A Luxurious Massage and the Guild Master's Resolve
Lee Seo-ran. As I stepped out of the shower, the warm air from the magic stone dryer—produced in the guild's research lab—enveloped my entire body.
"Oh..." It dried even the tiniest peach fuzz on my face, and my heavy, limp long hair turned soft and fluffy in an instant.
I wonder if they'd give me one if I asked... Washing my hair had been the most annoying part since becoming a woman! I should ask Tae-hoon to snag one for me.
As I marveled at the magic stone dryer, a woman in blue clothes approached with a white gown—
"Miss Seol Yun, this is the shower gown. Would you mind putting it on and following me?"
I slipped on the shower gown and stepped outside, where she smiled and guided me to a massage bed. She introduced herself as the masseuse in charge of the guild's lounge.
"Please take off the gown over there and lie down comfortably here~"
"Uh, well... um..." Even so, getting a full-body massage naked from a woman felt a bit... embarrassing? Hesitating because someone touching my body made me shy, the masseuse gently led me to the bed anyway.
My head slotted perfectly into the face hole.
"Peep?"
Mir-El slipped under the bed through the hole and came face-to-face with me.
"Pfft, Mir-El. Can you wait just a bit?"
"Peep~"
She nodded as if to say she understood, then curled up on the floor.
And soon, slippery massage oil poured onto my back.
"Eek?!"
"Oh dear, was it cold? Sorry about that?"
Before I could even say it was fine, her soft hands spread the oil across my back.
"Hnn...?"
"Relax. It won't hurt~"
"Hik!" No, it's not that—it tickles too much...!
"Kyaa?!" Somehow, an embarrassingly lewd sound escaped my lips and echoed through the lounge.
I wanted to clamp my mouth shut, but lying face-down on the massage bed with only my face poking out, I could only moan toward the floor. Good thing no one else was around...
"Nngh!"
As the proper massage began, a refreshing coolness that melted my muscles overwhelmed the tickling sensation, wave after wave.
Starting from my shoulder blades, her hands glided up to the muscles around my neck and down my spine, and everywhere they touched, I melted away.
A sharp, electric tingle spread through my body with each press, making me twitch, but the masseuse just laughed softly and pressed deeper.
"Ahng...!"
As increasingly erotic moans slipped out, she zeroed in on those spots like she'd found my weak points.
"Haa... hnng...!"
And then, as her fingers slipped between my hip joints and applied pressure—crack!
"Hk...?"
A wave of pleasure hit me like a misaligned joint snapping back into place, mingled with a burning pain...? No, this was pure bliss. Pleasure surged through me.
"Haaaah..."
As a languid drowsiness washed over me, a soft voice came from behind.
"If you're tired, feel free to sleep~"
"Peep?"
"Is our little friend sleeping too?"
"Peep!"
The masseuse seemed used to summons and treated her kindly.
And just like that...
"Haaawn..."
I drifted into sleep amid the blissful haze.
*
Slurp...?! Wiping drool from my mouth as I woke, my glossy body had been thoroughly "ravaged" (?) by the masseuse in every nook and cranny. Why was there oil even in those intimate spots...?!
"But... my body feels so refreshed!"
Is a massage supposed to do this? My whole body felt as soft as if it'd been oiled and tenderized, like premium beef after full processing.
"You're awake?"
As I satisfyingly rolled my joints, the masseuse—who must have been watching from somewhere—chuckled and handed me fresh clothes and underwear.
"Put these on and head to the 14th floor~"
"Yesss..."
Embarrassed, I quickly changed. The outfit was similar to what I'd been wearing before. My blood-soaked clothes must have gone to laundry separately.
I took the lounge corridor elevator to the 14th floor.
Ding~ As the doors opened with the arrival chime—
"Whoa..."
A vast hall of marble welcomed me.
"Welcome to Byeolbit Guild."
And right then, someone passing by—the most famous woman in Korea, the leader of Byeolbit Guild. I came face-to-face with Lee Seo-ran.
"W-w-whoaaa..."
Beautiful didn't even begin to cover it. This was...!
"Noble..."
"Hm? Did you have something to say?"
"No, nothing! Um, more importantly..."
My waist bent automatically.
"An autograph! Could you give me one...?"
I peeked up, and the beauty with slightly widened, surprised eyes soon flashed a fresh smile.
"Of course. Tae-hoon-ssi’s... um, I hope the baby came out well? I was quite worried since I haven't heard any updates."
Her cautious question tilted my head slightly.
How does she know that? Did Tae-hoon tell her somewhat?
As I pondered without answering, just staring, Seo-ran covered her mouth with her hand and added,
"No, that was rude of me. If you need any help, feel free to contact me anytime."
"Huh? Y-yes... thank you...?"
Clueless, I received a business card with her handwritten autograph from my idol—my ideal type.
I did it...! Well, not under the best circumstances, but I got it!
"For now, please come this way. Tae-hoon-ssi is over here too."
"Yesss..."
I followed her guidance down the corridor in a daze.
And when we opened a lavish door—
"Hey!"
"Oh, Tae-hoon!"
"Oh! Tae-hoon! No, you bastard!! Why'd you go into the gate! I gave you money!"
Tae-hoon shot up from his seat and strode toward me.
Was this guy always this big?
"Tae-hoon-ssi, don't startle the calmed guest. Please sit back down."
"Understood... haa..."
At Seo-ran's words, Tae-hoon returned to his seat like a lamb.
Oh, handling that guy like a tame sheep! As expected of the guild master!
As I looked up at Seo-ran with shining eyes, she smiled sweetly and personally pushed my back to seat me on the sofa.
"I sent the others down so you won't feel burdened—relax. This is Lee Min-ha, our guild's exclusive legal advisor."
"Hello. I've heard the story, but I came for the details. Just answer my questions comfortably."
"Yes!"
As I sat on the sofa, someone who looked like a secretary came in, served warm herbal tea, and the questions began.
"Then, first—"
The story wasn't long. How I'd met them in front of the gate and ended up going in together. Whether the association staff had warned about anything or mentioned wanted criminals, and so on. And...
The circumstances leading to me killing them—
"That's self-defense."
"Tae-hoon-ssi, we don't decide that. People died, after all."
"..."
Seo-ran's cold words made me shrink back.
"Ha, seriously... This country's laws are so messed up? The criminal died resisting, so why does the surviving victim become the perpetrator?"
"Tae-hoon-ssi. Enough. Last warning. I only let you stay as a non-related party for Seol Yun-ssi’s comfort—not to permit idle talk."
"...Understood."
Lee Seo-ran then asked the lawyer summarizing my testimony,
"Min-ha-ssi, so what's the verdict?"
"Hm... Self-defense will definitely be recognized. Our guild members searching the gate interior an hour ago secured a body cam from the scene."
Body cam... Oh, the recording!
"Those guys profited by selling videos of victims' perversions and rapes, so they were probably filming for the same reason this time. It captured the whole process perfectly, and Miss Seol Yun’s testimony holds weight too."
Life is unpredictable. The video they'd recorded to document and sell their crimes ended up proving their guilt instead—something they never saw coming.
"Even without that, the fact they were wanted fugitives."
"The association's failure to respond promptly."
"The gate management staff checking the wanted list too late despite prior distribution, and so on... Considering all that, not guilty is a given, and you should receive victim compensation."
"Hm... I see. Got it."
Lee Seo-ran nodded coolly.
"Seol Yun-ssi, Byeolbit Guild will protest to the association on these grounds and prioritize your personal protection. Any questions?"
"...Well, no, but... why?"
To be honest, Byeolbit Guild and I were total strangers?
At my question, Seo-ran looked puzzled and glanced at Tae-hoon instead.
Why look at Tae-hoon?
"Because you're like family to Tae-hoon-ssi... which makes you family to our guild too."
"Ah..."
As expected of a mega-guild. Taking care of members' friends like this...! Is this why they say serve in a noble house if you're going to be a servant?
As I marveled at Byeolbit's benefits, Tae-hoon's low voice came from beside me.
"You, don't go into gates anymore."
"...Why? I need to get stronger too."
"If I say don't, then don't! Wanna go through something like this again?! If you need money, I'll give it! You should've realized from this—gates aren't just about watching for monsters!"
His worried words stung like they were blaming my helpless incompetence, souring my mood a bit.
"What about my baby then?"
"What?"
"Don't spout off when you're not even taking responsibility!"
"...I'm saying I'll help because I feel responsible too."
"Hmph, I don't nee... well, not entirely! But I'll protect my baby by getting strong myself."
"You're really...! Haa, fine, at least let me help with training. Come with me starting tomorrow."
I turned my head at Tae-hoon's concession.
"Don't need it? Phoenix Guild master said she'd teach me how summoners fight."
"Phoenix? How'd you even meet that woman Han Chae-rin?"
"I don't have to explain every little thing to you—"
Clap clap—
As our voices rose in the back-and-forth, Lee Seo-ran clapped to refocus us.
"Tae-hoon-ssi, I'll give you a week off. A month if you want. Stay by her side until she's settled."
"Understood."
"And Seol Yun-ssi?"
"Y-yes?!"
Her cold gaze hit me, and I bit my tongue in tension...!
"You just gave birth recently, so take good care of your body."
"We'll issue you a separate access pass later, so visit the masseuse on the 9th floor anytime for a massage."
"I'll let the 1st floor desk know you can pick it up there."
"Yesss..."
"I can't tell you two how to handle your relationship."
"But the desire to protect and raise your child with your own strength... I don't have kids so I can't empathize fully, but I understand, so I won't fault your actions this time."
"Just prioritize safety. You're not alone anymore. And Tae-hoon-ssi?"
"Yes..."
"It's good to have a sense of responsibility. But it shouldn't become restraint. She seems like a proper Awakener too. You can't keep her caged like a pet."
"When did I ever—"
As Tae-hoon tried to protest, a chilling gaze pierced him.
"...I didn't."
"Good. We'll wrap this up for now. Our guild will handle all related legal matters, so no worries."
"Thank you!"
Sis is the best! "Sis" slipped out automatically for Seo-ran.
That presence... Handling Tae-hoon like a kid—respect.
"Seol Yun-ssi, you can head home now. Stop by the 1st floor desk for your pass. Tae-hoon-ssi, escort her."
"Got it. Hey, come on."
As I started to stand at Tae-hoon's usual blunt words, Seo-ran added one more to him.
"Tae-hoon-ssi? Be courteous when escorting a lady."
"...Yun, come on. I'll take you home."
"Pffft, haha, good, good. Keep serving me like this from now on!"
"Quit messing around... Anyway, Master, we'll head out."
"Yes, go ahead."
As we stood, Mir-El, who had been curled at my feet waiting, jumped up.
"Let's go, Mir-El."
"Peep~!"
And so, I returned home from Byeolbit Guild.
"Oh, welcome back, my lady. Dinner's bulgogi tonight?"
"...And who's this?"
"Uh, it's a bit long to explain...?"
More things to explain now.
A moment later, Lee Seo-ran sipped her now-lukewarm tea, thinking of the departed pair.
"So, what did the association say?"
"Unconditional apology and a promise of 500 million won in compensation."
"Hm."
Frost gradually formed on the tea's surface in the cup she held. The cup slowly froze under the influence of the cold mana emanating from her body.
"That's all?"
"I'll refine additional compensation proposals and present them to the association again."
"Do that."
Lee Seo-ran recalled the petite girl who had just given birth.
'Master, her pelvis was severely misaligned. Likely from childbirth... She must have felt constant bone-twisting pain with every step.'
'...She went into a gate in that condition?'
One line from the report of the staff overseeing hunter massages.
She pictured the fragile girl who had fallen asleep on the massage bed, as if all her past hardships had been washed away.
How much pain had she endured? How much worry? How much... shame?
Seo-ran had told Tae-hoon murder was wrong, but if those men had lived, she would have killed them silently with her own hands.
Just a single news blurb: Mysterious deaths of three... That was the value of their lives.
From reviewing the body cam footage, she seemed far too fragile. One had to wonder how she'd even gotten a B-rank hunter license.
'A summoner, huh...'
Come to think of it, her summon—the black wyvern... no, dragon? The report said baby wyvern, but the aura was unmistakably draconic.
As if she'd mistake it, having faced dragons herself. That predator's presence made her every nerve stand on end—faint now, but definitely a dragon's aura.
'Just like Raguna's.'
Probably influenced by the Raguna specimen Tae-hoon-ssi had brought. Circumstantially, it must have led to contracting a Raguna-like entity as her summon.
No other way she could emit a dragon's aura like that.
"Hm..."
Falsely reporting the specimen lost was infuriating, but since it was to protect his beloved... she decided to forgive it.
Dragon-related matters drew too much attention and danger, so best to hide it until she grew stronger.
She would have done the same for her own lover.
'I hope she doesn't die under the world's gaze like that guy...'
Seven years ago, when gate breaks erupted chaotically nationwide. Despite lying in a hospital bed, he was dragged out by the "hero" label the public had slapped on him—
The man who died for the citizens' voices. My beloved man. The "good hero" who thought of the citizens until the end.
"Love..."
Seo-ran gazed at the clear sky outside the window. Under the pristine, peaceful sky, citizens lived peacefully.
Would those citizens remember? The B-rank hunter they had driven to his death seven years ago under the "hero" label.
The world is cruel. Dead heroes get fleeting applause, then fade into the flow of time.
And it seeks a new "hero" to collar.
So Seo-ran hoped she—Seol Yun—wouldn't become a powerless hero.
Just live ordinarily, or reign with overwhelming power—
'I'll raise my baby by getting strong myself.'
"Hehe, mothers are strong."
Seol Yun-ssi, use those around you as much as you need. Mothers can be as ruthless as necessary to protect their young.
Seo-ran thought of her late mother for the first time in a while and fell into reminiscence. A faint smile played on her lips as she pondered.