6. Dungeon Agales - Conclusion
When I came to, we were already outside the dungeon. The sun had set, plunging everything into dark night. The moon hung in the sky... or at least it seemed to, though the heavens themselves were barely visible. My mind was still foggy, fresh from passing out, so my brain wasn't firing on all cylinders yet. Gazing up at the vast, empty sky, I felt a stuffy ache in my chest, yearning for it to clear—but something blocked my view, which only irritated me more for no good reason.
What the hell is this... What's covering my eyes?
"Nngh..."
I groaned and stretched my arm upward, batting away whatever it was with my hand. It felt slightly firm, like touching animal-hide clothing, but softer and springy underneath. Then came a familiar voice—husky and rough, belonging to a woman.
"F-fuck...! If you're awake, say something first, you bastard, instead of groping my tits right off the bat?!"
"...Bella?"
I mumbled, and her body twisted away from my hand. There was her familiar face, brimming with wild allure.
I groped at the air absentmindedly with my outstretched hand, and Bella recoiled in horror.
"Hey, cut it out. Stop pawing at me."
"No, I mean... why are you here? Isn't it Cheong-ah?"
"Why? Cheong-ah went to wash up for a bit."
"Oh... right?"
No wonder the back of my head felt harder and less comfy than usual—it wasn't Cheong-ah after all.
I tried to sit up, but a sharp zing shot through me. My muscles refused to obey. Ah, damn it... No way I could get up alone.
Glancing at Bella cautiously, I said, "Uh, mind helping me up for a sec? My muscles are killing me; can't manage on my own."
"Grab on."
"Thanks."
The arm she offered was her other one—not the black metallic one created through our sense-sharing, but the opposite side. Come to think of it, how much time had passed?
As I pulled myself up with her help, I stole a glance at her. Her right side looked empty. The arm was gone, meaning my ability had worn off. That implied at least a full day had passed.
I suggested restoring her arm first, but Bella shook her head slightly.
"Nah."
"Come on... It'll be inconvenient without it again."
"I said it's fine. You just woke up, and you're already itching to suck on a woman's lips? Do Cheong-ah first. She's... y'know, blind again."
"But Cheong-ah's off washing up. I can do her after she gets back..."
"Argh, just... do her first, you idiot. Fuck... She took such good care of you. The least you could do is prioritize that shit. You have no idea how important it is to a woman."
"...Huh?"
"Listen, dumbass. For the last two days, she didn't even hit the bathroom, just kept your heavy-ass head on her lap, tending to you nonstop. Makes you think she's not really your wife for nothing, huh? I finally shooed her off to wash up because I couldn't take it anymore. You gotta look after her a little, right?"
"Two days..."
Two whole days since I blacked out. And Cheong-ah had been watching over me the whole time. I clamped my lips shut.
"Where's Cheong-ah?"
"Washing up, like I said."
"No, I mean, where exactly?"
Bella jerked her head to the side.
"Keep going that way; there's a stream. She's probably there. Go check."
"Thanks. One more favor?"
"...High-maintenance bastard."
With her support, I stood. Lying down had made every muscle scream like it was breaking, but upright, it felt a bit better. Grinning at Bella, I thanked her profusely.
She waved me off dismissively, back turned, like I was a nuisance.
"Whatever, get lost."
Before leaving, I called her name.
"Hey, Bella."
"What?"
As she turned, I lunged, wrapping my arms around her waist. Her arm screamed in pain, but I could handle that much. I'd endured far worse agony and exhaustion. Muscle soreness was nothing; the real issue was mobility, not enduring the ache.
"What the—?!"
My hands encircled her waist, and she yelled. I yanked her close into my embrace, activated my ability, pressed my lips to hers, and slipped my tongue inside.
Smack—our lips met.
"Mmph...! Mm...!"
Thud—thud.
She pounded my chest in resistance, then her arms went limp, dangling.
"Mm... mmm..."
Haah.
A brief kiss fully reactivated our sense-sharing. I pulled back. A wave of fatigue hit my right arm—Bella's right arm now sported the black metallic prosthetic again.
Her face flushed crimson, she glared daggers at me.
"You fucker. I told you not to do me first..."
"You're my woman too. Order doesn't matter."
"Wh-what...? Like I said before, when did I become your woman?!"
"And Cheong-ah won't get jealous over this. Don't worry. See ya, honey."
"Hey, fuck...! Who's your honey, you shit...!"
Dodging her swearing, swinging fist with effort, I headed the way she'd pointed—toward where Cheong-ah was washing up.
Watching Ian's retreating figure, Bella bit her lip—the one that had just been pressed against his.
"Like hell she doesn't get jealous, you lunatic. That girl's jealousy is off the charts."
She recalled how, just for offering to watch Ian while Cheong-ah washed up, she'd gotten a scorching glare. In front of Ian, Cheong-ah played it cool and composed, hiding it as best she could... but.
"Ju Cheong-ah's such a cheapskate about that stuff, and he has no clue."
Remember how she'd pounced when Bella got her arm back via sense-sharing? Cheong-ah's mutterings, barely audible, still echoed in her ears.
"Fuck, that crazy bitch. She's gonna flip her shit again because I kissed him first..."
Imagining Cheong-ah going berserk, swinging her sword like a maniac, sent a slight chill down Bella's spine. Not truly scared, but their vibes clashed badly; she didn't want more clashes. Too annoying.
Still.
"...Not that it feels bad."
Gazing at Ian's fading silhouette, Bella grinned.
Yeah, it didn't feel bad at all. She touched her upper lip, remembering the kiss. Tonight's breeze felt cooler than usual.
Into the woods for a short while, and soon the sound of running water reached me from afar. I followed it.
How far I'd gone, I wasn't sure, but a moonlight-glinted stream came into view. Nearby, on a rock, sat a woman staring blankly. Cheong-ah.
Her sense-sharing had expired too, so her eyes were bandaged again, sightless.
Crunch—crunch.
Approaching, her head turned my way.
"Darling...?"
"Yeah, it's me. How'd you know?"
"Who knows? How did I?"
Cheong-ah smiled faintly. Moonlit rock made it look even more beautiful. Drawn like a moth to flame, I approached without thinking.
"Ah, care to sit?"
"Sure."
I sat beside her as she shifted. We held hands; her head gently rested on my shoulder. Her familiar scent and slight weight comforted me.
"What're you up to?"
"Just listening to the water. It's all I can do right now."
Her soft reply. I nodded, and she continued.
"...Yeah."
"Darling."
"Hm? I'm listening."
"Please... don't do anything that dangerous again."
"Dangerous...? Oh."
The moment before blackout flashed back. My dazed response made her lift her head from my shoulder, facing me. Sightless eyes stared intently. She gripped my hand tight.
"That was too dangerous, you know?"
"...Yeah, well."
It had been. The ceiling was at least three or four stories high, and I was on fire. How was I even alive? Body intact? Shouldn't I have full-body burns, broken bones?
Puzzled, I asked. Cheong-ah explained.
"The potion you prepared ahead. We used it. Bella knew how."
"Oh, right? I forgot..."
"Arm and ribs still seemed short even after, so we bandaged them."
Right, the potion. Expensive, so it'd sat forgotten in my bag's corner.
But damn, potent stuff. Church-made, top quality.
Truth be told, mid-fall, I'd thought oh shit. Ceiling ablaze, demon's screams, plummeting... But if it happened again, I'd do the same. Felt damn good being a real adventurer for once.
Couldn't say that to Cheong-ah now, though—she'd nag. No regrets, anyway.
A grin crept up; she poked my side.
"Oof, why?"
"You don't seem sorry at all."
"Haha..."
Awkward laugh. Blind, yet her senses were sharp.
"Anyway, darling... I want to see the sky again."
"Yeah."
Like with Bella, I kissed her, tongues entwining. Slowly unwinding her bandage, she murmured low.
"...Tastes like Bella, darling."
What kinda taste is that?
"I, uh, did Bella first since hers was done. You okay? Not mad?"
"Why would I be? Would your humble wife get jealous over something so trivial? It's what you decided."
"Right? My Cheong-ah's too good for that."
"...Yes, of course."
We sat there chatting for a while.
Around the time Ian and his party cleared Dungeon Agales, a minor disturbance stirred deeper in the forest.
At a massive tree piercing the clouds like a skewer. Beneath it, roots churned restlessly.
Thud—thud—thud.
Something pounded fiercely; earth shifted repeatedly. Then boom! Ground split, a stone coffin's lid rocketed skyward.
"Agh... my back. How long was I lying there? Used up all my strength just pushing this off."
A frail, childlike girl's voice echoed from within. Its owner clambered out laboriously, collapsing on the dirt.
Fresh-faced like a young girl, she stared blankly at the clear blue sky, murmuring.
"...I'm starving."