Chapter 5

After that scorching first night with Princess Bellatrix of the Mountain Kingdom, the days blurred into a haze of morning-to-sunset sightseeing around the royal capital with Cheong-ah, followed by nights devouring her body. Three days flew by in an instant. Realizing we'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barely slept last night either, I cracked open my bleary eyes.

A lazy yawn escaped me as I stared blankly ahead. Beside me, a warm, soft feminine warmth pressed against me with just the right weight. The steady rhythm of her breathing—kooo—filled the air. Cheong-ah hadn't bothered pulling up the covers; she clung tightly to my arm in her sleep. The reason was obvious: her already pale skin was smeared and crusted with dull, off-white traces, layered on like paint. It wasn't shame or guilt about the mess that stopped her from covering up—it was just that it'd feel sticky and gross under the blanket. Besides, after going at it so fiercely, both of us were too wiped out to bother washing up.

Now that I looked closer, it was pretty damn erotic. "Morning, sleepyhead."

She must've been more exhausted than me. Normally, her stamina outpaced mine by miles, so why was she so fragile in bed? It puzzled me, but recalling her in the throes of passion made it all too understandable...

I gently brushed the hair from her eyes, careful not to dislodge her grip on my arm, then sat up. "...Guess I should wash up first."

My body was caked in her fluids, sweat, saliva, and god knows what else from the night. After a hot shower and a quick towel-dry, I stepped out to find Cheong-ah already sitting up on the bed, her face dazed.

I sat beside her as she rubbed her eyes sleepily. "Awake now?"

"Yes, my lord. Sleep well?" Her voice was still a bit hoarse.

I poured water from the bedside pitcher into a cup and handed it to her. "Thanks, my lord."

After sipping, she stretched her arms high, her full breasts jiggling with a soft plump. "Huuuuh...!"

That moan hit me right in the gut. Blood rushed south, my cock twitching heavily. No, no—hold it together. We'd made a deal: nothing while the sun was up.

I tore my eyes from her flawless nude form, humming the national anthem to suppress the urge. Cheong-ah tilted her head at me, glanced down, then covered her mouth and giggled. "Guess I'll go wash up too, my lord."

"Yeah... sure."

Her pert ass swayed enticingly as she walked away, those thighs and calves tracing a lewd line. "Wait just a bit?"

"Uh... yeah."

Hold it, hold it, Ian. "The East Sea and Mount Baekdu..." You're human, not some lust-crazed beast. "Grrr, fuck it—Cheong-ah!!!"

I bolted after her, flinging open the shower door and wrapping my arms around her waist. She startled. "M-my lord? What's—?"

Wild with need, I pushed her inside with me.

An hour later.

"Ahn... ah... m-my lord, we said no during the dayyy... aaang!!"

"You're the bad one, Cheong-ah! Teasing me when you're such a horny little—!"

"Haat, aaang... I trusted you... trusted youuu!! Haaah...!"

After that blissful hour, we emerged clean—but I caught Cheong-ah's side-eye glare. "You're awful."

"Ahem, sorry. You're just too gorgeous, Cheong-ah."

Silence hung for a beat. Her faintly resentful eyes widened round, then she pouted. "...Still hate you. We had a deal."

"My bad, okay?" Sensing she'd mostly forgiven me, I massaged her shoulders and snatched the towel to dry her long hair myself. "Let me handle it."

I toweled her damp locks, then used the warming magic tool to dry them fully, soothing her all the while.

Suddenly, the old-fashioned magic communicator linked to the hotel front desk—looking like a vintage phone in the room's corner—lit up brightly. What the hell? No reason for a call.

"Cheong-ah, hold on."

"Okay."

I picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

Down in the hotel lobby, the greeter wasn't who I expected. Hell, my head filled with confusion: Why the fuck is she here? At least the gender matched my guess. Princess-level status, too.

Spotting us, the red-haired woman with pumpkin-orange eyes lit up, raising her one good arm. Princess Bellatrix of the mountain kingdom—the "guest" waiting for us.

"Yo. Long time no see."

I flinched. Memories flooded back: her calling me vermin, sneering down as she swung that massive sword at my head. But nah, I'm not that powerless nobody anymore. I've got abilities now.

My palm grew clammy with sticky dread. Then Cheong-ah's rough calluses gripped my hand, grounding me. Tension melted; inferiority vanished, replaced by warmth.

"You okay, my lord?"

"Yeah, now I am."

I smiled back at her, shaking off the gooey unease. Thanks to Cheong-ah, that old trauma melted like snow in sunlight, leaving mild irritation. What the hell's this bitch doing here? Isn't she a wanted criminal? Parading around the capital like this?

I eyed Bellatrix warily. "How'd you find this place?"

"Eh, whatever... More importantly, what's your deal? Not just party members, huh."

"None of your business. Answer the question."

"Hah...? You talking to me like that?"

"Who else? You think I'd say that to Cheong-ah next to me?"

"Whoa..."

Bellatrix's face went slack, like she'd heard the impossible. Then fury twisted her features; she jabbed a thumb at Cheong-ah and snarled. "You, the guy who was shaking in his boots last time—what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠makes you so cocky? Hiding behind her?"

Scared? Sure. Pissed myself? Never. And why dodge my question to yap solo? Irritation boiling, I glared. "When did I piss myself? Don't make shit up, you crazy bitch."

"C-crazy bitch? Me? Ha, haha... hahahaha!!"

Shocked, she twisted her brow, then burst into manic laughter. After an eternity, she cocked a fist at me. "You little shit."

Whoosh. It flew in fast. I froze; Cheong-ah instantly blocked with her cane-sword.

But it never aimed for me—halted mid-air like a joke. Bellatrix grinned wolfishly. "Got some balls, huh? I like it. That's how people should be. Even if you're weak, stand tall against those who look down on you."

What the fuck is this? "...?"

I stared at her fist; she rolled her eyes awkwardly. "Uh, this is a mountain kingdom greeting. Fist bump, y'know? C'mon, do it? Feels shitty ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠being left hanging—hurts my pride."

"Haaa..."

Sighing, I bumped my fist against hers. Thud. She unfolded hers with a grin. "Hell yeah! We're cool now, right?"

"The fuck kinda logic is that?"

Who said anything about making up? She shrugged theatrically. "C'mon, water under the bridge. I paid for it already."

"Paid?"

She scratched her cheek, deflecting. "Eh, later. I'll explain."

"Pass."

Not curious anyway. Her "payment" was irrelevant. "So."

One burning question: how'd she track us, and why? I asked; she smacked her lips, grimaced, scratched her cheek. "Well... I wanna try adventuring. Got room ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in your party?"