Chapter 61

Chapter 61

62: Blood Born – H The man and I locked eyes, staring at each other for a while. “….” Even I could easily tell that what the man was saying was bullshit. He called himself a merchant, but in the underworld, “business” mostly involved crime. In the end, their true nature was closer to swindlers than merchants. So, the intention behind his question was to sweet-talk a novice adventurer with ‘only’ skill, to deceive and exploit me. In his eyes, I probably looked like a woman who had lived somewhere secluded, practicing martial arts without knowing anything about the world. An adventurer confident in her skills, but lacking experience. Still, this attitude was a bit suspicious. Despite my subtle hints, his defiant response was unexpected. “…Do you guys even understand that you’re in a situation where your own necks might be on the line? If an investigation into the demonic activity comes in, your organization will collapse.” “Hahaha! The world has gotten so much better. A young lady I’ve never seen before is worried about the lives of scum like us.” The man laughed as if he didn’t care about such things, then looked at me again. “Sometimes there are rules to protect, even with a knife to your throat. I don’t give a damn about that, so tell me what you can give us.” At the man’s words, I sighed inwardly. Criminal organizations in the underworld would betray even their own brothers if a knife was at their throat, so there was no way they had rules. This was why the underworld’s unique bravado was annoying. The constant bluffing only made them look foolish, but the fact that they were still acting tough in this situation made me believe that they really had ‘something hidden up their sleeves.’ Honestly, I was still confused. I couldn’t tell if this man’s attitude was just a bluff, or if he really had something planned. Besides, most of the cards I held were bluffs, so his bluffing was even more effective. Since all of my lies would be exposed eventually, I was actually the one in a more urgent situation. The only truth was that a request had been posted on the Adventurer’s Guild. Everything else was just a flimsy castle made of sand. I sighed inwardly and decided to relax. I had recklessly charged in, hoping to resolve things quickly, but it had ended up like this. I tried to get away with it easily, but I guess that was too difficult. In times like these, the direct approach was the best. “So, what do you want?” When I asked with a slightly subdued tone, the man grinned even more slyly and replied. “Well, it would be more reasonable for you guys to suggest something, wouldn’t it?” He said that and scanned my body with a sticky gaze. At this point, it was obvious what he wanted. Female adventurers weren’t exactly known for their strict morals. They were willing to accept somewhat light requests, and the man in front of me knew that, so he was making me an offer. An offer to ‘flatter him and entertain him.’ …Well, I’m really good at that. When it came to that field, I was even more confident than when I was using my martial arts. “…Layla.” Emily looked at me as if she had realized something when she saw the man’s expression. Judging by her determined expression, she was willing to join me. But that would be a problem. “I’ll go with you-” “No.” Emily tried to say something, but I shook my head slightly to stop her. Then, I looked at the man in front of me and opened my mouth. “I understand what you mean. I don’t want to waste money either, so I’ll do as you want.” At those words, the smile on the man’s face deepened. However, the bartender who had been standing next to him since earlier looked a little surprised. He probably didn’t expect me to give in so easily. “But, there’s a condition.” “Alright, tell me.” When the man nodded with a smile, I looked at Emily and said. “I’m sending my friend back to the guild. I need insurance.” “What? That’s…” Emily looked surprised at my words, but soon her expression changed to one of understanding. She must have roughly understood the situation and realized what I meant. Of course, we weren’t adventurers from Mesatria, so we couldn’t receive support from the guild, but at least we could give that impression. An impression that meddling with us might cause a conflict with the guild. And just in case, it was better for Emily not to be here. “As you wish. But ‘Blate’ is a gentleman, so we won’t do anything to worry about.” Saying that with a sly smile didn’t make it very believable. I sighed at the man’s words and replied. “And you’ll give me information about Erzebet right away. At least before my friend leaves.” “That depends on your actions.” I looked at the man with a sly smile and pondered. Now was the crucial moment. I had to offer my body to them in exchange for information about Erzebet. There was only one thing to think about. …How can I extract the most essence from these guys? // To be honest, I was somewhat interested in his offer because I had unintentionally been living a celibate life for several days. I had spent the night with Emily just yesterday, but I couldn’t get any essence after all. No matter how big a penis was, a cultivator of Yin-Yang Art still needed a man. Therefore, it would be a problem if it was just a tease. For example, if they only wanted me to give them a blowjob. Of course, I could do it if I had to, but it wouldn’t be polite for them to be the only ones enjoying themselves. And I could confidently boast that I was better below than with my mouth. I can’t say that now though. “…..” However, it was also difficult to suddenly say something honest like, ‘I want to have sex with everyone in this bar.’ They have their pride too. I had been acting all haughty until now, so they would feel empty if I just knelt down on my own. And apart from my sexual preferences, there was also the possibility that I would be completely drained, body and soul, if I started out too submissive. The underworld guys were the type to go really hard if they did something. Even when I protested so much with the Rockard Family, they still punched me, so would these guys be any different? So, I decided to start by lightly pushing back. “Alright. I’ll give you a blowjob. Is that enough?” “I’m hearing all kinds of bullshit. What’s going to change just by tasting your mouth? Aren’t you asking for too much?” I was worried about what to do if he readily accepted, but thankfully he didn’t. Still, I felt a sense of resentment in my heart. My value isn’t that low. If I put my heart into it, I can make anyone cum just by using my mouth. Anyway, when the man immediately rejected the offer, I frowned as if I was deliberately contemplating. “….” Suddenly, I felt a strange gaze and turned to see Emily looking at my face with a strange look. Well, as someone who knew my preferences to some extent, she might find this situation of me being so coy absurd. But in order to be less suspicious and have a successful orgy, this process was necessary. I sighed in a deliberately artificial way and asked the man. “Haa, alright. What do you want?” It wasn’t an offer to make a deal like before, but a statement of resignation that implied I would accept all conditions. It was a bit early, but nothing would change even if I dragged it out. He was probably waiting for my answer. “Serve in this store for a day. That’s enough.” The nuance of the word ‘serve’ was a bit strange, but it was a perfect condition. I almost nodded without thinking. It was a bit different from the orgy I wanted, but it was worth it. However, I couldn’t just accept it as it was, so I pulled myself together and asked in a demanding tone. I also put on an angry expression, breaking my poker face. I was used to this kind of acting because I had done it a lot in Lakers. “That’s ridiculous! Just to find one person, I have to be with you guys all day!?” “Puhaha! I just meant to have you serve drinks here for a while, but did you want me to do that? You’re more slutty than you look?” “Ugh…!” Ah, I guess I didn’t say it. Still, I was going to do it anyway, so why bother pretending to resist? I knew that this wasn’t a normal store. The men sitting in the bar weren’t customers, but Blate’s gang, and other gangs would come in later. My goal was to absorb essence from all of them. Erzebet’s information was next. “And, it would be difficult to find that one person without us. How long would it take to search the entire Nordic District for that bitch? Of course, I won’t stop you.” It was a bit annoying, but it was true. I couldn’t just go around the Nordic District asking questions, so it was much better to replenish my essence here for a day and move around leisurely. The opportunity to be surrounded by more than ten men wasn’t very common. I didn’t know if they would give me accurate information, but it wasn’t too late to check after I turned everything upside down. I finished calculating in my head and sighed, deliberately putting on a resigned expression. “….Haa, alright.” Then the smile on the man’s face deepened. But I was just as satisfied. Was this what you call a win-win? // The man who was working as a bartender drew a map for us and added an explanation. “Although we belong to the same Blate, Erzebet is in a different faction from us. So, the location where she stays is also different.” “How do I know this map is real?” “I’ll accompany you tomorrow. After all, she wouldn’t meet you even if you went. And if what you say is true, we’re risking our lives to do business, so why would we lie?” That was a very credible sound. Those guys would never say something like ‘serve us for a day.’ It didn’t really matter if what they were telling me now was true or not. I was planning to beat them all up and ask them after I finished absorbing their essence and recovered my strength. “Puhuk, you need to learn how to trust others.” A man named Nuke, with a scar on his face, advised me with a sneering laugh. But, it didn’t sound credible at all when he said that with his lower body erect. I ignored his words and turned my gaze to Emily. “….” She was staring at Nuke’s lower body. Judging by her slightly disappointed expression… no, but that’s pretty big for a human size. No one can compare to Charka. I tapped Emily on the shoulder and said to her. “I’ll have everything finished, so let’s meet here tomorrow.” “….Ah, okay.” Emily turned her head away from Nuke’s lower body and answered as if she understood what I said. This should be fine.

-Clang.

I took off all my weapons, including my sword, and my coin pouch and gave them to her. There was no point in having them anyway, and there was only a high possibility that these guys would steal them. “Layla, are you really okay?” Emily looked at me and asked, genuinely worried. I answered her worried question with a light smile. “I’m fine. It’s just a day.” “Puhaha! Yeah, your friend, we’ll use her well and return her, so you don’t have to worry too much.” “….”

It didn’t sound like a gentle line at all. It was a statement that amplified my anxiety, but Emily, who knew about the Yin Demon Art and the Essence Absorption Technique, nodded without much concern. …She seems a bit disappointed, but that must be my imagination. Seeing her, Nuke chuckled again and said to me, “Well, shall we get started? I can’t leave the shop empty for too long.” What do you mean, ‘trouble’? This place is practically Blate’s hideout, where ordinary people don’t even come. Is he trying to deceive me until the end? “Shanst, see that guy out properly.” “Understood.” The bartender called Shanst took Emily out, and soon Nuke and I were the only ones left in the room. Nuke smirked, the scar on his face twitching. “Shall we receive your service, then?” “…Didn’t you say I wouldn’t have to offer my body?” “Heh heh, I only said you were a brazen girl, not that I wouldn’t do it.” Of course, I remember. I know it’s typical underworld parlance, but I figured I’d resist once since it’d be weird if I complied too easily. “Ugh…” I even acted a bit more frustrated than necessary, then obediently knelt before Nuke. I reached out and unfastened his pants. — Shluk. A thick, reddish-brown pillar of flesh sprang up, stiff and erect. It certainly wasn’t small. “Puhaha, your handiwork is quite skilled, isn’t it? Did you work as a whore somewhere?” “…Shut up.” How did he know…? No, he’s just trying to insult me. I spat it out coldly on purpose and reached out to caress the fleshy pillar. Nuke groaned, seemingly pleased. “Hmm…” Hmm, a bit of a shame. If he had commented on my unusual skill and asked how many people I’d been with, insulting my character, I might have given him a higher score. I had deliberately created a scenario of a ‘skilled but inexperienced rookie adventurer being trained by underworld thugs’ and was acting it out on my own, but it didn’t seem to be working out. Still, my score so far isn’t bad, so let’s look forward to what’s to come. “Ugh…!” As I brought Nuke’s penis close to my face, a musty smell stung my nose. It’s disgusting, but not too bad. I might even give him bonus points for this. — Slurp. I stuck out my tongue and licked the tip of his glans, and Nuke’s body twitched slightly. Was that his sensitive spot? “…Hmm, you’re quite skilled, aren’t you?” “Hmph, I’m not happy to hear that…” “Huh?” Ah, that wasn’t the right line. I ignored his question and opened my mouth, taking the reddish-brown penis inside. I looked up at him, feeling the familiar foreign object filling my mouth and tasting the slightly fishy and salty flavor. Nuke looked down at me with a triumphant smile. “That’s a pleasing expression.” A woman who was just acting tough is now kneeling between his legs, sucking his manhood, so he must be pleased. I hope he takes that momentum and torments me to his heart’s content, making it enjoyable. Otherwise, I won’t survive today.