Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: A Man Under Semen Management
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Ashy severed the mercenary's neck in the blink of an eye.
He'd clearly been right by my side moments ago, but I had no idea when she'd killed him.
With my own strength, it was impossible to even notice.
All that remained was the blood soaking the ground, proof of someone's death.
"Hup…."
The mercenary's head rolled across the dirt, and the crowd fell silent.
They huddled in fear from the chilling killing intent.
"H-Hero…?"
It was extremely rare for a Hero to commit murder.
This was an unfamiliar and terrifying situation even for the adventurers.
They slowly raised their heads, trembling in terror.
Their anxious eyes darted around, desperately trying to think of something.
All of them—
"If you want sex, go to a brothel. Why grab someone who says no, and use my name to do it?"
"……."
Ashy growled in a low voice.
She grimaced, clearly displeased with the situation.
"Fucking bastard was a piece of shit from day one. Staring at me with those shitty eyes… Hoo…."
Ashy glared at the frozen crowd.
Mercenaries, adventurers, merchants, laborers—everyone.
They flinched in response to her gaze.
Their bodies warned them.
If they screwed up here, they'd really die.
In front of the already-dead corpse, their bodies reacted honestly.
They found an escape and acted accordingly.
"…So, anyone else still want to keep bitching?"
"……."
The adventurers' heads turned.
Their glares at the mercenaries brimmed with resentment.
The mercenaries had nothing to say.
They clamped their mouths shut, praying the Hero's anger would pass them by.
"If not, get the fuck out. Shit, I was trying to eat, and you're pissing me off."
The gathered crowd dispersed without a word.
No one wanted to stick around with a crazy Hero in this situation.
Ashy returned.
I stared at her blankly and silently prepared lunch.
I didn't mention what had just happened.
I had nothing to say about murder or the weight of life.
This was a world where you'd die if you didn't kill.
I had no desire to play the saint unrealistically.
As long as I survived, that was enough for me.
Who died, how they died, how many—none of it mattered.
As long as I could open my eyes tomorrow, I had no intention of upsetting Ashy.
Ashy wiped the blood from her hands.
I boiled soup and heated up the Femicon….
We ate our meal slowly.
The quiet atmosphere made it feel like it might give me indigestion.
Just as we were finishing, someone from the White Rose Merchant Group brought us tea.
They said it was for dessert, as thanks for mediating the fight earlier.
Ashy chugged the tea and set it aside.
Even though it was 'tea,' she downed it like soju in one shot, then looked at me.
She urged me to drink quickly.
I followed her lead and emptied my teacup.
The moment I did, Ashy shoved a Ritol into my mouth.
She took the one from her hand, fed it to me, and made me chew it with firm squeezes.
Her eyes were fierce.
She stared at me like a predator about to pounce.
More precisely, focused on my lips as I chewed.
Scary.
It was terrifying, yet my dick was trying to get hard.
I felt the chastity cage.
I rinsed my mouth with water.
At that moment, Ashy grabbed my cheeks.
"Mmph…!"
Regardless of who was watching, Ashy covered my lips with hers.
Kissing after meals was non-negotiable.
Our tongues intertwined, breaths mingling.
Hot emotions surged toward me.
She was aroused.
I could feel it clearly.
My hands naturally rose to her waist, soon embracing her softly.
Maybe because I always held her while sleeping, it didn't feel as unfamiliar as expected.
Smack, slurp….
"Ha-ah, mm…."
We kissed until Ashy was satisfied.
Our breaths grew ragged, sharing the saliva we couldn't swallow.
"Haa…. Haa…."
Soon our lips parted, and Ashy smiled contentedly.
The long, drawn-out kiss was over.
Of course, my ordeal—not quite torture—was only just beginning.
"We, we'll depart now!"
Prim announced the end of the break.
The mercenaries and adventurers boarded the wagons.
They all shared something in common in their movements.
The wagons prepared for mercenaries and adventurers.
Among them, the one Ashy wasn't riding was bustling with noise.
Mercenaries trying to board, adventurers trying to stop them.
Causing another commotion right before departure.
"…You guys are already on there!"
"Shouldn't we take turns? You mercenaries caused the incident, why should we…!"
"We don't know. You guys escalated it."
"You crazy mercenaries…!"
Neither mercenaries nor adventurers wanted to ride in the Hero Ashy's wagon.
The adventurers who'd ridden with us argued they needed to switch to the mercenaries' wagon, but the mercenaries ignored their desperate pleas and boarded their own.
Ashy boarded the wagon without paying them any mind.
She shoved me into the corner and sat down as usual.
The displaced adventurers reluctantly boarded our wagon.
They sat with tense faces.
They sat fairly far from Ashy's spot.
Instinctively keeping their distance.
The ones uncomfortable were the adventurers.
— We're departing!
The horses neighed, and the wagons rolled forward.
Shortly after departure, Ashy's hand slipped into my pants.
Like picking at peanuts for fun.
Ashy kneaded my dick to pass the boring time.
'…Humans really are creatures of adaptation.'
My body had adapted to Ashy's touch.
I could sit there feeling that grip without groaning.
A huge step forward.
The wagon kept rolling.
My eyes slowly closed, head bobbing violently.
"Sleep comfortably."
The hand fondling my balls felt strangely soothing.
Arousing yet addictive, in a way.
Surprisingly comfortable.
I leaned against Ashy and dozed off peacefully.
— We'll camp here!
The wagon stopped.
Just before sunset, they decided to spend the night.
Three days by wagon to Lizn.
Sleep tonight, and we'd arrive in the city tomorrow.
The adventurers poured out.
As long as they didn't stir trouble, Ashy wouldn't make a fuss.
The current Ashy was a completely different woman from the one in the novel.
The merchant workers pitched tents for us.
Bigger than yesterday's.
They set up ours before the White Rose Merchant Group's.
"Hm, they know who's more important."
Ashy nodded to herself, arms crossed.
Her massive breasts stood out prominently.
Watching her smug smile, I wondered what the others thought.
She was a dictator, a tyrant incarnate.
I set down my backpack and laid out the sleeping bag.
A single sleeping bag alone in the spacious tent.
I prepared dinner.
Someone from the White Rose Merchant Group brought something out.
Alcohol.
Prim approached with a bottle that looked expensive at a glance.
Ashy stared at her intently.
"…Hero, we're parting ways in Lizn tomorrow, right? I thought I'd share a drink since I'll miss this brief time together. Is that okay?"
"……."
Ashy nodded.
A sign of permission, as if she'd allow it up to that point.
Clearly, Prim was the owner of this merchant group, leading the caravan.
But at some point, the Hero had become the boss.
"Thank you."
Prim handed us a bottle, then turned and scurried off.
She explained things to the mercenaries and adventurers, starting a modest party.
They built a larger bonfire and grilled meat there.
They butchered a wild boar—caught who knows when—on the spot into a spit-roast.
The skill drew involuntary applause.
Ashy and I watched the mercenaries and adventurers from a distance away from the campfire.
They glanced warily at us, fending for themselves as they began sharing drinks.
"…A sudden drinking party…."
I casually broached the subject with Ashy.
I wanted to try it—would it be okay?
"Puppy, come play with me. Where do you think you're going?"
Ashy tugged the leash.
It wasn't just the chastity cage restraining me.
I always had to stay by Ashy's side.
Because of the dog collar—
I sat beside Ashy, staring blankly at the flames.
The crackling fire lulled me into a daze.
Drawing me into thought.
Ashy's voice came softly.
"Prim knows how to use her head."
"…In what way?"
Conflict had arisen in the group.
Ashy had mediated with force, but the resentment festered beneath.
"She knows they have to do it now."
The Hero would get off at Lizn, but the others had to drag them along further.
All the way to Yuteron Barony, neighboring Gertong Barony.
So, they needed to soothe their moods.
To meet the schedule, Prim had to pass through Lizn quickly.
Hesitating to recover deserters would mean losses.
"I see."
I murmured in realization.
In the end, wasn't it because Hero Ashy killed that mercenary?
And before that, because she kept groping me in the wagon….
I didn't voice it.
I hid my expression as best I could.
No need to shoot myself in the foot and get scolded.
"Want some booze?"
"…Yeah."
"You'll feel bad tomorrow. Puppies can't drink."
"I can?"
My tolerance was low, but not nonexistent.
"Really? Fine, give it a shot then."
Ashy giggled and opened the bottle she'd received.
I had no clue what kind it was.
Honestly, all I'd drunk before were soju and beer.
I had no idea if what Ashy held was wine, whiskey, vodka—or what the differences even were.
'What's the proof?'
All I knew was higher proof meant worse.
Even soju was brutal—what would higher be like?
Ashy poured into a wooden cup.
Glug glug—the amber liquid filled it.
"It's got a bit of mana mixed in. Pretty pricey stuff. Prim went a little overboard since it's for a Hero."
"…It's beer."
I couldn't hide my disappointment.
In a fantasy world, and my first new booze was beer….
"Yeah, obviously. What'd you think it was?"
"No, I mean…."
It was a novel world.
Luke enjoyed beer too.
But it felt a bit out of place here.
Or so I thought.
"You said you wanted to drink. Go on."
Ashy handed me the full beer mug.
The foamy surface sparkled.
The firelight made perfect illumination.
"…Me drink all this alone?"
"Yeah. That should be enough."
Ashy had poured her own separately.
Over half the bottle remained for her share.
"……."
It was a lot, but I couldn't say so.
Male pride, and the compulsion to finish what was offered.
"Cheers."
Ashy clinked the bottle against my cup.
She tilted her chin, signaling me to drink.
No escape now.
I slowly tilted the cup.
Gulp, gulp—.
The beer slid down my throat.
A novel taste.
My eyes widened, throat bobbing fiercely.
Was this mana's flavor!
"Good? The more mana in booze, the sweeter and tastier. You get that pleasant buzz uniquely. Good stuff sells itself once made."
"Fucking delicious."
I drained the cup and gave a thumbs up.
My lips curled into a grin.
My vision wobbled a bit.
Woozy, like that.
"Puppy, more?"
"Yeah, hit me."
"Gimme the cup."
Ashy took my cup, chuckling as she refilled it.
The amber arc drew a parabola.
Just watching made my mouth water.
I could understand the nobles from the novel now.
'Grabbing century-aged booze during evacuation was so frustrating.'
Clearing the ultra-hard production process, booze infused with high mana density, aged long in prime conditions….
How good would that be?
That noble had been desperate in his own way.
Enough to weigh his life for it.
"Here, drink up."
I took the cup and raised it toward Ashy.
She laughed heartily, clinking the bottle against it.
"You're drunk—your face is all flushed, Puppy."
"I'm not?"
I was perfectly sober.
Crystal clear.
Not drunk at all.
Ashy didn't believe me.
She smirked.
I shot up from my seat.
Naturally shifted spots.
I joined the adventurers' drinking circle, away from Ashy.
Feeling good, I wanted the noisy vibe.
But Ashy snatched me.
Hauled me back to our spot in an instant.
In the blink of an eye.
"Whoa…. Am I a superhuman? Teleported or something."
"Puppy, you're drunk?"
"Nah? Not at all?"
"Talking back so clearly too."
Talking back?
"…Not talking back, conversing."
"Right, conversing."
Ashy gazed at me steadily.
Her face full of amusement.
"Try this normally too. Don't be so timid."
"…Timid…? Me timid…? Don't order me. I'm not your slave."
"Suddenly? Yeah, yeah, not a slave."
"I'm not a slave! Fuck!"
My head was a jumbled mess.
Why was my body so limp, vision shaking?
"……."
My head drooped.
A strange sensation came from below.
Groin, crotch, pants inside.
Something pulling at my dick.
I undid my belt.
The heavy chastity cage emerged.
"Take this off!"
"You're drunk."
"Take it off, I said! I'm not a slave! So why control my dick?!"
"Not a slave, but you're mine, Puppy. I never treated you like one anyway. What's wrong?"
"……."
Unfair.
Tears welled up at my dick's sorry state.
I want to sleep.
No more talking.
Tired, exhausted.
"I'm going to bed."
Brush teeth first.
Chewed Ritols, rinsed with water.
"Water, here."
Ashy handed me a cup from beside.
Full of water.
"Thanks."
Rinsed and entered the tent.
Slid into the sleeping bag, let out a deep sigh.
The ground's swallowing my body….
My body's falling down….
When I came to and opened my eyes, I was in Ashy's arms.
Usually she clung to me, but….
"……?"
Pale skin, soft flesh, pink nipples.
Massive tits, but the scent was unmistakably Ashy's….
Slowly lifted my head to check the woman holding me.
Ashy looked down with a smirk.
Completely nude—
"Not-a-slave Puppy, awake?"
"……."
My crotch felt empty.
Like someone had taken my dick.
Glanced down.
I was nude too—whatever.
"…No chastity cage…?"
Dick was there, cage gone.
I stared at Ashy in confusion.
"I'll take it off. Didn't know you hated it that much."
Ashy said it with a slightly hurt expression.
"But anything dick-related, you tell me and get my permission first. No doing it without. Break it, cage goes back on. Got it?"
Details later— I nodded vigorously for now.
It was dick liberation day.