Perfect Resonance at the Lantern Inn
The first stop on my journey was Mari's Lantern Inn.
—She's a woman whose resonance frequency matches yours perfectly!
"Yeah?" I smirked and approached the innkeeper. Without a moment's hesitation, I reached out, pulled her into my arms, and gave her a light hug.
"Have you been well?"
"Uh, oh my....... Y-Yeah, I've been fine. What about you, Sian? No injuries or anything?"
She stiffened in surprise at the sudden skinship, but soon patted my back. Along with the soft sensation of her voluptuous breasts pressing against me, something popped up in the corner of my vision.
Residual Energy: 2.1%
—Up by 0.05%. That's how she'll let you know.
Not as much as I'd expected, so I shot a question at Ria. 'How much energy do I need to hand you over to someone else?'
—Well....... At least 20% to safely sever the connection.
'What? It won't keep filling up in these tiny increments, right?'
—Of course not! The deeper the emotional bond, the more it surges. Some past heroes filled 30% in one go!
'30%? What, did he spend his first night with a childhood friend he'd been pining for 15 years?'
—Huh?! How did you know that?!
Ria's flustered voice made me chuckle inwardly. Predictable trope, isn't it?
While I bantered with Ria, Marina cautiously asked, "So, what brings you here? Meeting someone?"
"Nah. Just looking for a break."
"Smart choice. We've got empty rooms—I'll give you the best one."
She smiled and grabbed a key. I fished out some silver coins from my pocket, but she hurriedly stopped my hand.
"No charge for the room! You're the hero who saved our village—how could I take your money? Just rest up."
"At least take something for meals, or I'll head somewhere else."
Finally, she shook her head with a reluctant laugh.
Under her guidance, I entered a second-floor room. As soon as the door shut, I tossed my gear on the floor and flopped onto the bed—old but spotlessly clean.
*Did I doze off for a bit?* A noise from downstairs jolted me awake; outside the window, dusk had fallen. I cracked my stiff neck and headed down.
The inn's hall was a total madhouse compared to earlier.
"Two more beers here!"
"When's the food coming?!"
The small space was packed with villagers and mercenaries, no room to breathe.
"Right away, coming!"
Marina, apron on, dashed around serving and taking orders like a whirlwind.
—That lady's super popular, huh? Look where all the guys' eyes are glued. Their eyeballs are gonna pop out.
She wasn't wrong. Every time she bustled by with a tray, her heaving breasts and full hips drew every gaze in the room.
"Heard a monster pack showed up in the woods nearby?"
"Yeah. Lord's offering a fat bounty. Adventurers and mercs are buying up all the supplies."
Sounded like monsters had gathered in the outer forest, and a subjugation order went out. 'Hope it doesn't cause me any hassle.'
I leaned against the wall, watching, when Marina—stacked high with empty mugs on a tray, heading to the kitchen—tripped over a chair.
"Kyaa!"
I darted forward, snagging her waist with one arm and steadying the tray with the other.
"You okay?"
She looked up at me with wide eyes, then blushed in embarrassment. "Sian, thanks. I was so out of it."
"Looks tough handling it alone. Let me help."
As I took the tray, I naturally cupped the back of her soft hand. She flinched, but I played it cool, clearing tables around the hall.
Near midnight, the place finally quieted. Drunks and mercs staggered to rooms or out the door, leaving only dim lamplight.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Must be starving."
Marina shed her apron and set steaming meat stew and bread before me. Exhausted as she must be, her cheeks were oddly flushed.
"Great job. Business is booming."
"Not usually like this—sudden rush surprised me. On tough nights like tonight, I always have a drink before bed. Want one, Sian?"
"Sure, why not."
She headed to a deep cabinet in the back of the kitchen, returning with a whiskey bottle wrapped in white cloth and glasses.
"It's a secret stash, even from Mari. Gotta treat my returning hero right."
Amber liquid filled the glasses with a glug. The sharp alcohol scent was inviting. We clinked and sipped.
"Sian, remember this?"
After a few rounds, her cheeks glowed rosy. Propping her chin on the table, she smiled languidly. "When you first saw me, you called me 'sis' out of nowhere."
"Oh, yeah."
I chuckled, popping some snack in my mouth. "Really thought you were my age back then. You look young now, but I never imagined a fifteen-year-old daughter."
"Oh, you. Thanks, even if it's flattery. I was shocked too—your words and actions were so mature, I never guessed you were just twenty."
We lost track of time, laughing and draining glasses. She shared tales of creepy customers over five years running the inn. Two burly mercs starting a brawl, punching till they both nosebled and passed out—had me snorting.
I countered with my merc days: raiding a fierce orc village, only to find them all downed by food poisoning from rotten monster meat. Easy win, captured 'em alive for the cart. She smiled, amazed.
"You're incredible, Sian. Wish Mari had that luck."
"Speaking of, where is she? Found a good man and married off?"
"Heavens, no. She's dead set on being an adventurer—hit D-rank somehow. Off on an expedition with a party now."
"An adventurer? Mari?"
I blinked wide. Five years ago, I remembered her just crying over my bloody state. That fragile kid, an adventurer?
"Hard to picture Mari as one."
"Tell me about it—I never saw it coming. Blame you, really..."
"Me?"
"After you left the village, she got stubborn: 'I wanna be a cool adventurer like Sian oppa.'"
"Ah... Sorry."
"No, just saying."
She finished with a small groan, touching her forehead. "Ugh... This stuff hits hard after so long. Better head up. Sorry, Sian."
As she wobbled to her feet, I stood and moved close. "I'll help you up the stairs."
I wrapped her waist firmly, no words needed. Midway up the creaky, narrow wooden steps, she lost balance and pitched into me.
"Eep!"
Her face buried in my shoulder amid a soft gasp. Her body heat was feverish from the booze—boozy breath mixed with her mature, musky scent.
Then, as I supported her climb, my hand slipped down her hip, palm filling with her firm, plump ass.
'......Huh?'
I figured she'd push away or jolt, but no reaction. With each step, my hand alternated between hip and cheek naturally, and she just leaned into me, breathing raggedly.
Finally, her second-floor room. I eased her onto the bed.
—Aw, bummer... Lady can't hold her liquor.
I ignored her, pulling the blanket up to her neck. Staring down, her "steady" breaths and quivering lashes gave her away instantly.
'She's wide awake.'
—What? Then I could slip in beside her?
'No.'
I drew a firm line, adding, 'You said it yourself—some past hero filled 30% with a childhood friend. It's not just fucking; emotions have to boil for max efficiency. Pushing now on a booze excuse is amateur hour. Time to let her simmer.'
I leaned down close to her face, gently brushing stray hair from her cheek with my fingers.
She flinched hard—her shoulder tensed under my touch.
"Sis... you're still as pretty as ever."
I whispered low in her ear, then straightened and left without regret.
Click.
Door shut behind me in the hall, and Ria gushed in awe.
—Whoa, insane. Past heroes were such virgins I had to coach 'em—touch here, there. Thought I'd die of frustration filling energy. This hero's got it. Total pro.
I let her praise wash over me, casually asking, 'Wait, do you watch the whole time when I'm with a woman?'
—Huh? Yeah? Most didn't know what they were doing, so I guided 'em.
'Cool. Guess I'll toss you far away then.'