Chapter 180: Safe? Zone (9)

Chapter 180: Safe? Zone (9)

Jubeel
and Rubia forced a gag into Nuer’s mouth as she flailed within the
fountain.

“Mmff,
mmmph!”

Perhaps
she was recalling the countless incidents she had caused and endured.

Even
gagged, Nuer desperately resisted, her movements seeming to deny
reality itself, as though insisting it had all been a dream and she
couldn’t possibly have done such things.

Her
emotions escalated further, and soon, magic began to seep from her
fingertips.

As
the magic in her hands began to form the shape of chains,

“Hold
it right there! Little Nuer!”

She
froze.

Balkan
raised his voice, and at the sound, Nuer’s body instantly stiffened.

The
chains that had been writhing like dancing flames fell lifelessly to
the ground as Nuer’s gaze locked onto him.

Ever
since becoming “Baby Nuer,” she had been receiving Balkan’s
“Child Happiness Care Package” services, including diaper
changes, piggyback rides, and gentle lullabies. Her body
instinctively responded to his words.

“If
you keep acting up, no more piggyback rides for you. Ever.”

“Mm…mmph…!”

Tears
welled in Nuer’s eyes, a response long ingrained from her time as a
“baby.”

Her
gagged lips were bitten nervously, but it wasn’t only because of
Balkan’s words.

A
nameless fear welled up within her. Her body and unconscious mind
alike trembled.

She
was genuinely terrified by the simple threat of “no more piggyback
rides”—a remark one might reserve for a child.

It
felt like being the oldest sibling who had always been showered with
their parents’ affection, only to lose it all when a younger
sibling was born.

She
wanted to keep getting piggyback rides. She wanted to be pampered.

Those
desires and cravings bubbled up unconsciously within her.

Even
though her rational mind screamed that she shouldn’t yield to such
urges.

“Mmm…”

But
her body, long since corrupted by his childlike care, betrayed her.
She nodded in agreement with Balkan’s words.

“Is
that…really an advanced-level explorer?”

“…I
no longer know what to think, my lord.”

Jubeel
snorted incredulously as she observed Nuer, and Rubia shook her head
in visible bewilderment while dragging Nuer out of the fountain.

Balkan
gazed down at the now-subdued Nuer, a satisfied smile forming on his
lips.

She
had been a real headache back when she was accusing him of being in
league with succubi, but now she was much more manageable.

“Good
girl. You did well.”

As
he approached, he patted Nuer gently on the head.

Her
hands trembled.

Shame.

She
could feel the gazes of many others around her.

From
passersby in the streets of Eden, to the adventurers lingering near
the fountain.

From
the thugs of the back alley clan he had captured, to the party
members walking alongside him.

And,
most piercingly, from the man who now stood before her, his large,
warm hand softly stroking her head.

The
other people’s gazes were humiliating enough, but…

When
she met his eyes, for some reason, she felt her very existence
shrink.

‘No.
It’s a trick, a ploy of the Lustful Traitor! He’s surely
suppressing me through some cunning means…’

The
small seed of doubt in her heart shouted this. Yet deep down, Nuer
knew the truth.

Even
if he had thrown condoms at her, made her knead them, and was an
incubus inexplicably followed by hordes of succubi…

The
man known as Balkan was far from the scum who raped, devoured, and
exploited others without hesitation.

How
many men in this world would willingly dive into the maw of a desert
worm to save a party member?

And
how many, after rescuing that party member, would storm the lair of a
criminal clan alone to avenge them?

He
wasn’t someone who could be compared to the trash of the world.

What’s
more, he had traveled to a temple and climbed to the 15th floor—all
to free her from her mindless state.

Nuer,
even in her addled state, had observed his deeds from close proximity
and couldn’t deny this truth.

Finally,
Balkan withdrew his hand from her head.

“Mmm…”

As
the heat from that broad, strong hand disappeared, an involuntary
sigh of disappointment escaped her lips.

Nuer
struggled to calm her racing thoughts and pounding heart.

…It
wasn’t easy.

Eden
Guild’s Regional Office, Guild Leader’s Chamber.

“Stirring
up trouble again, I see.”

Through
the window, Idelbert chuckled dryly as he watched the members of the
back-alley clan being dragged away in a line.

“My
party got caught up in those bastards’ games, so I had to clean up
the mess.”

“I
wasn’t going to scold you, so don’t lower your head. In fact,
well done. Whether here in Eden or Valerus, there’s no shortage of
pests hiding in the cracks.”

Pests—an
apt term for those who indulged in rape, pillage, and other crimes to
line their own pockets.

Leaning
back in her chair, Idelbert fixed her gaze on Balkan, who stood
before her.

“Have
you ever considered going into pest control on a more formal basis?”

Pest
control.

Did
she mean assigning him to a role similar to Nuer’s?

The
notion stirred something within Balkan.

“Pests
come in different types. Some are relatively harmless if left alone,
while others are an eyesore, cause direct harm, or pose real dangers
if left unchecked.”

Petty
criminals, rogue elements, crime clans, and even deeper, hidden
threats.

“Dealing
with those kinds of scum would give you more experience quickly. Both
Diana and I honed our skills by cleaning out back-alley trash in our
younger days.”

Balkan’s
eyes widened slightly at the unexpected remark.

He
briefly imagined Idelbert and Diana as a party, hunting down rogues
and criminals.

Idelbert?
That seemed fitting. Beyond fitting, it was almost his calling.

But
Diana?

Her
skill made it plausible, but somehow it felt odd.

“I’ll
think about it carefully.”

“Do
so.”

With
that concise response, Idelbert gave a brief nod, then turned her
gaze to the side of Balkan.

“And
what’s with her?”

There
stood Nuer—crawling on all fours like a baby, gag in her mouth,
looking up at Idelbert.

Startled,
Nuer scrambled to her feet.

“Mmm…”

“Spit
it out. Spit it out.”

She
removed the gag, sticky with saliva, and bowed apologetically.

“My
apologies, Guild Leader. It’s become a habit…”

The
apology wasn’t solely for her infantile actions.

Though
she had found a lead on the Cult of Lust, she had also severely
misstepped.

She
had no face left to show.

“Enough.
It’s clear you’ve recovered—or at least mostly. Now, go.”

“Baa-baa—ah,
I mean, yes!”

Nuer
nodded frantically and scurried out of the chamber, nearly bouncing
as she moved.

Watching
the door shut behind her, Idelbert returned her gaze to Balkan.

“What
do you think of her?”

“…What
do you mean?”

“She’s
got a high opinion of herself, but she’s also a bit naïve. Still,
she’s competent enough to keep around and put to work, don’t you
think?”

Her
abilities were decent, true. But between changing diapers, feeding
her, and her penchant for babyish antics, she was high-maintenance.

“Well,
anyway…is she the one you mentioned?”

Idelbert’s
gaze shifted again to the side of Balkan.

This
time, her eyes weren’t kind. They were sharp, predatory, brimming
with intense hostility.

“How
dare you address the one destined to be my mate so casually, woman.”

Belle
stepped forward to shield Balkan.

Yet
beneath her bravado, she clung to his cloak, trembling like a leaf.

‘What…what
kind of monster is this woman?’

She
quivered.

Belle’s
instincts screamed at her that the woman before her was
overwhelmingly powerful.

Charging
at her with the intent to die might at best take one of her arms or
legs.

Among
the cultists of Lust, how many could stand against this woman?

Few.
Certainly not herself.

Even
so, Belle knew one thing for sure:

‘I
must protect my future mate from this woman!’

Even
if it meant being torn to shreds.

A
sly smile crept across Idelbert’s face as she observed Belle’s
trembling yet resolute stance.

“Well,
she’s certainly better than the garbage out there. Very well. She’s
acceptable.”

Idelbert
spoke as she withdrew her killing intent.

If
it had been a lesser individual, they would have wet themselves or
fainted from the overwhelming aura. However, she withstood it
steadfastly, even stepping forward as if to protect him.

She
hadn’t used him as a meat shield to preserve herself, despite the
disparity in their abilities. Instead, she stood forward to protect
him.

Such
behavior could only come from someone who harbored an understanding
of hierarchical relationships or something equivalent.

Typically,
when demon worshippers are captured, they are tortured for
information before being executed.

However,
the gluttony worshippers were not as notorious as other demon
worshippers.

Few
had witnessed their activities, and they did not engage in radical or
overt external operations.

There
remained latent dangers, but…

Glance.

Idelbert
looked at Balkan.

If
her disciple could make a demon worshipper follow him so thoroughly,
perhaps it was worth entrusting them to him.

Balkan
retrieved a slave contract from his waistband and asked,

“Then,
may I proceed?”

“Go
ahead.”

Idelbert
admired her disciple, who even sought to demote such a demon
worshipper to the status of a mere slave.

Regardless
of the disparity in power, fame, or authority, if the opponent was a
female, she inevitably fell under Balkan’s control.

Flinch,
flinch.

Why
was it?

Her
backside, well-developed under his touch, trembled strangely.

[Currently
Bound Slaves: 2 – Denshi, Belle]

Whizz!

“W-where
are you aiming?! Y-you almost hit me with the crossbow!!!”

“…
…”

Wind
Valley’s Chirp Chirp scolded Denshi, who was blankly staring into the
distance.

“Pull
yourself together! We’re in the middle of a battle!!!”

Whether
it was a battle or not, such trivial concerns didn’t reach Denshi
in her current state.

Her
trembling lips, tightly closed, parted cautiously.

“Master…
got another slave…?”

Her
face displayed an expression of foreboding, with a touch of
nervousness creeping in.