-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: Gatekeeper (4)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Name."
"Selena Evangelin."
"Gender."
"...Female."
The fact that she revealed her gender right away meant her suspicion level was close to zero right now.
Seizing control from the start had been the right move.
"Age."
"I don't know... It's been so long since Anderson."
"I'll put down over 100 years old."
"Hmm..."
Selena's eyebrows twitched slightly at the mention of "over 100 years old."
- Screech... screech...
Selena started rocking her chair a bit more vigorously than before.
Probably because I'd applied heavy pressure from the outset.
She furrowed her brow, clearly displeased by the age question.
After that, the inspection proceeded smoothly, just like before. Finally, it came time for the tricky part: "type of goods."
📜 HIDDEN QUEST 📜
'End of 236 Years of Solitude'
📍 Objective: End Selena's inspection with suspicion level (0)
🎁 Reward: Hand of Abstinence
Last time, Selena had reacted sensitively to the carriage goods, aside from her age.
This time, I planned to pressure her differently.
The hidden quest mentioned a "suspicion level."
The game never showed characters' thoughts, but it did provide emotional logs.
Negative emotions were mainly displeasure, shame, and doubt—three types.
So, as long as "suspicion" hit zero, the other emotional levels didn't matter.
Rocking the chair seemed tied to displeasure...
That's why this time, I planned to raise other levels to lower the doubt.
"Miss Selena."
I stopped writing and spoke dryly.
"Before the next question, I have one request."
"...Pardon?"
Selena's ears twitched slightly, as if she had no idea what was coming.
"Please refrain from rocking the chair back and forth."
I pressed lightly on the edge of the desk. A small piece of wood chipped off easily, which I placed in front of Selena.
"As you can see, the furniture is old. I doubt the chair's durability can withstand your... build and weight."
"...That."
"It might break."
I gave her hips a businesslike glance.
Her full, plump rear made the generously sized chair look cramped. Flesh even spilled out between the armrests, as if it were too confined.
Look at that overflow.
Selena's face flushed red in an instant. Her ears trembled more violently than I'd ever seen.
"...Hoo... A-alright, I understand."
"Thank you."
Selena readjusted herself in the chair.
I withdrew my gaze and picked up the paperwork again.
Someone might call this sexual harassment...
But this was the medieval era.
A time so wild that this barely qualified as harassment.
I needed to check Selena's reaction for what came next.
Her response just now confirmed she saw me as a perfect soldier.
No slave feels shame under a slave's gaze.
At least, if she suspected anything, she'd show displeasure—like raised eyebrows—instead of embarrassment.
The businesslike actions and stare regarding the furniture had nailed home my image as a dutiful soldier.
"Resuming questions."
"..."
I picked up the pen again to continue.
Selena didn't respond.
She knew what was coming next.
"Type of goods in the carriage."
"...Potions."
Just like last time, Selena answered "potions only."
It lacked confidence.
Probably because the shame hadn't faded yet.
"Any other items besides potions?"
"Just potions."
Selena repeated that there was nothing else, same as before.
A lie.
"Then, apologies during inspection, but I'll check the goods first."
"...Huh?"
"I think I'll know it when I see it."
I shoved my chair back and stood abruptly, as if heading out right then.
I pocketed the pen and grabbed the paperwork.
"W-wait... just a moment!"
Selena shot up in surprise to block me.
Even that took a moment, her hips catching on the chair.
"Right, I need to do the body search before leaving. Thanks for reminding me."
"N-no, that's not..."
"Hands behind your back, face the wall. Body search first."
I set the paperwork and pen down again. Selena stood there, fidgeting helplessly.
"What are you doing? Hands behind, against the wall."
"...Uh, yes..."
Selena reluctantly followed orders.
After she turned, I opened her status window.
⚔ STATUS ⚔True Appearance Trust and affinity increase during conversations. Displeasure decreases during body searches. Negotiation success rate increases.
From last round's body search, I'd sensed Selena's displeasure barely rose during it.
It was instinct, but even her final remark hadn't spiked it as much as I'd thought.
The ability probably helped a lot.
And the effect of raising trust and affinity during talks.
Though not visible numerically...
Since I'd talked more with her this time, those stats were surely higher than before.
Trusting the prior effects and the "displeasure reduction during body search,"
I planned a more intense search this round.
Max out her shame to eliminate any room for doubt.
Closing the status, Selena flapped her ears while standing with hands against the wall as ordered.
"Commencing body search from the lower body."
"...Yes... Huh?"
- Flinch!
Selena flinched hard in surprise.
"Any issue? Stay still during the search."
"Ah... y-your hands are cold..."
"You'll get used to it soon. Bear with it."
Selena kept flinching, her palms apparently cold. This time, I boldly gripped her thigh.
"Those palms..."
"The imperial manual was recently updated. It states palm use is fine under the gatekeeper's judgment during searches."
"Uh..."
Selena seemed slightly shocked. In truth, palms aren't used for body searches—it's the back of the hand by rule.
Yes, the manual update was a lie too.
No matter how barbaric the medieval era, they wouldn't grope women with palms...
But Selena couldn't resist.
Stopping the search now and checking the carriage would only hurt her.
Telling the soldiers outside wouldn't help—if the goods were found, she'd end up in prison anyway.
Selena would get out quickly, no doubt. As the queen of the black market, escaping jail was child's play.
But she hated plan disruptions intensely.
She probably trusted I couldn't identify the goods.
Now, I had nothing to fear.
- Swoosh...
I swept down her leg in one motion. Her ears buzzed faintly.
- Flinch...
Selena started flinching again. Ignoring her, I continued stroking from thigh to calf.
The hut filled only with the friction between her flesh and my hands.
"C-could you go a bit slower..."
"Body search in progress. Bear with it."
Selena broke the silence of friction sounds first. I scolded her for making noise.
"No..."
"Be quiet. Moving to next area."
Selena seemed dissatisfied, but I cut her off.
- Thud.
I placed both hands on her rear.
- Flap flap.
As expected, her ears flapped in protest, but I ignored it.
Now I rubbed her rear methodically.
Wait, is this really a person's butt?
Selena's rear was violently ample—one adult man's hand barely covered it, with plenty left over.
I wondered if all elves were built for easy births, but refocused on my goal.
Maximize her shame to drop suspicion. No other thoughts.
"Hmm..."
"Keep your balance."
As I rubbed, her arms weakened, balance slipping bit by bit.
I paused to check her reaction.
- Flinch... flinch...
Selena flinched intermittently, enduring. I slowly withdrew my hands from her rear.
- Smack!
"Turn around."
"Eek?!"
I smacked her rear casually with my palm. The sudden impact drew a girlish squeak from Selena.
Over 200 years old, yet such a cute reaction to a single spank—like a total virgin.
Of course it was.
236 this year, a virgin elf with zero male experience.
"Clasp hands above your head."
Once turned, Selena glared at me, ears flapping.
What? So?
If there was a problem, my head would've been gone already. The ability was working fine.
I roughly swept over her front.
With her constant glaring, my previously severed neck ached, making it hard to focus.
- Flap flap.
Her ears never rested.
The motion had lessened since the start, but it never stopped.
So distracting from all the flapping.
- Grab.
I seized both flapping ears, one in each hand.
Even gripped, they thrashed wildly in my palms.
"Eeeeek?!"
Selena yelped louder than from the spank. Her body even jumped slightly into the air from shock.
Are elf ears that sensitive?
The game didn't let you touch ears, so I hadn't known...
Tears welling up from just grabbing them once?
Releasing her ears, she lowered her hands to cover and protect them.
Then she started glaring like she wanted to kill me.
What a temper. Fine, I'll stop.
This should be enough—suspicion was no worry now.
"Body search complete."
I informed Selena the search was over.
"Now, I'll grab the paperwork and head out. Fix your clothes and come out."
"Uh... Doesn't this mean you skip the carriage check...?"
"What are you talking about? A body search is just one procedure, not an exemption."
Selena wore a dazed, hollow expression. I grabbed the paperwork and stepped outside.
...
After a short wait, Selena emerged, clothes adjusted.
Her face looked fiercer than before, but probably just my imagination.
"Nothing there. Good work. You're clear to go."
"Huh?"
I waved her off to leave.
There were indeed things in the carriage.
But none of my business.
In the original story, she never caused national issues with them anyway.
Exposing it here would earn the wrath of the black market queen, Selena.
She'd pay a fine and walk free if caught by the empire, no doubt...
No need for a slave like me to take that risk.
The body search ensured she wouldn't hold a grudge anyway.
In short: do my job, keep suspicion at zero,
let her pass, and her affinity would actually rise.
Clear the quest, build favor.
Two birds, one stone.
What could be better?
But Selena didn't bolt right away. She asked me a question.
"...Is it really over?"
"Yes, go on through."
Shoo shoo.
Get going already.
Time to snag that innkeeper daughter's weakness.
Wait, son? Whatever.
No real need for leverage anyway... Still.
I avoided eye contact, checking papers. She bowed her head slightly.
"...Good work."
- Glance glance.
Selena gave her farewell but lingered, fidgeting.
Go already.
"Hurry up and go."
"A-alright."
Selena finally boarded her carriage and entered the village reluctantly.
Gone?
I returned to the hut.
⚙ HIDDEN QUEST COMPLETE ⚙'End of 236 Years of Solitude' Objective: End Selena's inspection with suspicion level (0) Reward: Hand of Abstinence
A pleasant notification filled my view right on cue.