An early morning.

Selena, who had woken up to prepare breakfast, was startled.

"Oh my, from inside my belly...?"

Was it due to the intense sex with Lucian yesterday? She sensed an unusual energy from her belly.

Soon, she formed a gentle smile. Stroking her belly, she said,

"From my womb... I feel the breath of life. Hehe, I’m happy♥"

An anomaly was occurring within her.

***

I barely managed to get up in the morning and ate. Lumina kept twitching her ears and looking around.

Just like a stray puppy.

I guess I should say something. Isn’t she used to living in a house?

"Lumina, this isn’t the forest. You can relax."

But Lumina’s expression was serious.

"No, it’s just that the atmosphere doesn’t feel right."

"Atmosphere...? Is some wind blowing?"

Our house is well-built, so there shouldn’t be any drafts.

"That’s not it... Ha, never mind. I feel like something’s going to happen today."

"Are you a prophet or something? Heu-eung, Lumina-chan, so versatile!"

"Hmph."

Actually, something was indeed happening today.

Because there was an important meeting at the Lord’s Manor.

After eating my fill and getting up, Aunt approached me with a bright smile.

"Son, actually, I also have a bad feeling about something. Can’t you not go out today?"

Aunt’s bright expression had turned so dark. As if dark clouds had gathered.

Aunt’s gaze even turned tender. As I received her gaze, I wanted to pounce on her right away.

’Ah, those lovely eyes. Even that gesture of subtly bringing her hands together. I want to lay her down and fuck her right now, shit.’

I licked my lips internally and shook my head. Anyway, I’m a Hero Candidate.

"Today, there’s a meeting with the Acting Lord about Amur Mamba. The Guard Captain will also be participating, and since I provided crucial information, I have to go."

"Hmm, then I’ll wait. Son!"

"Yes! Mwah!"

I gave a light kiss and left the house. For some reason, the weather was cloudy today.

As if rain would pour down at any moment.

Still, the wind blew coolly. It felt so good that I wanted to sleep in.

’If only the sun were shining brightly, it would be perfect for outdoor sex, sigh.’

I lightly stretched and headed towards the Lord’s Manor. I briefly greeted the guards, passed through the garden, and entered the office.

Upon arriving, I saw Alpa and Zara. The Guard Captain pointed to where I should sit.

I went and took my seat.

The atmosphere was quite serious. Which was natural, as it was a meeting to decide the fate of our territory.

Once I was seated, Fiora opened her mouth.

"We have located Amur Mamba’s base. Whether it’s their true base or a smokescreen, I don’t know. But the time has come to excise the cancerous tumor that has cast a shadow over our territory. Therefore, today, I bestow upon you the mission of excising the affected area!"

Her voice was dignified and resolute.

I was impressed by her unwavering breathing and speech.

She was like a commander ordering an all-out attack. Older women are the besttt!

’She’s really different from when we have sex, our Fiora Mama.’

I smiled inwardly and watched. First, the Guard Captain stepped forward and explained the overview.

"With Amur Mamba’s current location confirmed, we will head north...."

The Guard Captain expounded on the general tactics and the necessity of securing key strategic points.

These were words he often said while training us.

But hearing them now, they resonated even more. Usually, he’d just tell us to ’keep it in mind’.

But when he was serious like this, he seemed to explain things properly.

It certainly made sense. The base of an underworld organization, one that was rotting the territory from within, had been discovered.

We couldn’t leave it as it was. Even if it was a trap.

Zara also stepped forward and expressed her opinion. She was as beautiful as ever today. Her chest shimmered under the light.

’Everything she said was correct, but it’s not enough. I guess I’ll have to step up.’

The details were lacking. If we went in like this, we’d clearly be scattered like a disorganized mob.

I raised my hand and stood up.

"Amur Mamba is a force that emerged from the underworld. Their sphere of influence might even extend to other territories."

I looked around at the assembled group and continued speaking. This situation, with everyone focused on me, was so amusing.

"However, they are merely an unorganized rabble, not an elite force. There are only two dangerous individuals: the boss, Koldo, and his aide, Boldga."

According to the information I received, it was no exaggeration to say that Amur Mamba was run by these two.

It was a structure with few useful individuals, but their presence and power were formidable. Well, this isn’t the Three Kingdoms, so it wouldn’t make sense for a mere underworld force to be teeming with talented people.

So, I offered my opinion, aligning it with what I had always thought.

"I believe that if we gather our forces to draw their attention, and then take out their king and queen, we will achieve a swift victory."

I concluded firmly and sat down. I felt I had spoken well, just as I had imagined.

No, I wouldn’t make a mistake in the first place. Not with my title, that is.

"Oh, indeed."

"Lucian, such insight...."

"Perhaps it might be valid."

As everyone was admiring, a sound suddenly poured cold water on the mood.

"Pfft!"

It was Alpa. He was openly sending me a mocking gaze.

I wondered why this bastard was staying quiet. He let out a loud sigh, as if trying to get some attention.

"No, please live in reality, wannabe. This is real life, not a tactical game. Do you think the enemy will just play along if we do this? The wannabe acted like a wannabe, seriously. I feel like lording it over you."

"Alpa, shut up."

Zara said a word. Alpa was flustered, as if he’d been slapped.

"Y-yes, what?!"

"This is in front of the Acting Lord. If anyone is to criticize Lucian, it’s the Acting Lord, not someone like you."

At Zara’s stern words, Alpa’s gaze lost its direction and wandered. The Guard Captain also chimed in.

"Alpa, be grateful you’re from our territory. If this were a territory near the capital, a half-baked Runner Mid-stage like you wouldn’t even be allowed here!"

Alpa, who was not only criticized but utterly pulverized. It was true. It was laughable that a guy like him, who couldn’t even properly utilize the power of a Runner Mid-stage, was here.

As Alpa became flustered and his expression soured, Fiora, conversely, smiled contentedly.

She looked at me and gave me a smiling glance.

"Our Hero Candidate Lucian has a knack for strategy. Good, that’s a valid point. Then, I hope you will synthesize the opinions presented so far and put them into action. Guard Captain, I leave it to you."

"Yes, understood!"

In the end, it seemed my opinion was the crucial one.

The momentum was to crush Amur Mamba today. Did this mean they would carry out the plan today?

I felt unnecessarily nervous. I had been waiting for this day, but to think the day would actually come to stomp out those underworld thugs.

’Let’s do well. I need to distinguish myself here and become an icon of the territory.’

In sports clubs, there are ’franchise stars’.

They were symbolic players, to the extent that when you thought of the team, that player came to mind, and when you thought of that player, that team came to mind.

I needed to become such a presence. Recognition, after all, is applicable anywhere people live.

Even if they screw up, they get applause, and even if they make the same mistake, they get defended. Humans were such beings.

And I’ll use that to screw MILFs.

’There are no limits for the Debauched Hero!’

Thinking about the enjoyable things that would happen in the future almost made me laugh. I managed my expression.

Because no matter what, I didn’t want to look like a psychopath.

We all went outside. As we were leaving, Zara subtly approached me.

"Thank you." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Huh?"

What was she thanking me for? Zara smiled softly.

"What, I told you to speak comfortably."

"Ah, okay. Zara big sis."

"Anyway, thank you for helping my errand boy. He’s a really diligent servant."

"Oh, right. No, it was just the obvious thing to do. Someone was on the verge of dying right before my eyes, after all."

Perhaps pleased with my answer, Zara smiled brightly, holding her helmet under her arm.

Wow, when a woman like this smiles brightly, she’s really beautiful.

It was enough to make me stare blankly.

Her fair lips moved.

"Anyway, Lucian, you’re really unpredictable."

"Me?"

"Sometimes you seem to live however you please. Other times, you seem righteous. It’s strange."

To even be called a strange guy. Huh, that exceeds expectations.

"I’m not that good of a guy, though."

I spoke honestly. I’m not that good of a guy.

I just calculate, and if it benefits me, I’ll jump into a fire. I told you.

What’s important is an unyielding dick.

The Debauched Hero will ultimately be faithful to desire. Infinite desire, endless desire!

Zara nodded. Her dark silver hair fluttered before my eyes.

"I know. Who in the world is only good? Still, I like your diligence. And your persistence."

"Really?"

"You changed yourself, after all. From a bullied dwarf, to a proud Hero Candidate."

Zara put on her helmet and moved forward. I stared blankly after hearing her words.

She had seen everything. From the original Lucian to the current me.

And she acknowledged me. I thought she had no interest in me at all.

My heart pounded. She, moving forward, seemed to glow under the chandelier’s light.

Like a chosen Holy Knight.

’Quite impressive. If you show me a side like that, I’ll want to have you, won’t I?’

I already had her mother, Fiora. Having her wouldn’t be difficult either, but for now, let’s focus on this situation.

I can always build up to it later.

Stepping outside, other guards and available Hero Candidates were gathered.

"Yo, Lucian. Long time no see?"

"This bastard’s got a bright aura."

"I want to grow rapidly like Lucian too. So jealousss."

Meeting after a long time, conversations bloomed. The Guard Captain gave a short speech and then added,

"We will buy time, and I will call out those who will go to capture the main target and the sub-target."

Feint to the East, Attack to the West.

The idea was to draw aggro with soldiers in the east, then have a small elite force appear in the west to capture the boss and mid-boss.

I looked around. Alpa was confidently raising his nose.

The Guard Captain shouted.

"Lucian Vane, and Zara Ravenscoft. Forward!"

"Yes!"

Zara and I were called. Alpa began to shrug his shoulders and make a fuss.

"Huh? Wait a minute. What about me? Am I not here because I’m a top-ranked Hero Candidate too?"

"You’re top-ranked not because you’re competent, but because there aren’t many guys better than you."

"Deh?!"

"You just run errands for the privates!"

Alpa instantly became miserable. Everyone started laughing at him. He was always so confident, serves him right.

"Alpa, that idiot."

"Why did he even go study abroad at the academy?"

"The academic consensus is that he went to screw women."

"What’s the point of being a Runner Mid-stage if he can’t even properly utilize it? How embarrassing."

The Guard Captain looked at the two of us and spoke seriously.

"I will give you two a special mission. Please capture the main target and the sub-target. If circumstances don’t allow it, you may kill them."

He explained the strategy. After hearing the detailed plan, I was impressed.

This Guard Captain is surprisingly strategic.

Usually, NPCs in the protagonist’s starting village are just decorations.

This Guard Captain, however, was explaining the strategies and tactics in detail, like a head coach in a soccer team. So clearly that it stuck in my ears.

As if acknowledging the Guard Captain’s efforts, a quest even popped up.

『Urgent Quest - Capture Mamba』

◆It’s a Snakeee!

-Objective: Defeat Koldo.

-Reward: Your achievements will be known to the women residing in Ravenscoft, All Stats +5

-Failure: Forced Transgender Transformation

Good, it’s getting even hotter, isn’t it?

Zara and I moved after hearing the plan. Good.

Clench your teeth tightly, you Amur Mamba bastards.

Here we come!