Master of Lust

56  A Quest not about women

Chapter - 56

"The carrot you feed me," the rabbit piped up, "I'd rather use it as a doorstop."

Rick nearly dropped his carrot in shock. He'd always thought rabbits and carrots were like peanut butter and jelly – inseparable. He blinked at the furry critter, mental cartoon question marks swirling above his head.

"You seriously hate carrots?" Rick smirked, his tone sarcastic "But, like, aren't carrots your bread and butter? What's next, rabbits renouncing their love for hopping?"

The rabbit paused dramatically, as if rehearsing its Oscar-worthy confession. "Well, I'm just not your run-of-the-mill bunny," it eventually replied, with a hint of pride.

Rick couldn't help but snicker. "Normal or not," he mused inwardly, "But you're still a rabbit, right?"

The rabbit seemed temporarily stumped, Rick's words left her nothing to counter with. It had no immediate response to that statement.

"Whatever... I just don't like carrots," The rabbit declared.

"Waah..." Rick couldn't believe the gall of the rabbit. It sounded so cute and pleasant but she had such a temper, "No matter humans or animals, you guys know how to make trouble for a men, don't you."

"What do you mean?" Rick heard the rabbit's confused question.

"Never mind, just tell me what do you want to eat," Rick gave up on explaining any further to the silly rabbit, "I will try to get it for you."

Rick was genuinely curious about what could actually satisfy his rabbit's taste buds, "Since, it is a no to carrots, you must have something you want, right?" Rick asked.

"I do," Rabbit's ear stood up as he immediately replied.

"There is Blood Lotus, Ginseng, Holy Basil, Ashwagandha, Dong Quai, Seven Star Grass, Dragon Bone, Phoenix Wood, Hundred Poison Flower, and ..." In a second, the Rabbit almost read out a dozen or so herbs to Rick.

As the rabbit ratted out the names, Rick, on the other hand, was stumped. He had never heard of these herbs before, let alone considered them as part of a rabbit's diet. These names were confusing enough to make him dizzy. Was he in some kind of Chinese now?

"Holy Basil, Ashwagandha, Dong Quai... these are herbs?" Rick thought aloud, his thoughts tinged with a touch of confusion. "I had no idea rabbits would eat them. Have you actually eaten these herbs before?"

"Of course I have, how else do you think I would know about them?" The rabbit responded with a smug look on her face, "And not just any random herb, "It was all top quality that you won't be able to find anywhere in this world."

'Not anywhere in this world, huh? Can you brag any less?' Rick couldn't help but chuckle when he heard the rabbit, but chose not to haggle him over this. Instead, he played along.

"I guess you're not your average rabbit. And since you really want these herbs, tell me where can I find them?" Rick asked.

But the Rabbit shook her head, "Earlier I had a lot of them where I lived. I never had to go search for them." The Rabbit told Rick.

"So we can go there, and find you these herbs. You can lead he way," Rick suggested, but he got another negative response from the Rabbit.

"My home... It is very far from here. We can't go there."

Rick found it odd when he heard the rabbit. She is a summon true, but she must know where she came from. So why was it so hard to return?

He found it suspicious, but Rick couldn't resist the rabbit's earnest gaze, those adorable eyes that seemed to convey a deep desire for the herbs it had mentioned. He sighed with a chuckle.

[

Quest: Help the Rabbit find some herbs. (Find a minimum of 11 different herbs)

Time Duration: 7-Days

Rewards: Ero Points: 3,000 (For every different herb found)

]

"It looks like we need to stroll some forest," Rick spoke to himself, but the rabbit heard him as well.

The rabbit responded with a joyful, almost triumphant mental nod. It was as if it had won a victory in convincing Rick to embark on this quest.

Now with extra incentive in front of him, Rick quickly grabbed his smartphone and began to search for a place where he could acquire the specific herbs the rabbit craved. It has to be some place with a large forest cover and lots of rain.

Finally, after a thorough search, Rick stumbled upon a promising region that seemed to fit the bill – the "Whispering Wetlands".

The Whispering Wetlands, a place of eerie beauty and foreboding danger, lay hidden deep within the heart of the Central Peninsula. It was a land untouched by the ordinary, veiled in perpetual mist and shrouded in an air of unsettling stillness. As one ventured deeper into its confines, they would experience a sudden and dramatic shift in climate, a transformation that would unravel the unwary traveler's senses.

The air, heavy with moisture, seemed to sap the strength from the weary travelers. Each step through the muck and tangled underbrush became a Herculean effort. Even the most seasoned explorers would find their energy waning, their senses dulled by the oppressive climate and the ceaseless cacophony of the Wetlands.

The very landscape conspired to ensnare those who dared to tread its treacherous paths. Quicksand patches lurked beneath deceptive layers of algae and aquatic plants, ready to pull any unwary traveler into their embrace.

Vicious animals, watched from the shadows, their eyes gleaming with predatory hunger. Poisonous snakes, sinuous and deadly, slithered through the muck, their vibrant scales camouflaged against the mossy terrain. Their hissing whispers echoed through the humid air, a constant reminder of their presence. Even the very plants themselves seemed to harbor treacherous intent, their leaves coated with a venomous residue that could paralyze even the most intrepid of explorers.

Not many have been able to make a return journey after venturing inside the Whispering Wetlands. And while reading about it, even Rick had a thought that he should avoid such a place. But then he thought that maybe he will be able to find whatever he wanted at the outskirts of the wetland. With grass all around them, how hard could it be?

"We need to leave now," Rick quickly decided. He quickly got up on his feet, before he had second thoughts and his feet staged a sit-down strike.

He swiftly moved to his bedroom cupboard, and grabbed a large backpack. He began to stuff it with the essentials he'd need for their journey. Clothes, toiletries, a sturdy pair of hiking boots, and a few snacks went into the bag. He wanted to be well-prepared for whatever lay ahead.

11:00

snacks went into the bag. He wanted to be well-prepared for whatever lay ahead.

It took him about 20-25 minutes, but Rick was finally done. Dressed in a yellow sweat shirt and blue jeans, he was ready to make a move.

"Alright, buddy," Rick said to the rabbit, zipping up the backpack. "We're almost ready to go. But we've got to hurry to make that flight."

He scooped up the rabbit, gently cradling it in his palms, "You better behave."

"I will master," The Rabbit was too happy to care about small stuff. At this moment, she would have agreed to whatever Rick asked of her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

At the Airport,

Rick got to the airport way before time. Without any difficulty he bought himself a business class ticket, ensuring that the rabbit could travel with him.

After that he bought a suitable cage for the rabbit. With the cage secured and the rabbit safely nestled inside, Rick had a moment to catch his breath. He glanced at the departure board, confirming that he still had about an hour before their flight was scheduled to depart. It was a brief window of time, but he intended to make the most of it.

Settling into a waiting area with his backpack and the rabbit's cage beside him, Rick decided to send a few messages to those who would wonder about his sudden disappearance. He pulled out his phone and composed brief texts.

First he wrote a message to Amanda: Hey Beautiful, Something urgent came up so I am going out of town for a few days. You might not be able to connect with me sometimes but there is nothing to worry about. I will plan a date when I am back so you better be ready for a surprise.

Then he wrote a message to Emily: Something came up, and I'll be away for a bit. I'll get in touch when I'm back.

To his dad, Rick kept it simple: I am a bit busy, will visit you soon.

Sending these messages, Rick eased in a bit and spread his legs on comfort. But then at that moment, the system chimed. It was a quest for him.

[

Quest: Send a message to Gloria, letting her know you won't be available for a while

Time Duration: 15 minutes

Rewards: Her Carnal Calibrator stays at the halfway mark until you meet again and she won't even think of a physical relation with anyone else.

]

Rick had forgotten about Gloria, but the system remembered her, and the reward was something he would actually want with Gloria. It will make Gloria think that Rick is purposely avoiding her. She would be desperate to know what is actually going in Rick's head. That was a win for him either way.

He quickly pulled out his phone again and wrote a message for her as well

"Hey Gloria, something unexpected came up, and I've got to go away for a bit. About out meeting, I am afraid we will have to postpone it a bit."

With the messages sent, Rick pocketed his phone and checked the departure board once more. Just as he was considering grabbing a quick snack, an announcement echoed through the airport, signaling the start of the boarding process for his flight.

Rick hoisted his backpack onto his shoulders and picked up the rabbit's cage. With a final glance around the bustling airport, he made his way toward the gate.

~~~~~

"She is right in front of me, do you want me to bring her to you?" Amanda had just stepped out of an operation theater assisting a surgery when a man spoke on his phone, as he kept his eyes on her.

"No... First I want that bastard falling on my feet. Only after that I will fuck that bitch in front of his," From the other side, Zack's voice sounded, etched in malice, "It won't be any fun if he is not watching."

"Any news about that bastard? Did he come to see her?" Zack asked, as he took a sip from the bottle he had in his hand.

"No... Not yet. I will keep on looking and let you know when he does." The man reported.

"He better not skip through your hands. Otherwise..."

"He won't. Please be rest assured." Though Zack indirectly warned him of the consequences, the man didn't even flinch to his threat. He sat there, staring at Amanda who chatted with a fellow nurse, without even blinking.

"I hope so..."