Chapter 513: Arrival and Tenderness

"Mm?"

That evening at dusk.

Rod had just returned from the Dusk Hills, and at a glance spotted two familiar figures outside the Bai Yu district.

One was a little larger than an ordinary human woman; a leather cuirass clung tightly to every inch of her upper body, setting off curves that were bold and sleek.

Below the fauld at her waist was a powerful serpent's tail, its scales glittering like gemstones, radiating an innate mysterious and elegant charm.

The other had a pair of dog ears drooping on top of her head, soft fur, and a tail behind her that swayed gently with her mood.

Her clothing was mainly practical — a light leather vest on top, high-waisted trousers below, perfectly outlining her long legs and the curve of her hips.

The land naga Eve and the dog-kin Sharon.

How did these two end up together?

He saw the two of them stopped at the edge of the forest, blocked by the ghoul Pan Ni and her undead guards.

The dog-kin Sharon was fine — the ghoul Young Lady knew her, so she wasn't stopped.

The main issue was the other one.

Although the land naga Eve had come to the forest, at the time, to avoid being exposed in front of those desert naga who had defected in the Death Desert, Rod had been helping her hide here and there, so she had never actually met the other girls.

Pan Ni was the first to spot Rod.

Her eyes lit up, and she immediately shouted, seeking credit: "Master! Pan Ni has once again intercepted two scoundrels coveting Master's body!"

Sharon said, displeased: "What do you mean, two? Don't you know me?"

Eve's face went cold as she crossed her arms, the slight lift pushing her bold curves into even sharper relief:

"You brainless thing crawled out of some crypt — I kill over a hundred of your kind every year."

Rod first smiled at Eve.

"You're here."

"Go on, tell this watchdog ghoul who I am to you."

"From a woman's perspective, you two are in the same position — all three of us here are the same."

Rod spread his hands, very blunt.

"What?!"

Eve was greatly shocked. "With this dog-kin, I had a hunch when we shared that 【Long-Distance Transmission】, but even a ghoul — you too?"

"What's with that 'even a ghoul, you too'? Master dotes on me plenty too, you know!"

Pan Ni said, unhappy.

Then she giggled foolishly as she came to Rod's side, hugged his arm, and pressed herself tightly against it between the eight-character marks.

The weather had warmed, so she had immediately started wearing less tightly fitted clothes; her pale, faintly bluish chest and collarbones were faintly visible through the fabric.

"Right, Master?"

Eve's face was full of distaste. She looked at Pan Ni's body brimming with negative energy, then back at Rod.

She said coldly: "Don't you ever touch me again!"

Rod paid the two of them no mind.

He looked toward Sharon, whose tail was wagging happily back and forth on the side.

That Eve was coming over, he had known for a long time.

A few days earlier, she had just finished constructing her White Dragon War Soul, and had started bragging every day over the 【Far Voice Chain】 about how she had intimidated so-and-so today, and sent so-and-so flying and beaten them into submission yesterday.

Yesterday, when she heard that the Mage Control Union's transmission fees had skyrocketed, she even said she wanted him to reimburse her.

Though she wouldn't admit it, honestly it was quite like acting coy.

After the Axe Beach trip and linking up with the 【Far Voice Chain】, this one had clearly become clingier with Rod.

Whenever she had time or not, she loved asking Rod what he was doing.

But Sharon was different.

The original plan had been for Rod, the halfling Lily, and her good friend Dimia to go pick her up together.

"Why did you come back on your own? I said I'd come get you."

"Hah, wait for you? I walked here on my own just fine."

Sharon didn't give him a pleasant look, giving a cold snort.

"You look a bit thinner — were you bullied in Faye?"

Rod hugged her with tender affection, but she wriggled free.

The little dog-girl glanced at Pan Ni and Eve, still arguing, then grabbed Rod's hand and bit down hard.

Gnaw, gnaw, gnaw.

Her dog tail immediately started wagging furiously.

Unlike Pan Ni's bite, which was like a real mouthful of meat, hers was much gentler — more like a puppy affectionately playing with you.

"I don't need you to worry! Mind your own business."

"What are you saying? How could I not worry about you."

Rod had more or less guessed it by now.

This one didn't want him to worry, and she seemed to think the matter in Faye was a big hassle — she hadn't even intended to let him get involved.

That's why she came over early on her own.

After Sharon had gnawed on his hand to her heart's content, she grabbed Rod's clothes and tugged him over, burying her clean, pretty little face into them.

The sound of deep, snuffling breaths came through.

"…Missed me that much? Come to the farm's villa tonight, I'll show you something new."

Rod laughed.

"Just that big party? Heh, I'm not going. Dimia told me you're no different from a ruthless breeding bull now."

The dog sneered coldly.

Then it suddenly lunged and licked his chin with a slurp.

"I'll stay at Dimia's place for now; I'll come find you when I can't take it anymore."

"I think you can't take it right now, hugging and licking in public like that."

"Then get lost."

The voice immediately drew Pan Ni and Eve's attention.

Eve glanced coldly at the two embracing; the Naga's monogamous mindset made her deeply uncomfortable seeing such a scene.

Although she still believed her relationship with Rod was merely a simple transaction.

She stiffened her face and pulled the two apart.

Forcing herself to sound arrogant, she said, "For this period, I'll sleep in your cabin; let that succubus go stay somewhere else."

Pan Ni explained from behind, simultaneously pledging loyalty: "Senior Tally and Master have fallen out, so she's not staying in the cabin anymore. Pan Ni wouldn't do such a stupid thing; I am the one who is eternally loyal!"

The land Naga Eve paused for a moment.

Then she suddenly understood, looking at Rod with praise and satisfaction.

"You knew I was coming, so you specifically kicked her out and left the spot open for me, right?"

"Well, you could say that."

"You know your place; letting you accompany me properly tonight isn't out of the question."

Eve's mood instantly improved greatly, and her obedience even increased slightly.

That night.

Eve was tormented until she flipped onto her back like a dead snake.

At the start, this fellow was truly stubborn-mouthed, saying things like, "Serving me is your honor," and "Although you barely qualify for my favor, don't get too cocky."

By the end, she couldn't take it anymore and began begging for mercy in a humble, submissive tone.

Perhaps because this was Rod's home turf, and with no succubus to relieve pressure these past few days, he went a bit too far.

Eve was tormented straight into tears.

In the second half of the night, Rod held her and coaxed her until she finally recovered.

Then, remembering nothing of the lesson, she immediately started being stubborn-mouthed again.

Naturally, she couldn't escape another round of discipline.

Busy until morning, Eve found her body so weak she couldn't even stand steadily, so she simply stayed in bed to rest.

Coincidentally, Tally came knocking on the door asking for breakfast.

She hadn't eaten all day yesterday and was truly starving.

She didn't care that Rod might have exhausted his supplies after last night's battle.

As soon as she entered, she saw the Naga lazily sprawled on the bed.

Two lumps pressed against the bedding, deformed and spreading outward, unable to even cover her back.

Full of lewdness.

This was originally my spot.

Tally felt like crying but had no tears.

What made the succubus even more distressed was that her exclusive pillow, embroidered with the word "Hard," was resting against the side of that bitch Naga's face.

And there were plenty of wet stains!

Waaah...

The feeling of having possessed something and then losing it was too unbearable.

Tally cried while eating her breakfast.

Because today she was eating while sitting.

And on the fur sofa, so Rod could see her face directly.

Helplessly: "What now?"

"Tally will never be naughty again, waaah..."

"Heh, we'll see about that."

The unpredictability brought by the demon bloodline is deeply ingrained in the bones; unless struck by a major mental shock from a significant event, it is difficult to change under normal circumstances.

Rod wasn't very optimistic.

Besides.

Actually, this kind of "ignoring and leaving her be" play is quite interesting; at the very least, Tally's expressions and actions will be noticeably more eager and flattering than usual, making it a good flirting tactic.

"Keep it down."

Eve on the bed lazily scolded.

The ranger's cabin wasn't large; the living room and bedroom were almost the same place, separated only by a small screen.

Saying this.

She flung the "Hard" pillow off her head, saying, "Smells like a succubus."

Then she pulled Rod's pillow over, hugged it tightly to her chest, and, smelling the familiar scent, finally lay down properly again.

As for the two people's behavior on the fur sofa.

Ignore it.

At best, that's just feeding behavior, different from what happens between her and Rod.

At least, that's what Eve thought.

"Oh right. Human, can you link one of those 【Far Whisper Chains】 for my mother too?"

"…What's wrong?"

"She's been a bit absent-minded ever since she came back from Axehead Beach, and she's been obsessed with meditation practice. I'm a little worried about her."

"It can be done, but the thing has to be cast on the spot."

Mm.

He wondered what expression Eve's mother Lady Lilian would have upon receiving that letter and the spirit seed.

Rod personally didn't feel much guilt.

Lady Lilian had suffered serious injuries; her body was parched, and over time that had taken its toll.

A session of clearing her meridians would actually be beneficial for her.

With the help of the spirit seed, it wouldn't be long before she could step into the upper tier of seventh rank.

Besides—

Unlike his other girls, Lily was the type who, off-stage, was a warm-hearted good auntie, but once she got into it in the act, she'd squeeze him dry like crazy.

Quite the contrast, too.

In less than a month apart, Rod had already started to miss her.

"Oh, then once this matter is over, give me a cutting from that emerald tree. I'll take you to Mirror Desert as a guest and show you our Naga palace!"

Eve was still harping on about taking Rod to play in Mirror Desert.

Counting the previous time, this was already the second mention.

For her personality, she was being a bit overly eager.

Rod seriously suspected that while she wanted him to come play, she also wanted his help to unify Mirror Desert.

"Master~"

Tally, slightly displeased, turned his face toward her.

The succubus was gradually getting into the mood and had stopped crying.

An exaggerated, excited pink glow shone from her eyes, mingled with pleading.

"One meal a day isn't enough anymore. Please, Master, when you do it, look at Tally more and give a little more love."

"…"

Alright then.

The tear tracks on the succubus's face hadn't even dried; she really did look pitiful.

Rod found he couldn't quite bring himself to give her the cold treatment either.

Besides, later he still needed Tally's help to fake a scene of 'Forester Rod' being attacked by the white dragon.

A little coaxing now wasn't out of the question.

Thinking that—

Rod pulled her into his arms and kissed her tenderly.

Before he could speak—

Tally was already trembling all over with excitement, the pink glow in her eyes flaring brightly.

Down below was the same.

Then her eyes rolled back and her waist and back arched sharply.

"…"

(End of chapter)