The Function Returns, The Iron Wall Crumbles
The dawn in the northern forest was damp and heavy. Mist that had settled overnight clung to the waist of the woods, and dew drops clinging to the tips of leaves fell with soft plops, breaking the silence. Hans opened his eyes to the heavy pressure in his lower body. At first, he thought it was just the urge to urinate. But the sensation was different. A burning heat filling his lower abdomen. A pressure that felt as if it would burst through the front of his pants. He slipped a trembling hand beneath the blanket. ......! It was hard. Not the pitiful lump of flesh that had once been limp like wet tissue paper, unresponsive even when pinched. This was a living thing with veins bulging and throbbing as if steel had been planted inside it. Hans clamped a hand over his mouth and screamed silently. I’m alive! I’m not impotent after all! It’s back! The switch finally flipped! Was it thanks to the forest’s clean air, or the days of abstinence? The dead function had miraculously revived. He nearly wept with emotion. He had fled down this path after receiving a death sentence as a man. Now that the fear of never being able to hold a woman again had vanished, every cell in his body danced with joy.
But the joy lasted exactly three seconds.
Rustle. At the sound from right beside him, Hans’s body froze like a plaster statue.
“Mmm...”
With a faint moan, someone next to him stirred. Silver hair brushed against Hans’s nose, and a sweet scent of soap washed over him. It was Cecilia. Still half-asleep and apparently cold, she had burrowed toward Hans in search of warmth. With only a thin blanket between them, her back nearly touched his chest. The real problem was below. Hans’s tent, swollen to the point of bursting, was now hovering dangerously close behind her hips.
Damn it. It’s touching. It’s touching.
Sweating coldly, Hans pulled his hips backward. He tried to curl up like a shrimp to create distance, but the campsite was cramped and the ground uneven.
“Mmm... Packhorse...”
Cecilia mumbled in her sleep and rolled over. Her arm flailed through the air before grabbing tightly onto Hans’s clothes.
“Don’t go... Don’t run away like Master...”
Her face drew close to his chin. Her steady breathing brushed against his throat. With her guard completely down, her slightly parted lips revealed a hint of pink tongue. Stripped of her title as the Empire’s youngest deputy commander, she was simply a beautiful woman who stirred protective instincts.
Thump, thump, thump. Hans’s heart began to race wildly. The return of his function was a blessing, but the situation was a disaster. He desperately recited the national anthem in his head—or rather, the imperial anthem of this other world.
When the sun reached its zenith, the forest turned into a steam bath. Though the dense trees provided shade, the humid heat was inescapable.
“Haa... It’s hot.”
Cecilia, walking ahead, stopped. She removed her luxurious long coat and tied it to her pack. All she wore underneath was a thin white linen shirt.
“Phew...”
Looking hot, she fanned herself with her hand. Then she grabbed the collar of her shirt and fluttered it back and forth to cool herself. The sweat-dampened fabric clung to her back, clearly outlining the lines of her white undergarments. Hans glanced forward without thinking and sucked in a breath. Sunlight made the shirt translucent, revealing the smooth curve of her waist in explicit detail.
Whoa...
Hans quickly turned his head toward the distant mountains. But the afterimage burned into his retinas like a brand. Suddenly, a memory from his academy days flashed through his mind. The rooftop of the commoner dormitory. He had stayed up all night trembling while holding an expensive high-performance telescope he had bought, waiting for a glimpse of the noble girls through the windows of the women’s dormitory. But he had never once succeeded. The terror of execution if a commoner was caught peeping on noble ladies had outweighed his curiosity.
Back then... I couldn’t even see it with a telescope.
Hans swallowed dryly.
Now I’m seeing it with my own eyes, right in front of me. Is this a dream or reality?
His gaze was drawn back to Cecilia like a magnet. She wiped away sweat and looked back, locking eyes with him.
“......”
Hans flinched and dropped his gaze to the ground.
“Hmm.”
A strange smile spread across Cecilia’s lips. She hadn’t missed it—the way his eyes had swept over her body before fleeing in embarrassment. Hmph. Acting like a block of wood, but I guess he’s still a man. A peculiar competitive spirit and playfulness stirred within her. She slowed her pace and pressed close to Hans’s side.
“Hey, packhorse. Isn’t it too hot?”
She fluttered the collar of her shirt. Whoosh. A wave of hot air, the scent of sweat, and the raw smell of skin hit Hans’s nose—more stimulating than any perfume, pure pheromones.
“Um... Lady Knight. Let’s keep some distance while we walk. It’s hot.”
Hans frowned (though it was mostly acting) and stepped aside. But Cecilia stubbornly followed.
“Why? Want to wipe my sweat for me?”
She thrust her white nape toward him. A single bead of sweat rolled from behind her ear down into the hollow of her collarbone. Hans’s hand twitched. He wanted to wipe it. No—he wanted to lick it. Instinct was gnawing away at reason.
“I... don’t have a hobby of wiping other people’s sweat.”
Hans recited Kane’s teachings and shot back coldly.
“And you smell. Go wash up.”
A desperate iron wall. But Cecilia’s face had flushed red—not only from the heat. This was the first time she had ever tried to seduce someone. It was embarrassing, yet she found herself enjoying Hans’s reaction. Smelly? Liar. I saw your nose twitching earlier. She smiled triumphantly at the sight of his reddened ears.
Afternoon rest time. The group settled by a clear stream. The cool sound of flowing water eased the heat. Kane and the older men had already stripped off their shirts and were splashing in the water.
“Whew, this is refreshing! Kid! You should come in too!”
Kane waved, but Hans shook his head. He sat on a rock right by the water’s edge, staring at the distant mountains. If he went in now, his junior would be on full display above the water...
Splash.
Suddenly, Hans’s shirt was soaked through.
“Hey, statue.”
It was Cecilia. She stood in the middle of the stream, shaking water from her wet hands while staring straight at him.
“Stop spacing out and come here. The water’s really cool.”
She gestured.
“I’m fine. I don’t like water.”
“Liar. Most men go crazy and jump in on days like this.”
Cecilia narrowed her eyes. She wanted to break through this man’s iron wall. She scooped up water and splashed it at him.
Whoosh!
“Ack, cold!”
Cold droplets hit Hans’s face and shirt.
“What are you doing?!”
When Hans flared up, Cecilia burst into laughter.
“I told you to come. Stop acting like a coward and sit next to me.”
She patted the flat rock beside her with her palm. Hans hesitated. But refusing any longer would only make her more suspicious. He shuffled over and sat as far away as possible. Cecilia grinned playfully and tapped the top of his foot with hers—cold, smooth, and soft.
“Eek?!”
Hans yelped and toppled backward.
“N-no! I-I hate washing! I’m a dirty guy! Stay away!”
It was a ridiculous excuse. His frantic retreat made him look like the ultimate loser. Cecilia watched his back and let out a snort of laughter.
“Dirty? That’s a creative excuse.”
She rested her chin on her hand and gazed at him. At first he had been an annoying pebble. She had gotten stubborn after being ignored. But now...
“Cute.”
The word slipped out unconsciously. Cecilia clamped a hand over her mouth. Am I crazy? What am I saying... But she couldn’t deny it. The way he ran looked just like a rabbit. An adorable prey she wanted to devour.
When night fell, the forest air changed abruptly. The day’s heat vanished without a trace, replaced by a bone-chilling cold. Crackle, crackle. The campfire was dying. The older men were already fast asleep, snoring loudly. Hans pulled the blanket over his head and curled up.
Cold... And... painful.
From all the visual stimulation during the day, his junior had remained half-erect the entire time. The swollen veins throbbed. Just sleep. If I sleep, it’ll be forgotten. He forced his eyes shut.
Rustle.
Then he felt movement behind him. Someone lifted the edge of the blanket and slipped inside. Along with a gust of cold air came a warm, soft mass pressing against his back.
“L-Lady Knight?!”
Hans tried to turn in shock.
“Shh.”
Cecilia pressed herself tightly against his back and pulled the blanket over them.
“It’s cold.”
She mumbled.
“Master snores too much, so I don’t want to sleep next to him. Your side is the quietest, so let’s sleep together.”
“No, men and women shouldn’t—”
Hans tried to push her away, but Cecilia was relentless.
“Stop talking and stay still. I’ll just think of you as a stove.”
She reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
“......!!”
Hans’s body went rigid as stone. He could feel the soft, elastic weight of her chest against his back—whether she wasn’t wearing undergarments or it was simply the thin fabric, he couldn’t tell. Her steady breathing brushed against the nape of his neck. Hoo... hoo... Warm air tickled the fine hairs there. He felt like he was going insane. With the side effects of [Bull’s Strength] gone, his body was now ready to react to the slightest touch. No—it was already reacting. Inside his pants, a heavy club twitched and asserted its presence.
Across from them, Kane, who had been pretending to sleep, cracked his eyes open. He watched the scene with a twitch at the corner of his mouth. Heh heh, look at those two. Things are progressing nicely. His disciple’s bold skinship. And Hans, unable to move. That’s right, Cecilia. You’ve finally found your match. This master has no more regrets. Smiling contentedly, Kane began snoring again.