Chapter 175: Church of Love, Ride the Express Train to Hell! (5)

It was the day after we passed through the dungeon that I gave a rough report of what had happened. Salina seemed extremely displeased that AA had not become a man. She looked down on us from a haughty posture, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. Her gaze was filled with so much fury that I found this seat incredibly uncomfortable.

The only saving grace, if I had to pick one, was that her anger was directed at AA, not me. AA was frozen, her head bowed to the floor like a criminal who had committed a deadly sin. Salina's tone was full of irritation and rage toward AA.

"Yes, Hero AA. I told you to become a man, and you've returned having made a 'manly' decision."

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, but... for the sake of defeating Evangeline, the opinion was that we needed more power..."

"How could I possibly interfere in such matters? Our 'Hero' says she needs more power to defeat Evangeline, so I have no choice but to nod my head, do I? Sharing the power, that's also right. It's for the greater good, so I have nothing to say. Isn't that right? You are completely right and just, so the moment I offer any counterargument, I become a wretched woman who doesn't understand the greater good and only thinks of her daughter's marriage. Isn't that right?"

"...I'm sorry, Your Majesty."

"What are you apologizing for? For me specially pushing the Elder Council to allow a human into the sanctuary for you? Or for winning the duel against Peta Lusius, yet choosing the greater good instead of becoming a man? What is there to apologize for? You have nothing to apologize for. Because all your actions are right."

Just as expected of a queen, her skill at shaming someone was first-rate. To be sure, there was nothing wrong with what AA had done. Evangeline was an extremely dangerous being, and to defeat her, it was natural to choose gaining power over turning into a man.

But from Salina's perspective, who had specially opened the gate of the sanctuary and even convened the Elder Council to make AA a man, it was only natural for her to be displeased that AA had shared the power after having won it all. After berating AA for a long while, Salina looked at me and spoke.

"Peta Lusius. Are you planning to return now?"

"Yes, that's right. I've left my territory vacant for too long, and... there's an urgent matter I must attend to."

"A matter to attend to?"

"It's related to a religion called the Church of Love. We have obtained a clue that this religion may be a minion of Evangeline, and we are currently investigating."

Salina seemed intrigued by my explanation. She thought for a moment, then nodded her head.

"If that's true, it's very interesting information. The Church of Love is a bunch of crazy bastards who defend beastfolk and mermaids; it is right that they should be eliminated at once. What is the basis for your suspicion?"

In response to Salina's question, I had nothing to say other than that we were still investigating. It was because there was no clear physical evidence. I had visible proof called the status window, but I couldn't prove it to others. I suppressed my frustration and said.

"We are still investigating, so I will inform you as soon as the investigation is complete."

"Understood. Then you may both leave at this point."

Following Salina's order to leave, we exited the audience chamber. As soon as we left the audience chamber, AA let out a deep sigh and looked at me. She smiled brightly to break the awkwardness from the recent admonishment and said.

"You've worked hard."

Seeing her flawless smile, I also smiled brightly and said.

"You too, Sir Hero."

"Don't laugh! I said don't look at each other and laugh!"

Erina, who had been waiting outside the audience chamber, yelled while clutching her stomach. I stepped back with an awkward expression. Erina grabbed AA's arm, glared at me, and said.

"You beast-like bastard! You were trying to make a move on AA, weren't you! Is that not so?"

"Erina. Just a moment..."

AA was gently pushing Erina away with a somewhat troubled expression. But she couldn't forcibly push the pregnant woman away, so Erina only clung to AA even more. It was undoubtedly a side effect of me publicly declaring that I would fuck AA to Erina during the dungeon raid. It seemed she couldn't bear to see AA under me, even if it killed her. I shook my head and said.

"No. We were just talking about work-related matters. Right, Sir Hero?"

"Yes, yes. That's right. Erina. Wait. Right now... uh..."

Only after both AA and I denied it did Erina stop clinging to AA. I had no intention of making a move on AA or fucking Erina today either. It was because I had to quickly prepare for our return now. I had finished the dungeon capture and received my reward, so I had to return to my territory as quickly as possible.

I was anxious about the Church of Love priest I'd left in my territory, and I didn't know if something bad might have happened to Sieri. So, I decided to leave this foolish couple behind at this point. As I went ahead, AA waved her hand. I waved back and then quickly left the royal palace.

The preparations proceeded without a hitch. Since I hadn't stockpiled any items on the way here, packing my luggage for the return trip was also fast. All I had to do was inform Salina of my return and pack my personal luggage. Eve and I were soon on the carriage, preparing for our return. The coachman climbed onto the coachman's seat with a face full of bliss. I asked the coachman.

"Coachman. Did something good happen?"

"Have you been to the elf brothel?"

"No, there's such a thing?"

Fuck. There's an elf brothel? Should I go check it out? I briefly looked toward the city center of Ahildern, then shook my head. At any other time, maybe, but right now I didn't have the leisure to go to a brothel. Because I had to return to my territory quickly. I shook my head and said.

"No. It's fine. Let's just return quickly for now."

"Oh, I understand."

At my resolute command, the coachman didn't bring up the brothel again and drove the horses. As the carriage left the royal palace and started moving, Eve asked.

"Groom. Why did you talk about the brothel?"

"Why, are you jealous?"

"No, I just wondered if you were that pent up."

Eve looked at me, making a pretense of waving her hand. The coachman driving in the front was humming, and the carriage was enclosed on all sides, so no one outside could see what we were doing. Come to think of it, I'd never done it in a carriage before.

Without a word, I undid my pants. Aroused by the word 'brothel', my cock stood tall, its silhouette stark against my underwear. Finding the sight amusing, Eve giggled before carefully lowering her head.

A hand gripped my cock and began to move smoothly up and down. Eve opened her mouth, extended her tongue slightly, and began to lick my glans penis. Seeing her meticulously trace over it as if licking an ice cream, I felt my groin grow even harder.

"Eve."

"Eung?"

"Bite it."

My strength was now over 250; wouldn't it not tear even if she bit it? Hadn't my cock been enhanced enough to withstand even Eve's hard teeth? At my gamble, Eve looked back and forth between my cock and me with a peculiar expression, then asked.

"You want me to bite it? Really? Groom. If your cock gets bitten off, all hell will break loose, you know?"

"We have heal. Just don't bite down too hard, and do it slowly so your teeth don't touch."

"Alright."

Eve lowered her head and carefully began to put my glans penis into her mouth. I could feel Eve's warm breath getting closer, her soft lips enveloping my cock. And behind them, sharp teeth...

"Aaaaargh! Aeuk! Time! Time! Fuck!"

Startled by my violent reaction, Eve raised her head again. I didn't even have time to check the wound on my cock before I shouted for a heal. It hurt like hell. I had been mistaken about something. As strength went up, my body's durability definitely increased, but that didn't mean the pain was reduced.

The moment Eve's teeth touched my cock, I felt a pain like my cock was being rubbed on an acupressure plate. The coachman looked ahead and asked.

"Is something the matter?"

"...No."

I answered the coachman's question vaguely and sighed. Eve stuck out her tongue slightly, looking sorry, and watched my reaction.

"...Did it hurt a lot?"

"Since it was you, Eve, it didn't hurt at all."

"Don't bullshit me."

I thought Eve was weak to cutesy charm, but apparently not. I shook my head and said.

"It fucking hurt. Fuck, I need to get stronger."

"...Is that really an okay reason to get stronger?"

"Of course."

Eve asked me with a dumbfounded expression. I nodded my head. Do I need a greater reason to become stronger? I clicked my tongue, thinking about the incident at Mimir. Back then, if I had just said I would get stronger to get fellatio from a mermaid, they would have supported me. It was just a shame that one of my life goals had formed so belatedly.

** **

Just as the carriage journey there had been uneventful, the way back was smooth. No rogues appeared, and there were no troublesome people to block our path. I dozed off in the carriage, basking in the drowsy sunlight. Eve was fast asleep, her head resting on my shoulder. Through my half-opened eyes, I saw a carriage approaching.

"Whoa, whoa."

The coachman calmed the horses. I looked outside the window. There was a knight approaching on horseback. She was a woman with blond hair and blue eyes, with the appearance of a typical princess knight. I knew her name.

"Karin?"

Bellix Karin nodded her head as if pleased when I called her name. She urged her horse forward, met my eyes, and said.

"Aren't you My Lord Lusius? It has been a long time. I was just on my way to the territory."

"…Did Sieri do something wrong?"

Karin shook her head and said.

"Not at all. Quite the opposite. My assistance was requested to investigate some suspicious criminals in the Peta Territory, so I am on my way to provide support."

"Criminals?"

"Yes. I only heard they were criminals; I don't know the specific charges either."

"I see. You always work so hard."

Despite the gravity of the matter, Karin's tone was as cheerful as if she were going on a picnic. She was clearly the type who felt a certain pleasure in the act of catching criminals itself. I found that smile uneasy, so I just smiled appropriately and agreed with her.

While Karin and I were talking, Eve rubbed her face against my shoulder, lost her balance, and her head drooped. Woken by the shock, she looked around and rubbed her eyes.

"What, are we here?"

"No. Keep sleeping."

I soothed Eve and put her back to sleep. Karin also led her wagon and set off on the road ahead. The coachman closely followed Karin's wagon and sped forward. It was now time to arrive at the territory.