Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: The Hero Who Wants an Exchange
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My cock was locked in a chastity cage, and a dog collar encircled my neck.
I looked completely emasculated as a male.
But surprisingly, it didn't feel all that unpleasant.
"Puppy, did you sleep well?"
Ashy whispered up at me from within my arms.
Her voice carried no trace of sleepiness.
She greeted me with a crisp, refreshed tone, as if fully awake.
"What do you have to do when you wake up?"
"...Stroke... stroke your head..."
"Yeah, you know it."
I mumbled sleepily in response.
Ashy took my hand and placed it on her head.
"Hee hee."
I slowly stroked her hair.
Ashy burrowed even deeper into my embrace.
She rubbed her face against my body, giggling softly.
Ashy's soft body pressed closer.
Her breasts squished against me, their weight fully transferred in the tight contact.
There wasn't even a thread's width between us.
Between us, sleeping naked together at night had become the natural routine.
Blood rushed to my cock.
The chastity cage blocked the erection.
The unpleasant pressure woke me up completely.
"Feels good..."
Under my steady touch, Ashy purred like a kitten, letting out satisfied breaths.
Seeing her reactions made me want to hold and caress her even more preciously.
I was doing my utmost for the hero's mental care.
It was the reason I could leech off her as a companion, the duty I had to fulfill as her fellow hero party member.
Ashy sought to completely control my freedom and lust.
But she didn't treat me roughly.
It was just possessiveness—a possessiveness a bit on the intense side.
Ashy's hand slyly slid downward.
While I stroked her, she gripped and kneaded my balls.
It was violence carried out under the pretext of making me feel good.
"Puppy, does it feel good?"
"...Yeah..."
Her voice made my body melt.
Even in this body that couldn't erect or ejaculate, her touch alone satisfied my senses.
Surreptitiously pulling her waist closer and kneading her plump ass felt rewarding in its own way.
Ashy tacitly permitted such skinship.
If I stopped, satisfied, she'd sometimes grab my wrist and threaten me to keep going.
"You can touch more."
Like right now.
Thanks to that, I kept fondling her ass.
Precum leaked profusely from my glans.
I could feel my urethra twitching as it spurted.
"...Where are we going today?"
I asked Ashy about the day's schedule.
Without even getting out of bed, still holding her in my arms, feeling her touch.
"Gotta spend the remaining 100 million sol. Buy some clothes for you and me..."
"Clothes."
There was nothing uncomfortable about my current attire.
While freeloading in noble mansions, I could just receive a few outfits from them.
It was pocket change to them.
I even had spare clothes in my backpack now.
I'd stocked up on underwear neatly too...
It was possible because the backpack itself had a weight-reduction enchantment.
No issues with clothes, but plenty with equipment.
What Ashy meant to buy was probably gear, not just clothes.
"Let's get up soon."
"Ten more minutes."
If I suggested it but she refused, that was that.
I obediently lay there, offering my body to her.
"You have no idea how wonderful this heartbeat is."
Ashy pressed her cheek to my chest.
She listened to the steady thump-thump.
When a person dies, their heart stops.
Common knowledge, but I'd never experienced it firsthand.
I didn't want to get close to a corpse's chest.
Ashy, returned from the future, seemed to have such experiences.
Desperately seeking the heartbeat from someone already dead...
I stared blankly at the ceiling.
Cradling her head gently, I waited for her to satisfy herself with my heartbeat.
"Shall we get up?"
"Uh, yeah..."
Ashy lifted her head and looked at me.
She'd dozed off briefly, which woke her up.
"Right, yeah, let's get up."
We rose from the morning bed and washed up simply.
Breakfast was sumptuously prepared.
Steaming hot morning dishes.
Without lifting a finger, food appeared.
This was the kind of life worth being born for...
This was why I couldn't leave Ashy's side.
After eating, we stepped out of the annex.
We headed to Yuteron city.
The city buzzed with vitality.
It was better managed than the Gertong Barony.
Cities varied wildly depending on the ruling noble, and Yuteron seemed to have a decent one.
"What the heck is that...?"
"...The hero's walking around with a guy?"
Walking the Yuteron streets, we drew blatant stares.
People glanced back and forth between us, whispering among themselves.
My face burned red, but Ashy held her head even higher.
She seemed to enjoy the gossip.
"Puppy, embarrassed?"
"...No? Not at all?"
I put on a bold front for her sly question.
Pretending my flushed cheeks meant nothing.
"Then shall we take a stroll? Touring Yuteron is pretty fun."
It sounded like she wanted to circle the streets a couple times.
Not wanting that, I cut her off.
"No, let's just do our business and head back..."
"Why? You said it was fine."
Ashy grinned and tugged my leash.
In the crowded market, countless eyes turned our way.
"This embarrasses you?"
"...Yeah, really."
Ashy dangled the dog collar leash teasingly.
Her high-energy, playful tone made it even more humiliating.
"We've always gone around like this."
"True, but it feels new now."
From the Roberio auction house to the Yuteron markets.
A dog collar had always been around my neck.
The chastity cage had come off briefly once.
She'd dragged me around like this nonstop—why the sudden shame?
'It's because of last night's play.'
I'd worn the collar, but we hadn't had that kind of relationship.
It was just a costume.
But yesterday, we'd crossed that line.
Ashy had greedily licked my asshole.
She'd vulgarly sucked and nibbled my cock and balls.
I'd gotten on all fours like a dog, offering my filthy holes to her.
Thanks to that, a new play had unlocked.
The costume started feeling like the real thing.
"Embarrassed to be my puppy?"
Ashy whispered at my side.
The natural response 'no' came to mind.
I didn't want to upset her.
Following the voice overwhelming my thoughts.
Unknowingly, I tried not to defy Ashy, accommodating her moods.
"Not embarrassed, but..."
"Then? Why act like it?"
The nickname 'puppy' sounded even more explicit.
"Because of people's stares? You've enjoyed it so far."
"I didn't enjoy it."
Stripping my pants outside to show the cage.
All because Ashy ordered it—I had no choice.
'Accomplished' fit better than 'enjoyed.'
Had I exposed myself for my own pleasure?
That doubt didn't fit.
It was wrong.
Ashy nodded knowingly.
Regardless of the onlookers' gazes, she breathed into my ear.
"You did it for me, huh?"
"......"
That was how it was.
Because Ashy, who saved me, wanted it—and I couldn't resist—I obeyed meekly.
"Then keep doing it for me."
"...What?"
Ashy peeled her lips from my cheek and looked at me.
Still gripping the leash tight.
"If it gets too embarrassing to bear, just say so."
"...It's already unbearable."
As I grumbled, Ashy gripped her Holy Sword.
She looked ready to draw the greatsword from her back any second.
"Then I'll kill everyone here. No more embarrassment, right?"
"Hey, why jump straight to that."
Ashy released the Holy Sword hilt.
"You don't want that?"
"You're a hero. Why kill innocent people."
"Fine, I'll do as my puppy says. But—in exchange—."
Ashy closed in and groped my ass.
"Oh my, what are you doing out in public."
"Hero! Take it to a room!"
"I've got some great herbs for men, hero."
The market vendors cackled and chattered.
Ashy ignored them, trying to slip her hand into my pants.
I urgently grabbed her hand to stop her.
Before she could reach my cock.
"W-wait. At least go somewhere without people..."
"Embarrassed?"
"......"
Short and curt.
If I said yes, she'd draw the sword.
Her attitude implied no watchers, no shame.
Was her threat to kill Yuteron citizens sincere?
Had she softened up?
It matched her original personality from the story—no disconnect—but it still felt off.
Ashy asked again.
"Puppy, embarrassed?"
No other emotions detectable.
Not like she was threatening me.
She seemed to be enjoying the situation itself.
Gripping the sword was just part of the tease.
'She wouldn't actually kill.'
But could I bet on that?
Not my life, but other citizens'?
Ashy might really swing the Holy Sword.
It's her mind—I couldn't guarantee.
For me, obeying was best.
Swallowing my shame and accepting her touch—.
"...No."
"Not embarrassed?"
"...Yeah."
"Then stay still."
The moment I let go, Ashy beamed.
Without hesitation, she shoved her hand into my pants.
Market-goers stared at me.
Wondering what the hell we were doing, their faces full of curiosity.
"Hngh..."
Ashy grabbed and toyed with my balls.
She put on quite the misunderstandable show.
Unable to speak up, but the vendors seemed convinced it was exactly that.
"That female hero has some nasty tastes."
"Can't do lewd stuff right in the street. Kids pass by."
"...Likes tormenting her boyfriend? Then these herbs are perfect, perfect."
The market aunties called out to Ashy.
At 'boyfriend,' Ashy's face lit up.
"Auntie, you said you have herbs good for men?"
She pulled her hand from my pants and headed to a nearby herb stall.
To me, it looked like she'd been played for a fool.
But Ashy eagerly bought up bundles of what barely qualified as weeds.
"You two look close. Thinking marriage? How many kids? Men need stamina. Hero looks great for it. Bet you could have a dozen? This'll help. My husband's ruined me with it. Keeps getting me pregnant..."
The herb seller auntie poured out words.
Picking only the ones to hook Ashy, she had her entranced.
Ashy fully hooked.
Stupidly interested.
"Really?"
"Cheap for a hero. It's all I can do. Hero, you're like my daughter. Have fun with your boyfriend. Careful—he might keep you up all night!"
In the blink of an eye, the deal closed.
Ashy handed over money; the auntie offloaded her useless weeds.
Fallen to the auntie's slick tongue.
"Thank you."
Ashy bowed politely, even after being scammed.
She turned to me.
"Back to the mansion—let's try all this."
"...What about clothes?"
"Oh, right."
We browsed the market a bit more, then went to buy gear.
The grand street was lined with artifact shops.
We picked one and flung open the door.