Even S-Class Hunters Get Sore Waists
It took me a long time to even register it. The pleasant warmth. The soft breathing tickling my ear. Such a satisfying sigh. It was because it wasn't the usual warmth I was used to feeling.
'Ugh, haa….'
Fragments of memories brushed past me as if I were still half-asleep. We held each other tightly by the waist and neck, lips never parting, slowly making our way toward the master bedroom. Even that brief movement felt like too much time wasted.
In the darkness, only the sounds of our breathing and skin meeting echoed. The ragged, rising breaths. I couldn't tell if they were my rough panting or her slender, sweet moans. Maybe both.
Bodies rocking violently back and forth in the dark.
'Haa, ah….'
That slender moan that tickled my ear.
…
How should I put it? It felt so ecstatic that it seemed like I was still dreaming. Without realizing it, I clenched and unclenched my fist. The sensation that had filled both my hands yet still slipped away. Soft and squishy. That plushness and softness that couldn't possibly be grasped with one hand. The hot body heat and friction I felt every time our skin parted and met again. And the sounds.
Every time I recalled another fragment of memory—the panting, the sweat-beaded skin, the dizzying sensation of gripping those curves tightly from behind with both hands—the scenes replayed like a film running in reverse. That's probably why I saw the blanket suddenly tenting upward. Only then did I realize my eyes were open.
'…Haa.'
Fucking amazing. That was the only word that came to mind. There wasn't really any other word that fit.
When I slowly turned my head, I saw Soyeon sleeping soundly with my arm as her pillow. Her loose plain t-shirt must have slipped down, because her smooth bare shoulder was exposed outside the blanket. Her shoulder rising and falling—she was completely out, without a care in the world. Listening to those soft breaths made strength keep gathering down below.
“Mmm…”
She tossed in her sleep, wriggling closer and burrowing deeper into my arms. Soon she buried her face in my chest, pressing her nose against me as she breathed out. Every time that breath touched my skin, every time she wriggled, I caught the pleasant scent of her shampoo. Mixed with it was her own cozy body fragrance.
Without thinking, I tightened my arms around her waist. I wanted to hold onto her warmth just a little longer.
“Mmm, oppa…”
I must have hugged her too tightly and blocked her breath. She mumbled in a pouty voice and rubbed her eyes. Her eyelids slowly lifted. Those dreamy eyes, still unfocused after just waking up. They met mine and blinked for a long moment before suddenly widening. A faint peach blush spread across her fair cheeks.
“Did you sleep well?”
My voice was hoarse and a little raspy, but I greeted her as gently as I could. Realizing the situation, Soyeon rubbed her face against my chest in embarrassment and gave a small nod. She pulled the blanket up to hide half her face, but even that was adorable.
“Yeah… What about you, oppa?”
“Me? Thanks to you, I slept incredibly well.”
I answered with a playfully mischievous smile. Her face flushed bright red. She must have remembered last night too. In the end I couldn't hold back and lightly kissed her forehead.
“Your scent is amazing.”
“Uh, uhh…?”
It felt like a shame to stop there, so I buried my nose in the nape of her neck and took a deep breath. The sweet body odor that washed over me. The more I inhaled, the more it pleasantly numbed my mind.
“Did you secretly spray perfume? How can you smell this good right after waking up?”
“N-no! I didn’t! …It tickles, really…”
Soyeon twisted her body and burst into giggles. But her slender arms wrapped around my neck showed no intention of pushing me away. If anything, they were gently pulling me closer.
So I kissed her again. Chu.
Just rolling around on the bed sharing body heat felt like it could make me fly.
“Oppa, your stubble is prickly.”
“Oh, is it? Then I’ll rub it more.”
“Ack! I said it’s prickly—ahaha!”
I rubbed my chin against her cheek. Soyeon curled up and flailed, trying to escape, but she never used enough strength to actually get away. And I held her tight, refusing to let go.
We spent a long time acting like kids—teasing, hugging, and tormenting each other—until a loud growl broke the moment.
She must have burned through a lot of energy. An alarm-like rumble came from Soyeon’s stomach. After that intense workout yesterday, hunger was only natural.
“Ah…”
“Hungry?”
“Y-yeah… Aren’t you hungry too, oppa?”
Embarrassed, she pouted and tried to slip out of my arms. She wriggled, trying to sit up while still lying down.
“I’ll make something simple for breakfast. You stay in bed a little longer.”
But I wrapped my arms firmly around her slender waist as she tried to rise and pulled her straight back into my embrace.
“Eek…!”
“Let’s stay like this just a bit longer. Five more minutes.”
At my whining, Soyeon’s eyes widened as she looked down at me. I lifted the hem of her shirt and buried my face deep in her chest, inhaling deeply. I wanted to savor her scent to my heart’s content. The soft flesh that covered my whole face and that pleasant body fragrance mixed with the lazy morning air, making me melt.
Leaving this cozy scent of hers to get out of bed would be the greatest loss of my life.
“O-oppa… it really tickles…”
Soyeon didn’t know what to do, but eventually she gently hugged my head and stroked it. It felt so good I simply closed my eyes. More than five minutes—closer to fifteen—passed before I finally let her go, swallowing my regret.
“Wait just a little? I’ll make something delicious right away.”
Finally free, Soyeon tried to stand. But her body froze in that half-risen position.
“Ugh…!”
With a short moan she plopped back onto the bed and clutched her waist. Her brows furrowed slightly.
…
So even an S-class hunter could end up with a sore waist if you put in enough dedicated time and effort.
…Well, I guess.
Two things I learned last night. First, even an S-class hunter eventually runs out of strength. Second, that fact stimulated a man even more.
“Does it hurt?”
I rested my chin on my hand and asked as if I had no idea. Soyeon flinched and whipped her head around.
“N-no! It’s just for a second…”
Anyone could tell she was lying. That clumsy attempt was so cute I couldn’t hold back a chuckle.
“I must have tormented you too much.”
“N-no! It’s not like that…”
Soyeon covered her cheeks with both hands, flustered. Then she grabbed a pillow, tossed it lightly at my face, and fled the room.
“W-wait!”
Left alone on the bed, I stretched lazily with a faint smile. After a quick shower, I shook out my wet hair and headed to the kitchen.
On the table sat a few slices of perfectly toasted bread, strawberry jam, and a couple of fried eggs. Soyeon sat there fiddling with chopsticks, looking gloomy.
“…Sorry.”
Her voice was dejected.
“I wanted to make a proper meal…”
“What are you talking about? It’s my fault for not stocking the fridge.”
“Still, it’s the first breakfast I’m making for you…”
She looked genuinely at a loss, truly sorry. Honestly, with my empty fridge there wasn’t much she could have done anyway. If I just ate it happily, that should be enough.
Thinking that, I picked up a slice of bread, slathered it thick with jam, and took a big bite.
Munch, munch.
“It’s delicious, what’s the problem?”
“Really…?”
“It is. If you’re still worried, I’ll stop by the store later and fill the fridge to bursting.”
“Huh?”
“Then you can come over again and cook.”
“…!”
She stared at me with wide, surprised eyes.
“What, were you planning to stop cooking for me?”
“N-no. …Yeah. That’s right.”
Only then did her stiff expression soften. Relieved, she cut a piece of fried egg with her fork and ate it. Her cheeks puffed out like a hamster’s. It was ridiculously cute.
…Oh, right.
Only then did I remember the smartphone I’d turned off last night. I picked up the phone from the corner of the table and pressed the power button.
The manufacturer logo flashed, and the moment the screen lit up—
54 Missed Calls
237 New Messages
All from the same sender
“…Did this woman not sleep at all and just cling to her phone?”
I clicked my tongue lightly and opened the message inbox.
It looked like Ri-en had finally occupied the tower entrance and was throwing a full-blown tantrum.
“No way…”
I was speechless at the absurdity. The next Master of the Magic Tower was really occupying the entrance just to find one person?
She really is like a wild foal.
I finally understood why the Archmage had been so stubbornly persistent in the first playthrough. Ignore her. Don’t meet her. Wait until her pride completely crumbles.
…Yeah.
If I met her now, I’d only get dragged along by that arrogant pace. The fact that she was throwing a tantrum to see me meant she was already extremely worked up.
Having reached that conclusion, I turned off the screen and flipped the phone over.
“Oppa? Is something wrong?”
Soyeon had been watching me closely. She tilted her head, eyes full of quiet worry.
I swallowed the bread still in my mouth and shrugged casually.
“Nah, it’s nothing.”
“…Really?”
“Yeah, really.”
I reached out and wiped the bread crumbs from the corner of her mouth with my thumb.
“Ah…”
“Such a messy eater.”
When I casually licked the jam off my thumb, her face flushed bright red again. She avoided my eyes, nervously fiddling with her fork.
…Well, since I’m going to the store anyway, maybe I’ll take a little look around.
Just looking. Really.
A little later, I left the house, saying I was heading to the supermarket.