Chapter 275: Hug (1)

Chapter 275: Hug (1)

“You’re
late. I heard you caught the Elder Lich. You really worked hard. Come
sit beside me and rest a little.”

Diana
emphasized the words ‘beside me’ as she tapped the seat next to her.

Considering
who her narrowed hunter-like eyes were focused on, such a sharp
reaction wasn’t unreasonable.

“My
disciple. Go sit down. Your side must be feeling cold.”

The
woman who had been arguing fiercely just hours ago, and even told me
to reflect on embracing her man, was by my side again.

I
sensed the subtle tension between the two and sat down beside Diana.

-Swish.

I
immediately felt an arm wrapping around my waist.

It
wasn’t the occasional suggestive and sticky touch.

This
was a defensive touch born from fear that her possession might be
taken away.

I
felt a warm touch filled with the desire to protect what was hers and
a hint of anxiety about possibly losing it.

The
boldness I had seen when she confronted Denshi was now hidden behind
this anxiety.

‘Somehow,
the blonde tanned delinquent-like Idelbert and the kind honor
student-like Diana have both good and oddly bad chemistry.’

If
romance were involved between them, they would definitely cause
trouble, I should say.

Snug—

I
smiled bitterly and placed my hand over Diana’s.

“…”

Our
eyes met as Diana silently looked at me.

While
gazing into her amber eyes, I carefully removed my dark helmet.

With
my expanded field of vision, I could fully take in the beautiful
woman with black hair draped to one side.

I
smiled brightly to reassure her and let her know that nothing like
what she was thinking had happened. Only then did the tension Diana
had been subtly exuding finally ease.

Squeeze—

Diana
grasped my hand that was layered over hers.

With
each careful caress of her thick, firm fingers—tougher and more
calloused than when I first saw them—relief spread across Diana’s
face.

“When
the male goes out to work and returns, instead of being grateful, you
show jealousy. You’re messed up, Diana. Indeed, the current you
should get pregnant and have a baby.”

“Y-you…!
W-what are you suddenly saying—”

While
Diana was flustered by Idelbert’s sudden outburst, her cheeks
reddening, a piece of paper was thrust in front of her.

“I
didn’t come here for a battle of wills, so I’ll get straight to the
point. My disciple has done something great. He discovered the
hideout of the Envy worshipper.”

“…!”

Diana
turned her head slightly in surprise to look at me.

A
face full of questions: How? Really?

I
gave her a thumbs up and told her about everything that happened
today, which made Diana’s expression grow more complex.

“While
I was away, such things happened…I should have been there with you.
I’m sorry.”

“What
does Diana have to be sorry for? I just got involved in something
messy.”

What
could Diana possibly be sorry about?

Even
I didn’t expect to get involved in such a matter when I went to the
temple without much thought.

Idelbert,
who had been staring at us intently, finally spoke after a pause.

“We’ll
go after them as soon as possible….Diana. I need your help.”

The
strategy was to catch and crush them all before the opponent sensed
danger and fled.

That
straightforward, almost crude strategy was Idelbert’s plan.

When
Diana showed hesitation after being asked to lend her strength,
Idelbert continued.

“We
don’t need many people against the Envy worshipper. Unless they have
strong mental fortitude, they’ll fall to that woman’s brainwashing or
emotional manipulation, causing internal strife or turning against
us. We need more reliable forces. Those with strong mental fortitude
and skill.”

Against
Envy demon worshipper specialized in brainwashing abilities, a large
force could become a liability.

So
Idelbert wanted to capture the Envy worshipper with a small elite
team possessing outstanding mental strength.

“My
disciple and I would be enough, but if I get excited to the point of
losing my reason, I need someone to stop me. For that role, no one is
better than you, Diana—”

“Wait.
What did you say?”

Diana,
who had been listening attentively while pondering, expressed doubt
and looked back and forth between me and Idelbert.

“Balkan
is coming too? Why? There’s no reason for Balkan to be involved in
such a battle—”

“My
disciple is more than enough. He responds calmly to most situations,
and not just because he’s my disciple, but with Balkan’s skills in
the current situation, he’s definitely a deployable force.”

“No,
even so—”

“I
said I wanted to go along, Diana.”

Diana’s
expression hardened at my calm response.

“No.
It’s too dangerous. You experienced it before at the royal palace,
didn’t you? How unreasonable and dangerous those demon worshippers
are!”

“It’s
because I know they’re dangerous that I’m going. Dangerous enemies
have always brought me greater achievements. And I won’t be fighting
the demon worshipper directly, but taking care of the brainwashed
people guarding them.”

“Balkan.
If you delve into more dangerous paths for growth, you’ll only make
things harder for yourself. There’s no need to walk down a thorny
path—”

“I
need it. The thorny path.”

My
brief statement was followed by silence.

Diana
was at a loss for words, just staring at me.

“I
want to become stronger. Not just strong enough to get by
comfortably, but strong enough to reach the very bottom, the edge of
the labyrinth.”

I
have both a duty and a purpose.

I
must reach the end of the labyrinth to follow my younger sister’s
traces.

How
could there not be thorns on such a path?

I
recognized the danger and know that although I’ve grown much
stronger, I’m still not enough to reach the end of the labyrinth.

In
that sense, the Envy worshipper is quite a good prey.

‘According
to Idelbert, the one-on-one combat ability of the Envy worshipper is
merely similar to my current level.’

The
key points of attack are the near-brainwashing emotional manipulation
ability and the guards protecting the Envy worshipper.

I
agreed to take on at least two of the three guards so that Idelbert
could focus on battling the Envy worshipper.

“Of
course it’s dangerous. In the unpredictable labyrinth, fighting
against crazy women who worship demons. But.”

How
can one become stronger without battles where blood is spilled and
flesh is torn?

“I’ve
been prepared for that much since I first entered the labyrinth.”

This
combat experience will be an opportunity I may never have again.

“…Sigh.
Really…”

Diana
sighed and rubbed her forehead.

“…If
you insist that much, I have no choice but to go along too.”

Idelbert’s
lips curled slightly upon hearing the news of Diana’s confirmed
participation.

She
must feel like she’s gained a reliable ally.

However,
Diana glared at Idelbert and set one condition.

“But,
I’ll only step in when it’s absolutely critical. I have a feeling
I’ll soon receive ‘that’ again…”

“Hmm.
You mean the curse of lust. Can’t be helped. I should understand
that.”

“The
curse of lust?”

When
I muttered while looking at Idelbert, who nodded in understanding,
she spoke as if surprised I didn’t know.

“It’s
a curse placed on Diana. A curse she got when she re-sealed the lust
demon whose seal had been broken. The reason that woman has all those
pathetic mat-like blessings and curses is because of that curse’s
influence—”

“D-don’t
talk about other people’s information so freely…!”

Diana,
her face bright red, hurriedly covered Idelbert’s mouth.

“…”

“…”

My
eyes met Diana’s as she covered Idelbert’s mouth.

[Diana
Ordia LV.65]

[Current
blessings and curses possessed by Diana Ordia: 6]

[◆Curse
of Rejecting Lousy Dicks]

[◆Curse
of Decadence from the Black Moon]

[◆
Curse of Breast Milk Climax Stat Drain]

[◆
Curse of Sensitive Constitution]

Immediately,
a lineup of vicious and lewd curses were listed in her status window.

The
secrets I had discovered about Diana so far were there in her status
window.

Due
to the level difference, not all blessings and curses were visible
yet, but one of them seemed to be the curse of lust.

‘…Could
this be why Diana retired as an explorer?’

No
matter how hard she tried, was there no possibility of gaining normal
blessings anymore, and she feared receiving only female mat
optimization blessings or curses?

Since
curses imbued with demonic energy were very difficult to remove, as
in Celsia’s case, it might not be wrong to think—

“T-that’s
not it.”

Did
she sense what I was thinking?

Diana
immediately shook her head and looked at me with a face confronting a
crisis.

Her
fully open amber eyes held only me.

“I
won’t accept you through underhanded methods like Idelbert did.”

“…You
want a longer night than pathetic vagina and premature penis sex that
only lasts 3 minutes?”

“Y-yes.
We can’t waste our precious first time so futilely. After all this
time of holding back, I need to ensure at least three children are
definitely conceived…H-huh!”

Diana,
who was expressing her wishes caught up in the mood, quickly blushed
and squeezed her eyes shut.

“Three
children?”

“T-that’s…
uh… nngh…!”

When
I teasingly asked again, I tried desperately not to laugh at the
sight of Diana being unbearably embarrassed.

As
Diana, unable to hide her embarrassment, tried to conceal her
reddened face, I spread my arms wide.

“We
couldn’t do it this time.”

“Mmgh…”

I
didn’t specify what we couldn’t do. Diana didn’t ask either.

We
both knew what needed to be done.

Diana’s
arms slipped under my armpits, her soft breasts gently crushed
against my pectoral muscles.

Feeling
her warm arms firmly embracing my back, I too carefully embraced
Diana.

Close
enough to feel each other’s heartbeats, sticky enough to blend our
body heat, we shared a welcome-back hug.

Our
lips met.

Denshi
and Ellie blankly watched the scene of the two embracing from the top
of the stairs.

A
sticky exchange of tongues, rubbing of uterine covering flesh and
penis, hot air filling the tavern and rising to the second floor of
the inn… an embrace closer to mating, really.

The
bodies of the two females, who had been holding their breath watching
the mating hug that lasted nearly thirty minutes, gradually heated
up.

“I
don’t think it’s time for us to fight among ourselves anymore. There
are too many strong opponents…”

“…?
Why opponents? To me, they’re my foster mother and aunt.”

“…”

“Hmph.
I still get what you mean though.”

As
Ellie nodded quietly after speaking, Denshi also nodded and looked at
Ellie.

The
two women bumped their fists together and muttered.

“For
now, a temporary alliance.”