Sub-Heroine - Soothing Ye-hwa
How much time had passed? As Seong Ye-han tried to pry away the now-calmed Shin Ye-hwa, she refused to let go, leaving one of his arms completely claimed. He somehow made it to Yeo Seon-hui and sank onto the sofa.
If it was just a casual cling, it might've been fine—but exaggerated a bit, it was practically hanging off him. God... just looking at it felt sweltering and sticky. Shin Ye-hwa's demeanor was like an animal rubbing against its possession, marking it with her scent—a territorial display if there ever was one.
"Wow..."
Yeo Seon-hui had been repeatedly stunned by Shin Ye-hwa's new side ever since her duel with Seong Ye-han. Today, though, the image updated once more, leaving her dazed.
Is this the true power of love? Even the densest person would instantly grasp the emotions in those eyes, that posture, Yeo Seon-hui thought.
Honestly, she still sometimes doubted if this was the same Shin Ye-hwa she knew. What if some doppelganger ability user had killed the real one, and this was an imposter? The change was that dramatic to her.
"Oppa... I love you... love you..."
"Mm..."
Yeo Seon-hui felt a sharp pang in her chest watching Shin Ye-hwa pour out her feelings shamelessly right in front of her. Last night, she'd devoured her so hotly and stickily, yet come morning, it felt casually dismissed. Not intentionally, sure—but after taking her precious virginity...
Yeo Seon-hui had always slept and woken alone, but this morning felt especially chilly. They'd fallen asleep as three, yet she woke alone. Searching for the others, she found them radiating their own pink bubble.
She'd maturely stepped aside, but for someone freshly initiated into womanhood, it stung. And now, right before her eyes, they were carving out their private space again. Just hours ago, she'd been part of it... He'd dragged her in on his whim in the first place! Wasn't that too much?
Did he sense Yeo Seon-hui's mood? Seong Ye-han glanced at her, then subtly raised his free arm—the one not trapped by Shin Ye-hwa. A gesture beckoning her closer, probably.
"W-what?"
Her embarrassing inner thoughts exposed, Yeo Seon-hui flushed and turned away, feigning ignorance. Trotting over now felt... off. A childish voice in her head screamed how petty! but she ignored it. Lovers got childish—that's why people spouted cringeworthy lines that'd make your hands curl up and fall off.
As she stubbornly held out, Seong Ye-han finally spoke.
"Aigoo... Did I overdo it last night? My arm's all tingly... Could someone rub it for me?"
He rolled his shoulder exaggeratedly. Yeo Seon-hui snorted at the sight. With his physical prowess unmatched in the world, a little intense exercise wouldn't make his arm sore. Unless it was that overused spot down there aching from friction.
Still unmoved, she watched as he tried again.
"Seon-hui noona. This arm feels cold and lifeless, like poor circulation... Can't you give it a massage?"
"Why me?"
"'Cause your touch feels nice?"
Not satisfied with the beauty right beside him? Yeo Seon-hui glanced at Shin Ye-hwa. Even with her boyfriend openly inviting another woman, Shin Ye-hwa just purred like a contented cat, eyes closed in bliss, still latched to his arm.
Well... considering she'd led last night's threesome, objecting to this minor skinship now would be weird.
"Noona, please? Yeah?"
His voice now laced with desperation. Finally, Yeo Seon-hui relented with a show of reluctance and scooted to his side. She felt his large, firm arm wrap around her waist. The muscle's texture through her thin clothes made her twitch reflexively.
Damn it... He hadn't done anything special—no groping her breasts, no stroking her thighs. Not a finger on any erogenous zone... Yet his hands gripping her hips alone recalled how she'd writhed and moaned, held firm in his grasp.
"Y-you said you wanted a massage?"
Shaking off the intrusive memories flooding her mind, she said it as sharply as she could. To Seong Ye-han, though, it just sounded cute.
"Is it 'cause your body's so warm, noona? Just holding you loosens me up."
Shameless. But she had no urge to push his hands away. Truth be told, her ripe body was fully conquered by him, her heart heavily tilted too.
"...You bad guy."
Murmuring that, she melted into his embrace. The shared warmth sapped her tension, like sinking into clouds. What karma did this guy rack up in his past life to attract all these beauties? So thinking, she pressed closer still. Even without action, some knot in her heart unraveled, filled by something sweet and fluffy.
If only time stopped like this... She wished for this peace and security to last forever.
But one thing marred it...
"Mm..."
Just his body heat and touch made her deep abdomen tingle, gushing hot, sticky honey. Yeo Seon-hui ignored her lewdly responsive body, pretending nonchalance as she secretly rubbed her thighs together.
This was all Seong Ye-han's fault. Her first time, yet he'd pumped her full of such intense, addictive pleasure. She had no choice but to accept her changed self.
A room dominated by vast floor-to-ceiling windows. Gazing at Seoul's nightscape—still aglow with civilization's lights post-Gates—Lee Yun raised her crystal glass. The amber liquid shimmered under the artificial glow.
"Hng..."
Personally, she preferred wine over whiskey. But that didn't mean she disliked whiskey—just if forced to choose. Tonight, she craved something different.
I thought we were in deep shit.
Sipping, Lee Yun reflected. She hadn't expected an S-rank hunter to step in personally. When she first heard Yeo Seon-hui had appeared, the shock... And hearing she'd clashed hard with Seong Ye-han? Things were derailed from the start.
But now, all was well. Still, it left her craving a steaming bowl of seolleongtang.
More popular than I thought. That guy.
During his year at the lab, he'd been a nondescript normie. Sure, his looks had sparked quiet buzz among female staff, but that was it.
"Shin Ye-hwa, Yeo Seon-hui, Park I-rae, Na Yu-ri..."
The first two went without saying. Park I-rae seemed overshadowed, but she'd hit A-rank a year post-Academy— a monster. Na Yu-ri too, an A-rank with a rare ability... For him to command such women— was this Korea or some Middle Eastern harem?
She half-expected knives at throats any second, yet they meshed without issue.
Not a mental manipulator... So what's the special draw?
Lee Yun couldn't fathom what made those haughty elites accept another woman besides her. But she couldn't deny the reality.
Whatever. Doesn't matter.
To her, their loose chastity was irrelevant. If Seong Ye-han were some lecher hitting on her first, it'd be exhausting—but he wasn't, so no harm. Their openness even expanded her options—good thing.
What a jackpot win.
Linking with him would be her life's greatest investment. She didn't know his ability yet, but uncovering it wouldn't be hard. Then, she'd edge closer to her long-cherished dream...
Clink.
Setting down the empty glass, Lee Yun stared at twinkling Seoul. Far off loomed the city's tallest skyscraper—post-Gate symbol, a corporate HQ.
[YH]
Logo shining boldly with exactly two letters from the top floor. Visible from anywhere in Seoul, unhidden.
Lee Yun gazed a moment, then turned away.
Saintess Ha Yeon-ah. She hated the title. She wasn't some zealot gripped by religious fervor, nor a divine girl saving the nation on godly command.
Especially since she harbored no fondness for half the world's population—men.
Her ordinary actions got saintly praise just because it was her... It creeped her out. She loathed the so-called religious figures shoving symbols at her for clout.
Of course, she wouldn't ignore the bleeding wounded before her. So Ha Yeon-ah summoned her power.
Hummm—hummm—
A warm, faint golden wave spread softly. Groans of pain filling the space hushed instantly; the thick blood scent dissipated.
These youths, dragged here "for the nation," sacrificing prime years. Pitiful enough—yet the monster war showed no end, real threats crushing them. Subjectively and objectively tragic.
Ha Yeon-ah felt a twinge of pity, nothing more. Without her sister's request, she'd skip this hassle.
Post-Gates, medicine had advanced massively thanks to monsters and mana. These patients would recover in time. Her power might just hasten their battlefield return.
So thinking, she continued volunteering. Each glow drew awed frenzy. Amid it, guys sneaking peeks at her chest.
"Haa..."
Finish quick and go home. See I-rae.
The guild's youngest: tall, sturdy, unladylike. Her sun-kissed tan alluring even to women. Top hunter post-Academy, yet she'd ignored all else for relentless training—a single-minded smith hammering iron daily. Sweat-drenched, her determination mesmerizing.
Park I-rae's pure, bright gaze—untainted, save from her sister. The joy it brought Ha Yeon-ah, the girl would never know.
Lately, though, I-rae grew moody, thoughtful—then abruptly took all her unused vacation. Ha Yeon-ah was grateful. A-rank now; rest was vital. She'd chalked the gloom to post-goal burnout.
So she'd smiled through the absence. When I-rae returned beaming, worries solved, Ha Yeon-ah rejoiced too.
But post-vacation, I-rae changed. Her fiery forge vibe turned fluffy as drifting clouds; she chattered endlessly about some guy.
Her constant sunny smile radiated positivity—but not joy for Ha Yeon-ah. Sister and guildmates cheered the "lovely girlfriend" phase. Not her.
What scum clawed at my precious maknae?
Love was base instinct—lust for heirs prettied up. That man just eyed I-rae's beauty and body. He'd tire and discard her.
Sister still believed in noble romance. Not her.
"Gotta verify..."
Ha Yeon-ah knew meddling was nosy, invasive. She couldn't force her man-hate on others.
So she'd test him. See if he matched I-rae—or was typical scum. If so, she'd reveal the truth to her.