Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: The Real Date
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Ungh..."
My eyelids felt impossibly heavy.
My whole body hung limp like a waterlogged cotton ball, not a twitch left in me.
The reason was obvious. After that whole misunderstanding fiasco yesterday, Empress Ap-hos had spent the entire night "apologizing" by wringing me dry.
Apology my ass—it was pure one-sided predation and exploitation. The fact that my waist was still intact was a damn miracle.
I squirmed under the covers, groping blindly to my side.
Habits are a scary thing. Even before my eyes opened, my hand was already seeking out that soft, warm bundle.
Normally, there'd be a small, cozy lump right about now, using my arm as a pillow...
"...?"
It felt empty.
My fingertips met only the cold texture of the mattress.
"Empress... Ap-hos?"
I mumbled, stretching my arm out further.
Where'd she go? Bathroom break, maybe?
That's when it happened.
Something brushed my hand.
Something huge... soft... and squishy.
"Wha...?"
The feel of it was incredible. Like a water balloon crossed with a slime—perfectly bouncy.
Still half-asleep, I instinctively kneaded whatever I'd grabbed.
"Pfft-huh-hut."
A low chuckle came from above my head.
Not her usual childish lilt, but a mature, husky timbre.
"Ungh...?"
I rubbed my eyes and forced them open.
And froze, breath catching.
"Wha...?"
No familiar little cutie in sight.
Instead, a stranger—a woman I'd never seen before—sat there with her long legs tucked to one side, gazing down at me regally.
She was taller than me, no doubt. And her proportions? Perfection incarnate. Curves in all the right places, flowing black hair cascading to her waist, creamy skin contrasting with those alluring red lips.
But those eyes above all.
Not just beautiful—handsome was the word that jumped to mind first. Intense, charismatic features framed by pitch-black irises.
She sat with the fluorescent light behind her (or so it seemed from my angle). Backlit, her silhouette glowed like a goddess. No—a demon queen.
And my hand? It was clamped firmly on one of her ample breasts.
"E-Empress... Ap-hos?"
I stammered dumbly, and she curled her lips into a sly grin.
That one smile sent my heart into overdrive.
"That's right. Sleep well, my cute little Min-woo?"
She tapped the back of my hand playfully.
"Pretty aggressive first thing in the morning, aren't you? Wasn't last night enough?"
"H-Hiiik!?"
I yanked my hand back and scrambled away. Sure, we'd tangled dozens of times, but this wasn't some cute blush—this was survival. She'd already drained me all night; one more round and my dick might literally fall off.
"S-Sorry! I was half-asleep... Th-Thought it was a pillow...!"
"Pff-haha. It's fine. You can grope away if it's you."
Empress Ap-hos laughed it off coolly, crossing her arms under her chest.
Only then did I notice her outfit.
A black ribbed turtleneck from my closet.
But with her insane midsection, it stretched taut, putting that unreal volume on full display. Sleeves rolled up to bare her pale wrists, hem riding just short enough to tease her navel.
And the bottoms.
Black... skinny jeans? No, leggings?
They clung perfectly to her legs, with an odd sheen.
Leather? Vinyl?
"Those pants... aren't mine, are they?"
I asked cautiously, and she patted her thigh.
"Oh, these? Your pants wouldn't fit—my thighs nearly burst them."
She giggled.
"So I just made some. Transformed my lower tentacles to look like clothes. Pretty convincing, right?"
"Tentacles...?"
I blinked wide-eyed, staring at her legs again.
That smooth line, wrapped flawlessly from ankle up... not fabric, but part of her body?
'So... no need to even take 'em off...'
A dirty thought flashed through my mind.
Empress Ap-hos narrowed her eyes as if reading it, licking her lips.
"What? Wanna test it out?"
She shifted, parting her legs slightly. The black material seemed to writhe.
"N-No! Nope! It's perfect! Flawless!"
I shook my head furiously, yanking the blanket up to my chin. Get caught now, and I'd be bedridden past lunch—no outing in sight.
"Tch, no fun."
She shrugged, disappointed, then ruffled my hair wildly.
"Hurry up and wash. Date time, remember? I'll leave without you if you're late."
"Y-Yes! Be right there!"
I bolted to the bathroom in a panic.
My reflection stared back, face beet red.
Heart pounding like mad.
'She's... way too hot.'
The cute kid form was great, but this big-sis version of Empress Ap-hos? Dangerous.
Like, heart attack levels.
Could I survive the day?
"Whoa..."
On the walk to the subway station.
Weekend morning streets buzzed with people.
And every eye locked onto one spot, drawn like magnets.
Right next to me—Empress Ap-hos.
180cm tall, model proportions, skin-tight leather pants (tentacles, technically). Black turtleneck and a casual blue jacket doing nothing to hide that overwhelming bust.
Above all, her face was the finishing touch. Long black hair swayed with every step, leaving guys staring slack-jawed, nearly walking into lampposts.
"Check that woman. Model? Celeb?"
"Damn... Foreigner? She's unreal. Total presence."
Whispers followed us.
Normally, I'd shrink under the stares, but today? Shoulders back, ego soaring.
'Heh heh~ This bombshell's my date today!'
I puffed out my chest, striding protectively beside her. Bodyguard vibes.
(Reality: she was guarding me.)
"Min-woo, why the goofy grin?"
Empress Ap-hos side-eyed me with a smirk.
"N-Nothing. Just... everyone's staring at you. You're too pretty."
"Hmph, obviously. Even lesser beasts can spot the difference in class."
She tossed her hair haughtily.
I beamed, pulling out my phone.
"Alright, here's today's itinerary! Stayed up researching last night."
"Oho, color me intrigued."
"Lunch at that pasta spot near the station first—their carbonara's killer. Then a hot action flick at the theater, evening rooftop cafe with killer night views..."
I rattled it off excitedly.
Pieced it together after last night's marathon, barely clinging to consciousness.
Our dynamic was mistress-pet (more tiger-hamster, really), but today, I wanted to give her the perfect day as a man. Show her the world's joys beyond that cramped room.
Bonus: maybe earn some reevaluation points.
"Hm... Not bad."
She nodded, interested.
"Right? All vetted spots. Did 'em with my girlfriend back in the day... Uh?"
A chill silence fell.
One rogue word had slipped out: girlfriend.
"Ah..."
I clapped a hand over my mouth.
Too late.
Empress Ap-hos halted mid-stride.
"...Girlfriend?"
She turned slowly.
Her black-disguised eyes narrowed to golden slits.
The elegant goddess smile? Gone. Black aura crept from behind her.
"N-No! I mean, ancient history! Back in school, just briefly..."
"Oho..."
She stepped closer.
I backpedaled. Air dropped ten degrees.
"So, you."
Her finger jabbed my chest.
"Dare to drag this body on a recycled course from some pathetic human bitch?"
"N-Not that! It's just universally proven..."
"Quiet."
She cut me off.
Those eyes weren't just angry—wounded pride, rival bitch mode activated.
"Canceled. That kiddie pasta crap? Scrapped."
"Th-Then where..."
"Follow."
She spun on her heel.
"I'll show you a real date. And..."
She glanced back with a feral grin. Too savage, too beautiful—goosebumps.
"Your place."
Where she dragged me was nowhere near the bright shopping district I'd planned.
Physically nowhere near.
Subway to the city outskirts, then a long taxi ride to a deserted factory zone.
Rusted steel skeletons loomed like ghosts.
"Um... Empress Ap-hos? This the spot? Haunted house thing?"
"Shut up and follow."
She strode to a rusty iron door leading underground.
Expecting empty, but no—tattooed toughs blocked us.
"Hey, missy? Lost? This ain't tourist central..."
"Move."
She growled low.
They flinched, instincts screaming at her killing intent.
They parted dumbly; we descended.
Shabby exterior lied—stairs and railings grew pristine. Managed white fluorescents.
But the air thickened.
Sweltering heat. Familiar monster blood reek. Deafening roars.
The basement chamber shattered my worldview. Twice over.
"Kill! Rip his throat!!"
"Graaaah!!"
Vast underground level three.
Center: blood-soaked steel cage ring. Two monsters tangled in a gorefest.
Crowd waved betting slips, howling mad.
Illegal underground fight pit.
Society's blind spot—desire and violence unleashed.
"What the fuck, idiot!! Claws for soup!? Stab the bastard!!"
"Go, Gator! I bet my deposit on you, shit! Pull through!!!"
"Eek...!"
I clutched her arm on instinct.
Terrifying. A dark world unrelated—hell, to be avoided—at all costs.
"That's it, cling tight, Min-woo. Get lost down here, you're done."
She chuckled, hooking her arm in mine, parting the crowd.
"Money out."
At the betting counter.
"Huh? Money?"
"All of it."
I trembled, handing over the 1.2 million won envelope.
She skimmed it, eyed the board.
[Red Corner: Ogre Warrior (1.05x)]
[Blue Corner: Poison Lizard (10x)]
Ogre dominated visually. Lizard limped on three legs, half the size.
Predictably, everyone bet red.
"There."
She pointed blue.
"Wha!? That lizard? It's dying!"
"Bet."
"B-But... this is our date..."
"Questioning me?"
Under her glare, I tearfully bet it all on blue.
Even the teller sneered: "Nice one, missy. This match is bait for suckers." Not a missy...
"Raaagh!"
"Ogre, kill that lizard fuck!!!"
Match started.
As expected, ogre cornered it, clubbing away.
Crisp thwacks, lizard screaming blood.
"Nngh... My money... How much hanwoo is that..."
I squeezed my eyes shut. Gross, but worse—watching my 1.2 mil die.
'Wah. Ruined!'
Date? Screw it—tomorrow's groceries first. Taxi back?
"Smash his skull!!"
Crowd frenzy. Ogre reared for the kill.
Then.
"That'll do."
Empress Ap-hos smirked, flicking a finger.
No one saw.
The thin black thorn from her fingertip embedding in the lizard's neck.
[Shiiieeeek!!!]
Lizard's eyes rolled red.
Its body cracked—muscles ballooned.
"Wha...? Wh-what?"
Tide turned in a blink.
Berserk lizard caught the club barehanded, chomped the ogre's neck.
Poison spread; ogre foamed and dropped.
Silence blanketed the arena.
[Winner! Blue Corner!]
"Whooooaaah!!!"
"F-Fuck!?!"
"No way, for real!?!"
"Rigged! Fucking rigged!!"
"I love you, Lizardman!!!"
Upset exploded.
Chaos reigned, but I heard nothing.
I gawked at Empress Ap-hos in disbelief.
She smiled leisurely.
"See? That's my eye."
"In-insane... How'd you know?"
"Simple. Gave its potential... a little nudge."
She whispered.
In the ring, the victor lizard convulsed, vomiting blood before joy hit. Overloaded body hemorrhaging from every orifice. Wrong. Chilling.
"I-Is that thing dying...?"
"Yep. Vessel too small—couldn't handle the power."
She turned, caressing my cheek tenderly.
So soft.
"But don't worry, Min-woo. You're different."
"Huh?"
"Yours... I'll pour in slow. Meticulously."
Her gaze trailed to my lower belly.
All that "stuff" she'd flooded me with flashed back.
"Shaping you pretty so you won't burst. Relax."
She beamed.
Like an artist admiring her work.
"C'mon."
She gripped my dazed shoulder.
"Cash out. 10x. Eat, buy whatever today."
We marched to payouts boldly.
Thugs stepped aside, cowed by her aura.
I clung to her waist.
Scary, grotesque, brutal...
But that thrill swelling in my chest? Unstoppable.
The rush of her overwhelming "strength" being on my side.
This must be her idea of a real date.