Chapter 24

Chapter 24 - Returning Home

After subjugating the pack of Twin-tailed Wolves, we calmly and quietly withdrew. Right after the subjugation, everyone was cheering for my outstanding performance. Markus shook my hand vigorously, tears in his eyes, and thanked me, while Sophie also bowed deeply.

However, after that, Markus began lecturing Sophie. The lecture took place a bit away, so I couldn't quite hear it. Probably, the lecture turned into an argument in the latter half. That seemed to be the atmosphere.

When they came back, Sophie was sobbing uncontrollably.

Even the veteran adventurers with excellent communication skills were at a loss. Adventurers require various skills, but taking care of the mental state of a young girl in their sensitive period is something entirely different.

While it wasn't to the extent that it felt like a funeral, we proceeded with the material collection work in a matter-of-fact manner and the conversation inside the carriage on the way back was purely business-like.

We parked the carriage at the adventurer guild's carriage area and had the guild staff collect the materials along with the carriage. The exact purchase amount would be known tomorrow, but we had a rough idea.

Since we brought the carriage this time, we collected relatively valuable parts that aren't usually recovered. As a result, the unit price per creature was higher than usual.

The total amount from the sales was about 75 million gold. After deducting expenses for repairing everyone's armor, consumables like healing potions, etc., We were left with around 70 million gold. With my 6% share, that's 4.2 million gold.

It was about 1 million gold more than when I hunted individually. Moreover, this time Jack added an extra 1 million gold. Quite a lucrative deal.

Jack's party hosts joint subjugations 2 to 3 times a month, and I've decided to participate every time.

Even if I'm invited by parties other than Jack's, I intend to actively join if they're skilled parties. I can easily determine whether a party is skilled or not based on their achievements in the guild.

As the guild staff pull away the carriage, Jack delivers the closing remarks.

"Alright, that wraps up the job. Good work, everyone! You all did a great job! We're going to disband for now, but... how about this? Why don't we grab a drink at the tavern? I'll cover the food, but the drinks are individual!"

I decided to participate this time around. All the leaders joined, and most of the other members as well.

Sophie, of course, didn't participate. It was an extremely awkward atmosphere.

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"Lily, I'm back."

"Haruki, welcome back."

I took off my leather armor and hugged Lily tightly. It's a habit on days other than vacations. Maybe because I've been surrounded by muscles and beards until just now, Lily looked 50% cuter. Beyond being a beauty, she's more like an angel.

When I pat her angelic head, the mental fatigue from doing something different than usual and the mental exhaustion from Sophie's salty response were alleviated.

"...You're later than usual."

"Sorry, Lily."

I did finish early and came back, but today's return was about an hour later than usual. I'll try to make a pit stop at home next time.

With Lily's hug being tighter than usual, I carried her and moved to the changing room. I didn't have any immediate intention of doing something lewd.

Since I was fighting from the rear for all but the final battle, I haven't been splattered with blood. However, I won't feel settled until I take a bath when I have dust and sweat on me. I'm the kind of person who can't relax in the living room while covered in dirt or sweat. It's a habit for me to take a bath as soon as I get home.

In the first place, I'm not without principles. I'm a man who values setting the mood more.

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"Lily, I'm cumming!"

"Cum♡"

I pressed Lily against the wall with her hands on it and thrusted my hips repeatedly. Finally, I pushed Lily against the bathroom wall and ejaculated a large amount of semen into her vagina.

...It wasn't my fault. It was Lily's.

Today, I brought orange juice into the bath. I brought the glass to the bathtub, and I placed the pitcher a bit away so that it wouldn't cool down.

When I asked Lily for a refill of juice, without getting out of the bath, she lazily reached for the pitcher.

Her exposed ass was right next to my face, about 30 centimeters away. It was improper not to embrace her here.

I immediately gulped down the orange juice Lily handed me and, in the next moment, pounced on her.

Since I didn't attack her in the dressing room, I'd even say I'm quite the gentleman. No one can resist when a large amount of water drips down and exposes a gleaming butt right in front of them.

Indeed, it was Lily's fault, not mine.

We continued doing that for three rounds, and then soaked back into the bathtub. With Lily on my lap, I held her from behind while she leaned against my chest.

Feeling Lily's touch all over my body was irresistible. Perhaps Lily was feeling lonely; she was leaning more heavily against me than usual.

Contrary to the aloof attitude I was faced against during the subjugation, the syrupy-sweet skinship worked in complete contrast, and my mental state was restored by 120%. We both enjoyed the passing time in silence, and then Lily spoke up.

"Haruki, were you more tired than usual today?"

"Yeah, just a bit."

"Why?"

"I was in a joint subjugation with a few parties today. We managed to hunt more than usual, but I got a bit mentally exhausted from talking to people I've never met before..."

"I see... Good job, Haruki."

Saying that, Lily rubbed her cheek against my shoulder and gently stroked my arm. Truthfully, I wasn't tired at all, but I silently enjoyed Lily's skinship.

After a short while, as if she just thought of it, Lily asked another question.

"Haruki, you're not forming a party?"

"Hmm... I'm looking for members... I guess."

I also wanted to form a party. Safety is incomparable when acting with a group compared to going solo.

When operating solo, suffering severe injuries often meant near-certain death, but with allies, it was much more feasible to overcome such situations.

When it comes to higher-grade healing potions, even injuries as severe as lethal wounds can be healed within 30 seconds. If comrades can buy me a short amount of time, not only will my life be saved, but I'll also be able to return to the battlefield immediately.

It was also highly appealing in terms of reinforcing our combat strength. If I teamed up with about five adventurers of my caliber, we could safely explore the deeper parts of Bigina Forest while maintaining a safety margin.

However, adventurers who met the criteria I was seeking were few. I had two conditions for those who would become my companions.

The first was that they should aspire to reach A-rank and possess the potential or strength to achieve it. They should surpass me in potential or be at least a B-rank upper-mid-level adventurer at the moment.

For a newcomer of C-rank, these conditions were probably too demanding. However, aiming for A-rank was no easy task. I didn't want my companions to die. That was the minimum requirement.

The second condition was that their reason for being adventurers shouldn't be overly noble. Parties with an aura like they were out to save humanity were absolutely not my style. I didn't want to be dragged into life-threatening situations just because they claimed that many people would be saved if we died.

People who aimed to become wealthy or were pursuing a harem, or individuals who valued their own lives in a materialistic way were preferable.

...Well, if we aimed for a harem, there could be an issue if our preferences overlapped with the women I liked. I had quite a broad strike zone. It wouldn't be funny if our party fell apart because of overlapping preferences, and I was left in the lurch. In the case of someone aiming for a harem, it would be preferable for them to be female adventurers or homosexual adventurers.

...Upon reflection, it was dreadfully despairing. At the very least, my own skills needed to be evaluated by those around me as at least upper-tier B-rank with the potential to reach A-rank; otherwise, forming a party wouldn't be feasible anytime soon.

Sighing deeply, I buried my head in Lily's hair to distract myself.