Chapter 18: I’ll tell you, color of my panty today……

All events had concluded.

‘Phew. My legs are aching.’

Following this woman around was exhausting.

As the leader of the Etherion Shine Order, she had many places to visit.

From the commercial districts of Shine City to the outskirts, inspecting patrols and maintaining order.

Greeting people, managing her image.

By the time we returned, it was night.

Belladriel shed her dress like a snakeskin and changed into dolphin shorts and a white t-shirt.

“Ahhh! This is the life! This is why I live! Hahahaha! Black Hound, another drink?”

Belladriel laughed heartily, holding a beer.

I still couldn’t get used to it.

She looked like a stunning woman, but acted like a middle-aged man.

The disconnect was jarring.

“Ahhh! So refreshing! It’s like scrubbing the grime off my throat! How about you, have a drink?!”

I forced a smile.

“Haha, of course.”

I accepted the drink cautiously.

Belladriel stood up confidently.

“Today’s toast is ‘tong, tong, tong’!”
“‘Tong, tong, tong’?”
“Communication, great luck, and success in all things!”

…she said, clinking our glasses together.

Words I’d only hear at a company dinner…

Coming from this beautiful girl.

‘Sigh…’

‘Lilith Tycoon developers, please give her a serious patch…’

“Hey, why aren’t you drinking?! Let’s drink, bottoms up!”
“Yes, yes.”

I pretended to drink, observing Belladriel.

She chugged her beer and slammed the glass down.

“Ahh! That was fun today, wasn’t it?”
“Was it? Seemed like a lot of work.”
“Sigh… it is. That’s why I soothe myself with this.”

Belladriel took another swig.

I smiled faintly and asked, “Do you always drink alone like this?”

Belladriel set down her glass.

“Hmm…? Yes.”
“You’re a saint. Shouldn’t you have other hobbies?”
“Pfft. A saint? Do I look like a saint to you?”
“You were a saint, weren’t you?”

She gave me a long look, then chuckled.

“You seem to know my past.”
“Haha, I’m the Black Hound. I know everything.”
“Funny guy… then you must know this too.”

Belladriel drank more beer, then continued, “An Etherion priest needs a variety of miracles to stay by my side.”

‘Of course.’

Being called Etherion’s messenger required more than just healing.

It required demonstrating various powers to gain favor.

Especially with the leader herself.

To stay by the Shine Order, Belladriel Dresia, Seraphina’s Purification wasn’t enough.

…But who was I?

I was the Black Hound.

I had anticipated this and made preparations.

I had other items besides Seraphina’s Purification.

No problem at all.

“Is that so? Thanks for your concern. I’ll manage.”
“Hmm? Confident, aren’t you? Just know this. If you fail to show your abilities, I’ll… burn you to a crisp. Heehee.”

She grinned and drank more.

A casual threat, but likely genuine.

She would dispose of me if I proved useless.

But even this villainess…!

Couldn’t stop me.

As the Mediator, I had to survive to get my reward.

I would conquer and redeem Belladriel Dresia!

Even if her soul was that of a middle-aged man.

Her body was a masterpiece, worthy of Lilith Tycoon.

I would get my reward one way or another!

Preferably physically, with an adult patch.

But that was for later…

First, redemption.

“What an honor. A fiery sauna treatment. I don’t mind at all.”

I grinned at her threat.

“Hmph, funny guy…”

Belladriel drank again.

Then…

“Oops… spilled some.”

She frowned, wiping the beer off her white t-shirt.

“Damn it, this stuff is expensive…”
“Should I get a towel?”
“No, it’s fine. It’ll dry.”
“…”

‘If only it would dry…’

She’d spilled quite a bit.

Her skin was becoming visible through the wet fabric.

I could even see the color of her bra.

Black…?

I found myself staring.

“Hey… you, you? Where are you looking?”
“Huh? Oh, I wasn’t looking at anything! Haha…”

‘Too obvious?’

I laughed awkwardly and looked away.

Belladriel chuckled. Her eyes narrowed.

“So, you’re a man after all.”
“Huh?”
“Ahem. Then I’ll give you a special service.”
“What…?”

Belladriel whispered, “My panties are the same color as my bra…”
“What?!”

She just revealed her underwear color.

I stammered, “W-What do you mean…?”

Belladriel tugged at the hem of her t-shirt, revealing more skin.

“How about it? Sexy, right? Haha! This is your type, isn’t it? Even I think my body is too good to waste.”

‘Self-praise?’

‘More importantly, her face is flushed. She’s really drunk…’

“Haha, y-you seem drunk.”
“Hmm? I’m not that drunk. It’s just… you’re staring so intently. It’s a little much…”

Belladriel blushed and covered her chest with her arm.

She covered her mouth shyly, but it seemed fake.

“Are you teasing me?”
“Huh? Of course not.”
“Haha, you seem drunk… maybe you should stop drinking?”
“Wait. Do you want to see my breasts?”

Thump, thump.

My heart started racing.

I repeated to myself: ‘She’s a man. She’s a man. She’s a man.’

I closed and opened my eyes, but…

A beautiful woman with incredible breasts stood before me.

No matter how much she acted like a middle-aged man, her body was that of a youthful, sexy girl.

Logically, I shouldn’t.

But my desire was clear.

I wanted to see.

But I couldn’t give in.

I was the Black Hound!

I wouldn’t fall for her test.

But she raised the stakes.

“Hmm, it’s hot today. Hee…”

Belladriel tugged at her neckline, fanning herself.

Her eyes curved into a seductive smile.

She crawled towards me on all fours.

“B-Belladriel?”
“Hee, you’re quite handsome up close…”

Despite the alcohol, she smelled good.

Her scent, her skin…

As her ample bosom pressed against me, she placed her delicate hand on my chest.

She must have noticed my racing heart.

She looked up at me playfully.

“Hmm, are you excited?”
“N-No. Excited? No.”

I turned away, feigning ignorance.

Belladriel chuckled.

“Be honest. I kind of like you. If you’re interested, maybe you could be my… bed partner? What do you think?”

‘This… middle-aged man in a woman’s body…!’

She knew exactly what to say to tempt a man.

I turned away, trying to ignore her, but she clung to me.

“I’ll make a special… allowance for you tonight.”
“Haha, what kind of allowance?”
“Hmm… something very nice…”
“Haha… I don’t need anything, so please… stop?”
“Hee… why? Do you not like me?”

She leaned in, tempting me.

I smiled weakly, breaking out in a cold sweat.

“N-No, it’s not that…”
“Being too virtuous is boring… so…”

Her lips drew closer.

I blurted out, “Y-You seem drunk!”

I squeezed my eyes shut.

“Hee, cute. Black Hound. It’s okay, keep your eyes closed… let’s share a passionate moment…”

She seemed intent on escalating things.

I felt her breath on my face.

I desperately searched for a way out.

Physical contact, a kiss, anything like that could raise her Malice Gauge.

I had to stop her!

“…”

‘Hmm…?’

She suddenly stopped.

I cautiously opened my eyes…

To a ludicrous sight.

“Snore… zzz…”

Belladriel, drunk, had fallen asleep against my leg.

I sighed, looking at her.

“…Thank goodness.”

‘But… is this really a good thing?’ I wondered.

According to Etherion’s rules, every follower had to perform a service.

Cleaning, polishing statues, preparing meals, tidying the temple, etc.

Belladriel oversaw and supervised these tasks.

“As you can see, our order must maintain its beauty. Especially the structures entrusted to us by Etherion. They must be immaculate.”

She used her typical casual tone when we were alone.

No saintly act in front of me.

I looked around and nodded. “Indeed.”
“The followers’ devotion is remarkable.”
“Indeed. You and I are different from them. However…”

Belladriel smiled slyly.

“Hmm, on second thought, perhaps not. Maybe you’re even more devout?”
“Why?”
“Well… you haven’t batted an eye, even though a gorgeous woman like me is hitting on you. You’re either impotent, or incredibly devout. Which is it?”

Belladriel’s playful smile.

I remembered last night.

Her drunken advances.

She seemed to remember too.

To speak so shamelessly…

Truly a middle-aged man at heart.

I shook my head.

“Neither.”
“Huh…? Then, you were flustered…?”
“Haha, perhaps? I don’t like your middle-aged man speech.”
“Tch… playing hard to get.”

Belladriel walked ahead, seemingly teasing me.

I couldn’t let her take control.

I had to maintain the upper hand.

Praise, like anything else, had to be given sparingly.

“Hmm, by the way, Black Hound? Why don’t you do some service too? Like cleaning…”
“I am. Attending to you.”
“…”

She chuckled and shook her head.

“You’re incorrigible. Aren’t you afraid of me? One word from me, and everyone obeys…”
“Afraid? Shouldn’t you fear Etherion?”
“Hmm, you’re a strange one.”

Belladriel chuckled softly.

We continued our stroll, when suddenly, a loud bang echoed.

The workers gathered in alarm.

Belladriel walked towards the commotion.

“Ugh…”
“Are you alright!?”
“Oh no…! Etherion’s statue!”
“…”

The statue’s arm was broken.

The people around us paled.

“This is bad!”
“A disaster! A terrible disaster!”
“The arm of the great Etherion’s statue is broken…! If the Shine Order finds out…!”

They didn’t realize she was right beside them.

Belladriel smirked next to me.

“What about me?”
“…”
“B-Belladriel…!”

Everyone knelt, as if guilty.

Belladriel looked at the statue and stroked her chin.

“Hmm… Etherion will be displeased.”

The atmosphere around her darkened.

She was clearly angry.

Despite her smile, her face was grim.

[Belladriel Dresia is about to commit an evil act!]
[Belladriel Dresia is considering dismemberment for the follower who broke the statue!]
[Belladriel Dresia’s Malice Gauge is at 98%.]

…This was expected.

They’d broken the most expensive statue.

Not a cheap one, but a costly piece.

From a business perspective, how would she react to an employee damaging valuable property?

Termination.

But termination here meant death.

Belladriel smiled coldly.

“There must be consequences for damaging Etherion’s statue.”
“I-I’m sorry…! Shine Order! I’ll fix it…!”
“Fix it? You dare speak of fixing Etherion!? Insolent!”

Belladriel’s icy glare silenced them.

Knights rushed to the scene.

“Shine Order! What happened!?”
“This one has damaged Etherion’s statue. They shall be punished. Immediately dis…”

Just as she was about to say “dismemberment,” I cut her off with a smile.

“As expected of the Shine Order! Praise the holy Etherion!”