The Giant from the Empire
Splash, splash.
"......"
"It's about time you stopped feeling so embarrassed, Cindy. Hah..."
"Aahh~"
Cindy had entered the private hot spring beneath the estate, and the memory of her own shameful display made her want to die of mortification. Even though her body had grown hypersensitive from repeated training and accumulated pleasure, the fact that she had climaxed so hard she urinated on An Rok-san's body and then fainted left her unable to meet his eyes once she regained consciousness. Her face burned crimson as she submerged herself in the water, blowing bubbles from her mouth while thrashing in humiliation.
She couldn't stay like that forever. Eventually Cindy rose, sat beside An Rok-san, and began to pout.
"Haa~ Wasn't that going too far? I really thought I was going to lose my mind... My body just kept getting more and more sensitive..."
"Still not calling me Master?"
Cindy flinched, her body going rigid mid-sentence. The memory was hazy because of how intense everything had been, yet she distinctly recalled calling An Rok-san "Master" instead of "Teacher" in the final moments, without even realizing it. The word had lodged itself stubbornly in her mind.
"...Th-that was a mistake..."
"You seem to remember it quite clearly for something that was supposedly a slip of the tongue."
"Tch..."
"Well, I suppose you won't be thinking of rebelling against my words anymore. Let's get back to business."
"...Understood. What do you need me to do?"
"A guest is coming from the Empire. Everything else is exactly as I told you before."
"...Wait a moment. Teacher, did you say the Empire?"
Cindy was more shocked by the identity of the guest than by the fact that she was expected to entertain them. Earth, where she belonged, was technically part of the Galactic Federation on a larger scale—in other words, it stood in hostile opposition to the Empire. Hearing that someone from the Empire was visiting made her doubt her own ears.
"You heard correctly."
"...Teacher, is this really all right?"
"Cindy, do you honestly believe I would be satisfied remaining an elder of the Martial Alliance forever?"
"......"
She had no answer. The An Rok-san she knew would never be content with such a limited position.
"Well, I've given you the order to entertain him, but I'll leave the details to your discretion. If you don't wish to grant him your front, you don't have to."
"...Huh? I can do that?"
"Have I ever spoken empty words?"
"No, but..."
"Entertain him however you like. There will be no repercussions regardless of the outcome."
".....?"
Cindy felt a flicker of suspicion. This was the same man who had subjected her to intense training under the pretext of her refusing his orders, yet now he was saying this so casually.
Don't tell me... he's expecting me to spread my legs for a man other than Teacher?
She had no intention of allowing any man except Yoo Kang-hyun to take her front. An Rok-san was a special case; she had only permitted him because it was him. She had never once considered offering herself to anyone else. At least, not before An Rok-san's training began.
Still, his words brought her a measure of relief.
At least I won't feel quite so guilty toward Kang-hyun... Kang-hyun, I'll make it up to you the next time we meet!
"All right. If that's what you say, Teacher, then I'll act according to my own judgment."
After washing together and indulging in each other's bodies once more, Cindy fell asleep in An Rok-san's arms, exhausted. Time passed, and the next day arrived.
Cindy awoke naked in his embrace. Still half-asleep, she rose, washed herself, applied light makeup, then greeted An Rok-san properly before preparing to depart.
"Then... I'll be going now, Teacher."
"I trust you'll handle everything well. Be careful."
"Yes. I'll see you later."
After offering a respectful bow, Cindy boarded her private unmanned vehicle and disappeared from view. Once she was gone, An Rok-san returned to his quarters and spoke quietly.
"Logout."
Following An Rok-san's instructions, Cindy arrived at the Martial Alliance's space station. She searched among the countless vessels coming and going, using the unique identification number An Rok-san had provided. When she finally located the ship, her eyes widened in astonishment.
"Good heavens... This thing must be incredibly expensive..."
Though classified as a Media-class vessel in size, its performance reportedly surpassed most Grand-class ships. The sight of the latest model packed with cutting-edge Central Universe technology left her genuinely impressed. Considering An Rok-san's connections to powerful figures like Lichao and Erill, she wondered if the person she was about to meet might also be someone extraordinary. In the end, however, there was only one task she needed to complete. With nervous steps, she approached the ship.
It's been so long since I've felt this way... Not since I offered myself to Hyuk-bi or Senior Neung-gu-pyeong back in Changcheon Murim. Really, it's been ages... Haah... This is all because of Kang-hyun!! Leaving such a beautiful woman—no, such beautiful women—alone like this!!! Hing...
"Huu... I'm going in..."
Ziiing!
"Huh...?"
While lost in thought and mentally complaining to Kang-hyun, Cindy reached for the call button to announce her arrival. Instead, the hatch slid open without warning, and a deep, resonant male voice echoed through the speakers.
—Come in, Cindy Macglen. I've been waiting.
"....."
The moment she heard the voice, Cindy felt an involuntary shiver run through her body. For some reason, it reminded her of An Rok-san.
She stepped inside and came face to face with the man who had been waiting for her. The same thought that had crossed her mind the first time she met An Rok-san resurfaced.
".....He's enormous..."
The words slipped out before she could stop them. She immediately regretted it, but the man simply smiled, showing no offense, and stood to offer her a handshake.
"A pleasure. The name's Arpa von Valentine. You're Cindy Macglen, correct? An Rok-san has told me quite a lot about you."
"...Ah, yes. Nice to meet you. I'm Cindy Macglen. I'm currently a disciple of Teacher An Rok-san. Um... Please take care of me."
Meeting Arpa for the first time left Cindy just as stunned as she had been upon first seeing An Rok-san. Though slightly shorter than An Rok-san, he possessed an equally imposing build. Where An Rok-san was tall vertically, Arpa was broad horizontally. Compared to An Rok-san, who stood nearly 190 centimeters, Arpa was a little shorter, but the difference was minor. Having allowed An Rok-san to take her body countless times, Cindy could gauge the distinction at a glance.
Yet his pitch-black skin was something she couldn't help but stare at, even though she knew it was rude. Even compared to the African Americans she had encountered during her time in the United States, his complexion was strikingly dark—closer to the native Africans she had seen on missions.
Combined with his towering height and broad shoulders, his skin tone created an overwhelming, intense impression. The prominent belly only amplified that presence. Usually, a protruding stomach made a person look unhealthy, but on Arpa it somehow conveyed the opposite: an impression of robust vitality.
What truly unsettled Cindy, however, was something else entirely.
Strange... Their races are clearly different, yet his face looks oddly similar...
Arpa's features overlapped strangely with An Rok-san's. She could tell at a single glance that they were different people with different builds and skin tones. Still, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity. Arpa's face bore a subtle resemblance to An Rok-san's—difficult to pinpoint exactly, but unmistakable to someone who had spent so much time with him.
Before her thoughts could continue, Arpa spoke, his words shattering her focus.
"I've heard a great deal about you. From An Rok-san, from Lieutenant Jung Hwa-ryun, and even about a woman named Jung Su-a. Heh heh~"
"?!! What? Wh-what did you just say?!!"
The unexpected names spilling from Arpa's lips left Cindy frozen in shock. She bombarded him with questions in a startled voice. Arpa merely smiled calmly, slipped an arm around her shoulders, and drew her against his side. Though surprised by the gesture, Cindy did not resist, remembering An Rok-san's orders to entertain the guest. More than that, the strange similarity she felt to An Rok-san made the very idea of refusing him feel impossible.
"Heh. Let's sit down first. We can talk afterward; there's no rush. Come along, Cindy Macglen."
As Arpa led her away with natural ease, Cindy followed in a daze, still reeling from the shock of hearing those names. She remained nestled against his massive frame.
This man too... gives off a strange feeling... When I get close, there's this sweet scent... No, it's more like an addictive smell...