Aisha's Ferocity and Sudden Heat
"Amazing."
Minwoo stared blankly from a secluded corner, watching Aisha slaughter the monsters.
He'd been on his way to the imperial capital with her when they got held up just before departure. Monsters had appeared near the village—a rare occurrence—and the guards had requested backup. Normally, other adventurers would have helped out, but by coincidence, all the veteran ones except Aisha were off exploring the labyrinth.
There was no rush anyway, and Minwoo wanted to see her skills in action firsthand, so he tagged along to the site. What he witnessed was a one-sided massacre.
"She's incredible, isn't she? A beastkin worthy of respect."
Those were the words of the guard captain, who was watching the fight alongside Minwoo.
The guards would normally join the fray, but Aisha had insisted they'd just get in the way, so they were all just spectators now.
"By the way, how do you know Aisha?"
The captain asked out of the blue. Minwoo gave a vague answer.
"Oh... we just happened to be heading the same way, so we're traveling together."
"I see. Your outfit caught my eye—it's unusual around here. But if you're with Aisha, no need to worry."
"Ah, yeah..."
Yeah... figures. Minwoo could guess why the captain had struck up the conversation. His black hair aside, this janitor uniform stuck out like a sore thumb. He made a mental note to snag some local clothes soon.
"Aisha's truly remarkable. Not just her strength—she's exemplary in character too. I've known her since I was a kid, and she's always been consistent."
"I see."
Minwoo nodded along politely, and the captain's eyes grew nostalgic as he launched into a story.
"She drops by the village every few years. Even with the Demon King sealed, monster activity spikes now and then."
Aisha had earned a noble title—an unprecedented honor for a beastkin—for helping the hero defeat the Demon King. But titles didn't suit a lifelong loner like her. It was more honorary anyway, with no territory attached. She hadn't wanted one to begin with.
Instead, she'd been granted a special role: imperial inspector.
Influenced by the previous hero, Leon, imperial law on beastkin had changed drastically. Owning them as slaves was now outright banned. This stemmed from the tradition of granting a hero one wish within reason before they returned to their original world.
Of course, it wasn't a pure loss for the empire. They saw it as a handy pretext to punish corrupt or anti-empire nobles.
And sure enough, not everyone obeyed the new law. Slave hunters still operated in the shadows, and nobles bought beastkin on the black market. Aisha's job was to root out these empire's cancers on imperial orders—a secret royal inspector of sorts.
"Beastkin still get dirty looks, but Aisha deserves respect regardless. She was my childhood idol."
"..."
Minwoo just nodded as the enthusiastic captain gushed.
A living legend worthy of admiration, huh. And right now, that legend was finishing off the last monsters and strolling back with light steps.
"All done. Handle the cleanup, Captain."
"Yes, ma'am. Great work, Aisha."
"No big deal."
The chatty captain rounded up his men and headed off to deal with the monster corpses.
Returning to Minwoo's side, Aisha dusted off her hands and slung her travel bag—left in his care—over her shoulder.
"Shall we?"
"Sure."
Her clothes weren't even dirty after battling those ferocious beasts. She looked like she'd just gone for a casual stroll. Maybe it was just the right workout to work up a light sweat. Beads glistened on her forehead in the sunlight.
And that sparked Minwoo's lust.
Time to have a taste.
With that thought, he decided to test a new hypnosis mechanism on her as well.
"Aisha."
"Yeah?"
She turned as she led the way, and Minwoo extended his hand, snapped his fingers, and said,
"...Lately, hasn't your body been feeling kinda itchy?"
"Huh? What do you—"
That was the moment.
"...!"
She started to question his random remark but froze in place. Her head drooped, and she hugged herself with both arms. Her body began to tremble faintly.
"Nngh...! Haa... haa... What the hell...?"
"You okay, Aisha? Hurt somewhere?"
Minwoo knew exactly what was happening but feigned ignorance, lightly touching her shoulder.
The instant he did, "Hyaa?!" A sweet moan escaped her as she collapsed to her knees.
"Aisha! You alright?"
"Y-yeah...! I-I'm fine... just a little dizzy... really, I'm okay."
She struggled back to her feet, but her breathing grew ragged.
"Liar. You're burning up! Let's head back to the inn. I'll carry you."
"N-no... I can't trouble you again..."
"This isn't the time to worry about that. I've got the strength, so just get on my back."
"Ah..."
She tried to refuse, but Minwoo hoisted her up anyway. For some reason, she didn't resist. Blushing deeply, she surrendered her body to his broad back.
...
What's going on? Why's my body suddenly like this?
Aisha was flustered by the abrupt changes. Just moments ago, fighting the monsters, she'd felt perfectly fine. Now, her whole body felt weak and feverish for no reason.
She knew symptoms like this all too well.
No way... heat?
The periodic cycle common to beastkin. Even at over a century old and still in her prime, Aisha couldn't escape it. She endured it monthly like clockwork.
But... it's not time this month... And even in heat, I've never felt this drained!
Just as she thought, her condition seemed off for plain heat. The heat, heightened sensitivity, and mating urges were familiar. But this extreme lethargy? Never before.
Normally, when it hit, she'd find a secluded spot and quietly ride it out alone. Her libido only grew with age, but she'd never given herself to a man.
Her heart belonged to one: Leon. No other man would ever have her body, so she'd remained a virgin for over a hundred years.
But now, that chastity hung by a thread.
"Haa...! Haaah...!"
"Hang in there, Aisha. We're almost there!"
Minwoo urged her on urgently, but his voice barely registered. In a hazy, dreamlike state, she clung to his back, absorbing only his warmth and scent.
Minwoo's back... so warm... Leon's back felt this solid too, when he saved me as a kid...
She sensed Leon in Minwoo. As a child slave, moments from losing her virginity to a perverted noble, Leon had rescued her and held her tight. Even after a century, she hadn't forgotten that warmth.
His hand on my thigh... it's agonizing...!
Carrying her on his back put Minwoo's hands inevitably on her thighs. As a martial artist, her tight bodysuit clung to her curves, leaving her thighs bare. His touch transmitted directly.
As they climbed the inn stairs and he gripped firmer, an involuntary moan slipped out.
"Hngh...!"
"Aisha?"
"N-nothing... really... huaa...!"
She denied it, but her face flushed deeper.
Just a hand brushing me... Does heat make you this sensitive?
She chalked it up to heat, but it wasn't just that. Minwoo hadn't merely induced it. The same suggestion he'd planted in Ernate and Siola: areas he touched grew hypersensitive. Plus, his scent would amplify the effect the more she inhaled.
All dormant until triggered by his post-hypnotic cue—the finger snap and that itchy-body line.
"Here we are."
Minwoo brought her to the inn room, laid her on the bed, and tucked her in.
"Wait here. I'll fetch a doctor."
He wasn't sure if this world even had doctors, but as he turned to leave, Aisha's hand shot out from under the covers, clutching his clothes.
"No... don't go..."
"Huh?"
With a desperate expression, she pleaded,
"Please... don't leave me alone..."