13. Misunderstanding
A creepy forest where the moon and stars filled the night sky, with all the women asleep (though Isabella was technically a woman for now).
It was the kind of night where the occasional cries of birds flying nearby sent chills down your spine. Thanks to Noah's magic being effective, no beasts were seen prowling around, making it just slightly eerie?
In that atmosphere, two people were leaning against a tree, having a conversation. While the proper way to talk would be to look at each other's faces, Isabella couldn't bring herself to properly look at Argoll.
She kept staring at random tree roots or birds flying in the sky...
"...Um, if you have nothing to say, I think I'll head back now."
"Wait a moment, human. You're in quite a hurry. As a man, you should understand, shouldn't you? I was just savoring the afterglow for a moment..."
Afterglow. By afterglow, he meant—
"Phew..."
Argoll let out a satisfied breath and slipped his hand into his pants, fiddling with something. He had just finished ejaculating.
The problem was that even after ejaculating, he hadn't pulled his dick out of the onahole.
Because of that, his pants bulged—
"Um... If you have business with me, could you please do something about your pants first...?"
"You. Don't you know what an onahole is?"
"Huh? Ah, well, that..."
Should she say she knows? Should she say she doesn't?
Isabella was thrown into confusion...!
If there was any consolation, it was that Argoll firmly believed Isabella was a man named 'Ibel'. But even so, dirty talk between men was a high hurdle for Isabella.
"This is a very good item. After all, you can't bring women with you everywhere on the battlefield. Sex is good and all, but this is convenient and feels good in its own way. Interested? If so, I can tell you where to buy one."
She swallowed the words "I already have one..."
"Ah, no, it's okay. I'm not really interested in that sort of thing..."
"Hmm."
Argoll curled the corner of his mouth strangely and straightened his posture.
Usually, when engaging in such dirty talk, there's a type of person who feels like teasing even more when someone acts shy and tries to back out. Unfortunately for Isabella, Argoll belonged to that type.
Was it because of the bitter memories of being bullied as the youngest in the mercenary group?
Argoll made a circle with the thumb and index finger of his left hand and mimicked putting in and pulling out the index finger of his other hand, showing it right in front of Isabella's eyes.
"Any experience?"
"Ex, experience?"
"Playing dumb? With that looks, you've never had sex? I find that hard to believe. Even though I'm an orc, I know what kind of looks appeal to human women. Ibel, you're quite handsome, aren't you?"
There were quite a few differences between orc and human aesthetic standards, but even to Argoll's eyes, Isabella's cross-dressed appearance as 'Ibel' was quite top-tier.
More pretty than handsome, though.
"......"
"Don't tell me you really have no experience?"
Isabella kept her mouth tightly shut.
Her brain was overloaded, unsure how to answer or where to start. But Argoll interpreted that silence in his own way and suddenly grabbed Isabella's wrist.
'Eeeek—! The hand he just had in his pants!'
Shock and chills ran down her spine simultaneously.
Ignoring Isabella's flustered state, Argoll spoke with a serious expression.
"A warrior heading to the battlefield can't be inexperienced. You'll regret it if you die. If you're born male and die without having sex once, wasn't your birth meaningless? When we return to Bellua, I'll introduce you to a very good brothel. I have my eye on a woman there."
'...Do people normally introduce a woman they like to someone else?'
In many ways, there seemed to be quite a large gap in values between Isabella and Argoll.
"At that place, even someone as shy as you should be able to have sex. Surely you're not such a fool that you can't even move your hips?"
"Well... you see..."
And for some reason.
Even though he didn't name the brothel, she had a feeling she knew which one he was talking about. She had a hunch, and besides, there probably weren't many brothels that orcs could use.
If he meant that 'Number 1'...
Isabella had already experienced it twice.
(Actually, Argoll had only received a handjob.)
"I was just too flustered to answer. And I... I have had experience."
"Ooh, is that so? Seems I worried for nothing then."
Gahahaha!
Argoll's hearty laughter echoed through the forest. Isabella flinched and looked around, but nothing seemed to have changed.
"A shame. These kinds of stories are best shared over a drink."
"Noah-nim strictly forbade alcohol, remember? We're entering the dungeon early tomorrow."
"I know, I know. I remember."
Argoll replied like that and placed his hand on his knee. Then he raised his head and gazed intently at the moon shining in the night sky. Striking that pose, he said—
"You, I heard you're close with the elf."
"W-well, she is my master, after all?"
Though they were doing this and that, which wasn't exactly fitting for a master and disciple, that was the official story.
Argoll continued immediately.
"To feel up the elf's ass... any ideas on how to win her favor?"
"...Huh? My master's ass?"
"There's something I want to check. I only came here because the elf asked me to."
"......"
Isabella immediately shot up! from her spot. Then she snapped at Argoll.
"If that's the issue, then I don't think I can help you. After all, she is my master. If I had known you were looking at my master with such eyes, my attitude would inevitably change. Well then."
"Hey, human!"
Isabella turned her back on Argoll's shout and walked toward the camp.
This tickling emotion in her chest.
Isabella still didn't know what it was. However, one thing was certain: she didn't want to let Argoll touch her master's ass.
After all, everything her master was doing for her...
"How foolish."
Isabella quietly returned to her spot and lay down. This time, it didn't take long for her to fall asleep.
===
'Did something happen?'
It felt like the atmosphere had changed overnight. I thought all three of them, including Argoll, were docile enough that there wouldn't be any problems.
Except for occasionally talking to me, I don't think I've ever seen them have a conversation with each other, not even once. At least that was the case this morning.
'Hmm. Well, as long as they're not fighting.'
It must just be my imagination. Since there wasn't any actual fight, they're probably just each feeling tense.
I gripped my staff and stepped forward.
"Everyone seemed worried when I said I was going to a B-rank dungeon, but it's fine. This time, I only plan to explore the area around the entrance and then return. You all know that stronger monsters appear the deeper you go, right?"
Nods nods.
Since everyone except Isabella had some experience, a lengthy explanation probably wasn't necessary.
I immediately tapped the ground with my staff,
[Light-Emitting Magic]
Created a small light source and stepped into the cave.
===
The dungeon entrance stretched in a fairly long straight line.
Step step, the sound of footsteps continued for a while without any conversation, until finally Noah, who was walking at the front, stopped. That was the end of the cave.
When the three following behind lined up beside Noah and peeked out, what they saw was...
An immensely huge cavern.
In that cavern, there were several small holes like tunnels. It was a strangely incomprehensible structure. They hadn't gone underground, there wasn't a big hill, they had just entered a small cave, yet...
Inside was such a massive space.
"From here on is the real dungeon. Meaning our work starts now."
Noah stepped forward and began drawing magic in various places. Isabella followed right behind.
As Noah engraved installation-type magic, Isabella would promptly take out magic stones and hand them to Noah each time he reached out his hand.
"There, the entrance should be fine for now. It won't be easy for monsters to get out through this entrance."
"You've worked hard, Master! Here, have some water."
"Thank you, Ibel."
And Elize watched the two of them intently.
'...What exactly is their relationship?'
There was one delusional priest burning with motivation to uncover the secret here.
'Once this is over, I'd like to receive a suitable reward from the elf.'
Also, one perverted orc making sinister plans.
'I must protect Master.'
And one cross-dressing futanari girl having the admirable(?) thought of protecting her master from the clutches of that orc.
Under one party, everyone was thinking their own separate thoughts.