Fate Encountered in the Ancient Castle
The castle Tyrat took Yuria to was an ancient fortress whose location she couldn't even begin to guess. He entered the castle, surrounded by all sorts of monsters acting as guards, and threw Yuria into a small room.
“Kyaaak!”
Yuria's scream as she was flung to the floor. Thinking that things couldn't go on like this, she stood up with all her might. But...
“Ugh...!”
The moment she saw Tyrat's face, her strength drained away again. Yuria crossed her legs and plopped down. Tyrat approached her and spoke.
“Make yourself comfortable. You may roam freely within the castle. However, do not think of escaping. Your mother's head might be crushed.”
“.....”
Yuria could do nothing but glare at Tyrat with a venomous expression.
“When you regain your strength, you may challenge me again. I am always in the audience chamber at the end of the right corridor. You are welcome anytime.”
Yuria, trembling with a sense of helplessness, clenched her fists tightly. Tyrat looked at her and smiled benevolently.
“The monsters that were attacking the kingdom have been withdrawn especially for your sake. Do not worry.”
As long as the mages of the magic tower didn't die, the rest could all perish for all he cared, but Yuria simply kept her mouth shut. Yes, when she ascended to the throne later, she would need slaves to command. That's what she thought.
Click!
When Tyrat closed the door and left, the ferocious energy that had been consuming her body drained away all at once.
“Phew...”
Yuria let out a weak voice. As her strength gradually returned, she stood up and looked around. The room had an antique atmosphere, and there was even a bed that looked quite soft. Why had he brought her here instead of a prison? She didn't know. She couldn't guess at all. Moreover, he had kindly told her his location and said she could challenge him anytime... It was humiliating.
Infuriating...!
She was truly furious. At the same time, she felt a strange emotion toward him, who possessed such brutal power yet showed mercy. It wasn't something absurd like liking him. It was just that she thought he was someone she could communicate with.
Anyway, it seemed Tyrat didn't know about the Device. Yuria looked at her wrist. The charge was still at 100%. As expected, it was infinite. Though her bow and quiver were destroyed... Still, she shouldn't lose hope.
Mother must be here too, right?
If so, it wouldn't be a bad idea to learn the layout of the castle to rescue her mother and escape immediately. Since Tyrat had said she could roam freely, it should be fine as long as she didn't cause too much trouble.
Suddenly, fatigue washed over Yuria, and she blinked a few times. Since he had said her mother was safe and unharmed... She would sleep for a bit. Yuria, who had unknowingly believed Tyrat's words, lay down on the bed. A very soft bed. The breeze coming in was pleasantly cool. By the way, why had Tyrat said he had withdrawn the monsters for her sake? To put her on the throne and use her as the leader of a vassal state? That seemed to be his intention.
Ugh...
Recalling what had happened at the royal castle, Yuria bit her lower lip. Tyrat's tremendous power. Her own helplessness before it... Just thinking about it gave her goosebumps. And thinking of him, who resembled Jihyeok quite a bit, made her want to return to Earth.
“Jihyeok...”
Yuria called out Jihyeok's name in a tearful voice and pulled the blanket over herself. Then, after removing her gloves, she placed her hand on her lower body. Her leotard was wet. Imagining Jihyeok's face that she missed must have excited her. Yuria raised her middle finger and slightly lifted the leotard. Then she began to slowly rub her crotch.
“Haaang...♡”
Masturbation that began in enemy territory. Yuria played with her fingers for a long time, thinking of Jihyeok.
Yuria slept for a long time. Partly because she was mentally exhausted, and partly because the battle with Tyrat and the masturbation had drained all her strength.
“Mm...”
Yuria, awakened by the sound of insects, sat up. She was still in her transformed state. She resolved not to release her transformation until she left this castle and got out of bed. Like a thief cat, she crept to the door and opened it very carefully, revealing a dark corridor.
Hungry...
It was clearly dawn now. So even if someone was there, they would be asleep. Monsters also needed sleep. Yuria came out into the corridor, closed the door very gently, and flew around searching for the kitchen. To steal something to eat. She needed to eat to regain her strength. Trying to think positively, she sniffed around the corridors and stopped at a large door from which a faint fruit scent wafted. This was definitely the dining hall. Yuria pushed the door with very, very little force, worried that someone might hear.
Inside the dining hall illuminated by orange light, there was a very long table and numerous chairs. And at the head seat was a splendid throne. It seemed to be Tyrat's seat. Yuria found a small door next to the fireplace on the opposite wall from the head seat and headed toward it. When she opened it, the smell of fruit grew stronger, and Yuria flinched and hid herself. It was because someone was panting and kneading something. Floating slightly in the air, she peeked her head out from the corner and widened her eyes when she saw a beastman monster with three tails struggling to knead flour. Bright brown fox ears, hair of the same color hanging down to her waist... and a small stature. From the side profile, she was a cute little girl. She even had a three-pronged fox whisker pattern on her cheeks. The beastman, who had large tangerine-colored eyes, let out a sigh as she pressed down on the kneading bowl while standing on a footstool.
“Hueh! It's hard...”
At that cute sight, Yuria couldn't help but burst into laughter.
“Pfft...”
Then the beastman monster turned her head. Upon seeing Yuria, she tried to scream.
“Kyaa...!”
But Yuria rushed out in an instant and covered her mouth, causing her to struggle.
“Mmph! Mmmph!”
Thud! Thud!
Yuria drew an arc in her eyes as she watched the beastman hitting her body with her tiny hands. It was because the beastman was cute, and it didn't hurt at all, which was funny. Before long, moisture began to well up in the beastman's large eyes. Seeing that, Yuria warned her with a stern expression.
“If you scream when I remove my hand... I'll kill you.”
The beastman, frightened by the chilling words, nodded her head. Thinking that was enough, Yuria slowly removed the hand covering her mouth.
“Uuu...”
The beastman tried to burst into tears now that her mouth was free. But then she remembered Yuria's warning and tightly closed her mouth. She even covered her mouth with both hands covered in flour. The beastman, who had been sniffling, sneezed when flour went deep into her nose.
“Eeeh... Achoo!”
Yuria held back her laughter with a “Heh!” What was so cute about her... If she weren't a monster, she would have wanted to take her and raise her. The beastman, who had let down her guard at Yuria's appearance, wiped the snot that had slightly protruded from her nose after the sneeze stopped and looked at her with curious eyes.
“Who are youuu...? Huh?”
After asking that to herself, the beastman let out an exclamation as if she had remembered something. She stared intently at Yuria's light green hair and let out an “Ah!” sound.
“You're Yuria Elenar, right!? That's right!?”
Her voice was quite loud. Yuria brought her index finger to her lips.
“Shh! Be quiet...!”
“Ah... Shh...!”
The startled beastman imitated Yuria's action. Only then did Yuria, feeling relieved, ask.
“How did you know my name?”
“Umm... The Demon King told me. He said a beautiful woman with light green hair...”
“T-Tyrat said that?”
“It's Tyrat-nim, isn't it...?”
At those words, Yuria's face hardened.
“To me, he's someone I wouldn't mind tearing apart and killing. You want me to use honorifics for that guy? Absolutely not.”
“Hiik!”
The thoroughly intimidated beastman ran to the corner and trembled. A monster more timid than a human child... It was absurd. Yuria let out a shallow sigh and apologized to her.
“Sorry. My words were a bit harsh, weren't they?”
“.....”
“What's your name? Do lower-class monsters even have names...”
At that, the beastman puffed up her cheeks.
“They do!? I'm not a lower-class monster! I'm really strong!”
“Shh! I told you to be quiet?”
“Ah... Yes... I have a name...”
“What is it?”
“It's Meryl.”
“Meryl? That's a pretty name.”
“Really...?”
At the compliment, Meryl, who had let down her guard again, approached with quick steps. She looked like she would follow if given candy. Yuria let out a dry laugh and nodded.
“Yeah. Really.”
Meryl smiled shyly. Yuria asked again.
“How old are you?”
“I'm seven years old.”
“Seven years old...? So monsters grow similarly to humans?”
“That's right. But I'm an adult.”
“Yeah... Let's say that. But if you're not a lower-class monster, what are you? You seemed really weak...”
“Ugh...”
Thinking she had been ignored, Meryl lowered both arms and trembled with clenched fists. Yuria quickly apologized.
“Ah, okay. Sorry.”
“If I get angry, I'm really scary, you know? I'll forgive you just this once.”
Her bluffing was cute too. Yuria, barely holding back her laughter, squatted down to meet Meryl's eye level.
“What else did the Demon King say about me?”
“Umm... What was it... Ah! He said to treat respectfully the powerful Yuria Elenar-nim.”
Still, as a king, he had an eye for people. Of course he should. Yuria, crossing her arms haughtily, said.
“How do you monsters think of me, a human?”
“We follow the strong. Yuria Elenar-nim is...”
“Call me Yuria. It's annoying to say it long.”
“Ah, yes! Among humans, Yuria-nim has no equal, and among us, except for the Demon King-nim, you are the strongest... so we must respect you.”
“Is that so...? Even though a comrade died by my hand, you still respect me?”
“Yes. Is that strange?”
Certainly, monsters had aspects of acting according to the pyramid hierarchy. Yuria thought that in this regard, monsters were much better than humans. When she heard her stomach growling, she blushed. Seeing Yuria's reaction, Meryl smiled brightly.
“You came because you were hungry, right?”
“Th-That's right.”
“I'm making bread, do you want some?”
“You were kneading flour... Do you know how to make it?”
“Of course. I'm a chef!”
“You...?”
“I'm still an apprentice, but... Are you going to keep ignoring me?”
The spirited Meryl was truly adorable. Yuria felt like teasing her more.
“Sorry. But by any chance... You're not going to put bugs or anything inside, are you...?”
“Do you eat bread with bugs in it, Yuria-nim? Do all humans do that?”
“.....”
Yuria was dumbfounded. She had been hoisted by her own petard. Looking at Meryl's round, sparkling eyes, it didn't seem like she was deliberately trying to one-up her. Having been hit by the child's pure strike, Yuria smiled gently.
“It was a joke. Then... Shall I wait here?”
“Yes! I'll make it quickly, so please sit on that chair and wait!”
Meryl, whose eyes sparkled as if she was looking forward to it, climbed onto the footstool and began kneading the flour again. She needed to find her mother quickly, but... Since Tyrat had promised in the Demon King's name that nothing would happen... She would fill her stomach first and then look. Or she could ask Meryl. She might know about her mother. Thinking that, Yuria sat demurely on a chair prepared in one corner, rested her elbows on her knees, and propped up her chin. Watching the innocent and delicate Meryl, who was too pure to be called a monster in the Demon King's castle, struggling to knead the dough, Yuria wore a pleased smile.