18. Awakening
"U, uuuhhh…."
In a secluded corner of the castle, far from where anyone might wander, Dina huddled with her arms wrapped around her head, sunk deep in gloom.
And the reason? Just one.
She'd flung open the door right at the moment when Ian and Cheong-ah were tangled up in each other's bodies, slick and inseparable.
"I might be hated by Yeonja now."
Her childlike form was a side effect of the goddess's blessing halting her growth, but outwardly, she looked like a delicate little girl on the cusp of adolescence—a flower bud just beginning to bloom.
Of course, that was only skin-deep. Inside, she was an old woman who'd lived far beyond her years.
Eighty-some years with her eyes open. Add in the time spent sealed away with eyes closed, and it tallied up to over three thousand years.
Though that sealed stretch didn't count since she hadn't been conscious.
Even so, eighty years. No matter how innocent she might seem, she couldn't possibly be clueless about sex at that age.
The long seal had turned her girlish body into something childish in speech and action, like a senile old crone trapped in a kid's form… but Ian's ability often lifted the blessing, letting her take on her adult shape, and things were improving bit by bit.
Thanks to that, even in her child form now, she could manage some adult thinking. And truth be told, Dina had always been somewhat familiar with such matters by nature.
Dinaria had been born and raised in the back alleys. A place teeming with all sorts of lunatics and freaks.
Social outcasts like orphans, widows, unwed mothers—not to mention gamblers, alcoholics, and every flavor of life's losers.
A melting pot of humanity's dregs. And among them, perverts with twisted desires were a dime a dozen.
Pedophiles, naturally, lurked in that crowd.
And the one they fixated on most…
Well, it would've been nice if it was Dina. A girl whose innocent charm and cuteness, even as a child, hinted at the stunning beauty she'd grow into.
Too bad that wasn't her story.
If only she'd gotten that kind of praise back then…
Childhood Dina had been a tomboy with a buzzcut, often mistaken for a boy in her rough getup.
Of course, if Cheong-ah or Ian heard this now, they'd laugh it off—Dina was basically a little beauty these days. But back then? Totally true.
'Tomboy, dickless boy… all sorts of weird nicknames stuck to me.'
So whose story was that praise for, then? A friend's. Someone as close as a sister.
Dina's childhood companion, another orphan they'd grown up with.
Long dead now, her bones ground to dust in the sands of time.
'I can barely remember her face anymore.'
Still, Dina recalled how stunning that beauty had been. Boys who teased other girls out of puppy love would stammer and blush in her presence, too tongue-tied to speak.
'What a life it was.'
Naturally, that drew flies like nothing else.
By the time her girlhood innocence faded and puberty loomed, Dina had to get strong. To protect her sister. Her friend. To survive together.
'So many rotten bastards out there.'
Before her body could even show signs of womanhood, she'd conquered the alleys, earning nicknames like "Plague Dog" or whatever.
That caught the saintess's eye years later, landing her with this damnable blessing.
'Joined the hero's party too…'
Trials and tribulations followed—land, sea, air battles—until she finally obliterated the demon king.
Her reward? The title Fist King el Rasad, bestowed directly by the goddess through the saintess.
And from that name came her martial art: Rasad Ryu.
A style born from every ounce of her experience and effort—fists, kicks, fluid body movement, all uniquely Dina.
'…How old was I then?'
Well past thirty, she remembered… but sadly, she still hadn't grown.
Small consolation: "Come to think of it, the saintess hadn't aged a day either."
Unlike Dina, though, the saintess had already bloomed into full womanhood—a vision of mature beauty.
Tch, who cared if that bitch aged or not.
Damn her. Why the hell carry around that blessed relic like a fool?
Muttering to herself, Dina pouted.
Anyway, the point was: born in the alleys, she'd seen every ugly side of life from childhood.
Unwed mothers and widows selling themselves was par for the course. Rape, gang rape—you name the depravity, she'd witnessed it.
Of course, if she spotted anyone trying that shit, she'd smash their skulls first.
Back-alley sex crime rates plummeted thanks to her. The women—and pretty boys—must've appreciated it.
So yeah, sex was impossible to ignore growing up like that.
Back then, no matter her mental age, her kid body meant zero interest in carnal urges…
But now?
'…My heart's pounding like mad.'
Truth be told, she'd suspected it before.
That prickly Cheong-ah, the beast Bella—they were lovers with Ian, body and soul.
Yeah, she'd figured as much.
But as the saying goes, seeing beats hearing a hundred times. Imagination and reality hit different.
She'd cracked the door for a split second. Ian and Cheong-ah scrambled, yanking a sweat-soaked blanket over their nakedness—but Dina's superhuman dynamic vision caught everything before she could blink.
Ian's solid build. Cheong-ah's honed-to-perfection form, almost manly in its firmness.
Muscled equilibrium everywhere. Red mosquito-bite marks on his neck, nail scratches on his back, bite on his shoulder.
And… that thing. Harder than stone, hot as molten iron, rigid as hammered steel. Big. Long. Thick. Girth rivaling Cheong-ah's wrist.
"That was…"
Yeonja's—no, Ian's cock.
Dina knew men's parts. Alley-born, centuries lived—she'd seen them up close.
Those filthy, desire-warped tools of creeps trying to rape her precious sister.
"Smashed 'em all with rocks, of course."
Too disgusting to touch or kick herself, so she'd hurled nearby stones to pulverize them.
But the point wasn't how many perp dicks she'd wrecked as a kid.
Ian's cock lingered in her mind. Unlike those others—instant revulsion on sight—
"Yeonja's doesn't feel gross at all."
If anything, her heart fluttered oddly. Cheeks heating, excitement building.
"…H-huh…"
Of course. He was Yeonja, after all.
The goddess's chosen.
"For this body…"
Fated bond. Beloved.
Other women? Didn't matter to Dina.
Her era was three millennia past. Back then, capable men had three wives, four concubines—harems and pleasure palaces were fair game.
Ian was capable. A few women? Fine by her.
He saw himself as a deadbeat, freeloader, parasite, leech—some shameless playboy.
From Dina's view, though? Undeniably talented.
So what if she was fifth, tenth? Becoming his lover someday—that was enough.
"…Screwed up big time."
Why'd she have to open that door right then?
Blame that damn beast bitch. Bella's scheme, sure, but…
"Said he'd just be chilling in his room, that filthy beast."
She'd bought it hook, line, sinker.
Wanted to play with Ian, curious what he was up to—not that.
Why'd her childish mindset kick in right then!
"How am I supposed to face Yeonja now?"
Uuuuh…
As she whimpered alone in her funk, a voice cut through.
"Phew, found you."
"Eh…?"
"Took forever."
Turning, she saw Ian—sweat beading on his forehead, grinning.
"Y-Yeonja?"
Her eyes went wide. She shot to her feet.
How could this body face him now?!
As she bolted to flee, Ian's urgent voice stopped her.
"Run, and I'll get mad."
"Uuu… You're too much, Yeonja. Now this body can't even run?"
Head hung low, she froze in place. Wiggling her toes—adorably pitiful.
Ian couldn't help chuckling.
"Just don't run, that's all."
"But this body can't look at you right now."
"It's fine. Cheong-ah got a bit pissed, but she gets it—Bella's prank."
He stroked her hair as he spoke. She usually loved the head pats, but now she just seemed down.
Ian sighed inwardly. No helping it.
"Dina."
"Yes? What is it?"
"C'mere."
"Eh, wha—?! Y-Yeonja?!"
In one swoop, he scooped her up.
She yelped in panic, but words were useless.
What good was verbal protest? And she couldn't thrash—might hurt him with her strength.
Meekly cradled like a princess, she stared as Ian grinned.
"Shall we go?"
"G-Go where?"
Oh—finally, this body…?
Her voice trembled with anticipation. Ian just laughed.
"Cake. Asked you to make some. Sweet potato—your favorite. Figured we'd chat about my new ability too."
"…Hah."
Of course.
Last battle, she'd kissed him first—got her hopes up.
…Still sees this body as a kid.
"Dina? What's wrong?"
"…Never mind. Let's go."