Chapter 54

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 54

Chapter ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Title: Salamandra's Nest

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"It's 20,000 points, sir."

Expensive!

Two-thirds of the points I'd scraped together so far vanished in an instant.

How dazzlingly shiny does this sanctuary have to be to cost this much?

"I know what you're thinking. A space where you can spend a full hour inside a gate without any interruptions—for just 20,000 points? It's practically a giveaway."

My jaw dropped for an entirely different reason.

The price was one thing, but only usable for one hour?

And with zero interruptions?

"The stopwatch stops time for 10 minutes. This sanctuary gives you a whole hour. Once you go inside and lock the door, no one can get in for that full hour."

Even a Great Spirit couldn't break in, she said.

It was like having a portable, perfect safe zone.

"Everything you need is already inside, so you just have to bring your body. It's the ultimate spot for a man and woman to share some love."

'Everything you need? Perfect for making love?'

Places like this exist in the real world too.

"Is this... a motel?"

The kid scrunched up her face, but she looked guilty.

And she wouldn't meet my eyes straight on.

"Call it whatever you want—that doesn't matter. To take down a Great Spirit, you need to awaken, sir. And to awaken, you need this. Anything else you require?"

Her words snapped me back to reality.

If the win rate really was zero percent, going in blind would just get me wrecked by the Great Spirit.

Better to bet on whatever this other 'awakening' was, mysterious as it sounded.

At the very least, this kid was friendlier toward me than Salamandra.

Clutching at straws, I bought the King's Sanctuary.

The King's Sanctuary sat in the last slot of my inventory.

Items bought from the gate shop must show up like that.

Curious about the details, I opened its description.

Just as the kid said—a safe zone impervious to outside intrusion.

"Well then, enjoy your time."

With a meaningful parting line, the kid vanished.

Turning around, I saw Han Chaewon fidgeting restlessly.

She'd been like that ever since asking me to excite her earlier.

"Let's push all the way to the end for now. Better to see what we're dealing with first."

"Y-Yes? Oh... sure..."

She jumped in surprise and hurried after me.

I'd offered to carry her if she got tired, but she waved it off, saying she was fine.

*

At the end of the path stood a massive door.

Not just any door—a red-hot iron gate.

Flames roared around it, evoking images of hell itself.

｢I'm waiting inside, so figure out how to open it and come in.｣

'How am I supposed to open a door that's glowing that hot?'

｢That's not my problem. Use whatever you've got.｣

What a spirit designed to piss people off.

Couldn't open it by hand, so I'd have to smash it with my Yin Energy or Chaewon's sword.

I pulled out the Scout to check Han Chaewon's status window.

'As expected.'

Promotion to S-Rank at level 90, and Han Chaewon was over 100.

Top-tier among S-Rank Swordsmen.

Unique skills increased after passing the Great Spirit's pattern threshold, but not here.

Salamandra's Nest sealed the other spirits' powers.

'Erogenous Zones and Achievements... well, they'll unlock on their own.'

Nayeong's unlocked on the day we agreed to go all the way, but with Chaewon, who knew.

Didn't matter right now—I was sucking her to get myself excited.

They'd unlock naturally before we went that far.

"Draw your weapon and attack it."

First things first: bust down that damn door.

Han Chaewon hesitated, looking troubled without drawing her sword.

"Still too tired?"

"No, it's not that... um... well..."

"Should I go first?"

"No! I mean... when I take in your Yin Energy, the sword comes out from a weird spot..."

Oh. That was it?

"Where from?"

Her face flushed as she answered.

"...My breasts."

Similar to Nayeong.

Weird or not, summoning a weapon wasn't exactly erotic.

"My childhood friend got a bow from her butt and breasts. I already know it changes like that, so just summon it."

She looked shocked, then nodded in resignation.

Cupping her hands and focusing, light glowed in her cleavage, spreading slowly to both sides.

A ring of light encircled her breasts—her expression was priceless.

"Th-this isn't right..."

Must not have happened like this before.

The light ring around her flustered breasts squeezed forward like milking, extending straight into the air.

"Twin swords?"

The two blades wriggled like they were savoring the feel of her breasts, then stood rigid.

Proud and upright, like they represented my cock yearning for her.

"Two swords came out!"

Now that her swords were out, Han Chaewon's eyes sharpened as she shouted at me.

"Must be my Yin Energy. Attack with them."

Gripping a sword in each hand, Han Chaewon charged the door.

No trace of shame in her eyes or expression.

Her swift swings sliced the air, trails carving space itself. Follow-ups chained before strikes ended, dozens of sword auras shredding the door's surface in seconds.

Creeeak, craaack—!!

The door, which seemed impervious to any tool, collapsed with a thunderous roar.

Clean, flawless—no wasted motion. I'd give it 100 out of 10.

"W-Woojin..."

But the attacker herself stared at me in disbelief.

"Why so surprised? You did it."

"This can't be... Even to me, the sword strikes were a blur. Way, way faster than normal!!"

"Yeonseo said the same. Seems Yin Energy boosts skills somehow, but I don't know why. Just enjoy it for now. Faster is better, right?"

Her gaze toward me shifted.

Awe began creeping into eyes mixed with wariness, distance, and awkwardness.

Just like when I first passed the pattern to Yeonseo.

｢Not bad. Guess I need to get serious too? Hurry up and come in.｣

Salamandra's voice echoed from within.

Her face tense again, we stepped through the shattered door.

*

Inside the door resembled other boss areas.

A wide corridor led somewhere, flames erupting between sections, the heat intense.

Dodging rising flames, we reached a plaza-like space.

Pillars ringed it like an arena.

Another corridor stretched opposite, so we headed that way.

But shadows blocked the path after a few steps.

"Grrrrr..."

Flames rose from the shadows, revealing a massive lizard wreathed in fire.

Glowing red eyes, blazing tongue—the whole body aflame.

｢One of my pets. Hates intruders in the nest. Soothe it, discipline it, whatever—just deal with it and come find me.｣

Licking its chops at us, soothing wasn't an option.

"Hyaah—!!"

Before I could speak, Han Chaewon leaped high, swords flashing toward the lizard.

A gash on its head made it thrash wildly.

Her twin blades slashed relentlessly, carving dozens of marks on its back and legs.

I wasn't idle either.

Gathering energy in both hands, I launched dozens of Yin Energy orbs.

Avoiding Chaewon in front, they arced left and right, slamming the lizard's flanks.

Sizzle, boom—!!

The orbs burrowed after her cuts and detonated together.

The shockwave scattered flames everywhere.

Shadows danced grotesquely with the flickering fire, blanketing the plaza.

This would've taken down even a Great Spirit's summon.

"We got it?"

"Dunno. Can't see through the flames and shadows."

We stayed alert, waiting for the fire to die down.

Han Chaewon's flushed face from the heat—crazy thought, but it was insanely hot.

Especially with battle excitement still burning; seeing an aroused woman like that hit different.

'So this is the excitement needed for awakening.'

Worlds apart from before going down on Nayeong.