Carlson.
His name was Carlson. He had a belly that jutted out like a pig's, and hands the size of pot lids, a violent temper that made him hit women, and a thoroughly pathetic personality that ended things the moment he got his way.
He had once been well-treated as an official in the capital, but after clumsily demanding bribes, he was demoted and now lived in a rural village, drinking on others' tabs by boasting about his past glory. The best thing he'd ever done in his life was marry his beautiful wife, Isabel, when she knew nothing.
And even now, it was making sure she couldn't escape, forcing her to say she loved him.
People called him a man who wouldn't die peacefully, or a pig with an annoyingly protruding belly, and about half the villagers didn't even know his name was Carlson.
Describing his daily routine was easier than listing his flaws. Every morning, he'd go to the tavern or the village hall, drink, and talk about his old days or brag about how beautiful his wife was.
It was like a little kid who accidentally saw a woman's breasts explaining what they looked like to other kids; his descriptions were vulgar and lewd, lacking any respect for his wife. After a round of dirty jokes and gossip about neighboring villages, Carlson would declare he'd eaten well, treat himself, slap the local bigwigs on the back, and demand they cover today's bill.
Stumbling home drunk, he'd be greeted by his obedient wife and a rather beautiful maid, beat up his slave, Evan, thoroughly, and then happily whisper sweet nothings before going to bed.
At least, that's what Carlson believed.
Lately, Carlson's face was gaunt, but his life satisfaction had doubled. This was because every night when he returned home, Isabel provided him with amazing 'service' that made his life enjoyable.
Of course, all those fantastic moments were illusions created by Evan, but Carlson believed they were real experiences. He thought his current weight loss was due to his 'vital energy' being drained by those intense sessions.
There's a saying, isn't there? Even a strong man will waste away if he meets a succubus.
"So, yesterday, my Isabel, you know. She danced naked in front of me, tempting me. She kept saying she couldn't live without my... thing. She begged and pleaded so much. I'm going crazy from exhaustion these days."
"Oh my, that's amazing. I'm truly envious. My wife? If I just poke her side in bed, she throws a fit. After popping out three kids, she asks if I want another? Those brats just laze around even when they're grown. If I hadn't taken my second son into the mansion, he'd probably still be gambling. But Carlson-nim, your child is so full of life, they say he's top of the class at the Academy?"
"Huh? Uh, yeah. My daughter. Whoever she takes after, she's really smart. Worth every penny spent on tuition. Soon she'll find a good man and make this old dad live in luxury. Huh? You guys, so treat me well right now!"
"Oh my, understood. Here, have another drink."
The sound of glasses clinking was heard. Carlson received his drink, filled to the brim, and downed it in one gulp. The taste of country liquor was rough, but the buzz was great.
"Ohh, yes, yes."
"But Carlson-nim, if your child is top of the class at the Academy, don't they get scholarships or anything?"
Carlson shook his head at the question.
"Apparently, noble families don't get scholarship support. Honestly, that wife of mine, Isabel, is useless. Huh? Pretty face, but she just creates expenses all the time."
"But I hear her 'night work' is amazing, right?"
Carlson paused his story there and suddenly smiled.
"Yeah. That's right."
The man, who had flinched slightly after making the joke, wondering if he'd crossed a line, tilted his head at Carlson's smile. Carlson lowered his voice and said.
"Hey, you guys. Don't you want a taste of my wife?"
"What?"
"No, Carlson-nim. What do you mean......"
Carlson chuckled slyly. You see, local dignitaries in the countryside usually have plenty of money and time, and they jump at any chance to spend it. Moreover, Carlson's wife, Isabel, was famous in the village for her stunning beauty.
He desperately needed money to prepare the bribe to enclose with his next letter, and if she just made a small sacrifice, he could raise the funds.
"It's because I need money. Borrowing between us is awkward. If you each chip in a little, I'll arrange for you to spend a night with Isabel next week. If this works out, I can get back into the capital!"
One night with the most beautiful woman in the village.
Isabel was worth a fortune for a night's company.
Even with a limp dick, a man was still a man. The local dignitaries gathered here, with their dark wrinkles and facial hair, were brimming with desire and lust, so they couldn't help but be tempted.
"No, but that......!"
"Hmm.... Hmm......"
They all nodded and pretended otherwise, but Carlson knew they would agree. Carlson believed Isabel would also go along with his plan. She was that kind of woman. A pervert already crazy for his dick and lost her reason, a greedy woman lured in by the vanity of being a capital official.
"So, uh....... How much is it?"
One of the dignitaries said in a lower voice. When Carlson whispered the price, gasps could be heard from around the table. It was a considerable sum, but not impossible to scrape together. In fact, for that amount, getting to hold a noblewoman was the deal of a lifetime.
"Hmm.... Hmm...! Let's worry about that after the money is ready."
"Right. Right. More importantly, let's talk about something else. I heard a new Priestess arrived at the temple. Have you met her?"
While everyone was lost in fantasies of their own night, one of the more grounded local dignitaries changed the subject. As soon as the Priestess was mentioned, several dignitaries exclaimed and nodded.
"Ah, that Priestess. I saw her during the festival. Her breasts were just... Wow...!"
"Is she that killer?"
Carlson said dismissively. He had never seen a woman prettier than Isabel. Most women, unlike Isabel, had some flaw in their appearance. Isabel was beautiful enough, aside from being useless to his life.
At Carlson's words, one of the local dignitaries nodded vigorously and said.
"Oh my, you have to see her yourself. She's almost as beautiful as your wife, Carlson-nim."
"Plus, her divine power is considerable. The temple is already swamped with people seeking healing."
Hearing 'divine power,' Carlson scoffed.
"Divine power? Why would someone that amazing come to this rural backwater? Must be a fraud. When I worked as an official in the capital, priests with divine power always went to the capital. They never got assigned to places like this."
"They say she was demoted?"
"Demoted?"
Carlson frowned. He was sensitive about the word 'demoted'. The local dignitary startled at Carlson's expression and rolled his eyes, but seeing Carlson's hand gesture to continue, he nodded and carried on.
"Lately in the capital, you can't even become an official unless you're related to or know the Hero. This affects the temple too; anyone not part of the Hero's clerical faction gets sent to the provinces."
"Wait, they send away priests with divine power too? The world's gone mad."
Carlson clicked his tongue. Even while planning his return to the capital through bribes, he acted self-righteously towards others. The dignitaries nodded and murmured amongst themselves. Most of their conversation was complaints about the Hero who claimed to have saved the world this time.
"Speaking of which, did the Hero really save the world?"
"Didn't we hear rumors about vampires appearing in the eastern region recently?"
"I even heard stories about demons appearing and slaughtering villagers."
"Many are saying the prophecy might be wrong."
When the prophecy came up, Carlson nodded, pretending to know.
"Prophecy? Ah, that prophecy? When the Demon King rises, only the four chosen Heroes can save the world."
It wasn't the exact prophecy, but the dignitaries all nodded. They too had only heard rumors about the prophecy.
"Yes. Yes. That prophecy. Just as it said, the Heroes caught the Demon King, didn't they? But why is the world like this? Even after catching the Demon King. Why are demons appearing, and the capital is a mess......"
Carlson was indifferent to the state of affairs. As long as he couldn't return to the capital, it was all someone else's problem. Carlson wanted to avoid this buzz-killing topic. He wanted to wrap up the drinking session quickly and tell Isabel about his plan.
Isabel would hate it, but with his amazing 'technique,' she'd surely agree. If she refused in the end, he could just hit her a few times for the first time in a while.
"Who cares? We just need to enjoy our drinks."
"Let's do that. Come on, cheers. Cheers."
One of the dignitaries raised his glass. Carlson nodded, raised his own, and was about to propose a toast.
Clatter!
But the toast couldn't continue. The tavern door burst open, revealing a priestess in white. Her ample chest was outlined even through the modest priestess robes, and her expression was stern and emotionless. She had a neat bob haircut and cold eyes.
Everyone in the tavern knew who this Priestess was. From the old dignitaries to the tavern staff, everyone stared with lewd, covetous eyes, swallowing hard.
The Priestess, tilting her head slightly as she scanned the tavern, slowly walked towards Carlson's table.
Her disciplined gait and surprisingly tall stature made Carlson, who wasn't usually one to back down, feel intimidated. She looked straight at Carlson's face and said.
"Carlson."
The moment her name was called, Carlson gulped. He thought she might truly be a beauty rivaling Isabel or Elena. He harbored a strange sense of anticipation and asked the Priestess.
"W-what is it?"
"I'd like to speak with you outside for a moment."
Hearing the Priestess's words, Carlson stood up as if entranced.