Chapter 299: The Request
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 299: The Request
After starting our morning with a refreshing ogre raid, we had a simple meal and immediately set off again.
Apparently, the 5th Floor, much like the 2nd, wasn’t composed of multiple levels but was a single, vast space. That’s why I was hoping we might find another ant nest or something similar here.
I was also told that in this place where the sky was high, the trees were tall, the monsters were huge, and everything was massive, the distance to the Floor Boss was also immense.
Well, I wasn’t in a position to complain about the distance.
In fact, I hoped it was even farther.
Of course, I wanted to finish the request and go back as soon as possible, but if we arrived too quickly, I wouldn’t have time to level up.
And the moment Miriel found out my level was too low, the only future I could see was one where she rapes me.
Besides, the Floor Boss wasn’t the only problem.
The Transcendent Species that could pop out at any moment was also a concern.
If we were to run into a Transcendent Species here, we wouldn’t even make it to the Floor Boss before being completely wiped out.
My skills were barely effective against the ogre, so they definitely wouldn’t work on a Transcendent Species.
Damn it. If I’d known this would happen, maybe I should have just had sex with Silvia last night.
Restless with the thought that we could encounter a Transcendent Species at any moment, I scanned our surroundings nonstop.
“What’s with you?”
Eventually, Alicia, who was walking beside me, couldn’t take it anymore and spoke up.
“Huh? Wh-What?!”
“You’ve been acting like a dog that needs to shit. Is something wrong?”
“Nope. Compared to you, who’s never had a boyfriend in her entire life, I’m doing just fine.”
Ah, I slipped up. I was so flustered that I ended up speaking aggressively.
The moment the words left my mouth, I knew I’d made a mistake, but it was already too late.
“You… you bastard! What’s with you?! It’s not like you’ve ever helped me find a man!”
Of course, Alicia immediately flew into a rage.
She even admitted it. That she’s never had a boyfriend.
Since I felt bad for picking a fight, maybe I should help her out a little.
“Want me to help, then?”
“Wh-What?”
“I mean, should I give you some advice on how to get a boyfriend?”
“You?”
“What about me? Don’t you see how I’m living?”
I spread my arms and pulled the two women walking right beside me into a hug.
“Hyaaaah!”
“Kyaaah! Th-This… Y-You… So you also feel that way about me…”
Setting aside Silvia’s now-familiar scream, I heard a voice that felt somewhat out of place.
Turning my gaze in that direction, I saw Matilda staring at me with hearts in her eyes.
“Aaaah! You scared me! Why are you here?!”
“Hah! Y-You’re the one who suddenly pulled me in! You pervert!”
Thankfully, Matilda seemed to snap out of it as soon as I let go and moved away, but I couldn’t let my guard down.
Did she just say, “you also feel that way about me”? Is this for real? Is this dangerous?
But as soon as I used Revived Pride, my son reacted.
Thank God. That was a really close call.
But the crisis wasn’t over yet.
“Wh-Why did it get so big?! While hugging me?! So you really do…”
Aaaargh! She’s so annoying!
“No, I don’t! It got like this because I was hugging Silvia!”
“Hweeeh?!”
Silvia, still held against my side, took some splash damage and her trembling intensified, but it was a necessary sacrifice.
Sorry, Silvia. I had to do it to protect my son.
“Ahem! Ahem! Anyway! I, a man this popular, am offering you advice. What do you say? Interested?”
“Forget it! I’ve heard enough of that already!”
She’s heard it before?
Maybe she was more concerned about it than I thought, even before I brought it up.
If so, I really did do something I should be sorry for.
“But you probably heard it from other women, right? Advice from a man like me might be different, don’t you think?”
“W-Well… I guess I could… hear you out…”
Alicia pretended not to be, but she eventually showed interest.
Just as I thought. The only reason you got into lesbian acts was because you couldn’t get a man.
You poor thing. Allow me to save you.
“First of all, Alicia. You lack sex appeal.”
“You bastard! Are you trying to pick a fight?! I have plenty of sex appeal! Says the guy who lost his virginity by blowing his load the second he put it inside me!”
“Whoa, whoa. Calm down. I’m not teasing you. I’m giving you sincere advice. Of course, your body is sexy. I’ll admit that. But Alicia, no matter how good the hardware is, if the software is crap, it’s all for nothing.”
“Fine. I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I get that you want to pick a fight with me. Follow me over there for a second, you bastard! I’ll take you on!”
“That’s the attitude! That’s the problem, Alicia! That’s the reason you’ve never had a boyfriend, even with a face that could get any man you want if you just acted a little cute! You’re too violent! Your body might be sexy, but deep down, you don’t feel like a woman!”
Honestly, when I talk to her, it feels like I’m talking to one of the guys.
“So you’re telling me to act all coy for some man?! Hah! As if I’d go that far…”
“I’m not saying you have to do it for every man, am I? You just have to do it for the one guy you like. And I’m not telling you to act cute all the time, either. The key is the gap. The gap.”
“…The gap?”
“Right. Normally, you’re like a guy… Ack! Wait! I’m not insulting you, so just listen! A girl who normally doesn’t feel like a member of the opposite sex, who’s easygoing, but then occasionally shows a feminine side. That alone is enough to make a man fall head over heels.”
“…What specifically should I do?”
Perhaps thinking that she could handle that much, Alicia became a little more receptive.
“So, just act a little more feminine toward the guy you’re interested in. Right. Silvia.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“As a noble lady, could you demonstrate for Alicia what it means to be feminine?”
“…I-I trust you are well. My name is Silvia…”
“Never mind.”
“Awooooo…”
Come to think of it, Silvia had also lived a life with no connection to men.
Is there anyone feminine around here? I looked around.
I noticed the members of Arachne watching us with amusement, but they seemed to have no intention of helping.
She’s your comrade. Help her out a little.
Damn it. I guess I have no choice. I’ll have to sacrifice myself for this.
“Alicia. I’m only going to show you this once, so open your eyes wide and watch carefully. This is a woman’s natural reaction when dealing with a man she likes.”
With that, I wrapped my arm around Matilda’s waist.
Then, I cupped her chin, made her look up at me, and spoke in a soft voice.
“Matilda.”
“Yes… Guwon…”
As expected, Matilda instantly transformed into a woman in love, her voice becoming moist and sweet.
Okay, any more than this is dangerous.
“Wow, you’re an easy woman.”
“Wh-What did you say!”
I immediately changed my tone to a mocking one, and Matilda instantly became furious.
Phew. That was close.
“How was that, Alicia? Did you see? That’s what femininity is…”
“A-Am I that feminine?”
Agh. She’s so annoying!
“But then again, it’s Matilda!”
“What is that supposed to mean?!”
It means don’t fall for me!
Figuring things would get even more annoying if Matilda heard any more, I pulled Alicia’s head close and whispered into her ear.
“Anyway, you get it? That was a feminine attitude. I sacrificed myself to show you, so you saw it clearly, right?”
“Y-You want me to do something like that?” Alicia said, uncharacteristically lacking in confidence.
“What? You don’t think you can do that much? It’s just answering in a slightly sweet voice. It’s even better if you can get a little moisture in your eyes.”
“Uuuugh…”
“Alright. If you’re not confident, why don’t you practice right now?”
“H-Here?!”
“Why not? I’ll watch and grade you. If you get my passing mark, you’ll become a woman who can not only have sex with a man but also form a deeper relationship. It’s okay. You can do it. Your hardware is good, at least.”
“What do you mean, ‘at least’?! ‘At least’?!”
“I was complimenting you. Anyway, come on! Try it! Don’t be shy!”
“Ugh… How can I do something like that…”
“Should I set the mood? Alicia…”
“Ye… Aaaah! I can’t do it! Get your greasy face away from me!”
As I wrapped my arm around Alicia’s waist and called her name softly, just as I had with Matilda, she seemed to try for a moment before shoving me away.
Greasy? I’m shocked. All this time, I thought I had a manly face.
“I was just trying to set the mood since you were so reluctant. Don’t you want a boyfriend?”
“I’m not interested! And how did this turn into me being desperate for a man?! I was only listening to your advice out of curiosity in the first place!”
“Aww, there she goes again.”
“You really are just trying to pick a fight!”
What is she talking about? Here I am, doing her a favor for once.
…Well, I won’t deny that I’m enjoying this a little.
“Come on, don’t be like that. One more time…”
“Cyclops ahead! It’s a male!”
But just then, Lutia’s voice, who had been scouting ahead, rang out.
Tch. Guess break time’s over.
“I see! Alright, Guwon! You get your Saint skills ready!”
Alicia shouted, a look of relief on her face as she quickly gripped her weapon.
Hey, it’s not like I need to prepare. I can activate them instantly. Besides, I’m the last one to use my skills.
Miriel, Alicia, and Jini shot forward like arrows, suggesting we had to take this one down raid-style, just like the ogre.
Silvia and Matilda stood firmly in front of me as if to prevent a repeat of yesterday’s incident, while the rear guard of Arachne and Lily formed a solid line behind me.
It feels pretty strange to be protected like this when I’m always out in front fighting.
Even as I thought that, I steadied my breath.
I might have to use multiple Saint’s Waves again, just like with the ogre. I need to stay focused.
In the end, we took down the cyclops without any problems, and the day ended without encountering any Transcendent Species.
I was exhausted.
Constantly being on edge, not knowing when a Transcendent Species might appear, was seriously draining.
If I hadn’t relaxed by playing with… I mean, by giving Alicia advice, I don’t think I would have been able to endure it.
But I did it.
I managed to get through the whole day without Miriel finding out my level was too low, so I’ve cleared one hurdle, at least.
Now, all I have to do is have a ton of sex with Silvia every night and raise my level to the point where Saint’s Wave will work on the Transcendent Species and the Floor Boss.
I’m going to do it!
“And so, Silvia. Strip.”
“Ye-Yehet?!”
“Why are you so surprised? I explained it last night. I told you I might have to level up by having sex with you. My level is too low as it is. It wouldn’t be strange if Miriel decided to jump me at any moment to ‘help me level up.’ From tonight until we reach the Floor Boss, we will have sex without a single day of rest.”
“Ah, ah, ahhh…”
Silvia clutched her face, her expression one of despair, as if foreseeing the hardship to come.
“Why the long face? You don’t want to do it with me?”
“I-I’d love to! I would, but… I’m not confident… I’ll survive…”
“Don’t worry. I have Healing Sex. Your physical condition will actually improve.”
“Wh-What about the mental aspect?”
“That’s something you’ll have to work on.”
“S-So I really…!”
“So you’re okay with me being pounced on by another woman, Silvia.”
“N-N-N-No, I’m not!”
“Then hurry up and strip.”
“Awoooooo…”
“And just so you know, you can’t faint this time, okay? Unlike the others, if you faint, you can’t reach climax. Since my goal is to level up, you absolutely have to stay awake.”
“Ugh! Th-That condition, too…”
“What? Not confident?”
“N-No! I will do my best…”
When I showed a hint of disappointment, Silvia shook her head vigorously, then slapped both her cheeks with a sharp smack to steel herself.
That must have hurt.
“You don’t have to be that tense, though. Why are you hitting your own cheeks? What if you damage that pretty face?”
“Hauuuuu…”
But as soon as I whispered to her, her determined expression immediately melted into a goofy one.
This might not work.