Chapter 299: Episode 299

“Aaaah’, don’t do this! I can’t take it anymore!”

“You brat, get some clothes on! You’re not old enough for this!”

“Why? Just why are you doing this, Sister!”

A fox struggled in the grasp of a nine-tailed fox. Or rather, an older sister was dragging her younger sister away. Taehyun, having barely escaped Pinyas’s clutches, finally came to his senses and let out a sigh of relief. If Seonghwi hadn’t arrived at that exact moment, he would have been devoured.

“Did I interrupt an important moment, rookie?”

“Not at all. Thanks to you, I barely managed to get away.”

“So what happened?”

“Ah, don’t come any closer for a—”

[The effect of Plamirouge has been applied.]

[The arousal level of the S-rank Dungeon Master, Seonghwi Hyun, who was in the room, rises to its peak.]

[Effect Application Failed!]

[The effect is nullified due to the Assassin class’s unique special ability.]

Fortunately, there was no second victim. In a way, the Plamirouge had just revealed Seonghwi’s true class. But more importantly, Taehyun was so grateful not to have been pounced on by the man that he offered a prayer for the first time in his life. Seonghwi looked slightly flustered and took a step back.

“…I sensed you had changed since the last Faction War, but I didn’t expect this. It’s a bit hard to adjust.”

“Oh, thank God. Thank you so much.”

“Hey, rookie…?”

And so, Taehyun’s prayer continued until he finally took off the shirt stained with Plamirouge.

—

“Haaah, haaah’. This is too cruel. I haven’t even properly satisfied my desires yet.”

“Quiet. Just stay there and crouch. Your big sister will take care of the rest.”

A rope of pure magic bound Pinyas’s body. Unlike when fighting Wigan, it seemed Hinyas had a subduing skill that perfectly restrained her aroused sister. Taehyun received Hinyas’s venomous glare and simply shrugged.

“I didn’t do it on purpose. Don’t glare at me like that. The one who sent this is at fault.”

“…Plamirouge. I’ve heard of it. A perfume with aphrodisiac properties that’s popular in the Demon Realm.”

“If you know, then this will be easier. I received a gift without knowing what it was. Of course, it’s also my fault for breaking the bottle.”

He had changed out of the stained shirt long ago. Pinyas’s arousal hadn’t subsided, but it was clear the situation hadn’t been intentional.

’Is the target for releasing her arousal limited to just me?’ Taehyun wondered. ’To think this will last for a week. What a headache.’

He had already sorted out the situation and contacted Lugo. A mid-grade Plamirouge should have been delivered, but it seemed a top-grade one was sent by mistake. Lugo had apologized profusely and promised another gift, but Taehyun was displeased that he had sent Plamirouge in the first place.

’I’m busy enough with the war, and you’re messing with me like this? This won’t do. I’ll have to re-evaluate the prices for this transaction,’ Taehyun had thought.

“M-Master Taehyun! Please, anything but that!”

“I was about to go through a terrible ordeal. No, you could say I already have. Anyway, I’m doubling the prices for all the equipment and magic materials this time. Just so you know.”

One wrong move and he could have been forcibly stripped of his virginity. It wasn’t mutual; it was a one-sided assault brought on by a magical perfume, so his anger was justified. The Gronz Merchant Guild, with its considerable standing in the Demon Realm, probably wouldn’t have a major problem even if the prices were doubled. Taehyun scowled again, recalling Lugo’s exaggerated whining.

“Hmph. So, what brings you here, Seonghwi?”

“Hold on. We need to take care of something first. And I have a question of my own.”

“Hinyas, was it? I’m not going to use honorifics, so don’t complain.”

“You weren’t using them from the start, so what’s with the nonsense now? Anyway, Seonghwi, could you step out for a moment? I’m on a time limit, so I need to finish this quickly and get back.”

Seonghwi’s mercenary summoning skill had a duration of a whopping six hours, yet her remaining time had already dropped by more than half. Seonghwi promptly nodded and left the Master Room out of consideration. Left alone, Hinyas glared at Taehyun again and got straight to the point.

“First, about the Guide. I heard you were officially recognized by the Great Chief Hasla while I was away. Is that true?”

Hinyas had been born into the fox clan and raised in the Sabaten Jungle. She had been taught by the Great Chief Hasla himself before becoming a nine-tailed fox and leaving her village, but she was still a member of the clan. Although Taehyun had brought all the beastmen here via a contract, she had yet to accept him. Taehyun pointed at Hasla on the monitor.

“I heard you met that old man on your way here. Didn’t he tell you? I proved my qualifications right in front of the Great Elder. No matter how much you deny it, the fact that I’m the Guide doesn’t change.”

“…I don’t intend to deny it. I just can’t accept it.”

“Same difference. In any case, don’t act rashly. Your sister belongs to Balak, you know.”

“Grrr’, how did Pinyas end up here too?!”

She had apparently lived at the southern tip of the continent after leaving her village, so she had no way of knowing the full story. The humans had imprisoned and punished them just for being demons; in a way, this was poetic justice. Besides, given the matter of the Demon Jade, there was no need to explain anything. Taehyun shrugged and turned the question back on her.

“I think I understand your position. Why don’t you ask something else? It seems you have more than one thing to deal with.”

“Haaah’, fine. I’ll let the matter of the Guide go. But what are you going to do about Pinyas? You’re not just going to leave her like this, are you?”

“If I lock her in a cell for a week, it’ll wear off on its own. Or are you planning to take her?”

“D-Did you just say you’re going to lock up my most precious sister in the world in a prison?!”

Once again, her nine tails flared like fire. Hinyas hugged Pinyas and made a decision.

“I’ll take her with me. And I mean for good, not just for a week.”

“That’s impossible. Pinyas is quite helpful. Besides, we have a contract, so she can’t escape to another dungeon. Unless a specific battle or objective is assigned, you can’t take her.”

“So you’re saying you’ll take responsibility for her?!”

“She’s already mine. What’s there to take responsibility for? No one touches what’s mine. Not even family.”

Balak’s forces always moved for their master. He might take what belonged to others, but he would never give away what was his. Pinyas, still bound by the magic rope, blushed even more and grew restless.

“S-Sister, I don’t think I can take it anymore! Please untie me! Please let me be in Master Taehyun’s arms!”

“S-She’s even calling him Master Taehyun now!”

“Anyway, I’ll handle it. You just go back to your own dungeon.”

The situation was growing more complicated. First, he needed to get rid of this meddling older sister. Taehyun scratched his head and shooed her away. Hinyas tried to threaten him, but the fact that he was the Guide made her extinguish her foxfire.

“I’ll be watching. I’ll be watching you. Just you dare lay a hand on my sister. I don’t care about the Great Chief or anyone else, I’ll kill you myself!”

“Should I use an item to banish you? Get out, now!”

“I will definitely, ’definitely’ be watching you, Taehyun Yoo!”

She left the room, repeating her warning dozens of times. It seemed she was worried about her duration, as she disappeared without letting up her fierce demeanor. Taehyun looked at the remaining Pinyas and sighed.

[Pinyas Favorability: 78/100]

’What kind of aphrodisiac also raises favorability?’ he thought. He had been worried about her consistently low rating, but he wasn’t satisfied with it being resolved this way. As the door opened again, he seated the rope-bound Pinyas next to the sofa.

—

“Haaaah’, Master Taehyun.”

“You can ignore her. Now, let’s talk. Why did you come to Balak? As far as I know, I haven’t given you any direct orders.”

“Hmm, rookie. I know you’ve gotten serious, but the beastman next to you is ruining the mood. Are you aware?”

Pinyas, crawling like an inchworm, snuggled into his arms, rubbing her face against him in a clear show of affection. Taehyun acted as casual as possible and stroked her head.

“As you heard, the scene from before was a coincidence, brought on by the Plamirouge. Please don’t misunderstand.”

“You seem quite embarrassed. Well, I have no intention of joking around anymore. I came to get confirmation about the Demon Realm conquest.”

“You’re a strange one, Seonghwi. I’m sure I already confirmed the two strategic directions in the contract during the meeting.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know? The two directions you wrote down… you know how the god of contracts judges such things, don’t you?”

The more ambiguous the content, the more Morpina, the god of contracts, demanded clarification from the one who wrote it. The other faction members hadn’t noticed at the time, their attention diverted by the subsequent leadership vote, but the former leader was a different story. Seonghwi was hitting the nail right on the head. Still, Taehyun’s expression remained utterly relaxed.

“So what are you getting at? You’re not trying to threaten me into signing a new contract, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m not that stupid. I’ll personally take care of something you want. How about we sign a new contract in exchange for that?”

It was a tempting offer. Even though they were both S-rank Dungeon Masters, Seonghwi himself was a living weapon. Taehyun tapped his fingers, contemplating.

’Even if I accept, what should I have him do? Since we’re writing a new contract, I can give a separate order. Leon van Noah? The Frost Queen? The Holy Kingdom? Or maybe the Goltein Fief?’

It was the power to compel his entire faction, as well as the power to mobilize Talos itself one more time. Thinking of the SS-rank powerhouses, Taehyun asked.

“You’re an S-rank Dungeon Master, Seonghwi. But if I were to order you to eliminate a powerhouse on par with an SS-rank, could you do it?”

“I think you’re underestimating me. The dungeon is S-rank, but that doesn’t mean I’m only at an S-rank level. For example, that Duke Centrix? I could definitely handle him.”

“Hoh, that’s unexpected. It seems you’ve been hiding your true power for the conquest of the Demon Realm. Are you sure it’s alright to reveal it for my sake?”

“…That bastard Duke Nikunbel probably knows about this anyway. There’s no point in hiding it.”

His fierce will, focused solely on conquering the Demon Realm, was clear. Taehyun nodded and took out a contract. At that moment, a red message flashed before his eyes.

[Undead soldiers have appeared from the Hallung Plains.]

[The S-rank Raider, Wigan, has appeared from the Hallung Plains.]

[The SS-rank Guardian, Kaihast, Commander of the Demonic Bow, has appeared from the Hallung Plains.]

It was the new army sent by Leon.

As they watched the enemy forces swarm the screen, Taehyun and Seonghwi came to the same conclusion.

“Looks like we need to draw up that contract immediately,” Taehyun said, his voice grim.

“About twenty S-rank units or higher,” Seonghwi mused, his eyes narrowed. “I suppose I’ll have to deal with the SS-rank Guardian myself.”

“I’m counting on you, Seonghwi.”

“…That’s a rather quick change of heart, isn’t it?” Seonghwi chuckled, a sly glint in his eye.

In that moment, the complex dynamic between the former and current faction leaders found a new equilibrium. Without another word, they quickly drafted an agreement, bracing for the battle to come.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep