GILF Hunter

Chapter 359 Effective Study Method

In a quiet corner of the peaceful lounge, Airi sat with a dark expression and let out a sigh.

’Whew...’

In front of Airi, a mountain of books and documents were piled up.

To an onlooker, it looked like a normal study session, but the problem was the content.

It would have been much better if it were the study of black magic. What lay before Airi now were materials related to the Labyrinth.

’So, the monsters of the Labyrinth are...’

Airi blankly read the contents of the thick book spread out in front of her.

What Airi was looking at was the information about the Labyrinth that Ian had collected so far, as well as the exploration records from the last time they had personally entered the Labyrinth.

All of it had been prepared by Ian for Airi’s sake.

Airi, the new member, had almost finished her adjustment period, and most of the mercenary group’s important tasks had been handled.

So, it was about time to start exploring the Labyrinth again.

Of course, before that, the priority was for Airi, who had never entered the Labyrinth, to study up on it.

For that reason, a dedicated time for Labyrinth study had been added to Airi’s daily routine not long ago.

’The source of monsters...’

Airi’s gaze began to wander as she read through data that didn’t register in her mind at all.

Telling her to study these things because they’d be entering the Labyrinth soon—it was serious slave abuse.

Airi lifted her head slightly while harboring such thoughts in her heart.

’....’

’...?’

Opposite Airi, Lia sat reading a book. She was there to help Airi with her Labyrinth studies.

It was only natural that no matter how much one reads what is written on paper alone, it doesn’t sink into the head easily.

Therefore, the members who had actually been into the Labyrinth took turns helping Airi study.

Their role was to sit with her, explain parts she didn’t understand while studying, and answer any questions she might have.

Sensing Airi’s gaze, Lia looked up. Airi, who had been glancing at Lia, flinched when their eyes met by chance.

Lia asked Airi, who was hurriedly turning her eyes back to her book.

’Why? Do you have something you’re curious about?’

’That is...’

Airi hesitated for a moment before carefully speaking to Lia.

’Are we... are we really going into the Labyrinth?’

’I think you asked that last time too.’

’Really? You’re not just doing this to tease me?’

’You saw the exploration report. The one with the Guild’s seal on it.’

Just as Lia said, it was something she had already asked once before. She just asked again because she couldn’t believe it.

Instead of answering, Lia pointed to the Ian Mercenary Group’s Labyrinth exploration report stamped with the Guild’s seal. It was clear evidence that they had truly been to the Labyrinth.

And it was also evidence that Airi would have to enter the Labyrinth together with them from now on.

Realizing the fact that she truly had to enter the Labyrinth, Airi’s expression darkened further.

...So there was a reason they intentionally bought a slave in a mercenary group like this.

Even without hearing her inner thoughts, Lia could hear that mumble from Airi’s expression.

Well... probably so.

Lia understood that feeling. Everyone had made a similar face when they first heard they were going into the Labyrinth.

Lia left Airi alone, thinking she would adapt well once some time passed.

From her own experience, once you entered the Labyrinth, you were bound to adapt one way or another just to survive.

’...Ah, Captain.’

’Hello. Were you studying?’

Hearing Ian’s voice, both of them turned their heads.

Ian, who had just entered the lounge, was approaching them.

’Is Lia looking after you?’

’Ah, yes. Since the others are all out...’

Ian checked the page of the book Airi had spread out.

Quite some time had passed since Airi began her studies, but her progress was still sluggish.

Well, it couldn’t be helped since the Labyrinth was a place difficult to understand with existing common sense and theories.

Moreover, Airi had always traveled alone and lacked experience entering dungeons, making it even more so.

Of course, there was a request where they entered a dungeon once before, but since it was with numerous exploration teams, it couldn’t be called a typical dungeon experience.

Furthermore, the most important thing called ’erosion’ is even harder to explain in words.

It fell into a domain that could not be understood without experiencing it firsthand.

Ian looked at Airi’s exhausted appearance and thought it was unavoidable.

Still, she couldn’t go in knowing nothing about the Labyrinth.

Finishing at least some of the study through theory like this would be for her own good.

Ian sat in an empty seat and said to Lia.

’I’ll look after her, so Lia, go get some rest.’

’The Captain? ...Okay. Shall I do that then?’

Lia was about to say she was fine, but then she thought it might actually be better for Ian to teach her, so she nodded.

After all, learning about the Labyrinth from Ian would be the most efficient way.

Accepting Ian’s suggestion to rest, Lia went up to her room, leaving only Airi and Ian at the table.

’....’

’....’

Airi, who was blankly watching Lia go up the stairs, realized Ian was looking at her and hurriedly turned her gaze back to the book.

’Is there anything you don’t quite understand?’

’Ah, no...’

Airi, having answered Ian, stared down at her book in silence.

’....’

A long silence followed.

Ian was reading a book while waiting for Airi to have a question, then he lifted his head slightly.

Airi, who had been secretly watching Ian, met his eyes. Startled, Airi quickly looked away.

Airi’s book was still on the same page she had been looking at in the beginning; no progress had been made at all.

’The book is a bit difficult, isn’t it?’

’Eh, well. I’m having trouble concentrating...’

Receiving Ian’s question, Airi answered hesitantly.

It wasn’t just a matter of trouble concentrating; she couldn’t focus at all. It was because sitting alone with Ian made strange thoughts keep popping up.

Even if she focused her eyes on the book and read the sentences, nothing entered her head.

Airi’s mind was currently filled with thoughts of kissing.

’....’

Airi, who was agonizing, glanced at Ian while gauging his mood. The conversation she had with Ian before came back vividly.

He definitely said it was okay to tell him whenever she wanted to do it...

Since she believed Ian was at least not a person who made empty promises, Airi, after agonizing for a long time, finally spoke cautiously.

’Captain!’

’Yes?’

Having summoned her courage to call him, Airi, surrendering her body to desire and temptation, made a demand of Ian in a firm voice.

’Well, could you... could you kiss me...’

’....’

Airi, unable to endure Ian’s brief silence as he raised his head, added a few words as if making an excuse.

’Ah, well. I-I think I could concentrate better if you did. Since you told me to tell you anytime before...’

’I understand.’

Hearing Ian’s nod of agreement, it was Airi who was surprised and backed away instead.

’Yes? R-really?’

’You’ll be able to focus on your studies after we’re done, right?’

’Ye, yes!’

Hup—.

As soon as Airi finished answering, before she even had a chance to prepare her heart, Ian’s face came close.

Their lips overlapped, and in an instant, their tongues intertwined.

That sensation that kept popping up whenever there was a chance, and sometimes even appeared in her dreams.

Feeling it again in reality, something that made her body tremble just by thinking about it, Airi felt as if all her strength left her and she was about to collapse.

A chilling pleasure flowed down her spine.

To think she could feel such a good thing so simply just by asking.

A belated regret blossomed in Airi’s mind.

Ian had said she could tell him whenever she wanted to, but she had been agonizing until now because she didn’t know if it was really okay to ask at any time.

Gauging the surroundings. Gauging Ian’s mood.

Just how many times had she wondered whether it was okay to speak or not, only to eventually miss the timing and give up and turn away?

It was such a simple matter that it felt foolish to have agonized over it when she could have done it this easily.

’Haah...’

Airi stuck out her tongue with a dazed face. The sensation of lips and tongue as soft as if they would melt entwined in her mouth.

And after a moment, Ian’s lips pulled away.

It felt like a few minutes had passed, but to Airi, it was all too brief.

’Ah...’

Airi licked the saliva trickling from her lips with a regretful expression.

After a slight hesitation, Airi spoke while gauging Ian’s reaction.

’Ju, just a little more...’

’That’s all for now.’

But Ian shook his head firmly and pointed at something.

When Airi turned her head toward the direction Ian’s finger was pointing, there was... the book.

Ian spoke while pointing at the end of the page Airi had been reading.

’If you finish studying up to here, I’ll do it again.’

’Once the study is finished... again?’

If it’s just the page that’s currently spread out, it’s not that much volume.

Airi swallowed hard while looking down at the book.

’Yes. If there’s anything you don’t understand, I’ll let you know, so just ask.’

’Ye, yes...!’

Airi nodded and turned her gaze back to the book.

Airi’s eyes, which had been unable to focus at all since she started studying today, sparkled.

Airi finished 7 pages that day.