#217 Busted
Back on the beach, there was no sign of the Ice Queen I was looking for—just Gumiho. She was checking on the conditions of Wind Line and White Knight.
Oh ho? She shouldn't have been able to spot a thing, but she found them anyway?
The sun hadn't risen yet, so the sea should have been pitch black. Yet she'd somehow fished Wind Line out of those depths. Was this what set monsters apart? Or more importantly, how was he still alive after being underwater for so long? Should I be impressed by Gumiho for rescuing him from the murky abyss, or by Wind Line for not drowning?
Either way, I approached Gumiho as she examined the two S-rank heroes.
"They're both okay?"
"Yes. They barely escaped with their lives... but more importantly."
"Yeah?"
"Why are you acting so familiar with me? And back off. Why are you standing so close?"
Gumiho eyed me warily. Was it the fox in her? Her guard was sky-high. But that reaction was a big mistake on her part.
You never give me an opening like that!
"...I'm disappointed in you, Gumiho."
"Pardon? I told you to back off, and you're disappointed...?"
"I saved Valencia, the Hero Association president, from dying at the hands of Demon Baron and his crew in Shadow Killer's underground secret base."
I brought up the past, and Gumiho flinched.
"Th-that hasn't been confirmed yet..."
"I used one of my most precious treasures to keep Valencia alive."
"..."
Gumiho fell silent.
"Today, I held off Siren all by myself until your heroes could mobilize."
Well, technically, the quest forced my hand, but thanks to me, the heroes had time to prepare for the fight.
"And on top of that, I fought alongside your heroes to drive her off. Yet you call that acting familiar? Is that any way to treat the man who risked his life with you? Even if I'm a villain, that's too much!"
"Th-that's..."
I closed in on Gumiho and raised my voice. She flinched and backed away.
"Ah! Hold on!"
"What?"
Overwhelmed by my momentum and logic, Gumiho finally spoke. Go ahead, say anything! The greatest genius Dark City ever produced, top graduate of Sherlock Holmes University and master detective, will dismantle every argument you throw at me!
"But where's Siren? You said you killed her."
"..."
Damn! Can't argue that one!
A few heroes who staked their lives to stop her had died—admittedly a small price for holding her back, but dead was dead. If I admitted I'd let her go, Gumiho would blow a fuse. A live Siren could return anytime, forcing them to pour resources into defenses and security systems. That'd cost a fortune.
But who am I? Dark City's greatest genius, top of Sherlock Holmes University! Even if logic failed, I could bluff my way out. Watch closely, Gumiho!
"Ugh... ugh...!"
"Huh?"
"The wound from her ramming me... ugh!"
"..."
"I-I tried to kill Siren, but she suddenly charged me and fled... I lost her... argh! It hurts so much!"
"..."
I clutched my stomach and rolled on the ground. Sand stuck to my clothes, but who cared?
"So you're saying Siren got away fine?"
"N-not fine... You know how badly I beat her. She ran off in that state..."
How'd she know she got away unscathed?!
"Ugh... I trusted you because you seemed so confident! Should've killed her myself!"
Gumiho stomped in frustration. Sure, a pristine Siren might be trouble, but the beat-up version I left her? Gumiho could've handled it.
"Aaaah!"
"I'm so sorryyyy!!!!!!!"
Gumiho screamed at the sky, and I apologized even louder.
"Hoo..."
"..."
After yelling for a while, her anger subsided into heavy breaths. I'd knelt before her without realizing, gauging her mood.
Wait—why was I kneeling to her?
Steel Armor's ultimate humiliation...! But I didn't see it that way. I could kneel to my woman anytime—this was the mark of a true alpha male! What? She wasn't mine yet? Details. She'd be soon enough.
"Anyway, Steel Armor. I have a question."
"Shoot."
"How did you recognize me?"
"Huh? What're you talking about?"
"I'm wearing a mask. How'd you know it was me?"
"Your voice, obviously."
"Exactly! I've never even spoken to you before. How could you recognize my voice?"
"Huh? What're you on about now?"
"Pardon?"
"We've never talked? We have. And it wasn't just talk—we got physical."
"Wh-wh-what?! When did I ever get physical with you?!"
Gumiho shouted in panic. Oops, bad phrasing.
"Ah, my bad. I was going for rhyme and it came out misleading. Precisely, you didn't mix bodies—you hugged me tight. Wrapped those legs around my waist like a vice. Nearly crushed me..."
Crushed? Yeah—nearly suffocated me into oblivion.
"When did I ever?! Stop spouting nonsense!"
"You really don't remember?"
"...Remember what?"
"Back then, in Shadow Killer's underground base. After I saved Valencia, you showed up. Kicked and punched me outta nowhere."
"...Me?"
What? She really didn't remember?
Makes sense. She didn't look sane.
She'd been muttering about killing me nonstop—like a berserk switch flipped.
"Sigh. Even if I explained what happened that day, you wouldn't believe me. Ask Valencia later. He'll know what went down."
I stood, brushed sand off my knees, and turned to leave. Thought I'd chat her up and boost affinity, but no point if she remembered nothing.
"Where are you going?"
"Where else? Staying here? With you guys? Reporters might snap us together and spin it weird. Villain's gotta bounce. I'm beat anyway."
"W-wait!"
"Oh, and say your heroes repelled Siren. I don't care about credit."
"Huh? What do you...?"
"Saving people is reward enough. See ya."
"Wait! Hey! Steel Armor!"
Gumiho called desperately from behind, but I didn't turn. Just waved and strolled off the beach.
A real man speaks with his back! Adios!
After parting with Gumiho, I wandered the city streets searching for Ice Queen. She said she wanted to talk, but where was she? So I went hunting myself—and soon spotted her. She was creating ice platforms to tend to heroes and civilians.
"There you are."
"Oh? Sorry, I kept you waiting."
"Nah, not really. I came 'cause I was bored anyway. You had something to say? Spill it."
"...One sec."
Ice Queen hesitated, then led me to a secluded corner. No one collapsed nearby—precaution to ensure no eavesdroppers. What was so secretive?
Don't tell me...?
She's finally gonna call me Master?!
If so, thank you very much—overwhelmingly so!
"Hoo... Steel Armor."
"Yeah."
I gazed at the sighing Ice Queen with sparkling eyes. Come on! Call me Master already!
"...Jeong-nam."
"Yeah. Hurry up and call me Mas—wait. What'd you say?"
Her words blindsided me, short-circuiting my brain. What? How'd she figure out my identity? Testing me? I played dumb.
"...Ha! What was that? Jeong-nam? You think I'm your boyfriend? Sure, the guy's built and handsome—I admit it—but I'm way hotter and..."
"Why hide who you are?"
"..."
Her eyes behind the ice mask burned with certainty. Whatever I said, she'd peg Jeong-nam and Steel Armor as one.
How'd she know?
"Fine, let's hear it. Why mistake me for that guy?"
"Your smile."
"Huh?"
"It's the same when you smile."
"..."
I'd worn a mask even hugging her. But groping this captivating woman with just hands and dick felt insufficient—I'd lifted the mask's lower edge for kisses and bites everywhere. Of course she'd seen my smile.
But that alone wouldn't convince her, right?
"Looking back, it's weird I didn't notice sooner. So identical. The way you smile at me, this massive build."
"..."
"Wasn't fully sure. You showed up when I was with Jeong-nam, so I couldn't confirm. But today... I knew."
"Knew what?"
"If you're a multi-power user who shouldn't exist, then it's possible."
"..."
Made sense. Publicly a body enhancer, yet I wielded lightning right in front of her. If I had multiple powers, cloning was fair game. That's how she connected the dots.
"Two questions."
"...Shoot."
"Why'd you do that to me?"
"..."
"Do you... have any idea how... hard it was? Betrayed, in another man's arms—how much it hurt."
"...Sorry."
"Why'd you do it?"
"..."
Why the cuckold play? Simple—it turned me on. But admitting that would crush her. I stayed silent.
Looking up at my mute form, Ice Queen asked her second question.
"Did you... really love me?"
I couldn't answer the first. But this one? Easy.
"Yes."
"...Really? You truly love me?"
"Yes. Can't live without you. Always will."
"..."
She stared. Her ice-masked eyes closed, silver gaze vanishing.
Long moments later, she spoke.
"...Hold me."
"Huh?"
"I said hold me, you idiot."
"...Okay."
I pulled her close—tight, so she couldn't slip away. Like on the beach, she reached around, stroking my back.
"Pervert."
"..."
Facts only—no retort.
"Was holding me like that that good?"
Less scolding, more sulking. I answered honestly.
"Frankly... yeah."
"Such a pervert."
"Sorry. And thanks."
"Whatever, pervert."
Not my planned ending, but it worked out. Thank goodness.
'Long live this 19+ game world.'
If not for its adult-game roots, I'd deserve a slap—or worse. She might've hated me forever, even tried killing me. But this erotic game's forgiveness? Pure luck.
'Yuna, hang on. Threesome time.'
Later, I'd snag her for a romp with Ice Queen and Aqua Girl.
"...She got away?"
"Y-yeah..."
"...You idiot!"
Ice Queen chewed her out.