Chapter 148: Suspicious Movement 3
Chapter 148: Suspicious Movement 3
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
Join the discord! Here
In games, especially in character-gacha games, the title before a character's name summarizes their abilities.
Grace, who became a 'Forest Stalker' after obtaining a detection passive as a 'Novice Ranger'; Katie, known as the 'Sword Princess', a skilled swordsman and the daughter of the Northern Duke; Irene, the hidden 'Saint Candidate' raised in a temple; and myself, gradually converting mana into divine energy, Paladin Roland.
On the other hand, there are titles that emphasize a characters personality or traits rather than abilities, such as 'Ambitious' Charlotte and 'Maid' Mari.
Information isnt a product I specialize in but a conversation between just the two of us should be fine.
So, this bespectacled lady in front of me is...
-Aaahhh I'm so excited, straight to the west I go!
-Why are you the only one happy? Why are you the only one happy? Why are you the only one happy? Why are you the only one happy? Why are you the only one happy? Why are you the only one happy?
-Today we run straight to the west, Rusty Horseshoe Back-Alley, Merchant Guild!
-Idiots, you run there and it'll be Ironwall Lady Violetta!
-Dont hit me with facts, they hurt.
She's certainly a character.
A vivid red tongue sneakily pops out, wickedly licking her plump lips before disappearing, setting the chat aflame.
Eyes curving devilishly, a tiny mole below one, movements that are both elegant and lascivious, stroking my hand seductively then withdrawing.
If the ladies in the capital saw this, they'd likely tear their handkerchiefs in jealousy at the mingling of elegance and vulgarity in her movements.
Of course, her seduction was easily thwarted.
Even before I could respond, Lily and Grace, who had stepped forward on either side of me, began speaking instead.
Lily looked slightly displeased and Grace intervened with urgency.
But there was something they hadnt noticed...
Oh my? The three of us, or maybe four?
Lets just talk here.
Lewd Violettas heated gaze isnt just over my forearms, but also Graces sternum and the nape of Lilys neck, hidden by her hair.
If were swept along like this, Han Se-ahs stream might become dangerous in another sense.
Even though virtual reality games have emerged and streams require adult certification due to nearly 100% realistic implementation, it's obvious that you can't openly have s*x on air.
More threatening than the 30th-floor boss monster, she licked her lips again.
The predator's eyes flicked over not just me, Grace, and Lily, but also Han Se-ah and Katie, who were assessing the situation from behind, and Irene.
Grace seems unable to even imagine a woman targeting another woman, but Lily, sensitive to gazes, immediately shrank back her previously confident shoulders.
It seems she never imagined receiving such a lascivious look from another woman.
"A gold coin for just a story? You've got quite the generous hands... I've always liked big hands. Fingers too, thick."
"Merchants and mercenaries, having set out from the western port city and passing through the territory of Count Morris to arrive at Ertta, have reportedly lost contact after leaving behind escort requests."
"It's also rather hard. I like it even more."
Laying down a gold coin, I firmly stated what I wanted, unwilling to be swayed.
Subtle sexual innuendos aside, she was definitely a member of the Merchant's Guild, snaking around our words and steering the conversation to continue on her terms.
Ordinary clerks wouldn't act this way in front of a customer with a gold coin, so perhaps she is someone of stature.
It seems like a monster, adept at evading the gaze of the Kingdoms Knights, has been attacking passing merchants. I request your cooperation for a smooth investigation.
...Hmm, the Knights? And a senior adventurer as well?
As I continued, placing a senior adventurer badge next to the gold coin, the atmosphere with Violetta sharply shifted.
She began to move busily, as if she had something like a calling device - tapping on something with buttons.
She then pulled out documents to read, gesturing as she did so.
---
Raei Translations
---
"What was that all about...."
"A very unique individual."
"But they certainly knew how to get things done, right? An actual talent in the Guild..."
Lily scratched her nape, seemingly puzzled, her neatly tied ponytail swaying gently.
Although she has resolved all sorts of monster and client issues as an adventurer and mercenary, this is probably her first time being sexually harassed by another woman.
Irene and Katie, who didn't understand all the sorts of vulgar insinuations about preferring big, thick hands and liking things to be rigid, gave naive responses.
Of course, the viewers, comprehending all too well, let their imaginations run wild.
-As expected from Han Se-ah, top streamer here at FutureTV
-Big hands, thick fingers, and something hard is preferable. noted
-Keep noting, you f*cks have no place to use that info
-There's gotta be others right? Im going to do a kingdom tour just in case.
-No one seems interested in the quest
[So What Can You Do Donated 5,000 won!]
Since it's by an NPC and not a viewer, you don't know how to fight back, huh?
"Aish, I never thought Id be number one in a VR game and get hit on by a female NPC. Can you just shut up?"
Lewd comments aside, she was competent as her stars suggested, smoothly providing information in exchange for gold coins.
Thanks to her, Han Se-ahs quest window updated, and we quickly exited the Merchant's Guild building, hiring a coachman and heading west again.
As soon as the transaction was over, she invited Han Se-ah to come for tea in the evening.
Han Se-ah, not imagining that her sights would cross over to her, stuttered and fled*.
Consequently, clips of her titled 'Streamer Gets Sexually Harassed' started trending on the forum.
"What kind of place is Count Morriss territory?"
"It has direct trade with a port city, so there's quite a bit of seafood. Of course, most of it is salted fish or dried food. Thanks to that, penniless mercenaries chew on cheap dried fish instead of jerky, chewing it till their breath stinks. We did too."
While Han Se-ah seethes at the clip of herself that has spread, and I sneakily watch it, chuckling, Lily describes the next destination to the group.
Following the small city of Ertta, which connects the central and western parts of the kingdom, our destination is Count Morris's territory, where Lily's party had been traveling to.
It's a large domain, fully equipped with an Adventurers Guild, a Mercenarys Guild, and even a Magic Tower.
As merchants frequently come and go, there's a Merchant's Guild and a Mercenarys Guild, and to the north, theres a wasteland occupied by orcs, so there's an Adventurer's Guild too.
As adventurers explored the wasteland and hunted orcs, mages gathered to research and reclaim the land, establishing a branch of the Magic Tower, making it a perfect place to sell surplus mana stones.
"Fish snacks instead of jerky... Would that be tasty?"
"Not at all. It's something the poor eat. Just like there's jerky made from cheap, leftover meat, fish snacks that mercenaries eat are hastily dried from poor-quality fish flesh, so it's full of a fishy smell."
"Just hearing about it is dreadful. It makes me even less eager to try fish I've never eaten before."
"Grace, you have never eaten fish before?"
"Well, I was born and raised in the mountains, a daughter of a hunter's family. I've had more than my fill of meat, but never fish. Why would a merchant bring fish all the way to my village? Katie, you're from a noble family, have you tried it?"
"I'm from the North. Even though we have a harbor, the fish distribution in the North isnt very active. It's rare to find someone who has eaten seafood unless they're from the West, right?"
Although the conversation went off in an irrelevant direction, it was evidence that Katie had integrated well into our party.
The viewer's hearts were filled with awe at the somewhat mature image of the Northern brat engaging with people when the carriage slowly comes to a stop.
It seems like we've arrived at a small village that serves as a mid-way point.
Before the door is opened, the smoke gently rising from a small hut visible through the carriage window gives off a cozy country village vibe, like those from a fantasy tale.
"We've arrived at a resting place. This village has only one inn, so you can get a room and rest there."
"Ah, yes."
However, it seems there is an inn for passing travelers.
The coachman must have chosen this route because of the inn.
The coachman, familiar with this area, naturally directs the horses toward the inn's stable.
We watch for a while before entering.
It's distinctly smaller than inns in the City of Adventurers or the small city of Ertta.
In a meager inn with only three tables, we are the only patrons aside from one other.
"Welcome, how many rooms shall I get you?"
A plump old lady, possibly without any other staff, languidly poses the question from behind the counter.
Maybe there are multiple paths one can take from Ertta to Count Morriss territory, making customers rare.
We sat down at the least dirty table, with only dust accumulated and no food scraps to be seen, and ordered three rooms and meals.
While inns with magic tools are luxurious, boasting a quality on par with modern business hotels, below that, the quality drops to the point where you wonder if there's any difference between it and a stable.
-Is this a village where you die if you clean?
-Ah, this place needs a mop. Someone wipe away the filth
-Mop? Wipe? That's too lewd, ban them*!
-The kids just gawk at the carriage, seems like everyones lost their taste
While everyone was stretching and retrieving their purses and the like, which had been left with Han Se-ah in the city, the inn door opened with a bang and someone rushed in.
"Hey, mercenaries have come?!"
"Oh my, Elder!"
"Village Chief, just a moment!"
A wrinkled old man, leaning on a cane, ran over.
He looks like hes about to give a quest.
---