Chapter 308: Return to Ground (4)

Chapter 308: Return to
Ground (4)

“Is
that… really true?”

“Yes!”

Diana
looked at me nodding vigorously with a bright smile in response to
her question.

The
one who brought news that he had found a way to break the curse that
had been tormenting her all this time was wearing the most joyful
smile she had ever seen from him.

“That’s
wonderful, mother! This can eliminate not just that curse, but all of
mother’s curses!”

Her
adopted daughter, who heard the news alongside her, also smiled
brightly and rejoiced at the news.

The
adopted daughter’s instincts as a female expressed subtle wariness at
the fact that the [Curse of Rejecting Inferior Penis Intrusion] would
be lifted, meaning there would be more people coveting his sperm.

But
her greater identity as an adopted daughter made her rejoice as if it
were her own matter at the news of the curse’s destruction that had
been tormenting and weakening her mother all this time.

Diana
listened to the two people’s voices while blankly looking down at her
own hands.

‘This
curse… will be lifted?’

It
had already been well over 10 years since she began her uncomfortable
coexistence with the curse cast by the demon of lust.

In
the past, she had struggled desperately to break this curse but even
the religious order that managed blessings and curses couldn’t find
an answer.

Even
the labyrinth that bestowed blessings and curses couldn’t provide an
answer.

The
day when the lust demon’s curse went berserk, and for the first time
in her life, her brain was pickled in hazy lust and she masturbated
like a beast.

The
day she realized she could no longer develop further…

Diana
decided to retire as if giving up on herself.

This
curse would never be lifted in the future.

She
had been living thinking it was a curse she would have to carry to
her grave someday.

But
then.

“It
will take about two weeks, but where is that? I never even thought
the curse could really be lifted, this is beyond expectations—”

The
man who found a way to lift the curse that had driven her life to
ruin, as if he had found a way to lift his own curse, was laughing
and rejoicing even more than the person concerned.

-Thump.

‘…Ah…’

Diana
closed her eyes at the vibration she felt from deep within her chest.

-Thump.
Thump.

That
heartbeat grew increasingly intense.

Her
heart began to beat louder and faster.

-Thump.
Thump. Thump!

The
moment she opened her eyes while feeling her heart beating rapidly.

-Huuuuug!!

Diana
tightly embraced the man before her.

Due
to their size difference, she fit snugly into the man’s arms, but
Diana stretched out her arms and hugged him tightly.

She
placed her palms on his solid back and felt his warmth.

“…Diana?”

“Thank
you. Balkan…”

She
spoke to him as he called her name in bewilderment.

Thank
you.

There
was no other way to express this feeling besides those words.

“Really,
truly… thank you.”

As
she hugged him tightly and murmured the same words, she felt warm
warmth from her back as well.

Unlike
Diana who was struggling to fit in his arms, his long arms easily
embraced Diana with room to spare.

-Pat.
Pat.

He
said nothing and just gently patted the back of the woman who had
emotionally thrown herself into his arms.

The
pleasant rhythm coming from her back mixed with her rapidly beating
heart, and one thought bloomed in Diana’s mind.

‘This
wasn’t… a curse, but a blessing.’

The
curse of lust had left an indelible mark on Diana.

That
curse had blocked her future, made her give up on herself, and only
after more than ten years had passed could she let go of those
depressed feelings from that time but conversely because the curse
appeared, she decided to retire.

She
built an inn and took in the only family member of her deceased
friend…

—Who
are you? Reveal your identity!

On
that cold and dark night.

To
him who was covered in blood and wary of the world… she was able to
offer a bowl of warm soup.

Huuuuug—

The
one who had grown beyond recognition in just one year was now
embracing her with warm warmth.

“I
really can’t match Balkan…”

“I
should be the one saying that.”

“Hehe.
Really…”

The
man and woman who embraced each other tightly looked at each other
and chuckled, then gazed at each other intently.

As
their breathing faces drew closer and closer, Diana pressed her lips
to his.

“……”

“……”

The
woman and man who gazed at each other hotly immediately headed to the
bedroom.

“……Agh,
really…!!”

Ellie,
who had quietly slipped away because the atmosphere between the two
was too intense and she couldn’t bear to interrupt, sighed softly at
the sounds coming from beyond the room.

Despite
her heart that she shouldn’t disturb the two people.

-Perk.
Perk.

As
soon as she pressed her sensitive elf ears to the wall, lewd moans
could be heard, so she couldn’t stop this guilt-ridden act.

Listening
to the mating sounds of two adults mixed with rough breathing and
sweet emotions, her body heated up, and she slipped her fingers
between her slightly lowered panties while making a slightly tearful
face.

“If
this happens, uncle really becomes… not oppa either, but daddy…!”

Squeeeeeze—

Ellie,
ignoring her uterus that was lewdly contracting as if that wouldn’t
be bad either, tapped her clitoris while recalling her first
experience with uncle, oppa, and daddy.

I
spent a night with Diana, caught up in the atmosphere.

Although
it ended with mild stimulation since the curse hadn’t been lifted
yet, neither of us minded much.

When
we return to the surface, we’ll be able to lift the curse.

Now
that I’ve completed the request to subjugate the Elder Lich and even
made Lilith submit, there’s no major business left in the labyrinth.

‘Come
to think of it…’

Elder
Lich subjugation, confrontation with sloth worshipper, elimination of
Envy worshipper forces, Lilith’s submission…

Looking
at it all together, I had done more things than I thought, and each
one was a significant matter.

And
from my experience so far, the more you roll around exhaustingly in
the labyrinth, the higher the probability of receiving blessings or
curses.

“…Should
I have some expectations?”

“Don’t
worry! Serif-sama personally said to pay Sir Balkan compensation
equivalent to what he sacrificed for the religious order! Grrroar!”

When
I turned my head at the response to my muttering, the lion beastman
priest Jellicy was nodding her head vigorously.

I
wasn’t talking about compensation… but it would look strange if I
didn’t accept the temple’s goodwill.

“Haha,
I’m always grateful for the temple’s grace.”

“Grr!
Our religious order is only expressing deep gratitude to Sir Balkan
who helps even in these chaotic times! Moreover, you even corrected
my foolish actions!”

Jellicy,
who had fallen into the trap of Cleassia, a remnant of the Envy
worshipper who died leaving behind a soul stone, and was used, said
this while handing me a box the size of a forearm.

The
box with white background and sparse gold plating looked like a
valuable art piece in itself.

After
receiving it, I immediately opened the box to check its contents.

60
gold coins as compensation for capturing Cleassia, 40 gold coins as a
token of the temple’s goodwill…A total of 100 gold coins.

“Urk…”

“Are
you alright?!!”

“Ah,
I’m fine.”

I
almost fell over as my head became dizzy from the overwhelming
number.

100
gold coins. 100 gold coins!

I
was speechless at the violent amount of money I had never held in my
hands before.

It
was an amount that an ordinary person could live without working for
a lifetime without emptying their bank account.

For
an explorer, it’s an amount that could afford one or two
ultimate-grade relics that could even challenge the deep floors.

As
I stroked the box containing an amount that a mere intermediate
explorer could never even dare to hold, I felt wealthy at heart.

But
this wasn’t the end.

“Serif-sama
said this much wouldn’t be enough and ordered preparations for
bestowing the highest-level miracle, but…”

“You
said she was urgently called to the surface?”

“That’s
right! Grrroar…!”

Jellicy
nodded with a bitter expression.

Originally,
Serif was supposed to give this gold coin box as well, but
unfortunately, she was called to the surface when I was rescued from
the tentacle maze and was sleeping.

Because
of that, the question mark blessing I was going to hear from Serif
was also pushed back.

“From
what I heard briefly, it seems there was an incident on the surface.”

They
say Idelbert also headed to the surface before Serif.

If
master, who wouldn’t break her promise to come rescue me from Lilith,
hurriedly went up to the surface, something unusual must have
happened.

“Grr,
it’s not quite an incident… Well. Someone of Sir Balkan’s level
will find out soon. They say suspicious movements were detected in
the lawless zone recently.”

“Suspicious
movements?”

“Mm!
The royal knights and labyrinth guards are controlling the lawless
zone. I don’t know the detailed situation either! Grr!”

Listening
to Jellicy’s growling voice, I fell into thought.

‘The
lawless zone…that’s the puppet master’s territory.’

Could
that woman be plotting something?

Since
no answer would come from worrying about it right now, I put aside my
thoughts and enjoyed Jellicy’s hospitality before returning to the
inn.

[Tomorrow
we finally leave this tiresome underground prison.]

“That’s
right.”

As
I holed up in my room packing my backpack, Bunny spoke to me.

I
had also coordinated schedules with party members.

Departure
time to the surface: tomorrow evening.

[So.
What are you planning to do with that thing?]

Bunny’s
eyes looking at the Envy worshipper’s soul stone I held to put in my
backpack were unusual, like someone expressing regret at being unable
to eat a Michelin 3-star course main dish right in front of them.

“It’s
proof that I subjugated the Envy worshipper, so not yet.”

[Why!
Honor doesn’t feed you…!]

“Through
honor, I’ll receive rewards from the royal family, and with those
rewards, I can defeat stronger enemies to get soul stones for you to
eat. Be patient for a better quality meal. I’ll feed you this too
when things are done.”

[Ugh…!
Then, it can’t be helped… This patient demon will personally endure
it for you!]

After
chuckling at Bunny who seemed to accept it as if she had no choice, I
finished packing my backpack.

Since
we have to leave the labyrinth tomorrow, we also took a break from
opening the inn today.

Since
there’s no schedule, I was looking around the kitchen to eat some
snacks and rest.

-Thud.
Thud.

The
inn’s front door opened and footsteps could be heard.

Sensing
the owner of those footsteps, I frowned slightly.

“Denshi.”

At
my voice coming from the kitchen, the footsteps stopped abruptly.

The
slave who didn’t return to the inn last night either, and arbitrarily
left her master’s side to spend a night out before returning.

As
I came out to the lobby thinking whether I should scold her first or
ask if she had any worries lately.

“…Huh?”

Seeing
Denshi’s appearance, I could only stare with my mouth agape.

That
Denshi who used to go around every day with bandages wrapped around
her chest, wearing T-shirts and short shorts in a slutty outfit…

‘She’s…
wearing clothes?’

She
was facing me wearing very, very neat and modest clothes compared to
usual.

—They
say it’s like day and night are reversed, going out when she used to
sleep and sleeping when she used to be awake. So I haven’t properly
seen her lately.

—Should
I say her attire became neat…? She’s been wearing shirts lately!

At
that moment, I recalled Ellie’s words about how Denshi seemed to have
changed lately.

[Uh…?]

Bunny’s
voice filled with bewilderment could be heard.

[How
is that bastard there…?]

For
some reason.

At
that moment, my first night with Denshi came to mind.

More
precisely, the being that had stolen Denshi’s body and taken the pain
and pleasure of virginity.

“Ah.
Master. I’m back—!”

“Puppet
master?”

Right
after I spoke that being’s name.

“……”

Denshi’s
expression, who had been greeting me with a welcoming face…suddenly
hardened.

Soon
after.

“Ha.”

She
laughed helplessly and sat at the table, muttering softly.

“…This
time, you noticed as soon as you saw me?”