Chapter 108

Chapter 108

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 108: A Master’s Grace (4).

“I will leave soon.”

Ordnung’s teacher, Yupi, said as she looked out the window at the clear sky. Allen, who was serving bland tea, slowly looked at her.

“..You can stay here longer.”

Honestly, for Allen, who was as greedy for talent as Viola or Elizabeth, he couldn’t help but desire her. Especially since he was holding her disciple like a hostage.

…But the Master firmly shook her head.

“No, I’ve received enough of your help. I’ve seen my disciple’s mindset; now it’s time to leave.”

“Ordnung will be disappointed.”

“If she were that kind of girl, she would have come to me earlier… And meddlesome people should know when to step back.”

These days, the Blind Saintess had already been fed up with her master’s harsh training. Honestly, if her master said she was leaving, she would secretly welcome it with open arms.

“She still has a lot to learn… Please take good care of her.”

“I should be the one asking for that. I’ve received a lot of help from Ordnung. It’s all thanks to her excellent master.”

Her master smiled oddly. Even if he didn’t know anything else, he was exceptionally good at flattery, almost to a cunning degree… Maybe that naive disciple of hers had been completely taken in.

“So, are you returning to the Holy Kingdom?”

“No. There’s somewhere else I need to stop by briefly.”

“I see.”

“…If you ever have a chance to go to the capital, try to visit the Prophetess Aloa. I’m curious about what she would say about you.”

“Haha, there wouldn’t be anything special.”

“There might be something; you never know.”

Yupi’s gaze was sharp, as if piercing through Allen’s thoughts.

“Anyway, thank you for everything during this time.”

“No need to thank me… Oh, and take this.”

Allen handed over another small leather pouch. If the previous one was somewhat like a bribe, this time, it was just a travel allowance for the long journey ahead.

“It’s not much, but please use it during your travels…”

The Master gladly took a deep puff of smoke and quickly accepted it.

“I’ll gratefully accept your kindness.”

“It’s all thanks to you raising a good disciple.”

“Hoho, indeed.”

And so they parted ways, and Master Yupi left alone early at dawn the next day. Without even a final farewell to her disciple… Or rather, it would be more accurate to say the Blind Saintess couldn’t wake up until late in the morning.

Of course, it wasn’t that the disciple was gloomy because the master had left. Rather, she seemed to be in a better mood. After all, she wouldn’t have to endure that hellish training anymore.

The one who regretted it more was the training junkie, Itty Titty Natasha. The sparring sessions with Yupi had been extremely beneficial for her. Honestly, finding someone of that skill level around here wasn’t easy.

Anyway, as the Blind Saintess’s master, who had appeared like the wind, disappeared like the wind, the tension that had been lingering subsided like a spent erection, and the mercenary group returned to its usual atmosphere.

The Pinkette Saintess roamed the city to enjoy her freedom, and Itty Titty Natasha, recalling Yupi’s teachings, pushed herself even harder in her training.

…Of course, not everything was the same as before. Especially that friendship kiss, which was imprinted in Natasha’s mind like a seal.

To exaggerate a bit, Itty Titty Natasha really couldn’t forget the kiss with Group Leader Allen, as if she had caught the demonic disease. She had managed to endure it with sheer willpower, but she was reaching her limit.

-Suppressing it too much isn’t helpful.

That was Yupi’s advice. Of course, she didn’t specifically mention desire, but it might be partly included.

…Yeah, suppressing it too much isn’t helpful…!

If it was to the point where it interfered with training, resolving it well was also part of training.

Of course, it took a considerable amount of determination to make up her mind, but there was no other choice… How can I help it when it keeps driving me crazy?

Thus, Natasha made a firm decision and waited for the sun to set. Taking advantage of the short break before dinner, she had a brief face-to-face meeting with Group Leader Allen in his room.

“What’s the matter?”

From the Group Leader’s perspective, managing the members without any trouble was an essential element. Naturally, it was right to kindly respond to the request for a meeting.

In fact, even at this moment, Natasha deeply pondered several times whether to speak or not, but eventually, she revealed her inner thoughts to the Group Leader’s kind question.

“It seems a small difficulty has arisen in my training…!”

“Oh dear, that shouldn’t be. If it’s something I can help with, I’ll do my best to assist.”

“It seems to be causing a significant mental strain… It’s become a bit troublesome.”

“Tell me. What is it?”

Natasha, like a paragon of upright warriors, held her head and waist straight, maintaining a composed expression as best as she could, but she couldn’t stop her face from blushing with embarrassment.

“It’s just… I keep thinking about that.”

“That?”

“That…”

Allen didn’t insensitively ask what ‘that’ was. Instead, he responded with a peculiar smile.

“…I see.”

She didn’t ask, “What should I do?” It was her way of entrusting this matter entirely to him.

“Did I make a mistake, by any chance?”

“No! Absolutely not. It wasn’t a mistake. I liked it too. I liked it… Ah!”

At that point, Natasha could no longer maintain her composed facade. Though her posture remained upright, her head drooped down. She just couldn’t bear to look the Group Leader in the eyes.

“So, you want to do that… right?”

Itty Titty Natasha barely managed a slight nod after a long pause. Allen smiled broadly.

…Indeed, perhaps thanks to curing the demonic disease, her favorability is at its peak. It seems she’s all flustered from just one kiss, even though I didn’t do much.

Frankly, it was a fortunate turn of events for Allen. Keeping such a valuable talent wasn’t easy with just money. That’s why there was also the concept of Favorability in [Guild Master]. It was to ensure that talents couldn’t be poached by other mercenary groups by maxing out their favorability… Though sometimes they would still be bought out with money, having high favorability significantly reduced that possibility.

Of course, Allen was more than willing to provide diligent aftercare services to Natasha, who would play an important role in the Allen-Mercenary Group. If she asked for something, he had to do it… as long as it wasn’t too expensive.

Kisses? He would give it to her a hundred, a thousand times if needed!

Moreover, for Allen, who had [Sex Maniac] and [Womanizer] traits, it wasn’t a loss at all. In fact, it was rather enjoyable.

He sold love for 40 gold coins, so why not his lips?!

Anyway, as Natasha requested, Allen passionately kissed her plump lips. At the same time, he caressed her back and squeezed her buttocks.

Itty Titty Natasha was engrossed in the kiss to the point that her face became a mess.

…Something so easy and simple, why did I try to hold back so much…?!

Inside Natasha, something significant changed.

Chapter 2 fittingly showed that the continent was suffering from the atrocities of the mages.

Contracts with demons.

Gates to the spirit world.

Summoning magic.

Fake gold.

Drugs.

Power struggles.

They recklessly unleashed the knowledge that had been carefully preserved in the Magic Tower for centuries. Of course, not all mages used it solely for their own benefit, but the majority who suddenly lost all their money, status, and power struggled excessively to regain them.

Every day, the news flying into Vermandois was all about the mages’ atrocities. Even the northern regions, which tabooed magic, were not free from it.

Rumor even had it that the worst bandit group, the Martollo-Bandit Group, which had many mages, was now even controlling monsters… It was truly a chaotic situation.

For these reasons, more and more lords from various cities across the continent, regardless of direction, were looking to Vermandois for commissions. The scale of the accidents caused by mages was so large that it was difficult to resolve them with just the surrounding forces.

Even the southern region, where the mercenary groups were the weakest, was now suffering terribly due to a powerful demonic beast summoned by a mad mage’s summoning magic.

In particular, Count Eibreheim, the lord ruling the central city of Berge, had an inseparable relationship with the Demon Lands due to the copper mines. Because of this, Berge had not been able to even approach the mines for several months because of the crazed monsters influenced by the demonic beasts.

The damage to the Lord of Berge was so severe that he had no choice but to take drastic measures. He sent people to the mercenary city of Vermandois to hire a powerful mercenary group to resolve this situation.

…Thus, Charlotte, the daughter of the Berge family, led her mercenary group on a long journey that took a month and a half to finally arrive in Vermandois.

Charlotte went straight to the guild house and visited the office of Viola, one of the Top 10. Being a person of a Count’s family, Group Leader Viola, granted her a special audience.

The request was to stabilize the Demon Lands around the mine. Viola had already heard rumors about a powerful beast being summoned in the south, causing headaches.

“Understood. I will start inquiring immediately. Preferably with someone well-versed in the southern region’s situation.”

“Thank you.”

Group Leader Viola specially invited Group Leader Charlotte to her hideout. Just in case something happened in the future, she intended to establish a connection with the South.

…And within a day, there were already two mercenary groups that had accepted the request. One of the group leaders was even from the South…

“If you’re willing to meet them this evening, I can invite them over.”

“I would be grateful if you did.”

Charlotte was a bit nervous, but she tried her best not to lose her composure.

Thus came the appointed time in the evening.

Viola and Charlotte waited for their guests, engaging in light conversation in the reception room.

“They are people I trust implicitly, so you can rest assured.”

“If Group Leader Viola says so, what worries could I possibly have?”

While they were conversing, the butler came into the parlor and whispered something into Viola’s ear.

“Ah, someone has arrived.”

And then a man entered the parlor.

Charlotte stood up to greet the visitor, and… upon recognizing him, she was momentarily shocked and froze in place.

“Have you been well, Group Leader Viola? And…”

The man, who first greeted Group Leader Viola warmly, turned his gaze to the statue-like Charlotte and smiled deeply.

“It’s been a long time, Group Leader Charlotte.”

…Charlotte dramatically reunited with Allen, who had suddenly disappeared.