Chapter 33
The initial exploration began by adapting to the magical energy filling the dungeon.
Intense magical energy intoxicated living creatures and corrupted their minds.
There were even stories that, if you weren't careful, the dungeon would swallow you up and turn you into a monster.
We advanced carefully, figuring out how the traps had been laid.
Whenever monsters burst out and we encountered them, we dealt with them.
It was also essential to find the correct path so the party wouldn't simply go around in circles.
Sniff, sniff. Sniff, sniff.
“This way. There are two hobgoblins among them, so I'll go on ahead.”
My duties included stepping in to smash things when strength was needed and finding the way.
They ranged from counting the monsters placed around us to identifying mimics among the treasure chests.
“This chest won't do. It smells like a living creature.
Blocked passages don't let air through, so the flow of scents is different as well.
Once even my sensitive tail fur detected the flow, things became much easier.
“Wow~ Miss Aris! You're handling both the vanguard and pathfinding all by yourself? Identifying that mimic gave me goosebumps!”
“I never expected you to be this dependable. Amazing, Miss Aris.”
Livnil and Griff praised me every time I accomplished something.
Thanks to that, my confidence surged, and I was able to do well.
“Lady Chris, are you all right?”
“Huh? Yes… No problem!”
Chris, on the other hand, looked extremely tense, so I spoke to her whenever there was an opening.
Fortunately, she adapted and kept up with us.
However, I did run into trouble too.
“Master. There isn't a path….”
Whenever a path appeared that I couldn't find with my five senses, I relied on Claude.
If there was no physical path, it meant that magic was blocking it.
Sometimes, a path would only open after we solved some kind of trick.
“This wall is fake. Everyone, please move back.”
We found hidden doors with magic, or Griff solved the tricks and opened them for us.
We were able to advance smoothly.
“Let's camp here.”
Finally, time for a rest!
We cleared the nearby dangers and secured a spacious area.
In a closed dungeon like this, with the sky blocked off, it was difficult to tell the time of day.
So resting and sleeping at regular intervals helped keep the party going.
We were able to measure the time with a peculiar item Claude possessed.
“Is this a magical item?”
“Yes. It measures the amount of sunlight outside. It can even distinguish between an overcast day and night.”
Claude said that before entering the dungeon, he had installed a beacon linked to a high location outside.
Everyone nodded at the fascinating object.
We cooked the food we had brought and ate it with relish.
The water Claude made with his magic was useful in all sorts of ways.
“As expected of a mage! The water is especially amazing, even more than combat and everything else!”
“Not having to carry heavy water with us must be the most revolutionary part of this exploration.”
“It's nothing special. If you need it, I can make water for washing as well.”
From drinking water to water for washing, the amount he made was staggering.
“Is it really all right to make this much?”
“Don't push yourself too hard. It's only the first day. What will we do if you can't get up tomorrow?”
But Claude said that this amount was no problem for him at all.
Confidence was a good thing, but this was a real expedition. I was worried about him.
“Master. Please rest now. Just tell me if you need anything, and I'll take care of it.”
“Listen to Miss Aris. It's not as though you're the mage who filled Clodeni Lake in one go.”
The western region of Iblis had once suffered from a terrible drought.
Even the enormous lake had dried up, but a certain mage had solved the problem in an instant.
It was a legendary tale that always came up whenever people talked about water magic.
“That's right. I'm that Claude of Clodeni—the Mage of the Lake.”
“Huh? Really? You're that legendary mage?”
“Yes. That's me. Believe it~or not.”
Claude spoke as though he were making a joke.
After hearing that, Griff laughed and scratched his head.
Clodeni Lake.
For a legend, it had actually happened only six years ago.
“Come on~ Are you making a pun because Clodeni and your name sound alike? The lake must have been named long before you were born, right?”
“That's true. I suppose I was influenced by the similarity to my name. Perhaps thirty percent of the reason was my name.”
“Are you serious? Mr. Claude, can you flood the entire dungeon?”
The joking kept the atmosphere during our rest relaxed and natural.
It was now time to sleep for tomorrow, so we decided to take turns standing watch.
“No, everyone. You don't need to treat me specially!”
“Well, we're worried. Lady Chris should take the first watch.”
“Uuuh….”
From a combat perspective, leaving Chris by herself would definitely be dangerous for the entire party.
Having her take the first watch was an excellent decision.
For the second watch, everyone pointed at me.
They said that since I had been so active today, it would be best for me to get a good rest.
“Is it all right if I go to sleep before you, Master?”
“It's fine. This is a real expedition, after all. Maintaining your condition is the most important thing.”
So we spread out our bedding according to our assigned areas.
The place we had chosen to camp was a large, square-shaped room.
There were two doors, one to the east and one to the south.
Claude and I spread our bedding in the south, while Griff and Livnil took the east.
It was so we could respond from each of our positions.
The person on watch was assigned to observe both locations from the center.
“Which watch are you taking, Master?”
“I'm after Aris. Then Griff. Livnil will be last.”
It seemed they had arranged the shifts with consideration for the women.
Men did have a physical advantage, but our men were an archer and a mage.
Wouldn't Livnil and I have much greater stamina?”
“I'll stand watch for your share too, Master. You worked hard today, didn't you?”
“What are you talking about? There's no need for that at all. Now~go to sleep, okay?”
I fell asleep in his arms while he stroked me.
After sleeping for a little while, I got up again.
“Lady Aris…! Lady Aris…!”
How much time had passed? Beep-beep—beep-beep—an unfamiliar sound rang out.
And Chris was waking me up.
“Mmm… Is it time?”
“Yes. Are you very tired? I can stand watch longer!”
“No. I'll stand watch, so you should rest, Lady Chris.”
I tried to get up, but Claude was holding me tightly and wouldn't let me go.
What am I supposed to do about this…?
“M-Master…? Please let go.”
But he remained still with his eyes closed.
I didn't know what to do. Waking him felt a little wrong, so I twisted my body and tried to slip free.
“Ah, ah…?”
Just as I was slowly slipping away, he suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.
This was really troublesome… Chris was waiting for me.
“Master… I'm sorry. I have to go.”
“Aris. I don't want to let you go….”
I wanted to keep sleeping like this too, but it couldn't be helped, could it?
I wasn't sure whether Claude was acting spoiled, but now wasn't the time.
“It's time for the night watch. It's for everyone's sake.”
“Then let's go. I'll stay by your side.”
Claude also got up, still fumbling sleepily.
Together, we went to the chair where Chris was sitting and finished handing over the watch.
“Mr. Claude, are you all right? It isn't your turn yet!”
“I'm fine, Lady Chris. Go get some sleep.”
“Yes! Take care, both of you, and good luck!”
Chris had prepared a place beside Livnil over there.
I watched until she returned and lay down, so now it was time for the real night watch.
Of course, there was no need to do anything especially important.
All I had to do was stay alert and check whether anything strange was approaching.
But I was certain that nothing would appear yet.
Every monster that appeared in this place gave off a terrible smell, after all.
Honestly, it would probably be fine if no one stood watch and we all slept.
Even while asleep, my nose was constantly surveying the area around us.
“Aris. Come here.”
“Master, aren't you tired?”
Claude sat down in the night-watch chair himself.
Then he spread his arms, wanting to hold me.
Incidentally, this chair was something Claude had pulled out of his spatial inventory—or something like that.
“I'll sleep like this. Wake me when it's time.”
“Really… I'm not going anywhere, Master.”
“When I'm holding Aris, you smell nice, so I can sleep well. Please.”
“Hmm….”
If he was asking that earnestly, I couldn't refuse.
“How would you like me to be held? My butt? My breasts? What do you want?”
“Hmm… Both your butt and your breasts. Hold me facing forward.”
My Master was quite greedy. I nestled into his arms and pulled his shoulders toward me.
I rested my chin on his broad, massive chest and watched the surroundings.
“Master. Go to sleep.”
He began kneading my butt with his left hand.
His right hand grasped my breast. I couldn't tell whether he was trying to fall asleep with his eyes closed.
“Yes, I'll sleep. Aris, don't stay so tense. Relax.”
Claude was probably using some kind of magic in real time.
His heartbeat was faster than usual, and the scent of his magical energy was stronger.
“Really… even though everyone else is here….”
I could understand touching me, but putting his hand directly inside my clothes to touch my breasts was another matter….
So throughout the night watch, I couldn't move while being held in his arms.
Claude's touch was gentle and ticklish.
He didn't touch my nipples directly, instead kneading my areola and the areas around it.
My nipples were already hard, but he wasn't touching them, so it felt a little strange.
I subtly moved my upper body and rubbed my nipples myself to ease the sensation.
And time passed.
Beep-beep—beep-beep—beep-beep—!
Claude's clock rang, announcing that the night watch was over.
He still had his eyes closed, so I couldn't tell whether he was asleep or not.
His hand was still touching my breast, after all.
Should I leave him like this? Rather than wake him, I decided to keep watch a little longer myself.
I wouldn't have minded if he touched me a little more roughly, but I wanted to stay like this….
“Aris. Why aren't you waking me?”
“Sleep a little longer. I'll stay like this.”
“Go to the bedding, Aris. Sleep for a while and wait there.”
Claude said that as he opened one eye and looked at me.
I met his gaze and nodded.
“Thank you for listening. Now, go.”
He gave my breast one final firm squeeze before letting go.
Honestly, I had told him he could touch me as he pleased, and he really was touching me without restraint.
I straightened my top and returned to my bedding.
Claude had said it himself.
He had told me to ‘wait’ while I slept for a while.
He wasn't telling me to sleep soundly until morning, but to wait for him.
“Could he want to do it here while everyone else is asleep…?”
Like last time, Claude seemed to be the sort of person who enjoyed thrills.
If he really intended to do it, I should ask him to use magic that could block the scent.
I returned to my place and covered myself with the blanket.
The blanket I chose was Claude's, not mine.
I would get ready while breathing in his scent.
I slipped my hand inside my pants and touched the breasts Claude had warmed up.
Thinking only of him, I began to masturbate.
Rub, rub. Stroke, stroke.
Were there any other Wolpis besides me who worked themselves into heat this often when they weren't in heat?
“Ngh…♡”
I hoped Claude's night watch would end soon.