CHAPTER 12: THIRSTY DRUID

◉ Event: The White Mage’s Entrance

[Loading Scene Data...]

[Location: Bramble Region — Forest Outskirts]

[Objective: Prevent a Catfight Between Two Mages]

[Reward: C-Rank Potioneering Kit]

･･･

The tension between the two women was so thick you could cut it with a butter knife.

Merlin’s forehead was still pressed hard against the elf’s as sparks of mana fizzled faintly in the air.

Nero sighed.

『Okay... calm down. Deep breaths. Just separate them before someone casts Meteor.』

He forced an uneasy smile.

『This should be a piece of cake!』

He stepped in.

"Alright, that’s enough."

He grabbed both their shoulders.

One hand on Merlin’s, one on the elf’s.

And gently... he pushed them apart.

His grip was firm but careful.

The two women blinked, surprised.

Then—

"Mmm~♥"

The elven lady let out a small, throaty moan.

Nero froze. "...Huh?"

Her eyes half-lidded seductively as she smirked.

"My, my... such strong hands for a mage."

Nero pulled his hand away.

『WHAT KIND OF REACTION IS THAT!?』

Merlin’s expression darkened immediately.

She jabbed a finger at him.

"Nero. Why did you touch her?" (╬ Ò﹏Ó)

He blinked. "What? I was just trying to—"

"Oh sure, sure, trying to."

Merlin snapped as she crossed her arms.

"You didn’t have to touch her like that, did you?"

Nero’s left eye twitched.

"You think I planned that?"

"She moaned."

"She—! That’s not my fault!"

"Oh, it’s never your fault, is it?"

"Merlin, you’re being ridiculous."

"Am I? Or are you just shamelessly defending your new forest girlfriend?"

Nero pinched the bridge of his nose.

『Why in the world does every argument with her sound like a relationship fight!?』

He took a step back and raised both hands.

"Okay, listen. That’s not the point here."

The elf chuckled softly.

Her melodic voice still managed to seem smug.

"Indeed. Let’s not get distracted."

She placed a hand elegantly on her chest and smiled.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly."

That was when [Oracle Engine] went active.

[Character Data Unlocked]

[Name: Aldura]

[Title: The White Mage of the Forest of Dreams]

[Race: High Elf]

[Rank:

S-Class Druid / White Mage]

[HP: 9,850]

[MP: 23,100]

‣ Affiliation: Circle of the Dream Grove

‣ Skills: [Blessing of the Grove] [Nature’s Pulse] [Purity Field] [Lumen Rebirth] [Nymph’s Charm]

‣ Personality: Ambitious, sleazy, elegant, manipulative

Before Nero could react, Ardan stepped forward.

"Enough introductions."

The knight captain looked directly at Nero and Merlin.

"Aldura and her apprentice were the ones who reported the dragon sighting. She’ll be accompanying us."

Merlin’s eye twitched so hard.

"Ardan..."

Her tone sounded like a hissing snake.

"Why didn’t you tell me this sooner?"

Ardan’s jaw tightened.

"It wasn’t necessary at the time."

"Not necessary!?"

Merlin snapped as she threw up her arms.

"You know I can’t stand her!"

"Unfortunately... we need her..." Ardan said flatly.

"Then I’m no longer interested!"

Merlin turned on her heel, grabbed Nero by the hood and marched away.

"Come on. We’re leaving. I refuse to travel with—"

"Lady Merlin!"

Ardan barked.

"A village’s already been wiped out by that dragon. That’s where we’re going."

Her hand froze mid-pull.

Nero placed a hand gently on her arm.

"Merlin... let’s calm down. Let’s do the right thing."

She didn’t move.

Nero sighed as he lowered his voice.

"If you do, I’ll let you use me as your test dummy for your next ten spells... and I’ll get you ALL the alcohol you want this month."

Merlin’s violet eyes glimmered faintly.

"All the alcohol?" (￣_￣)

Nero nodded. "Every bottle."

Merlin hopped forward like an excited bunny.

"Deal." („• ᴗ •„)

Nero was so shocked he had to lean back.

『She agreed that fast!?』

Then again, Merlin was a simple creature.

She was definitely THAT easy.

"Good girl~"

Aldura said sweetly and flipped her hair.

"It’s only natural you’d follow us, considering you’re a magic-obsessed brute. I’m an elegant White Mage so I can’t be the one to slay the Red Dragon."

Her smile was dazzling.

Merlin twitched. "What did you just call me?"

"A brute..."

Aldura said proudly.

Then she gave Merlin a nasty head-to-toe look.

"An adorable one, at least."

And just like that—

"YOU—!"

The air exploded with magical pressure.

Merlin’s staff appeared in a flash of violet light.

Aldura’s blossomed into a glowing vine of white wood.

"Filthy nymph impersonator!"

"Wrinkled spell hag!"

"Nature pervert!"

"Mana hoarder!"

"Leaf brain!"

"Boob showoff!"

"Elf noodle!"

The knights and adventurers panicked as mana began sparking between them.

"Captain! They’re gonna blow!"

"MERLIN! ALDURA! STOP!"

Nero lunged in again, waving his arms like a madman.

"Please don’t nuke the place—"

"MOVE ALREADY!" Merlin shouted.

"Stand back, darling!"

Aldura said with a classy smirk.

Nero couldn’t believe his eyes.

『I’m surrounded by disasters in female form.』

Before either could fire, Ardan and three knights rushed in to physically hold Merlin’s horse steady while Nero grabbed both women by their wrists.

"ENOUGH!"

The shouting and glaring finally died down.

After that... was a long and painful silence.

[System Alert]

[Disaster Prevented: +100 XP]

[Merlin’s Envy +15%]

[Merlin’s Possessiveness +20%]

[Aldura’s Interest in You +25%]

[Title Effect: "Mediator of Madness" Unlocked!]

‣ You now gain +10% resistance to Female Aggro.

Later...

The group was once again riding along the dead road.

The knights rode ahead.

The adventurers followed behind.

And the mages... rode in between.

Merlin was a little farther up front, sulking.

"Ugh... my back aches..." (×﹏×)

She groaned like the old lady she was.

"And that useless student of mine didn’t even give me that pain lotion he promised."

She stretched to crack her spine with a satisfied groan.

Then she looked down at her breasts and sighed.

Her boobs were so big that they completely blocked her view of the saddle beneath her. All she could focus on was the way they jiggled and bounced like two soft, heavy pillows of flesh with every clip-clop of the horse’s hooves.

"Jeez, so heavy..."

And right in that deep, tight valley between them, a slick little bead of sweat was already starting to form, trickling down and making everything feel hot and sticky.

"Back in my younger days I used to be as flat as those elves... now I have to carry these everywhere."

She gently propped up her breasts.

"Tch. Whatever, I guess..."

Then she noticed the silence beside her and frowned.

"Huh?"

She turned her head.

No Nero.

"Eh?"

She glanced back—and froze.

There he was.

Riding right beside Aldura.

And laughing.

『Oh, you’ve GOT to be kidding me.』

Merlin’s lips twitched violently.

Her knuckles whitened around the reins.

She started growling softly.

"Elven slut... moss licker... twig witch..."

Ardan who rode beside her, cleared his throat.

"You’ve got a thing for your student, don’t you?"

Merlin blinked innocently. (゜-゜)...

"What? Why would I?"

Ardan smirked faintly.

"Then why the death glare?"

"I simply don’t want that snobby elven slut around my sweet, innocent student."

She huffed proudly, then began hugging herself.

"He’s hardworking, talented... so polite. Always helping me with my research, always listening to me ramble about ancient rune syntax..." (ᗒ⩊ᗕ)

Her voice softened, almost dreamily.

"Ahh, my darling Nero. Such a promising boy."

Ardan stared.

"I’m... moving up front."

He tugged on his reins and trotted away.

Merlin blinked. "Eh? What did I say?"

･･･

Meanwhile, at the back of the group—

Aldura smiled softly as her silver hair flowed like water.

"You’re quite an interesting one, Nero."

He scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"I’m just... trying to survive between you two."

Her laugh was soft and melodic. "That’s fair."

She leaned a little closer as the faint scent of wildflowers and honey surrounded him.

She smelled just like she looked.

Nero stiffened slightly.

『Why does she smell so nice!? This is dangerous...』

Aldura mildly cleared her delicate throat.

"So tell me, what are your hobbies, Nero?"

He blinked.

"Huh? Uh... magic study, cooking, reading, avoiding getting killed by my teacher—?"

She giggled like a forest sprite.

"Adorable. I love learning new magic too. Helping the sick. Brewing teas."

He smiled faintly.

"Yeah, that sounds... exactly like what I expected from someone like you."

With her sort of beauty and grace he was sure even kings were desperate to share a bed with her.

Aldura tilted her head as her lips curled impishly.

"Oh? Someone like me?"

"I mean... graceful, elegant, the whole noble thing."

She leaned closer. "I also like to indulge in sex."

"Eh?"

Nero blinked, half-laughing.

"I almost thought you said you like—"

"I did."

She grinned shamelessly.

"Why do you think Merlin calls me a slut?"

『...WHAT!?』

His jaw dropped.

"W-, Wait, seriously?"

She patted his head affectionately.

"You’re so innocent."

Then she smiled, almost wistfully.

"Druids in general are... free. We see intimacy as part of nature. To connect with another soul on a sexual level is sacred... not something to hide."

Her tone softened.

"I also have a duty to spread the teachings of the Forest of Dreams. The best way is to give birth to new druids who’ll protect the world’s balance."

Nero leaned away slowly.

"How... many... are we talking about?"

Aldura rubbed her stomach and bit her lip hungrily.

"None yet. I HAVE tried sex once. It was... painful... a little too scary for me."

Nero tilted his head. "How does that work?"

"It was about two hundred years ago."

She smiled gently.

"Maybe it’ll be less scary if the men look like you."

『DANGER LEVEL: MAXIMUM.』

She sighed dreamily.

"Still, I’d like to have at least fifty children before my womb gives up."

"FIFTY WHAT—!?"

"You heard me~♥"

Aldura subconsciously moaned out.

She slowly and eagerly caressed her flat stomach.

The more she stared at it, the thirstier she got.

"I want to feel that magical first spurt paint my cervix until my belly swells round. I want to be a walking shrine of fertility. I want to know the beauty of creating life. Picture it: me on all fours, sweat dripping off my nipples, roaring like an animal as a ten-pound boy stretches my sacred place into a gaping, throbbing hole. That burn... it’s everything."

She didn’t even know when her toes curled up.

[System Alert]

[Merlin’s Jealousy +45%]

[Merlin’s Affection +6%]

[Notice! The Event Flag — "The Druid’s Temptation" has been raised.]

Nero stared ahead at the horizon as the red glow of sunset stretched over the Bramble Region.

『I didn’t know druids were sluts...』

Somewhere out there, a dragon was waiting.

But between the two mages behind him, Nero was starting to think—

The dragon might be the least of his problems.