Dungeon of Lust: Managing Otherworldly Beauties

Chapter 220: Pillow Talk

"Uh, what are you doing?"

Greed sighed as she rested her head against Vale’s chest, their bodies snuggled under the comforter.

"Geez, can’t a girl get some aftercare?"

Vale looked down at the top of Greed’s head.

"Well, okay, I get that. But could you maybe... I don’t know. Release me?"

Vale tugged at the chain which strapped his arm the headrest.

Greed brought her gaze up. She stared blankly for a few moments, then said.

"Fine. But dare grab more than I allow, and you’ll regret it."

Vale whistled a quiet sight.

"I understand. I understand."

A moment later, the golden shackles disappeared. His wrists finally free once again.

After rolling out his arm and stretching, he put his hand over Greed’s shoulder and rested it on her back.

As he did, not even he could fathom what was going through her mind.

’Cuddling with a man she sees as an enemy?’

What sense was there to be made out of it?

But there was one thing he was certain of...

’She quite enjoyed it.’

That look on her face was quite telling.

Now, all that remained was seeing how this action impacted the deal; however, he knew better than to immediately get back to business after getting to business.

Vale began stroking the ends of her hair.

"Sylvia, if you could go back to your world — your old life — would you?"

Greed appeared momentarily perplexed, her silence hanging in the air. But eventually, she replied:

"The only thing I miss is anime, IG and Tock Tik. Honestly, I’d go back just for them if I could, but only in this body with this power. What about you, Valentin?"

Vale didn’t exactly understand what Greed meant, but decided to overlook it.

"Me? Well, I would say the threat of never knowing when you could die here is quite scary; though I realize that’s a moot point seeing that’s every day, everywhere, no matter what. However..."

Vale thought back to his ’mothers’ he left behind. As well as Madame Cendre who was getting up there in age.

"I see this situation as more of a blessing than a curse. So, I don’t think I’d return, even if I could."

Greed rubbed her cheek against Vale’s toned, yet soft skin.

"What a boring answer. An answer unbefitting quite the interesting man."

Vale smiled lightly as he relished the feeling of Greed’s tender skin against his. A feeling he didn’t know if he’d ever be allowed again. Especially after what he pulled.

"Grown fond of me, have you?"

Greed scoffed.

"As if. Your belligerence and resolve in the face of greater power is what makes you interesting. Not many in your position faced with me would walk out with a favorable position, let alone anything."

Vale chuckled as he stroked Greed’s fine hair, playing with each strand before letting it drop — the yellow shimmering like gold.

"Favorable position? From the way I see it, I’ve only managed to place some stopgaps to prevent myself from becoming your slave."

Greed rolled her head slightly and adjusted her arm.

"That position is much more favorable than the latter, no?"

Vale scratched his cheek,

"Well, I guess..."

He looked at the doorway, currently blocked by the golden cube.

"Sylvia... I’ve been wondering. As ’Greed’ why did you never collect the Aether shards in the Scar? You let me do it, but why? Why give me a bargaining chip? Was that you being partial? A test?"

Greed chuckled as she adjusted the comforter and slid her leg over Vale’s.

"Perhaps I’ll give this one for free. As a favor for pointing out my failure as Greed... But, once you become Emergent, you can no longer absorb Nascent shards."

’Huh?’

"And once you become Bloomed, you can’t even absorb Emergent shards. So, I let you take them, with the intent to get them back, of course. After all, once absorbed by the Dungeon Core the quality is stripped away to its quantity. Tradeable regardless of the rank it was acquired from."

Vale’s mind raced for a moment, considering all of the implications.

’That’s...’

That fact just made life on Pandora ten times harder. As he got stronger, getting stronger would only become harder!

It sounded redundant, but it was the honest truth!

Not only that, but it was the first time he’d been given an incentive to stay weak for longer.

Not that he would. Well, if he ever found a sense of safety, he would. But, not now.

He was much too weak to be greedy.

"I see. Thanks, Sylvia."

Greed chuckled at Vale’s words.

"You don’t have to keep trying to butter me up. I’ve already glimpsed too far into your psyche to know your true feelings."

’Ah, she noticed?’

Vale had been calling her by her name, trying to build a sense of familiarity so she’d be favorable toward him.

Greed smiled, then added:

"Though, in a way, I guess it worked."

Vale squinted.

"What do you mean?"

Greed shuffled around, then looked off toward the wall.

"For the first time since coming to Pandora, I feel satisfied with something I earned. And, while I don’t know how ecstatic I am that it was you who showed me my fault, but I can say I miss being able to interact with actual people."

"Uh. You’re welcome?"

"Thanks, Valentin. For showing me I’ve got some humanity left in me."

Vale peeked around and saw quite the odd look in Greed’s eyes. Her power was activated, but dulled. The flickering aura was dim, giving way to a stare of wistful longing.

And Vale...

Vale understood that look.

Though perhaps Greed was at fault for seeing her Champions as property and not people.

If she had, maybe she wouldn’t feel lonely and disconnected...

Not that Vale knew if that was how she actually felt, but for the first time since meeting her, Vale saw her.

He saw the girl hidden behind the mask of greed.

He saw Sylvia.