Birds of a Feather
"Birds of a feather flock together. Since even the young leader doesn't seem to mind, I'm all for it. From now on, I'll call you father-in-law."
"Heh heh heh. Good. Very good."
"Heh heh heh."
Killing intent crept up from behind me like a snake, making my back prickle, but everyone here was on par with Dokgo Hwaryeon's realm—or stronger. Plus, the matchmaker was none other than Geom-ma, a Fire Realm master and one of the elders, so Dokgo Hwaryeon, who had been radiating that intent, seemed to give up on further complaints. She just ground her teeth and pinched my back repeatedly.
As if to say, 'How could you do this to me?'—pure jealousy.
Compared to the obsessive intensity when we first met, Dokgo Hwaryeon now acted like a sulking cat. I smirked in satisfaction and nodded.
'Looks like controlling my dick every time she disobeys worked wonders.'
Crunch.
But apparently it wasn't enough yet—she pinched my back using her mana. At this point, I decided to go all in and make her suck my fingers clean today. With the elders and division leaders now clinging to Geom-ma like puppies, the meeting wrapped up in the blink of an eye.
'When it comes to work, slacking off and delegating is the way to go. Heh heh.'
+++
"Seriously, why'd you have to tease like that?"
"..."
Dokgo Hwaryeon glared at me with gloomy eyes, her spirit crushed. Her realm was impressive, but thanks to my dragon bones and superhuman physique, her antics just looked cute now. I chuckled and pinched her cheek.
"Get off."
"Ge-t off~"
"Eek!"
"Heh heh."
I mimicked her with a mischievous grin, and her cheeks flushed red as she buried her face in my chest. The thud echoing through my solar plexus suggested she'd used mana, but I didn't budge an inch. With a sigh, she leaned into me.
"I can't do a damn thing to you anymore."
"What were you even gonna do? For real."
"You don't need to know."
I snorted softly at her tantrum and gently stroked the back of her head.
"No weird shit with seasonings or whatever this time, got it?"
"Kuh."
"Why act all hurt over something obvious?"
Her hand gripping my chest trembled, but she clearly grasped the situation. I was inwardly proud of her.
"She's Geom-ma's daughter, so we'll be seeing a lot of her. Might as well think of it as gaining a little sister. Relax, sis."
"Li... little sister?"
"Yeah. On the surface, you and Geom-ma's daughter are the closest match, right? You're the Heavenly Demon's daughter, and she's Geom-ma's."
"..."
The tension in her grip on my clothes eased, ambiguous emotions flickering in her wide eyes.
"However..."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Just as her lips parted hesitantly, a knock announced the arrival of our topic of conversation. Holding Dokgo Hwaryeon close, I spoke up.
"Come in."
The door opened smoothly, and Geom-ma's daughter entered in pristine white palace robes, bowing her head.
"Th-this humble girl, Wiso-hwa, greets the young leader and vice military officer."
Her rank insignia was one thing, but she shrank involuntarily under the pressure from me and Dokgo Hwaryeon, both at Superb realm. She bowed deeply.
'What the... she looks just like a golden retriever.'
Maybe due to the cult's location on China's outskirts, or Geom-ma's unique tastes, Wiso-hwa had a mixed heritage—her hair was a rich golden blonde rather than pale platinum, paired with naturally blue eyes. She was a Western beauty.
Where Dokgo Hwaryeon gave off a sharp, cat-like prickliness, Wiso-hwa's trembling blonde locks and droopy eyes screamed innocent puppy. Yet she retained her mixed-blood allure: assertive breasts and a slender figure that accentuated her charms.
I swallowed discreetly and glanced over—sure enough, Dokgo Hwaryeon was staring at Wiso-hwa's ample chest with fresh envy in her eyes. Unable to bully Geom-ma's daughter outright, she just bit her lip. Adorable.
'Prickly cat meets naive puppy. Heh heh.'
Just picturing their dynamic made my lips twitch.
"Come on in, Wiso-hwa, right? Geom-ma didn't say much?"
Her dull blonde hair swayed as she hurried over with short steps, gazing at me like a fanatic idol fan with dreamy eyes.
"Yes! He, he said to make sure I get pregnant!"
"Eek!"
"Eep!"
Dokgo Hwaryeon shot her a venomous glare, but Wiso-hwa just shrugged timidly, her eyes unwavering as she approached me—practically begging, 'Deal with this crazy bitch.'
It felt refreshingly bold. Most women I'd encountered had been submissive. Even Dokgo Hwaryeon, prickly on the outside, respected traditional values deep down. If I had to compare, maybe Plang before she snapped? But Wiso-hwa didn't seem like that spoiled type.
Meek but speaks her mind—bold when it counts. That was my first impression.
'Good heart, but raised by that old Geom-ma bastard?'
As I chuckled at the thought, Dokgo Hwaryeon puffed up her modest chest and blocked Wiso-hwa's path, deciding enough was enough.
"Even if you're Geom-ma's daughter, I'm the young leader of the Divine Cult. You think this attitude is proper with no real position?"
"I, I do have a position..."
"Hmph! Probably just vice division leader of Geom-ma's personal guard or something. Don't get cocky with that and show some respect."
Dokgo Hwaryeon pettily cornered her. Geom-ma's daughter was a golden spoon, sure, but Dokgo Hwaryeon's status transcended that. Wiso-hwa, unused to such power plays, kept glancing at me with a pouty face.
'Makes sense—no one but Hwaryeon sis outranks an elder's kid. She's never been bullied like this. Heh heh.'
Before I could intervene, Dokgo Hwaryeon's scolding escalated, met by Wiso-hwa's defiant excuses. They bickered with furrowed brows and sharp words, but to me, it was pure comedy. I watched their "battle" with a warm smile until a cautious knock sounded. Someone entered, bowing low.
"You called for me, young leader."
"Huh? Long time no see."
The woman snapped her head up at my words. Her eyes were duller than before, but she'd adapted well to cult life—still sporting pale skin and voluptuous curves. Seol Hwarin.
"V-vice military officer..."
Seeing me again, her eyes welled up. A former main heroine with real talent, now dressed in the black garb of Dokgo Hwaryeon's elite guard, Am-hwa. I chuckled and slid next to her frozen form, draping an arm over her shoulder.
As my arm settled naturally, an overwhelming fullness—nothing like Dokgo Hwaryeon's—filled my hand.
"Hngh..."
Reunited after so long, Seol Hwarin melted into me, inhaling deeply. My hand slithered through her disheveled robes like a snake, toying with her already stiff peak.
"Haah!"
Her moan, triggered by my scent and the stimulation, filled the suddenly silent room.
'Hm?'
Something felt off. I turned—Dokgo Hwaryeon biting her lip, Wiso-hwa tilting her head in confusion.
"What, no more fighting?"
"No, looks like I have work to do today. Time to go."
Seol Hwarin's body twitched against me at Dokgo Hwaryeon's words. Wiso-hwa had no choice thanks to Geom-ma, so Hwaryeon was venting her rage on Seol Hwarin instead. Imagining the world's strongest women in a heated snail-beam stare-down made my pants tighten.
"Um, who's that woman?"
Unlike us, used to this, Wiso-hwa eyed Seol Hwarin suspiciously—wondering if there were more hidden rivals besides Dokgo Hwaryeon.
"Oh, this is Seol Hwarin. One of the later-generation hostages we snatched from the Volcanic Sect. Keeping her around 'cause she's pretty decent."
"Ah! One of the hostages? Send her away!"
Learning Seol Hwarin was just a pretty face with no rank, Wiso-hwa clapped delightedly and approached with a beaming smile.
Well-adapted to the cult, Seol Hwarin quickly slipped from my arms, straightened her clothes, and bowed.
"N-nice to meet you!"
Slap!
Wiso-hwa backhanded Seol Hwarin's cheek without mercy, despite her polite greeting. Stunned by the sudden shift, I froze as Wiso-hwa glanced at me and Dokgo Hwaryeon, mumbling sheepishly.
"A... a lowly thing like you shouldn't be in the vice military officer's arms... right?"