Chapter 284: Quest Preparation
Chapter 284: Quest Preparation
“I see. I think I get the gist of it. But Alicia mentioned you’d be willing to share information. I don’t see that in the terms.”
“Hm? Tch. What the hell. Did you really bring that up?”
Miriel muttered, giving Alicia an exasperated look.
“You’re the one who told me to bring him here no matter what, Miriel. This isn’t my fault.”
“That’s true, but… well, it can’t be helped. Fine. We’ll do that. In exchange, we’ll be taking all the penises from every monster we meet on the way to the 5th Layer, not just the Layer Boss. So be prepared.”
“Hmph. I still think it would be best to refuse.”
“I told you, don’t worry. Every single executive of the Arachne Clan will be there. Every one. There’s no chance of anything going wrong on the 5th Layer. I promise we’ll return your man to you safely, little miss.”
Miriel replied to Diana with her characteristically refreshing smile.
Just based on looks, it seemed like some handsome guy was trying to seduce my Diana, which felt a little weird.
“Hmph. ‘Little miss,’ you say. I am at least… ahem. It seems my introduction was delayed. I am Diana Telluna.”
Diana was about to mention her age, but she glanced at me and changed the subject.
So she only gets self-conscious about her age when I’m around. What a cutie. I’ll have to keep teasing her about it.
“…What?”
At Diana’s introduction, even Miriel seemed to be at a loss for words.
“The same name… it couldn’t be. A silver-haired elf. My, my. My apologies. I’m sorry for not recognizing you. I see. I did think it was strange how he was making new discoveries one after another, no matter how special his job was. To think the Supreme Archmage herself was right beside him.”
Hey. I’m the one who figured out how to use the penises, you know?
Well, I guess Diana was the one who told me to try using my Saint skills on monsters.
In any case, Miriel seemed quite surprised.
But her reaction was different from what I’d expected.
Since she said she used magic, I thought she’d be completely star-struck like other mages.
Was it because, as the leader of a major clan, she couldn’t show such a side of herself?
“You said you use magic as well.”
“You’re well-informed. Have you heard rumors about me?”
“No. When I asked how we could trust your promise to share all the secret passages you find, Alicia told me to form a mana contract with you.”
“…Alicia.”
“Wh-what? Is there a problem?”
“…Never mind. Fine. Then I will form a mana contract right now.”
Miriel shook her head and immediately recited the terms of the contract in a voice imbued with mana.
There was no way she could try any tricks in front of Diana, and it was clearly a legitimate mana contract.
“How straightforward.”
“I intended to keep the promise anyway. There’s no reason to hesitate when there’s no risk. Besides, now that I’ve gone this far, you can’t back out saying it’s too dangerous, can you?”
I see. So that was her game.
“Sorry, Diana. It looks like this is happening.”
“Ughhhhh.”
Diana made a slightly displeased face, then let out a deep sigh.
“It can’t be helped. So, when does the request begin?”
“For us, the sooner the better… When can you depart?”
“Then let’s start tomorrow.”
“Hm? Tomorrow?”
For some reason, Diana looked at me when she heard the word ‘tomorrow.’
“You…”
“Hm? What?”
“Just when did you sleep with Miss Silvia!”
“Wait, what are you talking about?”
“Didn’t you say so yourself! That you wouldn’t take a request until you’d slept with each of us at least once! If you’re going on a request tomorrow, doesn’t that mean you’ve already slept with Miss Silvia!”
“Guwon, was that really why you weren’t taking any requests? And you’ve already been with Silvia… I mean, I did say it was okay for you to sleep with her, but are you doing it more often than with us?”
Sparked by Diana’s words, Sara’s glare sharpened as well.
“Wait! It’s a misunderstanding! When I said I’d sleep with each of you once, I was only talking about the three of you, including Leia! I haven’t slept with Silvia a single time since we got back from the dungeon! Right, Silvia! Say something!”
“…Yes. …That’s true.”
Silvia muttered, her expression so crestfallen it was obvious to anyone.
Seeing her face, the eyes of Sara and Diana were now filled with pity.
“My word. Isn’t that a bit too cruel, even for you?”
“Guwon, you really don’t have a delicate bone in your body.”
No, this is because you two were glaring at me so scarily!
And it might seem a little cold, but this is the right way to handle it! I can’t just treat Silvia the same way I treat you two, can I?
“You there. Miriel, was it?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s begin the request the day after tomorrow.”
“D-Diana? What’s with the sudden change?”
“Guwon, you be quiet,” Sara said as she wrapped an arm around the dejected Silvia’s shoulders to comfort her.
This is so unfair. They would have been angry if I actually had been rolling around with Silvia every day.
“The day after tomorrow… Very well. Two days should be fine.”
“And. I have something to impress upon you.”
“Please, speak.”
“This man, for what it’s worth, is my man. I trust you understand what that means. I trust that your clan members will treat him appropriately during the request.”
“…Are you serious?”
“Do I look like I’m joking?”
“…I understand. If that is what the Supreme Archmage wishes.”
I could interpret that last exchange pretty easily.
Diana was saying, ‘He’s my man, so don’t touch him,’ and in response, Miriel was asking, ‘Are you serious? He could raise his level a ton by sleeping with us.’
For an adventurer, willingly throwing away a chance to level up must have seemed like an unbelievable choice.
But Diana nodded firmly, and Miriel accepted it.
If Diana hadn’t put her foot down like that, the women of this clan would have jumped me, if only out of curiosity.
Thinking back to the looks in their eyes at the entrance, I was sure of it.
Since this was the reason Diana came in the first place, you could say her objective was accomplished.
With this, my chastity was now safe.
It’s a little disappoint… No! It’s not disappointing! I only have eyes for my girls!
“Well, it seems our business is concluded. Let’s go.”
“Ah, I will see you to the entrance.”
Escorted by Miriel, we were able to leave the clan house.
“Diana, the reason you pushed the request to the day after tomorrow was because…”
“We won’t be able to see each other for a few days. It’s just too pitiful for Miss Silvia, isn’t it?”
“You got angry when you thought I’d already slept with Silvia.”
“Honestly, Guwon! That’s a completely different matter!”
“Hmph! Indeed! You truly do not understand a woman’s heart!”
No, I think I’m starting to get it. They’re conflicted inside, too.
They gave me permission to sleep with Silvia, but the thought of me secretly doing it makes them angry. But then, if I say I won’t sleep with her at all, they feel sorry for her.
In short, the problem is that both Sara and Diana are too kind.
I simply pulled Sara and Diana into a tight hug, one on each side.
“Sara, Diana. I love you.”
“Hmph. Honestly, I’m the one suffering for falling for a playboy like you. I only love you, Guwon.”
“Indeed. Now, I shall give you another chance, so say it properly this time. Using only my name.”
“Wait! Diana! That’s cheating!”
“In matters like these, it’s first come, first served!”
“Is that so? Then how did you react when I started dating Guwon first?”
“That was then, and this is now!”
Honestly, these two… just when things were going well, they end up like this.
Not wanting to get caught in their argument, I subtly slipped away from them and approached Silvia, who was walking behind us.
“Silvia.”
“Yes, Guwon… Hyaaaaaaah!”
“What are you so down about? Didn’t you want to be by my side even though you knew you’d be treated differently from them?”
“Awu, awu, awu…”
As I whispered in her ear, Silvia turned bright red, all her previous gloominess gone, and could only stammer, her mouth opening and closing without a sound.
“That doesn’t mean I don’t like you, you know. You’re pretty. And soft. In fact…”
“Ah, ahhhhh…”
“Guwon! You’re shamelessly flirting with Silvia again!” “Honestly, I can’t let my guard down for a second!”
Silvia’s panicked voice must have been loud, because Sara and Diana, who had been arguing, both turned towards us at the same time.
“Huh? No, she’s been looking so down, I was just trying to comfort her…”
“Is that how you comfort people?! By hugging them, rubbing your cheek all over their face, and whispering sweet nothings?!”
“Why? Are you jealous? I can do it for you too, Sara.”
“Th-that’s not it!”
“……It is for me, so do it!”
Diana, who had been thinking for a moment, stared intently at Silvia, then shouted with a look of determination.
“Wait, Diana!”
“Miss Sara, you still have much to learn. If you can endure a moment of embarrassment, you can continue to enjoy happiness!”
“I see. Spoken with the wisdom of your years, Diana.”
“Hmph. I didn’t get old for noth… I’m not that old!”
“Whatever you say. Come here. I’ll give you some nuzzles.”
I let go of Silvia, who was already on the verge of fainting, and pulled Diana into a hug.
“How long do you think you can placate me with something like… Do it harder! You did it so hard for Miss Silvia that it left a mark on her cheek!”
“As you command. Our Diana is so soft and smells so nice, you’re just perfect to hug like this.”
“What are you touching while calling me soft! What are you touching!”
Since my arm was wrapped around her stomach, it seemed she got the wrong idea.
“No, it’s not that. When I said soft, I meant… your chest?”
“Are you mocking me right now! Why the question mark?! Say it with certainty!”
“Then I guess it must be your cheeks that are soft…”
“What do you mean, ‘I guess’! What do you mean!”
Diana started to pathetically attack my body.
But since she didn’t tell me to let go and was even rubbing against me, it seemed she didn’t want me to stop the nuzzling. What a cutie.
“Ughhhh! Not fair! I want in, too!”
Seeing me doting on Diana like this must have been too much for her to just watch, because Sara finally rushed over.
“Hm? Didn’t you say you didn’t need it earlier, Sara?”
“Urk. …B-but…”
“Hmph. If you really want to join in… fine. Make the cutest face you can and say, ‘Oppa. Give Sara some nuzzles, too,’ and I’ll think about it.”
“A-are you serious?!”
“Dead serious.”
“U-uhh… Endure a moment of embarrassment for continued happiness. Endure a moment of embarrassment for continued happiness… O-Oppa! Give Sara some nuzzles, too!”
Sara quickly repeated the words Diana had said earlier, then widened her eyes more than usual and spoke, putting on what she thought was a cute expression.
“Wow, Sara. That expression really doesn’t sui—” “U-uwaaah! Forget it! Forget it right now!”
“Hey! Wait! That hurts! You can’t just knock a memory out of someone’s head by hitting them! Sara! I’m sorry! I was wrong! I surrender! You were actually super cute!”
“Forget it! Hurry up and forget it!”
“Aack! Diana! Help me…!”
“You’re not putting enough strength into it. I had to endure my own embarrassment to ask for this. Be more thorough.”
I called for help, but it seemed Diana had no intention of helping me in the slightest.
Damn it. I managed to escape the Arachne Clan house where women walk around naked, so why am I suffering like this out on the street?
“S-Silvia! Help!”
“Y-yes?! B-but…”
Even Silvia wouldn’t help me.
Tch. They know, don’t they?
They know exactly what the hierarchy is in our Saviors clan!
Leia reigns as the absolute angel in first place. Sara and Diana, in charge of physical and magical power respectively, fight for the spot below her. And I, Guwon, the clan leader, am only just above Silvia. In other words, I’m at the very bottom, excluding Silvia.
Tch. How did it come to this…? When it comes to our nightly activities, I can beat all of them!
Anyway, I was able to learn another lesson that day.
When you tease someone, pick your target carefully.
If I tease Sara to the point she loses her cool, she becomes incredibly difficult to handle.