Lancer, soaking in the hot water, covered his forehead with his ice-made arm, trying to calm himself down. He found that doing so was quite effective. After all, after losing the direct source of temptation, it was not difficult for him to calm down with his self-control.
But just as he was about to get up, the sound of the bathroom door being pulled open suddenly came.
"Snap~"
Lancer immediately sat back down in the bathtub.
He hadn't been deaf to the footsteps before, but he didn't think much of it, simply assuming the opponent was just passing by. He hadn't expected the opponent to actually open the door.
However, he didn't have time to think about these things now.
Before, because of the bath, the long hair that usually draped over her shoulders was now pinned up, and it was the same now. However, what was even more eye-catching was her right arm blocking her front. A simple towel could not completely cover her mature body.
Just as a certain philosopher said, people are always very strange. When looking at a piece of white paper, they often notice the ink spot first before noticing the white paper itself.
At this time, Lancer felt that Ryouko Fueguchi, with most of her skin covered, was even more attractive than being completely nude.
His daze lasted only an instant before he quickly turned around.
"Ms. Fueguchi, are you drunk?"
After Lancer asked the question, he didn't get a response. Instead, he heard the sound of 'splashing' water, and then he felt a soft, cushiony object pressing against his back through the towel. The muscles on his body instantly tensed up.
Then he felt something rest on his shoulder.
"I don't know what being drunk is, but maybe I am drunk…"
Listening to Ryouko Fueguchi's murmuring behind him, Lancer attempted to turn around to help the opponent, at least to help her out first, but just at this moment, another soft whisper came into his ear, and Lancer wondered if it was his imagination, but it sounded like Ryouko Fueguchi was talking to herself.
"I never regretted refusing Manager Yoshimura's support, because I thought I could raise Hinami by myself, but after actually trying, I realized how difficult it was. Even if my Ghoul identity hadn't been exposed, the identity of a single mother still caused me endless trouble in the workplace. At that time, I also thought about whether I should find a man to raise Hinami with me… even if I didn't love the person…"
Ryouko Fueguchi's slightly low voice made Lancer fall silent.
Lancer had experienced countless setbacks in his life, and he had even hovered between life and death several times. Ryouko Fueguchi's so-called 'difficulty' was so ordinary, yet it left him at a loss for words.
"And then?"
In the end, Lancer could only awkwardly squeeze out this one sentence.
"Later? I did try to find such a man. He was a Ghoul in the 20th Ward, and he often went to the Manager's shop for coffee. I met him there. He promised me that he would raise Hinami with me. During the week or so we were dating, he did behave well and was even very attentive to Hinami, but after I refused his suggestion to have SEX with me, I realized that the opponent had no intention of being with me at all. He was simply interested in me and Hinami. Perhaps he thought I was like the rumors said?"
What were the rumors?
Did he even need to ask? The rumors that spread along with his 'Stud Lancer' moniker were self-evident.
'Ryouko Fueguchi, a Ghoul, resorted to allowing herself to be taken advantage of by the CCG Investigator Lancer to protect herself and her daughter, and even served the opponent with her daughter.'
This world is always more forgiving of men. Although Lancer reputation was bizarre, because of his impressive combat record and the fact that the incident was merely a rumor, Lancer did not suffer much substantive impact. But for Ryouko Fueguchi, who was raising her daughter alone, the impact was self-evident.
"I'm sorry…"
Facing Lancer apology, Ryouko Fueguchi shook her head, but the result was that she rubbed her face against Lancer shoulder. However, she didn't seem to notice the strange situation between the two of them?
"There's no need to apologize. Neither of us wanted what happened back then… And from a certain perspective, it was fortunate. At least I saw through the true nature of many people. That's much better than realizing it after leading Hinami into a trap. After all, what I'm looking for is a man I can truly rely on…"
Whether in front of Yoshimura or her daughter, Ryouko Fueguchi had always shown a feeling of 'soft on the outside, firm on the inside.' In fact, she had acted accordingly, raising Hinami all by herself, but in reality, she also longed for someone to lean on.
Ryouko Fueguchi was simply talking, but Lancer, who had been abstinent for a long time and could only rarely relieve himself with his right hand, felt his heart become increasingly chaotic due to the strange sensation behind him. However, what Ryouko Fueguchi said also made him feel sad for the opponent. This conflicting psychology made his state at this time extremely bizarre.
It was precisely this strange feeling that made him somewhat speak without thinking while his mouth was dry, for example —
"Ms. Fueguchi, do you think I look relatively reliable?"
Lancer regretted saying these words immediately after. He originally only wanted to make a joke to ease the strange atmosphere, but now that he said it, it sounded like he was implying something. However, what he didn't expect was that the opponent did not respond to Lancer words. Instead, she unconsciously tightened the arms that were originally wrapped around Lancer neck.
"No~ A young man like you, Lancer, who is full of mysteries, is not a good choice for entrusting one's life…"
The opponent's words made Lancer breathe a sigh of relief while also feeling a slight loss, but just at this moment, Lancer suddenly felt the somewhat rough towel behind him slip off, and at the same time, a softer sensation than before was transmitted to his mind through his back.
This undoubtedly made the long-abstinent Lancer reach MAX combat power instantly, and his voice also sounded somewhat dry.
"Ms. Fueguchi…"
"Although finding you, Lancer, might not be a good choice, I don't regret it. At least I know you are a good person."
Lancer hadn't expected to be given a 'good person card' at this time.
"Ms. Fueguchi, you are drunk."
Lancer finally made up his mind that he had to take Ryouko Fueguchi out, even if he had to take a glance. But just as he turned around, he saw Ryouko Fueguchi's eyes.
"No, at least I'm not drunk now, because I believe I won't regret it."
At this time, she was saying the exact opposite of what she had said before, but her expression was incredibly serious, but then her expression softened again.
"Please don't make me feel ashamed…"
It was only at this time that Lancer noticed Ryouko Fueguchi's slight trembling. Undoubtedly, the opponent's heart was definitely not calm in making this decision.
Past experiences had given Lancer a huge lesson, and that was not to avoid certain matters, because sometimes, being self-righteously 'doing something for others' good' ultimately resulted in hurting everyone.
Moreover, he glanced at his spear, which was brimming with fighting spirit…
He finally decided to follow his desire and gently hugged the opponent into his arms. Lancer could clearly feel the opponent's slightly trembling body instantly stiffen, then slowly soften until she was completely resting on him.
— — — — — —
Prosperity, democracy, civilization, harmony, freedom, equality, justice, rule of law, patriotism, dedication, integrity, friendliness. (Note: These are core socialist values from Chinese discourse, often used as placeholders for explicit sexual descriptions in Chinese web novels to bypass censorship.)
— — — — — —
The first round of fighting came to an end. Feeling the heat still lingering within her body, she couldn't help but look at Lancer, who was also panting, with somewhat hazy eyes.
Just as Ryouko Fueguchi said, a man like Lancer, who was full of mysteries, was not her optimal choice. She longed for a man who could give her daughter fatherly love, but reason is reason, and sensibility is sensibility.
Lancer rescuing the mother and daughter several times had long transcended the so-called 'responsibility'. Just as she said herself, in her opinion, Lancer was indeed a 'good person'.
If her initial intention was merely to 'repay a kindness', then feeling the opponent's tenderness after the wildness, she suddenly had an impulse for some reason, an impulse to continue this matter that should have ended here.
Perhaps it was because her eyes were too ardent that Lancer, who was resting, felt he had received a signal.
"Ms. Fu…"
"Call me Ryouko."
After saying that, Ryouko Fueguchi took the initiative to kiss Lancer lips again.
Under the onslaught of impacts that grew stronger one after another, Ryouko Fueguchi wanted to beg for mercy, but her sealed lips simply couldn't utter any words, finally turning into a whimper.
Ryouko Fueguchi at this time felt as if she had completely become a slave to desire.
— — — — — —
The bathroom floor was covered with water splashed due to their frolicking. Ryouko Fueguchi at this time was resting in Lancer arms, breathing softly.
And looking at Ryouko Fueguchi, who seemed to have fallen asleep in his arms, Lancer, who was in the 'Sage State', looked satisfied yet slightly helpless.
He did not regret his actions, because in his opinion, regret was the most meaningless behavior. What was the point of regretting something that had already happened? One could analyze previous mistakes, but all of this was for moving forward, not looking back and sighing.
The reason he felt helpless was that he didn't know how to handle the relationship with Ryouko Fueguchi. Given Lancer character, he naturally wouldn't do the kind of thing where he satisfied his desires and then denied the relationship.
Ryouko Fueguchi, resting in Lancer arms at this time, did not notice the change in Lancer expression. She was simply lying in Lancer arms, resting. The strong arms and chest, as well as the unique masculine aura on the opponent, fascinated her, and the tenderness after the wildness was also the same.
And just at this moment, Lancer suddenly spoke again.
"I will take responsibility."
The somewhat tired Ryouko Fueguchi looked at Lancer with some surprise. She originally wanted to say there was no need, but looking at Lancer serious expression, she instead complained softly.
"What an idiot. You are so gentle that bad women like me will cling to you…"
Although she was complaining, the smile on her face was even gentler, and Lancer only tightened his arms. Lancer, who was not good at talking, preferred to prove himself with actions rather than words.