9. Dinaria
"Then, darling. I'll tidy up the room a bit and come down, so you go ahead first."
"The room? What needs tidying?"
"It's nothing much. Just that stuff over there, and that."
Ju Cheong-ah pointed to the corner of the room as she answered. Following her fingertip, I saw the items I'd bought first from the blacksmith scattered around—bolt sets, magazines for the crossbow, and the like.
"Oh, right. Are those okay?"
"Yes, mostly intact except for a few shattered magazines. They seem pretty sturdy, well-made at that smithy."
"Just a few magazines? That's not bad. That blacksmith was pretty friendly, too. I could buy whetstones and such from them from now on."
"Really? Then for whetstones or sword oil, we'll go there instead of the general store."
"Yeah. But let me sort those out— you go down first, Cheong-ah."
"It's fine. You're still hurting, aren't you, darling? Besides, this is the kind of thing a wife like me should handle. Or... do you not trust me to do it?"
Cheong-ah's eyes drooped just a touch at the corners. When she put it like that, insisting on doing it myself would make me the bad guy. Damn, you can never win arguments like this. In the end, I threw up both hands and nodded.
Her slightly wilted, gloomy expression instantly bloomed into a gentle smile, like it had never happened.
"Got it. I'll head down first. Cheer up."
"Yes, go on ahead, darling. Oh, get me my usual, please?"
"Sure thing."
And so, I reluctantly left the sorting of my purchases to Cheong-ah and headed down to the dining hall. It felt like I'd forced it on her somehow, but it wasn't entirely wrong.
Down in the restaurant, I spotted Bella at our usual corner table, knocking back drinks, while beside her, Dina kept her flushed face buried behind her palms, head bowed low.
What the hell? Why's she drinking at this hour?
Bella wasn't allowed booze until after dinner at the earliest. We'd had no restrictions at first, but on days off, she'd drink from morning till night, start blubbering, and eventually Cheong-ah snapped. No choice but to set the rule. Bella had tearfully agreed to avoid getting kicked from the party.
So why was she already at it? Had I mixed up the time? A glance out the window showed evening settling in, sun nearly gone. My eyes okay? Clock confirmed: hands at 6.
Huh, dinner time after all.
As I approached quietly, I caught Dina, still hiding her face, chattering away at Bella.
"So then, Yeonja strips that grumpy young lady's clothes right off."
"Of course, kiddo. They're husband and wife. Husband and wife. Don't you know what that means? It's what people do to make kids like you."
Crazy bitch, nothing's off-limits with a kid. I nearly lunged to smack the back of Bella's head, but Dina's voice cut in.
"Wh-what...? As if this body wouldn't know such things! My form may look young now, but... even so..."
"Yeah, yeah. Famous fighter from three thousand years ago. We know, we know. You already told me."
Three thousand years? What the hell?
I'd heard from Cheong-ah that Dina's identity was no joke, but three thousand years? I froze mid-swing, and Bella noticed my shadow and presence, glancing back.
She greeted me with a grin, jabbing my gut with her elbow.
"Hey, what? Ian. You're here? You little shit. Party leader gets his ass kicked wandering off."
"Shut it, Bella. It was 5-on-1. One-on-one, I'd win."
"Pfft. Bullshit. Still a loser."
I shoved her mocking shoulder and pulled a chair next to Dina, who was peeking up. Her sparkling eyes met mine as she asked shyly.
"Y-Yeonja. When did you come down?"
"Just now. What were you two talking about?"
"What else? The kid walked in on you banging Cheong-ah, so I was hearing the juicy details."
"Sh-shut up, you beast bitch!"
"Beast bitch? Anyway, why'd you come down so quick without finishing? Dick problem? Premature?"
"...No, you psycho. Watch your mouth around the kid."
Bella's already loose mercenary mouth got even looser with booze. Princess, my ass. What kind of place is the Mountain Kingdom?
She snorted at my jab, chugged her beer mug, wiped the foamy lips, and said,
"Ahh~. Kid my ass. She's thre—mmph?! Mmph!"
"Quiet, you beast bitch! Didn't I say I'd explain to Yeonja myself?!"
Dina lunged, clamping Bella's mouth shut so desperately half her tiny hand vanished inside.
"Mmph-mmph?!"
"Aah! D-don't lick my hand, you beast bitch!"
Dina yanked back in horror moments later. Bella grinned wolfishly at her and spat a mouthful of saliva into an empty bowl on the table.
"Keh... Salty. Perfect snack!"
"Y-you...! Yeonja! This beast bitch is crazy!"
"Haa..."
What a circus. My head throbbed. No idea when they got chummy, but at least they seemed to get along.
Screw it. "Hey, auntie. Order, please."
While they bickered, I ordered dinner. For me: cutlet with sausages like always. Cheong-ah: salad with fish. Same for Dina. Bella had a pile of mugs and snacks already—no need.
She chugged another as I ordered.
"Ease up, you lunatic. What if Cheong-ah finds out? You'll be dry a week."
"Dry my ass. That bitch said it's fine. Hey, perfect timing. Listen, Ian. I'm so wronged."
Bella's eyes reddened. She sniffled sadly, set down her mug, and whined.
"So, fuck. Me and her? Your wife? We ate together, hit the baths, everything."
"Why not ask if you're shacking up in Namcheondong too."
"What's that? Namcheondong? Some gadget?"
"Never mind, sorry. Go on."
She glared, chugged more, pouted, then continued.
"Fuuuck... Cut me off, my ass. Anyway, we went shopping after."
"And?"
Gulp-gulp. "Kyaah..."
"But that Cheong-ah bitch makes the kid try on clothes non-stop. Felt like doll dress-up with little Aria and Sierra back in the day. Got bored, so I... dozed off?"
"Dozed off, then?"
"Woke up—gone! Clerk demands payment for the kid's clothes. No Cheong-ah! Fuck! So wronged. Abandoned me, and she cleaned out my pocket money!"
"Poor Bella... You felt left out. Cheong-ah and Dina were wrong."
"Right?! So that cheap bitch said sorry, drink early as apology? Heh. Jealous?"
"...Yeah. Super jealous."
"Hehe, good. Want one?"
"Nah. Booze before dinner bloats me."
"Tch, buzzkill. More for me."
Finally calming her, Dina tugged my sleeve, whispering aggrievedly.
"Yeonja. It was unavoidable—you were in danger."
"I know, Dina. Cheong-ah told me you saved me. Thanks."
I stroked her head. Her pout melted into a beaming grin. So cute, I used both hands, ruffling her soft hair. Like petting a freshly washed, dried Samoyed.
"Hehe, feels good. More, Yeonja."
"Yeah, yeah."
Triumphant Dina. Maybe that irked her—tipsy Bella slurred,
"Hey, fuck. Kid. Ian's talking to me. No cutting in."
"Hmph! Grumpy girl, maybe—but you're nothing to Yeonja, beast!"
Bella smirked, raised her black metallic arm—my power's gift—and patted it proudly with the other hand.
"Nothing? See this arm?"
"That dingy arm—what's to brag? How's it Yeonja's business?!"
"Not his business?"
"No!"
"Heh... What business."
Bella shot up, staggered toward me.
"Hey, kid. Watch close."
She grabbed my collar. Breath caught, I tugged back—no give. No mana surge, yet...!
"Gah, what're you—"
Smack. Soft lips crashed in. Her tongue invaded my open mouth, coiling mine. I'd always initiated—being ambushed was dizzying. Dazed, she ravaged every corner. Bitter beer, vague grain, her saliva flooded in.
Slurp. Smack.
"Pwah..."
Lips parted slow. Saliva thread stretched, snapped.
Bella wiped her dripping lips, grinned at Dina.
"See? We're that close, kid."
"Y-youuuu...!"
Dina gnashed teeth. Her rage-filled punch rocketed toward Bella's face.