Failure And Success

The forest at dusk.

Hero Marius and his party were watching the Wyvern’s nest on the hill from within the trees.

However, the crucial Wyvern was nowhere to be seen.

Marius’s handsome face was tight with anxiety.

“It’s not here… It’s not coming back… Why!?”

“Sir Marius, if we do not return soon, we will have to camp outside for the night.”

The female priest spoke in a cool tone.

As an aide dispatched from the kingdom to support the hero, she approached the job with a strictly professional attitude.

Marius twisted his handsome face in frustration and made a bitter decision.

“…Very well. We shall withdraw for today. We can simply do our best again tomorrow.”

“Yes, Sir Marius.”

The retainers, including the priest, briskly began preparing to leave.

Marius pressed his hand to his forehead, covering his well-shaped features.

—What is going on? Why is nothing working out…?

He still had not realized that he had only ever been picking up the scraps of Alec’s work.

That night, Marius and his party returned to the Royal Capital.

As they tried to pass through the city gate, a guard called out to them.

“Sir Marius, you were on a Wyvern subjugation mission, if I recall?”

“Yes, that’s right. Why?”

“I’ve heard the Wyvern was slain by an adventurer.”

“W-what! …Well, there are strong adventurers out there.”

“Thing is, it seems an E-rank adventurer did it.”

“What!?”

“That can’t be… a B-rank, taken down by an E-rank…? Ridiculous…”

Marius’s red eyes flew wide in shock.

Passersby whispered as they went by, most of them women.

“Two failures in a row, they say.”

“Oh my, what’s wrong with him?”

“If an E-rank could kill it…”

“Maybe he’s not cut out to be a hero?”

Marius’s face went pale with shame and he ground his teeth.

But he turned his face away and trudged down the street.

“This can’t be happening… Why is nothing going right…?”

The party members dispatched by the kingdom said nothing.

When they reached the inn, the others were about to head to the castle to make their report, but Marius reached out.

He caught the female priest’s hand and spoke.

“Would you stay with me a little longer tonight?”

“We have a report to make. Perhaps tomorrow.”

The priest briskly brushed his hand away and walked off down the main street, her blue hair swaying.

Left behind, Marius’s face twisted in resentment.

—What is wrong with you people!? Turning on me over a few little failures!

—There isn’t a woman alive who doesn’t rejoice at being in my arms!

—I surpass others in looks, in intellect, in social grace, I excel in both magic and swordplay, and my family is impeccable—I am one of the chosen!

Marius kicked at the cobblestones.

But his situation did not improve.

In the end, able to do nothing, he slunk back to the inn and spent a lonely, hollow night.

Night in the Royal Capital.

I searched several cheap inns, looking for a ground-floor room.

As expected of a cheap inn, the room was filled by just a bed and a table. 3,000 Gort for two people.

Then, I contacted the dungeon using the sub-device to establish a connection.

I didn’t especially need it right now, but it was a test to see if it was functional.

I looked around the room’s thin walls and said.

“If possible, I’d like tonight to be the last time we stay in a cheap inn.”

“Yes. I would very much like that, too.”

“Then, let’s look for a proper room tomorrow. Also, so that I can monopolize Liricia’s cute voice.”

“Yes, Master!”

Liricia replied cheerfully, her cheeks flushed.

After that, two tubs of hot water were carried into the room. 100 Gort.

They were filled to the brim with steaming hot water.

Liricia rolled up the sleeves of her white clerical robe.

“First, I will wipe Master’s body clean.”

“Ah, please do.”

I took off my robe, removed the iron breastplate, and took off my clothes.

As I stood naked, Liricia used a cloth dipped in the hot water to wipe my skin.

She wiped me with meticulous care, as if cleansing a precious gem.

Once I was finished, it was Liricia’s turn.

She took off her robe, her clerical dress, and removed her white armor, leaving her in her underwear.

A well-proportioned figure. Her large bosom swayed gently.

Liricia blushed and averted her gaze.

“I-It’s embarrassing to be stared at so much…”

“What’s wrong with admiring something beautiful? Besides, I can’t wipe you if I don’t look, can I?”

“Huh? Master will wipe me? For a possession like me, I can’t ask for that…”

“For example, isn’t it only natural for an owner to polish their own piece of art? Liricia is the most beautiful in the world, after all.”

“T-The most beautiful in the world… Haah… Then, please do.”

Liricia sat on the edge of the bed, her ears also red.

Just as Liricia had done for me, I dipped the cloth in the hot water and traced her smooth curves.

Carefully. Extremely carefully. Her hands, feet, shoulders, neck, back…

Her translucent white skin glistened, repelling the water.

When I removed her underwear, leaving her in her natural state, I gently massaged her overflowing, large bosom, cupping it in my hands.

Liricia’s delicate body trembled with a start.

“Ah—! M-Master!”

“Now, let me wipe you more thoroughly.”

“Master…”

She hugged me, tears welling up in her violet eyes. Her soft curves pressed tightly against me.

Holding her thin back with one arm, I continued to wipe her with the cloth.

Liricia’s breathing, as she clung to my neck, became increasingly ragged. Her breath tickled my ear.

—I can wipe her later.

Unable to hold back any longer, I kissed Liricia and pushed her down onto the bed.

And I loved Liricia so much that her white wings burst out from her back.

Even after her wings appeared, I continued to love her until the tips of her wings stretched taut.

No matter what form she took, Liricia was always beautiful, and the poignant sounds that escaped her lips were adorable.

Total funds: 45 Large Gold Coins, 31 Gold Coins, 11 Large Silver Coins, 65 Silver Coins. 4,827,500 Gort.