her, looked at her with affectionate eyes. Tiarushi looked back at Izumi and tilted her head. That’s strange. Why does she look even younger than yesterday?
Izumi was naturally youthful-looking, to the point where people often mistook them for sisters when they were together. Still, the years of hardship had left her skin somewhat dull, yet today, it seemed to glow with a healthy radiance.
“I think the exciting thing happened to you, Mom. Be honest. Did you eat something good without me?”
“I told you, it’s nothing. Are you done with your chores, or are you just playing around?”
“Of course I’m done. I finished cleaning the checkout rooms and took all the dirty linens to the laundry room. I’m going to do the wash with Greystar once her break is over.”
“Speaking of which, she hasn't come down yet. I’ll watch the counter, so go fetch her.”
“Okay!”
Tiarushi skipped up the stairs. She stopped briefly on the second floor to check the room where Sma was staying.
The soundproofing is so good I can’t hear a thing.
And yet, yesterday, the day before, and even the very first time Guard Sma visited the inn, there had been some incredible sounds coming from his room.
Tiarushi was a virgin, but she was also an inn employee. Back when they were poor and the soundproofing was non-existent, she had learned exactly what kind of noises men and women made during intimacy.
Just how incredible must it be for women to sound that joyful? If Tiarushi had been a completely clueless girl, she might have called the guards thinking a guest was being murdered.
That was how loud the moaning had been.
I want to try having sex too.
Ideally with someone handsome, kind-hearted, and capable. And if possible, she’d want to marry that man.
Sma satisfied all the former conditions, but the latter was the problem. There was no way a man who slept with women far more beautiful and talented than her would ever marry her.
He was like a flower on a high peak—beautiful to look at, but out of reach. Tiarushi decided to be satisfied with just seeing him.
We’re just a guest and an employee now, but I hope we can become close enough that he’d invite me to his wedding. Or, if I’m being greedy, I’d love to be a friend he can share a drink and an honest conversation with.
And if she ever did get invited to his wedding, she’d just have to come home and nurse her heartache.
Heartache? What heartache?
She shook her head and got back to work. The laundry was piling up, and it would be difficult to handle without Greystar’s help. When she entered the room, she found Greystar sprawled on the bed, snoring softly.
“Just how tired was she to be sleeping like this?”
Her clothes were tossed haphazardly across the floor. If she was going to leave it like this, why did Mom make me clean it? As long as the guest rooms are clean, it should be fine.
“Greystar, wake up.”
“Mmm...”
Tiarushi grabbed Greystar’s shoulder—she was only wearing her underwear—and shook her. As her body jolted, her breasts swayed heavily.
What does she even eat to get breasts this big?
Tiarushi wasn't small herself, but there were just too many well-endowed women around lately. Mehya and Iruna, who were sharing a room with Sma, were both massive. Iruna, in particular, made Tiarushi wonder if they were even the same species.
She’s definitely a dairy cow.
While Tiarushi was lost in thought, Greystar finally woke up.
“Hieeeek?!”
Startled, Greystar scrambled to cover herself. Tiarushi narrowed her eyes.
“What’s with the sudden modesty? I’ve seen you in your underwear plenty of times.”
“Ah... I was wearing underwear. Thank goodness.”
“You mean thank goodness my eyes didn't have to see you naked? Your break is over, so let’s get to work. There’s a mountain of laundry.”
“Uh, yeah. Right. Work. I’m coming.”
Greystar looked strangely out of sorts as she put her clothes on. With a moment of idle time, Tiarushi noticed something else.
Specifically, a familiar scent in the room. It was the smell that lingered in rooms where a man and a woman had stayed together. She had smelled something similar when cleaning the room Sma and the other guard occupied.
It had been much stronger then, of course. Since only Greystar was here, Tiarushi figured she must be imagining things.
But once she noticed one oddity, others began to stand out. The faint red marks on Greystar’s collarbone and neck. The way her waist seemed to stiffen as she pulled on her pants. And finally, her awkward gait.
No way... it couldn't be.
Tiarushi brushed the possibility aside. When would they have had the time? Besides, Greystar was a virgin. If they had done it, there would have been blood on the sheets.
“Let’s go. You’ve rested plenty, so I’m going to work you to the bone.”
“Okay...”
A dejected Greystar shoved her hands into her pockets. Suddenly, her face lit up with a bright smile.
“Hehehe.”
“Did you have a good dream or something?”
“Huh? Yeah. It was a really, really good dream.”
“What was it about?”
“That’s a secret.”
“Come on, tell me! It’s mean to keep secrets.”
“I’ll tell you if you can guess it.”
Exchanging the kind of playful banter only friends could, they headed down to the first floor.
“You’re finally down?”
Izumi, who was leaning her chest against the counter, smiled at the two of them. She looked the same as always, but Tiarushi knew better. Her mother always wore that specific expression when she was up to something mischievous.
I haven't forgotten what you did to my pudding and ice cream.
Once the laundry was done, she’d have to check the fridge first. Being mother and daughter, their tastes were identical. This time, she wouldn't let her snacks be stolen.
*
I brought the group down for dinner. Serika, who had just finished work, joined us, but she wasn't the main topic of conversation.
“So that makes the score 3 to 2, right? I’m way stronger than you, Mehya-senpai!”
“I only lost because I wasn't using my main deck. I’m going to go home after dinner and bring my real cards, so let’s go again.”
“I wasn't using my main deck either! I’ll bring my ultimate Dragon deck, so bring whatever you want. I’ll crush you.”
“Fine. I’ll show you the true value of my Warrior deck.”
Sparks flew between Mehya and Rena. It was just a card game, but they were taking it incredibly seriously. Good grief.
“And you and I are tied, right, Oppa? Follow me for a duel after we’re done. I’m going to win.”
Seeing Iruna’s confident smirk made my competitive streak flare up. She thought she could beat me, a man seasoned by years of Hearthstone and other card games back on Earth?
I would show her the 'true form' of a Duel Master, the predecessor to the Sex Master.
“It’s no fun without stakes. Let’s make a bet. If I win, I’m going to ram you so hard that I won't stop even if you beg and cry for me to quit.”
“Fine. If I win, I get a nursing handjob. I’m going to drain every last drop of your essence.”
Wait. Isn't this a win-win situation for me regardless? Still, my pride was on the line, so I had to win.
As I was burning with fighting spirit, Serika chimed in.
“What are you all talking about without me? I feel left out.”
“Captain, don't tell me you don't know about Dungeon Masters Duel?”
“Surely you don't think I’m a woman who’s behind the times?”
Serika barked, her voice carrying the natural authority of a Guard Captain. Mehya and Rena, who had been arguing, blinked in surprise.
“You’re a Duelist too, Captain?”
“What kind of deck do you use, Serika-nim? Duel me!”
“...”
Serika suddenly withered. Her face flushed red as she averted her eyes.
“Actually... I don't know it. Fine! I’m ignorant of the trends. Is it a crime not to know?”
“Hehe. Serika-nim, you’re actually quite cute.”
“I agree. The Captain is cute. She was always cute, but she’s been even cuter lately.”
“Stop calling me cute!”
“You’re cute, Captain. The cutest Captain in the whole world.”
Dinner ended in a rare moment of unity as everyone joined in on teasing Serika. After I secured two consecutive wins against Iruna, I was watching a duel between Serika and Iruna when Izumi called me over.
“Yes?”
Izumi pressed a finger to her lips and smiled. Then, she leaned in and whispered into my ear.
“I found virgin blood on the sheets in my room. You did it with Greystar, didn't you?”
I wondered why she was being so secretive about something like that.
“Yes.”
“I’m so sad. I was looking forward to it too, you know.”
Izumi lifted her skirt slightly to reveal some very erotic lingerie. It had a hole right in the center, leaving her pussy completely exposed. Could you even call this underwear?
“It looks like you went at it until Greystar fainted. I want to feel so good that I faint, too.”
I swallowed hard, but now was the time for patience. I leaned in and whispered back into her ear, just as she had done.
“I’ll fuck you as much as you want, provided you keep your promise.”
I only said one sentence, but Izumi understood perfectly. She pressed her body against mine, swaying her hips.
“I’ll have everything arranged before tomorrow morning. You must keep your promise then.”