Chapter 42: 42. Big Sister, You're Acting Strange Today

After explaining my plans for the day to the guildmaster, I headed downstairs.

The Orc Hero’s corpse and the reward seemed to be paid out together.

When I reached the first floor, everyone’s attention turned to me.

I had thought I was the type who did not particularly enjoy other people’s attention.

"Did you hear? That guy’s from the 210th class..."

"He’s Lady Arin’s husband. Weren’t you there then?"

"An Orc Hero..."

"An Orc Hero on the tenth floor? Bullshit."

Watching people whisper about me, I found myself strangely exhilarated.

The gazes full of admiration made me feel superior, while the jealous ones stirred up arrogance in me.

The feeling of being acknowledged in this unfamiliar other world, the pride of accomplishing something with my own hands.

I shook my head and pulled myself together.

Hadn’t I recently seen someone try to show off in front of Master, only to get put firmly in their place?

Now I understood why she had been so overflowing with confidence.

She had enjoyed looks like those for so long that she must have let her guard down.

I’m still just a tenth-floor scrub. I’m still just a tenth-floor scrub.

It would be much better to live humbly than swagger around and make enemies everywhere.

It really was not difficult. After all, that was how the director had taught me...

I made an embarrassed face, gave an awkward smile, and left the guild.

Now I just needed to have the church appraise my skill, then go home.

My steps were impossibly light. So this was what praise could do—it could make someone feel this good.

To think that this Labyrinth City was happier than my difficult life in the original world.

It was complicated. I had definitely intended to return to my old world, but...

I had found people who were far too precious to me.

And it seemed I had become entangled with forces trying to disrupt this life.

Thinking about those precious people only brought more worries along with it.

"I should get back and finish my training already."

Rather than make excuses later about how there had been nothing I could do, I would do my best right now.

With that, I ran toward the church.

**

The appraisal process went incredibly smoothly.

Guided by a kind priest, I paid the fee, waited a few minutes, and ta-da!

[Congratulations! You have obtained high-quality essence!]

Apparently, even the same type of essence would be stronger if it came from a higher-ranking monster.

Would that be displayed as a level for me?

I looked at the essence of ‘Hardening’ in my hand.

Its ability was supposedly to harden any part of the body.

Hmph... Could I find a way to make use of it in combination with my BUG?

Before I consumed it, I planned to have Master take a look at it first.

And when I got home...

"Baby!♥ Come quickly and look at this!"

"Master?"

Master was stacking several boxes neatly on the wooden porch.

"Hehe, they’re all useful... With this much... I can make an incredible elixir."

"Master? What is all this?"

Master planted a hand on her waist and spoke proudly.

"I brought it from the ducal estate for my baby. I even got her apology!"

I could not imagine the duke’s daughter apologizing, no matter how hard I tried.

"An apology? From the duke’s daughter?"

"Yes. The next time you meet, she will apologize to you personally as well. And..."

Master put a hand to her chin and furrowed her brow.

"You becoming a member of the expedition party... We may need to reconsider that."

"Because it’s too dangerous?"

"Yes. The ducal estate was in an uproar today too. Tsk, tsk..."

I considered it carefully.

"...Master, I think it would be better if I did become a member of the expedition party."

Master’s eyes widened as she asked why.

"Why?"

"They already knew information about me. If I’m going to get involved with them anyway, I think it would be better to receive their support."

Pink Hair already knew about me.

She had either found out herself or used some method to do so.

I had already interfered with their plans.

In that case, it would be better to have the ducal house’s protection.

Even if it meant becoming more deeply involved, the more backing I had, the better.

I had realized how important it was to have someone pushing you forward and pulling you up.

Master frowned for a moment, then nodded.

"That’s true... I hadn’t considered that. Better to squeeze them for everything they’re worth."

"N-not that I mean I’m going to squeeze them dry... Haha."

"Squeeze them however you please. It is a family with plenty of money, after all."

That was quite the cutting assessment.

Master quickly brightened again, gently rubbing my back as she boasted.

"Hehe, you’re better than I am. As expected of my disciple. More importantly, look at these! This is a medicinal herb that was discontinued ages ago..."

Master excitedly explained everything, her tail swishing back and forth.

She really was adorable...

"Mmh... It would be nice if I had one more herb rich in yin energy... Y-yes, I will obtain one soon enough."

Yin energy?

Suddenly, I remembered the blue flower in my inventory.

I immediately took it out and held it toward her.

"Would this blue flower perhaps help?"

"Oh? Belladonna. It is a flower from the Western Continent imbued with yin energy. With this much... I think it will be enough! But where did you get it?"

I gave her a brief version of the story.

"I received it from the ducal house."

"...That brat is useful after all."

Was this the Luck stat? To think a flower I had forgotten about would end up being useful like this.

Master held my hand and beamed at me.

"Hehe...♥ Just wait. I’ll make you an absolutely amazing elixir."

...I really could not hold back anymore.

Was this what being newlyweds was like? I kept getting hard, and it was driving me crazy.

Grab!

"Honey!"

"Oh my? Hehe! Baby~♥ Ah... mmm...♥ Honey, I haven’t washed yet..."

"Let’s do it once, then train, then wash up."

"Only once? Really, just once?♥"

With such a pretty, devoted wife by my side, I...

Ha... I’ll do my best.

I truly served her with all my heart and soul.

♥♥♥

I smoothed out Master’s sweat-tousled hair and spoke.

"Phew... Honey, that essence from before was ‘Hardening.’ Do you think it would be better to consume it?"

Master, cradled in my arms, looked down at the essence and nodded.

"Haa... haa... kiss!♥ It’s good essence. You can make yourself hard only when you want to, so it will not interfere with your swordsmanship either."

After hearing her explanation, I immediately swallowed the essence.

Ding!

[You have acquired the skill [LV.6 Hardening]!]

Six???

My god... It was level six the moment I consumed it. This was the first time I had ever had essence like this.

I immediately closed my eyes and imagined my arm becoming hard.

Nothing felt different. Tilting my head, I tapped my arm with my fingernail.

Tink, tink!

It sounded like I was tapping scrap metal.

Hearing the noise, Master startled and tapped my arm herself.

"You’ve already consumed it? Its hardness... is quite high..."

Master pressed and prodded my arm, examining it from every angle.

I wondered what would happen if I applied it down below, but I did not put the thought into practice.

Master must have thought the same thing, because she hesitated before staring at me.

"If we do that... you might die... right?"

"Who knows...? What should we do?"

"Mmm♥ You’re really naughty.♥"

I petted Master as she rubbed her head against my chest.

We decided to leave that experiment for another time.

I did not even have any proficiency in it yet. What if I got hurt?

And so, after finishing my training—and training in bed as well—the day came to an end.

**

After finishing my morning training the next day...

"...Be safe."

Master saw me off with a complicated expression.

She clearly was not pleased that I was going to Cheon Hwayeong’s place, but she seemed to be enduring it.

Filled with guilt, I pulled Master into an embrace.

"I’m sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for. That is simply the way of the world, so do not let it bother you, baby."

With how much she trusted me, I wondered whether I should tell her about the training process.

But how could I tell her about that process...?

Stop moping and focus on reducing the side effects.

I smiled, said goodbye, and set out.

When I arrived at Cheon Hwayeong’s house...

I opened the door.

Creak.

"Big Sis? Oh!"

"You’re here..."

Cheon Hwayeong was sitting there, looking somehow tired.

And she was even wearing clothes.

For some reason, I was especially happy to see her like that today, and I smiled.

"You’re wearing clothes today! You look so much better when you’re properly dressed!"

Cheon Hwayeong stared at me for a long moment before letting out a deep sigh.

"Ha... Yes."

"...? Are you feeling any better? Can you move around?"

"I still have no energy."

"Then how did you put your clothes on..."

"Quiet. We are starting, so come sit here."

Yes, yes, of course.

Feeling much more at ease, I sat in front of Cheon Hwayeong.

Cheon Hwayeong slowly approached me and climbed on top of me in the same position as last time.

The fragrant scent rushing into my nose, the weight pressing against my body...

"Is it really necessary for you to climb on me like this now?"

Cheon Hwayeong snapped at me, giving off an irritable air.

"I told you I have no energy."

Slightly intimidated by the Heavenly Demon’s growl, I nodded.

"Big Sis, please do not be angry..."

Cheon Hwayeong squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face in my neck.

"...Begin."

"...Yes."

She seemed in a particularly bad mood today, so I decided to quietly do as I was told.

As I recited the incantation, the sensations throughout my body grew sensitive and sharp...

Spring!

...I failed to control it again today.

Still, we had already seen everything there was to see, so I simply continued reciting the incantation.

Even as I recited it and felt the sensations, I began wondering whether I was doing it right.

Because Cheon Hwayeong did not say a word.

After reciting the incantation for a long while, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. I withdrew my internal energy and opened my eyes...

"...Haa."

Cheon Hwayeong’s face was bright red, and she was biting down hard on her lip.

She looked at me with wet, heavy eyes, as though she were desperately impatient for something.

Neither of us could take our eyes off the other.

"Uh..."

"You lecher... Even though I’m wearing clothes..."

That felt a little unfair.

"You said it was a side effect of the demonic art..."

Cheon Hwayeong squeezed her eyes shut and exhaled a heated breath.

"Hoo... That’s right. It is a side effect."

"Please try to understand, Big Sis."

"Haa... Lower your pants. Your pants."

So it was going to happen again.

"Yes..."

I felt strange.

Less guilt than yesterday, and the feeling that it was gradually becoming something normal.

As I lowered my pants...

Slide, whoosh!

Squeeze!!

Cheon Hwayeong’s thighs tightened, slowly crushing my waist.

"Ghk! Big Sis! Your legs! Big Sis!"

"...Ah, ahem! What a fuss..."

A fuss... If I had not had a slime body, my waist would have nearly been shattered just now.

When I glared at her, Cheon Hwayeong looked as though she found me utterly infuriating and began [Pursuing the Palace and Passing the Acupoints].

Tap! Tap! Tap! Tap!

Her hands were especially forceful today, so I made a request.

"Ngh... A little gentler, please."

Squeeze!

In that instant, Cheon Hwayeong’s hands became even rougher.

I did not know why. She had her head lowered.

Perhaps she simply wanted to get it over with quickly.

And as I surrendered myself to the pleasure...

Tremble! Spurt!

"Ngh..."

"Sniff, sniff..."

In that moment, Cheon Hwayeong’s eyes fluttered as she stared intently at me.

Grit!

"B-Big Sis?"

"..."

"Sorry for getting your clothes dirty. But could you let go of my cock?"

"..."

"..."

"I’m going to wash up."

"Huh? Yeah."

When I nodded, Cheon Hwayeong left the room with liquid dripping from her palm.

"What the hell? Is she really in a bad mood today?"

Then again, I thought it would be bothersome for me too if this happened every time I trained.

Tsk. I should not pick a fight with her for no reason today.

After cleaning myself up, I prepared a meal in the kitchen.

Stir-fried meat and a bowl of soup.

I set up the simple meal in the room, but Cheon Hwayeong did not return.

"What’s going on?"

Just as I was wondering whether I should check on her...

Creak!

The door opened, and Cheon Hwayeong looked at me expressionlessly.

"Big Sis. I set out the food."

"..."

Trudge, trudge.

Her steps seemed oddly weak, so I pulled out a chair for her.

But Cheon Hwayeong sat on my lap instead and leaned against me.

Plop...

"Phew..."

"Big Sis?"

"I... I will eat well."

"Oh? O-okay."

Had Cheon Hwayeong ever thanked me like this before?

She must really have been exhausted.

I took out a bottle of Wonhongju as well and fed it to her with the meal.

"Eat."

Chew, chew, gulp!

"Phew... It does not taste bad."

"Right? I’ve gotten a little better at cooking after doing it for a while."

"...Do you cook every day? Three meals a day?"

"Sometimes I skip meals."

"I see... Phew... Then I will eat it every day."

Cheon Hwayeong had softened considerably compared to earlier.

It seemed eating had improved her mood somewhat.

"I might not be able to come tomorrow, since I’ll be preparing to enter the labyrinth."

Crunch!

"W-what? Did you bite into a stone?"

"...Yes."

"That’s strange. I checked carefully when I washed the rice... Tsk. I should not buy rice from that shop anymore."

Cheon Hwayeong spoke in a hollow voice.

"Give me some liquor."

"Big Sis, whenever you drink the liquor I gave you, you fall asleep, you know?"

Gulp!

"So it seems."

Cheon Hwayeong turned her head, looked into my eyes, and smiled.

"I cannot do without you anymore."

As I was captivated by her beautiful smile, Cheon Hwayeong’s eyes glimmered clearly...

"Snooore..."

.........She fell asleep.

I forcibly turned my eyes away from the chilling yet thrilling sensation that ran through me.

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